“My apologies, sir,” said the maid, “but I was sent to tell you that it’s almost time for dinner.”
“Very well, thank you.”
The girl dipped a curtsy and left the room. Darcy shook his head to clear away the memories, then stood and squared his shoulders. Hewouldconquer this! Hewasmaster of himself.He wouldnotallow his emotions to control him, as they did his father, leading him to ruin.
∞∞∞
The next two days passed with Elizabeth doing all she could to avoid Darcy. Fortunately for her, he seemed to be doing the same thing. They were able to pass away the time without having spent more than a few minutes in each other’s company, and as that was during meals and tea, they were always in the company of others.
The morning of Mrs. Phillips’s card party arrived, and Elizabeth was delighted when Jane awoke feeling much better than she had in several days.
“Oh, Lizzy, may I go downstairs today? My cough is almost entirely gone!”
Elizabeth leaned forward and pressed her hand to Jane’s forehead, closely inspecting her sister’s face and mouth as she did so. Jane’s skin was only mildly warm, and the bluish tinge to her cheeks and lips had somewhat lightened. Even still, she was paler than Elizabeth would have liked.
“How about this, dearest—if you will rest all morning and afternoon, and your cough is still gone, you may come downstairs for dinner and tea.”
“Oh, I will!”
True to her word, Jane kept to her bed without any complaints. Her cough remained mild, and it was with great delight that Jane was pronounced well enough to come down for dinner.
They dressed in dinner gowns, then Elizabeth wrapped her sister in several shawls to keep her well-guarded from the cold, and the two sisters made their way slowly down the stairs.
Bingley’s eyes widened when he saw Jane come into the room on Elizabeth’s arm. He sprang to his feet and rushed to the door through which they entered, offering his own elbow to escort her to a comfortable chair near the fireplace.
“I do not think it is warm enough for you. Here, let me call for someone.”
Elizabeth watched closely as Bingley fussed over Jane for the next quarter of an hour until dinner was announced. The scene repeated itself in the dining room as they all settled into their seats for the first course, with Jane at a place of honor next to Bingley.
“Will you be going to your aunt’s card party this evening? We had all declined the invitation, but I thought you would have wished to attend,” Mrs. Hurst interrupted Elizabeth’s attentions to her sister and Bingley.
Tearing her eyes away from the older woman’s overt scrutiny, Elizabeth turned towards her new friend. “I had not planned on it, no. I did not wish to leave Jane.”
Mrs. Hurst nodded. She took a sip of soup before saying, “I can quite understand your sentiments. However, as your sister seems to be somewhat improved this evening, you may wish to take advantage of the situation. You do not know when it will occur again.”
Elizabeth bit her lip and looked back at her sister, indecision warring with yearning in her heart. She did long to spend time with her friends and neighbors, and who knew when Jane would be well enough again for her to leave?
On the other hand, she still had not known the Netherfield party for much longer than a month. What if the worst were to happen and she were not here to keep Jane safe?
“I thank you, Mrs. Hurst, but I think it would be best if I remained with Jane.”
“Are you sure there is nothing I could do to persuade you otherwise, Miss Elizabeth?” Darcy’s deep voice entered the conversation. “My mother, you see, was ill for quite some time before her death. There is nothing worse than being trapped at a bedside watching the one you love suffer. You must do what you need to now to strengthen your fortitude for what lies ahead.”
Elizabeth faltered. “I had not thought of it in quite those terms, sir. It is not myself, however, for whom I am concerned.”
Her gaze strayed again to Jane, and Mrs. Hurst quickly added, “I assure you, Miss Elizabeth, that we would send someone to fetch you immediately if anything were to change with your sister’s condition. I would be present with her the entire duration of your absence, and I would ensure that she was put to bed at a very reasonable hour.”
Still Elizabeth hesitated.
Darcy said in a somber voice, “Is it that you don’t trustus, Miss Elizabeth?”
Mrs. Hurst gasped softly, and Elizabeth felt her face grow hot. “It isn’t that I distrust you, per se. It is simply that I do not know you well enough to trust you completely. I do not mean any offense at all, but you must admit that the situation is quite unique.”
There were a few awkward moments of silence before Mrs. Hurst said, “I think I understand.”
“I give you my word as a gentleman; I will not allow any harm to befall your sister.”
“I appreciate that, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said, “but I’m afraid that even the devil himself would be able to speak in such a way. After all, did he not promise our Lord the whole riches of the earth?”
