The second Mr. Darcy was sure of no harm befalling himself, Mr. Darcy's anger at the endangerment of his expecting wife became incomprehensible. His countenance turned the palest it had probably ever been, and he took immediate action.
Mr. Wickham advanced quickly and without comment towards Elizabeth and the never-far Jane. Elizabeth peered beyond Mr. Wickham for a last glimpse of Mr. Darcy, just in time to see him smash a rather expensive vase against Mr. Wickham's clearly exposed head. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia both fainted and fell into a slump on the floor. Mary and Mr. Bennet rushed to help them up and get them out of harm's way. The knife had slid under the piano, Kitty reached under to grasp it, a very noble thing of her to do. She grabbed the wrong end and sliced her hand not an inch from the bone. She grimaced and worked through the pain enough to pick it up and throw it out the window before tightly wrapping her injured hand in a handkerchief.
Not a moment after all this had occurred, Mr. Wickham woke up, rubbing his injured head. He reached inside his boot only to produce another knife. Regaining his balance, he rose and deftly plunged the blade into Mr. Darcy's arm; Mr. Darcy having been distracted by his wife's apparent pain and the varied going-ons of the room. He let out a mighty groan as he fell to the floor in a combination of pain and shock. Mr. Bingley quickly snuck up behind Mr. Wickham, who, in glorifying his own triumph, did not notice him. Another loud crash and Mr. Wickham was on the floor a second time, Bingley having hit him over the head with a nearby candlestick.
The rest of the room was still trying to recover from their shock at the unexpected circumstances of the evening while Elizabeth hastily sat down next to her nearly unconscious husband to cry.
"Ned, Henry, please escort Mr. Wickham off the premises, - no, he will be quite fine. Just outside the gates, yes. Please, take any desired precaution, I do not wish harm to befall either of you. Quickly now, before he awakens." Mr. Bingley stopped for a moment to observe the unrestrained chaos which currently reigned over the ballroom.
Mr. Bennet and Mary both were fanning Lydia and Mrs. Bennet in an attempt to revive them; Kitty was dually trying to cease the bleeding in her hand and comfort little Mary Wickham, who, luckily had been shielded from the horror in playing a game of one-sided hide-and-go-seek; Miss Bingley was seeking comfort from the nettled Mrs. Hurst. His eye scanned across the room to spot a still many more disheveled guests. Finally he focused upon the crowd that encircled Mr. Darcy. In the centre, Elizabeth was sobbing into Mr. Darcy's uninjured shoulder, Jane holding Adelaide standing above her in an attempt to alleviate some small amount of pain or fear. Georgiana stood not far off, a dazedly mournful look on her face, as she watched Elizabeth and her brother. Upon seeing Darcy, he remembered that medical attention was required, and called for another manservant to fetch a doctor. Mr. Bingley pushed his way through the throng, and endeavored to help Darcy rise.
Mr. Darcy did indeed stand; and catching a glimpse of his distressed wife, tried, with varied success, to calm her fears.
"Elizabeth, please do not worry, lest I begin to fret over your becoming too much like your mother. I assure, there has been no lasting harm done." Mr. Darcy hazarded a smile, which did not have the desired effect, as it was more of a grimace than a smile. Still, Elizabeth managed to smile back feebly at her husband's joke.
"I was worried for a spell darling, though I am now assured of your being perfectly fine. It is such a relief for this to all be over." Elizabeth embraced her husband and whispered- "Now, to add to tonight's ill-timing, I must reveal some very disturbing news to you, my dear…I, I am having the baby." The effect this information had on Mr. Darcy was remarkable, considering his current delicateness of health. His face flushed and he could hardly keep from gaping. Mr. Darcy looked at his wife before replying.
"You mean…you mean right now?" Mr. Darcy said in a whisper.
"This very instant. My water broke not 5 minutes ago. I…"
"Please, let's not divulge into details, spare me the impropriety. Are, are you well? You, are in much agony? Elizabeth…"
"Hush, Mr. Darcy, I will not have you fretting over me. You are the invalid. I shall be perfectly fine." Elizabeth spoke louder than she had meant to, causing those near her to overhear. Mr. Darcy could not restrain the look of worry in his eyes.
"Lizzy, is something wrong? You seem…flushed. Oh, Lizzy, I know that look, I do, something is wrong; what is it?" Jane interrupted, concern overflowing her features.
"Jane, oh Jane! How I have feared this moment! Yet how I have wished for it to come! Whatever scruples I had over giving birth will soon be resolved." Elizabeth kept her voice in check.
"Lizzy! Can it be so? Oh, Lizzy, I am so happy! We must get the midwife right away; are you in much pain? How long has it been? Do not worry, I will take care of everything directly. Bingley?! There you are, you must hold Adelaide while I get the midwife. In fact, will you get her to sleep, I would not like to have her up at this point in time." Jane cast about in quest to find the quickest route from the ballroom.
"The midwife? Why would we need…" Eyeing Elizabeth he then changed his mind as to what his next remark should be. "Surely not…"
Mr. Darcy, who was grasping Elizabeth's hand replied- "I believe I can reasonably infer that she is in great pain at the present as I can no longer feel my fingers." This conjecture was confirmed with a slight nod of the head. Indeed, Elizabeth's countenance was riddled with pain, and she was clutching her stomach in a most agitated manner.
"Good God."
"We must get her to a room, quick as possible. I will send someone for the midwife. I will not be far, Lizzy, do not worry!" Jane hastily departed to find Henry.
"Elizabeth, allow me to help you." Mr. Darcy offered his assistance with an air of distress.
Elizabeth attempted to restrain any severe feelings at the moment, however, her personal pain took hold and she was no longer in control of any incivilities she may bestow.
"Oh no, Mr. Darcy. There will be no need." Elizabeth replied facetiously.
"I take it you are not in the best of moods at present, a regrettable fact." Mr. Darcy went to assist her and cringed at moving his injured arm.
A shrill cry arose from the corner of the room where the previously unconscious Mrs. Bennet had resided.
"Oh! Oh! What is to become of us all! Wickham!-oh Mr. Wickham! How deceived we all were in him! How were any of us to know! Oh, oh! Lizzy, Lizzy?! Lizzy, darling, are you all right? I was so frightened for you, expecting, I was sure we were all going to die right then and there. Lydia, where is she? Oh, thank Heaven! Everyone is alright. Kitty, Kitty! My baby, what has happened to your hand?! Oh, oh! Your hand, my darling, what are we to do with your hand! You will die of an infectious disease!" Mrs. Bennet continued to rant and rave, checking on each member of the household before returning to Elizabeth's side, all in but a moment's time.
"Lizzy, darling, what is the matter? You look as though you are ailed by something. What is it my darling; you know you may tell me any thing, any thing at all. Pray, what ails you?" Mrs. Bennet inquired, ever adamant at her knowing all matters, no matter how insignificant; which this was not.
"I assure you, Mama, only harm would come of my telling you." Elizabeth's face writhed in pain, Mr. Darcy still watching her concernedly.
"Yes, Mama. Please, will you not help Papa rouse Lydia? She has been excruciatingly frightened, quite taken by surprise. Would not your talents be better to put use in aiding Lydia?" Jane interjected hastily in an attempt to distract her from the true item of importance.
"Oh, well, that is an offer I cannot object to. My poor baby, she has been put through the most terrible ordeal. Had I found your Papa to be what Mr. Wickham has turned out to be, I would have had the worst flutterings imaginable! My nerves-" Mr. Darcy was too concerned on Elizabeth's half to notice Mrs. Bennet's mentioning Wickham.
"Mama, will you aid Lydia, or not? Time is of the essence in such a case as this is, tarry not." Jane gently pushed her mother in the correct direction by setting her straight as to her course of action; thus ensuring she would not discover the reason for their anxiety and spread it all through the hall.
"Come, Lizzy, everything is ready. Mr. Darcy, you will help her, will you not?" Turning towards Mr. Bingley, "Oh, there you are dear, if asked, will you please inform every one Lizzy has a headache and must be forced to retire. No one should know the true meaning of our withdrawal." Jane looked expectant for his answer, as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy had already set off towards the staircase.
"Certainly, my darling. No one shall know a thing. Now go, you are needed." Mr. Bingley planted a hasty kiss on her head before she fled to go aid Elizabeth.
There you go!! Enjoy my lil' twist: D there will be one more chapter for sure. review!