Caroline and Elizabeth exchanged a look.
But Darcy spoke first, “Bingley, the ladies have observed her already, and they are sensible persons with excellent judgement. If they think there is no purpose to calling a London physician, nor any reason for concern, then there is not. You will merely serve to make yourself and the others anxious if you insist in such a way.”
Charlie sighed, and he rubbed his face. “I shall go look in on her, to ensure there is nothing else that might be done for her comfort.”
“Uh,” Elizabeth said, “You really ought not.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Charlie replied, ingenuously.
Catching Caroline’s eye, Elizabeth nodded in a way that told her friend that it washerduty to make the first attempt to explain to Mr. Bingley the propriety of the matter.
“Charles,” Caroline said, “Jane is an unmarried young woman who is not your relation. It would be wrong to go into her bedroom, even with a maid present, and—”
“Oh, nonsense! I’ve never heard of such stuffed humbug. This is Janey! We grew up together. I assure you we spent an infinity of time together as children. In private bedrooms and everywhere else. Now, I will go and ensure she is well.”
So saying he swiftly departed the room, ignoring Elizabeth’s sputtered attempt to catch his attention again.
Caroline laughed as she and Elizabeth hurried after Bingley to ensure that what little propriety that might be maintained would be. “In private bedrooms and everywhere else! I can hardly believe my brother is such an innocent as to say that.”
“Oh,” Elizabeth replied, “he thinks of Jane as a sister, that is all.”
“All? That is all?” Caroline replied as they bounded up the stairs following Charlie. “I begin to thinkCharlesis not the only hopeless innocent.”
“Nonsense, and impossible. They could not possibly admire each other. We all are in essence siblings! Charlie admiring Jane? No.”
The two found Charlie in Jane’s room, with the flustered looking maid standing to the side, while Charlie possessed her vacated chair and Jane’s hand. He spoke to Jane quietly in a low and soothing voice while she looked back at him with bright and shining eyes. Her face was fever flushed, and the skin damp with sweat, but despite that Elizabeth thought there was a fair amount of happiness in Jane’s expression as she softly replied to what Charlie said.
If she had seen anyone but Charlie and Jane behaving in such a way, shewouldhave suspected an attachment. But since itwasCharles and Jane, that was obviously impossible.
Caroline and Elizabeth stood side by side, statues maintaining a respectable female presence in the room as the two talked. The whole thing was quite disgusting and boring, though Elizabeth was happy to see Jane happy.
“Oh! She isexceptionallypretty.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s voice sounded behind them from the doorway.
With a little jump, Caroline exclaimed, “Gah! You! Have you no sense of propriety?”
So saying she shoved the officer out of the room, physically pressing him out with her hands.
Colonel Fitzwilliam smirked as she did so. “No, none. Simple soldier. How many times must I explain?”
He did however allow himself to be pressed out.
Jane asked in a hoarse voice once Caroline closed the door behind her to keep Colonel Fitzwilliam away from the sick room. “Who was that?”
“Mr. Darcy’s cousin,” Elizabeth replied. “A most ridiculous man.”
Jane looked at Bingley again, and she said with glowing eyes, “I am always grateful to see you, but you both ought to go — my illness may be catching.”
Bingley softly smiled at her. “Janey, promise, if you need anything — anything whatsoever, I’ll get it for you.”
“If you must climb the alps and fight tigers even?” Jane replied with a warm smile. “But begone with you and let me sleep.”
Once they were in the hallway Bingley angrily sniffed, “Whatever was Colonel Fitzwilliam thinking? Looking into the bedroom of a sick, innocent, helpless lady — a perfect angelic creature. It is wrong, improper — do not believe his act. He is no simple soldier. That man always knows what he is about. I like him, but I cannot wholly approve of him.”
“Caroline has enjoined me to pester him as much as possible,” Elizabeth replied, hiding her smile about how Bingley complained about Colonel Fitzwilliam’s impropriety while ignoring his own. “So I shall punish him amply.”
Bingley nodded, glanced back at Jane’s door, then nodded again. “Good.”
