“Then you can do nothing?” Elizabeth’s voice broke on the last word.
He shook his head. “I am very sorry, my dear. I can provide some receipts for tisanes that Mr. Jones can mix for her that can ease her symptoms and perhaps add a little more time, but I would not anticipate her surviving more than a year, if that.”
Fighting back tears, Elizabeth asked in a wavering tone, “Can I… can I take her back home?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Dr. Carson said, “I think if her cough can entirely subside, she can. Winter is already on its way, and with her lungs already filling with fluid, even a half-hour’s carriage ride breathing the cold air could prove fatal.”
“She is welcome to remain here as long as she needs,” Mrs. Hurst said hastily. “That includes you as well, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Thank you very much,” Elizabeth replied with sincere gratitude. “I promise we will do all we can to be as little burden as possible.”
Mrs. Hurst waved her hand dismissively. “What is the purpose of money if it cannot be used to make life easier for others?”
“That is very good of you.” Elizabeth reached out impulsively to grasp Mrs. Hurst’s hand and place a kiss on it. “I am in your debt.”
Dr. Carson cleared his throat. “I will write up those receipts now and leave them for you to pass on to Mr. Jones; then I will be on my way.”
“Would you not prefer to stay the night, sir, and travel back to London tomorrow?” Mrs. Hurst offered.
He shook his head. “No, I’m afraid I have several patients who need my attention. My family is expecting me tonight as well, and I would hate to cause them worry.”
Elizabeth watched as Mrs. Hurst led Dr. Carson away to the study in search of paper. She gave a heavy sigh, then turned and limped back towards her room, her feet aching from having remained standing on them for so long.
How was she ever going to break the news to her father?
∞∞∞
To Elizabeth’s great frustration, Mr. Bennet was accompanied by his wife and three younger daughters when he returned to Netherfield that afternoon. The Bennet sire kept to the doorway as the women flocked into the room, shrugging his shoulders in resignation when Elizabeth finally was able to catch his eye several minutes after their arrival.
“There was nothing I could do,” he murmured. “She insisted on coming herself.”
While Jane’s cough had eased a bit, Elizabeth was still disturbed to see the tinges of blue on her sister’s lips and fingertips, coupled with her pale face.
Mrs. Bennet, upon seeing her daughter in such a state, burst into loud wails and threw herself onto the bed, practically smothering the girl with her ample form. “Oh, my dearest Jane! My poor, beautiful girl.”
Startled awake, Jane blinked and looked around. “Mama!” she exclaimed, a beaming smile coming across her face.
“Let’s allow Jane some room to breathe,” Mr. Bennet said sardonically.
Mrs. Bennet straightened up and gave him a scowl. “You don’t know what I suffer.” She sniffed. “You haven’t a mother’s feelings.”
His lips pressed together, and Elizabeth could see a flash of hurt in his eyes before he retorted, “Well, my dear, if Jane dies of this illness, you can be comforted to know it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley.”
Elizabeth stifled a small gasp.How can Papa be so cruel? He knows Jane will not survive, yet he turns the matter into a way to aggravate Mama.
She gave him a severe frown, and he winced. Mrs. Bennet—who ignored her husband, as was her custom when he provoked her—began to quiz Jane on whether she had seen anything of Bingley.
“Remember, Mama, that Jane has been too ill to go downstairs but once, and it would hardly be proper for him to attend her in her chambers,” Elizabeth said gently.
Mrs. Bennet’s mouth formed a pout. “Well, we shall just have to make sure you stay here until after you have recovered, then, Jane.”
“But, Mama—” Elizabeth protested.
“No, Elizabeth,” her mother replied sharply. “You have done nothing to further your sister’s cause with Mr. Bingley, and I am quite put out with you. Jane will not leave Netherfield until she has been able to spend more time with him. With her beauty, I predict he will offer marriage within two days of her departure, or my name’s not Fanny Bennet.” Having put her second daughter in her place, Mrs. Bennet turned to Lydia. “Did you bring your trunk, my girl?”
Lydia beamed. “Yes, Mama. Oh, this is so exciting!”
“Her trunk?” Elizabeth asked suspiciously. “Why would Lydia need to pack a trunk to visit Jane?”
