A Father's Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (10 page)

“Excuse
me, Gideon,” Elizabeth asked politely, “has Parker indicated to you that Mr.
Darcy was in need?”

“No,
miss, he has not.”

“Would
you please inquire of Parker if Mr. Darcy has any needs at this time?”

“Yes,
miss.” He tapped lightly on the door and did just that when Parker answered
that the only thing needed was Mr. Darcy’s bandage checked. Both Miss Bingley
and Elizabeth clearly heard his reply.

“Do
you want to cleanse and change the dressing on his wound or shall I, Miss
Bingley?” It was not in Elizabeth’s nature to push herself forward, and she
knew that she was not wanted here by the mistress of Netherfield Park.
Apparently, Miss Bingley was not confident in her own nursing skills, as she
turned in a huff and retreated back to her room. Elizabeth did not fail to note
the slight grin on Gideon’s face, but chose to ignore it as he stepped aside
for her to enter the room. However, she reminded him that she, more than any
other person in the house, would need to wash first as she would be touching
Mr. Darcy’s injured arm.

Mr.
Darcy was sleeping soundly, undoubtedly a result of the medicine and the
reaction to trauma. Parker had Mr. Darcy turned onto his right side so
Elizabeth was able to unwrap the bandage and clean the fluid that was oozing
between the stitches. There was no indication that infection had set in, but it
really was too soon to know. Elizabeth gazed down at Mr. Darcy and smiled at
how relaxed he looked in his sleep. He was a handsome man who she knew to be a
good man. She silently prayed that he would overcome this.

It
wasn’t long before they were joined in the room by Georgiana and Colonel
Fitzwilliam. Mr. Darcy still did not stir. This rest was the best medicine for
now, though she reminded Parker and the others that they would need to be
vigilant about getting him to drink liquids. It was a good time for Parker to
see to his own needs. Georgiana sat in a chair next to her brother and tenderly
held his hand. Mr. Darcy may have been unaware of her being there, but it
seemed to soothe her to feel his warmth.

Elizabeth
excused herself to go speak with Cook about the recipe for broth for Mr. Darcy.
On her way down the stairs, she heard Mr. Bingley’s return. She met him in the
hallway. He looked even more discouraged than when he had left. “Mr. Bingley,
is all well at Longbourn?”

“I
hardly know how to tell you, Miss Elizabeth.” He removed his gloves and started
wringing them in his hands. “I spoke for a moment with Miss Bennet and, rather
than being concerned with your health, she was concerned that your being in
Hertfordshire would be most upsetting to your parents. It actually appeared
that the only one pleased to see me was your mother. As much as I hate to say
this, Miss Elizabeth, I do believe that when Darcy is well enough to travel
back to London, I may close up the house and go with him.”

“I
am terribly sorry to hear that, Mr. Bingley,” She was quick to reassure him.
“It was not unexpected that they would not inquire of me. If you would excuse
me, please, I need to speak with Cook about meals for Mr. Darcy.”

“Yes,
Miss Elizabeth.” He shuffled his feet in indecision. “One thing before you go
that you should be aware of, Miss Elizabeth. Soon after Lt. Wickham came to
Meryton, he started talking about Darcy denying him his heritage, that of being
master of Pemberley. It appears from what your father said to me today, that he
believed Lt. Wickham’s tales against Darcy. You should also know that Darcy is
reserved and does not do well in company he is not familiar with. I am afraid
that he did not leave the society of Meryton with a good impression of him.
This included Mr. Bennet. I am sorry to tell you this, but you need to know.”

It
pained Elizabeth to see such a good, kind man heart-broken. She wondered at
Jane’s thinking, but realized that for five years she had placed herself at her
parent’s beck and call. Her sister had always had a tender heart that never
wanted to hurt anyone in any way. Elizabeth could imagine just how badly her
mother would want Jane and Mr. Bingley to reach an attachment. So, she did not
truly understand Jane’s reaction to Mr. Bingley’s call. Elizabeth had no
expectations at all of her father. “
What will be, will be
,” thought
Elizabeth as she went through the dining room to the kitchen.

Returning
to Mr. Darcy’s room followed by two maids with trays with a light meal for
herself and Georgiana, as well as heavier fare for the Colonel, they stopped at
the door and washed before entering. Gideon was pleased that it was not
necessary to remind them.

It
appeared, however, that none of them had an appetite. It would be a very long
night for them all.

Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire

The
hands on the clock in Mr. Darcy’s chamber seemed to crawl from one minute to
the next. Before morning, fever had set in. Throughout the night, Parker,
Georgiana, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth had taken turns putting cold
cloths on Mr. Darcy’s forehead, though it was left up to Elizabeth to tend to
the wound. As the night progressed, Mr. Darcy drank less and less water to the
point that Elizabeth and Parker were spooning the medicine and tea into his
mouth. Georgiana was sleeping on a settee in Mr. Darcy’s sitting room and
Colonel Fitzwilliam was sleeping in the adjoining room. Parker and Elizabeth
took turns napping in the chair next to Mr. Darcy’s bed. The kitchen staff sent
trays at regular intervals, which went for the most part untouched.

Long
past breakfast time, the Colonel came into Mr. Darcy’s bed chamber. He had not
slept well, his concern for his cousin keeping sleep at bay. Before the Colonel
could take a seat next to the bed, Mr. Darcy started tossing and turning,
showing signs of agitation. The Colonel spoke to him to try to soothe him, but
it wasn’t until Elizabeth walked behind him to check on his arm and Mr. Darcy
felt her touch that he settled. Elizabeth asked his cousin to help her raise
Mr. Darcy so she could try to get him to drink. She worried that if he did not
have fluids, his condition would worsen. Elizabeth spoke quietly but encouragingly
to Mr. Darcy, being careful not to bump his arm as she held the cup to his
lips. It was disconcerting to be this close to a man. Until her travels with
the Gardiners, she had never seen a man’s bare neck or arms. It had amazed her
to find that different cultures had much different standards for acceptable
dress and covering. Being on the docks in many different ports-of-call, she saw
various states of dress in men and women that few gently bred women in England
would ever see. However, this was her first experience at actually touching a grown
man’s skin.

“Please,
Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth quietly pleaded, “You need to drink to recover your
strength. Please, please drink.” On some level, Mr. Darcy must have heard her pleas
as he drank that cup and one other. The effort to hold himself up must have
been too much for him, as he fell weakly back to his pillow. Elizabeth, pleased
that he had responded well, then excused herself and told Colonel Fitzwilliam
that she would return in about twenty minutes so they can try to get more tea
or water into his cousin.

On
the way out of the room, she peeked into the sitting room to find Georgiana
asleep, a blanket tucked under her chin. However, her brow was furrowed, as if
her dreams reflected her waking thoughts. Elizabeth worried what would become
of her new friend if her brother did not recover. It was imperative that he do
so. So many people relied on him: his young sister, his friend Mr. Bingley, the
servants and tenants on his estates and households. It would be a devastating
blow to lose a fine man like Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth’s thoughts puzzled her.
Living and traveling with the Gardiners had opened the world to her. It left
her with a desire to see the Americas, the South Pacific, and the Orient. Her
abilities with new languages and her ease with travel, either on land or sea,
made the idea of new adventures highly appealing. She had assumed she would
never find a man attractive enough to cause her heart to long for roots, a
home; a future in just one location. How any man, but especially one in such
elevated society, could overlook her lack of dowry and that she had been
disowned by her family, that she was living with a family in trade, and that
the reputation of her father’s neglect of his estate and most likely his
tenants was almost impossible to believe. In honesty, she had to admit to
herself that her young heart at fourteen had recognized in that book store that
Mr. Darcy was handsome and all that a gentleman should be. The more she learned
of his personality and his strengths, the more it made her realize that she
could travel the globe and not meet another that would suit her personality as
well as he. It was a puzzle where the pieces were starting to align themselves!

After
she returned to the room, she and the Colonel were able to help Mr. Darcy drink
deeply of some cool water. It was at this point that Mr. Darcy roused himself
enough to need the attention of his valet, who had taken the opportunity to
rest. Colonel Fitzwilliam called Parker and Elizabeth again left the room. She
entered the sitting room to find Georgiana just waking.

“How
is my brother?”

“He
was able to drink deeply, Georgiana. Parker and the Colonel are with him now.”
Elizabeth sat on the settee next to her. “How about you, dear friend, are you
ready to break your fast? I certainly would be delighted with the company, if
you please.”

“I
would enjoy that, Elizabeth. I shall return to my room to change out of these
clothes I slept in and will meet you in the breakfast room.” They parted only
to meet again in a short while.

Descending
the stairs, Elizabeth heard Mr. Burton, the butler, greeting visitors. She
heard the deep voice of several men and the softer voice of a woman. When she
reached the bottom stair, she spied the older man first. He was an older
version of Colonel Fitzwilliam. The Matlocks must have arrived. Neither Mr.
Bingley nor his sisters were present, so Elizabeth walked forward to extend a
greeting. She inadvertently overheard their pleas for immediate news of Mr.
Darcy’s condition.

“Please,
pardon me for intruding, but I have just come from attending Mr. Darcy.  I
believe you are the family of the Darcys and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Am I
correct?”

Lord
Matlock met Elizabeth in the middle of the entry hall and he bowed to her
curtsey. “We are, indeed, family members. I am Martin Fitzwilliam, Lord
Matlock, and the Earl of Smithton. This is my wife, Elaine Fitzwilliam, Lady
Matlock, Countess of Smithton, and this is my eldest son, Henry Fitzwilliam,
Viscount Stanley. I understand from the express we received from my youngest
that a Miss Bennet has been seeing to the care of my nephew. Perchance, are you
Miss Bennet? How is he faring?”

The
concern was evident in the way all three Fitzwilliams gathered to hear the
news. They were more concerned with Mr. Darcy than seeing to their own comfort.
“Please rest assured that although he has a fever, he was able to take much
fluid over the past hour and he has already expressed a desire to get out of his
bed and resume his activities. He is an intelligent man, however, and realized
quickly that he was reaching far too high for the moment. I believe he will be
very pleased that you have arrived safely, as will your niece.” She looked
behind them and found Mr. Burton and Mrs. Nicholls lingering in anticipation of
assisting the travelers to their rooms. “I am sure that while Mr. Burton
informs Mr. Bingley that you are here at Netherfield Park, Mrs. Nicholls will
show you to your rooms so you may freshen up. Mr. Burton will also inform your
son and nephew of your arrival. I am expecting Miss Darcy downstairs in but a
moment.”

She
looked directly into Lord Matlock’s eyes. “Lord Matlock, Lady Matlock, Viscount
Stanley, you will need to be aware that we are taking every measure necessary
to see to the recovery of Mr. Darcy. With that in mind, we have stationed
outside his room a young, strong, footman to make sure that no person,
regardless of rank or position, will enter Mr. Darcy’s room without washing
first. The footman is part of Mr. Darcy’s staff and is committed to his care. My
experience, though not vast, has led me to believe that it is vital that Mr.
Darcy’s bed chamber, his person, and his wound be kept as clean as possible. Please
understand that no exceptions will be made, not even for close family members.
Do you have any questions about these procedures, sir?”

He
looked down at this young woman and realized that she was not intimidated at
all by his size, his name, or his title. How refreshing! “No, Miss Bennet, I do
not. My family will do anything to see to Darcy’s health.” Looking to his wife
and son, he repeated sternly in a voice that allowed no argument or
disagreement, “Anything!”

Hearing
footsteps behind her, she turned and glanced up the stairway. Elizabeth was
pleased to see her friend and to observe her delight at the appearance of her
relatives.

“Uncle
Martin! Aunt Elaine!” All sense of propriety flew out the window as Georgiana
squealed, ran down the stairs, and jumped into her waiting uncle’s arms. Her
uncle wrapped his strong arms around his niece and spun her as if she were a
toddler. His eyes closed and a look of pleasure and pain mixed momentarily
until he regained himself. Whether it was her uncle that did not immediately
let her go or Georgiana that continued to cling to her uncle, Elizabeth could
not tell. However, it was reassuring to see the relief her uncle was bringing
her as Georgiana rested her head against his chest. Her head rested just under
his chin; a position of comfort and familial love. Like his youngest son and
his nephew, Lord Matlock was a tall man, broad of chest and shoulders. His face
was weathered from exposure to the outdoors and his laugh lines were deeply
formed at the corners of his eyes. “I am so happy you have arrived,” she
whispered into his jacket. She leaned back from him, stood on her tip toes and
kissed his cheek. He quickly hugged her in return and released her so she could
properly greet her aunt and oldest cousin. Her welcome to her aunt and cousin was
still affectionate, but more subdued.

“Have
you met Elizabeth, Uncle? She is my most trusted friend.”

This
was high recommendation from a girl who had learned from experience to be
reserved, especially with new acquaintances. “Yes, Georgie, we have met.” He
scanned the room and noted that the housekeeper was patiently waiting to take
them upstairs to their rooms. Miss Bennet stood back with her eyes to the
floor, allowing the family as much privacy as possible in the narrow entryway,
and his oldest son gazed at Miss Bennet with an interested expression. “We are
just to be shown to our rooms where we will refresh ourselves. When we return, we
shall request Richard’s company, along with our host, Mr. Bingley, before we go
and bother your brother. We would like you and Miss Bennet to be in on that
conversation as well, as Richard’s letter yesterday provided only the most
basic information. It would be good to get the full circumstances out in the
open and, to do so, we will have to hear from you, poppet.” He looked to
Elizabeth. “Is this agreeable?”

“Yes,
my Lord.”

The
butler apparently saw to his tasks with thorough diligence as the sound of
footsteps again descended the stairs. Mr. Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam were
followed by Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. Introductions were quickly made and
Miss Bingley stepped in front of Elizabeth to demand that Mrs. Nicholls show
the Matlock family their rooms.

“Miss
Bingley,” Lady Matlock interrupted the long string of commands with a lift of
her forehead and an impervious tone. “Thank you, however, Miss Bennet has
already seen to our needs.” At that she swept her skirt aside and moved past
Miss Bingley, following the housekeeper up the stairs to the guest rooms on the
second floor. Her husband and son followed behind. As the family walked down
the hallway, they saw Darcy’s footman standing outside a bedroom door alongside
a washstand with a stack of clean linens folded and placed neatly alongside.
She gave a quick nod; all is as it should be.

Georgiana,
shy in the company of the Bingley sisters, felt the power that her relatives
reflected missing at their departure. Elizabeth sensed her discomfort and
hurried to her side, putting her arm through her friend’s. Elizabeth spoke up,
“Gentlemen, Lord Matlock has asked that we gather to discuss yesterday’s
events. The family will be down shortly. Might we meet in the drawing room, Mr.
Bingley?”

“Certainly,
Miss Elizabeth,” Turning to his sister he added, “Caroline, would you order
tea?”

Miss
Caroline Bingley was quite put out. She left London and came to this country
estate only because Mr. Darcy would be here and she saw it as one step closer
to becoming Mistress of Pemberley. Now, this country nobody was usurping her
position as hostess. Something would have to be done, and quickly, before Miss
Elizabeth Bennet ingratiated herself into the Fitzwilliam family further. A few
moments later, when Mrs. Nicholls returned to the main floor, Caroline ordered
tea, only to find out that Elizabeth had already taken care of it. She gave a
very unladylike stomp of her slippered foot and turned and went back upstairs.
Her elder sister, Mrs. Hurst, watched the scene play out and was secretly
amused. It was time that her little sister quit thinking so highly of herself.

Elizabeth
asked Colonel Fitzwilliam how Mr. Darcy was when he left him and was told that
he was hot, bored, and cranky. Just then, Lord and Lady Matlock and Viscount
Stanley entered the drawing room. All, with the exception of Lord Matlock, took
their seat.