Page 7 of Roses from Pemberley
“And is Miss Bennet out on one of her walks?” asked Darcy abruptly, wondering if Elizabeth had purposely not come down in order to avoid him.She must hate me that much,he thought to himself.
“Not at all,” said Mrs. Collins. “In fact, my friend is quite ill this morning.”
“Quite ill!” cried Darcy, before he could stop himself.
Mrs. Collins looked curiously at him before saying, “Yes. She went to bed with a fever last night and it is even higher this morning. I have sent for the apothecary and am awaiting him even now.”
“But what about Miss Bennet? She has a fever, you say?”
Charlotte nodded worriedly. “Yes. I have given her some willow bark tea and applied cool compresses to her forehead but, other than that, I know not what else to do. Hopefully, the apothecary will arrive soon.”
Darcy sat in stunned silence while Richard said, “In that case, we shall leave you now. For we would not wish to be underfoot at such a time.”
He stood up, then Darcy stood up as well.
“Please give our best wishes to Miss Bennet,” said Richard.
“Yes, of course, Colonel.”
A few minutes later they were standing outside the parsonage in front of their waiting carriage.
“A pity Miss Bennet is ill,” said Richard, turning towards the carriage. “Perhaps I shall write Anne or our aunt in a few days to ask how she fares.”
“Write our aunt?” asked Darcy distractedly, still standing there and not moving.What if Elizabeth does not get better?he thought to himself.What if I never see her again?
“Darcy?”
He knew, at that moment, that he could not leave. Not yet…not when Elizabeth’s life hung in the balance. Perhaps he was being overly anxious. But even young healthy people had been known to die of fevers. And Darcy could not rest till he knew he had done everything for her.
“I think we had better stay, Richard,” he said finally.
“Better stay! But it was you who wished to leave so precipitously! Insisted upon getting an early start, even.”
“But Miss Bennet is ill! How can we simply leave like this?”
“And what do you think you can do about it, Cousin? Mrs. Collins has already sent for the apothecary. And it seems to me that she has everything well in hand.” It then occurred to Richard that his cousin had developed an interest in Miss Bennet. Was perhaps even in love with her. It would explain a great deal.
“I can send an express rider for my doctor in London,” continued Darcy. “and he may even be here by late this evening.”
“Yes…of course,” said Richard, his suspicion now confirmed. “Let us return to Rosings and you can send an express.” Richard decided to discuss the matter with Anne.
“But allow me just another moment, Cousin,” said Darcy.
With that, he turned back to the parsonage and re-entered it without even waiting for a servant to let him in.
When Darcy reached the small entryway, he saw that Mrs. Collins was still there, but now conferring with a servant.
“Mr. Darcy.”
“Mrs. Collins. After having heard you describe Miss Bennet’s illness, I have decided to remain and send for my doctor in London; and I…simply wished to know if this would meet with your approval.”
Charlotte blinked, then eventually nodded. “Yes, Mr. Darcy. I wholly approve of your plan. For I begin to think that Elizabeth may be even more ill than I had originally thought her to be.”
“More ill! In what way?”
“I believe she is delirious, Mr. Darcy,” said Charlotte, wringing her hands. “She speaks but is incoherent. And I wasbeginning to think that a mere village apothecary may not be up to the task of caring for her.”
Darcy tamped down his feeling of panic and forced himself to think. “Yes, I shall send for the doctor immediately. And if you think her family should also be made aware, I would be happy to send an express to Longbourn as well.”
