Darcy had tempted fate once before, now it seemed that fate was seeking vengeance upon at every turn. From the moment of their departure fate had intervened at all ends. The weather had turned foul mere hours after their departure, forcing the gentlemen to slow their travels to an agonizing pace. The miles traveled in good weather were cut by a quarters, extending their trip longer than they'd hoped. After taking shelter in an Inn, their journeys were detained once more, this time by a ravenous horde recently arisen from the wet earth. Precious time was used in slaughtering all the unmentionables before their journey could continued. They managed some miles before they were forced to settle once more for the night. A mere day and a half journey turned into four agonizing days. Never had Darcy felt such relief as he stared at the impeding structure of Rosing's Park.
The Black Guardsmen of his aunt saw to their horses and lowered the gate. Darcy and Bingley rose from the ground into the safety of Rosing's raised structure. They journeyed through the immaculately decorated halls, all of which praised the grand occupant within its walls. Darcy had often noted with distain, how his aunt had hardly participated in further irradiation of the undead. Rather, she continued to thrive on her one time glory in battle. He could not doubt her skills, but he also knew one must exercise ones skills or they go to waste.
"How do you wish to proceed?" inquired Bingley.
"I must deliver my report to Lady Catherine first." informed Darcy. "From there I can discretely inquire after Miss Elizabeth. I suggest you remain out of sight."
Bingley nodded in agreement and remained within the hall as Darcy ventured further. He was quickly announced prior to his entrance. Decry found himself the sole male amongst the throne rooms occupants. As he had years before, Darcy felt himself entering a den of lionesses. At the head were two fierce mothers of their own prides, seeking only to improve their cubs future.
"My favorite nephew, when we heard you'd arisen from the canal we feared you'd joined the ranks of the undead." Lady Catherine was seated on her 'throne'-for lack of a better term. Darcy and his cousin Richard had often remarked about it in their private conversations or recounting of previous visits. Richard often made an attempt at humor, claiming that Lady Catherine seemed to be preparing in the even that London fell to the undead and she became the next ruler over the land. Neither one could refuse the fact that every visit felt like the woman was holding court of her own, with her court seated below her consisting of the younger Miss Bennet's on his left and Bingley's sisters, Mrs. Jenkins, and Anne on his right. And her second at arms to her left sat Mrs. Bennet.
It pained Darcy to feel the loss of the elder Miss Bennet's presence in the room. And that of his own sister. Though Darcy had not written to her of his arrival, Darcy had expected to see his sister with their aunts guests. What disturbed him more was the lack of blatant worry for the missing elder sisters. Though Darcy prayed it meant that Miss Elizabeth was on the mend, he could not omit the families blatant disregard for the safety of their own family. Miss Jane Bennet's illness was proof of that. Neither her mother, nor sisters could be made fearful enough to hold looks of concern or distress upon their faces.
Lady Catherine sat up straighter. "Any news from the canal?"
"It's holding for the time being." informed Darcy.
A chorus of excited giggles burst through the room. The younger Miss Bennet's quickly dismissed themselves from their weapons and rushed themselves out of the throne room. Bingley's sisters followed next. Then followed his cousin and her companion, before his own aunt departed.
"Aunt Catherine, where might I find my sister?" Darcy inquired.
"Indeed your sister is currently tending to Miss Elizabeth Bennet." replied Lady Catherine, as though the very thought of the action disgusted her. "I informed her the servants and her own family would suffice, but she was adamant."
Darcy kept his reply short. "I see. I had best see to her then."
Lady Catherine nodded. "Indeed. I am quite distressed at having her here while the Bennet's reside as well. They made have some skill in the deathly arts, but their manners are excessively lacking."
"Indeed." nodded Darcy. He made his excuses and departed his aunts presence before she could further debase the Bennet's. They had their faults, as did all men, but he could no longer debase them. Darcy quickly quitted the room and soon found Bingley further down the hall. Darcy quickened his pace and soon discovered that Bingley's attention had been drawn by a welcoming face.
"Fitzwilliam!" exclaimed Georgiana. She make short work of the distance between them and soon found herself in his welcoming embrace.
Darcy welcomed his sister presence. He had not wished to remove her from Pemberly, but he could not longer guarantee her safety at their home. She was greatly skilled, but he would not risk her life. "How are you?"
"I am well." Georgiana lifted her eyes to meet his. "Pray, tell me you received our missive? For we received no reply and feared that-"
Darcy quickly soothed his sister. "I did. We departed the day we received you letter, but we greatly delayed. Aunt Catherine informed me that you have been tending to Miss Bennet?"
"Yes, I have." Georgiana nodded in reply and appeared to pose nothing to infer she regretted her actions. For that, Darcy could not be more proud of her actions. She turned and began leading the gentlemen up the stairs. "I have been helping Miss Jane in tending to Miss Elizabeth from the second day of their arrival."
"How is Miss Elizabeth?" inquired Bingley.
Georgiana heaved a great sigh. "She is very ill, Mr. Bingley. We had hoped that she would be strong enough for her condition to improve, but has not."
"Her fever?"
"It's had steadily risen for the past week."
Georgiana led them through the halls of Rosing's toward Elizabeth's chambers. Darcy noticed along the way, that his aunt had placed Elizabeth in one of the further rooms. The rooms were less decorated, less maintained, meant for those his aunt didn't much care for. "Lady Catherine placed the Bennet family in this wing. My own chambers are quite a distance from here. I suspect your own will be as well."
"Of that, I have no doubt." agreed Darcy.
Georgiana came to a stop midway along the hall. She lifted her hand and gave a gently rap upon the door before easing it open. "Mr. Bennet, Miss Jane." Georgiana entered the room, leaving the door open for her brother and friend to enter behind her.
The gentlemen entered quickly, closing the door behind them. They could not risk any of the servants see them in this far wing of the house when their chambers were situated elsewhere. As Darcy had surmised, the rooms décor drastically differed from the remainder of the estate. The furnishing was adequate, but not of the best quality, as other rooms were, useful for their purpose, but hardly acceptable for long duration. The fire was barely above a flicker. Darcy found Mr. Bennet situated in one of the chairs across the room, situated along the bed. Jane Bennet had situated herself along the edge of the bed. His eyes quickly fell upon her patient, whom was in complete ignorance of their presence.
In all his years, Darcy had not once been witness to such a state. He had seen men eaten alive, watched men fall to the plague, witnessed his own failure resulting in a households slaughter, yet none had racked him such as this sight. Elizabeth was in a very poor state. Her skin, that once held a flush glow of energy, strength, and whit, had shriveled into a haunting pale shade of white. Her hair lay alongside her face, matted down by the sweat her body emitted I its fevered state. Forgetting himself, Darcy approached the bedside. His hand came to her face, brushing several fixed strands of hair away. Her skin radiated with heat, alighting his concern. He looked to her bandaged hands. Darcy carefully removed one of the bandages and paused only when the cloth would not easily remove itself from her wound. The sight sickened Darcy. The flesh was inflamed, red, and a sick yellow color. Elizabeth flinched under his ministration and made an attempt to extract her hand from his. Darcy easily allowed her the reprieve from his inspection.
"When did the physician last visit?" inquired Darcy, his eyes remaining upon Elizabeth.
"The previous physician was your regiment surgeon." informed Mr. Bennet, now standing from his chair.
Darcy's gaze lifted from Elizabeth to meet her fathers. The man seemed to have aged more years than when Darcy last saw the man. but there was also anger in him, that Darcy could see and knew it well. "Truly?"
Mr. Bennet nodded in response. "Have you anyone to call?"
Darcy shook his head. "I fear the wait will waste what time we have left."
"Can anything be done?" inquired Jane, voicing herself for the first time since their entrance.
Darcy nodded slowly, forming his course of action. "There may be." His eyes drew back to Mr. Bennet. "But it will hardly be pleasant for her and it may not work."
"But it is a chance for her to live." replied Mr. Bennet. "What will be needed?"
"Much." informed Darcy. "Georgiana, go to the kitchen and request a pot for boiling water. Request rags that we might use for fresh dressings. Charles, request a bottle of strong spirits. And we shall need a candle as well."
Georgiana gave a small nod of her head and hurried out into the hall with Bingley quickly following behind her.
Jane rose from her seat upon the bed. "You plan to reopen her wounds."
Darcy nodded. "I do. I believe that if we reopen the wounds and keep them clean, your sister may have a chance."
Mr. Bennet eyed Mr. Darcy closely. "Mr. Darcy, might I speak with you for a moment, in private?"
Darcy accepted MR. Bennet's offer and followed the gentleman out into the hall. Mr. Bennet said nothing as they stepped into the hall and closed the door behind them. The two men stood silent on opposite sides of the hall. Nothing could be heard around, no laughter, no running steps, not even a servant moving about the halls.
"You've taken a particular interest in my daughter's health, Mr. Darcy." began Mr. Bennet. "How came you by this knowledge of Lizzy's condition?"
It had not occurred to Darcy, until that moment, that her father was ignorant of Darcy's involvement. "I received a letter from my sister and Miss Bennet asking for my help. If i had any to give to Miss Elizabeth."
"Do you often take interest in the well being of young ladies with whom you insult?" inquired Mr. Bennet. "Particularly when your course of healing breaks the boundaries of propriety?"
Darcy felt his aggravation rise. His hands balled into tight fists that did not go unnoticed by Mr. Bennet. He could not fault the father's words, not after Darcy's abominable display during his first visit. But the man was wasting time, time that Elizabeth might not have. "In this situation, sir, my only concern is the improving health of you daughter. Propriety and boundaries be damned, I came here for the sole purpose of doing what I can to help her. I make no notion to act in a way that will cause her ruin, only that which will save her life. However, if you are more concerned over her reputation than her life, then you are free to banish me from helping her. If not, you can be assured that neither Bingley, nor my sister, would dare utter a word of what may transpire in the next few minutes in her room."
Mr. Bennet looked at Darcy for a long moment. It reminded Darcy of opponents sizing one another up, foretelling which of whom would come out the victor. Both gentlemen stood their ground as time passed. Darcy feared that neither of them would surrender, and should that happen there would be no victor, only deceased.
Their war of glares was came to an end only by the return of Mr. Bingley and Miss Darcie. Bingley carried a pot and a bottle of spirits, one that Darcy was familiar with as being one of the best his Aunt could afford. Georgiana's arms were filled with old cloths that could be boiled and used for fresh bandages. Bingley seemed ignorant to the going on's of his friend and Mr. Bennet, but Georgiana was more perceptive. She arched her brow in concern, but Darcy bade her to continue on. Once both were within the walls of Elizabeth's chamber, Mr. Bennet and Darcy continued their dispute.
"Mr. Bennet, I'll ask but once and then be silent on the matter." informed Darcy. "Please allow me to help Miss Elizabeth."
Mr. Bennet seemed taken aback by Darcy's request. He had known Darcy to be a commanding man, given his military career, used to giving orders rather than receiving them. Indeed the display in his daughters chambers further affirmed Mr. Bennet's opinion. But now to have the young man bare it all, to have risked his own life in rescuing Elizabeth from the canal, to risk his reputation yet give all attempts to spare Elizabeth's, to journey for the single purpose for Elizabeth, and to ask permission to help her, Mr. Bennet found that there was a great deal more to Mr. Darcy's character than had been let on. Mr. Bennet nodded. "Your help would be welcomed, Mr. Darcy."
Though his face revealed nothing, Mr. Bennet could see the ease of tension within the young man's frame. The two gentlemen returned to the bedchambers, greeted by the three occupants. Georgiana sent a questioning look in her brothers direction, but Darcy quelled her with a simple shake of his head. It was no use to worry her over an ended matter.
"We have the water on to boil." informed Bingley.
"Georgiana, cut the cloths into suitable bandages and place them in the water." stated Darcy.
Georgian nodded and scurried off toward the fireplace.
"What must be done next?" inquired Bingley.
Darcy looked to Mr. Bennet. The gentleman was head of his family and for their well being. Darcy was merely allowed to provide aid. However, Mr. Bennet nodded to Darcy, allowing the young gentleman to assume command of the situation. "First we will have to remove the soiled rags from her wounds before we can clean them. In there alone lies an issue. Miss Elizabeth is not aware of the world around her, but she is aware of what can cause her pain. Merely inspecting her wound caused her to pull away."
"Even in her weakened state, my Lizzy's strength cannot be underestimated." stated Mr. Bennet.
"We must hold her down?" inquired Jane.
Darcy nodded slowly. "We cannot risk more injuries to her than necessary. I believe it will take all of us to accomplish this."
"Very well, Mr. Darcy." spoke Mr. Bennet. "Let us begin."
They took to work quickly. As Jane tended to the wounds, the gentlemen did what they could to keep Elizabeth still. The task was far more difficult than they had originally thought. Even unconscious, Elizabeth was a for to be reckoned with. Had he not been on the receiving end of her wild strike, Darcy would admire the knowledge more.
Jane took to her task with as much care as she could. Using Darcy's knife, she cut the soiled bandages from her sisters wounds. She then turned to the infected wounds, where caused another bout of a fight from her sister. Reopening the wounds managed to illicit a violent response from her sister, which resulted in Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy both stumbling to the floor. Mr. Bingley acted in quick response and drew Jane back, just prior to Elizabeth striking out in her direction. Still they pressed on. Once the wounds had been opened, the task of cleaning them began. It was quite possibly the most dangerous of the tasks. pouring the bitter liquid into her open wounds caused Lizzy to struggle and even cry out in pain. Though the sight was heart wrenching to all, they could not put to rest their tasks until they were finished.
For hours they toiled until their task was complete. Each wound reopened, each stich removed from the skin, every wound doused, and rebadged. Each one of them, emotionally and physically exhausted from their task.
Georgiana approached her brothers side, having taken up one of the chairs. She knelt by his side and dabbed one of the last remaining cloths on his bloodied lip. Darcy flinched at the ministration, unaware of the small wound he'd been gifted by Elizabeth during the struggle. He retrieved the cloth from Georgiana and continued to tend to his lip.
Georgiana rose form her brothers side. "I shall make your excuses this evening, Fitzwilliam, and see that a tray is brought up myself."
Darcy gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you Georgiana."
"Jane, I think it best you accompany Miss Darcy this evening." stated Mr. Bennet. "You've been you sisters keeper for some time now, its best you retire to your chambers for a night."
Jane looked up from her sister. "But papa-"
Mr. Bennet lifted his hand to silence his daughter. "Lizzy would not wish you to exhaust yourself for her. Tonight, I expect you to rejoin the party. Tomorrow, you may resume your vigil over sister."
Knowing that she would not be the victor in the argument, Jane conceded to her fathers request. Accompanied by Georgiana and Mr. Bingley, they departed the room some few minutes later, leaving Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet alone to tend to Elizabeth.
"How long will you remain at Rosing's, Mr. Darcy?" inquired Mr. Bennet.
"Until I am sure of Miss Elizabeth's improving health." replied Darcy. "I will then make my excuses to see to Pemberly and make my departure."
The knowledge caused Mr. Bennet to arch an interested brow. "You will depart before seeing my daughter well?"
Darcy gave a curt nodded. "We cannot risk any learning of my part here."
Mr. Bennet was neither blind, nor ignorant to the further meaning that Darcy withheld, but given the turn of events of the day, and their exhausted state, Mr. Bennet determined to save their discussion for another day.