Page 16 of Obligation and Redemption

Before Darcy could formulate an appropriate response, he began acting on instinct.

His valet, Nelson, had developed a makeshift crutch to help him get around his room if he were alone and had a need.

As his ankle was still somewhat sore, he continued to benefit from this assistance; however, in his haste, he had hobbled past it, and opened the door revealing a frightened lady’s maid, Miss Bingley’s he presumed.

“Sir, you must not tarry! He could be hurting her!”

In his muddled state, that was all it took to move Darcy into action. Forgetting the pain in his ankle, and his lack of robe, he moved forward, limping all the way, past the alarmed maid, and headed for Miss Bingley’s door, just down the hall and around the corner from his own.

His valet quickly entered his chamber from the dressing room in time to see Darcy hobble out the door.

When Darcy reached the open doorway and heard Miss Bingley’s screech for help, he rushed in.

The lady’s maid was just about to close the door behind him to secure it, when his valet followed behind and pushed the door back open.

The sight before him made Nelson glad he had been so presumptuous.

Miss Bingley was still screeching but for a reason altogether different from the one that she had originally intended when her plan was set in motion.

When Darcy’s valet entered the room, his eyes fell upon a horrified woman dressed in a revealing gown that had lost some as its appeal, as it was covered in the vomitus Darcy could not stop from losing due to the unfortunate effect of his continued vertigo.

Though his nausea had improved over the past week, the sudden movement could not be tolerated.

Of course, Darcy was horrified that he had done such a thing and briefly forgot about the cause that had drawn him into her room, yet once he looked up and noticed what Miss Bingley was wearing underneath his emission, he realised the true nature of his problem.

He had, in his weakened state, forgotten his well-practised diligence that served to keep just such a plight from occurring; nevertheless, his valet had not been ill nor had he let his guard down.

On the contrary, Nelson had contemplated his master’s vulnerability and during this visit had made a habit of locking Darcy’s chamber door and hanging a bell on the latch that would alert him to any intrusions on Darcy’s privacy.

He had also left the door to the dressing room open, so he could hear any activity, not trusting the mistress of the manor to refrain from using her own set of keys to enter his room.

Nelson knew that Miss Bingley had long wanted to become Mrs. Darcy and was likely reaching a new level of desperation considering the circumstances.

Since his master had been ill, Nelson’s guard was much more deliberate, as Darcy was open to attack both day and night.

Miss Bingley stood arms outstretched and motionless, except for conspicuous quick and heavy breathing as she attempted to compose herself.

If the situation did not have the potentially incriminating repercussions, Nelson would have burst out in hilarity, but as it was, he had to make certain that Miss Bingley knew that his master would not fall into her trap, that he was witness to the entire episode, and would swear, under oath if necessary, that Darcy was innocent of any improprieties.

It was at this moment when the expected witness of this farce, Mrs. Hurst, walked in.

Instead of the predicted scene, distressing as it might have been, what she saw quite shocked her even more than she could have anticipated.

As soon as she hastily assessed the situation, she began to cover her guilt with declarations of how appalled she was at Miss Bingley’s state of undress and to apologise for any discomfort Caroline might have caused.

She claimed to have come in response to the screams, and verbalised her disapprobation for her sister’s machinations.

Caroline was fuming, as she looked towards her sister who clearly would purport her own innocence.

If she were not covered in the disgusting discharge, she would have taken issue with her sister’s change in allegiance, but as it was all she could do was turn on her heels and run out of the room into her dressing room.

Louisa and Caroline’s lady’s maid followed behind her, the latter unable to conceal her mirth despite the treachery.

Darcy needed to sit down, or better yet lie down, but was unable to get to his room in order to find a safe and comfortable haven.

Instead, he just sank to the floor of Miss Bingley’s chamber, head in his hands.

The sudden movement of arising quickly and hastily – while making his way to her room – threw Darcy into a figurative tailspin.

His dizziness left him unable to do anything but lie down right where he found himself.

He was there for about ten minutes, while Nelson attempted to apply wet, cool cloths to his face, when Bingley happened to walk by and see the commotion within his sister’s chambers.

He looked in and discovered the distressing scene of an obviously ill Darcy in Caroline’s room, with Darcy’s valet in attendance .

With equal parts levity and intent, Bingley said, “I say, Darcy, I feel it is my duty to ask what you are doing in my sister’s chamber.

My understanding was that you did not feel up to getting out of bed, much less having a liaison in a lady’s room.

” Darcy was Bingley’s dearest friend, and he trusted him implicitly, but all the same, hearing something rational on the subject from Darcy would ease his mind.

By this time, Darcy’s breathing had calmed.

He was on his back, right knee bent with left leg out long; his left arm was crossed over his eyes and right arm stretched out.

“Bingley, I will say this one time and one time only. Your sister is a conniving trollop who is not above forcing a compromise on a guest in your home, even one weakened by illness and pain. If you do not take control of her, I will be forced to leave and check into the inn in Meryton. I am too ill to give you details, so I suggest you ask Miss Bingley or Mrs. Hurst what happened. Then if you have any other questions, Nelson can give you a full account.” Then opening his eyes and looking at his able attendant, he continued, “Nelson, please assist me to my room.”

Bingley would have been offended, and perhaps another man may have taken this as cause to call Darcy out if he were not to yield to his presumed obligations, but he was too aware of his sister’s character and his friend’s credit.

Bingley responded by looking around for Caroline who had remained absent.

Meanwhile, as Darcy’s valet attempted to raise him up to a standing position, he let out an expletive and sat back down.

Bingley then directed his gaze back to his friend and realised his help was needed; he could consult his sisters later.

He went to the other side of Darcy, from where his valet was leaning down, and helped him back to his feet.

Although Darcy was able to make his way to Miss Bingley’s chamber on his sprained ankle, the movement hither had done its damage.

He was again unable to put any weight on his left foot, so the other two men had to support him a good bit.

They slowly returned to Darcy’s chamber where Nelson quickly got to work making him comfortable.

When that was accomplished, Bingley pulled Darcy’s valet aside.

“Do you want to tell me what happened, or must I ask my sisters?”

Nelson was respectful of Darcy’s friend, but would in no way leave any room for misinterpretation.

“It would be my privilege to explain to you the events leading up to your arrival.” He then gave a dependable accounting of the past half hour’s happenings.

Bingley listened in horror at the level of deceit that his sister had enacted, not doubting once the veracity of the claims. He was too acquainted with his friend’s honour to think otherwise.

In addition, the evidence of Darcy’s wretched condition was before him.

He apologised profusely to Darcy and promised to discipline his sister appropriately, making sure she kept her distance.

Bingley left Darcy’s room to do just that.

But as soon as he shut the door behind him, he let a smile spread across his face imagining his sister’s mortification.

Of course, he must chastise her for her deception, but he found the idea of natural consequences to be most gratifying.

ELIZABETH COULD NOT TOLERATE many days indoors, especially if those days were spent ill in bed, so when she awoke feeling the near restoration of her health, she prepared to join her family to break her long fast. This happened to occur on the same morning as Miss Bingley’s ill-judged attempt to restore Mr. Darcy’s freedom to bind himself to her.

Elizabeth entered the breakfast room after her family had already gathered.

“Lizzy, “ said her mother, “I am glad to see you are well enough to join us, for I have wanted to have an accounting from you about the day of that terrible storm, but your father would not let me disturb you, as he says you needed to spend your energy in recovering. You are healthy enough, and I told him one does not die of a trifling cold, but he would not be moved.” She peered at Mr. Bennet, while continuing, “He takes great delight in vexing me.”

Elizabeth glanced quickly at her father before answering, “Mama, I am sure I have nothing to add to what Papa has already told you. Perhaps instead, you and my family can tell me what I have missed. I am sure you have more to tell me about the comings and goings since I have been abed than I could conjure up about that day.”