"Can you hear me Elizabeth?" Georgiana's voice broke through the darkness. "Why isn't she answering?" Elizabeth heard the affliction in her voice and tried to say something, but couldn't. She could barely keep her eyes open long enough to let the others know she was conscious.
"She needs rest, but she should recover fully." Elizabeth heard a strange male voice answer.
"And the child?" Mrs. Reynolds' voice was quiet but steady. There was a sigh.
"Time will tell. For now, everything seems to be in order. I shall leave you now. I will come back tomorrow to see how Mrs. Darcy is feeling." Elizabeth heard a door open and close.
"It was most inconvenient for my brother to leave when his presence is most ardently needed." Georgiana sighed. She still held Elizabeth's hand with both of her own.
"I have sent a word to him and with the news he is about to receive, he is sure to hasten his business arrangements and be home as soon as possible." Mrs. Reynolds consoled.
"Still, even if he decides to return immediately, it might take too long." She glanced anxiously at Mrs. Reynolds. To her, Mrs. Reynolds had been quite like a mother as her real one had died great many years ago. But even the consolations of so dear a person could not offer comfort in a situation as grave as this.
Elizabeth spent the chief of the following hours in bed. Although she was not experiencing the excruciating pains which had bound her there in the first place, she was not well enough to be up and about. Neither Georgiana nor Mrs. Reynolds left her side for long during these hours, both frightened by the incident of their beloved Elizabeth who had brought so much spirit and love into their lives.
The sun had risen long ago when the voice of a man was heard coming from behind the bedroom door. The door flew open revealing the alarmed figure of Mr. Darcy. Seeing Elizabeth alive and laughing, for the ladies had been telling stories, his posture seemed to relax and he positioned himself by the bed, next to his sister, taking the available hand of his wife.
"My love, I have come as soon as possible." he hastened to say. "I was certain you had been taken most seriously ill." Elizabeth felt her heart swell and coloured.
Being now secure of the attendance of her mistress, Mrs. Reynolds took leave taking Georgiana with her.
Mr. Darcy greeted his wife with the utmost affection of a loving husband and declared himself of having been most alarmed about her condition. Elizabeth assured him to be alarmed no more, since her pain had gone away and her condition much improved.