Upon descending the stairs in search of breakfast, she found that she was not the only one awake, and she was glad to break her fast with her father. Georgiana was not yet awake, so Mr. Bennet was able to enjoy his daughter's company unhindered by anyone else. They spent a good deal of time discussing Elizabeth's sisters, but an equal length of time would have been spent on other things when that subject was exhausted, were it not for the arrival of an express for Mrs. Darcy. Puzzled, she left off her conversation with her father to read the letter. She felt the blood drain from her face and her head grow light. Indeed, she nearly fainted and fell from her chair, but her father was at her side in an instant and prevented that.
"Lizzy! What is it, Dear?"
Elizabeth could not but shake her head, her eyes welling with tears, and silently hand him the note with a trembling hand. He read it aloud:
"Mrs. Darcy,
"We regret to inform you that your husband's carriage was overturned this morning on the road from London and he was thrown clear. The search party has not returned and his body has yet to be recovered; however, there can be little doubt that he is dead. Accept our condolences on the matter. We are most heartily sorry.
"Yours, etc."
She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting to keep her composure. Mr. Bennet placed a tentative hand on her shoulder and said in a low voice, "I am very, very sorry, Lizzy."
It was her undoing. With a gasp, she broke into desperate sobs, allowing her father to gather her up in his arms and attempt to comfort her as he might. "I never told him," she wailed. "He never knew, because I was too selfish to tell him! Oh, Papa, I never told him!"
If Mr. Bennet was confused as to what this cryptic cry pertained, he said nothing. He merely held his daughter until her sobs were spent and she lay in his arms weakly, still sniffing and shuddering. Suddenly, she gasped and sat up straight in her chair, her expression one of pure terror. "Papa," she whispered, "send for the doctor."
"Lizzy, that will not help--"
"For God's sake, go, before I lose the baby as well!" she cried as another pain shot through her. Eyes wide, Mr. Bennet hurried to do as he was told. Elizabeth sat very still in her chair, concentrating with all her might on her baby, praying that he might be spared. She did not know how long she sat there, alone, racked with more pain than she knew what to do with, fighting for a life that was not her own. Eventually, the doctor came, but as soon as Elizabeth relaxed slightly to allow him to examine her, she felt the blood pour from her body and she knew all was lost.
The doctor was saying something, and then her father was carrying her, but she paid them no mind. My husband and my baby, all in one day... What could she do? The pain was too much; for the first time in her life, Elizabeth fainted.
vVvVvVv
That evening, Jane and Charles Bingley arrived. Elizabeth was still abed, unconscious, so the role of hostess was left to Georgiana. Mr. Bennet took his son-in-law to Mr. Darcy's study to begin resolving the deceased gentleman's affairs, and Georgiana took Jane up to see Lizzy.
"She has not stirred all day," Georgiana said quietly as she took a seat by her sister's bed. "I fear the shock was just too much for her."
Jane shook her head sadly. "She has lost the two people dearest to her, how can she be expected to bear such pain? Oh, my dearest Lizzy, how I wish I could ease your burden!" But she knew well how impossible that was; indeed, at the moment, she believed that she would be content to simply be able to speak to her sister, regardless of what Lizzy had to say. It would be a sign of life, and Elizabeth had not shown anything like one save her shallow breathing for quite some time.
Georgiana bowed her head to hide her tears. She was afraid to ask the question that was weighing most heavily on her mind, but she could not stop thinking about it. Eventually, she gathered her courage enough to whisper, "Jane? What if she dies, too? I cannot be mistress of Pemberley! I should not know what to do with myself!"
Jane hurried over to the other side of Lizzy's bed so she could comfort her sister. "Oh, no, Georgiana, you mustn't allow yourself to think that way. Lizzy is a very strong woman, and I know that she can pull through this. Even if she does not, Colonel Fitzwilliam is still your guardian and I'm sure that he will be willing to help you however you need. And of course you may always come to Mr. Bingley or myself for help. We are your family, too, and we would never abandon you."
Managing a weak smile, Georgiana thanked her sister and forced herself to stop crying. After all, she realized, she had to be strong for Lizzy. Her brother would have expected as much from her; she was a Darcy, after all, and in his absence it was left to her to ensure that his wife was never in want of anything. To do anything less would be to dishonour her brother's memory, and she could not bear the thought of that. I will do you proud, Fitzwilliam. I will take your place, she resolved. It was time for her to step up and take on her share of the responsibility, and Georgiana Darcy would not shirk her duty.
I know, I know, I'm evil. If it makes you feel any better, I hadn't planned this at all. But then people mentioned that I was missing this little thing called a plot, and I realized that they were right. So I invented one. My apologies to those of you who were enjoying the lighthearted nature of the first few chapters! Don't worry, the story is far from over. Not sure exactly where it's going any more, but it's not anywhere near over.
Jaya
