Author's Note: Enjoy this chapter! Hopefully you won't have to wait as long for the next one.
A few hours later, Darcy and Elizabeth woke, tangled in each other's arms. He sat up, rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked at the clock.
"It is time for me to dress for dinner. Would you like yours to be sent up now?"
"Sent up?" she said as she leaned back against the headboard, "I wish to go down and eat."
"Doctor Perry said you should spend as much time in bed as possible."
"Yes, but he said I could make small trips. I plan to go down to eat then I can return to bed. I wish to eat with everyone and I'll be seated the whole time so it shouldn't be a problem."
"Elizabeth, I'm not sure if that's such a good idea."
"I plan to be quick, I promise. You can escort me down the stairs with the help of a manservant if you think it necessary."
"Elizabeth, I do not wish to keep you in your chambers, but I get worried. Are you sure you are fine? Does your head hurt?"
"I will be perfectly fine, Fitzwiliam. My head does ache, but only at the site of the injury. I wish to dine with everyone. I appreciate the concern but I promise you that everything will be alright."
"Okay, I will ring the bell and we can dress for dinner." He rang the bell before he left for his dressing room.
She dressed more slowly than usual. Her maid was careful with her and took her time getting her ready for dinner. Her hair was braided loosely. The injury prevented her hair from being intricately done up. She was with family and there was no need to get dressed up. She smiled thinking of the fit Caroline Bingley would have if she saw her right now.
When she finished, Darcy was waiting for her at the door between their chambers.
"You look lovely," he said smiling at her.
"Oh stop!" She cried, "I barely look well enough to go downstairs but it is no matter."
"Believe what you will, but I think you look lovely. Come, take my arm and we will go down." He took her arm and slowly walked her down the stairs. It took them twice as long as normal to make it down to the dining room. By the time they made it there, everyone was already seated.
"Elizabeth," Jane said, "We were not expecting you to come down to dinner."
"I felt well enough to come down. After our meal, I will go back to bed. I am allowed to make short trips so I thought I would stretch my legs."
"Well, I am glad to see you out of bed," Georgiana added.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said as the first course was brought out. She selected only bland dishes. She only ate a small amount, but she enjoyed the company. "Do you plan to return to visit the estate?" she asked the Bingleys.
"Well, I wish to stay with you. I do not want to leave you when you are confined to a bed."
"Do not stay on my account!" she protested. "If you could be settled into an estate before my confinement, it would make me so happy."
"Are you sure? I would never wish to leave you if you were ill."
"Jane, go look at the estate. My one condition is that you go and look without my husband."
"That will not be a problem. If you insist, we will go look at estates. I would like to be settled by the end of the summer."
"Then it's settled! You shall look at estates and be back here in no time."
Dinner continued, though Elizabeth avoided some of the richer foods. Darcy made a note to talk to Mrs. Reynolds about a blander menu. He knew he might be overstepping but it had to be done. She would never deprive her guests of delicious food just because she could not eat it.
After the meal, Darcy helped Elizabeth back up the stairs and Georgiana took over the role of hostess to entertain the Bingleys and play for them in the parlour. He helped her undress from dinner, not wishing to waste time by calling her maid. He was well versed with how to remove her gowns by this point in their marriage.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as he helped her back into bed.
"I am tired," she said as she slipped below the covers.
"Perhaps I will see if Mrs. Reynolds can prepare a more bland menu. Doctor Perry might have suggestions of meals to try, perhaps some with fewer spices and sauces."
"Fitzwilliam, we do not need to change the whole menu just because I cannot handle the rich foods."
"The whole menu does not need to be changed. Cook can make special meals just for you," he clarified.
"Alright, if you insist. It would be helpful to have more foods on the menu that I can eat," she said. "Oh Fitzwilliam! I forgot to tell you, I spoke with Georgiana and she does not wish to go to town for the season."
"Why?" he asked scratching his head.
"She does not want me to be lonely. I told her not to worry about me and to enjoy the season."
"I will speak to her as well. I think it's important that she go to town."
"You do?" she asked with genuine surprise. Darcy was very protective of his sister and she was well aware that he did not wish for her to marry any time soon.
"Yes, I still believe she is too young to be married but she will enjoy town. Aunt Matlock will take good care of her and take her to all the best plays and operas. It will be good for her to make some more friends. I feel guilty sometimes that her society is so confined."
"You should talk to her tomorrow morning. It is important that she knows we are on the same page."
"Very well, I'll talk to her tomorrow. I do not feel like going back down tonight."
"Alright," she said pulling him down onto the bed with her.
"Elizabeth, I'm still dressed for dinner."
"I could help you with that." She grinned.
"Elizabeth," he said sternly, "you know that Doctor Perry has forbidden that until further notice."
"Very well," she sighed as she pulled the covers down on his side of the bed and waited for him to undress and climb in beside her.