'I would like to talk to you about the nurse that has been assigned to me.'

Dr Jones looked up from his inspection of Darcy's leg, with an expectant grin.

'Yes, I thought you might. What is it you want to talk about precisely?'

Darcy wasn't one for holding back, and it was with gritted teeth that he unleashed his opinion of the nurse on the poor doctor.

'She is ill-mannered, improper and borders on the obscene.'

He made sure to pause in between every descriptor, just to push the point home. Dr Jones gave him a slightly nervous look before returning to his examination of the patient's body.

'She told me you had only been awake for ten minutes before she left to come remind me of our appointment.'

'Yes, that is true.'

The doctor sighed, shaking his head.

'I can assure you that she is the finest nurse I have here.'

Seeing Darcy was not convinced, he continued.

'We were instructed by the higher-ups to give you the finest care available when you were shipped in from the doctors in Arras, and I have already explained to you how close you came to meeting your maker. They did an good job, but once you arrived we had to completely redo most of the stitching in your head.'

He stood up, walking over to the desk to scribble down some notes.

'Yet I should confide in you the truth, my interest in your wellbeing is not entirely motivated by my very great fear of what General de Bourgh will do to me should it fail… I was friends with your father, a very great man, and we fought together in the Boer War. I simply couldn't live with myself if I let anything happen to his son while it was within my power to help.'

This admission made Darcy pause.

'Jones? Then surely you must be… Is your name by any chance Edward Vere Jones?'

When the doctor nodded, Darcy attempted to raise himself into a sitting position, only to be berated for moving while his many stitches were still so fresh.

'My father often spoke of you, and highly. I regret that I cannot properly greet you in this state.'

'Don't be ridiculous, naturally you wouldn't recognise me! We haven't met since you were a young boy, and I have been living in India for God knows how long.'

He gave out a long, drawn-out sigh.

'That was until I realised my services where needed here.'

As he said it, the doctor's eyes dulled somewhat, the full and terrible context of their meeting being remembered by both sides. It was then that Darcy thoughts suddenly turned to the original topic of Elizabeth Bennet, and he returned to it with a determined reluctance.

'I don't wish to trouble you, but I would like to return to the question of this nurse you have given me.'

Dr Jones nodded his head slowly.

'Yes, I thought you would not be so easily dissuaded. Elizabeth is highly opinionated and stands very firm in her views, a characteristic that often gets her into trouble. But you will not meet anyone as bright, witty or dare I say it charming within a hundred miles of this place. Her care for her charges is heartfelt and diligent – I really can't recommend anyone better for this job.'

Darcy couldn't help but snort at that.

'She seems opposed to so many things, I'm not exactly sure what my particular crime is. From what you said, while I am unconvinced by parts of it, it seems as though I am singled out for a particular reason rather than being part of a hated majority.'

The doctor looked up at Darcy.

'You must understand that Elizabeth has been out here from the start. She was already a trained nurse and among the first women sent out here. This is a big jump for anyone I'm sure you will agree, but perhaps more keenly felt by someone who had never before left the small town they had grown up in.'

He paused, but seeing that Darcy was about to open his mouth, quickly continued.

'It is also worth noting that she hasn't always been in large army hospitals such as this one. She was working on the front when the first as well as the last casualties of the Somme came in, although in her time she saw the products of many battles. It was only at the end of 1916 that she was moved to Dieppe, itself not much better, and this was where I had the very great privilege of meeting her.'

Jones laced his fingers in his lap as he looked at Darcy.

'Her experience of war has led, I regret to say, to a rather strong prejudice against anyone she sees as belonging to GHQ or the like.'

They sat silently for a bit, before Darcy decided to speak.

'While I understand there are certain hardships she has suffered and that she is one of your best nurses, well, as she can't seem to stand even being in the same room as me I think it would be better if you just found someone new. It isn't comfortable for either side.'

The doctor gave a short chuckle.

'I wouldn't worry too much, most of what she says to you is just to shock. It is a favourite past time of hers.'

Seeing Darcy still looked unconvinced he continued.

'In your case I really think she is the best shout. More than half the nurses here are too afraid to look after you, and the rest perhaps a little too keen to look after you. Young, attractive and aristocratic as you are, and in a weakened state, I fear for your safety more with them than out there. Their words of course. '

He nodded his head towards the window.

'Although there are a fair few hardened battle-axes amongst the nurses, I really must insist on keeping them to help me deal with the other men here. Elizabeth may bark at you, but she will take care of you, and undoubtedly do a marvellous job of it.'

While still unconvinced, Darcy nodded. His head was beginning to ache again, and his eyes grew heavy. Having been instructed by Jones to rest, he allowed himself to drift off into the blessed release of sleep.

I hope you enjoyed the second instalment of Hummingbird. Please Review, Follow and Favourite – it really does mean a lot. Will most likely be updated by Friday.