Lizzy awoke and found herself blushing at the thought of what she had told her husband this morning. She could not think of where the words had come from! She had been to wanton! She smiled at the thought of his face, even she could see the undeniable desire there. Her thoughts kept her quite occupied as Mira brushed out her hair and dressed her for the day.
Once she was settled in the breakfast room, alone because Georgiana had already eaten and gone back to bed, it hit her. She had absolutely nothing to do today! Mr. Darcy had been spending as much time with her as possible, since they were supposed to still be on a honeymoon. He had promised her that they would take a real honeymoon in the futre.
"Mira?" She called. She knew that the young maid would come running. Mira appeared a second later.
"Yes ma'am?" She asked, slightly breathless.
"Is it still raining? I should like to take a walk" She told the girl. Mira shook her head.
"Mrs. Darcy, it has stopped raining yes, but it will be a few more days until you can venture outside" Mira said. Lizzy didn't understand, she wasn't afraid of a little mud. She told Mira just that. Mira smiled slightly.
"Derbyshire is not quite like Hertfordshire ma'am, the rain freezes upon the ground" She told her. Lizzy tried not to groan. Of course, Derbyshire was quite far north, and it was January.
Ice could be a dangerous thing.
In the end she settled on writing long letters to her sisters. Jane's was full on congratulations on her engagement, endless questions about the wedding, and useless little sentences about her trivial day.
To Mary she discussed a sermon she had heard a week prior. She wanted Mary's opinion on what a certain passage had meant.
For her youngest sisters she wrote just one letter, knowing that only Kitty would both reading it. In it she discussed the latest fashion trends, her newest gowns and lace, and other trivial fashion bits.
Her father's letter was filled with her joy in her marriage. She knew that he worried about her happiness. She also demanded a play by play of Mrs. Bennet's reaction to the engagement.
Georgiana joined her later for tea, and the two then retired to the piano room to entertain themselves.
The next day Lizzy spent in bed. She had woken up in the middle of the night covered in sweat, her head pounding and her throat raw, she immediately called for Mira, who panicked and called the doctor.
With the ice and snow, it took the doctor nearly an hour to arrive. When he did he felt her cheeks, her forehead, and looked down her throat. In the end, he pronounced it a simple cold. He instructed Mrs. Reynolds, who Mira had woken up, to apply cold compresses to her forehead until her slight fever subsided. Georgiana came to see her around midday. The poor girl looked frightened.
"Lizzy?" She whispered. Lizzy laughed, causing her to wince in pain.
"Oh Georgiana, come in dearest. It is but a silly cold. Poor Mira assumed the worst last night." Lizzy assured her. Georgiana smiled faintly and sat on the edge of her bed.
"I sent word to William in London" Georgiana admitted after a second. Lizzy held in a groan. He would be worried. "I told him not to worry, that I would make you feel better!" Georgiana laughed. "It seems Mrs. Reynolds did all the hard work though"
"I wasn't that ill!"Lizzy protested. "My fever broke only an hour or two ago. Poor Mrs. Reynolds was asleep on her feet"
"Shall I bring you something to eat? Some tea perhaps?" Georgiana asked.
"Tea would be lovely" Lizzy replied. "Thank you dear"
When Georgiana arrived Lizzy had dressed herself in a simple morning dress, and plaited her hair down her back. Some color had returned to her cheeks.
"I hate being ill!" Lizzy announced. "Come, let us take the tea in my sitting room, and you can tell me all about something trifle and entertaining!"
Lizzy was nearly back to her old self the next day, but Georgiana seemed to have caught the bug. Poor thing was much more fevered then Lizzy, and spent the day asleep. Lizzy sat with her until her fever broke as well, then left her to slumber in peace. At her insistence, another express had been sent to Mr. Darcy, to assure him all was well.
"Mrs. Darcy?" Mrs. Reynolds asked, walking into the sitting room on the west wing of the third floor.
"Yes?" Lizzy asked, looking up from the book she was reading on the window seat.
"You shouldn't sit so close to the window after being sick ma'am" Mrs. Reynolds told her with a stern glare, and a gentle smile. Lizzy laughed, putting the book down.
"I shall move closer to the fireplace then" She sat next to the woman infront of the table.
"I have the menus for tomorrow for you to look over" The older woman said kindly, spreading out the sheets she had carried in. Lizzy looked over the menu and smiled. It featured all of William's favorites. He was coming home tomorrow.
"Perfect. Thank you Mrs. Reynolds" She told her. "What was the courier for earlier?" She asked, referring to the mysterious delivery that had arrived after tea.
"Mr. Darcy had a few things sent up from London" Mrs. Reynolds replied. Lizzy nodded, he would explain further when he got home.
"What time do you expect him to arrive?" Lizzy asked. She pestered the woman nearly everyday over this question. Lizzy herself had never ridden from London all the way north to Derbyshire.
"He should be home before nightfall" She replied. "He planned to leave today, and to stop along the road for the night." Lizzy nodded.
"Thank you" She replied, watching as the older woman walked out. She had a bad feeling about something.
She couldn't sleep that night. She was restless, tossing and turning in her empty bed. She had grown accustomed to sleeping with him next to her.
The next morning she took extra care in preparing her toilette. Mira elegantly twisted her hair into a pretty looking bun, securing the creation with a simple pearl clip. She dressed in a new jade and cream-colored dress; along with the jade necklace he had given her over their courtship.
"Good morning Georgiana" Lizzy said pleasantly as she joined the younger girl in the music room for tea. Georgiana had also spent more time getting ready this morning. Her long blonde hair hung loose to her waist. Her cream colored dress making her look younger, like an angel. She was still pale, and her voice was rather throaty, but the fever had passed, and her head no longer throbbed.
"Good afternoon Lizzy" She whispered.
"It has rained nonstop for three days" She told her, worried.
"All will be well" The older woman tried to assure her. She nodded. They continued their false giggles and jokes until the sky grew darker yet.
"I shall go find Mrs. Reynolds" Lizzy announced. Georgiana nodded, moving closer to the window, as if she would be able to see her brother's approach.
Mrs. Reynolds was bustling about the kitchens. She scolded Mrs. Darcy for worrying when Lizzy worried aloud about her husband.
"Hush now child. He will be fine" She assured the younger woman. Lizzy was unconvinced. She returned to the music room to find Georgiana still looking out the window.
The hour for dinner went by, and a few more after it. The feast they had prepared for his homecoming sat untouched on the tables. It was much too late. Lizzy and Georgiana went to find Mrs. Reynolds. The older woman looked admittedly worried.
"Something's wrong" Lizzy stated seeing the woman's face.
"It is late" She admitted.
"Can we not look for him?" Georgiana pleaded. "William is always here when he says he will be here, something is wrong," She pleaded.
"Gather some men" Lizzy told Mrs. Reynolds. "Light the lanterns, torches, whatever it takes. Search the main roads leading here" Mrs. Reynolds nodded and started yelling out directions.
"Come, let us wait in the front room" She led Georgiana to the room closet to the foyer, and sat down on the couch. Georgiana laid her head upon her lap. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
"Sshh, do not cry Georgie" Lizzy tried to soothe her. "All shall be fine dearest," The words sounded hollow, even to her.
After another hour, Georgiana was asleep against her.
She could not even close her eyes, in fear of what could happen.
She heard voices in the foyer just after the clock had struck twelve. Careful not to disturb Georgiana, she hastily scrambled out the door and down the stairs to the main entrance. Several mud-laden stable boys stood about, lanterns half out. A few more were still straggling through the door. At the end of the line were three men. The middle one was being supported by the other to. With a gasp, she realized who it was.
"Oh god" She gasped, "Fitzwilliam!"