Chapter 3
Charlotte was so happy to see her friend awake, finally. She had been so worried and had hoped she wouldn't have to explain the situation to her husband, to Mr. Darcy's Aunt, Lady Catherine or to Elizabeth's father, Mr. Bennet. She was surprised that Mr. Darcy insisted on going for the apothecary himself. She assumed he would want to spend time with his fiancee now that she was awake. How nervous he seemed as he quickly explained that Elizabeth was awake and bolted out the door to fetch the apothecary.
As she approached Elizabeth's room, she heard a shaky voice. "Miss, who was that man in my room? Why was he here? How odd that he would be allowed to attend me if he wasn't the apothecary or the Doctor." The maid did not reply and was very happy when Charlotte entered the room. The maid quickly curtsied and fled the room.
Charlotte was perplexed at the questions her friend was asking. Elizabeth didn't remember Mr. Darcy? She didn't remember his proposal? She decided to wait for the apothecary to examine her before she answered her questions.
Charlotte asked Elizabeth how she was feeling. Elizabeth answered that her head hurt and her ankle hurt and she was very tired and confused. Charlotte demurred to answer Elizabeth's questions about Mr. Darcy. "Let's wait until the apothecary has seen you before we talk any further. You still need to rest and regain your strength. Let me get you some broth. You haven't eaten in two days and you need sustenance."
A short time later, Mr. Darcy returned with the apothecary, but he remained in the parlor to await his report. Upstairs, the apothecary checked Elizabeth's head wound and ankle wound and said they were healing nicely but that she should stay in bed for one more day and stay off her ankle for a week. Next he started asking her what she remembered.
"I remember getting ready for an assembly, in the fall I think it was. I don't remember you getting married or traveling to see you here Charlotte. I don't remember the gentleman that was here when I awoke." replied Elizabeth.
"Don't worry about that." the apothecary said. You may regain your memories a little bit over the next few days. Time will tell." With that, he took his leave to go down and talk to Mr. Darcy.
He found Mr. Darcy pacing in the parlor. As soon as the apothecary entered the parlor, Mr. Darcy stared at him apprehensively. "How is Miss Bennet?" he asked.
"Her head wound is healing nicely, there should be nary a scar. Her ankle will heal but she must stay her off it for at least a week." the apothecary said hopefully. "She has no memories since an assembly in the fall, but I believe her memories may slowly return to her over the next week, if they ever do. I will return to check on her in two days. Let me know if you need me before then."
"Do you think there is a chance she will not recover the missing memories?"
"That is possible. The brain is not well understood by doctors. She may recover all of her memories, some of her memories or none of her memories. There is no way to know at this time."
"Thank you for all your help sir." Mr. Darcy stated with a slight bow before he saw the apothecary to the door.
Upstairs, Elizabeth was awaiting answers from Mrs. Collins. Charlotte was trying to ascertain the best way to tell Elizabeth what had happened and who the man was that she had awoken to.
"Elizabeth" she started slowly. "A lot has happened since the assembly that you remember. You met Mr. Darcy at that assembly and spent some time with him and his friends at Netherfield Hall in the fall when your sister Jane fell ill. I thought I detected affection on both sides, but the Netherfield party left in November and you hadn't seen any of them until you came to Hunsford." She was worried about how to present Mr. Darcy in the best light, hoping that Elizabeth would allow the engagement to proceed. Charlotte deemed that the best outcome from this experience.
"My husband, Mr. Collins is your cousin and his patroness is Lady Catherine DeBourgh, Mr. Darcy's aunt. He is here with his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam to oversee her estate, Rosings, a task they perform each Easter." Charlotte paused to allow Elizabeth to take in this new information.
"You met with Mr. Darcy, and his cousin, many times during their stay and I think the affection on each side continued to grow. The day before your accident, Mr. Darcy asked you to marry him. He is your fiancee." Here she paused again to allow Elizabeth time to take in what she had just been told.
"My fiancee? I am engaged?" Elizabeth sputtered. "How can this be? Why don't I remember that? I don't remember him!"
Elizabeth calmed herself. "Is he a good man?"
"I definitely think so." replied Charlotte. "And you seemed to think so too. You teased him and joked with him when we were all together at Rosings. He is very rich and owns an estate in Derbyshire."
"What would he see in me? How could he have offered for a woman of no fortune, no dowry to speak of?"
"How indeed?" replied Charlotte. "It must be love!"
At this point, Charlotte said that Elizabeth should rest and that Mr. Darcy would come to see her tomorrow.