Chapter 28: Tormenting thoughts

Mr Bennet left to Netherfield along with the others. He chose to ride in his carriage rather than using Bingley's.

Darcy saw the resemblance in character between Elizabeth and her father. He remembered the anger in her eyes during their arguments. He saw the same anger in her father's eyes.

Dr. James was waiting for them when they reached the house.

"Mr Bennet, it is good to see you. I hope you have been updated on the events."

"That is the right word. I have been updated, not informed. How is she?"

"I just checked on Miss Elizabeth. My worst fear was about her memory. She is confused about how this happened, but she has not lost her memory. Her wounds will heal soon. She will be able to walk in a few days. She will recover, but there may be scars."

Mr Bennet and Darcy winced inwardly.

"Can I take her to Longbourn today?"

"I do not think that is a good idea. Miss Elizabeth does not have the strength. Maybe in a week."

"In a week? I cannot leave her in Netherfield. I made that mistake once; I am not going to do it again."

Darcy understood that he was speaking out of anger.

"Mr Bennet, there is another thing you must consider. Once Miss Elizabeth recovers, we can attribute her injury to some incident during the picnic. I think there is no need to raise more speculation than required. Let us not create a scandal."

"I understand what you mean. I need to see her now."

Mr Bingley took him upstairs to Elizabeth's room.

Richard tried to cheer up Darcy. "He will come around. He is the father after all."

Darcy was not convinced. He was more worried about Elizabeth. He was worried about her well being physically and mentally.

Mr Bennet prepared for the worst as he entered Elizabeth's room.

Jane hugged her father and cried.

Elizabeth was overjoyed to see her father.

"Papa! You are here."

"Lizzy, my child, I am so sorry." He held her hand and looked at her face. She had bandages on her forehead and shoulder. Her face looked bruised. His anger rose.

"I will kill that man if I see him. I am so sorry. I should not have allowed you to go to the picnic. I will never forgive myself, Lizzy."

"It is not your fault. It is nobody's fault. I knew what I was getting into, please do not blame yourself."

"Why did you do it? Mr Darcy said that you lied to be his sister? Why did you have to Lizzy?"

"Because I wanted to."

"Did you even think about us? About your family? How could you put yourself in such danger?" His voice expressed displeasure.

Elizabeth could not reveal the truth. She had done it for Darcy. She loved him truly and deeply. But she could not disclose it to her father. She closed her eyes tightly, and tears flowed down her cheek.

"I am sorry Lizzy I did not mean to upset you. I know it is in your character and your good heart. You have always put others in front of you. I am proud of you, my child. Mr Hurst and Mrs Hurst met me before I came here. They could not thank me enough for raising a daughter like you. I am proud of you."

"Does anybody know at home?"

"No."

"Are you disappointed in me, papa?"

"Lizzy, no! I am sorry if I upset you. I am not disappointed or angry with you. I think my anger at Mr Darcy reflected in my words."

"Why are you angry at him? He saved me."

"He might have Lizzy. But he kept me in the dark about your abduction. I can never forgive him. I expected better of him."

"Do not blame him. He did everything to protect me. You can ask Jane. She said he did everything in his power to save me."

"Don't give him credit that he doesn't deserve. He had no right to keep me uninformed. I cannot imagine the things you underwent. And I was doing nothing."

"Papa, please, do not be upset."

Seeing Elizabeth's distress, Jane intervened.

"Papa, Lizzy is still weak. Let us not discuss anything now."

Mr Bennet agreed. He wanted to take his daughters to Longbourn, but he understood that Elizabeth's condition was not stable yet.

He spoke to Jane for a few minutes and left them.

He saw the men waiting for him.

"Mr Bingley, I was inclined to take my daughters along with me. But I think I have to head to the doctor's words and trespass your hospitality for some more days."

"Sir, I assure you, Miss Elizabeth will have the utmost care. You can be assured of that." Mr Bingley said with confidence.

Mr Bennet left them without uttering anything else.

Elizabeth was in agony. Every passing minute she yearned for Darcy's company.

She could not imagine what he was thinking. Her mind and body were in pain. She ate, not wanting to upset Jane.

Darcy, on the other hand, was pacing the floors of his room. He did not know what to do.

Mr Bennet's words had unsettled him. He had never doubted himself before. He never doubted his love for Elizabeth. But he doubted how his proposal would be received. Considering the circumstances, he was sure that his intentions could be misunderstood. He cursed himself for not disclosing his feelings earlier. As he paced his room in distress, Mr Bennet planned to hide the news from his family.

"Mr Bennet, why did you go to Netherfield this early? Is anything the matter? Oh! My poor nerves."

"Mrs Bennet, please calm down. I am not in a state to be compassionate on your nerves. I have no other way of saying this. Lizzy is hurt. They had an unfortunate accident on the picnic. She had hurt her forehead."

"Oh, no! We are doomed. What has happened to her? Will she survive? Oh! My poor nerves. What is to happen to us?"

Mr Bennet winced.

"She is alright. She needs to be at rest. Please do not fret. She should be here in a week."

"I have told you innumerable times to stop her from behaving like a boy. I am sure she climbed a tree and fell. Oh! What is to become of us? What will Mr Bingley think? He will think that Jane is as clumsy as Lizzy. He will never offer for her."

"Stop it! Lizzy is hurt, and you are worried about getting one of the others married? Mrs Bennet of all days, leave me alone. Please do not go about talking about this to anyone."

"How can I not? I need to share my suffering with somebody. Oh! I can barely stand."

As soon as he headed to the library, he realized that Mr Darcy had been right. Had he brought the news of Elizabeth's abduction; his wife would have spread it to the whole of Meryton within hours. He was ashamed to acknowledge the failings of his family. He was also guilty of being rude to Darcy. After all, he had brought back his Lizzy to him. He sank into his chair in deep remorse.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, could not stop herself from asking for Darcy.

"Jane, do you think I will be able to walk outside the room? Maybe you can ask Mr Darcy to come and see me."

"Lizzy dear, you have been eating just a little, I don't think it would be advisable for you to even stand up."

"Jane, I can try."

"You cannot. All you need to do now is rest. You can meet Mr Darcy when you are well. It is not right to allow him to visit you in your room."

"Jane, please understands. I need to talk to him. I do not know if papa upset him in any way. He saved me. He does not deserve to bear the blame for whatever happened."

"He is angry. But Mr Darcy will not be upset by his words. He had been kind and considerate. Papa will understand him soon. I think Mr Darcy mentioned something about offering to marry you, and that has upset papa."

"What? Mr Darcy offered to marry me?"

"Yes! That is what he said."

"Jane, why would he offer to marry me all of a sudden? Is it to save me reputation?"

"He felt so. He has asked not to mention this anymore. Lizzy, please understand, your reputation is not in question. Your bravery is the only thing people will remember."

"It is easy to say that, but the truth is different, is it not?"

Jane assured Elizabeth that everything would be alright.

Elizabeth felt pain in the body and mind. But the worst pain was in her heart. She was shocked to hear about Darcy's proposal. She laughed at the irony of her situation. Being deeply in love with him, she must have rejoiced to hear about his intentions, but she was devastated.

He has offered for me. But it sounds like an offer of gratitude to save my reputation. Even if he was partial toward me, his offer must be one of gratitude. Oh! God! What if he asks me for my hand, and I accept? What if he never believes me if I say I truly love him? He may never understand my feelings after arguing and blaming him so many times.

She felt sick. I can never accept him if he does not love me as deeply as I do. He will regret his decision in the future, and he does not deserve it.

All of sudden, Elizabeth was agitated about seeing him.

Both Darcy and Elizabeth spent the day under the same roof with similar thoughts. But they never realized that their hearts were in a similar state as well. They loved each other dearly and truly. Yes! Never!