“Bingley, blink if you can hear me.”
Bingley blinked. Darcy’s heart leapt up in hope and he sprang forward with a cry.
“Good! Again.”
Bingley blinked, then, after a few seconds, blinked again. Darcy’s hope waned. It was normal blinking, nothing more. Bingley was not trying to convey that he understood.
But he was alive, and moving, and hopefully at some point other things would happen.
At that moment, Caroline Bingley ran into the room. Darcy stood up heavily. After what had happened to Elizabeth, he was not certain he wanted to talk to her, but Bingley was his friend, and he owed it to him to be considerate to his sister.
“Congratulations, Miss Bingley. Your brother is awake, but he still has some way until he is fully recovered.”
He wanted to avoid her experiencing the same disappointment he had, but she brushed past him, ignoring him.
Just as well. She had spared Darcy the effort of having to talk to her.
Besides, he had to go and tell Elizabeth the news.
***
ELIZABETH WAS DELIGHTEDwhen Darcy came to find her in the library, but she was at a loss to understand why Darcy was so lukewarm when he told her the news.
“From the expression on your face when you entered, I thought something terrible had happed. This is wonderful! Yes it is disappointing that he did not jump out of bed and resume normal life just to oblige you, but he will do so when he is ready, and not before. You are too impatient, my love.”
He gave a wave of his hand, then dropped down onto the armchair. He looked like he might fall asleep right then and there.
“I suppose I am.”
Her heart went out to him. He was worn out and desperately needed to rest.
“Do you have anything to do now? Could you take a short nap? You may feel more refreshed afterwards.”
“Perhaps I will.”
His head was drooping. She doubted he would be able to get up even if he wanted to.
Then suddenly, he jerked to his feet and straightened his cravat.
“What am I saying? I cannot. I have a meeting.”
“A meeting?”
“The Council has called a meeting.”
“I did not hear of it. That is what comes of spending the day in the library. I will come with you.”
From the way his ears turned pink, she could tell she had embarrassed him. Obviously, they had not wanted to include her.
“Not everyone is invited. Only the Council members.”
“But you are not a Council member.”
His face shuttered. Clearly, he did not want to talk about it.
“I thought you did not approve of the Council.”
“I have changed my mind.”
