Netherfield Park Quarantined (6 page)

The newlyweds had no time to celebrate their wedding; no wedding
breakfast or wedding night could be had that day. Darcy took his bride to the
sitting room for a few moments, where they shared a glass of wine. Placing a
chaste kiss on his wife’s lips, Darcy spoke to her of the future.

“When this crisis is over, and your father is safe and sound at Longbourn,
we will take a wedding trip anywhere you would like. Though this all happened so
quickly, I do love you dearly.”

Elizabeth smiled at her husband. “I know you must be disappointed, it has
not been the wedding of anyone’s dreams.”

“You would be wrong on one issue. I married the lady of my dreams.”
Darcy kissed her again. “Now, remain here and rest for a little while. I will tend to
your father and the others. When you return, I will refresh myself.”

She nodded her head, realizing how tired she truly was. “I will not be long.
Tell Papa that I will be back shortly.”

 

“Yes, Mrs Darcy. And do not forget to eat before you return to the
ballroom.”

 

Darcy returned to his father in law’s bedside, thanking the man for his
kindness.

 

“William, I am grateful for your loving my dear Lizzy. Treasure her always.
And make sure that she knows how much I love her.”

“You will be able to remind her yourself, as you will be recovering from this
illness. Now, you need to take some broth and then rest. Mr Hale has just arrived
and will be around to check on you shortly. Allow me to assist you with the
broth.”

Darcy propped Mr Bennet up, fluffing the pillows behind the man. He held
on to the invalid feeder, filled with chicken broth. Mr Bennet was able to take the
majority of the broth, as well as some of the herbal tea that had been brewed.

As Darcy was aiding the elder man to lie back down on the bed, Mr Hale
approached. “Ah, Bennet, I hear congratulations are in order for your family. You
have finally gained a son. Where is our Lizzy?”

“Her husband insisted she rest and take some nourishment. He does not
wish to see her become ill herself.”

“He insisted and she did as she was told?” Mr Hale was impressed. “Mr
Darcy, are you sure that you are not a magician? Miss Lizzy has never been
cooperative when told to do anything. However did you manage?”

“I told her that I love her and that my heart would break if she were to take
ill and leave me.”

 

Mr Hale laughed. “Good for you, my boy. I am pleased for you both. Now,
let me see how you are faring, my old friend.”

 

After giving Mr Bennet a quick examination, Mr Hale turned to Darcy. “Has
his fever been high?”

“Yes, he had perspiration on his face earlier from the fever being so high. I
have been able to persuade him to take broth and some of the tea that Mrs
Gentry brewed up. He seems to be breathing easier as well.”

“Bennet, I believe your fever has broken. If I am not mistaken, you will
begin the road to recovery now. I insist that you continue to listen to your son in
law; you will need to take nourishment and drink fluids as much as possible. You
will need all the strength you can get to continue to recover.”

“Are you sure?” Mr Bennet asked. He was shocked.

“Bennet, you began to recover the moment Mr Littleton declared Elizabeth
my wife. I do believe that the joy of knowing your daughter will be cherished and
protected, the rest of her life, has given you the strength to fight the fever.”

It had not dawned on Mr Bennet that he was feeling slightly better. With
the fever broken, his throat and the rash were the worst of his complaints. “You
have aided in creating a miracle, William. You gave an old man the promise for
the future.”

Darcy was torn between allowing his wife to sleep and waking her with
kisses to tell her the wonderful news. He decided that she needed her sleep, they
could celebrate the news later.

~~ ** ~~

A commotion was heard in the hall as two footmen carried a stretcher
towards the ballroom, with a furious Caroline Bingley shouting orders to them. “I
will not be taken to that room. Those people are beneath me, and I cannot be
placed in the same room with them. Take me to one of the upstairs bedchambers
and have a nurse come to tend to me.”

Bingley came quickly from his study. “Caroline, I just received word that you
had taken ill. I am afraid we will have to put you in the ballroom, with the others.
There is no one to tend to you in private, you will have to accept what we have
available at the moment.”

“Charles, how could you treat me in such a manner? I am to marry your
best friend, what would he think of our family if he were to learn you forced me
to be tended in a room full of sick servants and low born people?”

“Keep your voice down, Sister. You are not to marry Mr Darcy, and, even if
you were, Mr Darcy is assisting in caring for those who are ill.”

“Fitzwilliam is in the ballroom? Take me to him. I am sure I will recover
more quickly with him seeing to my needs.” Caroline motioned her hand towards
the footmen to take her to the ballroom.

Fortunately, Darcy was down the hall, resting, when Caroline was brought
to a cot in the ballroom. Seeing Elizabeth Bennet nursing one of the sick, Caroline
was seething. “That chit is not taking care of me. She tried to break up my
engagement with Fitzwilliam, and I know she will not take proper care of me.”

“Have no fear, Sister, I will see to your care myself.” Bingley stated,
knowing that it was useless to argue with his sister in this state.

 

~~ ** ~~

Mr Jeffers came to the door of the ballroom, searching for Darcy or
Elizabeth. A missive had just arrived from Longbourn, and the stable boy who had
brought it was awaiting a return message.

Finally spying Darcy, Mr Jeffers stepped towards him. “Sir, a young boy
brought this message from the Bennet household, and is waiting in case there is a
message to take back to his mistress.”

Darcy accepted the message, stating he would read it with Mr Bennet and
inform the butler if there was a response.

 

Sitting down in the chair beside Mr Bennet’s cot, Darcy opened the
message and began to read.
Mr Bennet,
You must return home immediately. We are in such a state of nerves. Just this morning, our Mary was
found to have taken ill. She had taken to her bed last night without telling me she was ill, and this morning, she is
covered with rash and is feverish.
Then, just a few moments ago, Mr Collins collapsed with illness. I nearly fainted from all of this, my
nerves are so poor. What will become of us if you were to die, and Mr Collins is taken as well? You must force
Lizzy to do her duty and marry Mr Collins immediately, and then we can leave them alone in a bedchamber.
Lizzy has to become with child before Mr Collins perishes. We cannot risk the chance. You must return home
with Lizzy and see that she does what she has failed to do all these years, being born a daughter rather than a son.
It is up to her to save us from poverty and ending up in the hedgerow.
Hurry, time is of the essence.
Your wife, F. Bennet
“I will see to a carriage being sent to bring Miss Mary and Mr Collins
here.” Darcy stated.

Two hours later, the carriage brought Mary Bennet, Mr Collins, as well
as Mrs Bennet and her two youngest daughters. Mrs Bennet was wailing of
not feeling well, and requiring Mr Hale to tend to her. The only cots available
were located at the opposite end of the ballroom from Mr Bennet’s cot, though
his wife’s voice carried through the entire room.

Mr Collins was obviously delirious, and fully under the notion that
Elizabeth was his betrothed. The clergyman would cry out for his beloved
Elizabeth, begging for her to sit beside him and bring him comfort. The few
times she did sit beside his bed to tend him, Elizabeth was gifted with rather
wet kisses on the back of her hand. Darcy was not pleased with the obnoxious
man’s attention towards Elizabeth, and made certain to keep her from having
to endure her cousin’s behavior further.

Mrs Bennet was not pleased to see Darcy’s success in separating her
daughter from the heir to Longbourn. She was determined to see that her least
favorite daughter did her duty and married Mr Collins immediately. “Mr
Bennet, you must call for Mr Littleton to come and perform the wedding this
very moment. We must see that Lizzy is married to that man, so when he dies
from this fever, your daughters and I will be able to stay at Longbourn. I know
he is not much of a man, but Lizzy will not have to endure him for long. I am
sure she will become with child the first time they are together, then he will be
gone.”

“You are the most foolish woman I have ever known, Mrs Bennet. Lizzy
will not be marrying that man, not now or ever. Do you understand my
words? NEVER. Stop plotting to marry Lizzy to that man. It will not happen.”

“But what will happen to me and our daughters when you are dead and
buried? Do you not care enough to see we are protected?”

Mr Bennet had finally had enough. He had planned on keeping
Elizabeth’s marriage secret from his wife until after he had returned home,
but he felt the need to put an end to his wife’s nonsense. “Lizzy cannot marry
Mr Collins, not now or ever, because she is already married. Mr Littleton
performed the ceremony a few days ago.”

Fury grew in Mrs Bennet. “Who did she marry? I knew of no
attachment with Elizabeth.”

“Our Elizabeth is now Mrs Elizabeth Darcy. And, as you can see, I am not
at death’s door for the time being. Mr Darcy will take good care of our
daughter and, when the time comes that I leave this world, I am sure that all of
our daughters will be well settled. If you treat your new son in law kindly, I
am sure he will see to your care of as well.”

“I do not wish to have to leave my home.” Mrs Bennet fumed. “I have
lived most of my life at Longbourn, I wish to live there the remainder of my
years.”

“Well, Mrs Bennet, if you are fortunate, I will outlive you and you will
never have to move. Now, take the elixir to help with the fever, and rest
yourself.”

With that, Mr Bennet poured out the dose of medicine for his wife and
younger daughters. Elizabeth was tending to patients on the other end of the
room, which infuriated her mother even more. After taking her dose of
medicine, Mrs Bennet glared towards her daughter before drifting off to sleep.

~~ ** ~~

Mary’s fever continued to increase, and she became restless, tossing
about on her cot. Miss Bingley and Mr Collins also worsened. The ballroom
saw many changes as some people recovered, others were brought in, and still
others were taken from the room after they succumbed to the disease.

Mr Bennet continued to recover, and spent time tending his family
members. Jane had completely recovered from her illness, though Mr Hale
declared it unsafe for her to assist in tending the sick.

Supplies were delivered to Netherfield, along with a letter from Mr
Gardiner, stating he had been in touch with Colonel Fitzwilliam. More supplies
would be sent within a few days, including food, herbs, bedding, and more.
Darcy and Bingley aided in bringing the supplies inside the main house, as
more of the servants took ill.

Elizabeth was returning to the ballroom, after taking a rest at her
husband’s request. She had not slept in two days, and Darcy had arranged for
a hot bath and sleep in a private room, which was near the kitchen. When she
woke, Mrs Gentry made certain there was a fresh meal ready for Elizabeth.
After being away from the ballroom for over four hours, Elizabeth returned
feeling refreshed.

As she entered the room, she took note of everyone. Mr Collins was still
thrashing about, Mary was still covered in rash and perspiration. Mr Bennet
was seeing to cooling measures for his middle daughter. Caroline Bingley was
demanding her brother bring Darcy to her side, believing in her delirium that
she was married to the man and carrying his heir.

Mr Hale had just returned with two more ill, and he was seeing to their
initial care. He turned when he heard Elizabeth returning to the room. “Ah,
Lizzy, we have a couple more to join our party.” He said as he tried to lighten
the mood. There was far too much gloom in the entire house for his liking.

“Mr Hale, it is difficult to say we welcome you, as we would prefer no
more people took ill. But it is a pleasure to see you are still healthy.”
“I have taken care to rest, as I see you have finally done. Do I have your
husband to thank for seeing to your taking care of yourself?”

Elizabeth laughed. “He seems to have a power over me which makes me
wish to comply. After this crisis is over, I will have to take time to determine
what it is he does, so I can regain my control. Or learn to use the same power
over him.”

Mr Hale laughed. “Well said, dear girl. Now, would you see to some
fresh broth being prepared for our new arrivals? It has been some time since
they have been able to take nourishment.”

As she turned, Elizabeth saw her husband standing near a cot, looking
somewhat wobbly. She began to walk towards him, when suddenly, Elizabeth
watched him collapse to the floor. “WILLIAM!” she cried out as she raced
across the room to his side.

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

 

Chapter 6

A month had passed since the first patient of the epidemic had been
brought to Netherfield Park’s makeshift hospital. So much had happened, and
Elizabeth took stock of all that had been gained and lost.

Mr Bennet made a complete recovery, though it made him more aware
of what he owed his family. He made the pledge to be a better father and
husband to his family, and see to their future. Mrs Bennet would have
permanent damage to her heart from the fever, leaving her in a delicate
condition. Unfortunately for the rest of her family, Mrs Bennet decided that
she would take to her rooms and insisted they attend to her needs at all times.

Kitty followed her father’s path, and recovered from the slight case of
scarlet fever she had contracted, unlike her dearest sister, Lydia. The
youngest member of the Bennet family would be blind for the rest of her life
as a result of the severe secondary fever she had endured. This news caused
much wailing by her mother.