Page 13 of Roses from Pemberley
Darcy then informed his aunt of how the doctor and Miss Jane Bennet were both brought to Hunsford by Bingley. Then he addressed the doctor by saying, “So there is nothing more that can be done at present?”
“Not at present…no.”
Darcy slumped down in his seat feeling remarkably helpless. Before, he’d had a sense of anticipation, that something he had done would somehow help her. But now that was over and there was nothing left to do but wait. He wished he could have been alone instead of sitting in Lady Catherine’s dining room, having confessed his love for a woman, and being stared at - and pitied - by everyone. Yet none of that mattered compared to the complete sense of powerlessness he felt at the thought of Elizabeth’s life slipping away from him. True, she had turned him down only yesterday and presumably would neversee him again. Butthiskind of loss - the one he now faced - was absolute.
Darcy resisted the urge to run his hands through his hair, noticing that everyone was staring at him. “Thank you,” he said softly. He then turned back to Lady Catherine and asked, “Will you allow Dr. Stephens to stay here…at least till Miss Elizabeth regains her health?”
Lady Catherine studied Darcy for a few moments before finally responding, “Yes, very well. The doctor may stay.” Darcy noticed that she still looked dazed and somewhat deflated. He felt a little sorry for her.
Eventually, she stood up and, just before completely quitting the room, added, “Please see to it, Anne. I grow weary and wish to retire.”
“Yes, Mother.”
CHAPTER 7 A Voice in the Ocean
Darcy retired to his rooms that night but was unable to sleep. He stood at the window and looked towards the parsonage. Even though it was close to midnight, there was still a light on in an upper floor window. Was it good or bad that the light was on? Was it Elizabeth’s room? Was she still just as ill or had the doctor’s remedy worked?
He finally ran his hands through his hair then pulled on it. He went to the bed and lay on it for a while, staring up at the canopy. He thought about his proposal and how insulting it must have seemed to Elizabeth. And it occurred to him that it might actually be Elizabeth’s last impression of him. She would think that he despised her family and disapproved of everything attached to her…and might actually die with such thoughts in her mind.
Darcy jumped out of bed and went to the window again.I am sorry, Elizabeth,he said desperately, looking towards the parsonage.
He recalled the fact that Elizabeth had said his name in the midst of her fevered dreams. Why had she done it? Was it a form of accusation? Was she still angry and wished to upbraid him even more?
And yet none of this mattered if she would only recover. He would let her point out all his faults if she would only get well enough to do it. He prayed that she would. And, if she did, he promised himself that he would apologise. He would apologise for every insult and scowl and implication he had ever shown her. Darcy was just thinking about how to do this when he heard a soft knock upon the door.
He opened it and was surprised to find Dr. Stephens on the other side.
“Mr. Darcy, sir. A servant has just come from the parsonage requesting my attendance on Miss Elizabeth. I saw the light under your door and thought I would inform you that I am going there now.”
Darcy blinked, then said, “I shall go with you.”
The doctor looked surprised but only nodded.
Thankfully he had not yet undressed and was able to quickly don his coat and make his way down the stairs, followed by the doctor. They left by a side entrance and went immediately to the stables, had their horses saddled and were in Hunsford in less than ten minutes. The front door opened even before they had a chance to knock. It was Mr. Collins and he thanked the doctor for coming so quickly after the summons.
“My wife,” he said, as he led them upstairs, “tells me that Elizabeth’s fever is higher and that her breathing is more laboured than before.” He suddenly noticed Darcy and added, “Mr. Darcy, it was quite thoughtful of you to accompany the doctor. You must have come on behalf of Lady Catherine.”
“Lady Catherine? No, I came on my own.”
He followed the doctor into the small room at the end of the upstairs hallway and saw Elizabeth lying in the bed, with Jane Bennet sitting just beside her, pressing a compress onto her forehead. Charlotte Collins stood just beside her, holding a cup in her hand. Dr. Stephens came forward and immediately puthis hand on Elizabeth’s forehead. He drew it back immediately and Darcy could tell that even he was surprised by the feel of Elizabeth’s skin.
“She cannot be allowed to continue in this manner,” he pronounced with an urgency that made Darcy’s blood run cold. “We need a tub, forthwith, to be filled with ice water. And then she must be immersed in it as soon as may be.”
“I shall send Mary and John for the tub…” said Mr. Collins. “And then they can bring up some buckets of water…”
“No,” interrupted Darcy, causing everyone to turn their attention to him, “that will take too long. I shall ride to Rosings and have everything brought over straightaway. Mr. Collins, just be certain that a tub is here when we arrive.” He strode out of the room without another word.
Darcy arrived at Rosings only a few minutes later and proceeded once more through the side entrance. Thankfully a few servants, including Mrs. Daniels, the housekeeper, remained in the kitchen despite the late hour.
She looked questioningly at him and he hastened to say, “Mrs. Collins’ friend at the parsonage is very ill and will need to have her fever reduced. I shall require multiple bags of ice and about twenty to thirty buckets of water loaded onto a wagon and brought to the parsonage forthwith.
Mrs. Daniels nodded. “Yes, sir, at once. Thankfully we keep quite a few buckets of water at the ready in case any of Lady Catherine’s guests are in want of a bath.”
She gave orders for all the servants to be roused. Some were directed to fetch the buckets from the storage room, while others were directed to fetch bags of ice from the ice house. A footman was sent to the stables to insure that a wagon was readied. Before long, Darcy and his entourage of servants, as well as the buckets of water and bags of ice, had arrived at the front gate of the parsonage. Dr Stephens awaited them at thefront door, then led the line of servants up the stairs and into Elizabeth’s room.
Darcy looked on as buckets of water and bags of ice were emptied into the tub which had been placed by Elizabeth’s bed.
“And now she must be placed into the tub,” said Dr. Stephens, as the last of the servants left the room.
