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Elizabeth slowly came to her senses. She was still in the darkness, but there was something different about it. She tried opening her eyes, and this time she was able to do so. Everything was dark, but it was not like before. Her arms were still very heavy. Am I awake now?

It was taking too much effort to keep her eyes open, so she closed them.

When she had gained a little more strength, she opened them again.

This time she knew it was different. She could just make out a glowing light; she guessed it was from the fire grate.

She was able to move her head a little as she looked around the dark room.

She was in a large bed and she did not recognize the room, but the color was a pretty light blue.

It was hard to make out, but it looked as if there was a floral pattern on the bed drapes. Very becoming, she thought.

Her eyes continued around the room and eventually she saw a large chair with an even larger man sitting in it.

He was leaned back, the dark shadows disguising his features.

His feet were resting on a footstool and the white stockings on his feet were the easiest part of him to see.

He was too large to be her father or her uncle. Who are you?

The gentleman moved in his sleep, his face coming more into the light.

She gasped— Mr Darcy! Why would he be in my room like this?

Where am I? She began to frantically look around.

She was still barely able to move her head, but as she looked all around the only thing she could recognize was the man in the chair.

Her head began to ache and her eyes burned.

She closed them for a moment. I must be mistaken, she thought.

It cannot possibly be Mr Darcy beside my bed.

It must just be the shadows playing with my mind.

Slowly she turned that direction and opened her eyes.

This is no dream – it most certainly is Mr Darcy.

Suddenly she thought back to the voice she had heard. That is why it was so very familiar – it was his voice!

This was all too much for her and the ache in her head was growing worse, so she closed her eyes. She tried to think, but even that was too painful. It was only a few minutes before sleep overtook her weary body and mind.

The cold woke Darcy. He opened his bleary eyes and looked over to the fireplace.

It needed more coal. He stretched wearily, stood, and stumbled over to tend to the fire.

When it was roaring hot once more, he returned to his chair and sat down.

His eyes then fell on Elizabeth and he noticed something was different. Her head was turned towards him.

Did she awaken? He reached over and ran his finger along her cheek moving a dark curl off her face.

Her hand was still where he had laid it to rest before he drifted off to sleep, but he was certain she had moved her head.

His heart leaped for joy, even if it was just a small sign.

It would take much more, but he would be here when she awoke.

The knock he expected came at the door and he called out for his cousin to enter.

Fitz looked over to the cot that was still made up. “You did not sleep again?”

“I rested a bit in this chair, though it seems I may have missed her beginning to wake up. Look, she has turned her head sometime in the night.”

“Perhaps it is best that you get cleaned up then.”

“Yes – yes, I will do just that. Will you stay with Elizabeth for a few minutes? Jane should be here shortly.”

Fitz lifted the book he held in his hand, “I came prepared.” He held it up for Darcy’s approval. “It is a gothic novel I found hidden among the treasures of your library.”

“I do not recognize it. It must be Georgiana’s though, as Elizabeth does not find much pleasure in them.”

“Good then, perhaps my reading it aloud to her will be just the inducement she needs to come out of her sleep. Go, go,” he shooed his cousin from the room, “and do not come back until you have had a proper bath.” He closed the door and walked over to the chair to sit.

“Now that he is out of the way, I am certain we can both find some humour in this book,” He said to Elizabeth as he took a seat.

With that, he opened up the tome and began to read.

“Chapter one. No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine.” He stopped and looked over at Elizabeth.

“It is an auspicious start, is it not? If you have anything you wish to add, please do speak up, for I know how much you dearly love to make your opinion of books such as this known. Now, where was I? Oh yes... born to be an heroine. Her situation in life… ”

Elizabeth realized she was no longer asleep, but whether she dreamed the prior night’s events or not, she could not say. She remembered being shocked at the revelation of Mr Darcy being at her bedside. She also remembered being in a very pretty room, but she did not recognize it.

Maybe it was a guest room at Netherfield?

If so, why was it Mr Darcy who sat by her side?

Surely Jane would care for her, or, in her absence, possibly Miss Bingley or Mrs Hurst?

It would certainly not be Mr Darcy! His opinion of her before they were even properly introduced was a slight she would never forget.

“She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.”

As her mind began to clear she heard someone talking. It was a male voice, but not Mr Darcy or anyone else she recognized. It sounded like he was reading something aloud. Then she heard her sister’s familiar voice. Jane!

I must open my eyes, she told herself. This would be it – she would know if her memories of last night were true or not. A knot formed in her stomach at the thought of it all just being a dream, but she had to know. So, with every bit of strength, she concentrated on opening her eyes.

Everything was out of focus. She blinked a few times and was able to see the floral bed curtains she remembered.

“Elizabeth?” the man said.

She turned her head in his direction.

Fitz jumped up from the seat. “Mrs Bingley, she’s awake,” he called out to Jane who was on the other side of the room.

Jane was at the side of the bed in just seconds, grasping at her sister’s hand. “Elizabeth? Oh, Lizzy! Are you truly awake?”

Elizabeth turned towards Jane and tried to smile.

“I will get my cousin,” the man said before he left.

Elizabeth was tiring very quickly, but she knew she had to try to speak. Her voice was dry and the words would not come easily.

“Do not try to talk,” Jane said as she pushed the hair from Elizabeth’s face. “Oh, Lizzy, everyone will be so happy to have you back with us.”

The room was beginning to spin and she had to close her eyes.

The last thing Elizabeth remembered was hearing a gentleman call her name and seeing Mr Darcy enter the room and rush to her side.

At least, she thought it was Mr Darcy! The gentleman was only in buckskin breeches and a shirt, and his hair was dripping wet.

He wore stockings, but no waistcoat, and his shirt was open revealing his bare chest and lack of cravat.

She was shocked at the sight, but it was the look in his eyes that confused her the most. He seemed to be so affected by her waking that tears swelled in his eyes.

It was too much and she had to close her eyes. She could still feel Jane at her side, and Mr Darcy caressing her hand in his. He was talking to her again, but the throbbing pain in her head was too overwhelming to focus on what was being said.

“Tired… so tired.” She wasn’t even sure if she had uttered those words or if it was only in her mind.

“Shhhh, I know you are tired. Just rest now. Everything will be well,” Darcy said.

His voice and the light touch on her hand was soothing her back to sleep, but this time it was a very different sleep than before. This time she knew she would awaken again.

“I sent for the doctor," Fitz said as he entered the room, Bingley right behind him.

“She said she was tired,” Jane replied as she went to her husband’s side.

“She spoke? That is wonderful news!” Bingley wound his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Now what do we do?”

“Shhh, Elizabeth, just rest,” Darcy was still saying softly to his wife.

Fitz answered Bingley, “There is nothing more we can do but wait for the doctor, though I doubt he will do anything more than examine her as he has before. We must allow her time to rest, and she will awaken again soon.”

Jane’s eyes were filled with unshed tears and Bingley leaned close to her ear. “She is coming back to you, my love.”

“Yes, my sister is recovering.” She pulled out the handkerchief she kept tucked in a pocket and dried her cheeks. “Lizzy is on the mend.”

When the doctor arrived, he examined Mrs Darcy and said exactly what they thought he would say.

“Keep someone at her bedside at all times, and encourage her to rest when she tires. Otherwise, there is nothing more I can do. I will leave instructions with Mrs Reynolds for if Mrs Darcy is in any pain, but she seems to be coming out of this lethargy finally. We will know for certain how well she is healed in a few days.”

The next few days Elizabeth woke for only a minute at a time, and she could not speak, but the number of times she awoke increased each day.

Whoever was by her side encouraged her to rest as much as possible, and they tried to quell what fears were obvious in her eyes when she awoke, but, without any more knowledge, that was all they could do.

None could know that their musings about her loving husband was what was so confusing to her – that she had no knowledge of having been married, much less that it was to Mr Darcy.

Darcy was sitting at Elizabeth’s side one morning when a loud knock came at the door.

His eyes first went to Elizabeth, who seemed undisturbed by the noise, then he strode quickly to the door.

He opened it to find his cousin standing there, out of breath and a look of terror on his face. “What has happened?”

“A fire… tenant house… near the north wood. Bingley spotted it… we were out riding. They need help,” Fitz said while trying to catch his breath.

Jane saw this exchange as she was coming down the hall. She watched as Darcy turned back to look at Elizabeth. “Go; go! I will care for my sister in your stead.” He still hesitated, so she walked over and laid her hand on his arm. “Go. It is your duty to protect Pemberley’s lands.”

With a nod, he quickly left with his cousin.

Jane stopped to say a prayer for all those who were fighting to keep the fire under control.

She knew it might be a very long day for everyone, so as soon as she entered Elizabeth’s room, she pulled the cord to alert Mrs Reynolds to the news and make plans for food and beverages to be provided for the men.

When the rush of activity was finally over, Jane sat down in the chair that normally held Darcy.

It was large… much larger than most wingback chairs.

He had once told her that his father had it made to fit his tall frame, and Darcy being just as tall, if not taller than his father, had found many hours of comfort in this chair.

Jane settled in and began to sing quietly as she pulled the needlework from her basket.

Elizabeth’s mind cleared and she opened her eyes, blinking a few times before she was able to focus.

She felt comfort in seeing those familiar floral bed curtains once more.

Each time she had awakened, it bolstered her own strength just to know that she was seeing a now familiar sight.

She heard Jane’s singing and slowly turned her head in that direction.

“Jane!” Her voice was dry and it hurt to try to speak.

Jane immediately dropped her work back into the basket and sat forward in the chair, reaching for her sister’s hand.

“Oh, Elizabeth! You are awake! Here, let me help you take a drink.” She helped Elizabeth sit up enough to take a few sips of water.

When she was settled again, Jane began to encourage her to just rest, not to speak.

Elizabeth was too agitated to rest. She had so many questions. “Where is…?”

“Shhhh, do not try to talk. He will return soon. There was a fire at a tenant’s house, but I am certain it will be under control very soon. There is no need for you to worry.”

She had never known her father to be so personally involved in the affairs of the estate. Perhaps something had changed? “And Mama…?” she managed to croak out.

“She is much calmer when she is not by your side. She and Mary are often together though, and that keeps her busy, as you can imagine. Shhhh, I will answer all your questions when you are stronger. For now, just know that your family wishes you to regain your strength, and to do that the doctor says you must rest.”

“I am not so tired,” she managed to say before the pain in her throat was too much.

“Then perhaps it would be best if I read to you.” She picked up the book that sat on the side table and made a face. “The colonel was reading this to you the other day. Would you like me to continue?”

Who? Colonel Forster? Why would he be at my bedside and reading to me? This much thinking was causing her head to ache, so she just nodded to Jane and relaxed as Jane’s voice began to fill the room with the tale. It was not long before she was back to sleep again.

Elizabeth woke up several more times throughout the day, and she remained awake a few minutes longer than before each time, but her strength still faltered quickly and she tired easily.

Jane continued to encourage her to rest and not to speak.

Though Elizabeth had many questions, Jane’ persistence that she remain quiet, and the pain in her throat when she spoke as well as the ache in her head when she thought too deeply, were all enough inducement to keep her from becoming too curious.

For now she would just content herself with the knowledge that Jane was at her side and she would be back with her family again very soon.