Chapter 6

E lizabeth was about to go out from the kitchen to check if the conditions would allow her to walk, when a groom from Netherfield Park arrived at the kitchen door.

Cook wiped her flour laden hands on her apron and retrieved the note the lad was holding. "For you Miss Lizzy," Cook sang as she handed it over.

The script was not familiar to her; it certainly was not Jane's hand. Wanting to know how her sister was, Elizabeth tore the missive open and digested the words hungrily.

16 October 1810

Netherfield Park

Miss Elizabeth,

Please excuse my forwardness in writing to you. I know from what my sister has told me that you and Miss Bennet are the closest of sisters, hence this is addressed to you.

Miss Bennet arrived at this estate soaked and freezing cold. Unfortunately, there was a delay in her getting to a bedchamber where I had a hot bath waiting for her. She took ill during dinner and has been in the bed in her suite ever since.

Your sister had a very high fever through the night and was somewhat delirious. The maids did what they were able in order to cool her. The fever, although still on the high side, has come down this morning, and Miss Bennet is resting more comfortably.

Due to another circumstance beyond my control, Mr Jones was not sent for until this morning. The groom who delivered this missive rode to his house first. I suggested Mr Jones come in his gig to collect you as it will be much quicker than your carriage being readied or you walking.

If you want to let your father know, a groom can be sent to the stables here to retrieve the horse Miss Bennet rode yester-afternoon.

I trust I will see you shortly,

Mrs Althea Nichols

As much as she would have liked to remonstrate with her parents at that moment, Elizabeth knew she did not have much time to prepare herself before Mr Jones arrived. Having experienced Jane's illnesses before, she was sure it would be some days before her dearest sister would be well enough to come home, hence while she went to retrieve her warm coat, she sought out Mrs Hill.

Once Miss Lizzy told the housekeeper what was needed, she decided she would have a trunk packed for both sisters. To accomplish that, she dispatched the upstairs maid, Sarah, to do the packing. She assured Miss Lizzy it would be sent with the groom as soon as it was ready. She knew that there was no question, but that Miss Lizzy would stay at Miss Jane's side until they could both come home .

The only other one up was her father. Elizabeth burst into his sanctuary and spoke before he could react. "Jane is ill, Mr Jones will collect me momentarily. I will be with Jane. I trust you and my mother will be well pleased with yourselves," Elizabeth growled and left the study before her father was able to reply. She did not enjoy speaking to her pater in such a fashion, but she had no time for niceties.

Mr Jones's gig pulled to a halt at the front door as Elizabeth completed buttoning her coat and tying the ribbons of her bonnet.

Bennet was still sitting frozen as he had been when Lizzy threw the door open and admonished him. Had he not admitted how much he had deserved her anger, he may have felt some outrage at his second daughter taking him to task in that fashion. As it was, all he felt was shame.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Darcy had just descended the stone stairs from the veranda to the drive when a gig arrived. He recognised Mr Jones, and saw Miss Elizabeth next to him. Darcy stepped forward before the footman could, and made ready to hand the lady, to whom he was losing his heart, down from the small carriage.

"You have come to see your sister?" Darcy asked what he owned was a rather stupid question. What else would she be doing here at the estate before eight in the morning.

"As you see," Elizabeth bit back. She stopped herself, she had no reason to be angry with Mr Darcy, he had done nothing wrong. "Please pardon me, Sir. I am on edge when Jane is ill. I wish it were not so, but she does not have the hearty constitution with which I am blessed."

"As brother to a most beloved sister, I understand your worry," Darcy responded kindly. "If this was Giana—my sister Georgiana—who was ill, I dare say I would have less equanimity than you."

"Will you show Mr Jones and me to Jane's chambers, please?" Elizabeth requested.

"Of course, it is my pleasure to assist in any way I am able," Darcy averred.

It was not the time to think about it now, but Elizabeth was sure Mr Darcy was being genuine and not just reciting platitudes. There was only one concern in her life now, nursing Jane back to health.

After greeting the apothecary, and the three stopping to hand their outerwear to the butler and a footman, Darcy showed them to the suite Miss Bennet was occupying. He understood when Miss Elizabeth ran into the bedchamber without taking her leave. That she was so concerned for her beloved sister only added to her attractiveness.

"Oh Janey," Elizabeth cried when she saw her sister's pallid complexion.

"Lizzy, you are here," Jane croaked.

"There is no other place I would rather be," Elizabeth responded as she squeezed one of Jane's hands. She could feel how listless Jane's grip was, and her hand even felt warm to her. "Mr Jones is here, Janey; he will examine you and we will know how to help you recover. Do you want some water to drink?"

Jane nodded her head weakly, and Elizabeth poured some water for her. The maid assisted her sister to sit up, and then she held the glass while Jane drank slowly. After a few sips, Jane was lowered back against the pillows. Mr Jones began his examination after removing his jacket and hanging it over the back of a chair. As always, his examination was comprehensive, he felt her forehead, looked at her eyes, and placed his ear close to the patient's mouth in order to listen to and feel the strength of her breathing.

The last thing he did was request Miss Elizabeth and the maid assist Miss Bennet to a sitting position once again. Once she was in position, he put his ear at her back and listened to her lungs. From where she was holding Jane, Elizabeth could see that Mr Jones was frowning as he moved his ear around on Jane's back after each time telling her to take deep breaths. Not wanting to worry her sister, Elizabeth refrained from any exclamations until she had a chance to speak to Mr Jones in the suite's sitting room between the two bedchambers.

Once all was done to his satisfaction, the apothecary and doctor in one person, redonned his jacket, put his implements away in his bag, and extracted some bottles which he placed on top of the dresser. "Thank you for being such a good patient, as always, Miss Jane. Suffice it to say I would prefer never to have to examine you," Jones quipped. "Miss Lizzy and I will speak, and I will explain to her which elixirs to give you and when."

Jane nodded her head, but it barely moved. "I will be back with you very soon, Janey." Elizabeth tried her best to sound cheerful. She followed Mr Jones into the sitting room. He pulled the door closed once she had entered the room. "Mr Jones, I saw your looks when you listened to Janey's lungs. What has you concerned?"

"You remember I told you I thought I detected noises which led me to conclude Miss Bennet's lungs had been damaged after her bout of influenza?" Jones stated, and Elizabeth nodded in response. "It was easier to hear the crackling sounds today. Miss Lizzy, I pray I am wrong, but unless your sister makes a dramatic improvement, she may not…"

The tears ran down Elizabeth's face. "Do not dare to say it, Mr Jones. It may be true, but I am not ready to hear the words," Elizabeth sobbed.

Having treated her practically since her birth, and being a married man with children almost as old as Miss Lizzy, Jones pulled the young lady into a comforting hug. "There there, Miss Lizzy, we will pray for the best," Jones told her soothingly. "You will remain here to superintend your sister's care, will you not?" Elizabeth gave a watery nod. "If I am needed, send for me any time of the day or night."

With that, Jones explained how and when to use the drafts he had left behind. Afterwards he went to go speak to the master of the estate who he found in the study, with his friend, Mr Darcy.

"How does Miss Bennet?" Bingley asked concernedly.

"I wish I had better news, but I am not as optimistic as I would like to be. The infection has settled in her lungs, and I think she is on the knife's edge of developing pneumonia," Jones asserted.

"Mr Jones, if, let us say, Miss Bennet stood in her wet clothing for some time before being allowed to go and change and warm herself in a hot bath, and then rather than being allowed to get dressed warmly, or rest in a warm bed, she was given a thin summer day dress, and forced to wear wet footwear. Would that have contributed to her illness?" Bingley asked.

Charles Bingley still could not believe what he had heard from the butler, housekeeper, and servants about the way his sister had treated Miss Bennet. While accusing Miss Bennet of malingering, she demanded her guest join her for dinner where she proceeded to harangue the sweetest woman Bingley had ever met. It had not been easy, but he had, with Hurst's assistance, extracted the truth from Louisa.

"It was the riding in the rain and cold, something which I can assure you was not Miss Bennet's choice, which made her sick. That being said, what you described could have very well exacerbated the illness, it may not have, but I suspect it would have," Jones opined.

"Would it be helpful if I sent for my physician from London?" Bingley enquired.

"And mine as well," Darcy volunteered.

"It would certainly not hurt, Gentlemen," Jones replied, "however, you may not know this, but I am both an apothecary and a doctor. A small community like this one would not be able to support two men, but one who is both…"

"Then we will defer to you," Darcy said. Bingley nodded his agreement. "If you tell us it will be useful, we will send for the men from Town."

Bingley happily paid the fee, although he wished it had never been needed. Jones bowed to the two men and took his leave. As soon as the door closed, Bingley turned to his friend. "I never thought Caroline this bad." He shook his head. "It is one thing when she thinks herself above those she is below, but this! The complete selfish disdain for the feelings of others, no more than that. She cares for no one but herself and has less compassion in her than Miss Bennet has in the tip of one finger."

All Darcy could do was nod. Like Bingley he had not wanted to think anyone could behave as callously as it had been reported the youngest Bingley had. As much as he disdained her, he had not thought she cared so little for the welfare of others. Time was fast approaching for him to have his Aunt Elaine let it be known the shrew was persona non grata .

Like Bingley, Darcy believed Miss Bennet would eventually recover, although it would be a longer road thanks to Miss Bingley's cruelty.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Fanny Bennet could not absorb what her husband was telling her. Due to being caught in the downpour during her ride to Netherfield Park the previous day, Jane was ill, and from the sounds of things it was more than a trifling cold. It took her some minutes, but she soon began to recover.

At least Lizzy was there to nurse her sister back to health. In Fanny's mind someone as beautiful as Jane would recover, and she would soon be home with her family, but engaged to Mr Bingley. The thought her manoeuvring would result in Jane's engagement, went a long way to sooth Fanny's attack of conscience. She was not pleased Jane was suffering, but it was as she planned: Jane was at Netherfield Park, and she would be in Mr Bingley's company often.

Being one who had not been raised a gentlewoman, and having rejected the lessons her late mother-in-law taught her, Fanny was not aware that as they were not married, propriety forbade Mr Bingley from visiting Jane in her bedchamber, and certainly not when she was in bed .

"Mama, the militia is arriving today, may Kitty and I go into Meryton to meet the officers so Mr Denny can introduce us to them," Lydia requested.

Mary showed the disapproval on her face as she was sure Mama would approve, and Papa would do nothing to check them. She was right. Permission was granted which resulted in squeals from the two youngest Bennets. Chattering loudly about how many officers each would attract; they were soon on their way into Meryton.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

"Why have I been summoned to your study like an errant child?" Miss Bingley screeched at her brother.

"Do you have any idea of how your actions last night may have worsened Miss Bennet's illness? Do you even care?" Bingley demanded as soon as the door was closed.

"She rode here to entrap you…" Miss Bingley began.

"That was not her choice, and from what I am told, your behaviour was so atrocious that as sick as she was she asked to be taken home which you refused to accommodate. I am ashamed you are my sister," Bingley stated with asperity.

"That was all part of the act." Miss Bingley waved her brother's concerns away dismissively.

"When did you become so callous?" Bingley barked. "Let me warn you, if Miss Bennet does not recover fully, or worse, I will cast you out from my house and release your dowry to you. I do not know if what you did could be considered a crime if the worst happens, but you had better pray she recovers so we never have to find out."

"Come now Charles, you are being overly dramatic. I am sure if you ask Mr Darcy…" she tried again.

"Darcy agrees with me in every way in this. He is already so appalled at your inability to care for your guests, added to your general behaviour he already abhors, he will never know you again. Start praying, Caroline, I promise you, you will not be happy if things do not go well."

This was not the brother on whom she had perfected the art of manipulation. She looked at him to gauge his level of seriousness, and Caroline Bingley did not like what she saw. What she noted was a man who was firm in his resolve. The chit had better recover, or she knew not what she would do. She decided this was not the right time to complain about Miss Eliza being in the house. Without another word, she went to seek Louisa knowing her older sister would agree with her.

She could not find her sister, and when she tried to gain entry to the Hursts' chambers, her brother-in-law ordered her out. It was all the damned Bennets' fault.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Elizabeth was worried. Even though Jane's fever had not gone back up to the levels of the night before, as more hours passed, the more laboured Jane's breathing became.

She raised her eyes heavenward and prayed. She prayed as hard as she had ever prayed before, beseeching the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost not to take Janey home with them yet. She was far too young, and Elizabeth could not, would not, let go of her dearest sister and best friend in one. All she could do was hope her prayers had been acceptable to Him, and He would grant them.

As if God Himself answered her, Jane's breathing became a little easier and within the hour her fever had subsided some. Elizabeth hoped it was a sign of an improvement.

The decrease in worry allowed her to think of what she had been told of Miss Bingley's actions when Jane first arrived, and then not allowing her Janey to remain in bed. If and when she saw that lady again, Elizabeth was ready to let her know what she thought of the hospitality she doled out.

If only her older sister had had it within herself to refuse when Mama had sent her on Nellie. Elizabeth obeyed the fifth commandment, but did that mean you had to suspend logical thought?

Sitting and watching Jane's chest rising and falling while she slept with the aid of the draft Mr Jones had left, Elizabeth offered up thanks for the improvement, regardless of how slight it was. She knew the night would be hard again as it had been the previous night, but at least she would now be here to watch over Janey and do what she needed to do.