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CHAPTER 8

“Lizzy, Mr. Darcy, it is so good you have come. Perchance your presence will be just the thing to bring your father around. Oh, I pray that is the case. Your brother Geoffrey has been a true prince in taking over in your father’s stead, but I should very much like to see Mr. Bennet recover.” Clutching a linen handkerchief, Mrs. Bennet placed her hand on her chin. “I do believe I would be quite lost without him.”

“Oh, Mama, I pray that what you say is true—that my being here will make a difference.”

Geoffrey Collins and Jane came into the parlour to greet the Darcys, the former looking like the head of the village. Tall and exceedingly handsome, he and Darcy merely nodded at each other. Jane and Elizabeth rushed into each other’s comforting embrace.

“Lizzy, it is so good you have come.”

“Yes, Jane. It is good that you are here as well. How is Papa? Has there been any change in his condition? I should like very much to see him.”

Before Jane replied, Elizabeth looked back at Darcy. “Are you coming with me?”

Darcy nodded. “If that is your wish.”

“I do not know that I can do this without you.” It was enough said. Darcy walked to Elizabeth’s side, took her hand in his, and the two of them headed up the stairs to Mr. Bennet’s room.

What Elizabeth saw, upon entering her father’s room, took her breath away. Instead of the hearty robust man whom she had last welcomed to her home at Pemberley with such warm delight some months ago at Christmas, she espied what could best be described as a shell of her father. How pale and weak he looked. She silently vowed she would remain close by his side until he fully recovered. This was her father and, in spite of all their differences over the years, she felt strongly that she owed him as much.

Darcy took hold of his wife’s elbow to steady her. They walked closer to the bed. Elizabeth leaned down and kissed her father’s forehead. “Papa, I am here.”

For a time, Darcy sat with his wife and offered whatever comfort he could as she busied herself attending her father. Once the sun had all but disappeared from the sky, Darcy said to Elizabeth. “Will you pardon me, my love, while I speak with my man to see that arrangements have been made for our stay in Meryton?”

Jane, who was happening by the partially opened door, entered the room. “Pray forgive me, but I could not help overhearing you. There is no need for you to stay in Meryton. I have seen to it that the two of you are settled in the green room.” She said, “I apologise that the room is not up to your standards. The house is rather crowded, you see, and we all have to make allowances.”

“You need not have gone to the trouble. Mrs. Darcy and I do not mean to disrupt the household.”

“Nonsense, Mr. Darcy—it is unheard of that you should even think to stay in Meryton when there is no reason at all that we all should not stay here at Longbourn.”

Elizabeth said nothing during the discussion. She was perfectly content to remain in the chair beside her father’s bed if it meant being close to him. Her hasty departure from Kent had not been without immense distress over the prospect of leaving Ben behind. How her heart ached over the uncertainty of not knowing when they would be reunited. Still, she could not help but consider that their scheme to arrive in Hertfordshire ahead of Ben, Georgiana, and Anne was for the best. She missed him terribly. What a brave little lad he had been through it all, going so far as to pen a letter to his grandfather—all on his own. Elizabeth was close to tears when he handed it to her.

In truth, there was very little Elizabeth could do now, other than sit and pray and read. Her father loved nothing more than a good, long book. What pleasure he derived in immersing himself in one, especially a mystery.

Darcy placed his hands on his wife’s shoulder. He applied a gentle massaging pressure. “We have been sitting here for some time. What say you to pausing for dinner?”

“I do not feel the least bit hungry, but you must not feel obliged to forgo dinner.”

“I must insist you join me. There is no point in you sacrificing your own health. What purpose might that serve?”

Elizabeth reluctantly conceded to her husband’s demands. Of course, he was correct. She would be of no use to anyone if she did not keep up her own strength. Her stomach’s rumbling unceremoniously bolstered her decision. She needed a bite to eat after all. But just a quick bite, and then she would return to her father’s side.

Standing, Elizabeth released her papa’s hand and turned to her sister. “Jane, what exactly does the physician have to say about Papa’s condition?”

“That is the hardest part about this, Lizzy, for Mr. Jones is at a complete loss to explain what brought about Papa’s illness. Papa was found days ago lying here in much the same state as you see him now.”

Darcy said, “May I ask who is Mr. Jones? Is he the man who attended you when you fell ill at Netherfield?”

“Indeed. Mr. Jones is the only person in Meryton who is to be consulted on such a matter as this.”

“I shall consult my own physician. He should be in a position to make a more comprehensive assessment of this illness that has beset Mr. Bennet.”

Geoffrey Collins entered the room in time to hear Darcy’s proclamation. “Your generosity is most appreciated, but I am afraid it is entirely unnecessary. I have made arrangements to bring in a specialist from town. He shall arrive tomorrow.”

“You are well within your rights to consult anyone whom you wish, just as I am within my rights to act accordingly.”

Elizabeth and Jane exchanged knowing glances. Already their husbands were at odds, and the Darcys had only just arrived. Suspecting this was the first of many differences of opinions that lay ahead, Elizabeth fought not to roll her eyes to the ceiling. And so it begins.

Darcy looked around the tiny quarters. His man stood silently by the door. “If I did not know better, I would say that Collins had a hand in the selection of this room.” In a tone meant only for himself, he said, “That pompous bore seems to have wasted no time at all designating himself head of the family in Mr. Bennet’s stead.”