Elizabeth looked at her sister, who was lying motionless inside the carriage. There was no time for discussion. Jane would die if she did not get treatment quickly. They had already delayed enough.
Elizabeth had no intention of allowing Lady Catherine to refuse them entry. She stepped out of the carriage.
"I am Elizabeth Darcy,Special Mage Advisor to the Prince Regent,” said Elizabeth, using an enhancement spell like Lord Matlock to make her voice carry. “We are on our way to take a stand against Napoleon. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, in the name of the Prince Regent, I am requisitioning Rosings Park for the fight against Napoleon for as long as we need to use it."
Lady Catherine's mouth dropped open, and she stared at Elizabeth in shock.
“How dare you speak in the Prince Regent’s name?”
“I do and I have. You may send an express to Carlton House to verify that I am indeed his Advisor. Until you hear otherwise, I would suggest you take heed. I can easily dismantle your Wards, Lady Catherine. However, I am sure you will agree it would be a waste of effort and time. Meanwhile, my sister needs Healers urgently. Kindly step aside and allow us in."
Elizabeth turned to the butler. "Bartle, I need you to bring some men to carry in my sister, Miss Bennet.”
He hesitated, looking towards his mistress for confirmation.
"If you do not, you will have to answer to the Prince Regent himself." Her tone was uncompromising. She had no intention of allowing anyone to stand in her way.
In response, Lady Catherine uttered a spell to allow them in, turned on her heels, and marched inside.
“Brava!” said Mr. Bennet, stepping out of the carriage. “Well done!”
She was not sure it was well done. She had made an enemy of Lady Catherine. Not that it mattered. If indeed Lady Catherine did not want to receive Darcy, then it was no great loss, but Elizabeth did not want to cause Darcy any distress. That was all she cared about.
She looked towards him, mouthing the words ‘I’m sorry’ to him.
He was by her side in an instant. “You have nothing to be sorry about, Elizabeth. My aunt has behaved badly. She deserved a set-down.”
“You’re not upset, then?”
“I am upset, but not at you,” he said.
It was not the time or place to talk about it, but she resolved to do it later. The butler arrived with half a dozen footmen, bed sheets and a wheelbarrow to transport Jane, and she turned all her attention to making sure Jane was not bumped too badly.
Though, with Mr. Bingley following along with them and giving them instructions all the way, there really was not much for her to do.
Since his aunt had apparently retired for the night and left her guests to fend for themselves, Darcy placed himself in charge.Rosings had been his home as a child, and since then, he had visited many times.
Once Jane was settled in the sick room, the first thing Darcy did was go to his old bed chamber and ring for the butler.
“Bartle,” he said, when the butler arrived, “you must know my aunt’s customary Healer.”
“Of course, Mr. Darcy. It is Lady Creswell. She conducts a Healing Circle.”
Darcy recalled the name now. “Has Lady Catherine sent for her?”
“I don’t believe so, sir.”
“Kindly dispatch a footman requesting her urgent presence with her fellow Healers.”
Darcy half-expected Bartle to argue, but to his surprise, he seemed eager to help. “I will do so at once. I am very sorry about the young lady, sir.”
Darcy nodded. “Thank you, Bartle. When you have sent for Lady Creswell, ask Perry to see me.”
Next, Darcy sat down to write a letter to Matlock, informing him of the day’s events. Using the special signal he had agreed upon with Colonel Fitzwilliam, he arranged to deliver a message to his cousin, who would know where to find Matlock.
Darcy was beyond exhausted, and the day was not yet over. Few of them would be able to sleep, not when all their hope of Jane’s recovery depended on the arrival of a Healer.
And there was something else that he needed to arrange, since Lady Catherine had neglected to do it. He went down to the kitchen himself, where he inquired about food. The French chef had gone to bed, but fortunately, his aunt had retained the pastry cook he knew as a child.
