## Chapter 9
Mr. Smythewick, a footman employed for years at Pemberley and now a young man, appeared in the doorway and opened his mouth. Mr. Darcy's smile grew at the anticipation of the announcement that supper was served. He had dreamed of walking into supper with Elizabeth Bennet on his arm ever since that first Assembly in Meryton. Until he heard the loud thud behind him.
He turned and stifled a groan, carefully composing his face. Miss Bingley had fainted dead away on the sitting room floor in front of the settee that she had shared with her sister. Mrs. Hurst was speechless staring at the crumpled heap.
Elizabeth was the first to move, she quickly reached Miss Bingley bending over looking at her head. "I do not think she hit her head when she fell. Please," she now looked up at Mrs. Hurst still standing pale next to the settee. "Could you hand me that pillow? I shall put it under her head."
"Caroline!" Mr. Bingley rushed to his sister's side, horrified at her sudden infirmity.
Mr. Darcy stepped forward, Elizabeth's voice having broken through his surprise at the tableau in front of him, of Miss Bingley's fainting and of Elizabeth kneeling on the floor to see to Miss Bingley's comfort. Even though the woman had been uncharitable towards Elizabeth. His happiness and warmth towards his betrothed grew, her kind nature was one of the reason's he was so drawn to her. It reminded him of what little he remembered of his mother.
"I think it best Mr. Smythewick carry her up to her room." He motioned for the footman to approach as he crossed the room to pull the bell. "I will have the surgeon sent for."
At that pronouncement Miss Bingley regained her senses. "Oh, oh my. What has occurred?"
"Do not move, Caroline. You fainted." Mrs. Hurst leveled a look to the approaching footman that stopped him in his tracks. She turned to Mr. Darcy, "Do you have a sedan to carry her upstairs?"
"I am well, Louisa," Miss Bingley said now sitting up with the back of her hand held to her forehead. "The physician does not need to be fetched. I will not be attending supper though, Mr. Darcy. My apologies."
"Caroline, do not move, you might injure yourself further!" Cried her brother.
"Of course Miss Bingley, however I think it best if you do not walk so soon." Mr. Darcy turned to the confused footman. "Fetch a chair and two other men then carry Miss Bingley to her room."
"There is no need for me to be carried in a sedan, Mr. Darcy." Miss Bingley said in a slightly peevish manner as she reached out a hand to him.
"Nonsense, you are unwell and I would not want you falling again." Mr. Darcy stepped back from the suddenly unwell woman, ignoring her out stretched arm.
Three footmen entered the room with a light but sturdy chair, one of the armchairs from France that looked out of place at Pemberley, but would fit in well at Rosings. "Truly," exclaimed Miss Bingley trying to stand again, "there is no need. I —"
"Caroline, you are unwell and no chance must be taken that you will fall again." Mr. Bingley motioned the footmen to approach. "Please, they will safely bring you upstairs to rest."
With a quick glance about the room, and a twitching eyelid, the woman in question allowed herself to be helped up footman and sat in the chair. Which was picked up and carried out the room by the footmen. Mrs. Hurst followed them directly.
"What?" Mr. Hurst snorted as he woke. "Come, come supper is served. Well?"
Did the man not even notice his wife and sister in law had quit the room? Mr. Bingley grimaced. Mr. Darcy turned around to face his betrothed who shared a look with her aunt. He held out his arm, "Elizabeth."
She smiled at him but he noticed it was not as big or happy a smile that she shared with her sisters or the Gardiners. But in time, he was sure they would have a felicitous marriage. But his heart had dropped at the sight, just the same.
He had a difficult time concentrating on the fine meal his Cook had served, with Elizabeth sitting at his side. Georgiana was quiet but Elizabeth drew her out with questions and then his sister was conversing freely with Mr. Bingley and the Gardiners. Mr. Darcy was pleased, his sister was quite shy and tried to bring her into more social events, but as she was not yet out and he was often traveling, Georgiana had less chances to get over her shyness than he had wished. But with a wife, and one as kind and skilled conversationalist as Elizabeth, he hoped his sister would overcome her affliction before her coming out next year.
The meal passed quickly and the women quit to retire to the sitting room while cigars were offered along with the usual port. The room was quiet, perhaps the other men were thinking of the meal but in Mr. Darcy's case, he was trying to determine how rude it would be to stand and suggest they join the ladies. Now that his dream was nearly at fruition, Elizabeth as his wife, he did not want to be parted from her should she change her mind. His face fell as he remembered her request, that she wanted to be courted. That would be easy to do though, drives through the countryside pointing out the best features of Pemberley and Derbyshire.
His mind happily made up that the courting business was easily solved, he signaled the men it was time to join the ladies. Entering, he was pleased to see his sister and Elizabeth close together conversing. It was uncharitable of him, but he was glad the Bingley sisters were not in attendance. All the women in the room were happily conversing with each other, all smiles and good nature. Not a single spiteful word among them.
"I understand that you are fond of music, and play very well," said Elizabeth.
Georgiana looked down at her hands. "Oh, no, not play very well. I mean…But I am very fond of music. I should dearly love to hear you play and sing. My brother has told me he has rarely heard anything that gave him more pleasure."
Mr. Darcy fidgeted where he stood in the doorway, not yet noticed by the room's inhabitants.
Elizabeth smiled. "Well, you shall, but I warn you, your brother has grossly exaggerated my talents. No doubt for some mischievous reason of his own."
His cheery mood fell again.
"Oh, no. That could not be so. My brother never exaggerates. He always tells the absolute truth." Why did Elizabeth raise an eyebrow at that statement? "Except that sometimes I think he is a little too kind to me."
He then entered the room, heading towards the two most important females in his life.
"An ideal elder brother, then." Elizabeth beamed, while Georgiana giggled. His heart swooped with joy at the sight.
"I do not recall hearing you sing before, Miss Bennet!" Said Mr. Bingley. "I would love to hear you."
The rest agreed and though she protested it was weak and she stood asking Georgiana to turn the pages for her. His heart was threatening to burst, the arrangement of Elizabeth playing and singing with his sister next to her. Then she looked at him and the world stopped. Never would he thought to entertain kissing a sheep, but at that moment he would have gladly kissed all of his rambunctious sheep for bringing Elizabeth to him.
Sorry about the delay in posting this chapter. I can't believe this, but I had an ultrasound that showed stage 2 liver disease! Out of the blue. So I've been wrapping my head around that the last few weeks. Thankfully, my liver enzymes have gone back to normal. But I've gone low carb so my liver can heal. My back still hurts but it's manageable doing my back exercises daily.
This year has been something else!