“I thought Lizzy was nursing her sister, it is no wonder my poor Jane is not doing as well as…” Fanny closed her mouth with a clack as she received stern looks from her husband and Mr Jones.
“Miss Lizzy has not slept or rested since she arrived here with me yester-morning,” Jones related with an edge of asperity. “At my advice, she has gone to take a walk to refresh herself.” He looked at Bennet. “If you feel your daughter’s forehead, you will be able to tell how hot she is, and this is with a reduction in the fever from yesternight. Her breathing is not easy, but that too is a little better than the night.”
“That means Jane is recovering!” Fanny insisted.
“Not at all,” Jones responded curtly. “Fevers always reduce some during the day hours, and then go up again at night. If this was, what did you call it, Mrs Bennet? Oh yes, ‘a simple trifling cold’, her fever would be nominal during the daytime hours. Miss Bennet is as hot as those with a cold are at night. Also with that malady, no fluids are found in the lungs, and breathing is not so difficult.”
A chastened Fanny looked away. How dare this man correct her at every turn. She knew she could not look to her husband for support, as he would not stand up for her. Her greatest worry for the future was what her friends would think of her if Jane died, and it became known she was the one who sent her riding in the rain.
“Lizzy wrote there is a small chance for a recovery.” Bennet could see it was a vain hope, but as long as Jane lived, there was some hope left. His life had been so simple before, but now it felt like he had aged ten years in the last four and twenty hours. If only he had stood up to his wife and ordered the carriage made ready for Jane. But he had not and now all he could do was hope.
“I have not told Miss Lizzy this, but since I arrived my opinion has changed…” Jones began to say but Mrs Bennet interrupted.
“So my beautiful girl will recover?” Fanny chirped.
“Sorry to say that is not what I was about to opine. After the ravages of the fever the previous night, if things are as bad tonight, or worse, then I am not confident Miss Bennet will live to see another sunrise,” Jones stated evenly. He fought to maintain his equanimity in the presence of the two people largely responsible for his patient’s dire situation.
Fanny began to wail while Bennet did nothing to wipe away the tears which escaped his eyes. What had they done? Bennet stepped up to the bed and took one of Jane’s clammy hands in his own. “I am so sorry, Jane. I should have been abetter and stronger father. You are paying for my weaknesses. You will soon be with my mother and father in a place where you will never be ill again.” Bennet leaned forward and kissed his eldest daughter on her hot forehead.
His wife’s wailing had increased to such an extent, she was unable to say anything to Jane, so Bennet led her back into the sitting room and sent the three youngest Bennets into the chamber after telling them to say their goodbyes to Jane.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
It was a cold day, but Elizabeth did not stop to collect her coat as she ran out of the house and began to walk. Even though she had not slept in more than a day, she walked as energetically as she always did.
Without paying attention to where she was heading, Elizabeth found herself at the stables, and the door to the stall where Nellie was being housed. She wanted to rail against the poor innocent mare, but reason reasserted itself. The old horse had nothing to do with Janey’s illness. It had not been Nellie’s choice to be ridden out in the rain, that had been because of her parents.
Elizabeth wanted to return to Jane’s bedchamber to tell her parents exactly what she thought of them in that moment, but she knew she could not, at least not yet. It was not fair; Jane was too good to not be alive. She was so deep in her thoughts she did not hear the footsteps behind her, so she was greatly startled when she heard someone clear their throat.
Darcy had seen Miss Elizabeth run out of the house without stopping, not even to collect her coat, gloves, or bonnet. He had asked the butler to assist him into his own greatcoat and then armed with her outerwear, he hurried out of the house in time to see her walking at a great speed in the direction of the stables.
He had not wanted to frighten her, but when he made his presence known, she visibly jumped. “Please pardon me,Miss Elizabeth, I noted how you left the house without any protection against the cold. I hope you do not find I am being highhanded in bringing these things to you,” Darcys stated.
Not long after she stopped walking at the furious pace she had since leaving the manor house, Elizabeth began to feel the cold to the extent she was close to shivering. “The opposite, Mr Darcy. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated. It is only now I began to feel the consequences of my folly.” She turned and allowed him to help her into her warm coat. With it on, she faced him, and took one glove and then the other. With her hands covered, she buttoned her coat. Seeing that her hair was in a rather wild state, she did not attempt to tame it into her bonnet, she rather just let that garment hang from her hand.
“I did not feel up to facing my parents,” Elizabeth explained. “If I had remained, I am not certain I would have been able to hold back what I so much want to say to them.”
“As I have an aunt in whose company I do not enjoy spending time, I understand your urge to escape,” Darcy revealed to inject some levity, even in the tiniest measure, into the tension. There was much to learn about the woman opposite him, but he did not believe she was built for sadness.
“We cannot choose our family,” Elizabeth said stoically. “I hope my parents have departed; I do not want to be away from Jane too long. She turned to Nellie and rubbed the old mare’s nose. The horse gave a nicker and then rubbed her forehead on Elizabeth’s shoulder.
As they rounded the corner of the house heading for the stone steps, two carriages were stopped in the drive. As soon as Elizabeth saw the man exit and turn around to hand someone out, she broke into a most unladylike run. Darcy recognised Gardiner.
As he walked, Darcy bent down to retrieve the bonnet Miss Elizabeth had discarded as she ran towards her family members, ones who unlike her parents, she wanted to see.Darcy watched as she threw herself into Gardiner’s arms.
“Uncle Edward! Aunt Maddie!” With tears streaming down her cheeks, Elizabeth relinquished her hold on the former and accepted an embrace from the latter. She looked and noticed that Lilly and Eddy, twelve and nine respectively, stood waiting to greet her while she hugged their parents. After releasing her aunt, Elizabeth hugged her two cousins, and before she had finished with Eddy, they were joined by Peter and May, seven and four, who wanted their turns to hug Lizzy.
“Gardiner,” Darcy called out. “Mrs Gardiner and children, it is good to see you, albeit for a sad reason.”
Just then Bingley joined them and welcomed the Gardiners to his estate. With the cold outside, everyone followed Mr Bingley into the warm interior of the house where the introductions were made. Knowing Miss Elizabeth did not want to see her parents, Darcy verified their location with the butler who informed them the Bennets had departed a few minutes before the new arrivals.
Elizabeth was relieved when Mr Darcy related the last to her. As soon as the butler and two of his footman had taken all of the outerwear, Bingley showed the governess and nursemaid to a warm parlour where the children could be entertained. Then he and Darcy accompanied the Gardiner parents and Miss Elizabeth up to the chamber where Miss Bennet lay in bed.
On entering the sitting room, they found Mr Jones sitting and resting. He stood as soon as they entered. He greeted the Gardiners with whom he was familiar. “Has there been any change?” Elizabeth asked hopefully.
“The fever is about the same, and her breathing is slightly improved, but that is to be expected from time to time. As much as I would like to tell you it is a change for the better, it is not,” Jones clarified. “By my calculations, the sleeping draftwill wear off soon, and Miss Bennet will wake and be able to speak to you. Your parents and younger sisters chose not to remain since your mother was rather distraught.”
“She should be,” Elizabeth hissed.
