4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The cold, dreary rain persisted, but true to his word, Mr. Bennet ordered the carriage to be made ready. Ignoring the admonishments of Hill and Wallace that he should not endanger himself by going out in such weather, he mounted his carriage and sat beside his eldest daughter. He tapped on the ceiling with his walking stick to signal the driver, and settled back as the carriage lurched forward. "Do stop wringing your hands, dear." He patted her knee. "You will only wear out your gloves!" He smiled knowingly.

"How do you always know when I do that?" Jane laughed tensely. She forced her hands to lie still in her lap.

"The sound is quite distinct." And grating on the nerves, I am afraid. But, poor dear, you are upset enough now, and I dare not add to that.

"I do not even hear it." She looked out the window. "There is the broken hedge. It looks positively skeletal in this light. I never noticed that before. Somehow it is so much more cheerful in the sunlight."

"Hold on, dear, we are going to hit that confounded…" The coach lurched. "…rut."

Jane squealed and clutched her father's arm. "How did you know?"

"Lizzy hits that blasted thing whenever we drive this way." He rubbed his temples. "She promises that she will not each time, and yet she always does."

"Have you a headache, Papa?"

"I am sure it will be better when we arrive." He leaned his head back against the carriage cushion and sighed. I cannot get help but remember how quickly Fanny succumbed to that fever. Surely I will not lose my Lizzy to such a thing as well. His face grew cold at the thought and began to silently pray..

"I did not sleep well, either." Jane leaned against his shoulder. "I am sure they have taken very good care of her, and she will be recovering well when we see her." Oh Heavenly Father, let it be so.

In due time, the carriage slogged across the soggy roads and arrived, covered in mud, at Netherfield's front door. Footmen immediately greeted them and helped them inside where Mrs. Prince greeted them. "Mr. Bennet, Miss Bennet," she said with a curtsey. She took their wet outer garments and handed them to a maid.

"Thank you for admitting us," Mr. Bennet said as he bowed his head toward her. "I know this is a dreadfully early hour for a call."

"We were expecting you, sir. I am sure your daughter will be pleased to see you. I am afraid that Mr. Bingley is not below stairs, yet." She turned toward the young maid who stood gaping at Mr. Bennet and instructed, "Go take those things and hang them by the fire in the kitchen." The young woman hurried away.

A tall, dark figure appeared behind Mrs. Price. "I will see to our guests," a rich baritone voice announced.

"Yes, sir, Mr. Darcy." She bobbed and retreated.

Mr. Bennet smiled for the first time that morning. He turned toward the voice and gestured to his daughter. "Mr. Darcy, may I present my eldest daughter, Jane?"

Darcy bowed. "It is good to meet you, Miss Bennet."

"Thank you. I am pleased to make your acquaintance as well." He is the black stallion that Lizzy described! Jane curtsied and tried not to stare.

Turning to Mr. Bennet, Darcy said, "Please forgive Bingley. He and his party still keep town hours, and may not be down for some time yet. I hope that yu will accept me in his stead."

"You are an early riser," Mr. Bennet acknowledged as he dipped his head toward Darcy, "for you are a country gentleman."

"It is in the blood, I suppose." The corner of Darcy's lips lifted. "Forgive me if I am too forward, but I can only imagine you are here to see after your daughter?"

"Oh yes, sir…" Jane's words poured out in a rush.

"Mrs. Price just checked on her. She reports Miss Elizabeth sleeps, but remains quite feverish, and most certainly should not be moved. She does not feel your sister is in any serious danger though. Mr. Palmer, the apothecary, agrees."

Mr. Bennet gasped a heavy sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging.

It is as I thought; he has lost someone, probably his wife, to such an illness. He is too steady a character to react with such alarm otherwise. "With your permission, sir, I will take you to her now."

"I would greatly appreciate that." Mr. Bennet's voice was a bit unsteady as he squared his shoulders.

Darcy stepped between Jane and her father and took Mr. Bennet's hand and placed it firmly on his own elbow. "If you will come this way."

Jane immediately began to protest, but Mr. Bennet waved her off. I have never seen Papa trust anyone but family to do that!

Darcy spoke softly as he walked, "The staircase we are approaching is made of a most unique white marble. The first step, here, I am told has a unique history." He paused, and then stepped up very deliberately. "But, I suppose this house is old enough that all twenty-seven steps may have a story of their own to tell."

Jane watched in astonishment as the men climbed the stairs together talking as old friends might. He guides Papa so gently, calling no attention to his limitations. I have never seen someone take to him so easily before. What a very unusual gentleman. Suddenly she realized she was too far behind and hurried her steps to catch up.

A few moments later, the party stopped at a door. "This is her room. Mine is across the hall, two doors to the left. I shall wait there in case there is anything you require." Darcy bowed and left them.

Jane knocked once, then opened the heavy door and hurriedly guided her father inside. A warm fire crackled, bathing the room with its soft glow. The drapes were tightly drawn against the storm's chill. Lizzy lay in the center of a large bed piled high with pillows and blankets. She stirred fitfully, mumbling in her sleep.

"Take me to her, Jane," he whispered tensely. She helped him to the bedside, where he perched on the bed beside Lizzy. He listened carefully as she coughed. His hands found her face and caressed her cheek gently.

"Papa?" she murmured, squinting in the dim light.

"Jane and I are here."

"I am sorry that I got caught in the rain." She reached to cover his hand with her own.

"Had you asked, I would have warned you that would happen. I can always smell rain when it is in the air," he rebuked very gently as he brushed sweaty locks form her forehead.

"I am relieved." Elizabeth coughed again as she tried to laugh. "I know that I cannot be too unwell if you scold me so."

Mr. Bennet smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "We have Mrs. Price's assurances that you will make a full recovery, and far be it from me to question her esteemed wisdom. Mr. Palmer, we are told, agrees with her."

"But he certainly left his mark while he was here. The table is full of his preparations." The small table rattled as she bumped it with her knee. She lifted each of the bottles and squinted to read the labels

"And they all taste quite vile…" The rest of Lizzy's comment was lost in a fit of coughing.

"Have you taken the draught of cherry bark yet?" Jane asked. Lizzy shook her head, so Jane found it among the clutter on the table and helped her to take some. "I know it is ghastly, dearest, but drink it anyway. You know how it relieves your coughs."

"Bah!" Lizzy gasped. "Sometimes I wonder if the relief is worth the taste! Is there any water?"

Jane quickly found a small carafe and poured a glass. She pressed it into Lizzy's unsteady hands and helped her take a drink.

"Did you eat anything for dinner last night? Did you break your fast this morning? You must keep up your strength." Mr. Bennet squeezed her knee through the blankets.

"Not yet," she said weakly.

"Then I will see that Mrs. Price sends up a tray with broth, and perhaps a bit of bread and jam." He rose and retraced his steps to the doorway. Jane was immediately at his side. With a hand on the door jamb, he waved her down. "No, you stay here with your sister. I will call Mr. Darcy to assist me." He slipped out the door.

"Mr. Darcy?" Lizzy gasped. "Papa wishes for Mr. Darcy to assist him? He has never done such a thing!" She blinked unbelievingly.

"I know. It is the strangest turn of events." Jane sat beside Lizzy. "Papa has taken quite a shine to your black stallion."

Lizzy rubbed her hand across her eyes. "Please, please, Jane, do not tell him I called him that. It is bad enough that I am an invalid here. I could not face him again if he were to know I said such a thing about him." I really must stop describing our neighbors so. I always knew it would come back to haunt me one day.

"Your secret is safe with me." Jane pressed her shoulders to help her lie back down.

Mr. Bennet stepped into the hallway and recognized Darcy's baritone a moment later. "I heard the door; is there anything you require?"

"Lizzy is awake right now, and it would be good for her to break her fast before she sleeps again."

"Shall I call for Mrs. Price?"

"No, no, I would not trouble her so. I would ask for your arm to help me to the kitchen to ask for a bit of broth and tea."

Darcy studied him for a moment, and then shook his head with a wry smile. "It would be far easier to call for a maid and send the request through her."

Mr. Bennet chuckled, "You wish me to admit I have questions for you, sir? Then I shall freely confess that I do."

"Then allow me to send a maid on your errand, and we will make use of Bingley's study and talk over coffee."

"Very well," he acquiesced as he took Darcy's arm.

A few minutes later, Mr. Bennet wrapped his still chilled fingers around a warm coffee cup. He sipped the steaming brew carefully and listened to the fire as it popped behind him. The rain drummed the windows in a steady beat, punctuated by an occasional clap of thunder. "Ah, that is just the stuff for a morning such as this. You are quite the considerate host, Darcy, especially considering that you are a guest here as well."

They laughed companionably for a moment. "So what did you wish to speak of?" Darcy set his coffee cup down with a soft clink.

"You have no patience for small talk, do you, sir?" Bennet chuckled, resting his cup on his knee.

"No, I am afraid it is not my strength." He crossed his long legs and waited.

"Then I will be equally direct." Bennet leaned forward. "Why are you paying for Palmer's preparations for my daughter?"

Darcy sat upright in surprise, his jaw dropping as he searched for words. "How?"

"I know Mr. Palmer well. You can imagine with my condition, I have spent many hours with him. I am familiar with many of his potions, both those I typically purchase from him and those which I eschew." He took another sip of coffee, then set the cup on the table as a loud clap of thunder rattled the windows. "I heard my eldest daughter as she examined the collection he had left. Two in specific have a peculiar, pungent odor. They are particularly expensive. In the past, I have elected to have him prepare less expensive alternatives. He would not have made them up for my daughter unless someone overrode my preferences with a promise to pay for them. That leaves you and Mr. Bingley." Bennet cocked his head and seemed to stare at Darcy. "Since you are the one who is here talking to me…"

Darcy slapped his knee, "I'll be…"

A blind man raising five daughters alone must be very attentive in order to survive." He shrugged. "But do answer my question, sir, and stop squirming like a boy caught stealing shortbread! It is not becoming in a man of your height."

Darcy gulped, feeling for a moment as though he sat before his own father. "I am paying Palmer." He could not look into Bennet's face.

"The question remains, why would a gentleman of your standing risk doing something that could be so easily misconstrued? I am sure you have dodged your share of matchmaking mothers and husband hunting heiresses to be quite aware of the danger in your actions."

Darcy blew out a deep breath and stared out the window. "I feel in part to blame for her condition."

Bennet's expression became troubled as he leaned further forward. "In what way do you consider yourself responsible? Even the master of a very grand estate cannot control the weather."

"I encountered her while I was riding yesterday morning. I needed direction and kept her out longer than she intended, causing her to be caught out in the rain."

Crossing his arms over his chest, Bennet grumbled deep in his throat. "You are a dreadfully bad liar, Mr. Darcy," he leaned back in his chair, "which I happen to find to be a highly desirable trait in a man. But I will still demand the truth."

Darcy's eyes grew wide as he huffed in frustration. "I am not accustomed to being spoken to in this manner." He pushed himself up from his chair and stalked over to the fireplace where he leaned against the mantle.

"I imagine not. But then again, I do not expect you have many occasions to utter such a complete untruth. It would seem you are one who finds disguise abhorrent, given your lack of skill." Darcy raked his hair uneasily. "There is something my daughter does not want me to know, and she had you promise silence. So now you are caught between your word to her and my demands."

With a heavy sigh, Darcy nodded.

"She was racing my stallion in Willard's field again?"

"I will not even ask how you know that, sir." Darcy laughed hard, face in his hands.

"That creature is far too spirited for a lady to ride," he muttered disapprovingly. "None of my grooms can manage him at all; they believe him to be quite unbreakable. Lizzy is the only one who has been able to get that horse to even accept a saddle."

"He is a fine animal, one of the finest I have ever seen." Darcy returned to his seat.

"She did not attempt to ride that beast side saddle, did she?" Bennet cringed as he asked.

Darcy threw back his head and laughed heartily. "I am surprised you do not already know that as well." Bennet grumbled again. "No, sir, she did not."

"Improper though it may be, it is far safer for her to be astride on an animal such as that."

"Safer for everything but her reputation," Darcy added somberly.

"I trust your honor to keep your peace on that matter, sir. You could have no possible need to damage her reputation here. You are not one who would revel in the power to harm one who is no threat to you or yours."

"You are quite correct. No one shall know anything from me." I am all too aware of the damage that can be done to a woman by a thoughtless word or story told.

They remained silent for a moment while they sipped their coffee. "So how did you come to find my daughter in Willard's field?"

"Like you, I am an early riser. I was exercising my horse and followed the path to that field. When we got to the clearing, we saw her. My own stallion cannot abide seeing another animal running faster than him. I gave him his head, and he ran with yours."

"Horse racing? With my daughter? On a horse no one else can even saddle, much less ride?" Bennet gasped, scrubbing his face with his hands. "Oh, my Lizzy, she will be the death of me!"

"If you disapprove, why do you not stop her?"

"One could sooner stop this wind and rain, sir." He drew a long sip from his cup and shrugged. "To be sure, if I forbade her, I have no doubt that she would obey. But she would be quite miserable about it. The dear would never complain, never breathe a word about it, but I have no doubt it would crush her spirit." He turned aside as if gazing out the window. "She does so much for me. Life has denied her so many of the pleasures a young woman should have; I am hard pressed to deny her the one thing she has found for herself."

"I am guardian to my younger sister, and find that it is most difficult to deny her anything either." Darcy smiled sadly. I hope your generosity of spirit does not come to the same end that mine has. Oh, Georgiana!

"You will not tell Elizabeth that I know?"

"No, I will not."

"I thank you. You seem to be the repository for many confidences today, Mr. Darcy." Bennet raised his coffee cup in a toast.

Suddenly the door burst open, and Bingley rushed through, still straightening his waistcoat. "Mr. Bennet, please do forgive me for not being about when you came to call."

Bennet rose and extended his hand. "Good morning to you, Mr. Bingley. Darcy here makes a fine host in your stead, never fear. It does take some time in the country to become accustomed to rising at dawn. I should offer my apologies for being on your doorstep at such an uncivilized hour."

"Ah, well, yes, I quite understand. Mrs. Prince warned me last night that it was likely you should come to us early this morning. I perfectly understand your concern for her." Bingley smiled. "How fares Miss Elizabeth this morning?"

"She is quite ill and cannot be moved, I fear. But we have good hopes for her convalescence," Bennet answered calmly. "My eldest daughter is with her right now."

"You must stay with us until she has recovery, both you and Miss Bennet. I know Miss Elizabeth will be much easier to have you both here with her. I will ring for Price to make up the rooms right now."

He is a spaniel puppy, so eager to please . Bennet smiled to himself. "That is very gracious of you. I will be most indebted to your hospitality."

"Do you need to send to Longbourn for a trunk?" Bingley asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"I took the liberty of bringing one with us on the chance we might be staying on."

Darcy chuckled under his breath. He is not a man to be denied.

"Excellent. I hope you and your daughter will make yourselves comfortable. I look forward to making her acquaintance. You are quite welcome here."