During the night, Jane developed a terrible fever. She had gone to bed early the previous evening, claiming fatigue after walking to and from Meryton the previous day. By the morning, she was coughing terribly, and claimed to feel a chill despite being hot to the touch.
Mr. Jones, the local apothecary, was sent for. He proclaimed that she must stay abed until her fever reduced. He bade her drink willow bark tea and bled her in an attempt to bring down her fever. Then he ordered the cook to make a large batch of bone broth, for he did not agree with the commonly held belief that one must starve a fever. Jane needed her strength to recover, and that meant she must have nourishment.
Bingley, who was earlier notified of Jane's condition, waited in Longbourn's parlour for news of her condition. Mr. Jones told him and the gathered family members that her recovery depended on keeping the fever down, for it had risen so very high that it could cause fits if not checked. He left written orders and said he would return the next day unless he was notified of any worsening of her condition.
Bingley stayed at Longbourn for several hours, pestering every maid or family member that came down from seeing to Jane's needs for news of her. Only when Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy came in their carriage to entreat him to return to Netherfield – for his worries were only agitating Mrs Bennet's nerves— did he relent. The worse of her illness lasted for three days before her fever broke. Bingley called every day for news. While Jane's condition slowly improved, he was not able to see her, and his anxiety heightened with each day.
"Are you ready, my dear?" Mr Wickham asked as they approached the school.
"As I ever will be," replied Mary, looking up at the large, plain brick building that held the little girl that was to be her daughter. Mr Wickham approached the door and sounded the knocker twice. A maid in a dark grey gown opened the door and greeted them. They were led to Esther's room, where the little girl awaited them.
"My dear girl! How well you look, my love!" said Mr Wickham, picking up his daughter. "You must have grown a foot since I was here last!"
"Papa!" cried Esther, "I missed you!" She hugged her father for several minutes, making up for the time they had been separated. Only when she caught sight of Mary did she loosen her hold on her father.
"Papa, is she your new wife that you wrote about?" she asked.
"Yes, dearest, and I hope you will both like each other very well. This is Mary. She is very excited to meet you, Esther," said Mr Wickham, performing the introductions. The girl curtseyed shyly and looked curiously at Mary.
"Indeed, I am so very happy to make your acquaintance and spend some time with you. I hope we will be great friends," said Mary, "I have four sisters, so I rather miss having other women in the house now that I live with your Papa. I am excited about your visit."
"Are you to be my Mama? All of the other girls have Mamas, but mine is dead," Esther said bluntly.
"If you would like me to be your Mama, then I will be very happy to be your Mama. If you would not like that, then I may simply be Mary to you," said Mary. The little girl nodded.
"I want you to be my Mama. Mamas sound lovely."
"Then I will be," Mary stated with a smile, offering her hand to Esther, who took it. Wickham took Esther's other hand after picking up her travelling bag. They walked together to the Darcy carriage, which made Esther's eyes go wide.
"It is beautiful!" she cried, "Is this yours, Mama?"
"No, my dear. This is not hers. I borrowed the carriage from a friend," explained Wickham, chuckling.
"Your friend must be very rich. Is he a prince?"
"No, dear. He is not a prince. Although he is very rich, and his home is rather the size of a castle. Perhaps we might visit someday," he explained. They got into the carriage, and Mary gave the rag doll she had made to her new daughter, who hugged it close and thanked her. Esther peppered Mary with questions about her life, her friends, her family, and her former home. Esther greatly wished to see all of the places she had been told of and meet her new aunts and grandparents.
The journey from the school to their home took nearly twice the time that the journey tither had taken, due to stops at inns and posting houses to use the necessary and get refreshments. When they reached their home, it was late in the evening, so Esther was put to bed nearly immediately upon her return. The rag doll, now named Cassandra, was tucked in alongside the girl. She was tired from too much excitement and fell asleep soon after lying down, allowing Mary and Wickham to sneak through the adjoining door to their own room.
"She adores you," said Wickham to his wife as he unbuttoned her gown.
"She is precious. I believe she would have adored me regardless of what I said or did."
"Perhaps, but you put her at ease," he said, kissing the back of her neck before resting his chin in the crook of her shoulder and wrapping his arms around her middle.
"She is so very like you. In looks— except her eyes of course— and in manner."
"Yes, I do not know exactly where those amazing eyes came from, as both her mother and I have green. They are striking, are they not? I worry for when she is older. Such eyes will attract so many suitors that I shall be run ragged fending them all off."
"Perhaps with a daughter, it is rather good that you were a bit of a rake. You shall know which rakes are able to reform and which shall not."
"Oh no, she is to marry a dull clergyman."
"Like you were intended to be? Should you have liked to give sermons?"
"Certainly not. First, because I would find writing them tedious. Second, because then some other man might have been in that law office that night," he said, "and then how different my life would be." He began to kiss her neck more, making her giggle.
"We will wake her," Mary whispered.
"We will be quiet," he assured her, pulling her unbuttoned dress over her head. He unlaced her stays and removed those as well before beginning to disrobe himself.
"Dearest, you know we are not quiet. I do not wish to frighten the girl and make her think dreadful things," Mary said.
"Mmmm, then let us go to the servants' quarters and make use of the empty beds," he said, pulling her to her feet and leading her down the corridor to the servants' quarters. He deposited her on one of the small beds in the room, and stripped away the remainder of their clothing before making excellent use of the empty servants' chambers.
"What shall we do when we actually have a governess sleeping in these rooms," asked Mary, laying atop her husband on the too-small bed.
"We will go to the attics if need be. Or have the governess take Esther for a long outing every evening before dinner. Or you may simply need to be quieter, my dear," he teased, "I had wondered before we married if there was a little adventuress underneath my sweet pious Mary. I am pleased to find myself correct."
"An adventuress? Surely not, George! How can you say such a thing?"
"Only for me, my dear, sweet Mary. I do not mean to imply anything other than I am pleased that you enjoy this part of marriage, my love. You wish to be pleased and to please."
She was not certain how to take his remarks, but decided to be satisfied that he meant it as a compliment. After a moment, she realized what else he had said.
"Am I your love?" she asked, pushing herself up so she could see him.
"Yes, you are my love. I love you so very much," he said, kissing her. She smiled into his kiss.
"I love you too," she replied when she could again speak. They lay together for some time, content and grateful for the storm that had brought them together. When Mary realised that her husband had begun to fall asleep, she woke him. They silently clothed themselves and returned to their room.
The next morning, soon after breakfast, Mary called on her family to acquaint those unaware with the news of Esther Marie's existence and presence in her home. Mr. Bennet was displeased that Wickham had not discussed the child with him, but was not averse to the existence of the child herself. The others either knew already or were so surprised that they knew not what to say. As none showed overt displeasure, a carriage was sent to collect Mr. Wickham and Esther Marie. Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy, her companion, and Mr. Bingley, also being aware of the Wickhams' plans for the day and needing the return of Mr Darcy's carriage, also called just before Mr Wickham and Esther Marie arrived.
Elizabeth was the first to greet the girl upon her entry into Longbourn's parlour, saying, "You must be Esther Marie. I am so very pleased to meet you. I have heard so much about you from your Papa and Mary. I am your Aunt Lizzy."
"Mary is my Mama now, Ma'am" Esther corrected, holding tight to Cassandra, her doll.
"I heard. I am so pleased. Your mama is my sister, Mary. She used to live here."
"I know, ma'am. Mama told me," Esther said.
"I like you, Esther Marie," laughed Elizabeth.
"She is rather like you were at that age," said Mr. Bennet, smiling at his daughter.
"Now, my dear," Mr. Bennet said, crouching down to be at eye level with the girl, "I am your Grandpapa. I am your Mama's papa. You have very pretty eyes, do you know that?"
"Papa tells me that. He says that he should need to chase away suitors when I am older because of my eyes, but I do not know what a suitor is," Esther responded, making all the family laugh and Mrs. Bennet to cry out that suitors were not to be chased away. She was introduced to all the rest of the family, except Jane who was still ill. Mrs. Bennet took the quickest liking to the girl, for she had missed the days when her girls were small— before her nervous condition had come on and she was happy in her marriage and life.
After Esther began to feel comfortable at Longbourn, Kitty and Lydia led her up to their former school room where she found many delights-rocking horses, toy soldiers, many dolls, slates with chalk, and a paper theatre with paper characters to perform. She laughed and played together with the two youngest Bennets who, at least in Lydia's case, should likely still be in the school room. Jane felt well enough to visit her new niece in the school room for a few moments, apologizing for her illness preventing her from remaining to get to know her better. Jane also greeted the rest of the company who had gathered downstairs, much to the relief and pleasure of Mr. Bingley who declared himself relieved that she was on the way to returning to health.
The Wickhams dined at Longbourn, along with the residents of Netherfield, but Jane took a tray in her room along with Kitty, who served as nurse. When the Wickhams went to leave, they were loaded down with items from the nursery. Not everything would fit in one carriage, so Mr. Darcy offered his carriage as a means of conveying the excess to their home. Esther squealed with delight as she saw all the items being unloaded into their home. The number of items was extreme. As Mary considered the education of the girl and any future children, she contemplated converting the servants' sitting room into a school room. She supposed that the servants' room not occupied by the governess might serve as a nursery if needed. Any other servants, should they ever be able to afford such, might either share with the governess or they might convert the attic into quarters for them.
Kitty and Lydia called in the afternoon to spend time with their new niece, as they were ever so excited to have a little girl to buy ribbons for, to dress her hair, and play with - for girls of their age always wish to act as children, even when they are too old to do so without a child to excuse the behaviour. Esther was delighted with her aunts, and the gifts that they brought. Mr. Wickham felt his daughter was perhaps in danger of being spoiled for attention, but Mary felt it was good for the girl to experience having family about her.