The ladies were startled awake by a knock on the door, followed by the entry of Miss Bingley's lady's maid.
Elizabeth was always more of a morning person, so she was the first to lift her head to see who had come in. "Ah, Rebecca, is it not still early for the day after a ball?"
"Yes, Miss Elizabeth." The lady's maid responded. "I will be tending to Miss Bingley soon, so I thought I should check in with you before I see to her. The London gentlemen, including Mr. Bingley, intend to depart in an hour. Also, the apothecary sent a note saying he would arrive in half an hour."
Elizabeth sighed. They ought to rise. If anything, they should get dressed so that the apothecary would not have to wait for them to be decent.
"At least the room has warmed substantially." Elizabeth sighed as she pushed the bed curtains out of the way. The room was still dark, despite the late hour, but she could see the outline of all the furniture and made her way to the dressing room, which had already had the curtains drawn back. In the middle of the room, Rebecca was pulling dresses out of their trunk, which had arrived while they had slept. There were a few wrinkles, but Rebecca found the best two gowns and began to work her magic with Elizabeth.
Once Elizabeth had a simple coiffure and dress, they both moved to wake Jane. Even groggy from a late night of dancing, she seemed angelic and beautiful. Her braid always remained neatly intact, while Elizabeth's braid upon waking more resembled a bird's nest with bits of hair sticking out at odd angles. Jane woke quickly, the pain in her ankle bothering her more than she wished to admit.
When the apothecary knocked on the door, both the Misses Bennet were ready for his entry. Rebecca slipped away to care for Miss Bingley while Mr. Jones examined his patient. Once Jane was settled back in bed, Elizabeth went downstairs.
Mr. Bingley had delayed the coach, insisting on hearing the report from the apothecary. Miss Elizabeth performed the office so that Mr. Jones could return to Mrs. Laughingdale to see that mother and child were still well and resting.
"How is Miss Bennet, this morning?" Mr. Bingley quickly rose from the breakfast table with such gusto that his friends mumbled a few comments under their breath.
Elizabeth paid them no mind. "The swelling has reduced. Mr. Jones is certain it is only a bad sprain, though he suggests she not put weight on it for four weeks."
Mr. Bingley frowned. "I suppose that is good that there is no break." As his mind counted the days, he suddenly brightened. "She will spend Christmas at Netherfield. I have never experienced a country Christmas."
"Never?" Elizabeth was amazed. She knew Miss Bingley preferred town, especially during the season, but to never be in the country for her favorite holiday! It seemed absurd. "Well, when you return, I shall tell you all you need to know to have a marvelous Hertfordshire Christmas. It is my favorite season and Jane's. I hope your business is not delayed." She smiled so cheerily, there was another bit of murmuring from the table, though Elizabeth could not hear what was said.
"Then you must remain through Christmas to tend to your sister. My sister also enjoys the holiday, and she will delight with having her dear friend here." This time there were a few snickers from the men at the table, and Elizabeth had to press her lips as she silently agreed that Miss Bingley was unlikely to truly think Jane a dear friend. However, it made Bingley happy to think so, and she had no quarrel with him. He continued, "You must also stay to nurse your sister again. We shall be such a merry party."
"Are you finished flirting yet, Bingley? I have business to attend to." One of the men rose from the table and declared with annoyance.
"Yes, I think I must depart. The sooner I am gone, the quicker I can return." Mr. Bingley took Elizabeth's hand and warmly kissed it. "I trust you will keep Jane well cared for and entertained. I have no doubt she will be feeling better when I return. I shall hurry my business in London, and please know that I will think of both of you often. My sisters and Mr. Darcy remain here, and Mrs. Nichols has been told to listen to you as though you are one of the family. Jane's needs take priority over all else."
"Yes, yes, Bingley." One of the men who had been snickering at the table spoke up. "Drop her hand unless you intend to propose. Not that I would blame you, she is quite the…"
"Devon!" A deep voice sounded from the doorway. Mr. Darcy had arrived. Elizabeth jumped in shock, and Mr. Bingley dropped her hand. "Get yourself on the coach before you say something you will regret."
"Yes, Mr. Darcy." The man called Devon replied. He slipped past Mr. Darcy and turned around to look at Elizabeth one last time. "Miss Bennet, you really are quite fetching. I hope you will look me up in London when you find society here too boring. I am not too far from Gracechurch Street, where I've heard your uncle resides."
Mr. Bingley hurried to take his friend into the hall. They could be heard arguing all the way to the carriage. The other gentlemen filed out and followed sedately, barely nodding to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy as they left.
Soon all that could be heard was the ticking of the clock above the mantle. Elizabeth looked around and realized she was alone with Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy seemed to notice the same thing. He turned and bowed to her as he offered her a good morning.
Elizabeth barely responded, still thinking over the conversation she had barely been part of, and wondering if he thought ill of her because of it. Not that he could have a lesser opinion of her, though maybe she was sliding into the place held by Kitty and Lydia for worst behavior in society. She had always been proud that she behaved as a proper lady should.
Mr. Darcy was still staring at her, and she wondered what he could possibly find wrong with her appearance. She was about to ask if her dress had too many wrinkles when he asked after Jane's health.
Elizabeth started at the drastic shift she had to make in her mind. "As I told Mr. Bingley, she has a bad sprain, but there is no break. She must stay at Netherfield for at least 4 weeks. She has a slight fever, likely from being put to bed in such a cold room, but it is not so bad as the last time she fell ill here, and she will likely recover from that quickly." She paused as he nodded in response to her information. On a whim, she added, "Mr. Jones was impressed with your ability to bandage an ankle, for it was better done than many of his knots. He may attempt to ask you to teach him your process, for he is always looking to improve his ability to care for his patients."
Mr. Darcy nodded. "My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, was always interested in medicine. He used to follow the family physician around when he could. As the second son, he knew he needed to find a way to support himself. However, when the time came, he chose the regulars. I believe his father pressured him into a more noticeable career that would improve their standing in society. Everyone loves a war hero."
Elizabeth chuckled slightly. "I thought you said your sister often turns her ankle."
"She does. We share in her guardianship, so we are both often in her presence. The colonel, not so often of late as he is busy with his officers, but when we were younger, we were often inseparable. He had learned from a physician how to bandage an ankle, and he made sure I knew before he left for his career. Neither of us wished for me to not be able to care for her."
Elizabeth thought back over what she knew of Mr. Darcy. Mr. Wickham had said that he was a proud brother and was considered very generous. This appeared true enough. "Your sister is very lucky to have a brother like you. I always wished for a brother."
"When your sister marries, you shall." Mr. Darcy bowed as he left the room. Elizabeth smiled, happy to know that Mr. Darcy even seemed to think that Jane and Mr. Bingley would marry soon. Who could not think so, having seen them together so often?
The rest of the morning was spent quietly in the library, Elizabeth read while Mr. Darcy tended to his letters in a corner desk. He was close enough to smell her orange blossom scent, hear her whispered laughs, and delight in the view of her rosy cheeks and bright eyes every time he turned his head. He avoided paying her attention, but he was constantly aware of her and thinking about her. His letters took twice as long to complete, for he kept having to go reread the missives so he could remember what he was writing about. He had never been so deliciously distracted.
When tea was announced, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy repaired to the drawing room where Miss Bingley had finally come downstairs to resume her hostess duties as mistress of Netherfield. Her ability to remember everyone's tea preference would have been notable if it were not a standard requirement of the role. Even Elizabeth enjoyed a perfectly prepared cup, though she would have expected the sour Miss Bingley to seemingly forget to add the sugar.
Once everyone was settled, Miss Bingley asked after Jane, only to be surprised by Elizabeth's pert responses.
"It is good that Jane only suffers a sprain, though 4 weeks is a long time to be away from family. I suppose it cannot be helped."
Elizabet smiled coldly. "It cannot, as you say. We are very fortunate you are such a generous hostess, or else we might have attempted to return home, and Jane could have injured her ankle more. That would have been very tragic."
"Yes, tragic." Miss Bingley said with a sour expression that belied her words. She would prefer Jane to have a broken ankle at Longbourn than a sprain at Netherfield, a notion Elizabeth could not approve of.
Elizabeth scowled for a moment before turning her expression neutral. As a guest of the house, she could not speak ill of her host. She turned and caught Mr. Darcy staring at her in apparent disgust. She silently scoffed again, doubting he would be so sanguine if it had been his sister Miss Bingley had spoken of. Turning away, she asked Mrs. Hurst about her bracelets which she had been fingering. Glad to have the conversation shifting to mundane matters, Elizabeth kept her peace and the next half hour passed before Elizabeth felt she could leave to check on her sister.
On her way to her room, she passed the library. Doubting her mother had thought to pack any books, she entered to search for a book of poems she had seen the previous time she had been at Netherfield. She let out a huff of frustration that she was in the same predicament as before, but without Mr. Bingley's affable nature to counteract the negativity that was simmering between Miss Bingley and Mr. Darcy. It was going to be a very long month, even if it were Christmastide, her favorite season.
AN: So, I had a great vacation. We went to Brazil which is filled with the most amazing people, and I am so happy to have been claimed by a family there. I have never felt so valued, pretty, smart, funny, important, as I do when I am talking to a Brazilian. They lift you up. I am sure there are jerks there too, but the average Brazilian is so welcoming and full of joy. Despite 20 years without contact, I was swept into their arms and we chatted, drank, and ate (oh, the food of a home Brazilian barbeque is unparalleled). We spent Christmas in Brasilia with my host-sister's family, where marmosets and blue macaws came into our back yard. Then we went to the mountains, Diamantina, where we saw how diamonds were mined, and we got to swim under a waterfall. then we drove to Alcobaca, where we stayed in the house and had barbeques in between swimming time at the beach and the trio electrico dancing for new years celebrations. Then we went to Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto, Mariana before returning to Brasilia to fly home. It was a full two weeks, but some of the best of my life.
That said, I forgot where I was going with this story, but it is coming back. I have tomorrow off, and if I get my lessons completed quickly enough, I should have time to write another chapter. Thank you for your kind reviews. They keep me on track.