Edited by nanciellen
PPP
The doctor arrived in less than two hours, and after checking over Darcy thoroughly, he met with Georgiana and Mrs. Reynolds, expressing great concern…
"…Mr. Darcy's diagnosis is very complex. His right leg and his right wrist are broken as well as two ribs." He paused and sighed. "I cleaned all his wounds, which fortunately were not deep and I do not know whether they will get infected. What worries me the most is that he was lying out in the open for a long time, and he has come down with a bad fever. I gave him some laudanum as he is very sore and the pain is preventing him from getting sleep."
Mrs. Reynolds looked him in the eye and asked, "Doctor, please tell us what we can do to help Mr. Darcy to get better."
"As the fever may continue for some time, it is important that you apply the cloths soaked in cold water constantly to his head and body." He sighed. "If you agree, I would like to stay overnight at Pemberley as I honestly fear for Mr. Darcy's life."
Georgiana blanched and tears filled her eyes. Mrs. Reynolds took a deep breath and nodded. "I am going to prepare a room for you next to Mr. Darcy's. We are going to follow your instructions to the letter."
The doctor nodded. "Remember, it is very important that Mr. Darcy is well hydrated and the room must be well-ventilated. Also, it is important he continues to rest as much as possible and eats well. I suggest that you make a broth with chicken and give him frequently very light meals. I have some medicine and a cough ointment that I am going to show his valet how to apply."
Mrs. Reynolds nodded and immediately went to prepare a bedroom for the doctor. Georgiana, who was unaware of the heated argument between Richard and his brother, sent him an express, with an explanation of what had happened and asked him to come to Pemberley as soon as possible. She gave the letter to one of the servants to post. She was absolutely terrified and afraid of what had happened to her brother.
Later she went to her brother's room and stayed with him until dawn praying and controlling his fever with cold clothes. Fortunately, Darcy slept most of the night and had very little fever.
On the second day, Darcy woke up very sore, with a bad cough; he still had a slight fever. The doctor examined him again and very carefully rebandaged his fractured leg and wrist. Mrs. Reynolds brought him broth with chicken to drink and a grated apple with honey. Although he was in great pain, he did not want the doctor to give him laudanum.
In the course of the night, Darcy's fever began to rise. His valet, Mr. Potter, applied the cold clothes all through the night and managed to bring his fever down to a more acceptable level. At dawn, Mr. Potter was relieved by Mrs. Reynolds. Georgiana relieved Mrs. Reynolds at noon and spent the afternoon with her brother. The third and fourth day was very similar to the second, and on the fifth night, the worst began…
Darcy had a bad cough, and the fever had escalated to very high levels. The doctor told Mrs. Reynolds and Georgiana that there was nothing more he could do but ensure that the cold clothes continued to be applied frequently and ask everyone to pray.
Georgiana did not want to leave Darcy that night and Mrs. Reynolds stayed with him as well. In the early morning, Darcy began to shake and became delirious. Desperately he called for Elizabeth and told her that he loved her and that he needed her.
At dawn, Darcy's fever subsided, but he still had periods of delirium calling for Elizabeth. Georgiana lay down to sleep for a few hours. When she woke up, her maid told her that her cousin Richard had already arrived at Pemberley.
Before going to find Richard, Georgiana wrote a note to Elizabeth telling her that her brother was ill, because her brother had told her that they were engaged, it was important that she be aware of what was going on.
She passed by her brother's bedroom first, and Mr. Potter told her that the fever had gone down in the last few hours and that Darcy was currently sleeping. Later Georgiana went down to the dining room where Richard was having breakfast.
Georgiana ran to hug Richard; she felt that now that her cousin had arrived everything was going to be better in Pemberley...