Page 6 of Roses from Pemberley
“Well then, yes. I shall marry you…”
“I love you and wish to marry you.”
“But what of my family?”
“I apologise for what I said; I am prepared to embrace them…for your sake.”
“Can we be happy?”
“Yes, we can.”
“I love you and wish to marry you.”
“But how can I accept you after what you said about my family? And after being the cause of my dearest sister’s disappointed hopes?
“Do you mean to say she loved him?”
“Yes! Of course she did.”
“Then I shall fix it, Elizabeth. And shall love your family as you do. I would do anything for you…”
“Would you?”
“Yes, you must believe me. Anything - for you.”
“Then…I shall marry you.”
“You will not regret it.”
In her dreams, she would be more gentle. Less cruel. And she would not see the broken look on Darcy’s face. Her dream would always end well, a product of her desire to change the past. But she would then half-awaken only to find that it had been all in her mind. And she would lapse once more into insensibility and play the afternoon over again in her dreams.
Later she began to dream that she was drowning, that an invisible hand was pushing her under a freezing ocean. A cold, dark ocean wherein she could not breathe. She was shivering and struggling to breathe at the same time. But the hand just kept pushing her further downward…
*****
The following morning, Charlotte Collins went into Elizabeth’s room to check on her. She was shocked to find that her friend’s fever was higher than it was before. Much higher. She tried to rouse Elizabeth but could only get her to mumble some incoherent phrases. Sometimes even Mr. Darcy’s name was mentioned, which surprised her. In fact,Darcywas probably mentioned more than anything else. She was surprised by this because Elizabeth had always professed to hate him. And now it seemed as if she wished him here. As if she were somehow suffering without his presence. And Charlotte actually did wish that Mr Darcy were here - if only to soothe her friend’s troubled mind.
She sent a servant to fetch the apothecary then began to brew some willow bark tea. Once done, she prepared a cool compress and went into Elizabeth's room. She helped her friend to sit up for a moment and drink some of the tea. Then she allowed her to lie back down and pressed the compress toElizabeth’s forehead. She studied her friend and wondered once more what her relationship was with Mr. Darcy.
About an hour later, the maid informed her that she had guests in the parlour.
“It is Mr. Darcy and the colonel, ma’am.”
Charlotte sighed in relief. Perhaps she could somehow coax Darcy into seeing Elizabeth for a moment.
“Very well, Mary. You stay here and look after Elizabeth while I go down and see to our guests.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
CHAPTER 4 Calling to Take Leave
By half past eight that morning, Darcy and Richard were in the parlor at Hunsford awaiting their hosts. Presently Charlotte Collins walked in and greeted them, explaining that her husband had already left to visit his parishioners.
“We apologise for calling so early,” said Richard, standing and bowing, “but we are departing for London and wished to take our leave.”
“Oh, I see,” said Mrs. Collins, distractedly. “I hope it is not something unpleasant that calls you away. Your aunt did mention that you would be staying for another few weeks.”
Richard looked reprovingly at Darcy for a moment before turning back to her and saying, “Nothing alarming, I assure you. Simply…personal matters.”
