A/N Made a couple of small changes in chapter 3, one when the doctor is speaking to Lizzy after he examines Jane and later, when they are all waiting to go into dinner.

13th November

The Doctor finished his examination of Jane Bennet and was relieved to find no trace of any spots. As yet, anyway. He nodded to himself, then drew Elizabeth over to the far side of the room.

Speaking in a low voice, he explained the situation with Mrs Hurst and then continued. 'You watched as I examined inside Miss Bennet's mouth and on her face. I was looking for reddish spots – they can be very small, maybe appearing as raised dots initially – and are often first seen in the oral cavity, usually around the throat area. I want you to check your sister carefully over the next few days and have word sent immediately if you see anything that causes you concern.' He hesitated, peering at her over his half-moon glasses, concern in his eyes. 'If you see any sign of these marks, avoid further contact with your sister, and keep a respectable distance from her. If you have need to touch her at all, then wash your hands thoroughly afterward. I cannot stress this enough. It is a most contagious illness if this stage is reached. I will be watching over Mrs Hurst for most of my time here but will ensure I visit each day to see how your sister does, and do not hesitate to send for me if you feel it necessary.' He patted her arm with a smile. 'Do try not to worry, my dear, at present there is no risk of you succumbing, your sister is not contagious and may never be. She might just have what it looks like - a head cold.'

Elizabeth smiled in return. 'I thank you for your concern. May I ask, how is Mrs Hurst?'

The Doctor shook his head. 'It is difficult to say, as yet, the crisis point has yet to come. The fact that she is with child… I am not confident that both will survive this. No indeed.' He pursed his lips. 'I have requested the assistance of two nurses from town and with luck, they should arrive tomorrow. Both have come through the smallpox themselves, so will be able to nurse Mrs Hurst without worry of contagion.'

'I understand. I am willing to help too, I necessary.'

'That is very good of you.'

'You were recently at Lucas Lodge, I believe? Can you give me word of Maria Lucas? Is she expected to recover?'

'Yes, I believe she is past the worst. She is being nursed most diligently by her elder sister, Miss Lucas.'

'Oh, dear Charlotte! She is my closest friend, after my Jane. I do hope she is taking great care not to catch the smallpox herself.'

'She seems well, at present. I did discuss hygiene with her and she has been very careful in that respect. Time will tell however. She would make a wonderful nurse.'

Their attention was distracted by movement from the bed.

'Lizzy…'

Elizabeth hurried over to her sister's bedside and the Doctor took the opportunity to slip from the room and back to his patient.

'Would you be kind as to get me some water?' Jane croaked. 'My throat…'

'I can do better than that.' Elizabeth said. 'Papa sent it over as soon as he knew it was needed. I have here my special throat soothing syrup and you know how effective it is…' Elizabeth poured some from the bottle onto a spoon and offered it to Jane.

Jane smiled then grimaced. 'I do indeed, despite the appalling taste.' She opened her mouth for the spoon, pulling a face as she swallowed the syrup, then lay back. 'So, tell me, what were you discussing so secretively with the Doctor?'

Elizabeth pinned her smile in place. Unless Jane began to show the symptoms, Elizabeth was not going to distress her by giving her more to worry about than simply getting well again. 'Oh, nothing of consequence. We were just comparing treatments and discussing their efficacy.' She raised an eyebrow. 'He refuses to believe my throat syrup so effective.'

Things were not quite so calm in Mrs Hurst's room. Several hours since the first appearance of the spots and they were now prevalent on her face and arms, the only uncovered parts of her that could be seen, as she lay in the bed. She no longer had a fever and was sat in bed, propped up on pillows, trying to read a fashion magazine. She was frustrated and extremely upset.

She looked up as the Doctor entered and immediately started haranguing him. 'Just look at my arms! What are these things? They're extremely unsightly.'

'They are merely a symptom of your illness, try not to worry and remain calm.' the Doctor replied. 'How are you feeling, apart from the spots? Have you eaten anything?'

'I feel quite well, if a little weak. I have eaten a little chicken and had a cup of tea. But really… this is too much. And I've not had sight of my sister or brother. Not even my husband has visited.'

'Ah… I am afraid I have persuaded them that to visit is unwise right now.'

'But why?' Mrs Hurst's voice was rising and increasing in volume. 'I am bored rigid and have a mind to get up.'

'I advise against that, Ma'am. You may feel well at this moment but it will not last. You are still quite unwell and I must insist you remain abed.'

'Oh, but this is most distressing.' Mrs Hurst moaned, throwing her magazine to the floor in a fit of temper.

The Doctor smiled at the maid, sitting with some needlework by the door, and rolled his eyes as he left the room.

To Elizabeth, already tired, the day had already been too long before the dinner summons came. She dressed reluctantly but carefully, wishing she could remain above but knowing she had to be sociable below. Once the maid arrived to sit with Jane, she could put it off no longer.

Jane was watching from her bed. 'Are you now ready to face those below?'

'My courage rises with every attempt to intimidate me, as you well know.' Elizabeth retorted, causing Jane to giggle then splutter as her laughter turned into a cough. Elizabeth passed her a glass of water to ease her spasms. 'Try to sleep, dearest. I do not plan to remain below for long.'

She slipped through the door and headed for the stairwell, hesitating for a moment when she spied a figure moving toward the stairs from the other wing.

'Miss Bennet,' came the deep voice of Mr Darcy. 'May I enquire as to your sister?'

'She is about the same, sir, but in good spirits nonetheless. Have you word of Mrs Hurst?'

'I have not but I believe the Doctor will be joining us for a time later. Does your sister know of…?' He trailed off but she understood what he did not say.

'No. I felt there was little to be gained if she also had that to worry about. There is time enough to tell her, should it be required, and I have no desire to impede her recovery should all be well.'

He nodded and held out his arm. 'May I escort you down?'

Elizabeth lay her fingertips on his forearm and they begin their descent to the lower level. 'I have heard there are other cases in the neighbourhood,' she commented. 'Do we know how it began?'

'We know a servant from the village, hired to work at Lucas Lodge as extra help for their party, has the illness. But it now seems Miss Maria Lucas' illness is quite as advanced as the servant, though they were trying to keep that information quiet. Which of them is the most likely the source of Mrs Hurst is unknown. They, themselves, must have been infected somewhere else, but we are having trouble tracing that source.'

'It is indeed most troubling,' said Elizabeth, as they arrived outside the Drawing Room door. 'I shall add them all to my prayers tonight. No-one, whatever their status, deserves such a terrible illness.' She removed her hand from his arm as the footman opened the door.

Mr Darcy bowed and followed her into the room and Elizabeth hid her amusement when she saw Miss Bingley narrow her eyes, at their joint entrance. Elizabeth moved toward the sofa and sat, while Miss Bingley hurried over to stake her claim on Mr Darcy, looping her arm through his. Elizabeth was pleased to be joined very soon after by Mr Bingley.

Before Mr Bingley had chance to inquire of her sister, Miss Bingley called over, 'Eliza, are you sure it is a good idea to join us? We are trying to limit the spread of the smallpox after all.'

Elizabeth smiled. 'Oh, maybe you were not aware? The doctor told us that only those who are already showing symptoms can pass the disease onto others. I am not unwell, as you see, so you can be sure you are quite safe.'

Mr Darcy frowned down at the woman clinging to his arm. 'Miss Elizabeth is quite correct. Besides, we are not even sure Miss Bennet has anything much amiss, beyond a cold.'

Before they had chance to converse further, dinner was called and Mr Bingley escorted Elizabeth through to dinner. Seated next to each other, they chatted amiably as the table was served and courses removed. By unspoken agreement, nothing of the illness ravaging their locale was spoken.

At one point during the second removes, Mr Bingley enquired of Elizabeth, 'I hope you find your room to your liking, Miss Elizabeth.'

'Thank you, yes,' she replied. 'The view gives me something of interest to observe when my sister sleeps and I tire of reading. I watched some of the gentlemen head off on horseback earlier and I much admired the horses, especially your beautiful black, Mr Darcy.'

Mr Bingley looked a little confused. 'You saw them leave on horseback. Do you mean to tell me your rooms overlook the stables?'

'They do, sir.'

Mr Bingley coloured and turned to his sister. 'Caroline, I must say, I am surprised that you did not give our guests rooms overlooking the gardens.'

Miss Bingley sniffed. 'I left it to the housekeeper to decide on the rooms. I can't be expected to see to every little thing, can I Mr Darcy?'

Mr Darcy sipped his wine before replying. 'It is traditionally the hostess's preserve to assign rooms to her guests. Selecting a room with a view of the stables is an unusual decision for the housekeeper to make, in my experience. Unless instructed otherwise, they will always pick the best rooms for guests.'

Miss Bingley flushed to the roots of her hair and reached for her wine glass.

'It is of no concern to either Jane or myself.' Elizabeth said, hiding her amusement at Mr Darcy subtle chastisement. 'The rooms are delightful and, as I said, the view is interesting to one confined within doors longer than is preferable.'

Soon after this conversation, the meal came to an end and the ladies withdrew. Elizabeth excused herself to run upstairs but as Jane was sleeping she did not linger. Pausing only to retrieve a book from her room she rejoined Miss Bingley downstairs.

Elizabeth could not have been more relieved when the gentlemen finally entered the Drawing Room, interrupting her tête-à-tête with Miss Bingley, who was being even more obnoxious and tiresome than usual. Her insinuations regarding an understanding between Mr Darcy and herself were beyond amusing - Elizabeth had eyes open enough to see his discomfort and displeasure whenever Miss Bingley was near.

When the gentlemen arrived, with the Doctor now in tow, Elizabeth excused herself and left to speak with him.

'Good evening, Dr Williams. I hope Mrs Hurst is doing as well as can be expected, at this time?'

'She is currently well, if rather unsettled and frustrated to be confined to her bed.' The Doctor smiled slightly before frowning. 'I expect the fever to return at some point in the next few days, however. That will signal the start of the pustular, and most dangerous, stage.'

'Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Is Mrs Hurst's throat still giving her trouble? Jane would, I am sure, back up my claim for the efficacy of my throat syrup.' Elizabeth's eyes twinkled.

'I believe…' he twinkled back, '…that Mrs Hurst no longer has a painful throat. But I will keep your syrup in mind, should it recur.'

'Do we yet know where this illness came from?'

'So far, no. The apothecary is visiting the family of the servant girl tomorrow. We will be able to judge from the stages of the illness, who was first afflicted. We're hoping we can work out where it came from after speaking to that person as it is most likely the other family members took it from the first infected.'

'Do we yet know the name of the servant girl?' she asked.

'Tess. Tess Smith, I believe.'

Elizabeth inhaled sharply. 'I know of her, she's very young. Only fourteen, I think. She has an older brother who is a stable hand at the Lucas's. I wonder if he is also afflicted? Maria Lucas enjoys riding, so would likely have encountered him there.'

'That is useful information, Miss Elizabeth. My thanks. I will send a note to the apothecary and have him discover the situation there when he visits.'

They were interrupted by a disturbance across the room. Mr Hurst roused from his slump on a sofa and called out 'Are there to be any cards this night?'

Miss Bingley called for the card tables to be set up and asked, 'Miss Bennet, will you join us?'

Elizabeth, however, declined to join them, as she planned on returning to her sister's room momentarily. Mr Darcy also declined when asked, as he had a letter to write to his sister. That left the Doctor to make up a table of four. As they were seating themselves, Elizabeth slipped from the room, intent on seeing how her sister did.