Page 44 of Hidden Desires

“IS MY FATHER IN HIS LIbrARY?” Elizabeth cried as she burst through the door of the manor.

“He is,” Hill answered, stepping back. “Shall I fetch him?”

“There is no time.” She brushed past and hurried down the hall, throwing open the library door so hard the heavy oak panel slammed into the wall with a crash.

Mr. Bennet looked up, his anger fading at the sight of her pale face and urgent eyes.

“I need your help,” she said, beckoning to him before turning and fleeing down the corridor.

“With what?” he asked, already rising from his chair.

“Georgiana. She suffered a terrible shock.”

“Then why bring her here?” he asked again, quickening his pace. “You should have tended to her at once, not dragged her across the countryside.”

“I tried,” she said, “but she would not speak, and nothing I did calmed her, so I brought her home, hoping you might succeed.”

Bennet reached the carriage and looked inside, where Georgiana sat slumped on the bench with her head bowed, Lydia’s arms wrapped around her shoulders. Sobs shook her frame, and tears streamed down her face, gathering on the floor.

“Miss Darcy,” he said, his voice low and calm, “are you injured? Shall I send for the apothecary? Tell me how I may help.”

Georgiana raised her eyes to his, her lips trembling as she whispered, “I cannot. He warned me.”

“Who warned you, and of what?”

But she turned into Lydia’s shoulder, her sobs growing louder.

Elizabeth stepped back and looked along the drive. “I should take her to Netherfield,” she said. “Perhaps her brother’s presence will ease her fears. Will you come with me? He deserves an explanation, and I have none to give.”

“No! You cannot tell William,” Georgiana cried through her sobs. “I could not bear to see him punished for my disobedience.”

Bennet stepped away from the carriage and motioned for Elizabeth to follow. Once they were out of Georgiana’s hearing, he turned to her with a furrowed brow.

“What does she mean, punished for her disobedience? Who would punish Darcy for anything his sister has done?”

“I do not know. She has said nothing until now, and even this makes little sense. I brought her home in the hope she might confide in you.”

He nodded, concern clouding his face. “We had better keep her here until she has settled. I will ask Mrs. Hill to prepare one of the vacant rooms in the servants’ quarters so she can lie down.”

“Put her in my room. My bed is more comfortable, and easier to reach if we need Mr. Jones.”

She leaned into the carriage and found Georgiana exhausted, eyes closed, her head resting on Lydia’s shoulder.

“Come with me. I will take you into the house to rest,” she said, reaching for the girl’s hand to help her down.

“You may go,” she told the driver. “Please thank Uncle Phillips for the use of his coach, and my aunt for her kindness.”

“Let us get you inside.” Elizabeth guided her into the front hall and toward the stairs.

Mrs. Bennet met them at the door, halting their progress. “What has happened to her?” she asked, blocking the path at the very moment Elizabeth longed to escape her questions.

“She needs to rest,” Elizabeth said, stepping to the side. “She has suffered a shock and must have quiet.”

Her mother refused to yield, keeping pace with them as her questions followed up the stairs.

“Why can’t she rest in her own bed? We have no spare rooms but the servants’ quarters, and those have stood empty for months. I can ask Mrs. Hill to ready one, but it will take time.”

“I am taking her to my room,” Elizabeth said, her patience thinning. “Please excuse us. Miss Darcy is unwell.”

She stepped around her mother and led Georgiana upstairs to her chamber. Once inside, she helped her into bed and pulled a blanket over her.

“You may rest here. Go to sleep.” She rose and moved to draw the curtains.

“Stay with me, please.” She reached for Elizabeth and clasped her hand with both of hers.

“I am not going anywhere. Try to sleep. It will restore your strength.”

“I do not know how he found me.” She shuddered. “I thought we were free of his threats.”

“Who threatened you? Please tell me, so I can help.”

“I cannot,” she murmured as sleep overcame her. “He will punish William.”

Who will punish Mr. Darcy? Elizabeth wondered as the young woman’s eyes closed and her breathing steadied.

She watched the worry fade from her face and the tension leave her body. Then Elizabeth moved to the door and eased it open, not wishing to disturb her rest.

Her father waited in the hall.

“I have sent word to Mr. Darcy,” he whispered. “He ought to know that his sister is here and that she needs him.”

“I suppose you are right, though it is not what she wanted.”

“I only wrote that Miss Darcy had taken ill and asked him to come.”

“It is probably for the best. I just hope he is not too upset with us for sending word.”

“He will be grateful. Better that he hears from us than finds we kept her condition from him.”

“I hope so. Georgiana feared his involvement, though she did not say why. If you need me, I will be with her. She asked not to be left alone.”

She opened the door and slipped inside, careful not to wake her friend, who was still sleeping.

***

Darcy leaned low over his horse’s neck and urged it faster, the wind tearing past him as the hedgerows blurred on either side.

What has happened to Georgiana? She showed no sign of illness this morning. Did something occur in Meryton? Bennet’s message said too little, as if meant to hide the truth.

By the time he reached Longbourn’s gates, his horse was spent. He flung himself from the saddle and thrust the reins into the hands of a waiting groom.

“See to him,” he said before striding toward the manor, where Bennet waited, his expression grave.

“I came as fast as I could,” he called out. “Where is Georgiana? Is she safe? Has she been hurt? Your message gave me no answers.”

Bennet lifted his hands to halt him. “Calm yourself. Elizabeth took her to her chamber to rest. She is sleeping now, and I suggest you let her be until she wakes.”

“Let me see her.” Darcy moved past him, his worry overcoming any thought of courtesy.

“For her sake, let her sleep,” Elizabeth said, descending the stairs. “She suffered a shock and has only just lain down. If you wake her now, the memory will return at once, and she will be forced to relive it.”

“What caused this shock? I thought you planned to spend the day in Meryton.” When Elizabeth nodded, he pressed on. “What happened, and why bring her here instead of to Netherfield, where I could tend to her?”

“She was terrified of involving you,” Elizabeth said, her hands spread in helplessness. “So I had nowhere else to go. When we arrived, I took her to my room and put her to bed, hoping rest would do what I could not. What else could I do?”

“But what caused this?” Darcy cried. “She was in good spirits this morning, eager for your outing to Meryton. What happened? What did you do to distress her?” He turned away, fingers flexing at his sides as he fought for control. “I was a fool to trust you with her care.”

“I am sorry, Mr. Darcy. I wish I could give you a better answer, but I do not know what upset her. We spent the day browsing in the shops and calling on my aunt. When it came time to leave, neither Mary nor the others had returned, so we went to look for them. We found Kitty and Lydia not far from the house, but Mary was still missing, so I sent them back to my aunt’s and continued the search with Georgiana.

“We found her in a narrow lane, speaking with several officers of the regiment. I stepped forward to fetch her and did not notice at first that Georgiana had not followed. When I turned, she was standing where we had stopped, her eyes fixed on Mary and the men.

“I asked her what was wrong, but she said nothing. She looked pale and unsteady, so I took her back to my aunt’s house and left her there while I went to collect Mary.”

“Did she explain herself?” Darcy asked, his voice rising. “Did she say anything to account for the change?”

“She said only that he was here and asked how he had found her.”

Darcy turned toward the stairs. “This makes no sense, and she must tell me what happened.”

Elizabeth stepped forward and placed her hands on his chest, stopping him where he stood.

“And what do you think that will accomplish? She is terrified and cannot speak of it, not yet, and certainly not to a man who has spent the last five minutes shouting at everyone in sight. You are not going to disturb her. Calm yourself and let her sleep. What she needs now is peace, not questions, and when she wakes, I will take you to her.”

Darcy’s shoulders sank as her words broke through the fear that had held him fast.

“Forgive me,” he said. “I have acted like a fool. Fear for my sister clouded my judgment, and I am ashamed.”

“There is no need to ask our forgiveness.” With a reassuring hand, Bennet turned him toward the library.

“Your concern is both understandable and admirable. Had something like this happened to my Lizzy, I suspect my own reaction would have been no better, and perhaps even worse. We did our best to make her feel at home. Elizabeth even gave up her room so Miss Darcy could rest more comfortably. She will let you know when your sister is ready to see you, but until then, come sit in the library. I will pour you something to steady your nerves.”

Bennet led him to a chair and bade him sit. Taking up a bottle of brandy, he poured a measure into two snifters and handed one to Darcy, who drank in silence, emptying the glass in a single swallow.

He reached across the desk to refill the glass, then sat back and watched as Darcy sipped, his tension easing with each swallow.

“I cannot begin to explain it,” he said at last. “What could have caused such a reaction? She seems happy at Netherfield and especially enjoys Miss Elizabeth’s company. Just yesterday, she told me she hopes the work will not end too soon, as she wishes to remain a while longer.”