20th November

Once their conference with Mr Collins was over, it was past dawn. The men, weary from their interrupted night, sat talking quietly together, over cups of strong coffee.

'Mr Bennet, I can have a room made available for you to rest until breakfast, should you wish it,' said Mr Bingley.

'I thank you. I would like to take some time to refresh myself,' Mr Bennet replied, 'and with your permission, I would prefer to remain here at Netherfield until I have spoken with the Doctor and again with my daughters.'

Mr Bingley stood, and pulled the bell to summon a footman. 'I will speak with Mrs Nicholls at once. I will also have her burn that disgusting bundle, from Lydia's room.'

'Yes, the sooner that evidence is gone the better.'

The Doctor exited Lydia's chamber and carefully closed the door. Mr Bennet was waiting outside.

'Well?'

The Doctor shook his head, his mouth turned down at the corners. 'The disease is progressing much as expected. Her face has some pustules but not as many as there could be, which is some good news.'

'And the other matter we discussed?'

The Doctor looked up and down the corridor. 'We should probably speak privately of that.'

'Very well. Shall we remove to the library?'

They descended to the lower level and walked to the library, chatting desultorily on general matters. Once they had confirmed that the library was empty, the door was closed and the Doctor continued.

'I can confirm her loss of virtue.'

Mr Bennet nodded, sadly, and gestured for him to continue.

'She was… unprepared for the act and it was not done… ah… gently.' The Doctor spoke harshly. 'There was some damage done to the tissue, tears and bruising mostly. More damage than just the loss of her maidenhood would cause. Oh, it will heal in time, but it is obvious that there was coercion involved - she was not a willing participant. Who was responsible for this outrage?'

'We have him confined in quarantine. It is likely he will become another patient of yours, as he was not vaccinated. He refused it when you offered.'

The Doctor's eyes widened. 'Can I then assume, from this, you are referring to Mr Collins?'

'The very same.'

'But he is a clergyman!'

'He assures me that he mistook the room and that he was actually only planning to ask for my eldest's hand in marriage. He seems to have assumed she would be glad to have him, and so felt anticipating his vows would be forgivable.' Mr Bennet coughed. 'As Lydia had been dosed with Laudanum, she was not in a fit condition to fight him off.'

'No indeed. The poor girl. However, if she was still under the influence of the laudanum, it is likely the worst memories of the attack will remain clouded for her.'

Mr Bennet nodded. 'A small blessing indeed.' Then he gave a dry, mirthless, chuckle. 'Collins seems to think that he can still wed my Jane, even after all he has done. A compromise would be the only way I would, with great reluctance I might add, consent to any of my girls marrying such a man.'

'What is to be done?'

'We plan to wait. According to Elizabeth, Lydia's last courses were three se'ennight previous. We should have some idea, certainly by the time Lydia is recovered, if the event will have a more lasting effect. Until then, we hope to prevent the gossip from spreading so I must ask you to keep this information confidential.'

'Of course. The young lady is innocent of wrongdoing and is my patient. You can be assured I will not speak of it.'

'I thank you, sir. If there are consequences and she recovers from this illness, then she will either need to wed Collins or we must find her another willing partner.' He sighed. 'Not that she has much of a dowry to entice anyone under such circumstances. I must pray she does not have to face that situation.'

'I will add her to my prayers, along with Mrs Hurst—although…' His voice dropped even lower. 'I fear her time on this earth is almost over.'

'It is that serious?'

'I believe it is. Between you, me and God, the loss of her child, and the resultant blood-loss, weakened her significantly and now a fever has set in. She is very weak - too weak to fight this, I suspect. If the smallpox does not kill her, then the fever no doubt will.'

'I see. Well, well. I will keep that news to myself, do not worry, and pray that poor woman does not suffer more than she already has. I have another question. My eldest, Jane, she has been vaccinated now as we agreed?'

'Yes indeed, I performed the procedure yesterday morning.'

'Very good.'

'And now the father!' screeched Miss Bingley.

On reaching the breakfast parlour her brother acquainted her with the news that Mr Bennet had arrived and would be staying for part of the day.

She continued, 'Which Bennet shall we expect next, pray? Should I have rooms made up for the rest of them?'

Mr Bingley flushed but spoke patiently. 'Caroline, you're being ridiculous. Besides, Mr Bennet will be returning to Longbourn in a few hours.'

'Hmph,' she snorted. 'It seems unlikely, given the fact the others have not yet left. Mr Darcy, surely you must agree with me.'

'Miss Bingley,' said Mr Darcy, clearly out of patience. 'Mr Collins is in quarantine and cannot now leave. Mr Bennet was brought here by your brother, has already been vaccinated and will return home later today. Miss Elizabeth is nursing her sister Miss Lydia, who was brought here to be close to the Doctor and two nurses. Miss Bennet could, I suppose, leave for home but is more likely to spell her sister's duties now she has also been vaccinated, thus leaving the nurses free to care solely for Mrs Hurst. Without the eldest Miss Bennet's help, the nurses would have had no rest during this long period of illness.' He paused for a moment. Knowing full well that Miss Bingley would never herself volunteer to help nurse either Mrs Hurst or Miss Lydia, a sense of devilry made him continue. 'Maybe if you would volunteer to help, then one of the Miss Bennet's could return home.'

'Me?' she near screeched. 'I am no nursemaid. It would be better and more suitable that we bring in more nurses. Yes, I will speak with that Doctor and have him summon more.' Nodding her head decisively, she stood to summon a footman before her brother could dissuade her. 'Tell the Doctor to come down, I need to speak with him.'

The Doctor was apologetic, once informed of her demands. 'Unfortunately, due to an outbreak in town, they are the only nurses already exposed to smallpox that were available.' He brightened. 'However, Miss Elizabeth is proving to be capable nurse and Miss Bennet is on hand to give Miss Elizabeth time to rest.'

This was decidedly not what Miss Bingley wanted to hear, as she made very plain to those left around the breakfast table once the Doctor had left the room.

After a short time, Mr Darcy lost patience, pushed his chair back, excused himself and left the room. Mr Bingley followed seconds later, leaving Miss Bingley complaining to an empty room.