Chapter 4
Morning was a smooth affair as usual at the Bingleys' home. The couple was overjoyed with the blissful news that Mrs. Bingley carried a boy. Darcy was very pleased for his friends and relieved to see Georgiana returning back to her normal self.
"What was this medicine that the doctor gave me? I feel very well already, 'tis fantastic. I am used to be confined to bed for at least a week when I have the flu." Georgiana was grateful for the fast recovery; she did not wish to bring any more concerns to her dear brother than what they already had been through. "I must thank the good doctor. I admit that I was shocked when a woman came to attend me, but I can see now she was more than capable of doing so. I will be daring enough to say she is better than any other London physician we know, do you not agree, brother?"
"Indeed, Georgie, I must agree with you. I am quite impressed with her performance. I have never seen nor heard anything of the likes. I must write to my scientist friends immediately. I am quite certain the last time we met that they were discussing her existence. I feel it is an obligation to inform them of the whereabouts of this mythical creature, as she is called among that particular society." Darcy excused himself to attend to some business and write an express to Tilney.
Hertfordshire, 30 March 1811
Henry Tilney,
I must inform you that I mayhap have encountered the person we were discussing the last time we were at London Club. As some of our fellows had pointed at that time, said person is indeed a woman. Her work is quite impressive. If it is in your and your tutors' desire, I may try to introduce her to all of you.
Your Friend,
Fitzwilliam Darcy.
It was still before ten when Darcy finished attending his business. He felt that a ride was a good diversion to keep his thought from dwelling constantly on the mythical creature, so he decided to post the letters himself.
"Bingley, I wish to post some letters, would you care to accompany me to the village?"
"Oh, you should go, husband. Show Darcy around, it is a lovely place. I am sure Georgiana will not mind keeping me company, will you dearest?"
"Of course not, Emma, it will be my pleasure." Darcy felt Georgiana's spirits to be a little higher than they had been prior to coming to Netherfield and was much satisfied that she would be fine. She had not yet returned to how she was before Ramsgate, but an improvement of heart was something to be celebrated.
Darcy and Bingley were about midway to Meryton when that peculiar sound that the doctor's carriage had made the previous day was heard.
"I think Lizzy must be going to Meryton as well," Charles said with a small smile on his face.
"The sound seems to be far away, I do not see anything. . ." Darcy turned his horse around to look back, narrowing his eyes to see as far as possible.
"Her ride is much faster than ours; she will soon catch up with us."
The next moment, Lizzy was slowing down beside the gentlemen. Darcy looked in horror upon her said 'ride.' "What on earth is that?"
"Good morning to you too, Mr. Darcy. This is a motorcycle. It is propelled by electricity. Are you acquainted with electricity, sir?" [1]
Did she just she tease me for my lack of politeness? Darcy was still in shock, the woman was wearing trousers again; her hair loosely tied again; her eyes shining beautifully as they had been yesterday. "Indeed, I am acquainted with electricity. I have read the works of Alessandro Volta." [2]
Lizzy gasped. "Alessandro Volta? That is amazing, sir! This is such important information to me!"
"Why would this information be of such importance? I do not understand." Darcy was puzzled by her enthusiastic reaction to Volta's name.
Lizzy asked quietly of her friend, "Is he reliable, Mr. Bingley? For me to disclose my true origins? As I can see, Mr. Darcy is a dear friend of yours. I am inclined to believe he can be trusted."
"Of course he is, Lizzy; you can tell him the truth. You may just need to prove yourself."
"I would not expect anything less." Lizzy smiled broadly. "So, Mr. Darcy, it seems I can trust you with my deepest secrets. I hope you are willing to hear my tale."
Without hesitation but in a firm manner, Darcy replied, "I can assure you, Miss Bennet, that I am willing to do so."
Why does he stare so much? It is unsettling. "Well then, I have to bring the Variola medicine for you and your sister later today. . . We can talk then, is that agreeable?
"Yes, most agreeable." What is your problem, Darcy? You seem to lose the ability to form laboured sentences in her presence. Pull yourself together. Darcy then asked, "What is Variola?"
"It is another name for Smallpox," Lizzy stated.
"Lizzy! You must stay for dinner tonight. Emma will never forgive me if she learns I did not elicit a promise to attend the dinner from you!" Bingley cried, almost begging. Emma was a bit demanding as she approached her confinement.
Lizzy laughed heartily. "I will stay, Mr. Bingley, do not fear your lovely wife's wrath. I must go now. See you this afternoon." Taking her leave, Lizzy disappeared down the path, leaving behind a shocked Darcy.
The afternoon's rain shower had ceased when Lizzy and Fass arrived at the Bingley house early. They were greeted by the entire party as the door was opened. Lizzy was pleased to see a great improvement in Georgiana's health.
"Miss Darcy, I hope you are feeling well this afternoon. Are you taking your medicine as prescribed?"
"Oh, Miss Bennet. . . I am sorry, Lizzy, I am much better! I do not even know how to thank you."
"Oh, that is rubbish dear. I am glad that I could help." Lizzy and Fass greeted everyone else and she quickly decided it was better to do the vaccinations before they settled down for dinner. "I need somewhere private to apply the Variola medicine. Can I use the library, Mr. Bingley?"
"Why, of course. Make yourself comfortable, please."
"Fass, go ahead and prepare the place, will you."
"On my way, Lizzy."
Darcy found the interactions between master and assistant somehow distant and disjointed. Lizzy never engaged Fass in conversations and Fass never initiated one. He decided to hold that thought for later.
Lizzy was in an animated conversation with Mrs. Bingley and Miss Darcy. Georgiana was a sweet girl, very intelligent but extremely shy. With her open manners and warm heart, Lizzy soon was able to draw out the young girl, hoping she would feel more comfortable with her presence.
Georgiana, on the other hand, was not comfortable, she was in awe. For her, Lizzy was almost perfect. Highly intelligent, friendly, kind, and beautiful. She felt drawn to the doctor, wanting to learn from her anything she was willing to teach. Georgie's attentions were focused on every single explanation she gave for even the most ordinary things. After spotting a beautiful rainbow in the sky, Lizzy was explaining to the ladies the science behind the phenomenon. She used some crystals to recreate one on the wall of the room as the light passed through, demonstrating that the principle of both was the same. Georgiana was delighted to learn the reason why the sky was blue.
"We have all the evening to discuss this and other topics; shall we proceed to the library and be freed from this day's obligation?" The party reached the library's door, Lizzy then turned to Darcy. "I find it more advisable to begin with you, Mr. Darcy; please follow me."
Lizzy closed the door behind them. Darcy was feeling a little uncomfortable to be left alone with the doctor and her assistant. "Could you not give my sister and me this medicine in the parlour?"
"This is not something you should drink, Mr. Darcy, I must apply it under your skin."
Darcy gasped. "How . . . How can that be?"
"It is safe, do not worry." Lizzy closed her eyes and took several deep breaths; Mr. Darcy could be very trying sometimes. "Would you feel more at ease if I were to explain what exactly I am going to do, Mr. Darcy?"
"Yes, I would appreciate that."
Lizzy took a syringe from the table where Fass had them arranged. "This is called a syringe, it is used to apply the medicine inside of you. The syringe and medicine combined is called an injection. There are different types of syringe, with different types of needles. . ."
"What would be those types? What are they used for?" Even knowing how indecorous it was, Darcy could not help but interrupt Miss Bennet.
Lizzy smiled softly at Darcy. At that moment, his heart skipped a beat. "There is the intravenous; that would apply the medicine directly into your veins, but it is not very used. We also have intradermal, intramuscular, and subcutaneous, [3] each used for some specific reason. The one I will use is the safest one, the intramuscular."
"Why do you need to inject this medicine inside of me, instead of allowing me drink it?"
"First, sometimes you need the medicine to help really fast, or the patient could die. Injecting it directly inside of the body will make this possible. Second, I know I am calling this a medicine, but it is not. This is a vaccine."
"And. . . ?"
"I suppose you know that your own body must fight some diseases. . ."
"Yes, most medicines improve your body's own ways to defend itself. 'Tis the principle of work, every apothecary and physician does research on the subject."
Lizzy smiled again. "That is correct, Mr. Darcy. A vaccine is what you just described. The particularity is that a vaccine is used to build up your defenses against a particular illness, in this case, Variola. With this," Lizzy pointed to the syringe now lying on the table, "you will not catch this infection."
"This is incredible! How did you do that?" Darcy was mesmerised. "Oh, why do you call this Variola?"
"You will understand where I got this knowledge from later when I explain where I am from. And Variola is just the scientific name for Smallpox."
"I very much want to know where you are from."
"I know, I can see you are a curious soul, Mr. Darcy. Now could you please take off your overcoat and roll up the sleeve of you left arm?"
"What? This. . . This is. . ." Darcy was feeling so overwhelmed with her request, the impropriety of it all, that he almost forgot Mr. Fass was present. "Would it not be more advisable to have Mr. Fass doing this procedure?"
"I am sorry, Mr. Darcy, Fass cannot do it. He was not. . . How can I say it?. . . He was not trained to do so. It is nothing, Mr. Darcy, let it go." Lizzy had to hold back a laugh. Imagine how he would react if the injection had to be applied in his ass! She eyed him very discreetly. He is very handsome; he must have a nice 'arse' as they say here, indeed.
Reluctantly Darcy did as asked and offered his arm to the lady. "Is this going to hurt?"
That was it; Lizzy was incapable of remaining serious now. She laughed out loud. "It may hurt, Mr. Darcy. Where I am from, when children have to take an injection we give them sweets for their bravery. Do you need a candy, sir?"
Darcy could not help but smile. "Are you teasing me?"
"Of course I am." Lizzy took Darcy's arm, looking into his eyes, to prepare the application area.
Her touch was light, like a feather. Darcy felt a shiver down his spine; Miss Bennet continued to look more and more handsome in his eyes. Maybe it was her attire, her hair, her mind. He did not know for sure, but he was undeniably attracted to her. No lady of the ton could compare to her.
"We are done, Mr. Darcy. You may experience some head ache and a slight fever so I will leave medicine for you to take if needed."
"It was not so bad, Miss Bennet. May I retrieve my sister?"
"Yes, please, and you may as well stay with her."
Georgiana was a simpler affair. She listened to Lizzy's requests and was more than happy to comply without question.
The table was set, and everyone took their seats. It was not a formal dinner as the Bingleys considered all present to be part of their family.
"Fass, take a chair and sit here by my side, please. I will need your assistance now; can you do your check-up later?"
"Yes, Lizzy, my OS [4] is working at ninety percent efficiency."
What a strange dialogue. "Are you not joining us, Mr. Fass?" Darcy was more curious than ever about this gentleman.
"I do not eat, Mr. Darcy, but thank you for you offer."
"You do not eat? How can that be?"
Lizzy intervened "He does not eat, Mr. Darcy, for he is not a real person."
Darcy was quite disturbed by such a statement, for he prided himself on his treatment of those that worked for him. He sought his sister's eyes and saw only amusement. She was proving to be much braver than he was. "How can you say that? Of course, he is a person."
"He is not. I built him. Where I am from, he is called an android, an artificial intelligence."
"I do not understand. Where exactly are you from?" Darcy's eyes were opened wide. After all that I have seen these past two days, how does she manage to surprise me yet again?
"I know my story is quite unbelievable, but what I am about to tell you, Mr. and Miss Darcy, is true. I am from another universe."
"Universe? There is only one Universe! What is this mad talk about?" Darcy narrowed his eyes. The Bingleys were quite apprehensive. Charles feared his friend might leave and notify the local authorities of a possible Bedlam fugitive.
"We also thought that, Mr. Darcy. My home is another Earth, the same as this but it is two hundred years in the future. I was part of the crew from my planet chosen to make an expedition to explore space. Our scientists spotted a phenomenon called a wormhole near Jupiter. We decided to try to reach it; we had technology enough for that. We were not prepared for what we were to face once inside the hole. The other crew members died. By some miracle, I survived and landed here. Fass informed me that the wormhole leads to another universe, a parallel universe, where Earth existed and was similar to my Earth when we were in the early nineteenth century. My fashion, my way of speaking, my knowledge of science, they all come from my previous life. I know you may see me as improper or any other adjective you might place on me, but I hope you understand how hard it is for me to adapt. This society has a lot of rules that are silly to me, for they are quite the opposite from the rules of my world. I thank God every day for the Bingleys. They opened their home and their hearts for me, I feel blessed for that, more than you can imagine." Lizzy took several deep breaths again; Darcy thought that must be her way to tame her intense feelings.
Georgiana, who was seated beside Lizzy, took the doctor's hands in hers, and gave them a tight squeeze. She had tears flowing from her eyes, immediately understanding the feelings of despair and loneliness that Lizzy must have felt all this time.
"If you were wrong, then where did your crew think this wormhole was supposed to lead?"
Lizzy smiled at his question, he did not doubt. Instead he was intrigued.
"We thought the hole was a shortcut to a very distant place in our universe; a shortcut to another galaxy."
"And Fass is not real?"
"He is real, he is just not a person." What an abrupt change of subject. He must be very confused, poor Mr. Darcy.
"Why did you build him?"
"To make a humanoid, which is how we name an artificial being that looks like a human, was a challenge in my world. I was the first to build a successful one. I could store information in him as if he was a book. But he can store the information contained in millions of books. And he uses this information to make decisions. So he was a great help with our expedition. I am only alive because of him."
"Are all people from your Earth like you?"
"I do not understand. . . Like me how?"
"Scientists, extremely intelligent." Darcy could not take his eyes away from her. Her story was indeed unbelievable, but he knew somehow that it must be a universal truth.
Lizzy beamed. "I cannot answer that. It would be conceited of me to do so. But Fass can. Fass, please answer Mr. Darcy's question."
Fass mechanically turned his face to Darcy and stated, "No, Lizzy is special. She was famous on Earth, quite important."
"I supposed it to be so," Darcy nodded and smiled.
Dinner was concluded and the party went straight to the drawing room not observing the traditional separation of the sexes. Georgiana was considering a thousand questions about Lizzy's world to ask her; music and theatres, books, fashion, everything fascinated her. She so wished she also could go to another land to forget her horrific past and start anew.
While Georgiana seemed to be lost is her own thoughts, Darcy took a chair next to Lizzy to discuss his London friends' conjectures. "Miss Bennet, this morning when we met, I was riding to post a letter that concerns you."
"How is that so, Mr. Darcy?" Lizzy looked at him puzzled.
"I have several friends who are scientists and scholars from Oxford and Cambridge. Before I left for Netherfield, we had an interesting debate concerning an unknown person who had a vast knowledge of all manner of science. After yesterday, I was convinced that person must be you, so I felt I should inform my friend, Tilney, that I knew the whereabouts of the person they were looking for. I hope I have not crossed a boundary in doing so."
"No, Mr. Darcy. Absolutely not! It has been quite some time now that I have wished to meet the scientific society of this land. You have done me a great favor!"
"Why do you wish to meet them so ardently?"
"I have much knowledge that I feel obligated to share. I can help improve this world. I am sure that even without my interference, this earth would reach the advances mine now has made. But we made big mistakes during our learning process. I wish to save this world from our missteps and errors."
"Save? Why do you feel like we need saving?"
"Because my home is dying, Mr. Darcy. We have killed it. I will do everything in my power to avoid this fate for yours. I wish to guide this earth through the discovery process it will face."
Darcy became silent after that, contemplating the implications of Miss Bennet's words.
"You must tell them about your romances and that wonderful thing you call a movie, Lizzy!" Emma cried, drawing the attention away from the serious discussion the couple had been having.
"What is a movie, Lizzy?" Georgiana asked, already excited as Emma had given her a small explanation of the matter.
"A movie is like a play, but it is not done on a stage. I will need to show you what it is; I am not able to explain. Fass can display a movie. I will choose a suitable one for you and your brother, Miss Darcy."
"You should show them Jane Eyre!" [5] Mr. Bingley stated. "You must see that one, Darcy, it is set in our England! I remember you mentioned that it was a book also, Lizzy."
After some expected tension at Lizzy's revelations, the evening's mood turned out quite light. Everyone was enjoying themselves immensely. "Indeed that was a fantastic movie, by the way, written by a woman, no less. Charlotte Bronte was an important name in English literature."
"Do you enjoy romances, Miss Bennet?" asked Mr. Darcy.
"I do love to read everything, but I confess I find romances very fulfilling. Maybe it is my tendency to fall in love with fictional characters." Lizzy smiled, forgetting herself for a moment. "But how can I not? Some romantic heroes are so perfect!"
"You are a romantic then, Lizzy?" asked Georgiana.
"I do not think myself as a romantic, Miss Darcy. But I do love Mr. Darcy," Lizzy said dreamily.
The room fell silent.
Lizzy's eyes opened wide; she brought her hands to her gaping mouth. Her heart beat quickened. Lizzy looked to every face in the room. She got up from her chair, began to pace, and took deep breaths. Darcys, Bingleys. . . Georgiana, Emma. . . "Emma, what was your name before you became Mrs. Bingley?" Lizzy posed a tentative question.
"'Twas Emma Woodhouse. What is the matter Lizzy, you look so pale!"
Lizzy's lips were trembling as she again looked at every face. "You are all characters in Jane Austen's books!"
"Sit down, Miss Bennet, you do look very ill. Is there nothing you could take to give you present relief? A glass of wine; - shall I get you one?" Darcy asked not knowing what else to do.
Lizzy took a seat and looked around for Fass. "Do you understand what that implies, Fass?"
"I have run some possibilities already."
"This means I could have become an S.H.I.E.L.D Agent!" [6] Lizzy smiled broadly just as Charles remembered her doing from their very first encounter.
(A/N a.k.a. Notas do Autor)
Alright readers, now for the synopsis that would have given it all away if it had been in the prologue: Pride & Prejudice meets Lost in Austen meets Interstellar meets Pride and Prejudice. It is one giant circle, or orbit, or mobius or wormhole, take your pick. But is always fun, and you just might learn something along the way. My beta is. (Those are words of my beta herself :D)
[1] The electric motorcycle or motorbike has been around for over a hundred years. The first patent applications were in the late nineteenth century. The October 1911 issue of Popular Mechanics noted the introduction of an electric motorcycle that claimed to have a range of 75 miles to 100 miles per charge, with speeds of four, fifteen and thirty-five miles per hour. They gained popularity in WWII due to fuel rationing, saw a resurgence in the 1970s as part of the environmental movement, but it was not until 2006 that Vectrix introduced the first commercially available high-performance electric motorcycle, the VX-1. Even Harley-Davidson introduced a new prototype electric motorcycle in 2014 but did not promise it would make their famous "potato, potato, potato" motor sound.
[2] Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta (18 February 1745 – 5 March 1827) was an Italian physicist and chemist, who is credited as the inventor of the electrical battery and the discoverer of methane. He invented the Voltaic pile in 1799 and reported the results in 1800 to the Royal Society. Volta proved that electricity could be generated chemically and debased the prevalent theory that electricity was generated solely by living beings which sparked a great amount of scientific excitement and similar experiments eventually leading to the development of the field of electrochemistry. All scientific roads seem to lead through the Royal Society.
[3] Although nearly a dozen methods of injection or infusion used in humans, Lizzy spared by only mentioning four: intravenous (directly into a vein), intradermal (into the connective tissue), intramuscular (directly into a muscle), and subcutaneous (under the skin, into the fat layer.)
[4] OS is short for Operating System.
[5] Of course, Lizzy chose the wonderful 2011 version of Jane Eyre with Mia Wasikowska in the title role and out favourite android, Michael Fassbender, as Mr. Rochester.
[6] S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage, law enforcement, and counter-terrorism agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by the legendary Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965, it often deals with paranormal and superhuman threats. The acronym originally stood for Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division. It was changed in 1991 to Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement Logistics Division, or, as Ward (btw, fuck you Ward!) said at the pilot episode of the ABC series Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D - "Someone really wanted our initials to spell out 'shield'."
So were you shocked, did you see that coming, do you want to be Lizzy? Let me know!