The following morning, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy took their horse-driven carriage to the Bennett abode to pay a visit to Lizzie's father. Nearly the whole ride she emptily gazed at the land without a word to say to him. The only thing she could worry about was her father. She knew her father was nearly invincible; the man could, and would, overcome anything. But, something was different. He was getting older. Maybe he'd been careless about his good hygiene or forgot he needed to venture outside instead of locking himself in his study as he did some days. She felt nauseated to her core, filled with some twisting knot of sickness in the depths of her being. She contemplated if she were sick as well… maybe the Bennett family was undergoing some plague. No matter. Elizabeth, like any other foolish girl, tended to over think a lot of things and this was probably one of them. He'd be alright, she'd make sure of it.
Darcy glanced at Elizabeth sitting so close but so far away from him. He admired her natural beauty as always, but it especially pained him to see her eyes shut so heavily. Deep in his heart, he felt he needed to do something. He felt as if all her predicaments were his responsibility and more. He placed his warm hand on hers. She smiled at the man she knew would stay by her side no matter what events. Thinking back to the times when she used to hate him and everything known to define Mr. Darcy, she couldn't believe how far they'd come. It was like hate at first sight. They were both stubborn fools that somehow ended up loving each other despite his pride and her prejudice. It's funny how people work; we take first impressions seriously and they lay the foundation of what we believe is or isn't that person. And from that foundation, we can build something as magnificent as the estate of Katherine de Bourgh or something as quaint as a little bakery.
It was nearly afternoon when they had arrived at the Bennet estate. As always, Mrs. Bennet accentuated their arrival and caused all the commotion in the world. It was surprising that this one woman seemed to have the power to stop the world from doing all important matters.
"They're here! They're here! Kitty, make haste! Come greet your sister. Oh the house is dreadful, I haven't the time to have it clean and we must be presentable! Does anyone fancy tea? Of course you do, what sort of people don't fancy tea? After all, 'tis the afternoon, we must have afternoon tea, it is proper after all. You musn't be rude."
They had not even stepped off the carriage and Mrs. Bennet was already making tea. Kitty rushed out of the house and hugged Elizabeth.
"Oh, how I've missed you dear sister. Mother's gone batty and father's not doing so well. Mary just reads all the time and never talks to me, I simply dread it here. Might I come live with you?"
"You're always welcome to our home, Kitty," said Mr. Darcy.
"Oh, Mr. Darcy! Do you know of any handsome officers? I've wanted to go in to town but mother won't let me be happy! They're so dreamy. Mary doesn't think so, her taste is none at all! After Lydia married Mr. Wickam, I've wanted to find me an officer too." Kitty was just itching to talk to someone that would listen it seemed, poor girl.
"No, I'm sorry. I don't know any officers. I haven't been to town either. Maybe if Mrs. Bennet will permit, you girls could take a little day trip to town to take your mind off things."
"That'd be lovely! Wouldn't it be, Lizzie?!"
"Lydia, I can't even think of town when papa is ill. I need to see him. We'll go to town another time." Elizabeth gently smiled to her sister before she made her way inside.
"Lizzie, dear, come have some tea!" yelled Mrs. Bennet.
She ignored her mother and made her way up the stairs to her father's room. Nothing had changed since she had moved to Pemberley with Darcy. The same sculptures, paintings, old flowery walls, and creak of the floorboards had been exactly as she remembered. Knocking on the bedroom door, she could hear her father coughing behind it.
"Come in, come in," he coughed. She opened the door. "Ah, my dearest Lizzie, what a present surprise."
"Oh papa, how are you feeling?" He looked pale and cold with sweat. His cheeks were flushed pink and his eyes were watery – probably from coughing so much. She sat on the edge of the bed and rested her hand on his.
"I'm feeling just cheeky, dear. Don't you worry about me. I think your mother is more ill than I, that woman has really been without her senses lately but God love her, I don't know what I'd do without her… Well, I could think of a few things—"
"Papa!" Elizabeth gasped, jokingly. "I think you've both gone mad."
"I wouldn't doubt it," Mr. Bennet chuckled and coughed heavily. After a moment, he shifted his smile to a graver complexion. "There is something I'd like to talk about."
"What is it?"
Mr. Bennet took a pause and sighed to himself. "If anything should ever happen to me, I just want you to—"
"Papa! Please don't talk like that," interrupted Elizabeth. "I don't want to think of it."
"Lizzie, come now. The time has come to deal with these things, I'm growing older. Unless you have discovered the fountain of youth and are keeping this a secret from your own Papa (in such case, I'd love to share my disappointment with you) but for the matter, I don't see the harm in thinking about the future."
Elizabeth was quiet. She knew what her father had said was true but she couldn't face the facts, much less talk openly about them. Darcy held her hand and caressed over her knuckles and soft, slender fingers. She suppressed the tears for later when she would be alone.
"I love you, Lizzie. I know I don't get to tell you or your sisters all the time. Hell, it's damn near impossible to have even the slightest word with all of you, separately. Mrs. Bennet does most of the talking for the both of us, no matter." Everyone smiled. "I just want to say that I'm proud of you, Elizabeth. You've found your happiness in this man and you weren't afraid to tell your own father what you wished for. That makes me happy to see that you're happy, I hope you know that." Mr. Bennet coughed and heaved, his face gradually turning red. He rested his head on his pillow and let out a big sigh.
Lizzie looked at her father, the one person that she could really connect to within the family besides Jane. He had favored Elizabeth the most of all the children, even though he loved them all the same. The thought of having to let him go devastated her completely. Everyone has an expiration date, and she will come to realize that.
"Come, darling. Let's give your father a rest." Darcy rose from his chair and kept his hand on Lizzie's shoulder. "Mr. Bennet, you have all my regards. If you need anything, anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask."
Mr. Bennet smiled warmly and nodded to Darcy. "We'll talk later my boy,"
Lizzie gave her father a kiss on the forehead and made her way down to the dining room where they had no choice; they knew without a doubt that tea was awaiting them.