Page 102 of Sketching Mr. Darcy
“Where is Peter?” all three of them asked together, moving to the back of the carriage where the dogs and Libby were crying steadily.
They bent down, their own pain vanishing instantly as they saw Peter’s weak body among the pieces of wood and iron. The back wheel seemed to have fallen over him. They called to him, but there was no response, and they slowly removed the pieces of wreckage from him.
Only a few minutes had passed since the accident, but Stevens and four male servants from Darcy’s house had already arrived in haste.
“Stevens, send for Dr. Taylor!” Darcy shouted.
“It has been done already, sir! We also sent a note to Lord Matlock,” Stevens said while taking off his coat and putting it around Peter. “Sir, is the boy alive? Let me carry him inside. We brought chairs and a blanket in case any of you needed to be carried inside.”
“Good thinking—make sure Mrs Darcy and Mrs Annesley are carried inside. Peter needs to be moved carefully. Dr. Taylor always said that more damage can happen after an accident by disturbing wounds if the patient is moved carelessly.”
Darcy briefly glanced at his wife to be certain she was safe then moved around, helpless and angry, watching the boy’s still body, unsure how to better attend him.
Cries of despair from Janey and the grieved mother throwing herself down on her son made Darcy almost lose control.
He clenched his fists and pounded them against the broken carriage.
“Stevens, give me the blanket,” he demanded. “We will put Peter in it slowly and carry him gently, moving him as little as possible. Janey, please step aside—we must hurry.”
“Let me do it, Darcy,” Bingley said, bending to the child, and only then did Darcy notice his friend. With care, the boy was transferred to the blanket, which was lifted slowly by Bingley and Stevens.
The dogs, Janey, and Darcy—who held the maid’s arm in a poor attempt at comfort—followed them. Darcy slowly regained his reason and called Hodge—who stood by, trying to help in some way as his hurt arm did not allow much exertion.
“Hodge, please remain here. I will send someone to keep you company in a minute. I need you to watch the remains of the carriage. Someone might come to fetch it, and I need to know who. I need to find those responsible—and make them pay.”
In less than half an hour after the accident, everyone involved was safely inside and being cared for. Dr. Taylor arrived shortly, together with his partner, Dr. Philips. While they examined the patients, Darcy sent two male servants to search with Hodge for any indication of the carriage’s owner.
A few minutes later, the Fitzwilliams came, except the colonel who was still with his regiment.
They speculated about who could possibly have done such a horrible thing, impressed and astonished by Mrs Annesley’s loyalty to Elizabeth and by young Peter’s extraordinary sacrifice on behalf of his mistress.
Dr. Taylor returned with a full report and his dark countenance spoke clearly of his concern.
“Peter is badly injured, but thank God, he is alive. His left leg is wounded, and I believe his ribs were harmed. I cannot be certain as he is barely conscious, and I am not sure of how much pain he feels when I touch him. Also, he has deep bruises all over his body. His right shoulder was dislocated. He apparently held tightly to the carriage.”
“Oh, dear Lord,” cried Lady Matlock.
“That is the least concern, your ladyship. Dr. Philips helped me put his shoulder back in place. From that, he will surely heal. I have treated many such situations on the battlefield but never on such a young boy. Quite astonishing. He is now kept in tight bandages as he must not move at all. We will give him herbs to strengthen him and to diminish his pain. ”
“What else can we do?” Darcy asked, pale and unable to control his growing anger.
“Dr. Philips and I will take turns in the house, day and night. There is nothing more you can do—only pray. His mother is with him now. He must be watched continuously.”
“Of course…” Darcy said, pacing the room. “He will have the same care as anyone in the family. Is Mrs Annesley recovering?”
“She is. She has a very bad bruise, and I expect her temple and eye will turn black, but she will be fine soon enough.”
“She was so anxious to be reunited with her daughter… Thank God she is well.”
“I also examined Mrs Darcy. She was only slightly harmed when the carriage crashed. Her headache and dizziness as well as her blurred sight are due to the opium-infused cloth they used to try to subdue her. She must rest a few days. She needs silence, darkness, and sleep—and quite a lot of my herbal tea. Molly is taking care of her now.”
“To subdue her? How can that be?” Lady Matlock cried as Darcy’s pacing increased.
“Aunt, it is quite clear,” Darcy said harshly, gulping a full glass of brandy.
“Someone hired three men to kidnap Elizabeth, and Mrs Annesley and Peter almost died trying to save her! Who did it and why? Only the Devil knows! But I shall find out very soon—and not even the Devil will save them from my punishment!”
“Darcy!” cried both ladies, trembling in astonishment at such language.
“Don’t you even attempt to censure me! If you disapprove my coarse words, you had better leave! My mind is set. As soon as I am certain beyond a doubt who is responsible for this, I shall pay to have them killed! And even that will not be enough if Peter dies!”
“Darcy, let us calm ourselves, son,” said Lord Matlock while the viscount and Bingley looked at each other, bewildered and helpless .
“Mr Darcy, before anything else, I insist on examining you too—immediately.”
“I am perfectly fine, Dr. Taylor. Take care of those who need help. Do not waste your time on me. I must go. I have to talk to someone who might know—”
“I did not miss that frown of pain when you moved, sir. I insist on your letting me see how badly you are injured. That way, you will know for certain what you can or cannot do.”
Darcy continued to object until all his relatives insisted with such determination that he acquiesced only to put an end to the argument. They moved to the library, and Dr. Taylor’s examination was brief. Some of Darcy’s ribs were affected—not broken but badly bruised, the doctor presumed.
“Sir, you should lie still in bed. You need rest to heal, you must avoid any exertion, and—”
“Dr. Taylor, I shall do what you advise, but do not ask me to lie still while I can stand. Do not ask me to rest as long as my family is in danger!”
“But sir… I am sorry you are so unreasonable. You have fifty people who could take care of this,” the doctor said then he gave up, impressed by Darcy’s troubled countenance.
“Be it as you will, but you must wear a very tight bandage around yourself to protect your chest from any dangerous movement. And you need to drink some herbal tea and—”
“Very well.” Darcy hastily interrupted the doctor, ringing for Stevens. “Doctor, tell my man what you need and put any bandages you want around me and be done with it. Then please see to Elizabeth, Peter, and Mrs Annesley. Let us both do our duties.”
His words sounded harsh even to himself, but Darcy could not control his anger. He knew he should be grateful for the doctor’s care, but he had no strength for politeness.
Darcy returned to his relatives in less than fifteen minutes although he felt he had wasted hours. The bindings limited his movements, but he felt better as the pain diminished. He quickly told his worried relatives that he was fine and put an end to any further inquiries.
Georgiana entered, holding Libby’s hand tightly, both still pale and wearing the traces of fear. She was embraced by her aunt and cousin. Libby hid behind Georgiana at the sight of so many new people—but she never let go of her hand.
“Mrs Thomason fetched Sarah to take care of little Cathy, but Libby preferred to stay with me,” Georgiana whispered. “Mrs Annesley sleeps and Elizabeth too…and Peter… I do not know what to do. How are you, Brother?”
“I am fine, dearest. Do not worry about me.”
His uncle shook his head. “We tried to force him to rest and let others do what is needed. He is not well at all.”
“Rest?” Darcy burst out furiously. “Uncle, do you hear yourself? My wife was viciously attacked in the middle of the day a few steps from our home, and I was not even there to protect her! I was occupied with business, and I let an elder lady and a child of nine fight for my wife’s life, risking their own!
And those responsible for this are still free out there!
And you want me to rest? Can you not see that everything happened today because of me?
Nobody would have had anything against Elizabeth had she not been married to me! And you say I should rest?”
“Darcy, I did not mean to upset you. I am only worried for you, and you cannot make me feel bad for that. Your anger with me does not help much.”
“Brother, please,” Georgians said, gently holding his arm. “Would you not go upstairs and stay with Elizabeth a little? I am sure she would welcome your company.”
“And what should I tell her? I have promised her so many times that I will protect her, and I failed horribly. She is better resting. You should go to her if you want. Tell her I shall solve this situation.”
“Brother…”
Darcy had already shifted his attention from Georgiana, pacing the room as he spoke .
“It must be someone with means and connections. Surely, it was planned a few days ago. We saw a carriage lingering near the house for the last two nights, but I did nothing—fool that I was. And a second carriage collected the three men after the first one crashed. I wonder if they planned to demand a reward for Elizabeth.”
“That must very likely have been the reason,” the earl answered.