Before the gentleman had even taken his seat, he rapped his walking stick against the ceiling and the carriage lurched forward brusquely. Settling against the cushions on the bench across from her, he inquired after her well-being and asked, "And you were not disturbed while I was away?"
"No, Sir," she answered, shifting uncomfortably as the gentle jostling of the carriage further agitated the ache in her side. Turning her attention to the window, she watched as the carriage turned from King Street, each clop of the horse's hooves taking her further and further from the hell to which she had been damned. From the corner of her eye, she observed Mr. Darcy as he removed his overcoat and graciously accepted his offer for her to once again drape it about herself, wrapping her in warmth and shelter. Swathed in the heat and, if she were to be honest, pleasantly masculine scent of the gentleman, she returned her attention to the scenes passing by the window. In silence, they both watched as the carriage made its way through the streets of London, returning to the more respectable districts of business. Streets lined with ladies' shops and solicitors' offices replaced the brothels and public houses, while well-dressed gentlemen and shopkeepers alike moved about the avenues as London greeted the beginning of a new day.
Soon businesses gave way to private homes, and having never visited this area of the city before, she watched in interest as the seemingly endless rows of townhouse grew in wealth and prestige, each more extravagant than the last. As they traveled along, the streets also became quieter as the morning was as yet too young for the fashionable set to be out and about, many of them still resting in their beds after a long night of theaters and balls, family dinners and private gatherings.
Mr. Darcy soon cleared his throat, drawing her attention back to the matter at hand. "When we arrive, my driver will bring the carriage around to the stables, where we may enter the house unobserved. My staff has been at work preparing a chamber for you, and I shall send for my personal physician at once."
She wished to insist that such measures were not necessary, but as the ache in her side was becoming increasingly unbearable the longer they traveled, she was forced to accept his offer and simply nodded her head in agreement.
"Please do not hesitate to ask my staff for anything you may need, for any comfort that may be provided."
"Thank you, Sir."
She watched as he paused for a moment before continuing quietly, almost as if he feared their conversation being overheard by some passerby. "I have also apprised my housekeeper of the situation." As she once again began to flush in embarrassment, he continued quickly, "Not the particulars, I assure you! I merely told her that you are a young lady of my acquaintance who has suffered under the deception of another. I also explained we were to provide you with a safe haven while a reunion with your family could be arranged. Pray, do not fear judgment nor gossip at the hands of my staff."
"Thank you, Sir." She was not sure what else to say in response to a statement such as this.
They once again settled into silence for the final few minutes of the journey before the carriage pulled into the courtyard at the back of the townhouse. The door was opened promptly by a waiting coachman and Mr. Darcy disembarked, immediately turning to offer his hand in assistance as she too stepped down. With a few brief steps, they made their way indoors, and Elizabeth followed in a daze as they wound their way through the workspace belowstairs and climbed the steps leading to the dining room above. She had little time to observe the stylish decor of the space before they moved through another door to meet an older woman awaiting them by the grand staircase of the house.
"Miss Bennet, allow me to introduce Mrs. Chadwick. She is the housekeeper here at Darcy House and will show you to your chamber." He then reiterated his assurances that any comfort which could be provided her shall be done and encouraged her not to hesitate to ask the housekeeper if she was in need of anything. He then inquired after the status of the room and was pleased to hear that all was ready for the young miss.
Turning to her once again, he bowed his farewell and stood aside as the housekeeper stepped forward to assume her duty. Quietly, the two women mounted the stairs, making their way to the second floor where a guest chamber had been prepared. Too consumed with embarrassment at the scandalous nature of her arrival, she dared not speak. True, the limited number of staff she had encountered along the way had bowed or curtsied in respect, but she could not pretend they were not shocked by her appearance. Cloaked in the master's overcoat and entering the house under secrecy through the servants' entrance were circumstances too improper to be ignored. And all too aware of the indelicacy of the gown she wore, she knew her humiliation would be complete once the coat was removed and the housekeeper and maids witnessed the full extent of her degradation.
The soothing sound of the housekeeper's voice drew her momentarily from her thoughts. "Here we are, Miss. I do hope you are partial to yellow," she smiled as they came to a halt outside a tall mahogany door.
Returning the smile in kind, she responded, "Indeed I am."
"Wonderful! I hope you shall find this chamber well to your liking then."
Entering the bedchamber, Elizabeth was pleased to discover the room to be bright and airy. The yellow of the walls called to mind memories of the summer sun shining upon her during her rambles along the footpaths of Hertfordshire. The soft green of the bed linens reminding her of the rolling meadows which surrounded Longbourn, while the oak furniture made her nostalgic for the woods bordering the fields along the east side of the estate. Such beauties of nature from which she had been so far removed and had missed most dearly during her captivity. Curiously, she raised her eyes to the ceiling, almost expected it to be painted in wisps of white and blue, depicting the sky above. In that she was to be disappointed, but it was no matter when so many reminders of nature's beauties welcomed her to Darcy House.
"If it pleases you, Miss, I thought to borrow a night dress of Miss Darcy's should you wish to change from your traveling clothes."
She turned to the housekeeper in confusion, having understood her to be aware of her situation. However, one glance at the woman's kindly expression revealed a desire to put her at ease, preceding as if there was naught amiss with her arrival. Smiling her appreciation, Elizabeth nodded gently before noting that a young maid was also present, having emerged from an open door on the far side of the room; a dressing room she guessed. The girl curtsied in greeting and stood at the ready to assist in preparing her for the arrival of the Darcys' physician. But, to do so would mean exposure of all that lurked beneath the master's coat, and she knew any further attempts to treat her as they would any other guest of the family would become impossible.
Debating the possibility of politely asking the women to leave her to her privacy, she almost missed the housekeeper's inquiry as to whether she wished to partake of the hot bath which had been drawn for her. Oh, how wonderful a bath sounded! Accepting the offer without hesitation, she followed the woman to the dressing screen which had been set up close to the fireplace. Expecting only to find a kneeling basin, she was surprised indeed to find that it was a full, movable bathing tub had been readied for her and stood quietly for a few moments, gazing longingly at the inviting sight of the steaming water.
A quiet clearing of the throat shook her from her trance, reminding her that the housekeeper and maid were waiting to assist her. Mortified, she realized the moment had come and there was no avoiding the inevitable now. Slowly she slid the overcoat from her shoulders, refusing to raise her eyes and bear witness to the reaction of the housekeeper as her deplorable state was fully exposed. However, the woman made no outward show of disapproval as she accepted the garment and instructed the maid to help with the fastenings of the gown. Stripped down to her shift, she allowed the women to assist her into the tub, and sighed in relief as she was engulfed by a warmth she was convinced she would never again know. But her relief was to be short-lived, for when the maid reached to undo her hair, Elizabeth flinched, pulling away from the girl and jarring her aching side in the process.
Struggling to regain control of her breathing and embarrassed by her overreaction to such a simple gesture, she made quick work of undoing her hair before easing herself back against side of the tub. Taking the soap in hand, she began to scrub furiously at her body, trying to wash from her every remnant of that terrible place, the smell of the perfume on her skin, the feeling of filth pervading her being. But for as much as she scrubbed, it was not enough to cleanse herself of the brothel. It was as if the foulness had seeped into her very bones and she would never fully rid herself of it.
So focused on cleaning as she was, the feel of Mrs. Chadwick's hands on her own startled her completely. Gently, the older woman removed the soap from her grasp and Elizabeth was surprised to find her skin flushed an angry red as a result of her relentless rubbing. As another pitcher of water was poured over her, rinsing the suds from her hair and body, she still felt as if it was not enough. But as the housekeeper refused to return the soap to her, she was left with no other choice than to rise from the bath and dress.
As the wet shift was removed, a startled gasp drew her attention to the young maid, and looking to the girl in confusion, she noticed that her eyes were fixed upon her person. Following her gaze, she was met with the sight of a large, angry bruise running along her left side, blotches of red and purple marring the smooth porcelain of her skin. Recognizing it as the source of the pain she had been struggling with all morning, she held no doubt it was the result of her body meeting the wall during the violent confrontation with the madame the night before. The revelation of such violence rendered a shift in the mood of the room as the housekeeper's demeanor seemed to soften even further. Her hands tender as she assisted Elizabeth into the soft cotton nightrail, her touch became reminiscent of a mother more than that of a servant.
With the cotton gown wrapping her in comfort and the heat of the fire warming her chilled bones, she now keenly felt her restoration to a life she had thought forever lost to her. And like a tightly wound ball of twine coming undone, she felt the tension in her body finally beginning to ease. But with the release of her anxiety, all of her emotions, which had been bounded so tightly over the past month, finally came undone as well and with this release she could feel the floodgates in her mind bursting open. Overcome with the rush, she felt tears fill her eyes and before long, a strangled sob broke free of her throat. And with that, all control was gone as she broke down completely, purging from her being all the pent up anguish and fear, anger and relief which she had experienced since her arrival in London. It took the strength of both women to assist her into the bed, where she sunk heavily into the softness of the mattress and allowed her body to spend itself of all it felt.