Page 76

Chapter Forty-Four

Elizabeth hoped she was right. Georgiana looked ill indeed, and she had never seen a man as consumed by fear as Darcy was, sitting there in his sister's room.

They did not speak, but simply sat there on either side of her, watching her breathing until the doctor appeared. It was the middle of the night, but Elizabeth was sure the Darcys paid well. He would surely be happy to be summoned at any time.

"Mr Darcy," the doctor said with a nod of his head, and then he looked at Elizabeth, a questioning expression on his face.

"Mrs Darcy," she said, and she did not miss the widening of the man's eyes, but he did not comment.

"Pleased to meet you, Mrs Darcy. Now, Miss Darcy's maid said this came on suddenly."

Darcy nodded. "We have been travelling. She seemed very tired, and had a headache, and perhaps her eyes were a little red? But nothing else until tonight, when she fell asleep and was found by her maid, feverish and in a fitful state. There is a rash on her face, and her chest too, the maid told me."

The doctor nodded. He pulled her nightgown back enough to see the rash below her clavicle, felt her forehead and her pulse, and then proclaimed, "I believe it is the measles."

"The measles?" Darcy said. "And that... Will she recover?"

"It is a serious disease; I cannot lie," the doctor said, and Darcy clenched his hand into a fist, trying not to let his fear overwhelm him. "She is young, and God willing, she will recover, Mr Darcy. The important thing is to make sure she does not overheat. Keep the room well aired, but avoid a draught, and put cool cloths on her head, just as you have been doing. I will give you a tincture for the pain she might be in, and then, if she awakens..."

"If?" Darcy repeated in a strangled voice.

"She will need to eat to build up her strength. Broth, ideally, something she can keep down."

Darcy nodded, blinking rapidly.

"This disease spreads very easily, Mr Darcy. Anyone who has not had it should not be in the sickroom. But those who have had it do not seem to be afflicted more than once."

◆◆◆

"Have you had the measles, Darcy?" Elizabeth asked softly.

He looked at her, almost as though he had forgotten she was there.

"The measles," she said. "Did you have it as a child?"

He shook his head. "I don't think so."

"Then you should go," she said. "It is not safe."

"I will not leave my sister," he said firmly.

Elizabeth swallowed.

"Mrs Darcy is right, Mr Darcy," the doctor said. "I really would advise—"

"Tell me what to do, and I will do it, but I will not leave her. If she can beat this, then I can. And if she can't, well, I'm not sure I want to either."

Elizabeth looked at him aghast. His love for his sister was admirable, but the thought of losing him... That was like a knife to the stomach.

Seeing that he wasn't going to win the argument, the doctor wrote down his instructions and promised to return in the morning.

Darcy turned to Elizabeth. "You should go," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "Thank you, Elizabeth, for your help, but I would not want you in harm's way. Please, just..."

He was so choked with emotion that Elizabeth could hardly stand it. She reached out and took his hands in hers, for he was desperately looking between the two of them.

"I will stay, Darcy," she said.

"But you heard what the doctor said," he said, sounding slightly panicked. "It is dangerous, and you must not put yourself in danger."