Falling for Elizabeth Bennet Page 18

  Darcy thanks them and departs to his study. Darcy quickly writes to Mr. Bennet and has the letter sent express. He then returns to Elizabeth.

  Darcy knocks on Elizabeth’s door, and Amy answers the door. Darcy asks, “How is she?”

  Amy replies, “Sir, she has been asking to see you.”

  Darcy enters and sees Elizabeth sitting on a chaise lounge, looking a little more like herself. He crosses the room and kneels on the floor. He gently caresses her face and says, “Elizabeth, I am so sorry. Please forgive me. I have failed to protect you.”

  Elizabeth touches Darcy’s cheek and then kisses him and says, “Fitzwilliam, you did not fail me. None of this was your fault.”

  Darcy kisses her temple and stands, saying, “Sweetheart, Mr. Anderson is coming to make sure you are well.”

  Elizabeth nods, and he leaves the room. As Darcy is coming out of Elizabeth’s room, Mr. Anderson is coming up the stairs.

  Darcy says, “Mr. Anderson, thank you for coming. My apologies for disturbing your evening, I need you to look my wife over. I recently married, and my wife was taken from our home and admitted to Bedlam, and I want to make sure she regains her full strength. Elizabeth is very weak and fragile-looking. I barely recognized her. She cried the entire way home, and I do not have the complete story yet.” Darcy knocks on Elizabeth’s door, and Amy opens the door and says, “Amy, Mr. Anderson is here to look at Mrs. Darcy.”

  Darcy enters the room and introduces the physician, “Elizabeth, this is Mr. Anderson, our family physician. He needs to take a look at you to make sure that you are well. I will be in the hall. Call out for me if you need anything.”

  Elizabeth replies, “I will be will fine, Fitzwilliam. Thank you, Mr. Anderson. I apologize for troubling you this evening.” Darcy excuses himself from the room and paces the hallway.

  Mr. Anderson exits Elizabeth’s room after a quarter of an hour. Mr. Anderson looks at Darcy. “Mr. Darcy, your wife is sleeping now. Your wife needs to eat and get plenty of rest. I would recommend that she has several small meals or snacks over the course of the day. I will send over an ointment for the sores on Mrs. Darcy’s wrists first thing in the morning. The sores on her wrists make me believe that your wife was tied up at one point. I will check back in a few days to see how Mrs. Darcy is doing. If you have any concerns, please let me know. Also, congratulations on your marriage. Mrs. Darcy is a lovely lady, and I believe you will be happy together.”

  Darcy replies, “Thank you, Mr. Anderson. I will be sure to care for Elizabeth, and I will contact you if anything arises. I do have one concern to discuss with you before you depart. Elizabeth is the young lady I spoke with you about recently with falling sickness. What should I do? Is there anything that I need to worry about?”

  Mr. Anderson replies, “Mr. Darcy, I had guessed as much, given where you found your wife. Right now, the best you can do is to keep her calm, and make sure that she gets lots of rest and to eat. Please contact me immediately if you have any concerns. My congratulations to you and Mrs. Darcy, sir. I do hope that she is better soon.” Mr. Anderson departs, and Darcy enters Elizabeth’s room. Darcy crosses over to Elizabeth, who is sound asleep on her bed. Darcy caresses her face and leans down and kisses her forehead. He crosses the room and opens the adjoining door to his bedchamber. Darcy quickly changes for the night and reopens the adjoining door so that if Elizabeth cries out in the night, he can hear her. Darcy takes a last look at his wife and lies down on his bed to sleep as well.

  About an hour after Darcy falls asleep, he hears Elizabeth whimpering, and Darcy enters Elizabeth’s room to see her thrashing on her bed.

  Darcy softly says, “Elizabeth. Wake up, love. It was a bad dream. You are home and safe now.”

  Elizabeth wakes up, wrapping her arms around Darcy’s neck, clinging to him. He runs his hands up and down Elizabeth’s back in an effort to calm her down. Darcy quietly asks, “Elizabeth, would you like to sleep in my chamber with me. I will hold you so that you know you are safe.”

  Elizabeth nods. “Yes, please, Fitzwilliam. I will feel better in your arms.”

  Darcy gently picks up Elizabeth and carries her into his bedchamber and lays her on the bed. Darcy leaves a few candles burning and makes sure that the fire is bright before joining Elizabeth in bed. Once Darcy has settled, he opens his arms, and Elizabeth snuggles into his embrace and falls sleep.

  Chapter 18

  Darcy wakes the next morning, tired and confused. He feels very warm, and something is tickling his nose. Suddenly Darcy feels a feather-light kiss on his lips, and he opens his eyes to see the sparkling eyes of his beloved Elizabeth.

  Darcy grins at Elizabeth. “Good morning, love. How are you this morning?”

  Elizabeth hugs him and says, “I am well, Fitzwilliam. Thank you for coming to get me.”

  Darcy replies, “I did not do it alone, sweetheart. I had some help. Elizabeth, would you be willing to tell your story to Richard and Wickham as well after we have broken our fast?”

  Elizabeth says, “Of course, Fitzwilliam. I know that they both helped find me.”

  Darcy asks, “Elizabeth, how do you really feel? Please do not tell me what you think I want to hear. I need to know how you really are.”

  Elizabeth sighs. “I am feeling both rested and drained at the same time.”

  Darcy nods, advising, “Mr. Anderson wants you to eat several small meals or snacks to help you gain back some of the weight you lost. Are you ready to rise and dress for the day? If so, just put on a simple dress. I want you to be comfortable.”

  Elizabeth nods, and Darcy picks up his protesting wife and carries her to her dressing room. “I will return in ten minutes so that we can go downstairs together.”

  He puts Elizabeth on her feet and closes her dressing room door. Darcy is just finishing dressing when he hears a faint knock on his door. To his surprise, Elizabeth is dressed and waiting. Before Darcy can say anything, Elizabeth asks, “Fitzwilliam, may I ask you a question?”

  Darcy wrinkles his brow before answering, “Elizabeth, you know that I will be happy to answer any question you have. You need never ask. What is your question, sweetheart?”

  Elizabeth blushes and mumbles, “Now that we are back from our honeymoon, will we sleep in separate bedchambers like the rest of society?”

  Darcy smiles and gently says, “Elizabeth, I have never been one to follow the rules of society, and if it is your wish and only your wish, you may sleep in my arms every night.”

  Elizabeth throws her arms around him. “Thank you, Fitzwilliam.”

  Darcy kisses Elizabeth on the forehead. “I have something for you.” Darcy slides Elizabeth’s ring on her hand. “Wickham returned your ring to me yesterday, explaining that it was part of his proof that he had indeed found my wife.”

  Elizabeth reaches up and kisses Darcy on the cheek, saying, “Thank you, Fitzwilliam! I was afraid it was lost.”

  With that, Darcy picks up Elizabeth and proceeds to carry her downstairs.

  Richard and Wickham are sitting at the dining room table, waiting for Darcy to join them. They look up in astonishment to see a grinning Darcy carrying in a blushing, protesting Elizabeth. After dropping a kiss on Elizabeth’s cheek, Darcy lowers her to her feet and seats her in the chair next to Wickham. Darcy turns to Richard and Wickham and says, “Good morning. Please go ahead and start eating.”

  Darcy turns to Elizabeth. “Sweetheart, stay where you are. I will bring you a selection of food.”

  Darcy fixes Elizabeth a plate of all her favorite foods and pastries and places it in front of her. Elizabeth looks at the plate and then at Darcy, astonished. “Husband, I will not be able to eat all of this!”

  Darcy smiles and says, “Elizabeth, eat as much as you can. Mr. Anderson wants you to eat small but frequent meals. This way, you can eat what you desire.”

  The talk is general until Georgiana enters the room and sees Elizabeth. Georgiana squeals and, to everyone’s surprise, throws herself at Eliza
beth. Darcy catches Georgiana just before she reaches Elizabeth. “Easy, Georgie. Elizabeth is very weak. You must be gentle.”

  Elizabeth places a hand on Darcy’s arm, which he covers with one of his hands. Elizabeth stands and opens her arms to Georgiana, who hugs Elizabeth and bursts into tears. After a minute, Georgiana regains her composure. “My apologies, everyone. I felt like I had failed my brother when Lizzy was taken.”

  Darcy turns to Georgiana and says, “Georgie, none of this was your fault. I do not blame you, and neither does anyone else.”

  Georgiana asks, “Brother, who took Lizzy away from us? What happened?”

  Darcy holds up a hand. “Georgie, I do not have any answers for you yet. We are planning on having that discussion as soon as everyone has finished eating.”

  Georgiana begs, “Brother, please, may I be there too?”

  Before Darcy can respond, Elizabeth says, “Georgie, let me tell the story to your brother first. It is not a pretty tale, and Fitzwilliam may not want you to know everything just yet. I would ask that you practice my favorite sonata on the pianoforte.”

  Georgiana grudgingly replies, “Very well, Lizzy. I want your promise that I will be told at least some of the story.”

  Elizabeth agrees.

  After everyone has finished eating, Georgiana retires to the music room, and the rest of the group finds seats in Darcy’s study to hear Elizabeth’s tale. Elizabeth is getting ready to start her story when Richard suddenly stands. “Excuse me for a moment, everyone. I will be right back.”

  Elizabeth looks at Darcy, who just shrugs. A few minutes later, Richard returns and crosses the room to Elizabeth with Fitz in his arms. Richard says, “Lizzy, I have been helping Darcy take care of Fitz, and I forgot to ask him last evening if he had wanted the puppy with him.”

  Darcy watches as Elizabeth looks from Fitz to Richard and starts crying. Darcy stands and pulls Elizabeth into his arms until she is calm. Sniffling, Elizabeth takes Fitz from Richard and says, “I am sorry, Richard. I did not mean to turn into a watering pot. I thought that Fitz was dead.” Elizabeth takes a deep breath and looks from Darcy to Richard to Wickham and asks, “How do you want me to begin this tale?”

  Darcy replies, “Elizabeth, can you tell us how you got from Pemberley to London?”

  Elizabeth takes a seat, holding Fitz, and says, “Very well. I have one request. Please wait until I have told the whole story before you start asking questions.”

  Darcy looks to as Elizabeth as she watches Richard and Wickham nod in agreement, and he gives her hand a squeeze. Elizabeth takes a deep breath.

  “I was walking my favorite path at Pemberley when I encountered Miss Bingley.” The men gasp in surprise but say nothing. Elizabeth continues, “Miss Bingley was warning me away from Fitzwilliam, explaining that he was not interested in me, someone with no money or connections and with a major health issue. Fitz started growling at Miss Bingley and ripped the lace hem on Miss Bingley’s dress. Miss Bingley became enraged and started to kick Fitz. I tried to protect Fitz, but Miss Bingley started attacking me. I struggled with Miss Bingley, but during the struggle, I lost my footing, and I hit my head on the ground. When I came to, I was tied up in the back of a cart. Miss Bingley leaned over the side of the cart to tell me that she is sending me somewhere where Fitzwilliam will never find me and that he would forget me and marry her instead.”

  Darcy squeezes Elizabeth hand, and she continues, “The cart driver fed me and stopped when I needed to stop. He would not speak to me at all. Once we got closer to London, he gagged me and delivered me to Bedlam, where the driver gave the story that I was being committed by my sister for falling sickness. Miss Bingley admitted to overhearing that I had this condition while I was at Netherfield Park. Once I arrived at Bedlam, I was place in a cell with another inmate until that inmate tried to hurt me and succeeded in breaking the chain holding my locket. I was moved to a cell by myself. Apparently, Miss Bingley paid them enough to ensure that I was not harmed, informing them that she would be checking in on me from time to time, but I was to be kept away from Fitzwilliam at all costs. The inmates were fed once a day if we were lucky. The worst part was when members of society who are supposed to be so superior would pay to sneer at the inmates, and some even paid to be intimate with them.”

  Darcy squeezes Elizabeth’s hand again and hands her his handkerchief as she appears to be unaware that she is crying. Elizabeth continues, “This cycle would repeat every day until yesterday when I saw Captain Wickham. When I saw Captain Wickham, he gave me hope that he would be able to reach Fitzwilliam or someone from his family. Captain Wickham was very kind to me, and he agreed to try and help even though he did not seem to know who I was. The next thing I remember was seeing Fitzwilliam open the cell door to let me out.”

  Darcy pulls Elizabeth close to him and hugs her to him as she now seems spent.

  Darcy turns to Wickham and asks, “Wickham, how did you come to be the person to find Elizabeth?”

  Wickham replies, “Darcy, I was sent to London by my colonel to deliver some post. After I had finished my errand, I was asked to assist in finding a missing woman. I was in a pub in one of the seedier parts of London when I overheard some men talking about how crazy the rich society is to pay to make fun of the crazy people. These men were talking about a new arrival who was supposed to be a pretty young woman.”

  Wickham turns to Darcy, “I am sorry I did not do more, Darcy.”

  Darcy replies, “Wickham, stop. You found my wife. I thank you for that. When we first discovered Elizabeth missing, all we found was Fitz bloody and battered with a piece of lace in her mouth.”

  There is a knock at the door, and Abbot enters and hands Darcy a jar and says, “Mr. Anderson asked me to give this to you, sir.”

  Darcy opens the jar and starts applying the ointment to Elizabeth’s wrists. Richard looks at Darcy and Wickham and asks, “What about the cart driver? Do we want to try and find him? Is there anyone else involved?”

  Elizabeth replies, “I do not remember anything special about the cart driver that would help you find him. I believe that Miss Bingley acted alone, but how can we tell Mr. Bingley what his sister has done?”

  Richard looks to Wickham and asks, “Wickham, do you think you would be able to find out anything else about this?”

  Wickham shrugs. “I would be happy to try and find out more if you think it will be helpful. I do not know that we will learn anything else.”

  Darcy interjects, saying, “While I would like to get a hold of the cart driver, I do not want to waste time on him. I want to focus on Miss Bingley. I believe it would be best if we all were to travel to Netherfield Park and confront Miss Bingley together once Elizabeth has regained her strength.” Darcy glances down at Elizabeth and asks, “Sweetheart, can you handle confronting Miss Bingley?”

  Elizabeth smiles. “Fitzwilliam, I can do anything with you by my side.”

  Richard questions Darcy, “What are you going to do? No one knows that you are married.”

  Darcy replies, “I can start taking Elizabeth and Georgie to functions and introduce her as Georgiana’s friend.”

  Richard grins. “Lizzy and Georgie can stay with my parents. My mother sent word this morning that she is holding a ball in two weeks’ time, and you would be able to attend it together.”

  Elizabeth says, “I am sorry to say, but I do not know how to dance, and I hate to point out the obvious, but I do not have a ball gown either.”

  Darcy replies, “Sweetheart, Georgie would be more than happy to take you to the modiste and help you select a ball gown. As for dancing, that is easy. Let us go to the ballroom, and we can have Richard or Wickham and Georgie show us a couple of dances.”

  Elizabeth replies, “Very well, but only if they are simple dances—I have a hard time with more complex dances like a reel.”

  Richard and Wickham snicker at this. Darcy laughs when Elizabeth raises a brow at them, and Richard explains, “Lizzy, I cannot imagine m
y staid, taciturn cousin ever dancing a reel.”

  Elizabeth calmly says, “You never know, Richard.”

  Chapter 19

  Darcy House is full of laughter and music for the remainder of the day. Darcy has everyone retire to the ballroom so that others can demonstrate dances for Elizabeth. Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley take turns playing and dancing with Richard and Wickham. Darcy sighs, remembering that with nudging from Elizabeth, he danced with Georgiana. Darcy ensures that Elizabeth rests and eats often. Darcy remembers that with help from Georgiana and Richard, Elizabeth eventually tried dancing one of the simpler dances with him, and Darcy was pleased to see her eyes sparkle and to hear her laugh as she made a few mistakes. The majority of the time Elizabeth sat on a chaise lounge that Darcy had brought in the ballroom for Elizabeth to rest on. At one point, Elizabeth fell asleep on the chaise lounge with a smile on her face, and Fitz fell asleep at her feet while Darcy had his arms wrapped around her shoulders.

  After the evening meal, Darcy addresses the group saying, “I want to thank all of you for your assistance in helping to recover Elizabeth. You have all searched and been patient with me while I have been frustrated that Elizabeth had been taken and I had no idea where to find her. I would be lost without her.”

  Elizabeth stands. “I too wish to thank you all. I cannot tell you what it feels like to have so many people care about me. Please do not think that my family does not care or love me, but their love has had to be hidden these last few years. You all went looking when you are still learning to know me. I am still a new wife, sister, cousin, and friend, and I cannot tell you what this means to me. Thank you so very much.”

  Darcy stands, excusing them, “Please, excuse us. Elizabeth is tired and is going to retire for the night. I will return shortly. Please help yourselves to tea or brandy until I return.”

  Darcy returns a quarter of an hour later to find only Richard and Wickham in the drawing room, waiting for him. Darcy looks around and asks, “Where did Georgiana go?”