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I nodded. “You must be relieved he is nearly home.”
“I will be relieved once he is actually here,” he said with good humor.
I smiled, but before I could respond, a horse thundered up the drive and caught our attention.
“Is this Netherfield?” asked the rider.
“Yes. Who are you looking for?”
“A Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.”
“I am he.”
Mr. Darcy stepped up to the man and gave him a few coins in exchange for a letter. The rider tipped his hat and rode off to the stables where Mr. Darcy had directed him.
“Do not wait on my account, Mr. Darcy.” We turned back towards the house and he tore into the letter.
I walked a few steps ahead of him to give him as much privacy as possible and tried not to listen to his gasps and whispered curses. Finally, he moved swiftly up to join me.
“Forgive me, Miss Elizabeth. I must leave for London today.”
“Is everything well?” I asked, then remembered we were not close friends. “I do not mean to pry.”
“No, you are not prying. I thank you for your concern. It is my cousin. His ship has docked, but my cousin Alistair writes that Richard was injured on board two days ago. It seems something fell on him. It is not clear.” He looked at the letter again as if it would explain itself better with a second reading. “The wound itself was not catastrophic, though his leg was broken. But now they are afraid it is becoming infected and are taking him to my home in Town.”
“Oh no.”
He took a deep breath. “They may need to amputate.”
His voice broke on the final word and I was reaching for him before I knew what I was about. I pressed my hand to his arm and he covered his eyes, his head bowed, and breathed deeply for a moment. I stood silently beside him, offering what support I could, and plotted how I could best get to London.
Mr. Darcy composed himself, looked straight ahead, and marched back to the house. I left him at the doorway when I saw Joseph riding up the drive on his way to the stables.
“Have you a note from Mama?” I asked him.
“Yes, Miss Lizzy.” He handed me a folded paper covered in my mother’s handwriting. She promised to send the carriage whenever we were ready, but said there was no rush as everyone at Longbourn was healthy and happy.
“Joseph, could you do me a very great favor?”
“Of course.”
“Could you ride back to Longbourn as fast as possible and tell Mary I need a trunk readied for London as fast as she can pack it? And tell Mama I am heading to Aunt Ida’s and I will explain all later. I don’t have time to write a note. Do you have all of that?”
“Tell Miss Mary to pack you a trunk for Town and tell Mrs. Bennet you are heading to your aunt’s and will write her from there.”
“Perfect. Thank you, Joseph! You are a treasure!”
“Shall I send the carriage back for Miss Bennet?”
“Yes, please do.”
He smiled and tipped his hat, then spun off back to Longbourn, a cloud of dust in his wake.
That taken care of, I took a deep breath and went into the house. I found Jane in her room, preparing to go home.
“Jane, I need your help. Can I ask you to assist me without explaining what it is all about?”
“Of course. You know I will help you in any way I can.”
