Page 36 of Roses from Pemberley
“Has Dr. Stephens seen you lately?” he asked.
“Yes, he came earlier today and has assured me that I shall make a full recovery. And I wish to thank you for sending for him.”
He nodded, having always been uncomfortable at being thanked, and resisted the urge to fiddle with his gloves. “Mrs. Collins tells me that you have not yet left your room.”
“No, not as yet. Unfortunately, I am not as strong as I once was.”
“I am certain you shall be…soon enough,” he responded, surprised by his own reticence. Last time he was here, he had held her close and whispered into her ear. And he felt almost as if he were married to her. But now…he could hardly formulate a sentence. Perhaps her unconsciousness had given him a certain amount of confidence.
“Yes,” she responded with a slight laugh. “I suppose I shall just have to walk back and forth in my room till such a time as I am ready to walk down the stairs.”
“But would you care to go downstairs…today?” he asked, surprising himself.
“I…do you think I could?”
“I do not see why not. And I would be happy to escort you…”
“It does sound tempting,” said Elizabeth. She looked out the window into the bright sunlight and added, “Yes, very well, Mr. Darcy. You have talked me into it. But…”
“Yes, what is it, Miss Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth looked down and answered, “I am still in my robe.”
“Do you think it will be too cold?”
“No but…it is not entirely proper, is it?”
He nodded, understanding her reticence. But she still looked so weak and pale. It would be a pity if she had to dress simply to go downstairs.
“You must not worry about that, Miss Elizabeth,” he reassured her. “No one else is about. Bingley and your sister are walking in the groves, and Mr. Collins is making calls.
She smiled hesitantly. “Very well…if you approve.”
She stood up and he immediately came forward and gave her his arm. She leaned heavily into him and he realised how weak she still was after so many days of lying in bed. Herelinquished her arm and instead put his own arm around her waist.
“I just wish to catch you…” he explained, “in case you fall.”
“Yes, of course,” she murmured, looking away.
Darcy pulled her to his side as they walked towards the doorway of her room.
Then he thought of something and said, “Do you think that it might be better if I carried you?”
She looked surprised and asked, “Down the stairs?”
“Yes, for you are still quite weak.”
“Will I not be too heavy?”
Darcy recalled carrying her from the bed, then kneeling, and placing her into the ice bath - a little more than a week ago. She was not too heavy then, and he doubted she would be too heavy now. But of course he could not mention it. So he only said, “I highly doubt that you would be too heavy. Unless you do not trust in my ability to carry you and are afraid of falling.”
“No, I do not doubt you.”
Still, she continued to look hesitant, and so he added, “Perhaps if I carried you now - in this room - then you might see how easy it is for me to do so.”
“A trial run, as it were?” she said with a grin.
“If you like. Or…I could just sweep you up and proceed down the stairs.”
