Elizabeth knocked on the bedchamber door of her good friend Charlotte Collins and in return she got a moan for an answer.
She turned the door handle and entered the room, treading lightly to see her friend pale and lethargic, lying upon the bed.The room was dark with the curtains still drawn and it stank with the stale smell of a day old vomit.
Elizabeth held her breath for a few seconds as she reached for the chamber pot, taking it out of the room. She would alert Ruby the-maid-of-all-work to remove it later. It was frustrating to see how lazy the servants became when the mistress of the house was bedridden.
“Charlotte,” Elizabeth called, returning to her friend’s bedside, “how are you today?”
“Oh Eliza,” Charlotte said weakly with a raspy voice, “I am not sure,” she panted, “at first I thought the nausea would pass after the first sixteen weeks or so, but it seems it might last the whole length of my confinement.”
Elizabeth frowned, “Yes, I can testify to this… condition… I have seen you suffer yourself for at least the last five weeks.”
Charlotte made a whining sound but nothing coherent came out of her mouth.
“But you cannot carry on like this Charlotte, you need sustenance. The baby needs sustenance… you need to eat.” Elizabeth said while opening the curtains.
“I do eat but nothing stays in for long. Sooner or later everything comes back up again.” Charlotte said shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight.
“Has Mr Collins called the doctor?”
“No, he called the midwife who said this is normal. But I am now almost thirty weeks along and the nausea is no better than before.” Tears ran down Charlotte’s kind face, “I am afraid for the health of my babe, Eliza, and I feel so hopeless. There is absolutely nothing I can do to change things.”
“Well,” Elizabeth said trying to conceal the ire that rose up in her chest. “You may feel hopeless but I do not. If Mr Collins will do nothing for his wife and his own child, then I have no other option but act accordingly myself.” Elizabeth’s firm expression showed her resolution, “wait here dear friend I will not be long.”
Charlotte attempted to raise her head, “what are you going to do, Eliza?”
“Do not worry Charlotte; everything will be well… for you and your babe.” Elizabeth said as she walked out, “As I said, wait here and rest, I will be back very soon with a solution.”
Elizabeth went directly to the kitchen where the cook was occupied with the preparation of broth, where Ruby sat upon a low stool engaged in chopping potatoes. The girl who was perhaps sixteen years of age appeared to have the whole day at her disposal, for the completion of her modest task; particularly as the vegetables in question happened to be Mr Collins’ especial favourite.
“Ruby,” she called the girl, “your mistress’ chamber pot is sitting outside of her bedroom by the door. Please empty it, wash it and return it to Mrs Collins’ chamber as soon as possible.”
“Yes miss.” The girl responded without looking up, showing no signs of moving from her spot in the kitchen.
“Ruby,” Elizabeth said more firmly, “do you need this job?”
“Yes miss,” the maid finally looked up.
“Good,” Elizabeth said with a smile, “for a moment I thought you did not. I was already considering applying to Lady Catherine for her help to get us a new maid.” She paused and looked at the girl innocently before continuing, “For I am sure she knows any number of girls from the village who would be pleased to relieve you of the burden of attending to your mistress’ needs.”
The girl’s eyes opened wide as she scrambled to her feet, dropping the potatoes and finding the motivation to move with alacrity, “No miss I’m going now. There is no need to replace me, miss; I’m good at my job.”
“I am sure you are Ruby.”
As Elizabeth moved out of the way for the maid to run out of the kitchen, she looked at Cook who was repressing a laugh. As soon as the maid was out of the room, the cook started laughing loudly wiping tears of hilarity.
“Well done Miss, that girl needs to be reminded who is boss around here. Her mistress is too lenient.”
Elizabeth nodded, “please let me know Cook, if Ruby does not improve; for my threat was not an empty one. While Mrs Collins is indisposed I will be the mistress, since Mr Collins is too busy with Lady Catherine’s demands to attend to his own wife’s needs.”
The Cook’s expression darkened as she harrumphed but said no more.
***
Elizabeth gathered her pelisse, bonnet and gloves as she prepared to go and fetch the local physician.As soon as she was out of the house she almost ran into Mr Darcy, who was about to knock on the parsonage front door.
“Miss Bennet.”
“Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth dropped to a hurried curtsy. “I beg your pardon, sir; I have not a moment to lose.”
