Chapter 9

Monday morning Elizabeth arose early despite not having slept much the night before. She had struggled to sleep since seeing the scars on Mr. Darcy's back. She agonized over her suppositions about his painful past and not knowing how he was the past few days. She let out a large sigh, set her troubled thoughts aside, and prepared for the day. Since it would be a few hours until breakfast, she decided to spend time with her cousins in the nursery. She had always enjoyed spending time with them, but had become more devoted to them over the past few days.

She was restless throughout breakfast, unsure if after she would be greeted by an awaiting carriage or another note. She looked up at every sound from the street in anticipation. Finally there was a knock on the door and it was announced that the carriage had been sent from Darcy House. As she rode across London, she wondered how Mr. Darcy was and how best to approach him after the awkwardness of their last encounter. She still hadn't arrived at any conclusions by the time they arrived.

Miss Darcy greeted her enthusiastically when she entered the drawing room, and even embraced her warmly. She apologized for not being able to see Elizabeth the last few days. She began explaining it was due to her monthlies before stopping and turning bright red. "I apologize Miss Bennet. I never should have spoken about such a subject. I'm so embarrassed. Please forgive me," Miss Darcy said as she turned even redder and tears filled her eyes.

Elizabeth smiled at her reassuringly, "Not to worry Miss Darcy. I have four sisters, so I am well accustomed to hearing such complaints and discussing this and other subjects."

Miss Darcy looked at her in wonder, "You have four sisters! How wonderful! I have always dreamed of having a sister. Would you tell me about them?"

Elizabeth smiled at the normally shy girl's enthusiasm. They spoke at great length about all the Bennet daughters, their hobbies and interests, personalities, and stories of growing up together. Miss Darcy's enthusiasm continued to grow and she asked numerous questions. Elizabeth never imagined Miss Darcy could be so excitable. Her excitement grew even more upon hearing that Elizabeth's eldest sister was also in London, and she requested Jane be brought to join them for tea one day. Elizabeth agreed to invite her sister while inwardly panicking that she would not be able to visit Mr. Darcy if her sister joined her. Worse, she knew Jane would disapprove if she found out that Elizabeth had been tending to Mr. Darcy. Would her sister's kind, compassionate heart be able to understand?

"Now, Miss Darcy, I have told you about growing up with a house full of sisters. Would you tell me what it was like growing up with Mr. Darcy?"

Miss Darcy's enthusiasm immediately disappeared. She looked down at her lap and begin picking at imaginary lint on her gown as she carefully replied, "I do not know him well. We didn't spend much time together growing up. He was away at school and rarely returned to Pemberley during breaks and holidays. My father seemed to disapprove of him. And now my brother, well…I believe he is still angry at me."

Elizabeth made a note to ask later about the elder Mr. Darcy's disapproval of his son, but started by asking, "Why would your brother be angry with you?"

Tears began to stream down Miss Darcy's face as she told Elizabeth about Ramsgate and Mr. Wickham. He had always been kind to her when she was young, and her father had doted on him. She hadn't seen him for years when she ran into him in Ramsgate. Her companion had encouraged her to be in his company. She was initially overjoyed to have a visitor, but grew uncomfortable as his intentions became more marked. When Mr. Wickham had tried to push her into eloping, she had refused and asked him to stop calling on her. The next day, her companion had shown him into the drawing room and left them alone, despite her protests. She had been trying to escape the room when he had cornered her and tried to force himself on her. She fought him off and cried out for help. Fortunately one of the footman quickly came to her aid and was able to remove the reprobate from the house with the help of the butler. Fearing for her reputation, she got the servants to agree not to go to the magistrate and to never speak of the incident. She returned to Pemberley the next day.

Elizabeth was shocked. She couldn't imagine the amiable Mr. Wickham behaving so reprehensibly. She had thought well of him, but now his charming manners and smiles seemed sinister. She embraced Miss Darcy and tried her best to comfort her until the girl regained some of her composure. Before she could think of what to say, Miss Darcy spoke, "I hadn't seen Mr. Wickham since, until the day I ran into you. I was out shopping on Bond Street when I saw him. I was so scared, I just started running."

Elizabeth embraced her again, her heart breaking for all the poor girl had suffered at the hands of Mr. Wickham. "I'm very sorry you went through all of that Miss Darcy. I had been wondering about the day we met, but now I completely understand your reaction. A gentleman should never do such a thing, and especially to one as young and sweet as you. Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me." Miss Darcy nodded, and they sat in silence for a few moments.

"Miss Darcy, forgive me, but you told me this story to explain why you believe your brother to be angry with you. I don't understand how he could be angry at you for Mr. Wickham's actions."

"Fitzwilliam…he…he doesn't know that part. When he asked why I had left Ramsgate, I started to tell him, but he became so angry by the time I got to the elopement that I couldn't bring myself to tell him the rest. We've spoken even less ever since. Of course he fired my companion. I couldn't bear the thought of a new companion, for what if she put me in danger like Mrs. Younge had? I wished for time alone, so I got my brother to agree to wait to hire a new companion and assured him I would be well taken care of by the staff while he was in Hertfordshire. When he returned, he seemed distracted. But since he came back from visiting our Aunt Catherine, he has remained in his rooms. I believe he is still angry and wishes to avoid me."

"Dear Miss Darcy, I'm sorry you have felt abandoned by your brother, but I don't believe he is angry with you. I know he wrote to you frequently while he was in Hertfordshire, and he always spoke of you fondly there and when I saw him in Kent. Mr. Darcy is…," Elizabeth hesitated as she thought about how to tell her about Mr. Darcy without revealing the visits or her improper care of him. "The day we met, I inquired about your brother after I left you. I learned from Mrs. Talbot that he has been very unwell."

"Fitzwilliam is ill? But I thought, I had assumed that…then he's not avoiding me? I thought he had no wish to see me, so I hadn't thought to ask. Oh what a terrible sister I am!"

"Not at all Miss Darcy. You and your brother have both been through a great deal, and have merely misunderstood each other. I'm sure Mr. Darcy would be happy to see you."

Miss Darcy agreed that she would visit her brother. Elizabeth was relieved. She hoped seeing his sister would help Mr. Darcy improve, and that the two could fix their relationship. In her concern, and eagerness to care for another and forget her own troubles, Miss Darcy immediately called for Mrs. Talbot to join them.

Once the housekeeper arrived, Miss Darcy inquired about her brother. They were both dismayed at Mrs. Talbot's response, "He is worse than before I'm afraid. He stopped eating again. And he has refused to allow any of the staff to enter his room. He has barred the door, so we can't even go in to tend to things while he sleeps as we had been doing."

"Why would he not allow the staff to tend to him if he is unwell? I must see him," Miss Darcy said as she rushed towards the door before remembering that she had a guest. "Forgive me Miss Bennet. I do hope you will excuse me. Thank you for coming to see me again today. I hope our conversation won't prevent you from returning."

Elizabeth, well pleased that Miss Darcy was eager to tend to Mr. Darcy, replied that she would return, but under one condition. Miss Darcy's face immediately fell and Elizabeth chided herself for her poor attempt to tease the girl. "I'm sorry Miss Darcy. I was in jest. I was merely going to ask that you call me Lizzy, as my sisters do. After all, we have shared much with each other."

Miss Darcy's face brightened a little, "Thank you Lizzy. I would be honored. I hope you are able to call again tomorrow, for now I must see to my brother."