Page 108 of Sketching Mr. Darcy
“Yes, I know I have helped every time I was asked to because I was raised to be generous whenever it was needed. Every time I heard about a problem, I tried to solve it, but I never gave a second thought to either the persons or the situation. I helped because I could, and I knew it was just. But Mrs Annesley and Peter and Libby acted with generous affection without thinking of anything else but the person whom they helped! Dear Aunt, I love you deeply, but you are wrong. We—and others like us—do not value the true value, but the price, income, property, connection, and situation in life! We believe ourselves to be better and worth more than others around us—you cannot deny that! This is why Lady Catherine could conceive her horrible plan without thinking of the consequences. She demanded her will be obeyed because of who she was, and anybody who was in her way should disappear. Her wrong has cost her dearly—just as my wrong could have cost me my own happiness. And I cannot easily forgive myself as I cannot easily forgive her—God have mercy on her soul.”
Even the air had become heavy in the room, and a deep, burdening silence fell upon them. Finally, Darcy glanced at each of them and said, his voice low from exhaustion:
“I shall leave you now. I must rest. Hopefully, we shall see each other again soon. Bingley—have a good journey back to Netherfield if you must leave. James, Mr Aldridge will come tomorrow morning to discuss your request. I shall give you the amount you asked for, but you must stand in front of Mr Aldridge and explain to him that you wish to waste another thousand from your inheritance. And we will discuss a plan for you to visit your estates by the end of the month to see how things are going on and to think of how you can improve your income. I cannot and will not travel in the near future. And I shall certainly not steal from the time I could be spending with my wife just to take care of other people’s business. ”
James’s face darkened from shock. “Travel? What do you mean? But it is winter, roads are frozen, it is cold and… I cannot travel in such weather! Why do I need to do it?”
“You seem surprised that it is cold and roads are frozen in the winter. You might be pleased to find that travelling in the summer in hot, dry weather can be even worse, so cheer your spirits, Cousin. We shall speak again tomorrow. Now excuse me, I need to lie down.”
He stepped to the stairs hesitantly, helped by Stevens, while the others stared after him, unable to completely recover from the dreadful news and Darcy’s severe tirade.
Elizabeth glanced from her husband to her guests, uncertain how to proceed, torn between her heart and her duty. She met her relatives’ restrained smiles, Bingley’s large grin, the Fitzwilliams’ puzzled expressions, James’s incredulous gaze, and Georgiana’s shy look.
She breathed deeply and searched for a proper smile.
“I am grateful to you all for your generous care and for calling to support us today. However, I must leave you now. I am sure Georgiana will attend you properly. Please forgive my poor manners, but my husband needs me, and I have not an instant to lose.”
She curtseyed then hurried upstairs. Her heart had won.
Elizabeth entered her apartment and knocked on the adjoining door.
Darcy’s voice invited her in, but she stopped in the doorframe and gasped: her husband was being examined by Dr. Taylor, watched by Stevens.
He was naked from his waist up, and his entire torso—ribs, arms, and shoulders—were darkly bruised.
“Do not worry. It looks much worse than it is,” Darcy said as Elizabeth stepped closer, her eyes on his injured body. She glanced at the doctor, who shook his head in disapproval.
“That is not quite true, Mrs Darcy. I told your husband even yesterday that he needed to rest, to wear a tight bandage, and to stay still in bed. Fortunately, I believe he has no ribs broken, or else his life would have been in great danger by now. No effort is allowed for a few days! If he obeys my recommendation, he will improve in that time. ”
“Do not worry. I shall take care that your request is strictly followed,” Elizabeth answered.
She went to visit Peter and Mrs Annesley and returned to find her husband lying in his bed, cleaned, shaved, bandaged, and arguing with Stevens. She smiled to the loyal servant.
“Thank you, Stevens. I shall continue your argument with the master now. You may retire.”
As Stevens left, Elizabeth stepped to his bed, removed her shoes and lay beside him. He took her hand and kissed it briefly, then tried to pull her to his chest, but he moaned in pain. She withdrew a few inches and sat, wrapping the blanket around him.
“You are forbidden to move unless it is absolutely necessary. You will have no other choice but to obey my orders,” she said in earnest, and he brought her hand to his lips.
“I could by no means oppose your wish, Mrs Darcy.”
“I am glad to hear it!” She lay beside him, turned on her side to watch him. He was resting, unmoving, on his back. Only his head turned to her, and his fingers gently brushed her hair.
Elizabeth lightly stroked his cheeks, and her eyes tenderly caressed his handsome face.
“The things you said earlier to your family—I never imagined how much it affected you.”
“I felt the burden more painfully this last day since I realised how close I came to losing you—twice. I know I am correct in everything I said. I owe my present happiness to fate, which wisely corrected my foolish, arrogant error and brought you back into my life against my will, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. How can I apologise for everything that you suffered from my family? ”
Her eyes moistened and sparkled with tears. “Perhaps you are right about your faults and errors and fate, but all is over now. You must learn some of my philosophy: think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure. This is my first order that you must obey.”
“Then I have no choice but to agree. I shall think more of the present and the future.”
Elizabeth wiped a few stubborn tears from her eyes then placed a soft kiss on his lips.
“If Peter recovers and you feel better, let us go to Pemberley—just the two of us. I am sure Georgiana would not mind. I want you to show me your home. I want to learn together about the present and prepare for the future—only you and I.”
“I would wish nothing more! As soon as we are certain that Peter is well, we will leave. Do not worry about my wounds. I am well enough to go with you to the end of the world.”
She laughed in a burst of joy then rose and kissed him soundly—passionate, daring, and careful not to touch his body. His hands readily reached for her, but she pulled back.
“You shall sleep now, husband, and I will stay here to watch you. No disturbance will interfere until you are well again.”
“You are the most wonderful disturbance of my life, Elizabeth, and a moment with you is more powerful than any rest or medicine. I will sleep if you stay by my side. Your love is everything I need to heal.”
“I will never leave your side, William,” she whispered tearfully, kissing his closed eyes. “And if my love is all you need, you should be fine when you wake up.”
London, January
The next days were peaceful and quiet in Darcy’s house at Elizabeth’s request .
Mr Bingley returned to Netherfield, eager to start the preparations for his wedding.
The four men responsible for murdering Lady Catherine were discovered and imprisoned by Mr Bourne the next morning as they woke from their drunkenness. They remembered little except their anger at the annoying woman who carried lots of money with her—and a desire to punish her for humiliating them.
Lord Matlock and the colonel returned two days later, burdened by their connection to the person who was inadvertently killed through her own violent plan.
They brought Miss de Bourgh with them, and she found residence with the Matlocks.
Anne sent Elizabeth a touching letter, apologising for her mother’s actions, and Elizabeth responded warmly, assuring Miss de Bourgh that she would always welcome her in their home.
Due to Lord Matlock’s insistence on keeping his sister’s name unsullied, justice was handled with discretion. The men who attacked Elizabeth were charged with other crimes they had committed previously while Wickham remained in debtors’ prison, being dismissed from his regiment.
James met with his elder cousin and Mr Aldridge. He received a thousand pounds, signed a receipt for it, and also agreed to join Mr Aldridge’s sons on business trips to his estates.
Darcy delayed any other activities. He spent most of his time in bed, joined by Elizabeth—or a book when she had to attend to other duties.
On the morning of the third day, Peter spoke animatedly. Elizabeth and Darcy hurried to his side. Surrounded by his mother, his sisters, a few maids, and Dr. Taylor, the boy seemed torn between the pain of his injuries and the joy at everyone’s praise.
“Peter, how are you feeling?” Darcy asked gently, hardly controlling his emotion.
The boy’s face lit .
“I am very well, master! I caught the carriage—did you see? I am not as smart as Libby, but I do have some good qualities you said—don’t I?”
“You have been braver, faster, and more agile than many men. You are an impressive boy, and we are all grateful to you. We could not thank you enough for your courage.”
“Thank me? Oh no, master—I had to protect the mistress. You must not thank me.”
“We shall speak of it later when you are recovered. Peter, you made us all very proud. I hope one day to have a son who resembles you,” Darcy continued.
Janey looked at him tearfully while Peter stared in wonder.
“As soon as you are well, we must also speak about prudence and safety, young man. I would not have you ever put yourself in such danger again as I expect you all to come to Pemberley and help me with my duties there,” Darcy concluded, caressing the boy’s hair.
Before leaving, Elizabeth bent down and placed an affectionate kiss on Peter’s forehead.
“I thank you for fighting for me, dear boy. And thank you, Janey, for raising such a worthy young man.”
The maid had no strength to reply to such an extraordinary compliment.
Elizabeth hurried out of the room with her husband, fighting her tears and praying to the Lord that the boy would recover completely.
In the next few days, Peter’s state improved steadily under Dr. Taylor’s constant care.
Soon enough, though he still kept to his bed—fed only by his mother and wrapped in tight bandages—Peter could enjoy his sisters playing in his room and Titan and Lucky spending most of the time near his bed.
And he could laugh and tell everyone of his struggle to catch the carriage and thieves, and his delight that the master said he was proud of him!
** *
The days that kept Darcy mostly in his room were a time for Elizabeth to grow in her role as mistress of the house as well as mistress of her husband.
She struggled to keep a good balance between spending time with Georgiana and Mrs Annesley, speaking to Mrs Thomason, and enjoying Darcy’s company.
Their bond strengthened along with their perfect understanding of each other.
Elizabeth’s enhanced self-confidence led her to discover new ways to share passion with the man who captured her mind, her heart, and her body and was now barely moving from pain.
She found great enjoyment in teasing him with soft kisses, touches, and caresses, and she soon understood that she had the same power over him that he had over her. It was her time to give, and she was delighted to do so.
Day by day, as the doctor approved Darcy’s progress, Elizabeth’s gestures became more daring. After a week, she tentatively reached the next step and allowed herself to join with her husband just as he had taught her the night before the accident, bringing fulfilment to their yearning bodies.
In two weeks, Darcy’s recovery was complete, and Dr. Taylor declared that there was no longer any reason for concern. The first one who learnt the news—and felt it in a most powerful and tormenting way—was Mrs Darcy, who was generously rewarded for her care during the master’s illness.