Georgiana looked toward Elizabeth. “Shall I follow her?”
Mr. Darcy offered Elizabeth his handkerchief, and she pressed it to her face. “Yes, come with me. You may sit with Kitty while I break the news to Mary. I only hope the shock does not distress her too greatly or harm her in her condition.”
She pressed Mr. Darcy’s hand. “I fear you shall dine alone, Fitzwilliam. I have no appetite.” She turned toward Georgiana. “Perhaps you would do better to remain here with your brother.”
Georgiana nodded, then said, “I shall remain with Fitzwilliam, so he need not dine alone.”
Elizabeth kissed the young girl. “Thank you, dear. You stay with him, and after you have dined, you may come upstairs. If Cook can prepare a cordial for Kitty, I shall insist she take it so she may sleep.” She dried her eyes. “Kitty has been known to fall into hysterics. I cannot imagine how she shall bear this. My sister feels everything very deeply.”
“Shall you be well, darling?”
She no longer wept. “Sir, though I sound heartless, I have long expected Lydia’s impetuosity would lead her into some scrape or ruin. When she sailed away, I felt as though I should never see her again. I had read of the diseases that affect Europeans who settled in India. I felt then that my little sister traveled toward her fate. I mourned her loss months ago.”
He rose and kissed her. “I am sorry for your loss, darling.”
He drew her into his arms, and she rested her head against his chest. The steady beat of his heart brought her comfort. At last, she pulled away. “I must go to my sisters. Fitzwilliam, can you ask Mrs. Reynolds or Cook whether they might prepare some calming posset or perhaps a cordial for Kitty?”
“Yes, of course. I shall attend to it immediately and have it sent upstairs.”
She left him then, wondering in what state she would find Kitty and praying the loss would not prove injurious to Mary’s condition.
Elizabeth paused outside Kitty’s door and opened it. Her sister lay face down upon the bed, weeping as though her life had ended. Elizabeth understood. Kitty had been adrift since Lydia’s departure. She closed the door again. She would look in on Kittyafter speaking with Mary. In the meantime, perhaps the tears would bring some measure of relief to her grief.
She continued on to Mary’s chamber and tapped upon the door. There was no reply. She opened the door and peered inside. The room lay in darkness save for the dying fire upon the hearth. She crossed to the bed and bent near her sister.
“Mary.”
No answer.
“Mary.”
Still no answer. Should she allow her to sleep? There was nothing to be done now, for Lydia had passed nearly five months earlier. She stood beside the bed, debating what course to take, when Mary spoke.
“Lizzy, is it morning already? What hour is it?”
“No, dearest. It is only seven o’clock. You have been asleep but two hours. I have distressing news. We received a letter from Aunt Gardiner regarding Lydia.”
Mary pushed herself upright. “Is she dead?”
Elizabeth took the chair beside Mary’s bed. “Yes. Mr. Adams wrote that she contracted cholera and survived but twenty-four hours after the illness took hold. She was with child. He also sickened, but he survived.”
Mary did not weep. “Lizzy, I never expected to see Lydia again, either because her husband intended to build his career in India or because I did not believe she would survive the rigors of that country. Still, our sister was but a girl. Her life was cut so short.”
Elizabeth took her hand. “Nor I. Poor Liddie. She was so very happy with her handsome husband and the social pleasures of their circle.”
“Yes. At least we may take comfort in that.”
The two sisters sat in silence within the darkened room for a long while. At last, Elizabeth spoke. “Mary, how are you? Has this news affected you physically?”
“No. I have not seen Lydia these many months. Since learning she had gone to India, I expected never to see her again. All in all, she has been away nearly a year, has she not? I suppose I shall always think of her as merely being away in India.”
“Yes, so shall I. I cannot persuade myself that she is dead.” Elizabeth rose. “I apologize for waking you. I did not know what course to take. Perhaps I ought to have allowed you to sleep. The news would have kept, but the death of a sister carries such consequence that I did not think I ought to delay. Did I do right in waking you, Mary?”
“Yes. Thank you for telling me. Never conceal unpleasant news from me, Lizzy. I prefer to know the worst at once, else I conjure calamities far greater.”
“I must leave you now, for Kitty is much affected. I have requested a posset be prepared.”
“Shall I come help you?”
