Chapter 4

"Your Uncle is going to write home and inform them we will have to stay a little longer in Derbyshire," Mrs. Gardiner said with a smile.

Lizzy sat up a little more and leant towards her Aunt. "We can't," she hissed. "We couldn't possibly stay here and trespass on Mr. Darcy's kindness." She already felt awkward enough, being confined to her bed in Mr. Darcy's home of all people. How was she going to explain all this to Jane when she got home? It would be truly humiliating.

"Oh Lizzy don't be absurd," the older woman tuttered. "Mr. Darcy," she called out and Lizzy felt herself blush and hold the blankets close.

Mr. Darcy walked slowly into the bedroom, meeting Elizabeth eye with a kind and polite smile.

"Yes, Mrs. Gardiner?"

"You don't consider us staying here a trespass do you?" Mrs. Gardiner asked with a confident glance at her niece.

"Of course not, Mrs. Gardiner." He replied automatically, with a bow of his head.

Mrs. Gardiner smiled and stood, "If you would be so kind could you please reassure my niece."

She then left a blushing Elizabeth and confused Mr. Darcy and walked out the room. Lizzy had watched her Aunt go and then turned her gaze to the gentleman, who was watching her with bemused expression. She said with a short laugh. "Please forgive my Aunt, she sees things a little too simply at times."

Mr. Darcy smiled easily, a natural smile that wasn't forced by polite propriety. It made Lizzy's throat tighten. "You are welcome to stay here as long as you need to, Miss Bennet."

If felt odd him using her formal name. She remembered how he'd said her Christian name when he found her, the relief and comfort she had felt in his voice. It made her realise out informal they had been with each other over the past couple of days and she subconsciously held the blanket close to her.

She looked up at him again just in time to see his embarrassed expression and said quietly, "Forgive me." As he bowed quickly and made for the door, she realised he must have been embarrassed to be alone with her in a bedroom. In an instance her face reddens again as she wondered what people would say if they were seen in such a compromising situation. Her thoughts led to Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins and she laughed out loud in spite of herself.

This made him pause and look at her. Still smiling warmly, she was about to explain the reason for her laughter when Miss Georgiana bounded into the bedroom with her usual light steps. "Brother I've been looking for you," she said happily and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. Either she didn't realise the situation or she didn't care, Georgiana made no comment or reaction with regards to their situation. She just sat on the bed at Elizabeth's feet.

"Can we join Miss Elizabeth for dinner in here Brother?" she asked.

Mr. Darcy looked at his sister. "I don't think it's very appropriate Georgiana."

Georgiana pouted, "But poor Elizabeth has been stuck in this room all day with just us for company, she must be tired of these surroundings." She paused the added. "What if she came down to one of the sitting rooms?"

Elizabeth sat up some more leaning towards Miss Darcy. "Please don't trouble yourself, I'm alright."

"Georgiana," Mr. Darcy added. "Miss Bennett can not walk yet. She needs to recover."

Mrs. Gardiner entered the room with the intention of summoning the other to dinner, but was quiet when she heard Georgiana speak. "But we could help her down stairs. We were able to carry her here last night."

Lizzy watched Mr. Darcy stiffen, obviously uncomfortable with this discussion. "That was very different, Georgiana," his voice had become more stern.

Mrs. Gardiner walked over to Lizzy and put a dressing gown over her shoulders. "If it's alright with you Mr. Darcy, I'm sure Elizabeth would benefit from a change of scenery."

Mr. Darcy looked defeated for a moment then gave a polite nod and replied. "It would be my pleasure."

At least in this situation, Lizzy thought and she put on the dressing gown, she wasn't alone feeling embarrassed.

"Lovely," Mrs. Gardiner smiled and stood, followed by Georgiana.

Lizzy's embarrassment reached knew heights when she was forced to allow Mr. Darcy to carry her downstairs to dinner. Despite this embarrassment, the party maintain the usual level of propriety during dinner, making Lizzy feel more at ease with her situation. The main topic of conversation came from her aunt and uncle, who discussed the Grande of Pemberly and asked the Darcys many questions about the splendid estate. Lizzy listened with fascination as the brother and sister described their childhood in the big estate. She smiled at Mr. Darcy has he recalled with detail and surprisingly enthusiasm playing hide and seek with Georgiana when she was little.

After dinner Lizzy had to endure an equally uncomfortable Mr. Darcy carrying her back up the stairs to her bed. She noticed as she pushed her legs under the blankets that she could do so without feeling any pain. She looked up at Mr. Darcy then her Aunt with a smile and told them she thought she'd be able to walk in the morning.

"That's wonderful, dear," Mrs. Gardiner said with a warm smile.

Lizzy looked back to Mr. Darcy and couldn't read the expression on his face. Georgiana walked into the room carrying a wooden box and sat on the other side of the bed. "Can we play chess?" Georgiana asked. Lizzy turned to the young woman and smiled. "Of course, but I'm afraid I don't play very well."

Georgiana's face brightened. "Well that's alright. Fitzwilliam taught me how to play didn't you?" she looked up at her brother, who looked ready to leave the room. "You could stay and help if we needed it couldn't you brother?"

"Well," he replied with unusual awkwardness.

"Please," Georgiana begged. "You play so well and if Miss Elizabeth and I are both making mistakes, it will make the game awful!"

Elizabeth smiled at Georgiana and looked at Mr. Darcy in obvious defeat. "It appears we will be lost without you Mr. Darcy." In a less playful manner, she added, "Please stay."

This won Mr. Darcy over better than Lizzy had expected, he pulled up a chair and watched as Georgiana set up the chessboard on Lizzy's lap, positioning a large book underneath to keep the board steady.

The three of them then spent the evening playing chess, taking turns at who played who while the third watched. Lizzy soon learnt that Mr. Darcy was doing his best to lose the game without making it obvious. She found it very amusing to watch the exchange between the siblings. Their usually quiet manners were hiding a more open manner, a side of Mr. Darcy Lizzy thought she would never see. She found it completely overwhelming to observe, that man she had once judged so harshly couldn't be more different in essence. She realised as she watched she would never judge anyone so harshly again. Lizzy was happy to observe as they played late into the night.

Darcy woke with a start, uncomfortable and unaware of his surroundings. Last thing he could remember was playing a game of chess with Georgiana, but looking at Miss Elizabeth and seeing that she'd fallen asleep. So Georgiana had packed up the chess and retired to her bedroom. He had remembered having the intention of going to his own bedroom, but had been distracted by Elizabeth moaning in her sleep and moving into a more comfortable looking position in the bed, without even waking.

Darcy looked around and realised he must have fallen asleep watching her. His stomach tightened with embarrassment as he realised what would happened if someone noticed he was in her bedroom. He stood but he heard Elizabeth cry out, and he looked immediately down. She was breathing heavily, and was whimpering as she slept. He presumed it was a nightmare and felt terrible at the thought of having to leave her. But what could he do? There was really any situation more inappropriate than the one he'd found herself in.

But he didn't have time to react; Elizabeth let out a frightened shriek and awoke, sitting up in her bed. Darcy completely forgot himself and swiftly sat on the bed, and put her hand on her arm as she focused on her surrounding, breathing shakily and looking up at him with pain and relief. Like she had done when he'd found her that night, she collapsed against him, leaning against him and reflex took over and he put his arms around her. He held her until her shaking subsided, cursing the men who'd done this to the very depths of hell. After a couple of minutes, she looked up at him, with surprise but also appeared to be happy he was there.

Darcy had no words, he couldn't explain himself any better than he could think of words of comfort for her. So he said nothing, slowly running his hand up her arm to her shoulder. Elizabeth continued to gaze at him, her eyes turning from relief and sadness to hope and what Darcy felt instinctively was longing. His hand had a mind of its own as it traced her shoulder and up to her neck. She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath hesitantly and Darcy took this reaction for being uncomfortable and he quickly moved his hand.

Elizabeth looked at him in confusion for a moment and he whispered, "Forgive me, I should not be here."

She looked like she wanted to argue, but of course she had no means for argument. He shouldn't be there, and the consequences for both of them if they were caught did not bare thinking about.

"I should go," he added rather obviously. She seemed unable to reply, she only nodded.

Darcy stood and slowly walked out the bedroom, pausing briefly before he closed the door to share a kind smile with the woman he was so desperately in love with.