Chapter 8

S ubdued was an understatement to describe the five Bennets who arrived at Netherfield Park that morning. They greeted the residents who were breaking their fasts. Soon after, Mrs Nichols guided them towards the suite where their daughters were ensconced.

Conveniently forgetting her brother was angry with her, or the disgust Mr Darcy directed towards her person, Miss Bingley hardly waited for the Bennets to be shown out before she could not restrain herself from making a derogatory comment. "Are we to be invaded by every Bennet in the realm? Is it not enough we have to put up with two of them in my house? Do you not agree, Louisa?"

"Quite so dear," Mrs Hurst responded half-heartedly.

Bingley slammed his fist down on the table causing both of his sisters to start as they looked at him with wide eyes. "Caroline Maleficent Bingley, no one is interested in your vitriol. And Louisa, you are the older sister. It is time you began to act like it. If you had been decent ladies and asked how Miss Bennet fared overnight, you would have discovered that Mr Jones was called in the small hours of the morning because Miss Bennet…" Bingley took a deep breath as his voice cracked, "has pneumonia and will more than likely not survive. That is the woman I intended to marry, so say one more word against her and her family and I will throw you out of my house, and you, Caroline," Bingley looked at his cowering younger sister, "will be cut off with nothing. Based on your despicable behaviour towards Miss Bennet, I will not know you."

"Mr Darcy, surely you do not agree with my overwrought brother? I am sure Miss Bennet's illness is being exaggerated to garner sympathy," Miss Bingley said with put on sadness.

"Not only do I agree with him, but if it were me, you would already be out of my house," Darcy spat out. "I, like Bingley, met with the doctor after he had examined Miss Bennet, it is all too real." Darcy gave the cruel shrew a look which dripped with disdain, something Miss Bingley would not be able to misinterpret.

"I have never been thusly spoken to before, It will not be borne," Miss Bingley shrieked. "Come Louisa."

Mrs Hurst was torn, but her husband's emphatic shake of his head held her in her seat. "I am sorry, Caroline, but I will remain with my husband," she stated with head down, refusing to look her younger sister in the eyes.

"Louisa, I demand you attend me!" Miss Bingley stamped her slippered foot.

"Yet she will not," Hurst drawled. "As her husband, I have commanded her to remain. Your days of ordering my wife about like she is your serf are over. If you want to leave, go, but my wife will remain where she is."

" You drunken, useless lout ," Miss Bingley yelled.

No one reacted to her words, and her older sister's eyes were fixed on her plate. With another stamp of her foot, Miss Bingley stormed out of the dining parlour.

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

When the five Bennets were directed into the sitting room attached to Jane's bedchamber, Mr Jones joined them. He left Miss Bennet in the capable hands of Miss Lizzy, so he could answer any questions before her parents and then her sisters saw her.

"You are sure this is not a simple cold?" Fanny enquired. Her mind would not accept she may have had a hand in her most beautiful daughter losing her life. Had she not done what she did for Jane's own good? After Jane lost the three previous suitors, Fanny was positive she needed to step in and make certain it did not occur again.

"No, Mrs Bennet, I am positive it is pneumonia. A cold does not allow one to hear the fluid gurgling in a patient's lungs," Jones replied evenly. Miss Lizzy had not made a secret of how Miss Bennet had come to be riding in the rain squall which had descended on the area on Monday. This was not the time for recriminations. He was sure that if, no when, the inevitable happened he would not be able to berate the Bennets more than they would themselves.

"My wife and I will see Jane first, then her three youngest sisters may do so," Bennet decided.

Elizabeth had been applying a cloth with cold water when the door opened, She saw Mr Jones lead her parents into the room. Jane's fever was lower once again, and her breathing, although still laboured, was easier than during the night. She had even woken for a little while .

Knowing she would not be able to face her parents without saying something she would regret; Elizabeth called the maid over to replace her and slipped out into the hallway before her parents approached the sickbed. She intended to go walk in the park until she saw her family depart.

"I thought Lizzy was nursing her sister, it is no wonder my poor Jane is not doing as well as…" Fanny closed her mouth with a clack as she received stern looks from her husband and Mr Jones.

"Miss Lizzy has not slept or rested since she arrived here with me yester-morning," Jones related with an edge of asperity. "At my advice, she has gone to take a walk to refresh herself." He looked at Bennet. "If you feel your daughter's forehead, you will be able to tell how hot she is, and this is with a reduction in the fever from yesternight. Her breathing is not easy, but that too is a little better than the night."

"That means Jane is recovering!" Fanny insisted .

"Not at all," Jones responded curtly. "Fevers always reduce some during the day hours, and then go up again at night. If this was, what did you call it, Mrs Bennet? Oh yes, ‘a simple trifling cold', her fever would be nominal during the daytime hours. Miss Bennet is as hot as those with a cold are at night. Also with that malady, no fluids are found in the lungs, and breathing is not so difficult."

A chastened Fanny looked away. How dare this man correct her at every turn. She knew she could not look to her husband for support, as he would not stand up for her. Her greatest worry for the future was what her friends would think of her if Jane died, and it became known she was the one who sent her riding in the rain.

"Lizzy wrote there is a small chance for a recovery." Bennet could see it was a vain hope, but as long as Jane lived, there was some hope left. His life had been so simple before, but now it felt like he had aged ten years in the last four and twenty hours. If only he had stood up to his wife and ordered the carriage made ready for Jane. But he had not and now all he could do was hope.

"I have not told Miss Lizzy this, but since I arrived my opinion has changed…" Jones began to say but Mrs Bennet interrupted.

"So my beautiful girl will recover?" Fanny chirped.

"Sorry to say that is not what I was about to opine. After the ravages of the fever the previous night, if things are as bad tonight, or worse, then I am not confident Miss Bennet will live to see another sunrise," Jones stated evenly. He fought to maintain his equanimity in the presence of the two people largely responsible for his patient's dire situation.

Fanny began to wail while Bennet did nothing to wipe away the tears which escaped his eyes. What had they done? Bennet stepped up to the bed and took one of Jane's clammy hands in his own. "I am so sorry, Jane. I should have been a better and stronger father. You are paying for my weaknesses. You will soon be with my mother and father in a place where you will never be ill again." Bennet leaned forward and kissed his eldest daughter on her hot forehead.

His wife's wailing had increased to such an extent, she was unable to say anything to Jane, so Bennet led her back into the sitting room and sent the three youngest Bennets into the chamber after telling them to say their goodbyes to Jane.

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

It was a cold day, but Elizabeth did not stop to collect her coat as she ran out of the house and began to walk. Even though she had not slept in more than a day, she walked as energetically as she always did.

Without paying attention to where she was heading, Elizabeth found herself at the stables, and the door to the stall where Nellie was being housed. She wanted to rail against the poor innocent mare, but reason reasserted itself. The old horse had nothing to do with Janey's illness. It had not been Nellie's choice to be ridden out in the rain, that had been because of her parents.

Elizabeth wanted to return to Jane's bedchamber to tell her parents exactly what she thought of them in that moment, but she knew she could not, at least not yet. It was not fair; Jane was too good to not be alive. She was so deep in her thoughts she did not hear the footsteps behind her, so she was greatly startled when she heard someone clear their throat.

Darcy had seen Miss Elizabeth run out of the house without stopping, not even to collect her coat, gloves, or bonnet. He had asked the butler to assist him into his own greatcoat and then armed with her outerwear, he hurried out of the house in time to see her walking at a great speed in the direction of the stables.

He had not wanted to frighten her, but when he made his presence known, she visibly jumped. "Please pardon me, Miss Elizabeth, I noted how you left the house without any protection against the cold. I hope you do not find I am being highhanded in bringing these things to you," Darcys stated.

Not long after she stopped walking at the furious pace she had since leaving the manor house, Elizabeth began to feel the cold to the extent she was close to shivering. "The opposite, Mr Darcy. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated. It is only now I began to feel the consequences of my folly." She turned and allowed him to help her into her warm coat. With it on, she faced him, and took one glove and then the other. With her hands covered, she buttoned her coat. Seeing that her hair was in a rather wild state, she did not attempt to tame it into her bonnet, she rather just let that garment hang from her hand.

"I did not feel up to facing my parents," Elizabeth explained. "If I had remained, I am not certain I would have been able to hold back what I so much want to say to them."

"As I have an aunt in whose company I do not enjoy spending time, I understand your urge to escape," Darcy revealed to inject some levity, even in the tiniest measure, into the tension. There was much to learn about the woman opposite him, but he did not believe she was built for sadness.

"We cannot choose our family," Elizabeth said stoically. "I hope my parents have departed; I do not want to be away from Jane too long. She turned to Nellie and rubbed the old mare's nose. The horse gave a nicker and then rubbed her forehead on Elizabeth's shoulder.

As they rounded the corner of the house heading for the stone steps, two carriages were stopped in the drive. As soon as Elizabeth saw the man exit and turn around to hand someone out, she broke into a most unladylike run. Darcy recognised Gardiner.

As he walked, Darcy bent down to retrieve the bonnet Miss Elizabeth had discarded as she ran towards her family members, ones who unlike her parents, she wanted to see. Darcy watched as she threw herself into Gardiner's arms.

"Uncle Edward! Aunt Maddie!" With tears streaming down her cheeks, Elizabeth relinquished her hold on the former and accepted an embrace from the latter. She looked and noticed that Lilly and Eddy, twelve and nine respectively, stood waiting to greet her while she hugged their parents. After releasing her aunt, Elizabeth hugged her two cousins, and before she had finished with Eddy, they were joined by Peter and May, seven and four, who wanted their turns to hug Lizzy.

"Gardiner," Darcy called out. "Mrs Gardiner and children, it is good to see you, albeit for a sad reason."

Just then Bingley joined them and welcomed the Gardiners to his estate. With the cold outside, everyone followed Mr Bingley into the warm interior of the house where the introductions were made. Knowing Miss Elizabeth did not want to see her parents, Darcy verified their location with the butler who informed them the Bennets had departed a few minutes before the new arrivals.

Elizabeth was relieved when Mr Darcy related the last to her. As soon as the butler and two of his footman had taken all of the outerwear, Bingley showed the governess and nursemaid to a warm parlour where the children could be entertained. Then he and Darcy accompanied the Gardiner parents and Miss Elizabeth up to the chamber where Miss Bennet lay in bed.

On entering the sitting room, they found Mr Jones sitting and resting. He stood as soon as they entered. He greeted the Gardiners with whom he was familiar. "Has there been any change?" Elizabeth asked hopefully.

"The fever is about the same, and her breathing is slightly improved, but that is to be expected from time to time. As much as I would like to tell you it is a change for the better, it is not," Jones clarified. "By my calculations, the sleeping draft will wear off soon, and Miss Bennet will wake and be able to speak to you. Your parents and younger sisters chose not to remain since your mother was rather distraught."

"She should be," Elizabeth hissed.

Both Gardiners looked at their niece in surprise. "We will leave you to speak as a family," Darcy decided as he shepherded his friend out of the sitting room with himself.

As soon as the door was closed and Mr Jones slipped back into his patient's bedchamber, Gardiner looked at his niece. "Lizzy, it is obvious you are devastated by what is occurring, but why are you so bitter regarding my sister?" he probed. "It is not like you. What did you not tell us in the letter Mr Darcy's man delivered to us?"

Elizabeth told them all. It did not take long before the Gardiners understood their niece's anger and animus towards her parents. Once she had finished, they sat in silence for some moments.

"Surely not. Not even Fanny is without some level of intelligence, and my brother just capitulating as he is wont to do." Gardiner just shook his head. If only Jane had disobeyed Fanny. Now I understand why you feel as you do about your parents. It is unconscionable what they have done, or in your father's case, not done."

"Come let us go see Janey," Elizabeth suggested. Her aunt and uncle nodded and followed her into the sickroom.

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

William Collins was the eternally grateful recipient of the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh's beneficence and condescension. At first he was rather angry to receive his cousin's letter rescinding his ‘ invitation ' to visit his future inheritance and deliver his amends and olive branch. Now with the express just arrived, his honourable intentions were being thrown back in his face.

He took the time to read the missive again, and then he noted the reference to illness in the house. His pique changed to gratitude in a trice. If he had followed his first inclination and travelled to Hertfordshire regardless of what his cousin said, he could have brought the disease back to his home. He knew how insistent his patroness was that no one with even the most minor of colds would be permitted in her house due to Miss de Bourgh's delicate health.

If he had returned, even were he not sick himself, but somehow carried the bad vapours back and infected Miss de Bourgh, Lady Catherine would never forgive him.

Collins could see his cousin was only paying deference to his patroness. He could not fault the man for that. He would wait to hear when health had been restored, before he ventured forth to deliver his olive branch, and honour one of his cousins with his hand.