A/N You can all breathe again and stop chewing your fingernails.

15th December

With little to do but wait, the Doctor returned to Netherfield to check on Mr Collins, and Mr Darcy waited for Colonel Forster to reply to his message. The reply came late in the afternoon, when Colonel Forster himself came to Longbourn.

However, elsewhere, it was much less interesting as the ladies took turns sitting with Elizabeth in pairs, while she slept.

Jane and Mrs Bennet were taking their turn when everything changed.

Jane noticed it first. Elizabeth had moved, not much but her head was facing the other way and her good arm was no longer at her side but across her abdomen.

Elizabeth was indeed stirring. Fighting her way out of the gunky blackness; roused from her slumber by a dull indeterminate ache that had penetrated the darkness.

Her eyelids fluttered as she mentally examined herself. Where was the pain coming from? An arm moved. No, not there. The other arm though, oh yes. There it is. Legs? Yes, one of her legs was also throbbing. She opened her eyes a tiny crack, and the light turned the dull ache in her head into a throbbing megrim. She closed her eyes tight again and a small moan escaped her throat.

'Mamma, Lizzy is waking!'

Elizabeth groaned again, in complaint at the volume of the voice. 'Too loud,' she croaked.

'Sorry Lizzy,' Jane whispered. 'I was happy you were back with us. We have all been so worried.'

'Drink…'

'First, do you have any pain in your back or neck?'

Elizabeth concentrated on those areas, but they told her nothing. She shook her head slightly and her brain felt like a drink sloshing about in her head. 'Don't think so,' she rasped. 'Megrim. Light.'

'Mamma, help me raise her head a little.'

She was lifted, a pillow propped behind her and then she could gulp down cool liquid from the cup that Jane - dearest Jane - put to her lips.

'Slowly, Lizzy. Drink slowly.'

Obediently, she slowed, but all too soon the cup was empty. She licked some drops from her lips and lay back onto the pillows with a sigh. Now, what had happened to her? Had she been ill? No. A fall, she'd fallen. The stairs.

The memory came flooding back and she exhaled a long sigh.

'Kitty?'

'Kitty is upstairs with Mary. She is perfectly safe.'

'That awful girl, I am ashamed of her…'

'Mamma, now is not the time,' Jane scolded. 'Could you pull the curtains closed, I think it is too bright for Lizzy just now.'

Elizabeth heard a rattle as the curtains were pulled closed and then said, 'Mamma?'

Her good hand was caught up and rubbed against her mother's cheek, now roughened from the smallpox scars. 'My dear girl.'

'I will tell papa and Mr Darcy,' Jane said. The door opened, then closed and Elizabeth was left alone with her mother. She opened her eyes cautiously, and breathed in relief that the room was dim enough for her eyes to remain open. Her mother was sitting beside her, still holding her good hand, and she smiled.

'Your Mr Darcy has been here since he received word of your fall. He brought Doctor Williams with him, we were so very lucky he had just arrived back. He insisted on seeing you, the poor man was that upset.'

Elizabeth looked around while her mother spoke. This was not her room. 'Where am I?'

'We did not want to move you too far from where you landed, in case your spine was damaged, so you are in one of the downstairs rooms. We can have you moved to your own room once the doctor has decided there will be no damage done.'

She took another look, lifting her head slightly for a better look. She recognised it now, especially the glass cabinet in the corner which contained papa's small collection of snuff boxes. 'Oh, yes.'

The door flew open, her mother let go of her hand in surprise, and Elizabeth turned her head a little to see who was entering so precipitately. She could guess, she thought, and was correct. Her lips curved into a tired smile as Mr Darcy fell to his knees beside her daybed, caught up her hand and brought it to his lips.

'Do not do that to me again, Elizabeth. My heart will not survive another such shock.'

'I will try.' Then another dear face appeared in her line of view. 'Papa.'

Her father moved to the other side of the daybed and brushed her temple with his lips. 'My dear, I am glad you are awake. Your young man was starting to drive me mad with his pacing.'

She chuckled and then stopped, tensing as pain stabbed in her chest.

'You may have a broken rib or two. Go gently, my child.'

She nodded, exhaustion rapidly overcoming her. 'Tired.'

'Sleep, my dearest Lizzy. Heal.'

Colonel Forster, now fully informed of Wickham's latest activities, left Longbourn incensed and more than willing to work with the gentlemen to see the reprobate detained.

A few hours after he had left, a message arrived at Longbourn.

Bennet

Wickham caught and detained while trying to desert in possession of stolen goods, mostly coin purses and other valuables belonging to his fellow officers.

Am preparing a suitable area for his interview. Will inform when all is ready.

Col. Forster.

In the meantime, Doctor Williams completed his examination of Mr Collins and gave him some good news. He would be able to leave in two more days, assuming he continued in his good recovery.

Mr Collins was very pleased.

Mr Darcy, however, was disappointed.

His Elizabeth did not wake again that evening, even though he stayed to dinner and waited after until it was long dark. He was finally forced to leave without being allowed to see another smile from her which would reassure him she would eventually be well, but Mrs Bennet took pity on him and informed him that he was welcome as early as he pleased the next day.

The news that Mr Collins would soon be leaving reduced some of his disappointment, and an express from his cousin restored his mood even more, allowing him to retire in reasonably good spirits.

16th December

Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived the next morning, soon after Mr Darcy sat down to a solitary breakfast, the doctor having left early for Longbourn. He had not long finished his meal and was enjoying a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper, when his cousin breezed into the breakfast room, helped himself to a plateful of food and seated himself.

'So, Darce. Wickham?'

'Good morning to you too, cousin'

The Colonel simply laughed and picked up a fork. 'Was up awfully early, excuse my eating while we talk.'

Darcy gestured to his plate, encouraging him to continue. 'Go ahead, do not mind me.'

'The Colonel waved a fork, 'So, what's he been up to now?'

Mr Darcy waved away the footman, who bowed and exited the room, closing the door behind him.

'Miss Catherine Bennet, the second youngest Bennet daughter, was persuaded to elope with him. She was stopped, but in the ensuing struggle, Elizabeth fell…' He paused, swallowing. It was still hard for him to comprehend how close he had come to losing her, just as they had come to an agreement. 'She fell down the stairs and is severely injured.'

The Colonel dropped his fork. 'I don't know what to say. Will Miss Elizabeth recover?'

'She woke briefly yesterday, but it will be some weeks before she will leave her bed.'

'I assume the wedding will have to be delayed, then. I am sorry, Coz. It seems awfully unfair.'

'She will live, that is all that matters.'

The Colonel slowly nodded. 'Can we now finally deal with Wickham?'

Mr Darcy grimaced. 'We have little choice, this time. He was caught attempting to abscond with several of his fellow officers' belongings and is currently in the stockade for attempted desertion. Mr Bennet and I, with Colonel Forster's help, have planned little subterfuge to enlighten Miss Kitty as to the true character of her erstwhile suitor, before he is tried.'

Colonel Fitzwilliam's eyes brightened. 'This sounds like fun. Do tell me more.'

'Fun? That is not the word I would use, and I doubt Miss Kitty will think so either, once she comes to realise her close escape. Do you remember how Georgiana was convinced that he was not what she thought he was?'

'She heard his words… Ah, I see. Very good. So, Miss Kitty is to hear what his plans for her were to be?'

Mr Darcy nodded and took a sip of his coffee. 'Either way, Wickham is not getting out of this. The thefts alone were valuable enough to have him hung or sent to the colonies. I have the vowels and debts you brought with you to add to the table, and if we add desertion to the mix, I am positive he will swing. Miss Kitty must understand his true character before then or she will, no doubt, make a martyr of him.'

'When?'

'Colonel Forster thinks all will be in place by tomorrow.'

Colonel Fitzwilliam rubbed his hands together and grinned. 'Good, good. I will ride down later and see how everything is coming along.'

'Very well. I am for Longbourn. One last thing, Mr Collins should, according to the doctor, be sufficiently recovered enough to depart tomorrow.'

'Good riddance to him,' replied the Colonel. 'Give my best regards to your good lady and say hello to Miss Lydia for me. I will join you there later, if I may.'

Mr Darcy nodded. 'I am sure Mrs Bennet will also be all too pleased to meet you at last.'