Netherfield Park Quarantined (5 page)

So Mrs Bennet began extolling Elizabeth’s goodness and beauty. She
promised Mr Collins that Elizabeth would make him a good wife and that her
daughter would accept his attentions. In her mind, Mrs Bennet was already
planning the wedding. She would make a good impression on her future son in
law so that he would be kind to her after Mr Bennet was gone.

“Mrs Bennet, your daughter sounds delightful. I am quite sure that my
patroness, the esteemed Lady Catherine de Bourgh, will accept your daughter.
She will give Miss Elizabeth instruction on how to be the best parson’s wife and
how to run a household. Miss Elizabeth will be blessed with such condescension
paid to her.”

“I am sure that Lizzy will appreciate Lady Catherine’s advice. Now, my
daughter is still young. She is only twenty, and her father has allowed her to do
as she pleases. So you will need to take a firm hand with her, make sure that she
does as she is told. Once she realizes that you are correct, she will be more
compliant in the future.”

“And she is beautiful, did you not say?” Mr Collins was beginning to drool at
the thought of having a delightfully beautiful young lady to grace his bed.

“Oh, she is nothing in comparison to my dear Jane, but she is considered to
be very pretty by all the young men in the neighborhood. My girls are favorites at
all the dances. Lizzy is prettier than Mary and Kitty, but my dear Lydia is far more
adored for her liveliness and spirit. Jane is the most beautiful of all my girls, but
we expect an announcement any day that Mr Bingley has asked for her hand. He
is so very taken with our dear girl, and he is the wealthiest man in the
neighborhood.”

“I cannot wait to meet my future bride. And you said, yesterday, that she is
quite intelligent and well read. Does she enjoy reading sermons? It would be of
great comfort to many of our elderly in the parish if my wife could attend them
and, perhaps, read to them.”

“Well, sermons are not her favorites, but I am sure that we can instill the
necessity of doing so. She will do as she is told, for if she does not, you are within
your rights to discipline her. As your wife, Lizzy must obey your directions.”

“I look forward to keeping a strict household and, when necessary,
disciplining her with my compassion, Mrs Bennet.” Mr Collins said as his thoughts
were more aligned with ways of correcting his wife while in private.

~~ ** ~~

The next few days found Elizabeth hard at work, as the number of patients
continued to grow. Darcy assisted with whatever duties he could, haul water or
firewood, sitting beside one of the sick to offer comfort or to place cooling clothes
on their forehead. Bingley kept everything organized, from deliveries of supplies
to the arrival of new patients. Though scared of contracting the disease
themselves, the staff at Netherfield performed the duties as they were asked.

Unfortunately, scarlet fever had no cure and all that could be done for
those who were ill was to keep them comfortable. Mrs Long’s niece, a kind young
girl who was only seventeen, died the day after she was brought to Netherfield.
Later that day, one of the maids from the Long house also died. By the morning,
two more people had perished.

Elizabeth was frightened for her father, as he was quite weak. Every spare
moment she had was spent at her father’s side. She did not sleep, and barely ate
enough to keep a bird alive. Darcy grew concerned.

As she was placing wet pieces of cloth on her father’s forehead to aid in
cooling him down, Darcy came to her side. Her father appeared to be sleeping,
perspiration on his face from the high fever. Darcy took hold of her hand, taking
the cloth from her.

“Elizabeth, I will tend to your father. You need to rest and have something
to eat. Mrs Gentry just sent up some meat and bread, and I believe there were
some potatoes and fruit. You have not eaten for quite a few hours and I have not
seen you sleep for nearly three full days and nights. If you do not take care, you
will take ill yourself. What good would that do your father?”

“There is so much to do, William. I cannot rest while there is so much to do
and so many people needing to be tended.”

Darcy wrapped his arm around the young lady who held his heart.
“Dearest, I cannot stand the thought of your taking ill. The thought of losing you
tears at my heart. Please, Elizabeth, for my sanity, would you go to the sitting
room across the hall. I overheard Mr Bingley stating food has been set out for
everyone to partake. I want you to eat, and then sit down and rest for at least two
hours.”

Elizabeth looked into the eyes of the gentleman before her. “If anything
happens, anything at all, please send someone for me immediately.”
Seeing the concern written in her beautiful eyes, Darcy nodded. “I promise
you that I will.”

Mr Bennet had not been sleeping, only resting his eyes and listening to his
daughter and the mysterious Mr Darcy. As soon as he heard Elizabeth’s footsteps
leaving the room, Mr Bennet opened his eyes. “Mr Darcy,” He whispered. “I
believe we should have a discussion.”

Darcy felt guilty as he looked upon the father of the young lady he loved.
“Forgive me Mr Bennet. I meant no disrespect to you in speaking so informally
with your daughter. We had spoken the other day and Miss Elizabeth agreed to
allow me to court her. She wished to keep the news quiet while we were getting
to know each other better.”

“That explains a great deal.” Mr Bennet began to cough, his throat was
scratchy and painful. Darcy quickly poured a glass of cool water and held it to Mr
Bennet’s lips as his other hand aided the elder gentleman to lift his head from the
pillow. After several sips of water, Mr Bennet continued. “I do not wish to be so
forward, Mr Darcy, but I do not feel I have time to lose. I need to know what your
intentions are with regards to my beloved daughter, Elizabeth.”

Darcy was amazed at the man’s speech. “I can honestly tell you that I find
Miss Elizabeth to be the most charming, intelligent, beautiful young lady of my
acquaintance. My intentions are to beg her to marry me. If I am so blessed, I will
spend the rest of my life making her as happy as she makes me.”

A smile grew on Mr Bennet’s lips. “Good, good, I had hoped to hear this
from you. I am certain that Mr Bingley cares for my Jane, but he is in no position
to assist me. Mr Darcy, I need to ask you for the most important favor I have ever
requested of anyone.”

Confusion was apparent in the way Darcy’s eyebrow arched. “You may ask
me whatever you wish, Mr Bennet. If it is within my power to do so, I will.”

Mr Bennet motioned for another drink before he spoke. “Mr Darcy, my
health is failing, and the chances of my dying are great. No, no arguments, I am
facing the facts. The problem is that my dearest daughter will be in danger from
her mother if I were to die before my wife. Fanny has never liked Elizabeth, she
resents that Lizzy is my favorite. When I am gone, Fanny will force Elizabeth to
marry anyone she can find, no matter how foolish or cruel the man, simply to
remove Elizabeth from her care. Also, she will do so to the highest bidder, for she
will wish for money to support her and the other children. With my cousin here,
visiting, and he is my heir, I fear Fanny will attempt to force a marriage between
Mr Collins and Lizzy. The man is more foolish than his father. I have not set much
back for the care of my family after I am gone. My dearest girl could be forced
into an unfortunate marriage or worse, forced into some sort of work. If Lizzy is
married before I die, it will protect her from my wife.”

“Sir, I would gladly marry Elizabeth this moment, but I do not believe you
will need to worry about dying. I am sure that you will survive this illness.”

“No, I need to make sure that Lizzy is protected. I will speak with her, make
her understand. I will need you to send for my brother Phillips, in Meryton. He is
a solicitor and will handle the paperwork. And we will need to send for the
parson, Mr Littleton is near enough and would be able to perform the marriage
quickly for us.”

“I will agree, but only if Miss Elizabeth agrees. I will not force her into a
marriage. No matter if we are married or not, I will do all that I can to protect her
if you should die.”

“But you will not have legal right to do so, Mr Darcy and it is nearly nine
months until Lizzy turns one and twenty. We need to make it legal, for Lizzy’s
sake.” Mr Bennet said, his voice scratchy and barely a whisper.

Darcy nodded his head and went to return Elizabeth to her father’s side.
Elizabeth ran to the bed, afraid that her father was dying. “Papa, what is wrong?
What can I do to help you? Please do not leave me.”

Mr Bennet brought his hand up and gently patted his most cherished
daughter on the cheek. “Lizzy, I must ask you to listen to what I have to tell you
and do as you are told. It is vital that you do as I tell you.”

“Papa, I will do whatever you wish, just stay with me.”

“If I could, my dear girl, I would. But you and I both know my chances of
surviving this illness are slim. Shhh, do not argue. I know the truth and if it is my
time, the only regret I have is not being a better father to you and your sisters.
Now, when I am gone, your mother will turn vicious. And it is you and your
happiness that she will sacrifice. I have asked Mr Darcy his feelings for you, as I
have overheard the way you talk to each other. It is obvious that you both have
feelings for each other. To protect you and keep you from your mother’s cruelty,
I beg you to marry Mr Darcy, today, while I can still give consent. Mr Littleton can
come to perform a small service, and your uncle could do the settlement
paperwork. Mr Littleton would be kind enough, under the circumstances, to
forgo the reading of banns and make the marriage legal. Without a marriage, you
will be in danger when I am gone.”

“You will not be dying, Papa. There is no need to think like this.” Elizabeth
said, wiping at the tears that were flowing freely down her cheek.”

“Lizzy, you have seen for yourself the young, healthy people who have died
in this room already. What do you think are my chances of recovering, with my
weak heart?”

Elizabeth could not think of life without her father. She knew that he was
correct, that his chances were very slight for recovery. And she knew that her
mother would be far crueler than she had ever been. Mrs Bennet had told her
second daughter of her dislike for Elizabeth, her desire to rid herself of the child
she disliked was great. “Papa, Mr Darcy should not be forced to marry me to
protect me. I could not force him into such a burden.”

“Elizabeth, I have told your father, and I will tell you the same. I care
deeply for you, and am more than willing to marry you immediately. But I will
only do so if you are willing, for I will not force you against your will. You will be
protected all of your life by marrying me, I will allow no harm to come to you.
And I will be of assistance to any of your sisters that need us to shelter them.”

“It is happening so fast. William, you would be forced to take care of me.
Surely you would wish more time to think this through.” Elizabeth said, her eyes
searching his.

“I knew, even before I asked to court you, you are the woman I will love for
the rest of my life. There will be no other in my life. If you do not marry me, I will
live the rest of my years alone, my heart broken into pieces. I love you, Elizabeth.
Would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

Elizabeth turned from her father to the man who had just proposed to her,
and then back to her father.
Was this a dream? Did Mr Darcy truly just ask me to
marry him? Is Papa insisting that I marry Mr Darcy immediately?

Mr Bennet decided to break his daughter’s confusion. “Lizzy, I give your
marriage my blessing. But it must be done immediately.”

 

Finally, Elizabeth turned her gaze back to Darcy. She took a deep breath
and said “Yes, William, I will marry you.”

 

~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

 

Chapter 5

Darcy began sending out messages to request those needed to arrange the
wedding. Mrs Bennet and the other Bennet sisters would not be able to attend
the wedding, not even Jane could come down from her isolation in her rooms.
Mr Bennet would see that it was done, with Mr Phillips overseeing the legalities.
Bingley would stand as a witness, and Mr Phillips would be the other.

Mr Littleton made his way to Netherfield as quickly as his horse would carry
him. He had baptized Elizabeth when she was a babe, and had always been fond
of the young girl. Seeing the young lady that she had grown into always brought
him joy. Once he learned that Mr Bennet’s health was poor, and the situation
was dire for Elizabeth’s safety from her mother, Mr Littleton was more than
happy to be of assistance. He issued a marriage license for the couple, and Mr
Phillips drew up a temporary settlement. Mr Darcy promised to have a better
settlement prepared as soon as he was able to speak with his solicitor in Town,
and Mr Phillips would be able to sign those papers, if Mr Bennet was unable. In
less than two hours from the time of his proposal, Elizabeth Bennet and
Fitzwilliam Darcy were joined as husband and wife.

Mr Bennet smiled as he kissed his daughter’s hand. “Now I may rest
peacefully knowing, that if I do not wake, that your care is in safe hands. Mr
Darcy, I welcome you as my son. I charge you with the task of always loving this
most precious of gifts that I give you.”

“You have my word on that, Mr Bennet. You rest for a while and I will bring
you some more broth when you wake. Which would you prefer, beef or
chicken?”

“Mrs Gentry makes an excellent chicken broth. And I believe you have
earned the right to call me Bennet.”

 

“And you may call me William, as your daughter and my family does. I will
make sure that the chicken broth is ready for you when you wake.”
~~ ** ~~