Chapter 4
Elizabeth awoke early the next morning to find she had drifted off to sleep by Mr Darcy's bed still holding his hand. Lizzy gave a quick glance over to the fireside where she knew Mrs Reynolds had stayed the night and on seeing the housekeeper was sleeping soundly; she breathed a sigh of relief. To be seen holding Mr Darcy's hand without an understanding between them would have caused untold trouble and no doubt a vigorous questioning from a keen observer such as Mrs Reynolds! She blushed to think of what might have happened had a maid come into the room whilst they were sleeping; Lizzy might have forbore the inevitable gossip but she had no wish to expose Mr Darcy to censure; he did not deserve such a thing. Now in daylight the room was just as elegant as she imagined though not excessively so which strangely pleased Lizzy. She could see that Lady Anne Darcy had a very different taste for what was fashionable than her sister, Lady Catherine. This made Lizzy smile; to think she had once thought that Mr Darcy and his aunt had anything in common! No, it seemed Mr Darcy remained true to his mother's tastes and kept the style of the room simple yet elegant. Glancing around the room Lizzy spied French doors which opened out onto a balcony. The muscles in her neck ached from the awkward position in which she slept and so she was glad to open up the doors and let the sun's rays bathe the room with light; the fresh air that washed over her felt heaven sent. She had been indoors too long.
It was while Elizabeth was enjoying her new found freedom that she heard the unmistakeable sounds of a carriage making its way towards the house. Understanding its meaning and with no uncommon feelings Elizabeth stepped back into the room lest she be seen. Knowing that Mrs Reynolds would be disappointed if she were not there to greet Miss Darcy and her guests, Elizabeth went over to where the housekeeper was sleeping and gently shook her awake. "Mrs Reynolds, I am sorry to have to wake you but I believe Miss Darcy has arrived with her guests and I thought you would wish to greet them." After a moment's confusion Mrs Reynolds smiled at Elizabeth in thanks. "You are thoughtful. Thank you, Miss Bennet. I shall go down directly. Perhaps you would like to wash before you greet the guests yourself. Shall I send Rose up to help you dress? I'm sure we can find a dress of Miss Georgiana's that will suit you." Elizabeth gazed down at her wrinkled dress and smiled ruefully. I am not fit to be seen! But at least I have not been "Six inches deep in mud…" this time! "You are quite right, Mrs Reynolds, I thank you! I would be very grateful." Mrs Reynolds nodded in affirmation before leaving Elizabeth to her tumultuous feelings. Elizabeth was not given to acting 'Missish' and soon dismissed any uncomfortable feelings in favour of her usual happy disposition. But despite Lizzy's best efforts her heart went into palpitations of its own accord when she heard voices approaching Mr Darcy's room a little while later.
"Where is he? Where is my brother?!" With all the forcefulness of a whirlwind; Georgiana Darcy made her presence known; her exasperated cousin close behind reassuring her that Darcy would be well. In her worry Miss Darcy did not notice Elizabeth, who had stood back on her entrance to allow her to visit her brother without interruption. Colonel Fitzwilliam had noticed however and much to Lizzy's chagrin began his teasing in earnest. "My dear Miss Bennet, how lovely it is to see you again and so very soon too. Am I to understand that we have you to thank for such diligent care of my fractious cousin? Will we Fitzwilliam's and Darcy's always have the pleasure of meeting you in the most obscure places, I wonder?"
Elizabeth was rendered speechless for a moment before her courage rose and she responded to the colonel in kind. "I will say this colonel; if you were to meet me in an 'obscure' place as you call it; though the grounds of Pemberley or Rosings are hardly obscure, I cannot guarantee that you might not meet the same fate as your cousin. For you see, I seem to have the most curious effect on you Fitzwilliam and Darcy men." Elizabeth arched her brow and looked the colonel in the eye daring him to answer her. He, however, seemed to realise when a battle was lost and remembering his cousin and Miss Bennet had been introduced proceeded to do so in lieu of an answer. Elizabeth smiled at his obvious avoidance and nodded before turning back to make Miss Darcy's acquaintance; both of them knowing that the battle lines had been drawn and each of them in their turn was looking forward to renewing the battle at their earliest convenience.
"I'm so pleased to meet you, Miss Darcy. I've heard so much about you." Elizabeth's immediate impression on encountering Mr Darcy's sister was not at all what she expected. Here was a girl who was extremely shy and not, as she'd long suspected, extremely proud. Knowing Mr Darcy as she now did, she recognised similarities of disposition in his sibling and understood that Miss Darcy needed to feel comfortable before she opened up. Lizzy remembered that Mr Darcy often praised his sister's performance on the pianoforte and in an effort to introduce a subject she would be comfortable with Lizzy asked Miss Darcy if she would play for them after dinner. She was rewarded by the sudden brightness shining in Miss Darcy's eyes. The young girl said she would be pleased to as long as Miss Bennet would return the favour for her brother had told her he had rarely heard anything that gave him more pleasure.
Elizabeth blushed at the compliment. She now expected to questioned thoroughly as to why she was at Pemberley but neither of the cousins, though Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled knowingly, breathed a word; much to Lizzy's relief. She was not ready to openly admit that she and Mr Darcy were more than passing acquaintances. Not until she was certain of Mr Darcy's feelings. Little did she know that with her every action since she came to Pemberley she was betraying her own feelings. Colonel Fitzwilliam suspected enough she knew but mercifully he did not voice those suspicions. To deflect such unwanted attention Lizzy now turned towards Mr Darcy and told Miss Darcy and her cousin everything she knew about Mr Darcy's condition reassuring Miss Darcy that her brother was expected to wake up very soon. Georgiana now voiced what she didn't have the courage to do on first being introduced to Elizabeth, "Miss Bennet, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am relieved to find my brother is not more severely injured. You cannot know what I was imagining in my terror! You have made him comfortable and for that I'm very grateful." For the second time in as many minutes Lizzy felt embarrassed. She replied with no less feeling, "You have nothing to thank me for Miss Darcy. It was the least I could do after being the cause of Mr Darcy's accident." The two women smiled at each other in understanding; a new friendship had been forged.
Colonel Fitzwilliam now recollected that Georgiana had other guests she must attend to and gave her a gentle reminder. Georgiana blushed at her thoughtlessness and thanked him before turning to Elizabeth and told her who her guests were; knowing that she had a prior acquaintance with the Bingley family from her brother. If Colonel Fitzwilliam was startled to learn that Miss Bennet knew Bingley as well as she did he never let on but he did recall with a cringe their last conversation about Bingley. She must have known to whom I was referring when I mentioned that Darcy had separated Bingley from an unsuitable girl. Oh cousin, if what I suspect transpired at Rosings you'd have every right to have me shot!
Elizabeth inwardly cringed upon learning that Miss Bingley had accompanied her brother. She knew Miss Bingley would relish the chance to ridicule her in front of Miss Darcy and on finding her already at Pemberley Lizzy knew that her attack would be particularly vicious borne as it was out of jealousy. But she was delighted at the prospect of seeing Mr Bingley again. This was her chance to see whether he still had feelings for Jane.
A little while later Elizabeth, having dressed for dinner in one of Miss Darcy's borrowed dresses, was reluctant to go down and face the inevitable vitriol that Miss Bingley would send her way. She was making her way along the second floor corridor when she heard music coming from one of the rooms. Upon investigating she found as she peered into the room Miss Darcy seated at a pianoforte. She was playing a piece Elizabeth knew well but had never heard it played with such feeling before. Transfixed, Elizabeth stood in the doorway until the last note was played fearing if she made her presence known Miss Darcy would cease playing. When Miss Darcy looked up Elizabeth saw there were tears in her eyes. "Forgive me, Miss Darcy for intruding on your solitude but I could not resist; you played that song so beautifully." Elizabeth smiled at the younger girl to encourage her to speak. "Thank you, Miss Bennet. This is a new pianoforte. My brother must have wanted to surprise me. I don't deserve it!" It was with those last words that Georgiana put her hands up to her face and promptly burst into tears. Quickly, Elizabeth moved across the room to comfort the poor girl knowing that she was worried for her brother. "Of course you deserve it, Miss Darcy. Your brother thinks you do and as you know your brother is never wrong. Your brother loves you very much, Miss Darcy. Come now, shall we go down and brave Miss Bingley's kind attentions together?" Elizabeth's heart lifted when she heard Miss Darcy's answering laughter. She was pleased to see the girl's spirits were returning.
When Elizabeth and Georgiana entered the drawing room Miss Bingley eyes narrowed at the obvious friendship that seemed to have arisen between the two girls. In an effort to bring attention back to the fact that this 'impromptu' visit of Eliza Bennet was entirely improper she began by asking her if the militia were still quartered at Meryton. Knowing that this subject was dangerous ground Elizabeth soon deflected it with ease by asking Colonel Fitzwilliam in turn when he was to return to his regiment. "Why Miss Bennet, are you anxious to be rid of me so soon?" Elizabeth laughed and replied, "Oh that will depend on whether your conversation is as entertaining as it was when I met you in Kent, Colonel."
Miss Bingley incensed that Miss Bennet had avoided her question so easily tried another avenue. "Pray, Miss Eliza how are you bearing the loss of the militia? I am certain that one gentleman's loss would cause particular pangs. Mr Bingley saw that Elizabeth was uncomfortable with his sister's questioning and rescued her by saying, "I'm sure Miss Bennet does not know to whom you refer, my dear sister. If I recall there was no partiality on Miss Elizabeth's side for any in that militia. Am I not correct, Miss Bennet?" Elizabeth could not help but smile at yet another of Miss Bingley's attempts to embarrass her going awry. "You are quite correct, Mr Bingley. It was my sisters Kitty and Lydia who were partial to a red coat or two." Signalling the end of the conversation Elizabeth moved to the pianoforte. Shall we have some music? Miss Darcy, will you play for us?" Miss Bingley was left to fume over Elizabeth's evasion once again.
At the end of the evening Elizabeth was glad when she went up to her room and closed the door. What an exhausting day! Miss Bingley is as insufferable as ever. Thank heavens for her brother's manners or I would not have been responsible for what I said in retaliation! Before she retired for the night Elizabeth felt compelled to see Mr Darcy. She had relinquished his care to his sister but she would not be easy until she had seen him for herself. Knocking softly on Mr Darcy's door and on hearing Miss Darcy permission to enter from within Elizabeth stepped into the room. "I beg your pardon, Miss Darcy. I was just about to retire for the night but I wanted to see if Mr Darcy was comfortable. I hope you do not mind." Georgiana smiled in welcome and said in reply, "Not at all, Miss Bennet. Do come in. As a matter of fact, I was just about to go and ask Mrs Reynolds for a cup of tea. Shall I fetch you one?" Elizabeth thanked her and said she would sit with Mr Darcy until she returned.
Elizabeth had taken hold of Mr Darcy's hand as was her want in the last few hours. She was talking to him about the evening and how Miss Darcy was worried for him. "You must wake up soon Mr Darcy. Your sister is in need of you. I am in need of you. I have so much I want to tell you and it may surprise you; my change of heart. Oh if you only knew how much it has changed Mr Darcy!" Elizabeth gasped in astonishment when she felt the slightest movement from Mr Darcy and not least when he spoke. "Elizabeth? Can I be dreaming? Is it really you?" Elizabeth was surprised to find that there were tears in her eyes and as they began to make their way down her cheek Mr Darcy lifted his hand to her face to wipe them away. "Yes Mr Darcy, it is Elizabeth. I am here and I can't tell you how delighted I am to see you awake. It does my heart good."
A/N: Aaaand there you have it, Darcy is (finally) awake! Thank you once again for your lovely comments! I'm so thrilled you are all enjoying the story. Until next time…enjoy!