Charles Bingley had cause to stop and ponder his recent role as detective, as he bent down to collect Elizabeth into his arms. He decided as he came closer to the house, Elizabeth in hand, that he was happy to forgo his investigative skills. After hearing his new mother-in-law's voice echoing through the windows of Longbourn Charles also deduced that is was time for he and his new bride to take their leave.
Pushing through the front door of his wedding celebration Charles was met by shrieks and gasps.
Mr. Bennet stepped forward, bypassing his hysterical wife, to relieve Mr. Bingley and take Lizzy into his own arms. Stopping a moment Mr. Bennet had a brief conversation with his new son to learn the particulars surrounding the scene.
Carrying Lizzy up the stairs Mr. Bennet was met by his eldest daughter.
"Papa, what is wrong?" Jane pleaded while following her father down the hallway.
"Jane dear everything is well. Mr. Bingley said that Lizzy lost consciousness outside. We are indebted to him for protecting her." Mr. Bennet continued talking while resting Lizzy atop the bed. "I believe she will come to, and then she will need to rest."
Mr. Bennet retreated from the room heading downstairs to calm his wife, who could be heard wailing from the parlour.
Hill busied herself in the background filling a basin with cold water, and then brought it to rest on the bedside table.
Jane sat next to her sister on the bed, brushing her sweat soaked tresses out of her face.
"Dearest Lizzy, please feel well." Jane whispered as she ran the bottle of smelling salts under her sister's nose.
Lizzy began to stir. Gently, Jane ran a cool rag over her sister's forehead relieving the heat and worry from Lizzy's brow.
Mr. Bingley appeared in the doorway, checking to confirm that Elizabeth was feeling fit. He knew secretly that Darcy would never forgive him if something had befallen Elizabeth on his watch.
Seeing Jane affectionately care for her sister reinforced the reasons why he married her. Leaning up against the doorframe watching Jane, he wished his dear friend would find the same contentment.
Jane looked back to her husband and smiled reassuringly as Lizzy's checks began to fill with color.
Bingley knew that he and Darcy were always as close as brothers, but he wished that the day would soon come when they truly would be linked as family.
Leaving Hertfordshire behind him, and sitting in his grand carriage, Darcy was riddled with pangs of regret and guilt.
He desperately wished to stay and support Charles and he painfully wished to never be far from Elizabeth, even if she had betrayed his trust, but he had a task that could not wait a moment longer.
As the Darcy carriage neared the fork in the road it detoured from the main road leading towards London.
The coachman had strict orders from the master not to delay, for they were on the road to Kent, and Mr. Darcy wished to reach Rosings Park within the day.