Chapter Twelve

Back at the Darcy's manor…

When Lizzy read the telegraph, she needed to re-read what she'd been sent. It was later in the afternoon when Fitzwilliam didn't show up and when eleven o'clock struck, she'd been tight when no sign of him appeared. Then after the Angelus was prayed, a ring in Fitzwilliam's office was heard and one of the maids, answered. When she returned, it was urgent because when she held the telegraph in her hands, she walked over to Lizzy and informed her that it was from the hospital. Re-reading, Lizzy shook her head in wonder when she spoke.

"Fitzwilliam got into an accident when he was returning from the Adoration Chapel. Albert is to be here this evening but Fitzwilliam's been requested he stay there overnight for two days. The boys' are going to be returned and I know Fitzwilliam took the only car for their purpose. Is there any other way they're going to be sent back to the manor?"

She asked this from the maid who gave her the telegraph.

"We can use the old-fashioned style, Mrs. Mayfield."

"And that would be riding horse, I take it?"

"Yes, Mrs. Mayfield. But Albert would usually be the one to saddle them."

"And he's arriving by the hospital staff, we were told." Lizzy answered and the woman nodded.

"When should Albert be arriving?" Lizzy asked as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Around three o'clock, Mrs. Mayfield. The boys' school ends at 3:15 but most of them aren't picked up until 3:30 or sometimes till 4."

"I see. Thank you for informing me."

Then an idea entered. Facing the maid, Lizzy proposed.

"How's this? Why don't we send Transfiguration School a message and ask one of them to drop the boys' off? I want to hear from the medical staff how we are to treat Albert when he arrives and knowing the boys' will be fine will soothe me greatly. Could you do that? I don't know how to operate a telegraph machine."

As if she were queen slightly ordering the maids around, Lizzy watched as the woman curtsied as she replied.

"Yes, Mrs. Mayfield. I shall do so directly."

"Thank you." Lizzy answered and the woman left, Lizzy narrowed her eyes as she held the telegraph. How dare someone get Fitzwilliam in a car accident? 5 weeks before their wedding and she hears about this? Then suddenly, Lizzy noticed something sparkle from a display case she'd never seen before. She was standing inside Fitzwilliam' private study and ignoring the maid, who was tapping away at the telegraph machine, stepped over to where the glow was coming from and when she leaned forward, Lizzy raised her brows when she realized she was staring at a display of a baseball bat. Or something like it… she wasn't able to see because the light was dim. Reaching over at a candle, she lit it before she brought it to the stature of the baseball. But turns out it wasn't a baseball player… it was something else…

"Whatever is this?" Lizzy asked aloud as she reached out and touched the glowing gold item. It sparkled in her hand and when Lizzy drew it to eye level, she realized it wasn't an image of a baseball player as she thought. No. Instead… it was a fine figure of a wooden Nutcracker doll. He was furnished in the most elaborate decorations of gold, along with a small wooden sword to the side, while his hair was beautiful and his eyes seemed to glow at Lizzy. As she held him, the candle flickered in the afternoon light and she couldn't help but stare at him. Transfixed, she didn't the maid reply.

"That, Mrs. Mayfield, is Mr. Darcy's Nutcracker soldier. He was a gift given from the late Mrs. Darcy on their wedding day. Though we don't know as to why she asked him to keep him on the shelf like that. If you noticed: he's a bit dusty."

This went in one ear and out the other as Lizzy stared at the Nutcracker's eyes.

They seemed to speak to her as she stared into them. For some reason, as the maid continued with the telegraph message, she wasn't able to hear more as to what the woman was speaking to her. All Lizzy could do was stare, memorized, by the way the Nutcracker's features looked into hers. The outline of the doll was elaborate: like any wooden Nutcrackers' she'd seen, Lizzy noticed this one was particularly special. His outfit was bronzed in gold and jade green. Along with the wooden sword, he wore light brown pants and his boots were black. His hair was white and his jaw was all the familiar ugly features of a wooden Nutcracker only used for display.

"I'm certain neither of the boys' would find this as a play toy." Lizzy spoke as she turned the doll around and playfully played with the jaw. The Nutcracker's mouth moved up and down when she took hold of his jaw and the maid, finishing with the message, turned and commented.

"Well, Mrs. Mayfield… seems the message has gone to Transfiguration School. They will bring the boys' here at 4:00 because of what they heard about Mr. Darcy. And I believe I hear a noise outside. That should be Albert arriving from the hospital."

"Thank you." Lizzy replied.

"Is there anything else you wish for us to do?" The servant asked.

Hearing this, Lizzy paused as she pondered this. Then after a moment… she answered.

"Yes. Once Albert is here, I would like to ask him what the doctor asked of him. Seeing he is in charge of the grounds, I would like to know who I can get in touch with so we can start trimming the bushes before the wedding. But seeing Mr. Darcy is not here to hear what will take place, I should like to speak with Albert once he's settled. Care to handle that while I return the Nutcracker?"

As if she were saluting a queen, the servant curtsied as she replied.

"Yes, of course, Mrs. Mayfield."

"Thank you." Lizzy replied and before long, the servant exited and Lizzy was once again left alone in Fitzwilliam's study. Returning her attention the handsome Nutcracker, Lizzy gently placed him back on the shelf but as she did… she jumped a bit when his eyes seemed to sparkle at her. Taking a step back, she wondered if it was a flicker of the light or from the candle. She didn't wish to reflect on it as she turned and followed pursuit after the maid. She wanted to know what Albert could and couldn't do and she hoped Fitzwilliam would be released so she could make plans with him in connection with their wedding. The boys' would be home by 4 and she was thankful cook agreed to her meal for the evening.

Yet… as she stepped into the main lobby… she couldn't help but feel something was off about Fitzwilliam's accident and the change of events that occurred that morning. It was here when a voice was heard.

"Albert? Do yourself a favor and make sure you don't lean against the doorway so!"

The medial man, as the servant stood to the side, along with Lizzy, stared in stunned shock as the butler, who'd formally been so mobile, stood to the side of the doorway as the medical man shouted in his ear. Both Lizzy and the servant stared with dropped mouths as Albert stepped forward and almost toppled over. Thankfully, the maid, caught him as the medical man called.

"And for the life of me: don't sulk! Those were the doctor's orders! Have a fine day!"

And before either woman could ask a question, the man turned and slammed the door behind him with a dramatic bang. It shook the chandelier as it rattled a bit and Lizzy could have promised herself it would have crashed if the impact was hard enough. Thankfully, it didn't so she made her way over to the butler, who leaned against the kindly maid as he spoke.

"Ah… don't worry about him, Mrs. Mayfield. And Ginger? Don't hold your breath so. He's was just in a mood because of the cars we drove through."

"You're speaking as if the accident wasn't a large deal." Ginger replied and the woman's voice seemed to know more to Lizzy from what she was letting out. As she watched, the woman, who was indeed kindly but older than herself, helped Albert into the living room. With her arm wrapped around his shoulder, she helped him lay on the couch. Once this was finished, she placed her hands on her hips as she replied.

"Albert? Car accidents are not taken for granted. Gaze at yourself and inform me what I'm seeing."

"A butler who needs to have some peace and quiet." He replied and Lizzy felt Ginger react from his retort. But the woman wasn't easily persuaded.

"Albert General? You inform us immediately as to what passed with the doctor. I know for a fact it was Doctor Drosselmier who operated on Mr. Darcy because I can smell that man anywhere."

"Doctor Drosselmier?" Lizzy asked, finding her voice.

Both of the servants turned and Ginger nodded. Albert, who stared at Mrs. Mayfield, remained quiet as Ginger explained.

"Yes, Mrs. Mayfield. The doctor who was supposed to see you this afternoon, was detained because of Mr. Darcy's accident. Doctor Drosselmier is famous around this area and he delivered Mrs. Darcy's son, John, there but he and the master were fond of each other. The two of them seemed more like a father to a son than a doctor to businessman."

"And because of Mr. Darcy's accident, he wasn't able to examine me?"

"Yes. You're correct." Albert answered and he settled against the pillows.

Ginger returned her attention to Albert.

"Well, Albert? What did the doctor have to say about you?"

Sighing, Lizzy heard Albert answer.

"I'm to take it easy and to not do anything hard. Mr. Darcy will be at the hospital for two days until the jaw is, from what I heard, in a sling. When we were driving, the crash caused him to hit his head and Doctor Drosselmier informed me the master also suffered from a concussion. Until then – he's to remain there until the jaw is in the sling."

"A jaw injury?" Lizzy asked and she walked over to open the curtains. When the afternoon's light entered, it brightened everything as Albert replied.

"Yes, Mrs. Mayfield. The surgeon isn't in town and he's expected to arrive in May. A month before your wedding which is on June 15th."

"Remind me of that," Lizzy answered as she crossed her arms. Narrowing her eyes, she waited for the servants to wait to hear what she had to say. When their attention as hers, she continued.

"Hearing about Mr. Darcy's accident has caused some wait on our wedding plans. We have invited 175 people but some will reside in hotels. Fitzwilliam informed me who would be staying and who wouldn't and Emma, as great as she is, didn't help much when I asked her about how many relatives from his side will be staying here. How much does the manor hold?"

"100." Albert answered.

Here, Ginger turned and spoke.

"Mrs. Mayfield? Should I leave the two of you alone? I can inform the rest of the staff Albert's fine but will not be disturbed for some time."

"That sounds like an excellent idea. Thank you, Ginger. In the meantime," she returned her attention to Albert, "I should like to continue speaking with you about the manor and how many guests will be here when word reaches us about Mr. Darcy results."

"Fine with me." Albert answered and Ginger exited.

Meanwhile…

Fitzwilliam felt the jaw in the sling sooner than he could speak "Gracious!" Opening his eyes, he heard the voices of Doctor Drosselmier as he spoke to the nurses.

"He seems fine and everything progressed smoothly. Send word to the Darcy's Manor and inform them he's in recovery but the surgeon will not be able to see him until May. We need to make sure he's guarded this evening because this was no accident."

"Yes, sir." Replied one of the nurses and Fitzwilliam struggled to know more as to what they were speaking about. He'd been wheeled into a side room where Doctor Drosselmier bound his jaw and regardless of how painful it was… Fitzwilliam managed to find himself back in his room. As he listened, he heard one of the nurses ask.

"Doctor? This wasn't an accident?"

"No, miss. Mr. Darcy will need to be guarded for two nights until we can release him. The accident wasn't done by a mere 'accidental' occurrence. No. Keep your voices down and make sure his room is securely locked and have a nurse stationed till the next one is called. Mr. Darcy is a very special patient but we need to make sure he's watched tonight. Are you able to send a message to the manor?"

"Yes."

"Splendid! Do so right away but keep what I've spoken to you a secret."

Then the nurses along with the doctor disappeared down the hall.