Page 10

Elizabeth woke to a small beam of light coming through the drapes.

She sat upright and, though she wished to go to the window and pull back the curtains, she knew she must first assess whether she had the strength to do so on her own.

She did not wish to upset Jane with such ill-advised movements, and she had promised her sister that she would not rise out of bed alone.

It was this promise that led to Jane releasing the constantly watching maid that sat in the corner of the room from her duty, trusting that Elizabeth would call when she needed someone.

Elizabeth pulled back the coverlet and sheet and began drawing her legs up and then stretching them out again.

She performed this action several times slowly.

It was an action that brought a tinge of pain, but she knew she would have to perform such movements if she ever wished to be able to walk again on her own.

After a few minutes she began to feel the tingling sensations in her feet start to dissipate, and she drew them up to rub at them.

A shiver reminded her that it was winter, and obviously the fire had not remained lit throughout the night. She was not shocked to hear the servant’s door open and a maid enter with an iron bucket and shovel in hand.

“Oh, I am sorry. I did not mean to disturb you, Mrs Darcy” the maid said as she bowed and started to back out of the room.

She cringed at hearing the maid call her Mrs Darcy, but replied, “It is not a disturbance at all. In fact, if you are to stir the embers and replenish the fire, then it is anything but a disturbance; it is actually much appreciated.” Elizabeth smiled as the girl gave a curtsy and went to the fireplace to do her duty.

When her task was completed, the girl left, curtsying at the doorway before she scurried through and shut the door behind her.

Elizabeth chuckled to herself. She looked around for a way to call her lady’s maid, and, seeing a bell sitting on the table beside her bed, she rang it.

Within just a matter of seconds the maid was through the door and at her side.

She helped Elizabeth with rising and taking care of her needs, and soon had her seated in the chair nearest the fireplace.

With a book in hand, and a blanket draped over her legs, she dismissed the maid, letting her know that when her sister awoke, she was ready to receive her.

Jane entered the room half an hour later, shocked to see Elizabeth sitting, not in the bed, but instead in the chair near the fireplace. “Elizabeth! Please tell me you did not try to walk on your own?” She quickly made her way to her sister’s side and knelt down at her knees.

Elizabeth smiled ruefully. “Would I attempt such a thing?”

“Yes, you would,” Jane said flatly.

“Well, you are correct – I would attempt it, but I will assuage your fears and tell you that the maid came in earlier and helped me to rise and care for my needs, then before she left, she saw me settled here in this chair, and Mrs Reynolds had a service of tea brought in with some broth and a crust of bread.”

Jane looked to the roaring fire, “Are you chilled? Do you need anything else?”

Elizabeth chuckled. “No, I can hardly get chilled with the flames so high, nor with this blanket on my lap. I have never felt something so soft.” She ran her hand along the softest wool she had ever felt. “The needlework in these stitches shows off a very fine and talented crafter.”

Jane reached over and caressed the soft knitted blanket where Elizabeth rested her hands.

“It is extremely soft.” She smiled, “I believe Mr Darcy’s mother made this.

He told me of its origin once. He received it as a gift from his mother when he was just around ten years of age or so, I believe.

She passed on by the time he went off to Eton, so it is a cherished gift indeed. ”

Elizabeth felt her pulse quicken at the mention of Mr Darcy.

She looked down at the blanket, running her hand over the soft lamb’s wool.

“Jane, I know you were cautioned to let my memories return in their own time, but I wish you would at least tell me how I came to be here at Pemberley. I cannot for the life of me recollect how Mr Darcy could have turned his eye towards me enough to offer marriage, and I cannot fathom my ever accepting the hand of such a prideful and austere man. I mean, he always looked at me with such disdain upon his features. I was shocked he even asked me to dance at the ball, but certainly he could not have proposed in any manner in which I would have accepted his hand.”

Jane stood and walked over to the chair that sat next to the bed, moving it over closer to her sister and the fireplace.

“ Lizzy, we only wish you to not be distressed by such information. The doctor feels it would be too much of a strain on you right now while your head is healing. Perhaps when you are feeling better, we can discuss more of the past.”

Elizabeth sighed. “If you promise that you will tell me one day, then I will try to accept the situation as it is – for now.”

Jane smiled and gave a nod. “Thank you, Lizzy. I do promise to one day answer your every question to the best of my ability, but there are some things that Fitzwilliam – that is, Mr Darcy – alone can answer. You and I were always confidants while growing up, but you kept your interactions with your husband so close to your heart that only the two of you know exactly how your love grew. I must say, it was a shock even to me to hear of you finally accepting of his hand.”

“Finally? Just what is it that took place for you to make such a statement? It sounds as if I refused his suit.”

Jane blushed and looked down at her hands folded in her lap. “I cannot give you the details you would require, Lizzy.”

“I cannot imagine why I would not speak with you about the situation,” she said. “We have always shared everything with each other.”

“Oh, you did speak with me of some things, certainly. However, in all honesty, I was a bit distracted with my own situation. First with Charles leaving for London and not returning, then when we did finally see each other again and were quickly engaged, my mind was a bit distracted. Then there were the numerous wedding plans from sun-up to sun-down. By the time Mama allowed us time to speak in private at the end of each day, we were both thoroughly exhausted. Then we were both married and off on our own wedding trips and setting up our own homes. There is only so much that can be shared in letters, and then life changed so drastically for each of us that the subject never came up when we were in each other’s presence, as other subjects took precedence. ”

Elizabeth nodded. “Then I must speak with Mr Darcy, it seems… if he is willing to speak with me.”

“He will be. He is just a bit impatient with this whole situation. He has been keeping busy with the clean-up from the fire, and with the children’s enquiries, as well as the running of Pemberley. It has been a distressing time for him of late.”

“Children? We have children?”

Jane sighed. “I did not mean to say that. I am sorry, Lizzy.”

She reached out her hand to squeeze Jane’s fingers.

“No, no, I am not in any distress.” She knew Jane would not go back to the subject, so instead she asked, “So, will you tell me of your husband? You indicated that you married Mr Bingley? The last memory I have is of the ball he hosted at Netherfield Park. I remember seeing you and he dance,” she sighed and drew her hands up to her chest. “It was such a lovely sight to see you both so happy in that moment.”

Jane smiled broadly. “Yes, I married Charles Bingley.” She settled further back into the chair.

“Charles and I were married the same day you and Fitzwilliam – I mean, Mr Darcy – were married. We remained at Netherfield Park for only a year though, then moved here to Derbyshire when a property came available within an easy drive from Pemberley.”

“Oh, we must spend much time together then!”

“We do. Our families are often in each other’s company when the weather permits.

Charles and I have had to stay here with the children as of late because the winter is unpredictable with the snow, and I was needed to nurse you back to health.

Charles has been trying to help Fitzwilliam as much as he could to free him up to be by your bedside. ”

Elizabeth blushed at the thought of the austere Mr Darcy sitting beside her bed while she was ill. Her memory of the man rushing to her side in his shirt, his neck and chest exposed, made her cheeks flame brightly. She raised her hands up to cool them.

“I am sorry, Lizzy. I will try to refrain from bringing up that he is your husband.”

Elizabeth nodded her thanks, then looked around the room. When her eyes found the window where the snow fell lightly beyond the glass, she replied, “Oh, how I love the snow. I wish I could go outside and see it.”

“We cannot permit such a trek yet, but perhaps we can have the cot moved back out of here, and that will allow you to sit beside the window where you can then look out to the snowy gardens below.”

Elizabeth looked over to the small bed frame that was awkwardly placed near the windows, her brows furrowing as she said, “I did wonder, and since you brought it up, why is that cot in here? It does not seem to go with this room.”

“Your husband,” she blushed at the mention of Mr Darcy being Elizabeth’s husband. “I am sorry to bring it up again, Lizzy.”

Elizabeth gave a small smile. “I am perfectly capable of hearing the mention, Jane, even if I do not remember him as my husband. Please continue.”

“Well, Fitzwilliam was so worried for you that he would not leave your side for the weeks you were unconscious. His sister, Georgiana, had this bed brought down from the nursery when she visited, and she convinced him to at least rest on it if he could not bring himself to leave your side.”

Elizabeth furrowed her brow as she thought.