Jones shook his head. “It is too early to tell. He is unconscious and shows no signs of waking, but he is breathing well. He has a sizeable lump on the back of his head, but I cannot detect any other injury. I am calling into town for more supplies and checking back later today. I am not a surgeon, and the nearest one I know of is in Hatfield. We have to try to coax him to swallow so he can take nourishment, but I expect we will be able to do so. The immediate concern now is the management of Mr Bennet’s affairs. I was wondering if I might impose upon you gentlemen, as his nearest neighbours, to lend some assistance?”
Bingley hesitated, glancing uncertainly at Darcy. “We were bound for London this morning. We both had some pressing affairs to attend to in Town. Why can his staff not manage while he is indisposed?”
Jones steepled his fingers. With a sigh, he admitted his true concerns. “It is Mr Collins. He is heir, as you must know. If anything were to happen to Mr Bennet, the entire Longbourn estate falls to him.”
Bingley was aghast. “You cannot mean to imply….”
Jones held up a hand. “I do not imply anything. I only suggest that he is not the most tactful of men, and under the present circumstances, the Bennet ladies are quite distressed. I was hoping to find them an ally while their father’s situation remains unknown. They do have an uncle in London, whom I would expect within a few days. I only thought… well, if you are bound for London yourselves, there is nothing else for it. They will have to wait for their uncle. I am sorry to have troubled you, gentlemen.”
He began to rise. Bingley, who had been stroking his chin thoughtfully, spoke up. “Wait...” He turned to Darcy, who had been watching his friend’s reactions carefully. Darcy knew what Bingley would say before the words were out of his mouth. “We can delay our departure for a few days, can we not?” His face was full of eager concern for his “angel,” as he had taken to calling Miss Bennet.
With a sigh and a small nod, Darcy acquiesced. He was torn between his prior resolve to put as much distance between himself and Elizabeth Bennet as possible and his concern for her well-being. Whether she could be his or not, he did not like to think of her in affliction, and he did pity her for the necessity of bearing with an unpleasant houseguest at such a time. What could a couple more days hurt?
Perhaps he would even have his fill of her if he were called upon to spend hours each day around her family. With that vague hope, he resigned himself to staying a while longer in Hertfordshire.
Chapter 3
Aftermakingafewhasty arrangements, the two men mounted their horses directly and covered the three miles to Longbourn at a brisk pace. They said little, except to note Caroline’s extreme disappointment with the change in travel plans. They had told her as little as possible, but she had still managed to make one or two uncivil remarks regarding the selfishness of a neighbour who would get himself injured at such an inconvenient time.
As they approached, they noted a bundle of blankets tossed carelessly by the front walk. Darcy regarded it quizzically. Could they have been used to assist with Mr Bennet’s removal to the house? He shook his head, wondering at the incompetence of the staff who would leave them as they lay.
They dismounted and handed their reins to a stable boy who ran out to meet them. Bingley was first through the door, scarcely waiting for it to be opened to them. They were met by the greasy, smiling face of Mr Collins as the man bowed profusely. “Ah, Mr Darcy, and Mr Bingley, so good of you to call with your condolences on our dear Mr Bennet! I assure you, every detail has been attended to in his care, and I have personally seen to him myself. I flatter myself, I can guarantee that he is in the best of hands.
“Why I spoke with the apothecary myself, and he assured me, ‘Mr Collins’ he said, ‘Our dear Mr Bennet will recover very soon.’ Those were his very words, and so during his convalescence, I feel it incumbent upon myself, as the nearest relation, to see to all of the family’s concerns. My dear young cousins have no cause for worry, thanks to Providence—and dare I say it, the great foresight of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, which guided me here at such a time when I might be ofmostuse to my dearest cousins.”
He had not stopped his insistent bobbing during the entire speech, and it was evident he would have gone on but for the arrival of Miss Elizabeth. The lady greeted them in a more dignified manner. She looked somewhat harried but had composed herself rather well under the circumstances.
Darcy helplessly admired the curls falling loosely around her temples. She had apparently taken little care for her toilette this day, but her native beauty had always held him entranced. He imagined the stubborn ringlets to be the remains of her elaborate coiffure from the previous evening, and the notion of seeing her hair tousled after sleep held him spellbound. His lips parted unconsciously as mute admiration seized him—just as it always did when she was around.Idiotic wretch!he chastised himself.
She curtseyed very properly to her guests, and Bingley at least returned the compliments with proper decorum. Then she whirled and eyed Collins archly, her lips pursed into the most delicate bow. Darcy found his eyes riveted on them.What would it be like to kiss those lips until she smiled that bewitching smile at me?He shook his head to clear the unbidden thoughts.Get hold of yourself, man! This cannot continue without consequence!
Elizabeth glared at her cousin. Her irritated look silenced the obsequious little man, but he did not manage to refrain from smiling ingratiatingly at her. Darcy felt a pang. Whether it was pity for her forced proximity to this eel, or jealousy at Collins’ ready access to her, he did not give himself the trouble to discern.
“Miss Elizabeth, how is your father?” Bingley inquired most graciously.
“He is resting. Thank you, Mr Bingley. My sister Mary and I have been taking turns sitting with him.” Her eyes shifted unhappily to Mr Collins. It was apparent that she did not want to reveal more of her father’s condition or her true concerns in his company.
Bingley was astute enough to take the hint. “And may I ask how Miss Bennet does this morning?” he asked politely, intentionally addressing himself directly to Miss Elizabeth so Mr Collins could not reply for her.
“She is with our mother, sir. Mama finds herself unwell this morning, I am afraid. I was about to take them both some tea, sir… if you care to wait, I may sit with Mama in her stead. May I offer you...”
“Of course, by all means, my dear sirs!” Mr Collins interrupted her. With an expansive wave, he ushered his unwilling guests into the sitting room. “Come, make yourselves easy! The entryway here, I flatter myself, is eminently serviceable, but I daresay you will find the sitting room more comfortable! The furniture, while not as fine as that of Rosings Park, of course, is perfectly suitable for an estate of this station….”
Arching a brow, Elizabeth saw an opportunity to make good her escape. Mr Collins’s queer mixture of pomposity and subservience grated on everyone. She was sorry Mr Bingley would be exposed to the man’s ridiculous fawning until Jane came down. While she could not likewise pity Mr Darcy for leaving him thus, she did feel the sting of shame for her relations every time he looked at her.
What could he have meant by just staring without saying a word?He never comes near but to find a fault! He always makes people uneasy in company. Why could he not have simply remained at Netherfield? I am sure Miss Bingley would have kept him well entertained!At that last thought, a mischievous smile curved her lips. She clattered up the stairs, entirely forgetting her mother’s tea in her haste to escape Mr Collins. Wickedly, she felt herself almost enjoying Mr Darcy’s imagined discomfiture at being left with such an irritating companion.
Below, the two guests settled uneasily in the sitting room. Mr Collins seemed to feel no compunctions against playing host in a home which was not yet lawfully his own. Darcy schooled his expression carefully into his typical stoic mask. Bingley, not as practised at hiding his disdain, found his eyes widening in shock at the man’s brazen attitude. Mr Bennet was merely unconscious, not deceased, but Collins could scarcely contain his exuberance. Magnanimously, he sought to entertain his distinguished guests with his fancied wit and charm.
“Mr Darcy, have I told you what Lady Catherine de Bourgh advised me before I departed?” Darcy groaned inwardly. He hated how people courted him for his connections and his wealth. Some were well-mannered enough to try to hide it, but subtlety was lost on this fool.
Collins smiled broadly, bursting with desire to share his glad tidings. “She said to me, ‘Mr Collins, youmustmarry! Choose properly,’ she said. ‘Choose a gentlewoman for my sake, but for your own, let her be an active, useful sort of person, not brought up too high, nor too low. Find such a wife, and bring her to Rosings, andI will visit her!’ There, you see how kind and affable she is! Nothing is beneath her notice. Why, she is all condescension. I myself have dined at Rosings twice, and Lady Catherine promises to show the highest consideration for my wife!”
Darcy made no reply but a simple nod, hoping it would be sufficient to encourage Collins to move on to another topic. He could not pity enough the woman who would find herself bound to this ridiculous man. He wondered distantly who the unfortunate woman was.
“I hope you gentlemen are warm enough. This fireplace is quite adequate, I daresay, but not nearly so fine as the fireplaces at Rosings Park. I have it on all authority that the chimney-piece alone cost….” Darcy stood abruptly, striding to the window. He was abandoning Bingley and he knew it, but he could bear no more of Mr Collins’ worship of Lady Catherine.
He blocked out the droning noise of the sycophant’s voice as he gazed out the window. He saw the housemaid, obviously recently chastised, hurrying to the front of the house to collect the pile of bedding. She gazed up at the window above for a moment in wonder, then scurried away with her burden.
