“Oh, no! My brother has worried about that for years. Most villages have built in stone for some time, but Sudbury retained many old wooden structures. We feared this would happen, but—”
“There is doubtless a story, but I do not need it. The point is that the church stands, but its roof is so damaged it is uninhabitable in this weather. The stables are entirely gone, and the inn is badly damaged. Many villagers are without shelter.”
“What is to be done?” Miss Darcy cried in alarm.
Elizabeth studied the floor, then gathered her courage. “I hope you may one day forgive me, but I… well… I claimed to know your brother better than I truly do, and furthermore said they would be welcome at Pemberley. I hope you can afford them a dry place to sleep for a few days, to allow them a chance to set the village to rights.”
“Of course, Miss Bennet. You are quite right about my brother. They are welcome here. Although—”
Elizabeth started when the young lady stopped. “Although, what?”
Miss Darcy looked equally distressed. “Only, I am not certain it is wise. You see… well… I am so confused.”
The young lady’s courage crumbled before her eyes; Elizabeth could not but feel sympathetic.
“Start at the beginning,” Elizabeth said gently. “Perhaps I can help; and if not, Mr and Mrs Wythe should be here within an hour or two.”
“I am not even certain we should have admitted you. Our housekeeper, butler, under-butler, and several servants have been taken with measles. Do you know measles?”
“Yes, I nearly died of it in the outbreak of 1808, when I was sixteen. I was confined to my bed for weeks, so I made my father obtain all the medical books he could find. I am very well versed in the disease.”
“I am glad, for I have no idea what to do. Mrs Reynolds instructed us to confine them to the guest wing. It is well isolated from the rest of the house, and she thought it unnecessary to quarantine the whole place. Now… well, what should I do?”
Panic rose in Elizabeth. She had been in Pemberley a mere quarter hour and was already expected to advise on household matters. Since she was mostly resolving problems of her own creation, her courage must rise to the challenge. She was five years older than Miss Darcy, and probably considerably more worldly; a little advice would not be amiss.
Her hesitation seemed too much for Miss Darcy. “Miss Bennet, might I speak to you privately?”
Elizabeth did not like the sound of that but agreed, walking a dozen paces away, her blanket trailing behind.
“I did not tell you everything my brother wrote.”
Elizabeth gasped in consternation, wondering how dire matters were. She steeled herself. “Go on.”
“He wrote but a fortnight ago,privately, and asked me to keep his confidence.”
“What did he say?”
“Pray, do not look so frightened. It was certainly nothing bad or shocking. He said he had acted badly toward you in a certain matter and hoped to set things right when he met you again. He was not explicit, and I would not intrude on your business by asking, but he would very much like to speak with you.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I have things to say to him as well, but that is a problem for the morrow.”
“Oh! Yes, let us discuss the problem at hand,” Georgiana replied in relief. “I hope you do not in any way feel you have overstepped your bounds or done anything improper. My brother, and father before him, and grandfather before him, taught us from the cradle that care of everyone within our sphere is a duty of any good landowner. You did only what he would have done were he here.”
Elizabeth sighed with relief. “Your brother and I have our differences, but we should be able to resolve them amicably if I am still in the county when he returns. I travel with the Wythes and must abide by their movements.”
“They are welcome at Pemberley as long as they wish to stay, and I strongly suspect my brother would like to meet them anyway. I sent an express for him two days ago when we discovered the outbreak but before Mrs Reynolds became ill, so he should return within the week. I also sent one to Matlock and hope to have my aunt or uncle here within a day or two.”
Elizabeth nodded. Would she have the courage to face Mr Darcy when the time arrived?
“There is one more thing he said.”
“Yes?”
“He said I could learn much from you, and that I should trust you implicitly.”
How could he know she would arrive in such a state?
“I suspect he was just being diligent. I do trust you, though. Will you help me?”
