“Oh, hurry, there is a mouse under the bed!”
The footman, who had been expecting trouble, looked at her in disbelief.
“Amouse?”
“I cannot abide mice,” she said. “I cannot be in same room as one. It may even have been a rat. You must think me such a ninny, I know.”
“Not at all, miss. No one likes rats. I had a brother who was bit by a rat once. On his finger. Nasty bite. We thought he would lose the finger. It took two Healers to cure it.”
Elizabeth wished he would get on with it. The wardrobe was smaller than she had believed, and she was feeling a tickle forming in her nostrils.
“If you will be kind enough to look under the bed for me.”
There was a rustle of cloth and sheets as the footman bent down to look.
“Nothing there, miss. There must be a hole somewhere, and it’s gone hiding. I will stay around outside for a few more minutes, just in case it comes back.”
“Thank you. What is your name.”
“Jessop, miss.”
“Well, thank you for your help, Jessop.”
“A pleasure to help a lady such as yourself, miss.”
Elizabeth waited to hear the door close before she squeezed out of the wardrobe. Mr. Bingley was still in the room, but he did not react to her sudden appearance. Elizabeth thought of that milky fog. Was that what he felt like, inside?
It could not be, because Bingley could see the world around him perfectly well. Still, she would never forget that feeling of being trapped. She had merely transitioned through the fog herself, but she would not easily undertake such a journey again.
“I think Mr. Bingley had better leave. It will not do for anyone to find him in here with you.”
Jane was used to handling this by now. She linked arms with Mr. Bingley and drew him outside the door, then shut the door on him.
“Lock it,” said Elizabeth in a whisper.
“Mr. Bingley has never tried to enter.” She paused to think about it. “Do you not think it is strange?”
“I am convinced there is some part of him that knows entering a single young lady’s bedchamber is wrong.”
“I like to think so. Why did you wish me to lock the door, then?”
“I did not mean you needed to lock it against Mr. Bingley. There are far more terrifying people walking around at Netherfield.”
The sickly smell of laudanum reached into her, bringing back her terror. Her stomach rebelled.
“Lizzy!” Jane’s Healer instincts came into play. She held her and rubbed her back gently.
“Will you allow me to soothe you, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth nodded.
Jane held Elizabeth’s hands. A gentle trickle of warmth travelled upwards and slowly spread through Elizabeth’s body. She took in a deep breath as some of the tension left her. By the time Jane had let go of her hands, she was feeling much better.
“Thank you, Jane. I am much better now.”
“Are you going to tell me why you appeared out of thin air like that?”
“I will, I promise. But first you need to find Mr. Darcy and ask him to come here. I can tell you both at the same time.”
