AN: I know this is a shorter chapter but that also means you're getting it sooner than if I go on past where it wants to end. I usually run things through Grammarly before posting but it isn't working so please be patient if there are more errors. When I charge for my work I hire a copyeditor.

Elizabeth must have fallen asleep. She could hear soft voices speaking as if from a great distance.

"… too bad for Samuel, it would have been quite something for one of us to bond, but it was always unlikely." That sounded like Mr. Baxter

"Can't say I'm sorry… Miss de Bourgh…never fancied her good enough for him." That was Mrs. Reynolds.

Elizabeth knew she ought to stir or make some movement to alert them they could be heard, but her body felt heavy with sleep, and she could not drag herself fully into wakefulness.

"I always thought it would be the Colonel…never imagined…odd she was even there." Mr. Baxter again.

"Samuel will tell you the whole story he cannot say enough in her praise. From the way he tells it she saved Georgiana's life, as well as the fledgling's." That was Mr. Wilkes.

"Did the young Lady save Georgian? The master would have been devastated if anything happened to her. Lord knows he's suffered enough already." Mrs. Reynolds

"I've never known Samuel to exaggerate but it does seem strange." Mr. Baxter

"Mr. Darcy himself spoke of her bravery after we ran into some trouble on the road." Mr. Wilkes

"She ought to have a shawl…" Elizabeth went into a deeper sleep and did not hear the rest of what Mrs. Reynolds said but when she woke again there was a shawl around her shoulders.

Mr. Baxter had gone, but Mrs. Reynolds and Mr. Wilkes were still there.

"Can I get you anything Miss?" Mrs. Reynolds asked her, and Elizabeth thought there was more respect in her tone than there had been earlier.

"Nothing, I thank you. How is Mr. Darcy? Does he still feel feverish?"

"He wasn't last I checked." Mrs. Reynolds touched his forehead and nodded with a smile. "Still no fever."

Mr. Darcy opened his eyes, and moved as if he would try to sit up. Elizabeth quickly pressed against his shoulder with her free hand, while Mrs. Reynolds pressed the other shoulder, Mr. Wilkes sprang forward to help restrain him and Euphrosyne squawked. Mr. Darcy stopped struggling even before Elizabeth could say, "Mr. Darcy, you have been ill. You must not try to get up."

"My apologies," He answered weekly. "Euphrosyne…I forgot. …Is Wilkes here?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Wilkes, I need… need to get to the ballroom."

Mr. Wilkes exchanged a worried glance with Mrs. Reynolds. "Sir? Do you mean your bedroom?"

"Ballroom. Georgiana."

Elizabeth asked. "Can Georgiana fit into the ballroom?"

"Yes." Said Mrs. Reynolds the doors to the balcony are just big enough, "But surely Mr. Darcy should not be taken there until he is stronger?"

Elizabeth knew she had to be careful, she did not want to cause resentment by giving orders in a house where she had no right to do so. But she also did not want to behave as if she were subservient to the housekeeper (though when she later questioned herself as to why she had no good answer). "His own bonded will do him more good than mine can." She replied, "and Hester said if he woke and wanted to move, we could move him. Keeping him longer from Georgiana is the greater risk."

Mrs. Reynolds nodded. "We will have a bed moved in there for him and then move him."

"Floor." Mr. Darcy murmured.

Unsure if Mrs. Reynolds would choose to hear him Elizabeth said, "He will need cushions or a mattress on the floor, in order for Georgiana to put her wing over him."

"I understand." Said Mr. Wilkes, "I have seen for myself the way they nestle."

"Yes" said Mr. Darcy more strongly. "It must be… ballroom floor."

Mrs. Reynolds and Mr. Wilkes left the room to make the arrangements and after a quick glance at the door Elizabeth reached out and placed her free hand on Mr. Darcy's forehead. "Your fever has broken."

He smiled. "My mother use to check by kissing my forehead."

Elizabeth blushed and withdrew her hand.

"Forgive me I did not mean…"

"Of course. Are you in any pain?"

"No. Just very weak. Was it Hester who tended to me?"

"Yes."

"Good. We can trust her. How long … was I asleep?"

"I am not sure. I believe it is an hour or so past dawn."

"Your arm must be tired. I…thank you."

"I am well."

"This is not how I… hoped…to welcome…you to Pemberley."

"Do not tire yourself, we will have plenty of time to talk when you are stronger."

"Good." He smiled as he closed his eyes.

A few minutes later Mr. Wilkes returned with several footmen. Elizabeth picked up Euphrosyne and Mrs. Reynolds said, "I will show you to your room, Miss. You must wish to rest now that Georgiana can see to Mr. Darcy."

Of course, she ought to have realized everyone would assume she would not stay with him. Nor could she reasonably argue that she should. And she was tired, now that she was standing, she realized how stiff and sore she was. She followed Mrs. Reynolds, reminding herself that Mr. Darcy's housekeeper was only doing what she ought to have been expected to do. It would be unreasonable to resent her for it. Just as it would be unreasonable to resent the maid who showed up a short time later with milk for Euphrosyne, thus eliminating the only reason she might have for going to the ballroom.

OvO

Darcy was on the verge of telling Reynolds not to take Miss Bennet away when he thought better of it. Miss Bennet had been kind to sit with him as she had. He could not ask her to stay with him any longer. She must be tired. And what did he imagine would happen if she were to accompany him?

Now that Euphrosyne was gone Darcy tried again to sit up, but Wilkes jumped forward and put a hand on his shoulder, "Mr. Darcy you should not try to get up."

"Are you planning to carry me to the ball room?"

Wilkes looked a little silly and Darcy realized that must be exactly what he had been planning, that was why he had brought so many footmen.

"I can walk there with some assistance."

Wilkes glanced at the door as if looking for support, but Reynolds and Miss Bennet were gone.

"Hester did say it would be better to carry you."

"Let me sit up."

Wilkes reluctantly complied and Darcy was hit by a wave of dizziness.

"Sir?"

"Give a me a moment."

He took a few deep breaths, and the dizziness eased. "Now then, if you and James will support me on each side, I believe I can manage. But if it will ease your mind, Peter can follow behind us with a chair, in case I get light-headed."

They moved excruciatingly slowly but he did make to the ballroom, where Georgiana was waiting for him. He could feel her joy, her worry, and her relief, washing over him. She nuzzled him, and he took his arm from around James so he could stroke her feathers. "Dearest," he whispered softly. "You did well to fetch Hester. I am well. All will be well."

Wilkes had done well setting up a nest of mattresses and blankets for them, but before he could rest again, he needed to milk Georgiana. Even Wilkes could not object to this and had even had the foresight to have a pitcher ready.[i] When it was finished, Wilkes helped him to lie down, Georgiana settled next to him, and put her wing over him. He snuggled against her and feeling her curiosity, he said, "They have gone to bed, I am sure Miss Bennet will bring Euphrosyne to you after she has rested… humans do not sleep snuggled together unless we are married… yes, it was very kind of them both… true, we do have lot of silly rules."

After that he drifted off to sleep, listening to Georgiana purr, and wishing humans did not have so many silly rules.

i Griffin's don't suffer if they don't nurse regularly but Wilkes probably doesn't know this and Darcy would want the milk for Euphrosyne.