Disclaimer: We all know the drill people; I don't own anything…sigh.
A/N: I've come again! Another chapter for you, even if no one is reading this, I still feel obliged to write this just because I love it.
Darcy was being forcefully dragged down towards where his housekeeper was stuttering as to the appearance of the Darcy's. They had never been this hospitable, even if they were kind enough to open their house to public inspection.
"Thank you Mrs. Reynolds, I believe my brother and I shall guide the tour."
"Yes…yes, miss Georgiana, if you wish."
The housekeeper walked away and Darcy looked after her wishing his sister would revert back to the shy sweet creature she once was before her disturbing obsession of acquiring a new family member. His sister gave him an insistent nudge and he reluctantly stepped forward to welcome the old couple.
The pleasantries were exchanged and finally Miss Georgiana was introduced.
"And may I introduce my beloved younger sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy."
"It is very lovely to make your acquaintance Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, but may I enquire as to the location of your daughter?"
"Daughter? Oh, yes, no no, she is our niece Lizzie. Lizzie! Lizzie come inside quickly."
Elizabeth rushed up to her uncle and stopped dead in her tracks. She gasped in surprise and both could not help but stare.
"Mr. Darcy, this is my niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, but I believe you're already acquainted. Elizabeth this is Miss Georgiana Darcy."
"Yes…we…we met briefly during the summer."
"Oh my, this is the Miss Elizabeth Bennet! Brother, its Miss Bennet. Oh, Miss Bennet, my brother has said so much about you! I think I may know more about your character than my own. My brother really was rather ta…"
At that very moment, Darcy put his hand to Georgiana's mouth to muffle the rest of her words. When did his sister change so dramatically?
"Ohh, ah yes, it is very lovely to make your acquaintance."
Georgiana struggled free of her brother's grip and said in excitement: "Oh, may I show you around the gardens, they are spectacular this time of month, Fitzwilliam can show your aunt and uncle around, can't you brother? Come, Miss Bennet, oh and please call me Georgiana."
"Oh, um very well, and please call me Lizzie."
Lizzie walked out toward the gardens but Georgiana lingered: "Oh brother, she is perfect, just like you described her." She promptly winked at her brother and pranced off after Lizzie.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were observing him extremely closely; he could do nothing but clear his throat and direct them toward the grand receiving room.
"Please do excuse my sister, she is rather ill currently."
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner exchanged careful looks but followed after willingly.
"So, tell me Lizzie, how do you find my brother?"
"I…I beg your pardon?"
"How do you find my brother?"
"He…he seems well enough."
"No, no, I mean what are thoughts as to his person. Truthfully."
"In truth, I find him rather err, cold and standoffish."
"Yes, he does seem to give off that presence does he not? But I assure you he is very loving and caring. He would surely make a great husband and loyal companion don't you think?"
"I sense an ulterior motive for this tour Georgiana; perhaps you would care to enlighten me."
"Oh, Lizzie, my brother did say you were intelligent. I've been so longing to meet you, my brother has told me all of your skills on the pianoforte, you must play a duet with me. I can see now why if I judged my brother's reaction to your arrival, he seems rather smitten with you."
"Oh, I…I…I…"
"No need to fret, oh you'll make a lovely sister."
"I…I…I…"
"Come, I would love to show you the grand pianoforte my brother has gifted me with. Come."
Fitzwilliam Darcy had just graciously left Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner in the portrait gallery as he was feeling rather discomforted by their enquiring stares. Damn Georgiana, she might as well have told the world of his secrets.
He stopped midstride and enjoyed the music flowing through the hallway, he followed his ears toward the music room, perhaps Georgiana had taken up her piece again.
He stopped short in the doorway as he saw Elizabeth and Georgiana upon the stall, giggling and chatting away as their fingers moved in union to form the wondrous tune.
"Oh but I am horrible at playing, never had the patience to practice."
"Nonsense, you have such precise finger work and my brother did say that you played very well at Rosings Park. Please, one more piece."
Darcy cleared his throat in the doorframe, a faint blush coloring his cheekbones. He walked forward and bowed to the two ladies.
"Miss Elizabeth, Georgiana, I trust you have amused yourselves at my expense."
"Why Mr. Darcy, we would not dare to mock you. That would be most offensive to you and your sister would it not."
"I assure you Miss Elizabeth, I do not mind as my sister seems to deem herself responsible for humiliating me already."
Georgiana giggle faintly: "I think I shall leave you, good day Lizzie."
As soon as Georgiana exited, an awkward silence descended on the duo.
"I must apologize for this intrusion…"
"No, no, not at all, I do apologize for my sister…"
"Oh, no, she is rather charming, I find her terrific company…"
"Yes, yes, she is rather sweet…"
They once again descended into awkward silence and then both tried to speak at once.
"I trust you stay has been…." "I must thank you for…"
Elizabeth smiled humorously: "I think, I think I must leave."
"May I escort you back to your residence?"
"No, no, I'm rather fond of walking."
"Yes, yes I know. I trust I shall see you with your aunt and uncle tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Oh, I've, I've invited your uncle to, to join me for a round of fishing tomorrow, I think your journey may have been delayed a day or so."
"Oh, I see, yes, good day to you Mr. Darcy."
"Good day."
Stupid Darcy, stupid, just inform her as to your responsibility for retaining her. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Darcy sighed in frustration and ruffled his hair, he shall call on her tomorrow, offer them a more comfortable trip in his coach, he could spend more time in her presence after all.
The following morning, Darcy arrived, carefully dressed and fretting anxiously. As he strolled into the bustling Inn, he fiddled with his fingers and went in search of a maid or someone who might direct him to the correct destination. His search proved to be fruitful as a fussed looking woman approached him with an air of urgency.
"Sir, sir, may I help you with something?"
"Yes, I was wandering if you could direct me to the Gardiner's apartments?"
"Of course sir, but I regret to inform you that Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner have gone on a ride and shall not return for a period of time, however, their niece Miss Bennet is present."
She was already weaving across the room before he could even reply; he had no choice but to follow diligently.
The maid did not look back to see whether he was following. She proceeded directly upstairs and knocked on the wooden door and promptly left to attend to other duties.
Darcy stood unsurely before the door and waited nervously. The door swung open quite violently and one very distressed Elizabeth stood before him. She clutched a letter tightly in her fist and tears flowed down her face which sparkled in the faint early morning light. He took in her state and made an uncertain yet hasty bow. She did not respond, Lizzie simply swung around and proceeded deeper into the rooms. Darcy followed with no choice and shut the door silently behind him.
"Miss Bennet, are, are you quite well?"
A sob followed his enquiry.
"Miss Bennet, may I be so bold as to enquire what troubles you. Perhaps I will be able to aid you."
"I just received a…a letter from Jane. Oh, it is terrible news. I simply am at a loss as to what to do."
"Please Miss Bennet; I would like to be of service."
"Ly…Lydia has run away from her stay with the Foresters. She…she has eloped…with Mr. Wickam. Oh this is horrible; it is all my fault, if only I had been more open, perhaps if I had warned Lydia of his character. Oh this is all my fault."
"No, no, Miss Elizabeth, you concealed his character to keep the secret safe, it is entirely my fault, if only I had…Is it entirely too late to try and recover her?"
"My father has already started for London but I am afraid it is already too late. I must…I must find my uncle and aunt as soon as possible, we must depart immediately. I must find them. Oh Mr. Darcy, I fear we shall never see each other again."
"Miss Elizabeth…"
Lizzie had already turned and was heading determinedly toward the door. Darcy ran toward her and braced her arm.
"Miss Elizabeth, you must not travel yourself to seek your aunt and uncle, it is raining out, you will make yourself ill. Please, perhaps you could send a servant out."
Lizzie simply dislodged his hand and ran for the door: "No, Mr. Darcy, I must find them myself. We must be swift."
"No, Miss Elizabeth, you mustn't!"
He had no choice but to chase after her retreating figure as she was already out of the Inn, her dark head bent in the downpour. Why was this girl so headstrong?
He ran into the rain himself and yelled past the pitter patter of the rain: "Miss Bennet, please you must return, you are already drenched!"
Elizabeth did not listen, she ran ahead of him, racing down the path her aunt and uncle had taken. She had to reach them quickly, Lydia already put the family in dire jeopardy, she could not let it get any worse.
Mud smattered the hem of her dress as she ran through the rain, she looked left and right, hoping beyond hope the Gardiners were nearby. Darcy followed closely and attempted again to ask her to return.
"Miss Elizabeth…"
"Listen, do you hear that? Sounds like horses."
"Miss Bennet!"
Lizzie ignored him and ran in the direction of where the sound was emitting. Horses! A carriage!
"Uncle! Aunt! It is an absolute emergency; you must read this letter from Jane! Please hurry!"
"Child, what are you doing in the rain…why, is that Mr. Darcy following you? Mr. Darcy! Mr. Darcy! Come quickly, get in the carriage."
Elizabeth jumped into the carriage and slid over so that Darcy could climb in beside her.
"Child, whatever is the matter…"
"Read this." She shoved the soaking letter into Mr. Gardiner's hands and urged him to read it. A silence preceded as her uncle read the letter, his expression becoming grimmer and grimmer with each passing second.
"Well, this indeed is terrible news, come, driver! Back to the Inn this instant. I must head to London and find them quickly before she damages the family any further, flighty child, never should have let her go with those incompetent Foresters. Hush, Lizzie, all is not lost; we shall retrieve her and arrange a quiet marriage."
Lizzie didn't respond. She suddenly felt warm in the carriage. Her head ached immensely, and she felt her cheeks burning while her body shivered in the wet clothing. She sneezed quietly and muffled the noise as not to concern her aunt or uncle, but Mr. Darcy felt her shivering beside him and tried to reach out for her hand. She carefully shuffled away from him while another sneeze; this time more violent rocked her body.
Elizabeth felt faint, surely she could not become sick at this sort of time, she had run through the rain various times but had never become unwell due to it. But she sneezed again. Her chest seemed to seize up with every breath.
They arrived at the Inn, both Lizzie and Darcy were still soaked to the bone as they weaved through the Inn toward their quarters.
Mr. Gardiner sat fuming on the couch within the room.
"Silly girl! Always knew she was wild."
"Mr. Gardiner, perhaps you should depart for London."
"Yes, yes, quite right Mr. Darcy, we shall leave…Lizzie! Lizzie! What is the matter?"
Elizabeth swayed on the spot as Darcy stood beside her. Her knees buckled and her body seemed to fall within a slower time frame. Darcy watched and leaped forward, grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his arms.
"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" He carried her carefully and laid her body gently onto the bed. "Call a doctor, call a doctor, now!"
The doctor shook his head gently as he watched a concerned older couple seated stiffly on chairs while a young man paced backward and forward. The moment he exited the door, all three stood and rushed toward him.
"How is she? What ever is the matter?"
"Young master, I believe Miss Bennet has come down with a high fever and is in delirium. There are possible signs of pneumonia, but it is unsure as only her breathing seems to be affected. I suggest she be allowed to rest."
"Can she travel?"
"No, it is unwise to move her now; the unrest may worsen her condition."
"Thank you doctor."
Mrs. Gardiner fretted and twisted the gloves between her hands: "Oh poor Lizzie, sweet child, she did this for the well being of her family. But she will not be able to travel, yet we must depart for London immediately. Is there nothing we can do?"
"She must be moved, we must leave for London."
"No, she cannot! We must let her rest dear or she'll get worse."
"If I might be so rude as to interrupt, but may I offer my assistance. It would indeed be my pleasure if you would allow Miss Bennet to stay at my residence. I would take it upon myself to ensure her safety and well being."
The Gardiners sighed worriedly and discussed the matter quietly. They simply had no choice in the matter; they had to do something quickly.
"Very well Mr. Darcy, do you swear to the safety of our niece."
"I do so swear. Do not be distressed, I will ensure she becomes well."
"Thank you Mr. Darcy, we shall trust her to your care."
Yay, now let the fun and mischief begin! LOL, hope you liked the chapter! Tell me what you think! Review now! Now, Now, Now! REVIEW!
Love C.