“Thanks Mr Darcy,” the doctor nodded and bowed to the ladies, “now please remove the husband as we will not require his help.”
“But… but…” Mr Collins tried to protest but Darcy grabbed him by the arm and gently but firmly turned him towards the door,
“Come Mr Collins, very soon we will know more about your wife’s condition and you will be able to be at ease.” Darcy doubted very much that the man cared about his wife’s condition for he was convinced that Mr Collins was nothing but extremely selfish.
The two gentlemen returned to the dining room where Mr Collins proceeded to swallow his dinner as if it were his last. The sounds that emanated from the table were so disgusting that Darcy decided to remove himself to the parlour, saying that Mr Collins could finish his dinner in peace, to which the man simply nodded his approval.
A half hour later the doctor came to Darcy in the parlour, accompanied by both Elizabeth and Mr Collins.
The doctor and Elizabeth looked grim and worried while Mr Collins looked confused.
“Well how is the patient Dr Denville?” Mr Darcy asked.
“Not very well I am afraid.”
“What do you mean Doctor? My wife is simply increasing,” Mr Collins voice was slightly panicked.
The doctor looked at him with an expression of shock, “did your wife ask you to call a physician to see her, Mr Collins?”
“Well…” the man faltered.
“Yes or no sir?” The doctor asked impatiently.
Mr Collins shifted on his feet nervously but appeared to have nothing to say.
Elizabeth waited and when she realised her cousin refused to answer the question, she replied to the doctor herself.
“Yes, she did, sir. But he called the mid-wife instead who said her condition was normal.”
“When was that, Miss Bennet?”
Elizabeth cleared her throat nervously looking at Mr Collins to intervene. But he was looking at his shoes and simply refused to engage.
“A few weeks ago sir, before I arrived in Kent.”
“When did you arrive madam?” The doctor insisted.
“Five weeks ago.”
The doctor turned and glared at Mr Collins, “Mr Collins, is it at all possible that you have watched your wife suffer for weeks on end knowing that her life hangs in the balance, while she carries your child and you, sir,” the doctor waved his finger under the parson’s nose angrily, “did absolutely nothing for her comfort?”
Mr Collins squirmed, “the mid-wife assured me that…”
“That what, sir? I am given to understand that your wife implored you to summon a physician, yet you, in a most ill-judged attempt at economy, sent instead for a mid-wife. She is not, I assure you, upon the point of giving birth yet. She is unwell, gravely so, and it lies quite beyond the proper province of a midwife to determine the nature of such an illness. Do you comprehend me?”
Mr Collins paled and looked as if he might faint. However the doctor seemed untouched by the parson’s discomfort.
“Mrs Collins is in grave danger.” The doctor reiterated, “Not only is her life in jeopardy but also that of her baby.” He finally looked at Mr Darcy, “I understand this household suffers from a scarcity of servants, which will put Miss Bennet under a heavy burden, looking after her friend day and night.”
“What do you recommend Dr Denville?” Mr Darcy asked with a tone of command that seemed so natural to him.
“I recommend we relocate Mrs Collins to the manor house, where not only I can stay to monitor her condition but we also have a plethora of servants, eager helpers to help Miss Bennetand myself in the arduous task of bringing Mrs Collins back into full health.”
“Absolutely not!” Mr Collins protested having found his voice again, “I would not burden my noble patroness with something as mundane as the health of my wife.”
Three pairs of eyes looked at him dumbfounded.
“Mundane?” Miss Bennet looked at her cousin with fire in her eyes.
