At least Darcy did not keep them waiting long, appearing in the drawing room not five minutes after the butler had showed them in. “I thank you for coming so promptly, Mrs. Collins.”
“I am happy to be of service,” said Charlotte demurely.
Darcy looked past Charlotte, his lips tightening. “Miss Elizabeth, may I speak freely in front of Mrs. Collins?” he asked abruptly.
Elizabeth inhaled sharply. What in heaven’s name was he thinking? “I have not discussed, er, recent events with her.” The disaster of Mr. Darcy’s proposal was none of Charlotte’s business.
He shook his head impatiently. “Not that. I speak of your activities in visiting the sick.”
Relief rushed through her. “Charlotte knows I do the work of a wisewoman, if that is what you mean.”
“Good. Lady Catherine’s illness appears to be otherworldly. She was found unconscious in the garden. Nothing I have attempted has had any effect.” He bit the words out, as if he hated admitting to any weakness.
Was it possible his summons had nothing to do with his offer of marriage or her magic? Elizabeth said cautiously, “If you would like me to see if there is anything I can do, I would be happy to do so. However, there are much more experienced wisewomen available.”
“No. We must keep this private.”
Elizabeth glanced at Charlotte. “Very well. Could someone be sent to the parsonage to collect my satchel? There are supplies in it I may need.”
IT WAS HARDLY SURPRISINGthat Miss Elizabeth hesitated just insideLady Catherine’s bedroom. Lady Catherine lay pallid and utterly without motion, looking more dead than alive.
Elizabeth asked him, “Are you certain this is not an apoplexy?”
“It stinks of fay mischief.” He lowered himself into a chair, watching her intently as she approached Lady Catherine and felt her wrist. He should be worried about his aunt, but the sight of Elizabeth brought back too many painful memories.
Richard looked in the door questioningly. Darcy waved him inside.
Elizabeth did not seem taken aback by how Lady Catherine’s eyes stared straight up, regardless of the movement around her. She laid the back of her hand on her forehead. “No fever. This illness is different from the redcap bites I have been seeing. Charlotte, would you assist me in examining her clothing? I am looking for a small tear or cut in the fabric.”
“Elfshot?” Darcy asked harshly. Elfshot was a death sentence.
“It is too soon to say.” Elizabeth ran her fingers up and down the fabric of Lady Catherine’s dress.
“There is a small rip here,” Charlotte pointed to Lady Catherine’s forearm. “I see no blood, though.”
“Elfshot does not cause bleeding, although no one knows why.” Elizabeth hurried to the opposite side of the bed. She pressed her fingers into Lady Catherine’s arm beneath the shoulder and began to palpate her flesh. She moved her hands along her arm until her fingers halted just above the elbow.
“There,” she murmured as if to herself. Straightening, she brushed back a stray lock of her hair and looked up at Darcy. “I am sorry to say it does appear to be elfshot, but it is still in her arm, so all is not yet lost. I can attempt to remove it if you wish, but it is a difficult process which may well not succeed.”
“And if we do nothing?” asked Richard.
“The elfshot will continue its journey to her heart and kill her.”
Richard turned to him. “Darcy? What do you think?”
Why did it have to be his decision? It was hard enough just to look at Elizabeth, much less speak to her on such matters. Darcy cleared his throat experimentally. Good; his voice still worked. “We would be most appreciative for whatever you can do.”
She hesitated, biting her lip. “It might be a wise precaution to fetch a surgeon. If my attempt to remove the elfshot fails, the next choice would be to amputate her arm, and time is of the essence.”
“Will that save her?”
“Logic says it should do so, but elfshot does not always follow the laws of logic.”
Darcy nodded to Richard, who left the room. He did not even want to think about how his aunt would react if she awoke without an arm. She might prefer to be dead.
Elizabeth glanced down at Lady Catherine and then back at Darcy. “If I am able to remove the elfshot, do you have the ability to destroy it? Otherwise it will seek her out again.”
“Naturally,” he said, stung by the doubt in her voice. “What else will you need?”
