Page 7 of Sketching Mr. Darcy

“And please tell Miss Elizabeth that I am sorry for my absence at the ball. I promised that I would attend, but as the time drew near, I found that I had better not meet Mr Darcy—that to be in the same room, the same party with him for so many hours together, might be more than I could bear, and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more than myself.”

“Is that so? I am curious that you would presume such a thing,” Mr Bennet said from the doorway, casting an inquiring gaze at the cheerful group.

“For now, though, I am content to see that you are all in an excellent mood. It is good that you have nothing to worry about.” His expression was stern and his displeasure obvious.

However, his wife and two youngest daughters chose to remain focused on their guests.

“Papa, don’t you know how cruelly Mr Darcy treated poor Mr Wickham in the past?”

“No I do not know, Lydia, and I am surprised that you are so acquainted with Mr Wickham’s past,” Mr Bennet replied sharply.

Mrs Bennet intervened. “Well, truth to be told, we are not surprised to discover that Mr Darcy is a cruel man. I knew that from the evening he refused to dance with Lizzy. It was cruel and very ungentlemanlike. And you must know that everybody missed you at the party, Mr Wickham. I am sure all my daughters would have enjoyed dancing with you.”

“Speaking of dancing, I was so shocked that Mr Darcy invited Lizzy to dance. What a strange man—to dance with Lizzy and no one else” Lydia chuckled with Kitty.

Mr Wickham looked surprised. “That is strange indeed. I have rarely seen Darcy dance unless the lady was a close acquaintance. But, of course, I could be wrong. I have not been in Darcy’s company at a ball in the last five years or so—just before my godfather, the elder Mr Darcy, passed away.

He was an excellent man and very fond of me—”

“Mr Wickham, you are so kind to entertain us with stories from your past, but I would suggest you postpone such sparkling conversation for another time when, hopefully, my daughter feels better. Now if you will excuse me, I will return to my library. If my cousin Mr Collins happens to return from the Lucases, ask him to keep you company. He has enchanting stories about Mr Darcy’s aunt, so it will be like a family reunion. ”

***

The Bennet family gathered for dinner, and conversation turned from Elizabeth’s fever to the officers’ visits and then to the news that Mr Bingley’s sisters had left Netherfield for London that same day.

Mr Collins did not keep them company as he was flattered to receive another invitation to dine at Lucas Lodge.

His regrets were more eloquently expressed than the others wished to hear .

When the second course was served, the servant informed them of a visitor. A gentleman of Mr Bennet’s age with impressive posture and a severe countenance entered decidedly.

“Please forgive my intrusion at this improper time. I am here to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Mr Darcy believed I might be of some use to her. Here is his letter for Mr Bennet.” The gentleman addressed the man whom he believed to be the master of the house.

Six pairs of eyes around the table stared at the stranger in disbelief until Mr Bennet finally rose and, with great difficulty, greeted the unexpected guest.

“I am Mr Bennet, Elizabeth’s father. Please come in, sir,” he said, taking Darcy’s letter and opening it impatiently.

“Oh, you came from London directly?” Mrs Bennet loudly intervened. You must be tired after such a journey! Would you like something to eat? Please take a seat, sir.”

“I thank you, ma’am, but first I wish to see Miss Elizabeth. I will gratefully accept your invitation afterwards,” the doctor replied with cold politeness. Barely gathering herself and incredulous but relieved for such unexpected help, Jane asked the doctor to follow her.

In the dining room, the rest of the Bennet family noisily expressed their surprise at such an extraordinary event while Mr Bennet continued to read his letter.

“Oh, I am sure that must be Mr Bingley’s doing.

I am certain he convinced Mr Darcy to send a doctor for Lizzy because he knew how distressed poor Jane must be.

Oh, he is such a nice, handsome gentleman—so considerate!

And five thousand a year—what a fortune for dear Jane!

” Mrs Bennet said with no little enthusiasm.

Mr Bennet glanced severely at his wife, but he found neither strength nor desire to contradict her.

In the letter, Mr Darcy apologised for his daring assumption in sending Dr. Taylor without Mr Bennet’s approval, and he expressed his hope that, by that time, Miss Elizabeth was already fully recovered.

In such a case, he said, Dr. Taylor would immediately return to London without disturbing them further.

Mr Bennet was intrigued before such a generous, unusual gesture from a man who was almost a stranger to their family.

He had not written to Mr Darcy yet, as he promised, since he believed the gentleman to be more polite than worried when he asked to be informed about Lizzy’s condition.

Now he was proved completely wrong. What can be the meaning of this?

In any other case, Mr Bennet would presume that the gentleman’s gesture was a sign of deep admiration for his daughter.

But this was Mr Darcy—who once did not find Lizzy tolerable enough even to dance with her! Why would he care for her health?

Then it crossed his mind that, at the Netherfield ball, Mr Darcy seemed to have changed his opinion of Lizzy since she was the only woman he asked to dance.

His thoughts were not clear due to his fatigue and worry, so he put the letter down and decided to consider the matter again in the next days—as soon as Lizzy was fully recovered.

Half an hour later, Dr. Taylor and Jane entered the library, silent and obviously concerned. The report was cautious and restrained.

“I do not wish to worry you unnecessarily. Generally, I would not be concerned for a cold when it comes to a young lady with Miss Elizabeth’s spirit and strength.

What worries me is that her lungs might be affected.

She spent quite some time walking in freezing weather with wet clothes.

We should also be very concerned about fever.

As Miss Bennet told me, it went up and down rapidly several times a day.

This can cause serious, long-lasting problems, but let us pray and hope that will not be the situation here. ”

“We are very grateful for your care, sir. What shall we do now? Should we fetch the apothecary to instruct him about what is to be done after your departure?” Jane asked.

Dr. Taylor sketched a smile. “Unless you wish me to, I shall not return to London until Miss Elizabeth shows improvement. I have taken a room at the Inn in Meryton.”

This extraordinary news increased Mr Bennet’s shock to such an extent that he required an immediate glass of brandy. He looked at his older daughter, who was left wordless.

“Sir, I…we have no words to thank you enough… I cannot believe that—”

“Mr Bennet, please do not make yourself uneasy. My partner can take care of my business in London, and I relish the prospect of a few days in the country. I shall come and visit Miss Elizabeth three times a day, but you may send for me at any time.”

“Sir, we insist that you stay at Longbourn. I dare say you will find our guest chamber more comfortable than the inn. I will send my servant to inform them of your change in plans.”

Mr Bennet’s insistence, together with Jane’s delicate intervention had the desired effect, and Dr. Taylor was comfortably installed in the guest room within minutes.

The family and their unexpected guest reunited in the dining room to finish their dinner.

Countless questions could be read in the ladies’ glances, but none dared to express them.

Mrs Bennet briefly inquired about Mr Bingley, but Dr. Taylor declared he had not seen him for a few months—an answer that deepened the ladies’ puzzlement.

Towards the end of the meal, which lasted considerably longer than usual, Mr Collins returned.

At the knowledge that Dr. Taylor was Mr Darcy’s doctor from London, Mr Collins’s countenance changed.

With great excitement, he asked the doctor whether he happened to know Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

At the doctor’s positive answer, Mr Collins hurried to assure him that her ladyship was in perfect health a few days ago.

He then continued to give unnecessarily detailed news about the lady until Dr. Taylor returned to his patient .

It was almost midnight, and Jane had lain in bed next to her sister, touching her forehead from time to time to check her fever.

However, Elizabeth’s head was spinning and painful, not from illness but from the incredible event that Mr Darcy—at his own discretion—had sent his doctor from London to take care of her.

The sisters continued to talk for some time upon the subject, but neither of them could find a satisfactory explanation for such a generous gesture.

Elizabeth attempted to suggest that most likely Mr Bingley was behind it all, but Jane—though flustered and delighted with the praise of that gentleman—told Elizabeth that the doctor had not seen Mr Bingley in months.

Eventually, Jane concluded—and Elizabeth had no choice but to agree—that Mr Darcy had done everything for no other reason than his generous, kind nature, one that Mr Bingley often praised but Elizabeth failed to acknowledge.

It was difficult for Jane’s loving heart to admit that her sister had been wrong in this, but she was relieved and happy to know that Mr Darcy’s true character finally had been discerned.

Jane was now more certain than ever that the history between Mr Darcy and Mr Wickham must have been a great misunderstanding, one that surely would be clarified someday.

Later in the night, Elizabeth fell asleep, and Jane looked at her with tearful eyes.

She glanced at Lucky who, having been banished from their chamber during Dr. Taylor’s examination, was now watching them curiously from his corner.

Jane stretched her hand towards him, and instantly the dog came to the bed and licked her hand.

She smiled and caressed him while whispering, “We have no reason to fear, Lucky. I know all will be well now.” For the first time in the last few days, she truly believed her own words, relieved and confident of her beloved sister’s complete recovery now that Dr. Taylor was there.

She closed her eyes for a moment, and sleep claimed her—while Lucky remained alert next to the bed, guarding them.

***

Longbourn, 4 December

Dr. Taylor stayed at Longbourn for five days and decided to leave only when Elizabeth’s recovery was beyond doubt.

At first, the doctor’s presence troubled Elizabeth exceedingly. The knowledge that, for some strange reason, Mr Darcy had sent a doctor from London to assist her was distressing.

So much trouble for her silly, imprudent behaviour made her deeply ashamed. She insisted that there was no need for the doctor to waste his valuable time taking care of her. After all, as her own mother had said when Jane was ill, nobody dies from “trifling colds.”

Fortunately, Dr. Taylor appeared to enjoy Mr Bennet’s company and declared more than once that he had a delightful time in Hertfordshire.

The news of the London doctor’s visit quickly spread from the day of his arrival.

Mr Jones came to make his acquaintance and spent more hours at Longbourn than etiquette would require.

Also, Lady Lucas and Mrs Long called on Mrs Bennet to see for themselves what a London doctor looked like.

They agreed that he was worthy of much admiration.

The information—proudly shared by Mrs Bennet—that the doctor was none other than Mr Darcy’s own physician astonished the visitors exceedingly.

With each passing day, Elizabeth’s state improved remarkably. Dr. Taylor showed his admiration for the fact that “the illness has not defeated her spirit” and seemed impressed by her knowledge and passion for books, so he challenged her opinion on more than one subject.

From their enjoyable conversations, Elizabeth discovered that the doctor had been attending the Darcy family for more than twenty years.

He spoke little about that subject, but he seemed very fond of the family and did not hesitate to praise highly the late Mr Darcy and Lady Anne and to express his admiration for the present Mr Darcy.

For some reason, he seemed to believe that Mr Darcy was closely acquainted with Elizabeth’s family, and she found no way to contradict him, nor did she wish to.

Whatever faults Mr Darcy might have and however unkindly and haughtily he might have treated everybody during his stay in Hertfordshire, the generosity he showed to her and her family left her with gentle feelings of gratitude.

If he ever returned to Netherfield with Mr Bingley, she would not lose a single moment before thanking him properly.

On the sixth day, precisely when a long letter of thanks from Mr Collins arrived, Dr. Taylor left, and life at Longbourn was ready to return to its usual routine.

With God’s will, everything was fine again, so Mr Bennet returned to his former habit of secluding himself in the library for most of the day while Mrs Bennet found the strength to remember that nothing would have happened had Elizabeth accepted Mr Collins’s generous proposal.