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Chapter 23
Unable to sleep in, the next morning Darcy went to see Anne. She welcomed him her usual happy and carefree manner, though she could not fool him. The dark circles under her eyes revealed the restless night she had undoubtedly had.
"Do not lie to me, Annie. Why have you been silent when you have been so unwell." He said softly as he dismissed the maid and told her to have a pot of tea sent up with some toast.
"I have not been lying or keep anything from you Fitzwilliam. I am sick and I do not wish for you to worry…" she broke off to cough and reached to grab some water from her bedside. In doing so she dislodged one of her bloodied handkerchiefs.
Darcy paled.
"Oh, Annie." He sighed.
"No, Fitzwilliam. None of that." She said strongly.
"You will not dismiss this," He said fisting the handkerchief in his hand, "Why have you been hiding that you are coughing up blood?!" he demanded crossly.
"Do not be angry. There is no need to act so wounded…" she admonished.
"You have encouraged me to be away from you and you have been gravely ill. Well, no more!" he stood and walked to the bell pull.
"No!" she shouted stopping him in his tracks.
"No?"
"Please, Fitzwilliam. Come and sit with me." Anne pleaded softly.
At that moment the tea service arrived, and Darcy stood mutely, watching as the maid served the tea under Anne's instruction. Only once the maid had gone did he take his seat once more at Anne's bedside.
"Fitzwilliam, I am very sick, and I am very tired. We both know I am not leaving this house and I did not wish to have my last days being fussed over. I have enjoyed this additional freedom and I am at peace knowing you will not be alone." She confessed.
"Do not be silly. We shall call the surgeon -"
"Stop that! Do you hear me? I will not have you acting out of guilt."
"B-but…"
"You cannot fix this, Fitzwilliam. But you have done so much more. You saved me! We all knew I would never live a long life on this earth, and these past two years… You made me believe in miracles and fairytales." She whispered cradling his face as his expression crumbled and a tear spilled from his eye leaving a trail down his cheek and onto her wrist.
"I am not afraid, Fitzwilliam. I am ready now. I do not want you to waste years on grief and misplaced guilt, do you understand me. I am overjoyed to know that you will be loved and cherished and you will have a true marriage. You and Elizabeth will have children and they will be raised at Pemberley and I will be there too. I promise, though you will not be able to see me I will always be with you."
He nodded and smiled at her. "Do not worry, I will talk to you constantly! But I do fear you are being premature, there is still plenty of time…"
"No there is not. I am no longer hungry nor thirsty, Fitzwilliam. It is strange but I know that my time nearing. I have some things to discuss to that end. Fitzwilliam, I wish to be buried at Pemberley not Rosings, but I have detailed everything in my last will and testament."
"Annie please…" he pleaded the pain in voice evident.
"You know it is strange. But as I near my end, I have been hearing the voice of my father and yours, and that of you mother too! I know they are very proud of the man that you have shaped into Fitzwilliam. Do not doubt yourself once I am gone. Please have the courage to take what you cherish! No matter what wealth and material possession you accumulate, when you die all that you can or want to take with you into paradise; is love and cherished memories."
"Annie, I love you. So very much, you may not realise it, but you saved me too." Whispered Darcy against her forehead.
"Oh Fitzwilliam, I love you too! I will miss you terribly." She said finally allowing herself a moment of sadness. As he climbed onto the bed next to her and wrapped her in his embrace.
The next morning Elizabeth was disappointed not to see Darcy at breakfast and thought on how foolish they had been the previous night. Perhaps that was why he was avoiding her... Jane had not come downstairs this morning and neither had Bingley - she had noticed last night that they had seemed to grow closer, and she was glad to see it. It was becoming glaringly obvious of Lydia and mama's duplicity - but what part had her papa played. She would be sure to find out and why now were they being so obvious? Had they simply become complacent in their perceived success. Kitty and Mary needed to be removed from their situation. Perhaps if she could convince Anne and Darcy to help her gain a new identity, she might take them with her, and they could live together in a small cottage... her musings had her wondering the halls of Netherfield aimlessly her feet moving unconsciously to Anne's rooms
Elizabeth entered Anne's chamber to find Darcy lying beside her on the bed, trying to force toast down her throat.
"Ah, Elizabeth!" came Anne's weak but cheerful voice.
"Good morning to you both. Is all well?" Elizabeth asked a little awkwardly.
Both paused and look passed between them.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Elizabeth, come and sit down. I have something I would speak to you about." Anne said gesturing to the chair next to her. "Fitzwilliam, will you give me a moment to speak with Elizabeth."
"Of course," he replied standing. And with a small smile of encouragement to Elizabeth he left the room.
Selfishly he was glad that Anne had asked him to leave. He did not believe he had the strength to go through all of that over again. He made his way towards Bingley's room as he needed to discuss what he had learned from Lydia's behaviour the night before.
He knocked and without waiting for a reply entered Bingley's chamber to find it empty and the bed unslept in. Moving to the adjoining door, he knocked.
"Charles?"
"Darcy?!" came his friends startled reply.
"Might I importune you a moment. I need to speak with you." he said and hearing a shuffling about the room, moved away to give the couple some privacy.
He smiled when he heard the laughter of Jane coming through the door. Moments later Bingley emerged in his robe, looking ruffled, his hair in disarray as he scratched at his morning stubble.
"Congratulations my friend, I am happy for you," he said quietly clapping Bingley soundly on the back.
"I would be happier if you had not awoken me!" he teased, but always a naturally happy fellow he could not pretend to be cross without smiling.
"I shall not take up much of your time…" he began as he told his friend about his altercation with the youngest Bennet daughter.
"Well that as good as proves it! If you say she reacted in such a way over the mere mention of Wickham's name and then tried to seduce you in the corridor…"
"But why would she do such a thing?" a shocked utterance came from the adjoining doors as both men turned to find an immaculate looking Jane Bingley, standing aghast.
"I am sorry Mrs Bingley, but it seems that your sister and your mother conspired to manipulate you both for their own benefit. I am unsure of what part your father has to play in this endeavour, but I have had my men looking into the whereabouts of Wickham and they have uncovered a few sources of information that hint he has married another."
"What?!" both Charles and Jane exclaimed together.
"I am awaiting confirmation. Once we have that, we can confront Miss Lydia…"
"Why wait?" asked Jane.
"I fear without that, she will most probably deny any allegations. But with evidence of Wickham's betrayal, she will lose her composure." Answered Darcy.
"That is true, after all this time she has held fast to her story. We need to force her hand." Bingley agreed.
"And what of Charlie?" Jane asked, gently.
"I do not see how we can keep him, sweetheart. If Lydia chooses to take him back once she has been found out, we cannot stop her."
"But she is hardly capable! She will be too indulgent and not care about his education. He will fall to undesirable and dissipating tendencies." She said moving to Bingley and leaning on him.
"Jane, know that I will do all in power to make sure that does not happen. If I can make it so Charlie remains under our custody, I will." Bingley vowed wrapping his arms about his wife tenderly.
"Thank you, Charles," she whispered bringing her arms about him.
Giving Bingley a discreet nod, Darcy left the couple and decided he should go back to Elizabeth and Anne. He knew Anne was correct and she probably only had a few weeks at most left and he would spend as much of it as he could with her.
"Oh, dearest Elizabeth!" He heard Anne say as he entered his rooms, the adjoining door was ajar. "I have told Fitzwilliam the same, I love you both dearly and I am glad I can leave knowing you will look after one another."
"But surely there is some other alternative. We might call the surgeon and -" he heard Elizabeth's sweet voice try.
"I will tell you what I told Fitzwilliam when he tried to suggest the same thing. I am sick and I will die. I refuse to leave this world being bled and used as a pin cushion or my brain addled with Laudanum!" He heard a movement then and realised Elizabeth must be crying.
"Please, that is my wish, I am content. Dry those tears, we all knew this was an inevitability with my constitution. I'm grateful that I was given the time to know what it is to have friends that I hold dear, not many can boast to be as popular as I!" Joked Anne and then she began coughing.
Darcy rushed in and helped her to sit up gently rubbing her back as he looked to Elizabeth, who gave him a watery smile.
"Well, I think we have all been morbid enough for one day! I shall go and collect some flowers for you to enjoy and then I would read to you if you felt up to it?" Elizabeth offered.
"Thank you, Elizabeth. I should like that very much indeed." She smiled taking a sip of water, which clouded with a tint of red as she moved it away from her lips.
Elizabeth worked as quickly as she could to collect a few sprigs of mostly herbs, due to the snow and then thought it would be a great novelty if she could pack a bucket full of snow for Anne too. She saw Jane sitting on the wall a little away, with her knees pulled up to her chest. Frowning she called to a nearby footman and ordered him to place her cutting into a vase and collect a pot of snow to take up to Mrs Darcy immediately.
"Tell Mr and Mrs Darcy I shall join them shortly," she instructed and went to sit with her sister.
"Jane?" she asked so as not to startle her.
"Hello, Lizzy," she replied sounding distant.
"Has something happened?"
"Oh, Lizzy." She sobbed! "How did we mess everything without noticing the destruction until it was all too late!"
Elizabeth sat patiently and listened to her sister until they were both frozen through. They must have sat there in the cold for near two hours.
"But Lizzy, how can our little sister be capable of such deception?" she asked, "And how will Charles ever forgive me for doubting him? How can I forgive myself?"
"Jane, take it from someone who has spent too much time harbouring hate and guilt for my actions and inactions! Live in the now and think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure."
"I suppose I will manage it in time. But for now, it is only right that I despise myself for what pain my selfish actions have caused, not only to myself but to you too Lizzy. And you always joked that I was the one that was too good!"
"Whether you can accept it now, or in time, I forgive you Jane and I love you dearly." She said hugging her elder sister and then standing she ushered her inside.
"I think I shall go and sit with Charlie a little," Jane said, before adding, "Although perhaps I will need to take a bath first. I quite frozen." She shivered.
"And I too!" agreed Elizabeth. "And sister… remember the blessings you do have. Your marriage with Charles is recovered and you will not have to face anything alone. Allow him to be your strength." And with that Elizabeth kissed her sister's forehead and hurried up the stairs. Determined to see Anne to explain that she had not forgot them, before changing out of her cold clothes.
"Forgive me, dearest. Jane needed me, but I hope you enjoyed your flowers and fresh snow…" she trailed off as she entered the room to find it quiet and still.
Anne was laying prone, and William was absent. Looking to the maid she saw the tracks of tears staining her face.
"When?" Elizabeth asked, barely audible.
"Roughly a half hour ago ma'am." The maid said tearfully. "She went peacefully in Mr Darcy's arms."
Shaking she walked over to her friend's lifeless form and took her cold and frail hand in her own. Kissing it gently as tears fell and tears spilled down her cheeks.
"Mr Darcy left not long after. He took such care to make sure she was comfortable before he left, but I am not sure where he went. I will give you a moment," said the maid sniffing and dabbing at her eyes, leaving Elizabeth alone with Anne.
"I am so sorry I was not here! I love you my dearest friend and ally. Be at peace now." She sobbed brushing a hand across Anne's brow.