A/N
Sorry for the delay in posting and thank you for your patience. Last week or so made me realize (one more time) that planning (for me at least) does not work very well. Things can go topsy turvy in a single moment! I already had half of this chapter written when I posted the last one and was thinking that may be by early next month, we would be nearing the end of the story. But now I do not know when we will reach that point as I do not know how much time I would be able to spend on the story. But I would try to post a chapter every week or so. I continue to write as it is one of the few stress busters I have at my disposal. That and the engagement with you all :) So please let those comments, suggestions, corrections and of course any appreciation you feel like bestowing :), keep coming this way. If you guys find more mistakes in this chapter than usual kindly excuse!
To reader Lisa – Thank you once again for spending time on my story and helping with typos etc. !
A Chance EncounterCopyright © 2021 by S. Neha
All rights reserved.
Chapter 7As Mr Darcy had promised, Martha came in a little while after he left the room. She came bearing a tray with a bowl of another of Mrs Webster's delicious broth.
"Mr Talbot would be here soon, Mrs Fitzwilliam. Mistress asked me to bring this now as the examination may delay your luncheon." She said, keeping the tray on the bedside table. "Would you be needing anything else?" She asked. When Elizabeth shook her head, she nodded. "Then I will come back when Mr Talbot is here."
The apothecary came not long after Elizabeth had finished her broth, followed by a smiling Martha who came carrying his bag. Mr Talbot was a jolly, rotund man, who quite strangely, kept muttering 'excellent' at regular intervals while examining various wounds and abrasions that the accident had inflicted on her.
"You have an excellent constitution, young lady, and are recovering well under Mrs Webster's care. I believe that apart from causing you some pain and discomfort for a few more days, the wound to your head should not trouble you anymore. However, just to be sure, we will take things a little slowly for a day or two. Take ample rest and do not indulge in any activity that would tire you out. I am leaving some powders to keep the pain and inflammation in check." He told Elizabeth as he started to leave. "Do get your husband to call me if you experience any other problem apart from the expected aches and pains!" He added before leaving the room with a bow, and Martha accompanied him once again.
Once the other two had gone, Elizabeth started feeling a strange restlessness. She now regretted that she had forgotten to ask Martha to bring in her valise that contained the books she always travelled with. It would have helped pass some time. 'Maybe later,' she thought, having no desire to create extra work for the maid. Deciding to while away the time by observing the beauty of Mrs Webster's garden, she went to sit on the couch near the window. As soon as she sat, her senses were assailed by a faint but pleasant smell of sandalwood. The same smell that she had felt all around her when she woke up this morning. Puzzled, she closed her eyes and tried to think where she had smelt it before. 'Ah, it was how Mr Darcy had smelt when he carried her upstairs yesterday. Of course, the poor man must have slept on the couch last night,' she decided, relieved at having solved the mystery. 'But then why had the smell been around her so strongly when she woke up?' She looked in confusion at her bed and saw the extra pillow and the blanket kept neatly next to her own. 'Ah, another mystery solved! Well, Lizzy, if you want, you can give the best bow street runner in the town a stiff competition!' She chuckled as she turned to gaze outside the window. 'Mr Darcy is turning out to be quite a cautious man in keeping up the appearances,' she thought smiling, as she looked out and her gaze came to rest on the man himself. It appeared he had just bid farewell to Mr Talbot, who was riding away on a large chestnut horse.
Unlike in the morning, when she had gazed at an empty garden and the horse enclosure nearby, presently, there was a lot of activity outside. In the garden, Millie was playing ball with a boy of about ten. John was leading a horse into the enclosure where Poseidon was already present. Despite her long-held antipathy with horses, Elizabeth drew in a sharp breath at the sheer grace and power that the new horse exuded. It was pure white and a complete foil to Poseidon, who was black as a moonless night. As she sat watching the activities of the two children and the horses, she observed that Mr Darcy went and started a conversation with John. It interested her to notice that the angry pitchfork-wielding man of yesterday appeared quite reverential to Mr Darcy today. There was quite a bit of nodding and exchange of few warm smiles then, John went away. Mr Darcy stood leaning on the bars of the enclosure in a manner that allowed him to observe the horses and the children at the same time. Sometime later, John came back driving the pony cart, while Martha came out from the house to take Millie away. The little girl did not appear too pleased with the sudden change in plans. However, the canny maid placated her soon enough. To Elizabeth's surprise, John then got down from the cart, and Mr Darcy hopped in the driver's seat in his stead and took the reins. The old man then said something to the little boy who nodded and climbed into the cart to sit beside Mr Darcy. In the next instant, the pony cart was away with a gentle flick of Mr Darcy's hand as Elizabeth sat puzzling over the strange happenings.
A little while later, she gave up trying to understand Mr Darcy's actions. Instead, her mind went to dwell on something she had purposefully shied away from since yesterday- Millie. 'What would happen to the little girl now?' With her grandmother dead there was no one to look after the innocent child, except, perhaps a father who had not even acknowledged her existence. More worryingly, Elizabeth had no clue who Millie's father was. 'Maybe Charlotte would know? But what could I do even if get to know that scoundrel's name? I will have to take her to Uncle and Aunt Gardiner. They would know what to do.' However, she knew that the as things stood at the moment, a life in an orphanage could be Millie's future. Elizabeth's heart revolted against such an outcome! The thought of that sweet, precocious child placed among strangers who might not treat her with kindness or empathy filled her with dread. Feeling agitated, Elizabeth got up and started pacing. After a while, her head started to ache, and she began to feel queasy. After taking the powder Mr Talbot had suggested for such an eventuality, she went to lie down. A few moments, later she was in a deep, dreamless sleep.
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It was quite late when she woke up next. She shifted her head gingerly, thankfully the headache was gone. Sighing in relief she slowly looked around the room. Her gaze first found Millie sleeping on the truckle bed. 'It really is quite late.' She mused as she looked out of the window at the sky. A small movement to her right caught her eyes and she turned her towards it. This time she found Mr Darcy sitting stretched out in the easy chair, reading a book. The soothing domesticity of the entire image in the room brought out a strange yearning in her and she swallowed painfully in a desperate bid to dislodge the lump that had somehow lodged itself in her throat. 'At least he is not doing something fantastical this time,' she thought irreverently in an attempt to channelize her thoughts to safer areas.
Almost as if he sensed her gaze, Mr Darcy looked up from his book and on finding her awake smiled, "Ah, you are awake Miss Bennet and at the most opportune of times. You were sleeping so peacefully that I was quite reluctant to wake you up, but Martha would soon be coming up with our supper." He said as he looked at her searchingly. "How are you feeling ?" He asked.
"I am very well, Mr Darcy. The headache and the nausea that sent me scurrying to the bed have all but disappeared." Elizabeth replied with a wry smile.
"Yes, that is what Mr Talbot had said. The more you rest the faster you will recover." He nodded. Before either of them could say anything further, there was a knock at the door and like last evening, Martha came in carrying their supper. Elizabeth was quite relieved to note that she too was to have 'proper' food today instead of the broth. 'Good.' Although she had found it delicious, she did not think she would have relished the broth as well one more time.
"Shall we?" Mr Darcy asked smilingly once Martha had left after arranging their trays. For a while there was near silence in the room except for the sound of the cutlery in use, as they both applied themselves to their food quite diligently.
After the first pangs of hunger had sated, Elizabeth addressed Mr Darcy with a grin, "There is something special in the air of this place, Mr Darcy. It appears to leave one quite famished."
Darcy looked up at her with an answering grin. "To tell you the truth, Miss Bennet, I was waiting very impatiently for Martha to bring in our trays. But then it is always the case with me when I have indulged in some hard manual labour."
"Hard manual labour?" Elizabeth asked in some surprise.
Looking quite chagrined he responded hurriedly, "Ah, it is nothing, really."
"It is not quite fair of you to clam up like that, Mr Darcy. If you do not tell me now, I would spend the whole night worrying over what nefarious deeds you had got up to today!" She gave him an impish smile and added, "You do not want to be responsible for the insomnia of a poor injured woman, whom Mr Talbot has advised plentiful rest, now, do you?" She raised her brow at him challengingly.
Darcy shook his head at her exasperatedly, then gave a rueful grin, "Oh, very well, Miss Bennet. I will tell you, although, it is nothing earth shattering as I already warned you." He sighed, then added, "When we came to the farmhouse, I noticed that the boundary fence was broken and had not been repaired very well. I understood the reason when I saw the bandage on John's arm. The poor man is still recovering from a recent injury. So, this afternoon I went out to… ah… to mend the fences, so to say." He finished with a weak jest.
The spoon in her hand stopped midway to her mouth. "You… mended the broken fence? With your own hands?" Stunned, she asked slowly, and a little foolishly.
"Well, yes, they were the only pair that I had at my disposal today." He replied in amusement but grew embarrassed as she continued to stare at him in silence.
To break the uncomfortable silence he said, "Though to be accurate, young Tom was a very good helper. Do not worry, Miss Bennet. I did quite a good job of it, even if I say so myself. My father used to say that you should be able to do everything that you expect others to do for you." He shrugged and added with a quick smile, "So, I am able to do almost anything… anything that is required on a farm at least."
Elizabeth shook her head disbelievingly, "You know, Mr Darcy, if two days ago somebody had said what I am going to say next, I would have thought they were not quite right in the head." She paused to stare at him once again then added almost reluctantly, "…but I have to say this, sir, you … you are the kindest man of my acquaintance."
Darcy did not know whether to be amused or chagrined at the surprise evident in her face at what she believed to be his kind manner. But then, he also saw the reluctant admiration in her eyes and smiled inwardly, 'Even if inadvertently, he had taken a step towards changing her opinion of him. A baby step, but a step in the right direction.' He thought in satisfaction.
What he did not know was that it was not a baby step but almost a giant leap, and poor Elizabeth was left quite confused at this extremely kind, almost stranger, who had come bursting in her life since yesterday. She did not know what to think anymore! 'May be this Mr Darcy has an arrogant, disdainful twin who had visited Meryton and Rosings in his stead?' She thought, resorting to jest, her most favoured weapon against uncomfortable, confusing emotions!
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As he got up to keep his empty tray on the table, Darcy's gaze swept over the sleeping child, and he remembered that he had been meaning ask Miss Bennet about Millie.
"Miss Bennet?"
When Elizabeth looked at him enquiringly, he asked, "What can you tell me about Millie?" As Elizabeth pondered on what and how much to tell him, he added, "I ask as I want to know where should we take her once we leave here. Yesterday Smith was naturally agitated when I told him about Mrs Dawson's unfortunate demise, but he was more concerned about our Millie. It seems his sister told him that Mrs Dawson and Millie had no one else but each other."
Elizabeth looked at his concerned face and suddenly realized that instead of Uncle Gardiner Mr Darcy maybe the best person to tell her what to do regarding Millie, especially under the circumstances. The compassionate side to him that she had seen, told her that if he could, he would definitely help Millie.
"I too have been quite worried about her since yesterday. I had decided to take her to my uncle and ask him to help her, but maybe you could tell me what would be the best approach in this case." Elizabeth looked at him questioningly.
"Of course. I will try to help to the best of my abilities." He said, nodding at her to go on.
"I am not sure about the complete facts, Mr Darcy, but I can tell you what Charlotte had told me about the situation. Mr Smith is mostly right, Mrs Dawson had only Millie for her family."
"Mostly right?" Darcy asked, his brows raised.
Elizabeth smiled involuntarily at how quickly he caught on to the nuance. "Let me tell the facts from the beginning. Mrs Dawson came to Hunsford parish three years ago to keep house for her ailing brother, who was a baker in the village. Her widowed daughter Emily, and granddaughter - a few months old Millie, also came along with her. One year later, Mrs Dawson's brother passed away. He willed his money to his sister, and the ladies continued to stay on in Hunsford. Millie's mother did some sewing and embroidery work also in the village. She was somewhat sickly, and unfortunately, did not survive the pneumonia she contracted in the end of last year."
"Oh! How sad for Mrs Dawson, and poor Millie, orphaned at such a young age!" Darcy exclaimed.
"Yes, Mr Darcy. That is what everyone in the village believes. Although for all intents and purposes Millie is an orphan, the truth is, her father is still alive."
She nodded when Darcy quirked a surprised brow, and continued, "A few weeks ago, Mrs Dawson approached Charlotte for some advice. Since she came to Hunsford, Charlotte has taken her duties as a parson's wife very assiduously and the ladies in the village often approach her for assistance and advice. However, Mrs Dawson's problem was quite different from the run of the mill matters she generally gets consulted on. So much so, that Charlotte felt that she needed someone to corroborate the suggestion she was planning to offer Mrs Dawson. That is how I know these facts," Elizabeth paused for a breath and found Darcy leaning forward and listening intently.
"It is quite a sad story, really. Although Mrs Dawson did not tell many details about the places and the people involved but the salient points are as follows. After she was widowed, Mrs Dawson worked as a cook in a private seminary for girls. The principal of the seminary was a kind lady who allowed Emily to be educated in her seminary in the hope of getting her a position as a governess or some such. After completing her education, Emily did get hired as a governess by one of the prominent families in that area. Mrs Dawson thought that her dream of a better future for her only child was coming to fruition."
Elizabeth sighed deeply and shook her head. "Unfortunately, what followed was more a nightmare than a dream. Her daughter was naïve enough to believe it when one of the family members promised her marriage. The result was that less than a year after she had left the seminary to start a new life, she was back in her mother's home- ruined, hopeless, and … and expecting a child. The father had not only reneged on the offer of marriage, but he also refused to shoulder any responsibility for the child. Millie was born in the seminary, as the two women had nowhere else to go."
Elizabeth glanced at Mr Darcy and was disconcerted to see a thunderous expression on his face. She felt confused as to the reason behind his rage but did not remain in suspense for long as he burst out angrily, "I detest charlatans who take advantage of gullible girls with starry dreams in their eyes. Poor Emily! Her whole life wasted as some scoundrel could not control his base…" He coloured and stopped abruptly when he found Elizabeth staring at him with wide eyes. After a while he said awkwardly, "I am sorry for interrupting you in this ill-mannered way, Miss Bennet. Please continue."
Elizabeth nodded and resumed the story. "From what Mrs Dawson told Charlotte, her daughter was too ashamed to have failed her mother and her kind teachers and did not want to stay in the seminary anymore. So, when Mrs Dawson's brother wrote to her requesting her help, she thought it was the best opportunity for her daughter to start her life afresh. All of them moved to Hunsford where she introduced her daughter as a widow. Unfortunately, her brother and daughter passed away in quick succession as I mentioned earlier, and Mrs Dawson and Millie were the only ones left. And now… that poor lady is gone too - leaving Millie all alone." Suddenly Elizabeth felt oppressed by the whole sad tale and fell quiet.
"Miss Bennet?" Darcy called softly when the silence stretched.
When she looked at him, he asked, "Umm… you did not tell what advice did Mrs Dawson sought from Mrs Collins? And why was she going to London?"
"Once her daughter passed away last December, Mrs Dawson got extremely worried for Millie's future. While she still had some money of what her brother had left her, it was in no way sufficient for Millie's future. It was the last straw when she too started feeling poorly, some time ago. She finally revealed the sorry tale to Charlotte in the hope of getting some sound advice."
"And… what did Mrs Collins suggest?" Darcy asked curiously.
"Once Mrs Dawson informed her that the staff at the seminary while being disappointed with Emily had still been kind to her and her daughter, Charlotte asked her to take little Millie to the seminary. Then we could at least be sure that the girl would be treated with kindness. In addition, she also advised Mrs Dawson to approach Millie's father to settle some amount on her that would ensure a better future for the child at the seminary. Mrs Dawson saw the sense in the advice. She was going to London to try and meet Millie's father."
At the mention of Millie's father, Darcy's face darkened again, and he got up from his seat agitatedly. "Miss Bennet, do you know who is Millie's father?" When Elizabeth shook her head, he pursed his lips in disappointment and asked, "Would Mrs Collins know?"
"I do not thinks so, but I can write to her and ask." Elizabeth said.
"Yes… you please do that." He nodded, still appearing agitated. "I… I need to talk to Jones; I would be back in a while." He said as he started to go out. "Miss Bennet?" He called from the door.
"Yes, Mr Darcy?"
"Please do not worry," he said as he jerked his head towards Millie. "We would think of something." He added reassuringly, then went out.
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Although Elizabeth had retired some time ago, she was still awake when Mr Darcy opened the door of their chamber. She thought it best to feign sleep. Mr Darcy had been extremely considerate in giving her privacy each night, the least she could do was to reciprocate. He came in and slowly walked up to Millie's bed. For a long while there was silence. Curious, Elizabeth looked at him under her lashes and saw him reach out a hand towards Millie. "Do not worry, poppet, everything will turn out just fine." He whispered softly and brushed the child's cheek with his knuckle. The tenderness in the action made tears prick her eyes.
Then he turned and walked towards her bed. Again, from under her lashes, she saw him walk to the opposite side and pick up his pillow and blanket. He was turning to go back when he stopped all of a sudden and stretched out a hand towards her! She hurriedly shut her eyes and waited. The unexpected realization that she dreaded and wanted his touch in equal measures left her feeling quite stunned. The next instant she heard his steps walking away. It appeared that he had mastered whatever impulse had made him reach out to her so imprudently. The sharp stab of disappointment she experienced at the fact only increased her shock.
Few minutes later that were mostly spent in a tussle with his shoes, he snuffed the candle and lay back with a groan of relief. Elizabeth also tried her best to sleep, the herculean effort even included counting thousand black sheep. Alas! To no avail. She was still awake when she heard a soft snore emanating from near the window. She turned her head to look towards Mr Darcy. She could just make out his shape in the soft moonlight filtering in through the curtains, but she could see that his feet were dangling from one end of the couch. The sight only increased the disquiet she had been experiencing from the moment he had stretched his hands towards her. She turned her head again and stared at the ceiling. She was now sure that Miss deBourgh had been talking about her cousin when she made that enigmatic remark about first appearances. A man who mended broken fences for an old lady out of kindness, took upon himself to ensure the wellbeing of an orphaned little girl, and spent his nights sleeping on a too small couch for a woman who had so cruelly rejected his heart, could not be the scoundrel Mr Wickham had painted him. 'She really needed to look at their entire acquaintance once again- maybe without the glasses of prejudice she had worn ever since she heard his comment about her tolerable appearance!' She thought restlessly.
"But not right now," She mumbled to herself. The ache that started in her head once again, reminded her Mr Talbot's advice about rest and she buried her face in the pillow with increased determination.
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