Here are two chapters! I could not in good conscious upload without an interaction with the great Mr. Darcy! Thank you to all for supporting the story! Enjoy and review! Cheers
Chapter 3: To One Elizabeth Bennet
All of Georgiana's schooling left her senses in the face of such distress in her piano room. She wildly looked around in search of someone to lead, and Miss Darcy plastered herself to Miss Ainsley as the scene unfolded.
In such times as these, Elizabeth's limited education also left her, and she relied on her best instincts to see her through. Her aunt's attention was solely focused on cajoling her beloved out of his stupor. Seeing her poor uncle unconscious, she addressed Miss Darcy first, as was her due.
"Miss Darcy, I am terribly sorry to impose on your hospitality once more, but is it possible to procure some smelling salts and a doctor if my uncle does not stir?"
The young mistress of the home was quite in a shock, and her only sign of acknowledgment was the merest nodding of her head. Waiting for further prompt, her eyes darted wildly around the room. Oh, where was Fitzwilliam for such a time? He would lead so naturally.
Elizabeth, seeing the young Miss Darcy incapable of directing, addressed Mrs. Reynolds directly, who attempted to aid Mrs. Gardiner in rousing her uncle.
"Mrs. Reynolds, if I may be so bold, is it possible for us to procure some smelling salts and the doctor? I am fearful for the state my uncle may be in, and I worry every moment counts if it is severe."
Mrs. Reynolds straightened immediately and set her sights on Miss Elizabeth, and then turned to Miss Darcy for approval. Seeing the furious nodding of Miss Darcy's head, she set out at once. Mrs. Reynolds felt her admiration for Miss Elizabeth grow, as she noted her courage overtook the delicacy of most ladies of her station.
"Miss Darcy, would you like to sit down? I believe there is nothing more that can be done at present, and I loathe intruding on your peace." Elizabeth's worry for her uncle prevailed above her disappointment for once more upsetting a Darcy. Yet, even she could acknowledge how the situation escalated so quickly beyond the lady's control and what was entirely proper.
Miss Darcy rushed to Elizabeth in light of such a speech. "Oh, Miss Elizabeth, please do not worry on my account. Pemberly is at your disposal. Whatever you need–you all need–to make Mr. Gardiner well again will be done."
Miss Gardiner reluctantly left her husband's side to offer her deepest gratitude.
"Thank you, Miss Darcy. We are indebted to your hospitality. We have been staying at the Rose and Crown. If Mr. Gardiner is well enough to be moved, we will set out at once."
Miss Darcy shook her head. "You all must stay here if your uncle does not wake. I must write to Fitzwilliam at once to let him know of our guests."
Elizabeth, quickly realizing her time at Pemberly would continue, hastened to rebuttal. But in walked Mrs. Reynolds with the smelling salts, followed by the local physician.
Mrs. Reynolds introduced the doctor, a Mr. Colborn, and the young ladies were quickly ushered out of the room.
Elizabeth paced quietly in front of the window of the Darcys' family sitting room. Miss Darcy was loathed to leave her new friend during such turmoil, but she truly must write to her brother an express. He was to arrive tomorrow, and he would be astonished to find his usually quiet home with three new guests.
She also required a moment to herself. She had not had such an eventful day in many months. And her last eventful day she refused to recall. Miss Darcy retired to her room with the promise to Elizabeth she would return momentarily.
And so Elizabeth paced, waiting for her aunt to come to her with news of Mr. Gardiner. She longed to be outside and release her bound energy on this new landscape but feared missing any news more.
Elizabeth was determined to focus on her uncle's predicament and ignore the awkwardness of her personal affairs. Yet such thoughts crept in to vie for her attention. For her to be here, in Pemberly, in the family's personal sitting room! She could hardly bear the intimacy of it. Nor the implication of the future she refused.
The door opened, and in walked Mrs. Reynolds.
"Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Gardiner has been moved to a room. He has not yet wakened. Mrs. Gardiner wishes to see you there. I can bring you to the room."
Elizabeth followed Mrs. Reynolds out of the family drawing room and into a myriad of hallways until they stopped.
"We are in the east wing, Miss Elizabeth. The family hallway is just beyond that corner. Miss Darcy wanted to ensure she would be near if she was needed."
Elizabeth's heart warmed immensely as they stepped through to a very pleasing room. She rushed to her Aunt Gardiner and embraced her.
"Oh, Lizzie, Doctor Colborn believes it is a condition of his heart or his blood. I had never heard such a thing, but Mr. Gardiner has remarked on chest pains. He has always been too stubborn to allow a physician to see what ails him."
"Did Doctor Colborn say if he would awaken or if there was any cure to his pains?" Elizabeth fretted to her Aunt.
"He is hopeful Mr. Gardiner will awaken within the next day or so, but he greatly believes he must limit all physical activity and must not move. He said the journey back to London would be far too precarious at this time. I do hate to impose on the Darcys for such a length." Aunt Gardiner said.
Elizabeth struggled to respond, for she could not envision them staying for such a period of time as well. Miss Darcy was most amiable, but they had yet to encounter the master of the house. Elizabeth, remembering their last encounter, expected a proper, but cold response to their stay.
Aunt Gardiner sought to assuage Lizzie's fears, "Doctor Colborn has heard of a medicine, new in London, that helps with these chest pains. He sent an express to his colleague in the pursuit of the medicine. But, Lizzie, it is quite expensive indeed. I do not know how we will manage."
"We could always take one of the vases here." Elizabeth quipped.
"Lizzie!" But even Mrs. Gardiner stifled a smile at her niece's antics.
Though dinner was an informal affair, Georgiana took pains to please her melancholy guests. Stories abounded at the table, and all felt lighter since the events of the afternoon. Elizabeth regaled her enraptured hostess with stories of the peculiarities of 5 daughters under one roof.
After a lovely, intimate dinner, the ladies retired to the family's sitting room. It seemed the Darcys were informal to those that were friends. At least, Miss Darcy claimed such familiarity. Elizabeth wondered where they would retire after supper when Mr. Darcy returned.
Miss Darcy naturally did not pry into her brother's personal affairs, but she was determined to expose the root of Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's relationship if there was one to discover at all.
Georgiana knew her brother's behavior had been more reserved since the events at Ramsgate, and she was pained to be the cause of his turmoil. However, since Miss Darcy met Miss Elizabeth, her brother's melancholy was seen in a new light.
Miss Darcy began to weave a timeline of her brother's happenings first in Meryton and then in Kent, and she analyzed the tone of his letters. Fitzwilliam first seem disinterested with the residents of Meryton, then his letters had a note of perplexity, and finally a wistfulness and nervous energy in Kent that she had never heard from him before. And then, his letters shifted altogether to banal pleasantries. Something happened in Kent to wound him, and she believed such an occasion was tied to one Elizabeth Bennet.
She felt most mischievous to do such work! And she longed for Fitzwilliam's return in order to ask him properly and end this play of detective. Though the circumstances were unfortunate, Miss Darcy had a serendipitous opportunity to discover the exact nature of Miss Elizabeth's feelings. And she would overcome her fear to assist in her brother's felicity.
"I wrote my brother an express today, so he is aware we are together when he returns tomorrow. I am sure he will echo my sentiments that you must all stay as long as Mr. Gardiner is recovering. We will ensure he is well cared for."
Miss Darcy noted Elizabeth's blush and downcast eyes at the mention of Mr. Darcy. She struggled with how to proceed but pushed forward.
"My brother has been in London since April on business and for the seasons, though I believe he is eager to return home. He will be so pleased to welcome you all here. I feel I have not seen him in ages!"
Receiving no response from her most desired companion, Georgiana risked pressing on.
"Miss Elizabeth, how was my brother in the spring in Kent? I believe he mentioned that you happened to be at Rosings visiting a friend."
"Yes, my friend Charlotte Luc-, Mrs. Collins now I suppose. She is married to the rector of the parish of your aunt in fact. I believe they are well settled."
Elizabeth could not handle Miss Darcy's awaiting eyes for much longer.
"I saw your brother only a little, though he seemed in good spirits with the Colonel, your cousin. Your cousin Miss De Bourgh seemed to enjoy everyone's company as well. They all made a merry party when I saw them."
Elizabeth smiled timidly, and for the first time since meeting Miss Darcy turned her critical gaze upon her. Georgiana knew something of the events at Kent, though Elizabeth doubted the full extent of Mr. Darcy's disastrous proposal and her even greater rejection.
Yet Miss Darcy seemed eager—not wary. It seemed an impossibility that the gentle young lady could be matchmaking on her brother's behalf. Mr. Darcy would not dare renew his address to a woman who scorned him. Would he?
Mrs. Gardiner, growing more certain as to the cause of her niece's coy nature regarding the Darcys, was quick to step in.
"We must thank you again, Miss Darcy, for being so welcoming and accommodating. I must attend to Mr. Gardiner and get some rest. I believe the Doctor will visit in the morning."
The ladies were quick to acquiesce to Mrs. Gardiner's request to retire and followed suit. As the young ladies walked to their rooms, Georgiana and Elizabeth both searched for what to say. They knew little of one another but felt much had yet to be spoken.
Elizabeth resented her reserved nature so unlike herself. It was this place, Pemberly, and the wistfulness it stirred within her. Though she did not regret rejecting Mr. Darcy, even she could no longer ignore the magnitude of such a rejection. This would have been her home, Miss Georgiana her new sister, and Mr. Darcy her husband. Since returning to Longbourn from Kent, she rummaged only on the proposal and the pain of it. Now, she was faced with the unrealized future that their marriage would have created. Yes, Elizabeth was reserved indeed this evening.
"Miss Elizabeth" the pair slowed their walk to face each other.
"I hope I am not overstepping. I feel such kinship with you already, and it has only been one full day of your acquaintance. Though I am deeply sorry your uncle is unwell, it brings me much cheer to meet and come to know a young lady my brother so esteems."
Elizabeth, sensing Miss Darcy would very soon be disappointed, felt a rising panic to warn Miss Darcy of what she imagined would be Mr. Darcy's barely cordial demeanor.
"Miss Darcy, you must call me Lizzie! All my friends do. And you flatter me, truly. But Mr. Darcy and I have had such few occasions together. I could not say we are as familiar with each other as you might think."
Elizabeth said this with a placating arm on the young mistress, for she was certain this news would be upsetting to such a delicate bird. Lizzie had shared the truth in the most pleasant light she could create, but she felt dishonest in doing so. She felt she had done little to illuminate just how awkward the encounters between Mr. Darcy and herself would be.
"Lizzie, you must call me Georgie then, for all of my friends do so. Dare I say that my brother and I share a trait of shyness of the most acute nature. Though he can seem reserved, He will be most pleased you are here, I pray you to trust me."
Elizabeth could only nod, feeling she had failed in her task of forewarning. In an abrupt moment of sentimentality, Elizabeth pulled Georgiana into a hug. Oh, how she wished she could speak to Jane and confess the secrets she had harbored from her sister since Kent and Mr. Darcy's proposal! Elizabeth wished for Jane's gentle guidance and reassurance. Jane would encourage Elizabeth that only the best outcome would be achieved.
"Thank you," Elizabeth whispered.
"Of course, goodnight Lizzie. I am right next door if you need anything."
"Goodnight" and so Elizabeth spent her first night at Pemberly.