A/N: Sorry for the delay. I did really not mean to leave you hanging for so long, it was not intentional I just got really busy. Enjoy this chapter!
"I, I think I've killed my sister," Lydia stammered, still frozen in shock.
Caroline, in a rather unladylike move, kneeled over Lizzy's body and put her hand on her neck, "she is still breathing. Fear not, you have not killed her. Now tell me," she said standing up to face Lydia, "What happened? I was trying to listen through the door but I could not quite make out what was being said."
"We were, well, I was following through on our plan and she got angry with me. She threatened to throw me from her home and cut off all financial support. I, I was so frightened and overcome with fear in a moment of panic, so I shoved her. I did not believe she would fall backwards and injure herself. Whatever should I do?"
Caroline was silent for a moment. "I cannot be found here. I am going to go up to my chambers and pretend I was there the whole time. You are to go and find a servant, the nearest footman will do. You are to tell them that the two of you were talking and she suddenly collapsed backwards and hit her head."
"Thank you Miss. Bingley. I do not know how I would manage without you."
Caroline nodded, "Now I am going to retreat up my chambers and you shall wait a few moments before you run to find help. Good luck." She said as she walked over to the door. She pressed her ear to the door to listen for footsteps, and hearing none, quietly slipped from the room and vanished up the stairs.
Lydia was still shaken up as she waited an appropriate length of time to find a servant. She had not meant to hurt Lizzy, not really. She did not wish to kill her or her unborn babe. Once the appropriate length of time had passed, she dashed into the hallway.
"Help! Help! Oh Lord, someone help!" she cried.
A footman came running, "What is the matter, ma'am?"
"Mrs. Darcy has collapsed and hit her head. She is bleeding and unconscious. Fetch Mrs. Reynolds at once!"
He nodded and ran downstairs. Lydia returned to her sister's side and waited. She saw that her head was still bleeding and her chestnut hair was matted with blood. She was pale, paler than usual, especially because her skin had been browned by the springtime sun. No, things did not look good.
A few moments later, Mrs. Reynolds threw open the door and surveyed the scene. "Oh goodness," she cried as she knelt beside Lydia. Lydia watched as she took control of the situation. She assessed Lizzy's condition before calling two footmen to carry her to her chamber.
"Send for the doctor, at once," she told another footman. Her mouth was pulled tightly and she looked anxious.
As Lizzy was carried up to her chambers, Mrs. Reynolds followed behind and disappeared down a corridor. Lydia hesitantly ascended the stairs. There was so much going on around her and she was doing nothing. There was not much for her to do. Once she got to the top, she saw Georgiana Darcy emerge and enter Mrs. Darcy's chambers. Surely Mrs. Reynolds had gone to her first. Without thinking, Lydia followed her in.
"Oh, Mrs. Wickham!" Georgiana sighed, "How terrible this is. Thank goodness you were with her when she collapsed. I can only imagine how long it would have taken for her to be discovered."
"Yes. Yes." Lydia replied, not sure how to respond.
"Oh, I do hope Doctor Perry arrives soon. Mrs. Reynolds does not believe it to be wise to write to Fitzwilliam without a proper diagnosis or at least more information."
"Do you believe he will return at once?"
"Without any doubt. My only fear is that he will injure himself while riding home. My wish is that the doctor will have good news and that he will not have to rush."
"Yes. Let us hope the doctor has good news."
Elizabeth's two sisters sat at her bedside for nearly a half an hour before Doctor Perry arrived. Georgiana was distraught and looked as though she would be sick with worry while Lydia's distress was thought to be worry over he sister's health and nothing more. He dismissed the ladies, but wished to speak with Lydia following his examination of Mrs. Darcy.
Lydia was exceedingly nervous that Doctor Perry would somehow discover that Elizabeth did not really collapse. Despite his questions, he did not appear to have discovered the truth.
"I have my diagnosis," he announced as the party gathered, "fear not, she has not lost the babe."
"Oh, thank heavens," Georgiana let out a breath she had been holding. Lydia too was relieved. Even Caroline breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is she awake?" Mrs. Reynolds asked. Lydia blanched. She had not anticipated what would happen if Lizzy woke up. She would surely be exposed.
"No," the doctor said, "she has not. And I do not know when she will awake. Head injuries can be very strange. The bleeding has stopped, which is a good sign. She might wake in a few hours, or it could be days. Since she is with child, the sooner she wakes up the better. Once she is awake, I will be able to determine if there is any brain damage."
"Brain damage, what do you mean, sir?" Lydia asked.
"Sometimes, with head injuries, the victim suffers long after the physical injury has healed. They may have issues with memory or speech."
"Do, do you think that will be the case with my sister?" Georgiana asked meekly.
"No. I did not wish to frighten you. I believe the wound to be superficial and that her body is taking much longer to recover due to her condition."
"Thank you Doctor Perry," Mrs. Reynolds said.
"I shall write to my brother at once," Georgiana declared, "and knowing him, he will be here at Pemberley in the morning and hopefully with return to a conscious wife."