Chapter 10

Pain. So much pain. She tried to call out but could not speak. Her eyes refused to open. She was scared. Then she felt a strong, comforting hand on her forehead. Someone was speaking to her but she could not make out the words. She fell back into a fitful sleep.

She struggled to awaken several times and each time was met with excruciating pain. Opening her eyes seemed to have been impossible, but she was always met immediately with calming voices to soothe her fears. Somewhere in her subconscious she knew that she should be concerned that she was not able to comprehend what was being said or to whom the voices belonged, but instead was comforted by the warmth and tones of the speakers. There were attempts to get her to sip at various drinks but her head felt impossible to lift from the pillow. Eventually after only a few short minutes, she would fall back into a deep sleep.

It was a full sennight before Elizabeth was able to open her eyes and fully recognize her surroundings at Pemberley. As she attempted to sit up the pain in her head and face caused her to whimper audibly.

"All is well, Miss Bennet," a voice came from near her said. "Please do not trouble yourself, let me call for some assistance to help you."

Elizabeth saw a housemaid standing at her bedside and she tried to speak but it barely came out as a whisper. "What happened?"

The maid smiled sadly. "In due time, Miss. You must first allow me to call for Mrs. Reynolds and have Dr. Thomas sent for."

Elizabeth consented worriedly and within minutes Mrs. Reynolds was in her suite with some broth and tea which was most welcome as well as something she was told would help with the pain.

After getting some substance in her, Mrs Reynolds asked if she would like to try to freshen up for which Elizabeth was greatly appreciative of. Standing up proved to be a bit of a chore, however, since the room spun in circles before her eyes causing her to be quite unsteady on her own feet. If it hadn't been for Mrs. Reynolds and the young housemaid on the other arm she surely would have fallen. Instead they were exceedingly patient with her, several times supporting nearly all of her weight, as they walked to where a bath had been drawn.

Never in Elizabeth's life had she ever had half a dozen staff bathing and dressing her. She knew that she ought to have been mortified at the attention and the fuss, yet instead she felt such enormous amounts of gratitude knowing she would not have been able to manage this on her own in her present state.

Once she had been been assisted back into the freshly remade bed and repositioned into a supported sitting position, Mrs. Reynolds escorted an awaiting man carrying a black physician's bag into the room.

"Good afternoon, Miss Bennet," he began. "I am Dr. Stephan Thomas. I must say that it is so good to see you awake and alert. You had us all quite concerned."

"Good afternoon, sir. I thank you for your attentions," Elizabeth said softly. "I am afraid though I do not know how I came to be in such a state."

Dr. Thomas nodded. "These things can happen, my dear, after injuries such as these. There is no need to fret. Your memories may come back in time. Or not. I imagine it will likely be something that best forgotten. What matters now is getting you back to health."

"I cannot fully open my mouth," Elizabeth said miserably, pointing to the bandage holding her jaw steady. "And there is a constant dull pounding in my head."

"Yes madam. Unfortunately among the injuries sustained was one that resulted in your jaw being displaced. The bandage needs to be there to hold it in place to assure proper healing. This also, sadly, means that you will have to avoid eating foods that require excessive efforts to eat. Be not concerned, though Miss, Mr. Darcy has assured me that every attention will be paid to assure you have ample nutrition prepared for you that will allow you to partake with as little discomfort as possible." Dr Thomas smiled kindly. "As for me, I will be here daily to replace your bandages and check on your healing progress."

At the mention of Mr. Darcy's name, Elizabeth began to feel uneasy. What inconveniences she must be causing for him! How much of his staff's time had been taken away from their duties to tend to her? This would not do at all.

"Please sir," Elizabeth said softly. "Do not trouble yourself. I do not need such attentions, surely. I am sure I can manage on my own."

Dr. Thomas chuckled softly. "I do not doubt that, madam. But I assure you, it is no trouble at all. It is an honor and a privilege to call upon guests of Pemberley."

After her bandages were changed and Dr. Thomas did a quick assessment of her condition, gave her a few more sips of the laudanum and excused himself.

Nearly as soon as he had exited the room a soft knock was heard and Mrs. Reynolds hurried over to admit Georgiana into the room.

"Oh Miss Bennet!" Georgianna exclaimed quietly as she rushed to her bedside. "How good it is to see you awake. We all have been most concerned for you."

"I apologize most profusely for the distress, Miss Darcy," Elizabeth began slowly trying to form words carefully with the limited mobility of her jaw. "Please also allow me to beg forgiveness for the enormity of inconvenience this has brought to you and your staff here. I am sure I can manage on my own without having to be any further of a burden."

Georgiana looked at Elizabeth in disbelief. "You have been no such thing, Miss Bennet. Our staff here have been just as anxious to assist in your healing in any way possible and share in our delight that you have awoken. They will gladly continue to attend to your every need as will my brother and I. May I?" She finished as she gestured to the chair nearest the bed.

Elizabeth felt tears beginning to form in her eyes at the remarkable kindness being shown by and hurriedly blinked them away.

"Only if I could convince you to address me less formally. Elizabeth or Lizzie if you'd prefer," Elizabeth said.

Georgianna's smile was the best reward. "Oh yes, please. You may call me Georgianna. My brother calls me Georgie but I do not prefer that. Oh but don't tell him that! It's what our father used to call me but it sounds like a man's name does it not?"

At this Elizabeth could not help but smile which proved to be most painful causing her to moan involuntarily.

"I'm so sorry," Georgiana said immediately. "Are you in much pain?"

"It is tolerable," Elizabeth replied. "As long as I refrain from smiling apparently which is most unfortunate as I do like to laugh."

Georgiana patted Elizabeth's hand, "You will heal." She paused before continuing "I must ask, my brother has been deeply concerned for your welfare and is likely wearing a threadbare path on the carpet in front of your door in angst, may I admit him?"

"Would that be proper?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, I do believe these to be extraordinary circumstances and Mrs. Reynolds and myself will of course be here. You are not indecent in any way. No, I do not believe it to be improper at all, although I will admit that your health is likely more so at the forefront of Fitzwilliam's thoughts than any impropriety at this juncture," Georgianna relayed thoughtfully.

Feeling somewhat relieved by the answer, Elizabeth consented and Mrs. Reynolds went to fetch Mr. Darcy. True to what Georgianna said, he must have been right outside of the room because he entered immediately and approached the chair where his sister was still sitting.

"Look dear Brother, isn't it comforting to see Miss Elizabeth awake?" Georgiana asked affectionately.

Mr. Darcy nodded. "It is. Truely."

Georgianna, as if sensing that her brother wanted to be able to speak more freely with Elizabeth, gently excused herself before standing and surrendering her seat to him as moved to sit across the room with Mrs. Reynolds.

Mr. Darcy moved the chair closer to the bed and sat down. Elizabeth was astonished to see how weary he looked.

"How are you feeling, Miss Bennett?" Mr. Darcy asked softly. "How extreme is your discomfort?"

Elizabeth sighed and did a quick self assessment. "Better than when I first awoke, sir. The dull ache in my head has subsided greatly. While the room does not spin presently I cannot say what it would do if I were to attempt to stand. If only I were able to speak and eat properly I might even feel like myself once more."

"I cannot convey to you how much of a relief this is to hear. I have been worried most sincerely about you since I had been summoned from town," Mr. Darcy said his voice betraying the emotions he was trying to keep hidden.

"Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth began, "Why will no one tell me what happened to me?"

Mr. Darcy lowered his gaze for a moment before responding, "Why don't we begin with what you do recall first?"

Elizabeth paused for a moment and said quietly, "Lydia." Her breath caught as she focused on the memories she had been trying to push away. "My mother. I remember Lady Catherine. She believed as my mother did. She said…" Elizabeth stopped and began to get frightened as she recalled what was said, "She said I was putting you and Miss Georgiana in danger. I had no such notion and I had never dreamed it to be so-"

"Please don't" Mr. Darcy interrupted placing his hand briefly but gently over hers. "You are here at my personal invitation in order to allow you the space and comfort to properly grieve for your sister. My Aunt had not the privilege nor the right to say such things to you and I can assure you that she has been expelled from the grounds and is not likely to be welcomed back for some time. You must allow me to first apologize profusely for her behavior towards you," Darcy paused before taking a shaky breath and continuing. "And then allow me to extend my deepest and most heartfelt apologies for not being able to fully ensure your complete and total safety upon my grounds. If I could but take from you the entirety of your pain and discomfort and place it upon myself I would do so without a moment's hesitation," he finished emotionally.

There were a plethora of questions that formed in Elizabeth's quickly tiring head but the one that seemed the loudest and most pressing was "From whom was I not safe? Please sir? I cannot recall anything beyond being escorted from the library."

"I do not wish to cause you more distress so I must preface with my absolute reassurances that you are safe and that no further harm will come to you nor anyone else in my charge," Mr. Darcy began. Elizabeth could see in his eyes the strength of his convictions and at that moment never felt safer.

"I believe in your words and put my absolute trust and faith in you, sir," Elizabeth said gazing up at him.

Mr. Darcy held her gaze in silence for a bit before blinking rapidly and recounting, as he heard it, the events of her attack by Mr Wickam.

Elizabeth could not help keep the tears from forming in her eyes upon hearing what Mr. Wickham had done to her. As several tears escaped her eyes she asked quietly, "What is it that my family has done to offend him so greatly that he must cause us such harm?"

"I do not believe that your family has been the intended targets but was instead the unfortunate victims of circumstance," Mr. Darcy said sadly as he handed over a handkerchief from his pocket. "Mr. Wickham was here at Pemberley to take his aggressions out on me. Unfortunately, you happened upon him first and I believe he acted out of desperation."

Elizabeth was silent for several contemplative moments before inquiring, "What was said to my father? Or Jane? What a state they must be in!"

"I confess, Miss Bennett, I have not yet sent word to Longborn. Forgive me for my neglect on this but I could not bear to bring them such unpleasant news especially as they are still in mourning for your dear sister. I was most desperate for you to awaken in order to tell them less disturbing news regarding your condition," Mr. Darcy finished quietly.

"That is probably best. I will write home sir, and spare you the trouble," Elizabeth said. "Although I must confess I am feeling quite weary right now which troubles me greatly if I truly slept as much as everyone has said."

Mr. Darcy stood. "Do not be troubled. Dr. Thomas indicated that the drought he would be leaving to help with the pain would likely cause you to be drowsy. I will leave you to get some rest. Mrs. Reynolds has arranged a schedule of my most trusted house staff to be with you at all times to attend to your every need. I shall be available as well should you need anything."

"Thank you, sir. Please do not allow me to be a burden. I am certain I can manage," Elizabeth replied.

"It is no burden," he promised with a small smile. "Georgiana, let us allow Miss Bennett to rest while we go down for tea." Mr. Darcy called to his sister who was engaged in quiet conversation on the far side of the room with Mrs. Reynolds.

Georgiana rose from where she was sitting and approached the bed. "I can come call on you later this evening if you'd like, Elizabeth."

"I would like that very much," Elizabeth responded warmly.

Georgiana smiled, curtsied and turned to walk to the door while her brother lingered a few moments. He opened his mouth several times as if to say something but instead held her gaze intently before bowing and following his sister.

Mrs. Reynolds and a chambermaid named Emma helped reposition her in bed and then Mrs. Reynolds left the room leaving Emma behind to resume her position across the room should Elizabeth require any assistance.

At last, the enormity of the events that had been relayed to her combined with her frustration and grief finally overwhelmed her, causing the tears that she had been blinking back since awakening to fall freely until she drifted off into a fitful sleep.