Jane has returned to Longbourn and sends her love, as I do.
Sincerely yours,
Lizzy
Chapter 24: Convalescence
Darcy rang the bell and asked for hot water, then laid out his clothes. He felt the absence of his valet, and if he remained long at Hadden Hall, he would send for him.
When his dinner clothes were arranged, he stood by the window and looked out upon the hills stretching in every direction. The sight was beautiful, the grass still green from the spring rains. It was too early for the heather to bloom, yet he remembered riding through it with his two cousins in years past.
His thoughts drifted to London and to Elizabeth.
Had Mrs. Nichols liked her? A woman of quality such as Elizabeth would be valued by his servants, for she would treat them with respect and work in harmony with them. What would she think when she saw his library?
He imagined her seated before the hearth, a book in her hands, her expression bright with curiosity, and his own heart drawn, as it always was, toward her.
His thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock at the door.
“Come in.”
A servant entered. “Mr. Darcy, your bath water, sir.”
“Thank you.”
Darcy gestured toward his evening clothes. “Is there someone who can press these for me?”
“Yes, sir. At once.”
Darcy set himself to shaving while the water was still hot, then bathed in the portable copper tub the servant had drawn out from the dressing room. When he was finished, he felt restored, and by the time he stood in his banyan, rubbing his hair dry with a towel, his cousin’s valet returned with his dinner clothes pressed and ready.
“Thank you, Miles. I did not mean for my needs to take you away from my cousin.”
“It is no matter, Mr. Darcy. I was able to administer two cups of tea, and then his mother came to attend to him. She released me to assist you with your bath and dress.”
“I am glad to hear my cousin was able to receive so much fluid. My aunt must be heartened.”
“Yes, sir, she is.”
Miles hesitated. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Darcy?”
“No, but thank you. I can dress myself now that my clothes are ready.”
Once Darcy was dressed, he went to check on Richard, who was sound asleep. Then he descended to the drawing room, where the ladies were already assembled.
He settled near the Stanhope sisters. “Lady Abigail, can you tell me about Giles? It appeared to me that he is not generally a violent man.”
“No, sir, he is not. I fear I drove him to such an extremity.”
She sighed.
“He found me crying one day in the park, and I told him that the Earl had asked for my hand in marriage. He was as put out as I was. The Earl was an old man, and he looked older still, from his riotous living. Giles was shocked by the man’s temerity.”
Her voice tightened.
“Giles told me the Earl had boasted of having had my father killed. When this came to his knowledge, he resolved to destroy the monster.
She turned to Mr. Darcy.
