Chapter 12—The Excitement at Longbourn is Related

Jane Bennet was feverish. She had only come to Netherfield out of politeness and now she had to remain here, at least for the moment. She could not remember fainting before and Mr. Jones had declared that she had a bad cold. She certainly felt terrible, but still, she would rather feel terrible in her own bed with Lizzy to nurse her. The Bingley sisters (for that was how she thought of them, they were a set attached to poor Mr. Bingley) had fluttered in and claimed to be nursing her but fluttered out again only exclaiming how dreadful it must be to feel ill. And now Jane felt herself peevish. Oh, Lizzy would tell her it was the fever, but she did long to be home. The aching all over her body, the fever, and now the coughing had started. What a terrible cold this was! Who would want to be seen ill by the man she admires? The door opened and Lizzy came in.

"My dear Jane, do you feel so very unwell?" Lizzy crossed the room and placed a kiss on her sister's forehead when Jane began to cough, one that seemed to get worse by the minute. "I see that you do. Let me make you a tea and give you some of Mamma's cough remedy. I think you are a little warm, too. Have you had anything for a fever?" Lizzy asked as she uncovered her basket. Looking around the room, she spied a kettle near the fireplace for making tea. Blessing Mrs. Adams, she made a brew in the small pot she had brought. The tea started, she dosed Jane with the cough syrup and put a bottle of the fever remedy on the table beside Jane's bed.

Jane moved her hand from under the covers to reach for her sister. "Oh, Lizzy, I am so glad you have come. Mrs. Adams has been kind in giving me the remedies she has on hand, but she is not you, dear Lizzy. May we go home now? I cannot remain ill in Mr. Bingley's home, it is unseemly. What must he think of me?" Jane had tears in her eyes as she questioned her sister.

"I agree, but you will have to stay at least one night as the road is still unsafe for travel by carriage. I had to make my way across the fields to get here. I will tell our coachman to have the carriage ready before breakfast tomorrow morning. The road should be fine by then. A short ride would bring no harm and Mamma is anxious for your health." Lizzy soothingly replied.

Jane nodded and closed her eyes as the fever and aches began to recede. It would be good to be home. She liked Mr. Bingley very well but did not want him to see her ill. Lizzy would take care of everything, she thought as sleep claimed her.

Lizzy watched Jane and then rang for a maid to sit with her sister while she left the room. After the maid arrived, Lizzy exited but was a bit disoriented. She knew there was a way to get to the stables from the back of Netherfield's guest wing but it had been so long since she had been on this floor she had no idea how to get there from Jane's room. She shrugged and decided to make her way from the front hall. Turning, she walked directly into a solid wall that reached out and grabbed her shoulders to keep her from falling.

"Miss Elizabeth, are you well? Do you or Miss Bennet require assistance?" Darcy asked as he stepped back and dropped his hands immediately.

"Mr. Darcy! I apologize, I was not paying attention. I was wondering if there was a way to reach the stables from this floor without going through the front hall downstairs." She paused and colored in embarrassment. "I do not mean to avoid our hosts, sir. I simply wanted to …"

Darcy interrupted her, "You wanted to avoid being delayed by our host's sisters. So do I, frequently," He winked at her.

Lizzy giggled. "I wanted to tell our coachman to have our carriage ready by seven tomorrow morning so I may take Jane home."

"Is Miss Bennet well? I had not thought her recovered enough to go home." Actually, Darcy thought she would take the opportunity to stay and pursue Charles. He was quickly disabused of the thought.

"My sister believes it is unseemly to stay in the home of a gentlemen that she esteems," Lizzy stopped in confusion. "I did not mean that. She just wishes to be at home when she is unwell." Lizzy looked up anxiously at Darcy, "You will not say anything to him, will you? Jane would be mortified. I truly did not mean to say…."

"So your sister cares for my friend?" Darcy asked with a bit of mischief in his eyes that Lizzy completely missed, so upset as she was with her betrayal of Jane's feelings. Seeing her eyes start to brighten with tears, he relented. "I promise, Miss Elizabeth. I will say nothing to Charles. But I will tell you he will be unhappy at Miss Bennet's departure."

"Truly?" Lizzy asked. Darcy nodded. "I will not tell Jane anything either. They are best left to themselves. Now, did you say there was a way to get to the stables from here?" Lizzy asked, returning the subject to her original request.

"Of course. There is a servants' access door on this floor just over there, near the window. The stairway should take you down to the side door we entered earlier." Darcy strode down to the door and opened it for her. She turned and thanked him, disappearing down the stairs on her errand. He watched through the window as she emerged and a man he thought might be her coachman exited the stables to speak with her. He nodded as he spoke to her, and tipping his hat to Miss Elizabeth, returned to the stables. Darcy retreated down the hall and made for his own room before she returned to her sister.

These Bennets were certainly different, he conceded. Their mother was definitely on the lookout but had not raised her daughters to be grasping misses like so many of the ton. He looked up as he was hailed by Jack and Richard coming toward his room.

"Can we talk in your room, William? We have a tale for you!" Richard laughed and reaching Darcy's room, preceded Jack and him inside. "We have just disposed of our aunt's parson. He is on his way back to Kent." Richard arched a brow, waiting for his cousin's response.

As the men disposed themselves about the room, Darcy rang for a coffee tray and to ask Charles to join them. The three waited for both and with Charles' arrival with the tray. The tale began when Jack growled, "I punched him in the face and Richard stepped on his neck."

"Well, Jack, I didn't step on his neck, not really. I only threatened to while he was on the floor." Richard smirked.

Darcy rubbed his face, certain that his aunt would have something to say about all of this, likely something to screech. He could not imagine what the oily little sycophant could have done to anger Jack so much. "Tell me what happened that makes you so happy, Richard, although I am not certain I want to know."

To his surprise, it was Jack who responded in anger. "That bounder assaulted Miss Mary in her own drawing room! We arrived and saw him grab her hands and refuse to let them go, despite her desire to leave his presence. He tried to justify himself while still holding her captive. I pulled him away from the young lady and punched him." Jack smiled in satisfaction. "I escorted Miss Mary across the room and stayed with her until her father arrived." Jack was obviously still angry.

Richard took up the tale. "Miss Mary wanted nothing done because her cousin could ruin her and her sisters if the tale were told. The arse smirked and thought he would not be called to pay for his wrong. But I fixed that." Richard was still proud as he related the details of the incident, his rebuke of the man, and finished with, "I also mentioned that Cousin Darcy was related to the Archbishop and he could be denied a previously given living for cause."

"Where is he now?" Darcy asked with concern.

Jack related the terms of the escort into Meryton and the parson's trip back to Kent. "I don't believe he will be saying anything to your aunt, William. Richard thoroughly cowed him, especially as he was rubbing his sword hilt the entire time."

"We must tell Miss Elizabeth this before she and her sister return to Longbourn tomorrow morning. I am certain Miss Mary desires her older sisters' company and would prefer none of this reaches Miss Bingley's or Mrs. Hurst's ears." Darcy stated.

Charles spoke up at this point, "No, make certain to tell my sisters nothing. It would be all over Meryton and London in a moment if they find out. The Bennets do not deserve that. Wait," he turned to Darcy, "Miss Bennet is leaving tomorrow morning? Is she well enough? Has Mr. Jones given his permission?"

Darcy smiled at his friend. "Miss Bennet wishes to be nursed at home with her mother, who, I understand, is able to nurse illnesses of many kinds. She will also have her own sisters about her." He anticipated the next question, "I saw Miss Elizabeth in the hall a few moments ago and she told me thus when she was on her way to advise her coachman."

Charles leaned back in the chair. "Then she is unhappy being in my company."

Darcy shook his head and tried to reveal enough but not so much as to break Miss Elizabeth's accidental confidence. "You misunderstand, Charles. Miss Bennet, like her sisters, is very aware of propriety. It is unseemly that she stays in the home of an unmarried gentleman, especially if she has an interest." Now it was Darcy's turn to smirk and raise an eyebrow to try to give Charles a nonverbal cue.

"She's interested?" smiled Charles. "How do you know?"

"Trust me, Charles. I have my sources." Darcy went on, "we can call the day after she returns home and ask after her health. Will you both accompany us?" he asked the other two.

"I will be calling tomorrow to ascertain that Miss Mary suffers no delayed shock from today's events. Certainly, I shall accompany you all on the day after." Jack was a bit pugnacious in his announcement, as if fearing some sort of challenge.

Richard schooled his features to those of disinterest and disclosed his plans. "I will wait and call with my cousin, Jack, if you don't mind calling alone tomorrow."

"As you wish, Richard, I can make the call alone and let you know how Miss Mary is," as a slightly more relaxed Jack Hightower leaned back in his chair. "You do not need to disturb yourself."

Richard stood and moved behind Jack and winked at his cousin. "I think your call will be compliment enough for the Bennets. I am off to my room. I will see you all for tea later." Richard drained his coffee cup and left the room.

Charles had ceased paying attention to the conversation until Richard opened the door and also took his leave. Jack was stayed by Darcy's voice. "Jack?" He had thought to leave too soon.

"Why, or rather, who?" Darcy questioned.

Jack sighed. "Can you guess what Miss Mary did after we rescued her from Collins? She refused her father's suggestion to go to her room to get away from the unpleasantness. After Richard assured her that she and her sisters would be safe, that their reputations would be unsullied, she went to sit in the garden to enjoy the sunshine!"

"I suspect that she thought on the incident while she was outside," Darcy offered.

"I am certain she did. But can you imagine other women of our acquaintance just walking calmly out to her garden and then advising her father she would be reading a book later if he needed her? The ones I know would have swooned and retired to their rooms for days, making a great scene for as much as they could wring from the whole thing!" Jack said with wonder.

Darcy smiled. "I am discovering that the Bennet ladies are not very much like the ones we have been used to, Jack. There seems to be no artifice, no scheming, only a genuineness about them. I ceased to be surprised after Miss Elizabeth told me how unseemly they thought having Miss Bennet in this house was. The only thing preventing an immediate removal was the state of the road. She has already made arrangements to return home at seven in the morning. Tell me, are there very many among the ton, those young women you have been dancing with, speaking with, noticing, that would act the same in any of these situations? Do you recall that Miss Elizabeth actually chastised me for rescuing her from a rabid dog, insisting she could have saved herself, even though it was evident she could not, and worried that Charles and I would be hurt? Think on it, my friend."

"William, I believe I am interested in this young woman."

"Miss Elizabeth?" Darcy's tone was sharp and unpleasant.

"No, No, Darce, Miss Mary."

Relief shot through him as he replied, "Oh, Lord, Jack, she is only seven and ten, you know. I danced with Miss Mary and Miss Elizabeth's hackles popped up, so protective of her family she is, until she was certain I meant no harm. As much as Mr. Bennet, you will need to talk to her older sisters. I don't know when she turns eighteen. For your sake, I hope it is soon. And really, Jack, she is full young. You must be serious in any pursuit of her. I would not like to see her hurt." Darcy informed his friend. He had not seen a serious Jack when it came to a woman before, and he was definitely serious. Miss Elizabeth would be furious if Jack hurt her sister and with him for bringing Jack to Hertfordshire. "Go very slowly, Jack. Stay in company with her and determine, if you can, if there is any interest on her part before approaching her father. Mr. Bennet is very protective, too. You are eight years older than she is, much more experienced in life and in the ways of romance. She is barely out of the schoolroom. Is she truly a potential Viscountess Rasdale?"

"I don't know if she is, but I would like to find out. Her poise and grace after what she had been through, no, even before he grabbed her so crassly, was perfect. She was gracious but not a fool and even though Collins was too stupid to understand, she set him down rather well, but politely." Jack stood and finished.

"Jack," Darcy responded, "She was very uncomfortable, I have heard, when I merely danced with her at the Assembly some days ago. She may not be ready for any attentions from a man."

Jack responded with clear amusement. "She was intimidated by the excessively tall, very handsome, and noble Fitzwilliam Darcy? How could that happen? William, I am not as imposing a figure as you are. You take over a room just by walking into it. Besides, I used my fives on Collins in her defense. She thanked me, well, both of us." Darcy was shaking his head no but Jack pressed on. "You have no idea the effect you have on people, do you? They look at the mask of indifference and don't know what to make of you. Of course she was intimidated. Lud, you scare me sometimes!"

"It may be as you say. Collins was certainly annoying the only time I saw him. She may also have felt more at ease in her own home. Just, go slowly, please. She is not a London miss. This is not the ton."

"You are correct. I will move slowly and not frighten her, although I do not think I could. But I believe I am serious, William. Will you help me?"

Darcy sighed. First Charles and now Jack had fallen under the spell of the Bennet sisters. And suddenly, he thought of Miss Elizabeth and felt himself in just as much danger as ever. "Yes, Jack, I will help you in any way I can."

Caroline returned to her room, sat at her dressing table, and began drumming her fingers on its surface as she thought, Lud, these Bennet chits seem to multiply. They are everywhere! I will have to make the most of my time with Mr. Darcy, even perhaps, Viscount Rasdale, while I have them all to myself. Hmmm. Viscountess Caroline Rasdale sounds very well. Is he in the funds or just another impecunious aristocrat looking for an heiress? Even if he has money, he will still not marry without a dowry and connections. I have both, £20,000 and a connection to Mr. Darcy through my brother. No, that won't help. He is already connected to him. The viscount is not nearly as handsome or as tall as Mr. Darcy, which is a pity, but not entirely necessary. I will have to discuss this with Louisa after breakfast.

She ordered a bath to fill in the time until she could dress and descend below-stairs. Ringing for her maid, Caroline decided to mimic the fall colors with a burnt orange morning gown, certain to attract attention.

Unfortunately for Caroline, the gentlemen had already requested their meal and decided on a ride afterward. The new arrivals asked Darcy and Bingley to show them where Miss Elizabeth had met with the rabid dog. Bingley acquiesced easily but informed them that they must not go out unarmed as no one was certain that the danger from rabid animals was indeed over. After eating, the gentlemen all went to their rooms to check their weapons of choice before meeting at the stables. Caroline was still in her dressing room when they left, leaving a message for her and Mrs. Hurst. Mr. Hurst did not make the excursion. He was not unhappy to be left behind when he arrived in the dining room. Caroline was going to provide amusement enough when she came downstairs.

The four riders moved single file into woods. When they arrived at the clearing the colonel noted, "This cannot be right, cousin, what tree could she have climbed?" Darcy pointed at the tree to the left of the clearing, its first limbs more than a man's height from the ground. The colonel looked incredulous. "How did she get up there? Did you have to help her down? That is too great a drop for a young lady to make!"

Darcy smiled but his opportunity to answer was taken by Charles. "Ha!" Charles laughed, "Darcy was commanded to turn his back and get out of her way so she could climb down by herself."

"And, before you ask, cousin, the dead animal only enlisted Miss Elizabeth's sympathies, not fright." Darcy smiled widely, "It was a singular experience, indeed."

Jack interjected, "What, no swooning miss falling into the handsome Darcy arms? I am all astonishment."

"Quite the contrary, Jack, Charles and I were chastised for putting ourselves in danger as she was quite certain she would have had everything under her own control very shortly. We, however, put ourselves and our mounts in harm's way for no good reason, or so we were told." Darcy thought back to that day. "She was wrong, of course. The dog would have been able to outlast her ability to stay on her perch and out of his reach. Rather brave of her, I thought, foolish, but brave." Darcy reflected.

"The Bennet sisters I have met seem to be very singular, indeed. Miss Bennet, instead of remaining at Netherfield Park to recover from her cold and take advantage of being in Bingley's presence, demands to be returned home as soon as the roads allow because she feels it breaches propriety to remain in what is essentially a bachelor household. Miss Elizabeth is rescued," he emphasized rescued, "by two single, eligible gentlemen, and again, instead of swooning and taking advantage of the situation, sends you both off with fleas in your ears because she can take care of herself, thank you very much. Miss Mary is clearly mishandled and importuned by her cousin and rescued only when Jack plants him a facer and I threaten to use my boot on his neck. Instead of rushing away in tears, she sits for a few moments next to her father, thanks us both for our care, and then walks to the garden to sit in the sun and compose herself, after which she plans to read." Darcy's cousin shakes his head, mystified.

Darcy grinned, "I believe that sums it all up quite nicely. Jack and I will wait until it is an acceptable hour to visit tomorrow and ask after Miss Mary, or better yet, Jack, you may wish to ask after her, I will simply observe, and possibly say good things about you to her father, if you are nice to me." Darcy turned his horse to leave the woods and made for Netherfield Park, where Caroline Bingley waited for them, or more likely, waited for Jack and him. It will be a long evening.