“I accept your offer, Annie. I love you and wish to never be parted from you.”
She placed her arms about his neck, and he bent and kissed her.
The other three occupants of the room fell into stunned silence. Then Lady Catherine stirred.
“How dare you conduct yourselves in such an improper manner before me, your intended, and your young cousin? Shall the honor of Pemberley be so disgraced?”
“Mamma, pray, Pemberley has no place in this. Richard and I shall marry, and we shall reside here at Rosings, for Papa left this house to me. Do you not know that I have loved my cousin since I was a child? Marriage to him has always been my dearest wish. Richard is my dream come to fruition.”
Lady Catherine was furious. Her face contorted with a rage her family had never before witnessed, and then her complexion darkened to a deep purple.
Darcy was concerned by the spectacle and thought that if she did not govern her fury, she would bring on an apoplexy. He saw her raise a hand to her head, and then she fell. She was too far for him to catch her before she struck the floor.
Richard released Anne, and all three hurried to her side. He felt for her pulse. “She lives. It may be a faint.”
“Mamma, I am sorry. I am sorry.” Anne cried.
She sank to her knees. “This rests upon me. I should not have teased her.”
“We must carry her to her bed,” Darcy said. “Anne, ring for a footman. Have him bring a leaf from the dining table. We will use it to carry her upstairs.”
Half an hour later, Lady Catherine lay settled in her bed, while Anne applied the smelling salts without effect. Dr. Miller was shown in and immediately began to examine his patient.
“I believe she has suffered an apoplexy, Miss Anne. Had it been only a faint, the salts would have revived her by now. We must wait and see whether she recovers from the attack.”
Anne began to weep. Richard drew her close, and she rested against him.
“Dr. Miller, what may be done for my aunt?”
“Very little. You may attempt to give her water with a toddy lifter, as you have done for Miss Bennet, but if her mind is much affected, the organs will fail, and she will pass. We can only wait and see which course it takes.”
He turned to Anne. “Shall I prepare a calming draught for you, Miss Anne?”
“No, sir. I wish to sit up with my mother.”
He gathered his instruments and addressed Darcy.
“Sir, you sent for me on account of Miss Bennet. Has her condition worsened?”
“Yes, Dr. Miller. She complains of pain along her ribs and a burning in her lungs. Her lips bear a bluish cast, and she speaks but little.”
“I will go to her, though her lungs showed improvement when I examined her earlier. The force of her cough has likely strained the muscles along her ribs, which accounts for her pain. The burning arises from the inflammation.”
The physician withdrew, and Darcy followed. He entered quietly and took his place against the wall, hoping to pass unnoticed.
He watched as Dr. Miller placed his ear at several points along Elizabeth’s back while Mary supported her upon her side.
He straightened and smiled at the young lady. “Mrs. Collins, the treatments prove effective. I hear air moving throughout the lungs, even to the lower parts on both sides. The breath sounds remain diminished, and there is some rhonchi, yet her condition improves.”
He turned to Mr. Darcy. “Do you have any questions, sir?”
“She is often flushed, doctor.”
“Yes, she will remain feverish while her body contends with the inflammation. Continue the percussion, for it affords her benefit. Mrs. Collins, administer the willow bark tea about thirty minutes before the treatment, to ease the pain she feels in her muscles.”
“Mr. Darcy, there is no other treatment to prescribe. The herbal tinctures she is taking are the most effective. Mrs. Collins, send for me if her condition worsens.”
“Thank you, Dr. Miller.”
