Darcy returned the next morning in a large coach with Bingley's sisters, his valet, and a new set of clothing for him to replace the bloodied and torn garb from the ball when he was ready to rise from his bed. There were younger Bennet daughters he now saw, but, although pretty to look at, they were full of giggles and titters that bespoke their youth and that they were not yet 'out'.
He was gratified to see his friend much improved with the country doctor in attendance. The older Bennet daughters who had been tending to Bingley withdrew to allow room for the newcomers to crowd the injured man's bed. Darcy noticed how Bingley's eyes followed the blond beauty… Jane… he recalled. Also, how she looked back at him tenderly before stepping out. 'Oh, that bonding exceeds patient and nurse,' he told himself. 'I hear one set of wedding bells chiming, for certain… and hopefully I can add another set of chimes to their music!'
While the sisters fussed over his still pale friend, Darcy drew the doctor aside to hear his instructions. "Now, plenty of liquids of a healthy kind. Easy on the wine and brandy. We need to replace the blood lost, so water, and tea, or what have you. Lots of red meat will help also. Have your cook prepare tasty meals to encourage his eating." Bingley's sisters interrupted. "The important thing is can we move him to Netherfield at once? He needs more luxury surely for his recovery than can be found in these… sorts of surroundings!" his younger sister, Caroline, said, in a sneering tone while waving a disparaging hand.
"Absolutely not," the Doctor said, sharply. "He may not be moved for at least two weeks, until the stitches I put in may be removed. I will return here in a day or so to change the bandages and check the progress of his healing".
Darcy gave him many words of thanks, ignoring the sniffs of distain coming from Bingley's sisters. He pressed into the doctor's hand a fistful of gold coins that startled the old man. 'Too much," he murmured. Darcy shook his head. "I owe you much more for your knowledge and swift actions which have surely saved my friend the use of that arm, and perhaps even his life itself." Shrugging, the doctor stuffed the coins into a pocket. "These will offset many of the peasants who can't afford even a shilling," he muttered.
"And when he can be moved to Netherfield, how shall that be done?" Darcy asked. "By coach, only" the doctor ordered. "No riding or using that arm for anything strenuous for a month or more. Best to leave it in the sling I made for him as much as possible. And prop his body with pillows so he cannot roll over onto it during his sleep." With these final words, the old doctor departed and Darcy asked the ladies to step outside as he and the valet set about helping his friend wash off some of the dried blood and don some of the new clothes he had brought for him.
When Bingley's clothes were changed his 'nurses' returned to him with a bowl of broth and a mug of tea. With him propped upright with pillows, Jane fed the broth spoonful by spoonful to her grateful patient, who hardly ever took his eyes from his blond 'nurse'. It seemed to Darcy, every breath he took in of her aroma restored color to his cheeks. 'Fanciful' Darcy told himself, sternly. 'It is the broth!' When Mary left the cup of tea on a stool and departed, he decided also to leave them alone and to seek out Mr. Bennet to discuss his intentions to his daughter with him.
Outside, Bingley's sisters were waiting for him. "This is intolerable," Caroline hissed at him. "How could you allow him to be imprisoned by these commoners?" Darcy strained to control his outrage, only hoping none of the family was close enough to overhear her words. "You are belittling the people who saved your brother's life and are now seeing to his restoration and his comfort," he said in a low voice that was the coldest he could remember using since his last confrontation with Wickham.
"A life that would not have been in danger if you two had not decided to mix company with the lowest of the low," she sneered. Darcy leaned closer to her so he could use his softest tones without filling the hall with his outrage. "If I hear one more word from you slighting this family, I shall use every influence I have with your brother to see to your exile both from his company and mine! Do I make myself clear to you, Caroline?! Now it would be best if the two of you return to Netherfield. I will send word when your brother wishes to see you again!" He gestured wordlessly at the stairs, indicating they should descend before him.
The women paled at his words, their tone, and his dismissal of them. Caroline seemed to shrink into herself and began to stammer some sort of pacifying excuse, but Darcy merely gestured once more towards the stairs and continued his glower until they stumbled their way down and out of the house. He cared not the least what they did with themselves after their departure. He was done with their sneering degradation of women they could not hold even an unlit candle to. He descended the stairs and sought out Mr. Bennet.