Netherfield Park Quarantined (18 page)

“Collins, you are addled. Darce could not care if you are master of the
estate or not. I am taking this chit with me, she is the only protection I have to
get to the ground and leave.” Wickham was furious with Mr Collins’
interference.

“She is my intended, and I will not allow you to take her down the
ladder. Now hand her over to me.” Mr Collins made to grab hold of Elizabeth.

The next moments occurred in a blur of activity. Mr Collins and
Wickham were struggling over the young lady who was too ill to notice. While
the two were pulling at Elizabeth, Darcy and Richard took the distraction as an
opportunity to strike. Both leapt forward, Darcy attempting to gather his wife
in his arms and pull her from the other men. In the struggle, Wickham’s gun
fired, the bullet striking Mr Collins in the chest. He released his hold on
Elizabeth, his weight propelling him into Wickham, knocking him backwards
towards the edge of the platform. The two men fell over the edge. Mr Collins,
unable to grasp on to anything, went straight to the ground. Unfortunately,
Wickham was grasping tightly to Elizabeth’s arm while Darcy held her body to
him.

“Let go of my wife.” Darcy cried out to Wickham.

“If I am to die, I will take her with me.” Wickham gasped in his struggles.
“You will not be able to live happily ever after, you will live the rest of your life
knowing I was the one who took her from you.”

Richard held the barrel of his own pistol, and brought the grip down
hard on Wickham’s hand. Crying out in pain, Wickham instinctively let go of
Elizabeth, though there was nothing else holding him to the platform. His
screams were heard for the length of his fall, until he hit the ground with a
horrible thud.

Tears were forming in Darcy’s eyes. Tears of joy to have his beloved in
his arms, and tears of pain at seeing her so ill. The arm to which Wickham was
clinging was bent at a most unusual angle, most likely broken from the weight
of Wickham pulling on it in his struggle to take Elizabeth over the edge with
him.

“Richard, send one of the men for the physician. Her fever is
dangerously high.” He cried out to his cousin.

“I already did.” Richard stated as he assisted Darcy in standing, with
Elizabeth still held close to his chest. “I sent one of them before we entered
the house.”

The cousins returned down the stairs, and into one of the bedchambers
on the third floor. Darcy laid his wife on the bed and stepped back as Mrs
O’Rourke moved forward to tend to the young lady. Turning at the sound of
footsteps coming quickly towards the room, Darcy was relieved to see
Georgiana run into the room.

“William, oh, William.” The girl cried out as she sank into his embrace. “I
was so frightened. Are we safe? Where are they?”

“Wickham and Mr Collins are on the ground outside, after falling from
the top of the house. They are both dead. Mr Collins was shot by Wickham in
a struggle. I am not sure where Mrs Younge is.” Darcy spoke as he caressed
his sister’s hair, attempting to soothe her fears.

Mr O’Rourke entered the room, bringing cloths to his wife. “Have no
fear, young miss. The woman is bound and locked in the room where you had
been held. She will be turned over to the magistrate. You will never have to
fear the likes of her again, as she will most likely be hanged for her part in the
kidnapping of two young gentlewomen.”

Richard had made his way downstairs to check on the men and to have
the bodies moved from the ground outside the house. Seeing the lifeless form
of George Wickham, the shocked expression frozen on his face, a sigh of relief
escaped the colonel’s lips. The nightmare Wickham created was over, and Mr
Collins could no longer cause them harm. If only their prayers could be
answered and Elizabeth be returned to health.

Mrs O’Rourke tended to Elizabeth for nearly an hour before the
physician, Mr Webb, arrived with the Matlocks. Lady Matlock was not one to
stand on her position in society, she went to her new niece to do what she
could for the young lady who loved her nephew.

Darcy and Richard stood in the hallway, speaking with Lord Matlock, as
the physician was in the bedchambers, examining Elizabeth. After what felt
like an eternity to Darcy, Mr Webb came out of the room.

“Sir, your wife’s fever is high, and the infection has a strong hold on your
missus. She has a cut on her side, this is from which the infection stems. Had
she been fed properly and tended to when the cut was in its early stage, she
would be well and good now. The next two days will be critical. If she
survives until three days from now, she will recover. From what I was told,
her arm was wrenched tonight, causing a break. We will set the break and
splint the arm.”

The thought that in three days, he could be a widower, Darcy nearly
collapsed. Seeing Darcy was in a bad way, Richard inquired as to what could
be done for Elizabeth.

“I have instructed the ladies on the application of poultices which
should aid in drawing out the infection from the wound. Also, I have given
them several draughts which will, hopefully, lower her fever and strengthen
her body. Whenever she is awake, she needs to be encouraged to take some
broth or anything she can eat. And she needs to drink plenty of water. Water
will aid in flushing all the impurities from her body.”
“Thank you, Mr Webb.” Richard replied. “When will you return?”

“I will return in a few hours. I am in need of a little rest and fresh
clothing. And my wife will wish to see me for a few moments.” The physician
said with a smile.

Lord Matlock acknowledged his gratitude for all the man had done for
Elizabeth. Taking a bag of coins from his pocket, Lord Matlock handed it to Mr
Webb. “Whatever is needed for my niece, no matter the cost, see that she has
it.”

“Of course, Lord Matlock. I will bring more supplies when I return.”
~~ ** ~~

Georgiana did not stray far from her brother and cousin. With her aunt
tending to Elizabeth, Georgiana needed the compassion of the brother who
was more like a father, due to their age difference and Darcy being one of her
guardians. As she stood, wrapped up in her brother’s arms, Georgiana was
finally able to feel safe and secure. Finally, exhaustion took hold, and
Georgiana began to yawn.

“Richard, will you see that Georgie gets a new room and someone to see
to her needs, so she may get some sleep.”

 

“Truly, Brother, I am well. I wish to stay with you until we know how
my new sister is.”

Darcy placed a kiss on her hair as he squeezed his arms around her
tighter. “After all that you have been through, my sweetling, I wish for you to
rest. We may have a few days before we know if Elizabeth will recover, and
you cannot stay awake all that time. I do not wish to see you take ill from not
taking proper care of yourself.”

Placing a kiss on her brother’s cheek, Georgiana smiled. “And that
advice pertains to you as well, William. You will do your wife no good if you
take ill as well.”

“Yes, little sister, I will follow my own advice. Now, off with you.”

Richard walked down the hall with Georgiana, following one of the
maids, who was to show Georgiana to a room for the young girl to use. Once
they arrived, Richard kissed his cousin on the cheek and bid her goodnight, as
the maid remained with Georgiana to aid her in preparing for bed.

“This gown has seen better days.” Georgiana said as she slipped her
arms from the sleeves. “I will have to sleep in my camisole, as I have no
nightgown.”

“Mrs O’Rourke had a nightgown brought from her rooms for you. She
knew you would have no clothing aside for what you were wearing.
Tomorrow, we will see if we can find you something simple to wear until
more gowns can be purchased for you.” The maid, Lucy, stated.

“Did you see my sister? How is she?” Georgiana asked as she yawned
again. “I have not gotten to meet her yet.”

“She was quite feverish, when I saw her. I took some cold water in the
room for Mrs O’Rourke to use to cool her. The cut on her side had a poultice
on it, I am not sure how bad it is. But there is a look about her, a look that says
she is a good lady, one with a gentle heart and kindness.”

Georgiana was surprised. “You can tell such just from looking at her,
even though she is quite ill?”

“I have been able to tell what a person is from looking at them, ever
since I was a little girl. There was a man who came around selling meat at a
good price. This was when I was a wee slip of a girl. I felt something was bad
about the man, and I told me mom. She did not purchase any of the meat.
Later, we heard from neighbors, the meat was bad and it made many people
ill. I know that you are sweet natured, shy, and musical.”

“How can you know these things?” Georgiana asked, as she stared at the
maid.

 

“As I said, I can tell people from the moment I meet them. Now, is there
anythin’ else you be needen?”

 

“No, I am fine. Will you be close by? In case I need someone to talk to?”
“I will be in the servant room off your dressing chamber. Iffin you need
anythin’, call out. I sleep light, so I will hear you.”

 

“Thank you, oh, I forgot to ask your name.”

 

The young maid smiled. “I be Lucy. Sweet dreams, Miss Darcy. I will
tend to you in the morning.”

 

~~ ** ~~

Lady Matlock stepped from Elizabeth’s bedchamber in the early hours
of the morning, carrying an empty pitcher. Seeing Darcy and Lord Matlock
sitting on chairs which had been brought to the hallway, she scolded them.
“Why are you both not asleep in a bed? There are plenty of rooms, you should
be taking care of yourselves.”

“I was waiting for you, my dear.” Lord Matlock stated. “I wished to make
sure you had any assistance you might need. And I did not wish to leave
William alone in his vigil.”

“I have appreciated the chance to speak with you, Uncle. There have
been so many misunderstandings of late, it is good to have the chance to speak
openly with you.”

Lord Matlock smiled. “And not have Catherine to interfere and cause
problems for all of us.”

 

“Ah, yes, a day without Lady Catherine de Bourgh is a day filled with
sunshine and happiness.” Darcy said. “How is Elizabeth?”

 

“She is still holding on, which is a blessing. The poultice needs to be
changed on the cut, and we need some more cold water to cool her with.”

One of the footmen came as if from nowhere, and held out a hand for the
pitcher. “Your ladyship, I will fetch the water for you.” And just as quickly, the
man disappeared back where he came from.
“Mrs O’Rourke runs an efficient house, with dedicated and hardworking staff.” Lady Matlock stated. “Henry, I think we should offer to
purchase the estate from Anne. She will never utilize it, but I think it would be
pleasant to come here for a holiday once in a while.”

“I was thinking the same, my love.” Lord Matlock took his wife’s hand
and placed a kiss on the back of it. “Now, you need to rest for a little while.”
“I was just thinking the same thing. Will you join me?” Lady Matlock
inquired of her husband.

“The suite of rooms at the end of this hall are available for our use.” Lord
Matlock stated. Turning to his nephew, he asked. “Are you staying here in the
hall or going to the rooms available for you to use?”

Darcy shook his head. “I plan to rest in my wife’s room, even if it is on
the floor. I do not wish to be far from her side.”

Lady Matlock placed a kiss on her nephew’s cheek. “There is a chaise in
the room, and we moved it to the side of the bed. I knew you would not wish
to be far from Elizabeth.”

“Thank you, Aunt, for all you have done for us.”

 

“We will see you in the morning, dear boy. Now sleep, and pray.”
~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

 

Chapter 15
Darcy woke when he felt movement within his fingers. He had fallen
asleep while grasping his wife’s hand within his own.

“Lizzy, dearest, can you hear me? Wake, my love. I wish to see your
beautiful eyes.” He spoke as he placed a kiss on each of her fingertips. “Come
back to me, Lizzy.”

As if by command, there was a fluttering of Elizabeth’s eyelids. Finally,
they opened. Darcy could see how ill she was, the usually bright flecks of her
eyes were dull and nearly lifeless.

“William…” She whispered. “Is it really you?”

 

“It is, my love. And I will not leave your side again. Please, Lizzy, you
must recover. I cannot survive this world without you.”

 

“So weak.” She replied.

“I know, dearest. Let me send for some broth to help strengthen you.
The physician said we must insist you take nourishment whenever you are
awake. And you must drink as much as possible. I will be with you, lean on
me. Allow my strength to flow into you and aid you in recovering.”

“I love you.” Her voice was so soft, so filled with suffering, Darcy’s heart
nearly broke.

“As I love you, my beloved Lizzy.” Darcy moved to pull the cord. Soon, a
maid arrived. “Please bring some broth and maybe some soft bread. And tea,
with a little honey.”

“Of course, Sir. Cook has been up for an hour preparing items for the
young lady. I will return shortly.”

Smiling at the warmth of the people who served this house so diligently,
Darcy could not help but notice it was a stark difference from the three
culprits who had taken up residence just days before. It seemed like just
moments before the maid returned with a tray overwhelmed with items the
cook had hoped would entice the patient and assist in her recovery.

Propping his wife up with pillows, he brought the table with the tray of
food and drink to the other side of Elizabeth’s bed. “I believe the cook was
preparing to feed a small army with all this food.” He chuckled.

“Smells good.” Elizabeth said, a weak smile gracing her lips.
“I am glad to hear that. Let me see, what should we start with? Would
you like some toast with jam on it? It appears to be strawberry jam. Or there
are some soft cooked eggs, some delicious pastries, some beef broth, tea, oh,
and there is some bacon.”