Trapped at Pemberley

Completely unaware of what is taking place above stairs, Elizabeth, her aunt and uncle tour Pemberley. They and Mr. Darcy suddenly find themselves quarantined while all others not on the property are locked out. What will happen when Darcy and Elizabeth have no choice but to settle their differences?

Pemberley, Late July

Mrs. Reynolds had been out visiting the tenants most of the morning. That was usually the job or Mr. and Miss Darcy when they were at home and Mrs. Barton, the steward's wife, when they were away. Unfortunately the owners were away and Mrs. Barton had caught a summer cold, so it fell to the housekeeper to discharge the duty. It was no hardship. Mrs. Reynolds had been working at Pemberley for five and twenty years, so she knew all of the tenants almost as well as she knew her own staff. She was a capable woman who ran a tight ship.

She proved that once again when she pulled her little curricle to a stop behind a larger unfamiliar phaeton. When she saw the driver from Lambton helping the passengers out, she correctly decided that they were there for a tour of the house. Without bemoaning this new interruption to her ordered day, she stepped up and introduced herself. "Hello, I am Mrs. Reynolds, the housekeeper for Pemberley. Are you here for a tour?"

The new arrivals were a stylish man of middle years, a pretty lady of similar age, and a very pretty young lady with a trim figure and the most remarkable eyes. The man made a short bow and smilingly answered, "We are all pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Reynolds. Yes, in fact, we are here for a tour if now is a good time. My name is Edward Gardiner. This is my lovely wife, Madeleine Gardiner. And accompanying us is our niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. We are from London and our niece is from Longbourn estate in Hertfordshire... is now a good time? We would not wish to impose?"

"Oh, certainly. Now is a fine time and you are welcome. The master and his sister are away now and not expected until tomorrow noon." She gestured for them to follow her up the marble stairs and into the large entryway, "If you will give me just a moment to shed my shed my bonnet, I will be pleased to conduct a tour."

It was the work of a moment for Mrs. Reynolds to prepare her self and then she had the footman take their visitor's outer wear. She also moved a little metal disk next to her name on a large board from the "out" position to the "in" position. Had she been less distracted, she might have seen that the footman wished to speak to her, but he was young and inexperienced, so she had already led the trio away before he could interject.

The butler stepped out of the kitchen area a few minutes later, looked at the board, and asked the footman, "Simon, I see that Mrs. Reynolds has returned. Have you informed her that I sent for Mr. Jacobs to see what ails Allie and Mary?"

"Well Sir, I tried, but a carriage-full of visitors come and she took them right off to give'm a tour."

The butler looked frustrated at this failure to carry out his orders, but then he shrugged it off. "No matter. The good doctor will be done with his examination just about the time Mrs. Reynolds completes the tour."

~oOo~

Fitzwilliam Darcy felt guilty for leaving his sister, Georgiana, in the same conveyance as Miss Bingley, but he consoled himself that at least Mrs. Annesley was there to run interference. The simple fact was that he could not stand another minute with the grasping woman and he was still suffering from his great loss of only a few months before. Over and over again he heard his own arrogant proposal and Elizabeth's heart-tearing words of rejection. He needed to complete the rest of the journey alone.

He also felt that Miss Caroline Bingley was becoming desperate and might make an attempt to force his hand. He needed to set measures in place with Mrs. Reynolds to ensure that no such opportunity was afforded to the creature. I may have lost Elizabeth, but I will never allow Miss Bingley to take Elizabeth's rightful place in my home!

It was a hot day and a hot ride. When he approached his home his very first inclination was to take a dive into the pond to cool himself down. But he caught a glimpse of Mr. Jacobs carriage setting in the shade behind Pemberley and could not help but wonder who might be ill. Darcy abandoned his intent to swim and turned his horse to the stables instead. Once a groom had taken Apollo off of his hands, he promptly took the quickest route, the servant's entrance, into Pemberley.

If the maid who was wiping down the servant's stairs was startled to see him, she composed herself quickly enough to not be too obvious. "Hello Abigail. Can you tell me why the doctor is visiting?"

Abigail curtsied and answered, "Good day to you Sir. Allie and Mary both took sick this morning, Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Reynolds was out, so Mr. Allensby sent for Mr. Jacobs himself."

Darcy nodded and thanked the girl. If the butler thought that the matter required a physician, then it might just be serious. Still, he took note of his own dusty, road-worn appearance and headed to his rooms instead. Along the way he saw a footman, "Dillon, would you please notify Mrs. Reynolds that I am home and have a basin of hot water sent up for a quick wash? Also, if you would have her hold Mr. Jacobs so that I may speak to him before he departs?"

"Of course, Sir. And welcome home."

Darcy continued on to his room, taking the back stairs two at a time. His valet had ridden ahead the day before, so he was not surprised to find the man waiting for him. Jarvis seemed to have some magical sixth sense for what his master required and when, even when Darcy changed his schedule. He suspected that the man had some signal worked out with the other servants, but he could never prove it. Today he was just grateful for the man's efficiency. Darcy quickly shed his traveling attire, washed himself down, and more slowly donned the clothing set out for him.

"Why the fancier clothes, Jarvis?" Darcy asked even as he began slipping them on.

"You have guests, Sir. Mrs. Reynolds is giving a tour. I thought it best that you look well, just in case you should encounter them."

Darcy grimaced. Though it was tradition to open great estates for tours during certain months and while away, it always felt like his home was being invaded. "Then I shall do my best not to encounter them."

Jarvis had a bemused look on his face, but Darcy was too distracted to take note of it. After Mr. Darcy stepped out to speak with the physician, Jarvis also stepped out with a quick little note for Mrs. Reynolds. It read, "Please take your time and give the visitors the full tour. Will explain later." Once he had put the note into a maid's hand, he stepped back in to see to the master's clothes. It had been some months, but he would have recognized Miss Elizabeth Bennet from any distance. Now I just need to make certain that they encounter each other.

~oOo~

Had Jarvis known what the physician had discovered, he might have done something different. It made little difference, however, as everyone within the great estate house would soon learn.

Mr. Jacobs stood wiping his glasses as he greeted the master of the estate. "It is good that you are here, Sir, though perhaps unfortunate as well. I am new to the neighborhood, so I do not know: have you had smallpox before?"

The abruptness of such a horrible question set Darcy back, but he was gratified to answer, "I have had cowpox, Mr. Jacobs. I assume that your question has a specific reason?"

"Yes, I am sorry to say. Your two young maids, Allie and Mary, both have the pox. Given the fact that it takes two weeks to manifest symptoms and they have been working with others in this house for that entire time, I am afraid that I must place Pemberley under quarantine."

Darcy was a reasonable man and a man of action. He quickly established the parameters of the quarantine and discussed the possible range of exposure. Mr. Jacobs was pleased to say that neither young maid had gone into either Lambton or Kympton, but others who were exposed might have. He asked if the Pemberly grooms could use Mr. Darcy's stable of horses to carry the message far and wide.

Riders were quickly dispatched, including one to stop the progress of his sister, the Bingleys, and the Hursts. Though he cursed the fact that his sister would be inconvenienced, he welcomed the reprieve from Miss Bingley. Only then did Mr. Darcy remember that there was a touring group in his house. He groaned, but sent a footman to locate Mrs. Reynolds and his unwelcome guests so that he could speak with them.

Not ten minutes later, Mrs. Reynolds appeared at his study. Steeling himself, Darcy followed her out to inform the visitors about the situation. When he finally saw them, he froze for a moment, then finally found his voice, "Eliz... Miss Elizabeth!"

~oOo~

It was a very bewildered Elizabeth Bennet who followed Mrs. Reynolds into the room which had been prepared for her. She could not imagine how a simple tour while the master was absent had suddenly turned into a minimum of a month with a man who must hate the very ground that she stood on. She had been so cruel in her rejection of him! And she had taken up the cause of a scoundrel without ever learning the facts! How he must despise her! And yet he had spoken to her with such gentleness... It was all so confusing!

For her part, Mrs. Reynolds had taken the unusual step of escorting this young lady herself after seeing her master's reaction to her. First, he had almost said her name in the most personal way, without any of the proper forms. Then his eyes had seemed to drink her in, as if he was dying of thirst and Miss Bennet was his only hope for water! What was their history? She had noted how the young lady stared at the master's portrait... could it be...?

And then there was the note from Mr. Darcy's valet. Had he wanted her to keep the trio longer in the hopes of having Mr. Darcy meet with the girl? She was a genteel, pretty sort of young woman with none of the arrogance or predatory airs she had seen from many a single young woman when they viewed Pemberley. Is she the one, Mr. Darcy? Have you finally found your match? If so, Mrs. Reynolds was determined to to whatever was necessary to facilitate their understanding.

~oOo~

The shock of finding his Elizabeth here at Pemberley almost made Darcy forget one of his reasons for hosting Charles Bingley this summer. When he had gone to London after his rejected proposal, it had taken him several weeks just to think. Then, when he was sane again, he resolved to speak to Charles about Miss Bennet. Only when he went to pay a visit, he learned that Charles had gone north to meet with his uncle and see to affairs in Scarborough. Only recently did the man return, just as Darcy was preparing to for he and his sister to spend the remainder of the summer at Pemberley.

Darcy knew that he should have addressed the matter right away, but he could not quite find the courage. Believing that he would feel better on his own home ground, he extended the invitation... forgetting that Bingley's sisters would presumptuously invite themselves along. It was not the first time that just such an occurrence had happened, after all.

Elizabeth is here now. What if she questions me about Bingley? It has been months and I have still not addressed the issue! It cannot be! I cannot have her hate me more than she already does! I will write a letter to him post haste!

Thus resolved, Darcy wrote a long letter to Bingley explaining what he had learned and encouraging the man to investigate matters with Jane Bennet himself. "I had wished to speak with you on this sooner, but you were away. I cannot in good conscience allow matters to continue as they are without informing you now. I was wrong, both to assume that I understood Miss Bennet better than you and for interfering. If you still feel for her, then go to her and learn the truth for yourself."

A second rider was dispatched to meet the travelers at the coaching inn where they had stopped. This message also asked Bingley to see that Georgiana was safely delivered into the hands of the Earl and Countess of Matlock prior to moving on. Finally, he thought to include letters from Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Elizabeth to pass on to Longbourn.

When all of this was done, Darcy finally went to his room to dress for the evening meal and an evening with the woman he loved and might never have.

The author will spare the reader the scene which transpired when Charles Bingley learned that his angel had been in London for several months, and that his sisters and Mr. Darcy had concealed that fact from him. With Darcy's note in his hand, Charles was ready to forgive his friend who was only peripherally involved. His sisters did not fare so well.

Caroline Bingley was upset enough by having her brother, who was usually so malleable, confronting her. She was already nonplussed to be denied Pemberley and time with Mr. Darcy. Had she known who else was quarantined at Pemberley, the inn might have combusted with her rage. As it was, the journey back to London was not a pleasant one. Georgiana Darcy and Mrs. Annesley were very relieved when they were left behind in Matlock.

~oOo~

Elizabeth stepped out of her room that evening to discover Mr. Darcy pacing nervously just down the hall. "Eliz... Miss Bennet... I hoped... that is, would you allow me to escort you down to dinner?"

Mr. Darcy's discomposure had the unexpected effect of dispelling much of Elizabeth's nervousness and fear. She gave him a soft smile, "I would be most appreciative, Mr. Darcy. To be honest, after our tour I feared that I might easily lose myself in your home. Had I taken a wrong turn you might have never found me again."

Darcy's eyes held hers as he offered her his arm, "I will always find you, Miss Bennet." His words flustered her. At the same time he was cursing himself, fearing that he might sound deranged. In an effort to restore himself in her mind, he quickly said, "Had matters continued as intended, I would have had a larger party here to greet you, including several who are well known to you: Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley, and the Hursts. My sister was also to arrive. I regret that I was unable to introduce you to her."

"Oh! I am very sorry not to meet her. I have heard so much about her..." Then Elizabeth blushed, remembering the disclosure in his letter. She quickly added, "I would have so loved to hear her play. Your housekeeper showed us the instrument you found for your sister. It made me wish that I had an older brother who was so caring."

This made Darcy blush, of course, so he continued on, "I had meant to..." He paused their progress and turned to face her, "Miss Bennet, I took your admonition concerning your sister's feelings to heart. I honestly meant to speak to Mr. Bingley about my mistake, but he was off in the north until just this last week. I then resolved to speak with him when he came here. Once I realized that that plan had failed, I wrote him a letter explaining the matter. It is my hope that he is even now on his way to Meryton. Beyond that..."

Elizabeth looked up at Mr. Darcy's contrite expression and warmed to him even more, "Beyond that it is in the hands of Mr. Bingley and my sister, Sir. You have done all that you can to resolve the matter, and I thank you." She looked down and then forced herself to meet his eyes again, "It was wrong of me to place the blame entirely on you. Mr. Bingley's sisters certainly played their part, but in the end it was also a lack of resolution on your friends part most of all. He was the closest to my sister and should have spoken to her directly. Please forgive me for trying to make you the villain."

Darcy's hand began to lift as if to touch that soft face, but he thought better of it, "There is nothing to forgive. As I have said, I have taken your words to heart... and I hope to show you that I can be a better man than the one I showed you in Mertyon and Kent. You once told me that you were having difficulty sketching my character... is it too much to ask... while you are here... for us to start anew, fresh. I am hoping that you might make a new sketch... and think better of me?"

Elizabeth was flushed, wishing that his hand had continued in its course or that she might reciprocate. Instead she answered, "I would very much welcome the opportunity to do exactly that, Mr. Darcy. And perhaps at the same time I might show you a kinder image of myself than the one who treated you with such cruelty."

More words might have been spoken, but just then Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner stepped out of their rooms and proceeded down the hallway towards them.

~oOo~

Under the strict guidance of Mrs. Reynolds, the staff followed all of the instructions of Mr. Jacobs. He was of the new school of thought concerning medicine. That school believed that cleanliness and limited exposure were the keys to preventing the spread of virulent diseases. He also adhered to the regimen of vaccination. Three more servants who had worked closely with Allie and Mary also developed the disease, but after that no more cases presented themselves. All five survived with various degrees of marking, but no other terrible effects. The rest were vaccinated, so that the quarantine was lifted only five weeks after it was imposed.

Letters had flowed sporadically, including a terrible pair of letters detailing the elopement of Lydia Bennet with Mr. Wickham. Since none of the party at Pemberley could leave, Darcy sent an express to Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. Together with Mr. Bennet and Mr. Bingley, the pair was hunted to ground and made to marry... at far less expense to anyone than might have happened had Mr. Darcy intervened. George Wickham had a rather healthy fear of the colonel. Not only were the couple wed, but they were soon thereafter dispatched to a new assignment in India.

Another letter arrived from Jane just shortly before the end of the quarantine telling of her engagement to Charles Bingley. He also sent a letter but it was so poorly addressed that it took five more days to reach them. By that time the Gardiners and Elizabeth were preparing to return south... along with Mr. Darcy, who was going to collect his sister and then head to Netherfield and then Longbourn. He needed to request Mr. Bennet's blessing for his marriage to Elizabeth, after all.

Caroline Bingley was never exposed to smallpox either then or later, but she definitely saw spots when she read the engagement announcement. There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

For the remainder of her life, Elizabeth Darcy would bless the day that her aunt and uncle were able to persuade her to make a tour of Pemberley.

AN: Thanks to everyone who helped me identify this story: I give credit to LadyPakal and her story Crisis at Netherfield for my first inspiration for this short story. At the time I was wondering what might happen if Darcy and Elizabeth were trapped together at Pemberley and without malicious interference. It took a few months, but I finally wrote it. There were other stories suggested as well, so I will have to search for those to see if I can read them.