Page 76 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)
The following morning, Elizabeth informed Charlotte of a plan designed to introduce her friend to the district’s physician.
“This afternoon, we will drive into Lambton. I have business with Dr Collin Rutledge, who keeps a small clinic and surgery on the lower floor of his home. I intend to open the stillroom at Pemberley and supply his charitable work. You will come with me, of course, and observe him, and he you.”
After luncheon, Elizabeth and Charlotte were conveyed to Lambton to call upon the physician at his residence.
His stone house was the largest on the street, and the gardens were neatly kept.
The housekeeper led them to the drawing room, where they waited a quarter of an hour before the doctor joined them.
Charlotte saw at once that he was a tall, slender man with an easy manner and laughing eyes.
They stood, and Elizabeth made the introductions.
He bowed and said, “I beg your pardon for the delay. We had a complex dressing to change, but I was able to carry it to a certain point and then left my student to complete the procedure.”
Elizabeth looked interested. “You have a student working with you, sir?”
“Yes,” he replied. “He is a fellow. He has completed his formal studies and is now gaining practical experience.”
“He must be of great assistance to you,” Elizabeth observed.
The physician smiled wryly. “Ordinarily, I might agree. But this particular young man would rather be at play than at work. He is a third son, having found no satisfaction in the military, the clergy, or the law, and so turned to medicine. It is too early to say whether he will do well in the profession. It would be a pity if he did not, for he has completed all his studies.”
Elizabeth looked concerned. “Sir, you have my sympathies. It sounds as though you are charged with the care of someone’s child, rather than with a young professional about to enter the field.”
The doctor chuckled. “Indeed, madam, I am. He is my younger brother.”
The two ladies laughed, and he seated himself across from them. “Now, Mrs. Darcy, how may I be of service to you?”
Elizabeth said, “I intend to open the stillroom at Pemberley and wish to provide you with tinctures and extracts for those patients unable to pay for their treatment. Would such a service be of benefit to you, sir?”
She added, “If so, I will require your recipes for each tincture and extract, so that our preparations meet your standards.”
Dr. Rutledge appeared thoughtful. “Mrs. Darcy, your offer would save me a great deal of time. I should be very grateful for any assistance. May I send you a list by the end of the week? I must first examine my stock to determine what I most require. I can tell you now that I am nearly out of tincture of echinacea and willow bark.”
Elizabeth replied, “Miss Lucas will visit at Pemberley for the next four months. She and I will prepare the remedies together. If it is helpful, she is available tomorrow to copy out the recipes for the tinctures of echinacea and willow bark.”
The doctor turned to Charlotte. “I shall pull those two recipes from my files tonight and have them ready for you.”
She inclined her head. “At what hour shall I arrive, sir?”
“Any time between ten and two would suit. My brother will be present even if I am called away, and either he or I shall provide you with the paperwork.”
“I will be here tomorrow at ten.”
Elizabeth rose, and Charlotte followed.
“Sir, we shall take our leave and allow you to return to your work and your student. Good day.”
That evening, Charlotte sat alone upon the small sofa in her bedchamber, reflecting on her visit to Derbyshire.
In only one week, she had made the acquaintance of two eligible gentlemen, both respectable, both with promising futures.
As a pleasant surprise, both were also attractive and seemingly without vice or entanglement.
Her only concern now was whether either of them might find her agreeable enough to seek a closer acquaintance.
Neither the rector nor the physician had shown any hint of interest in her.
That same night, in her own chamber, Elizabeth, attired in a silk nightgown, had been writing in her journal when Mr. Darcy entered. She set aside her writing and reached for her teacup.
Darcy set his glass upon the table and asked, “Were you working on your poetry?”
“Yes.”
“May I see it?”
“If you wish. I only hope you shall not walk away from me this time, as you did once in the grove at Rosings.”
He chuckled. “I walked away then because your verse struck me with a truth I refused to acknowledge. I recognized myself at once as the man who turned from both the dryad and the mermaid. At that time, we believed ourselves to inhabit separate worlds, never to be joined.”
He paused. “How mistaken we were, and how much time we wasted in learning the truth.”
Elizabeth reached out and touched his arm. “And yet, here we are, together, and very happy.”
She handed him the journal and then turned away while he read her latest verses.
After some time, he turned to her. “The Dryad is still my favorite, but this ballad of the minstrel is very fine. I shall look forward to reading it once it is complete.” He shifted closer. “How did your meeting with the doctor go today?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “He is presently training his younger brother, who, by his account, would rather play than work. The doctor himself is very busy, and I doubt he will have time to consider marriage for some years.”
She sipped her tea. “Nevertheless, the stillroom shall be of use to him. Charlotte and I shall begin preparations shortly. I mean to speak with Mrs. Reynolds to see if any of the maids are skilled with their sums, for when Charlotte returns to Meryton, I will need someone to assist in the stillroom regularly. I shall help as I may, but I cannot make it my chief concern.”
Darcy’s eyes narrowed. “We must also establish a fund to assist those in the parish who cannot pay for the physician’s services. If we wish to retain a capable doctor, we must support not only his work, but his livelihood.”
Elizabeth looked at him with interest. “What do you propose?”
“I shall call on the principal landowners in the area. We will form a committee and establish a fund. I will write to your uncle to inquire after any sound investment opportunities to grow the fund over time.”
Elizabeth leaned against his shoulder. “Fitzwilliam, it does my heart good to see how deeply you care for your family, your tenants, the community, and even the doctor.”
Darcy drew her closer. “We all depend upon one another, darling. If we desire a good physician among us, it is our duty to help sustain him. As matters stand, the man is caring for all who come to him, regardless of their means, and in the case of the indigent, he receives no payment.”
The next morning, as Stevens sorted through Charlotte’s wardrobe, Elizabeth mentioned a third gentleman whom Charlotte had not yet met.
“Mr. Seton inherited his estate only nine months ago, Charlotte. I have not yet met him, but I shall ask Mr. Darcy to invite him for a day of fishing.”
Stevens interrupted. “Miss Charlotte, I do not mean to wound your feelings, but whoever selected these gowns has no eye for color or fashion. You must choose which gown you wish to wear to the doctor’s today and allow me to make it more becoming.”
Charlotte replied, “That is my mother’s taste. She would not heed my wishes when it came to colors or patterns.”
Stevens held up a deep green day gown. “May I suggest this one, ma’am? The warm tone of the forest green suits your complexion. Your hair has a touch of strawberry, and earthy colors, such as coral and deep green, will flatter you. Warm pinks and reds would do well for evening wear.”
She began to remove the high collar. “Is your mother of the Quaker persuasion, miss?”
Charlotte laughed. “No, my mother is not particularly devout. Her austere taste arises from a dislike of change. That is why I appear as though I belong to another century.”
Stevens raised her brow. “If you wish to catch a gentleman, miss, you must alter your style. I shall rework this bodice now. Mrs. Darcy, might Miss Charlotte borrow your red pelisse? It would be far more flattering than her pale blue one.”
Stevens held up the ice-blue pelisse to Charlotte’s face. Elizabeth looked startled. “Charlotte, that color makes you appear haggard and drawn. You must do away with it. I should not wear it myself, not if I were hoping to attract a gentleman’s attention.”
Elizabeth changed the subject. “I meant to ask, do you still fish?”
Charlotte laughed. “One moment I look haggard, and the next, you ask if I am still able to cast a line.”
Elizabeth grinned. “If we take Mr. Seton fishing, you must look beautiful standing at the stream, rod in hand.”
Charlotte shrugged. “I have not held a rod since we were fifteen, but I imagine it is not something easily forgotten.” Charlotte began to laugh.
“Lizzy, do you remember casting your line and catching Alexander's scalp?” Elizabeth buried her face in her hands.
“That is when I first knew my brother was in love with you.” Charlotte looked stricken and hurriedly added, “Forgive me.”
Elizabeth raised her head, still laughing.
“No, Charlotte, never mind. I was horrified, but it was funny. I also realized that day we loved each other.” Elizabeth wiped her eyes.
“Well, now, as I was saying, we must practice. Mr. Darcy has a collection of bamboo rods, though I’ve not seen his flies.
Perhaps we should have our own. Do you remember how to tie them? ”
Charlotte laughed. “It is like the pianoforte, once learned, it’s yours forever.”
Elizabeth stood. “Then it is settled. We shall display your hand-tied flies, your steady casting arm, and, with any luck, Mr. Seton will fall in love with you over dinner. He shall be served the very fish you catch.”
Stevens interrupted the two women once more.
“Miss Charlotte, these gowns do not become you in the least. The colors are wholly unsuitable for your complexion. If I may speak plainly, I would give them away.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes. “They were all my mother’s choices,” she said. Turning to Stevens, she added, “I should be glad to part with them, but then I would have nothing left to wear.”
Stevens held up four gowns. “These colors are far more becoming. I shall remove the high collars and rework each bodice. When altered, they shall serve perfectly well for modern wear.”
Charlotte sighed. “Very well. Will you take them down to the servants’ quarters? Perhaps the housekeeper might find use for them among the staff.”
Elizabeth turned to her maid. “Stevens, do I have any day gowns in my wardrobe that would suit Charlotte’s coloring?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Stevens replied. “Your tones are also warm, owing to the copper and red in your hair.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Then pray go through my day gowns and choose four to replace the ones Miss Lucas must part with. She must look her best for Mr. Seton. I hope that she will soon be my neighbor and remain in Derbyshire for the rest of her days.”