“Mr. Jones is both a doctor and an apothecary,” Elizabeth informed everyone. “He has seen to all of us since birth and he is well aware of my sister’s history and what helps her and what does not.” She turned to her host. “If you would have Mr. Jones summoned, it would be greatly appreciated, Sir.”
“Of course,” Bingley stated as he skewered his younger sister with a look of disgust. The housekeeper answered the bell and was soon on her way to see the master’s order executed.
It had not sat well with Mrs. Nichols when Miss Bingley had commanded her not to summon medical help. She was well pleased the master was correcting that oversight. Never had the housekeeper worked under a mistress who knew less about the running of a manor house than Miss Bingley.
“Allow me to ring for a footman to show you to Miss Bennet’s chambers,” Bingley offered.
“No need Bingley, I need to go up for my after-ride bath. I will show Miss Elizabeth to Miss Bennet’s chamber,” Darcy volunteered.
‘You are playing with fire!’ Darcy admonished himself silently. ‘You know it can never be between you, do you not? She is too far below you in society.’
As surprised as she was by his curtesy to herself, Elizabeth was pleased Mr. Darcy had volunteered as she was about to say how familiar she was with the house and that may have led to questions she was not willing to answer.
Darcy and Elizabeth had no sooner departed the breakfast parlour when Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst began to abuse Elizabeth. They derided her for her petticoats being six inches deep in mud, among other things.
Darcy was mortified at the abject display of ill-breeding by Bingley’s sisters. For all of their boasting about their educations at the oft bragged about seminary, neither had a clue how to be a hostess. How was it they were not aware abusing a guest in their home was the epitome of bad behaviour?
It was one of the many reasons the harpy would never be his wife—even if she lowered herself to compromise him. Darcy could not imagine a fate worse than being leg shackled to Miss Caroline Bingley for the rest of his life.
Unlike Mr. Darcy’s now forgiven slight at the assembly, Elizabeth cared not for Mrs. Hurst’s and Miss Bingley’s words which followed them halfway up the grand staircase. The opinions of the supercilious sisters meant nothing to her.
How close had she come to calling Miss Bingley out on her lie regarding calling someone to examine Janey? Loosing her tongue against the woman would have contravened all bounds of propriety. It was obvious the woman knew nothing about being a good hostess, so Elizabeth would not give the virago the satisfaction of drawing herself down to Miss Bingley’s level of classless behaviour.
She almost walked into Mr. Darcy’s back. So deep in thought had she been, Elizabeth had not noticed he had come to a halt.
“Miss Bennet’s chamber,” Darcy pointed to a door to his left. He bowed to the bewitching woman and she gave a curtsy in return.
Darcy headed to his suite a few doors down. When he had arrived at Netherfield Park, Miss Bingley had him housed in the family wing, right next to her own chambers. After a stern talk with his friend, Bingley had ordered Mrs. Nichols to move his friend to the guest wing and seriously admonished his younger sister.
With one more look towards the tall, handsome man from Derbyshire, Elizabeth entered Jane’s suite.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“I am sure the state of Miss Eliza’s dress and the blowsy look of her hair has diminished your attraction to herfineeyes,” Miss Bingley pounced as soon as Mr. Darcy returned to the breakfast parlour.
His hope she would have completed her meal before he returned was dashed. Darcy should have known the harpy would have waited for him to arrive to break his fast. She never passed over an opportunity to importune him.
“On the contrary, Miss Bingley,” Darcy replied, “the exercise only enhanced her eyes.”
Miss Bingley’s face pinched up with displeasure. That was not the answer she wanted to hear. Never one to withdraw from a field of battle, she soldiered on.
“What was she thinking to walk three, four, five miles, whatever it was? It shows an unattractive conceited independence to go traipsing through the mud. I am sure you would never allow your sister to walk so many miles in that fashion.” Miss Bingley was certain she had played a trump card in mentioning Mr. Darcy’s sister.
“All I see is a deep sisterly affection,” Bingley opined. “Would not either of you do the same for the other?”
“No, I would not encourage my sister to walk that distance,” Darcy paused as he saw the look of triumph flash across Miss Bingley’s face. “However, if either of us was sick like Miss Bennet is, I could see the other walking as far as he or she needed to in order to nurse the other.”
Mr. Darcy’s statement caused Miss Bingley’s face to fall. The inference was clear. What was it about Miss Eliza which would not allow her to turn Mr. Darcy’s head from the chit?
With a huff Miss Bingley stood, followed by Mrs. Hurst and the sisters vacated the breakfast parlour.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Lizzy, you came,” Jane croaked when she saw her sister enter her bedchamber. “I did not…” Jane stopped speaking as she had a coughing fit. “…want to be a bother.”
The maid who had been sitting with Jane curtsied and took her leave. At least someone had made sure Jane was not alone. Elizabeth suspected the someone was Mrs. Nichols, not Miss Bingley.
“Come now, Janey,” Elizabeth said as she approached her sister. “You could not be trouble even if you tried to be.” She placed her hand on her sister’s clammy forehead. “Bah! Slight fever! You are burning up.”
