“Miss Bennet, what has happened?”
“It is nothing very serious, I hope,” Elizabeth said, though she could not entirely prevent the effort from showing. “Only a moment’s carelessness.”
Mr Darcy did not set her down at once, but carried her further into the room before lowering her carefully into a chair.
“She should not attempt to stand,” he said. “Not until we know the extent of the injury.”
Miss Darcy moved nearer, her anxiety plain, though she kindly restrained herself from any expression that might increase Elizabeth’s discomfort. “Does it pain you very much?” Miss Darcy asked with concern.
“Not so much as to alarm me,” Elizabeth replied, with a faint smile. “Though I think I must be content to remain still for the present.”
Lady Catherine, who had been informed of their arrival, entered the room at this moment. Her attention, at first directed toward Mr Darcy, altered rapidly as she perceived the situation. “What is this? Miss Bennet, what have you done to yourself?”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to answer, but Mr Darcy spoke before her.
“She has injured her ankle while walking. It is not yet clear how severely.”
Lady Catherine regarded this with evident disapproval. “And you thought it proper to bring her here?”
“It was the nearest house,” he replied.
“Surely you might have gone to seek help and sent a cart for Miss Bennet,” Lady Catherine protested.
“I would not leave a lady alone in such a circumstance,” he said, his tone even.
Lady Catherine paused, as though considering whether to pursue the matter further, but her attention was already shifting toward practical arrangements.
“Send for the doctor,” she said at last. “Mr Collins’s household cannot be expected to manage such a situation properly.”
A servant was dispatched at once, and in the interval Georgiana remained near Elizabeth, speakingto her in a tone intended to reassure without intruding. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had entered shortly after, sat near them, cheering Elizabeth’s spirits with a very welcome mix of reassurances and jokes.
Mr Darcy spoke little, but he did not withdraw far. He stood where he might observe without appearing to do so, his attention returning to Elizabeth whenever she spoke, as though unwilling to trust entirely to her assurances that the injury was slight.
The doctor arrived in due time and examined her ankle with professional calm. “It is not broken,” he said at last. “Only sprained. It will require rest, but with proper attention, there is no reason it should not recover fully.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Elizabeth said. “That is a considerable relief.”
“You must not attempt to walk on it today,” the doctor continued. “And for the next week at least, you must walk no farther than is absolutely necessary.”
Lady Catherine nodded, as though the instruction had confirmed her own expectations. “She cannot remain here,” she said. “She must be returned to the parsonage at once. Mrs Collins will take care of her.”
“I will see her there,” Mr Darcy said. The words were spoken simply, yet with a firmness that leftlittle room for objection.
Lady Catherine looked at him with surprise, though she did not oppose him. “If you think it necessary,” she said.
“I do.”
Arrangements were made without further delay, and the carriage was brought round. Mr Darcy assisted Elizabeth into it with the same care he had shown before, though the circumstance, now less sudden, allowed her a greater awareness of what she felt.
She settled herself as best she could, though the motion of the carriage, once it began, reminded her painfully of the injury she had sustained. Mr Darcy had taken the seat opposite, his attention fixed on her steadily.
“I am very sorry,” she said after a moment. “I have caused a great deal of disturbance.”
“None that signifies,” he replied.
“It must still be inconvenient.”
“It is not.”
