Chapter 8

In Aid of a Sick Sister

W hen Mr. Collins returned from his visits in the neighborhood, Elizabeth met him at the door. “You must send the carriage to check on Jane. She has not yet returned, and I worry that she was caught in the rain.”

Mr. Collins patted her arm. “She is probably staying with Miss Bingley until the rain ends. Such fine people would not think to put my wife out in this weather.”

“But what if she is injured?”

Mr. Collins waved away her concern. “You are a good sister to my dear Jane, but she is an adequate rider.”

Elizabeth was not convinced of that and spent the rest of the evening worrying about her sister’s health. Before breakfast the next morning, Mr. Collins received a note from Netherfield. Jane had been thrown from her horse after a particularly violent crash of thunder. In her fall, she twisted her knee and was now bound to her bed. “You see, Elizabeth, Jane is well. It is only a twisted knee that hampers her. She will be as good as new in a matter of days.”

“We must go check on her.”

Mr. Collins added three thick slices of bacon to his plate. “No, my dear. I cannot leave Longbourn. You have forgotten that my friend will arrive today.”

Elizabeth’s mouth flew open in shock. “But she is your wife!”

“She will be well. I will write to her and check on her tomorrow,” he mumbled around a mouthful of bacon.

Elizabeth was not satisfied with this answer. “I plan to walk to Netherfield to check on Jane,” she told Mrs. Annesley. Her companion had some concern about the long walk, but Elizabeth insisted. “I am fit to walk it. ‘Tis only three miles.”

Mrs. Annesley tutted but she did not forbid the trek. “Take Howes with you. I do not like you walking so far alone.”

Elizabeth and her footman set out for Netherfield. Although she attempted to dodge puddles, there were too many to avoid and by the time she arrived at the Bingley’s residence, her skirt was heavy with mud. Mr. Bingley’s butler could not hide his distaste when he looked upon her bedraggled state, but he did not forbid her entrance.

“Miss Elizabeth Gardiner,” he announced to the members of the household. They were seated around the breakfast table. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy quickly stood upon her entrance. Mr. Hurst nodded but did not stop from enjoying his eggs.

A lock of hair had come loose from its pins and Elizabeth tucked it behind her ear. “I apologize for my intrusion, but I wished to see my sister.”

Miss Bingley’s eyes widened at the state of Elizabeth’s dress. “Eliza Gardiner, did you walk here?”

Elizabeth winced at Miss Bingley’s address. She had not given the lady permission to call her by her first name, and certainly not a shortened version that she abhorred. Tucking her irritation away, she answered. “I did. It is not so far, and the air is fresh after last night’s rain.”

“Your dedication to your sister shows to your advantage, Miss Gardiner.” Mr. Bingley held out a chair for Elizabeth to join them, but Elizabeth demurred.

“I insist,” he said. “You have just missed the apothecary. Mr. Jones gave Mrs. Collins something for the pain which has put her to sleep. He insisted your sister remain abed for a day or two. Her leg should not be jostled in a carriage.” With no little reluctance, Elizabeth took the offered chair. There was little use rushing to Jane’s bedside if she was sleeping peacefully.

“Miss Gardiner, may I get you a plate?” Mr. Darcy’s serious, dark eyes temporarily held her in silence. She nodded her head. Soon, a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast were placed in front of her.

Conversation around the table was stilted. Her presence had upset Miss Bingley and Mr. Darcy’s silence was deafening. Clearing his throat, Mr. Bingley spoke. “I think your sister would like to have you here while she recovers. Can I send to Longbourn for your things? Caroline can have a room made up for you.”

Elizabeth smiled at Mr. Bingley’s kindness. She would feel better about Jane’s recovery if she were there to assist her. “Thank you, Mr. Bingley. Can my companion take my room? I can stay with Jane.”

Miss Bingley took affront to the question. “Do not be ridiculous, Eliza. We have enough rooms for all of you. I will have Mrs. Nichols take care of everything.”

Elizabeth thanked the lady and then excused herself to check on Jane. She did not like that her sister was injured, but she was happy that she could be of some assistance while Jane recovered.

∞∞∞

After four hours of sleep, Jane awoke to find Elizabeth reading near her bedside. “What are you doing here?” She struggled to sit up in her bed, and Elizabeth hurried to help her.

“You must be careful with your knee. Mr. Jones said it was very badly sprained.” Jane winced before settling back into the pillows that her sister had plumped for her.

“He said it should be well enough to hold my weight within a few days, but I will likely hobble for at least a week, possibly two.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, I pulled back the covers to look at it. You are very badly bruised and swollen. It must hurt a great deal.”

Elizabeth offered a glass of cool water and Jane took a deep drink. “Mr. Jones’ tonic helps to ease the pain, but it makes me very tired.” She took another drink and then handed the glass back to her sister. “But you have not answered me. Why are you here?”

“I came to check on you. I was very concerned when you did not arrive last night. I came right away when the note was sent this morning about your accident.”

“That is very sweet of you, but you were not invited. We discussed this yesterday.”

Elizabeth counted to five before answering. Pasting a sweet smile on her face she said, “Actually, Mr. Bingley suggested that I stay until you are recovered. He thought you would prefer my company, and I certainly do not wish to be separated from you. We see one another so little.”

Jane’s face showed her skepticism, but she accepted Elizabeth’s statement as truth. Elizabeth read aloud for a while, but soon Jane’s leg grew achy, and she was forced to take another dose of tonic.

While Jane slept, Elizabeth met with Mrs. Annesley who had arrived with a tote for each of them. Elizabeth was pleased to change out of her dirty skirt. The maid Miss Bingley assigned to her was not as competent as Milly, and Elizabeth was forced to fix her own hair. But once she was presentable, she made her way downstairs for tea.

“Miss Gardiner, welcome. I am glad you were able to steal away from your sister and join us for a while.” Elizabeth greeted Mr. Bingley with a smile and a curtsy and then took her place across from Miss Bingley.

“Mr. Darcy, do come join us. You will grow faint from hunger.” Miss Bingley addressed the words just over Elizabeth’s shoulder. She turned and saw him standing at the window, his eyes fixed on the view outside.

“Is that a garden you look at, sir? My legs are quite worn out from my walk this morning, but if the weather holds, I will wish for a place to exercise tomorrow morning.”

Mr. Darcy turned from the window. “It is. Just beyond the rose garden, you will find a maze. I think it may suit your need for exercise, and if I guess correctly, for adventure.”

Elizabeth was pleased by his response. “You have caught me out. I do enjoy a bit of adventure, and a labyrinth sounds just the thing.”

To Miss Bingley’s displeasure, Mr. Darcy smiled at Elizabeth. To her further irritation, he then took a seat on the other side of Mr. Bingley, as far from his hostess as possible. “How terrible it must be, Eliza, to spend all your time in town. Your garden must be very small. I know you dearly love to walk.”

Elizabeth accepted her cup of tea before answering. “Our garden is rather large for town, though not as large as some. My godfather’s garden is much bigger, for instance. I often walk there with his daughter.”

Miss Bingley sniffed. “I suppose size is a matter of perspective. What you may call very large I should likely call miniature.”

Mrs. Hurst agreed with enthusiasm. “Caroline, do you recall the tea we attended at the Earl of Effington’s house? His daughter was not yet officially out as she was waiting for a friend to return from a trip, but her father allowed her to hold a series of tea parties that spring. That garden was the grandest one I have seen in London.”

“Indeed,” Miss Bingley agreed. “With your tendency to roam, I fear you may get lost in that garden, Eliza.”

Elizabeth allowed the steam from the tea to warm her face. “Do you refer to Lady Susan Corwell?”

Miss Bingley’s eyes widened. “Silly me. Of course you have heard of her. Her name is often in the papers.” Elizabeth would never share that she was the E.G. often listed beside Suzy’s initials.

“I know her, and I, too, have taken tea there.” Mrs. Hurst looked suitably impressed, but Miss Bingley’s squinted in disbelief. That Suzy’s father was the godfather she had mentioned earlier would also go unsaid. Those two could not be trusted with that information. They would see it as an opportunity for their own aspirations.

Though Miss Bingley wished to continue discussing various prominent persons from London, Mr. Darcy managed to turn the conversation to the attractions of town. He, Elizabeth, and Mr. Bingley talked for many minutes about the theatre, opera, and the various museums.

“Have you had a chance to visit the Roman artifacts exhibit?” Mr. Bingley hitched his thumb toward his friend. “Darcy is an even bigger history enthusiast than you are.”

Mr. Darcy leaned forward to better see around his friend. “Do you enjoy history, Miss Gardiner?”

“I do, though I would not go so far as to call myself a connoisseur. I am simply an admirer.” She turned to Mr. Bingley. “And to answer your question, Papa took me to see that exhibit only a week before I arrived here. He was especially interested in the weaponry, but I enjoyed looking at the jewelry the most. There was an ivory hairpin that I thought was especially lovely.”

“Oh Eliza, how sweet you are. I would never wear anything less than gold in my own hair.” Elizabeth imagined Miss Bingley’s many feathers covered in gold. The image caused her to smile.

“Gold would look very nice against your copper hair.” Seeing that her hostess was well pleased with the compliment, Elizabeth thanked her for the meal and excused herself. She did not come back down for supper, choosing to stay with Jane the rest of the day.