Mr. Darcy found himself unsettled for the whole day. There always was a strong awareness thatshewas upstairs.
To distract himself Darcy went out with Bingley for shooting, but while the sport was entertaining enough, Darcy found himself to still be in this abstracted state, always thinking about how Elizabeth right now sat in the manor house, likely dabbing Miss Bennet’s forehead or reading to her. Maybe she was forcing Miss Bennet to drink some broth and doing whatever else gentlewomen did when nursing someone.
Bingley was as distracted as Darcy, so they both were mostly silent.
As they walked back into the house, leaving a fair number of previously caught birds in their cages for a future day, Bingley remarked to Darcy, “I do hope Miss Bennet’s illness has not worsened. Do you think if we called a physician from London that he might—”
“No.”
Bingley sighed. Laughed. Then sighed again. “Mr. Jones had said there was no cause for worry, and Miss Elizabeth will tell us if there is anything to worry of. Miss Bennet is lucky to have such a devoted friend to care for her.”
“I do not think,” Darcy said rather annoyedly, “that Miss Elizabeth’s presence is exactly that of a friend.”
Bingley paid no attention to Darcy’s comment in his eagerness to leap into the house. Miss Elizabeth stood withBingley’s sisters near the bottom of the big stairway, speaking quietly.
Bingley asked, “What news, has Miss Bennet worsened?”
Elizabeth smiled at him with a soft amused air. “Just a sore throat, aches, and an ordinary fever. You need not beparticularlyconcerned.”
“Oh, I am glad!” replied Bingley.
Mr. Bingley’s exclamation was rather too enthused for Darcy’s taste. Surely Bingley could not be thinking of Miss Bennet. She had no dowry, and her family was simply awful. But this was much like Bingley always was. A great enthusiasm for new acquaintances and flirtations, followed by becoming distracted by the calls of other new acquaintances.
A glance shared with Miss Bingley showed that she had a similar disapproval of Bingley’s enthusiasm.
A few hints to that gentleman would not go amiss.
Darcy studied Miss Elizabeth. She looked cheery enough, and upon noticing his gaze she first looked down, shook her head with a smile, and then quirked a grin at him.
“Are you exhausted from your efforts at the bedside?” Darcy asked her, thinking he must say something.
“I should be a quite weak creature if three hours withJanecould do so much.” She lightly laughed. “Jane is the sweetest and most docile patient. Quite superior in character to myself when ill.” A pause. “Mrs. Bennet always says that whoever she marries will be a lucky man.”
Bingley smiled as though pleased at that thought. Miss Bingley frowned darkly. Mrs. Hurst rolled her eyes.
Darcy was concerned for Miss Elizabeth. “Do not tire yourself out nursing her all night.”
She smiled and shrugged. “A few sleepless nights will do me little harm, and I owe the Bennets that and far more.”
Darcy knew that was in one way true. But he also knew there was something amiss. He did not like the way that Mrs. Bennet handled Miss Elizabeth or spoke to her.
When the party gathered that evening in the drawing room before they would proceed to the dining room, Darcy noticed that Elizabeth had not joined them. He remarked upon this with some surprise.
Miss Bingley frowned at him. “You wish her to dine with us.”
“She is not a servant. She is a gentlewoman,” Darcy replied severely. “It is improper for her to be treated as though she were a hired nurse.”
“Yes, yes.” Miss Bingley immediately nodded. “I shall go myself to ask her to come down to us.”
Dinner was in fact delayed some ten minutes before Elizabeth changed her clothing and came down.
Oddly what she wore now was more flattering, with more correct fitting and better coloration, than anything he’d seen her in before this morning. It also was very modest and simple, looking more like a day dress than the proper sort of clothing one wore for a dinner.
Elizabeth apologized as she entered the drawing room, and she did not look towards any of them. “I did not mean to delay you all. I know I am hardly dressed for the occasion. I confess it had not crossed my mind that I would dine with you all.”
“Of course you shall!” Miss Bingley exclaimed. “You are not simply Jane’s nursemaid. We wish to show you every hospitality.”
Elizabeth ducked her head and almost appeared as though she wished to look smaller.
