by Lily Bernard
“Do you think you can play if we play together?”
“Yes, Lizzy, I would like to try.”
Elizabeth and Georgiana looked through the music sheets on top of the piano and they chose their first piece. As Georgiana began playing, Elizabeth quickly realized how truly skilled Georgiana was. Elizabeth played her part of the duet, but she allowed her much more talented partner to take the lead. Once she started playing, Georgiana seemed almost lost in the music.
After they finished playing and everyone was drinking tea, Elizabeth asked Georgiana about Colonel Fitzwilliam. “Shortly after I returned to London from Ramsgate, Richard was sent to the Continent. He suffered a serious leg wound in Spain, but he is now fully recovered and is training recruits in London. My aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Matlock, are delighted to have him so close to home and out of harm’s way. My dear cousin Anne inherited Rosings Park after her father’s death. Before she passed away, Anne wrote her own will and left Rosings to my cousin, Richard. I believe he will soon resign his commission in the Army and begin a new life as a country gentleman in Kent. Mrs. Bingley, is Mr. Bingley at home today? He was a close friend of my late brother and I would enjoy seeing him again.”
“I am sorry to disappoint you, Miss Darcy. Charles is with our steward today and is not expected to return until dinner.”
Before Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley departed, they invited Elizabeth and the Bingleys to Pemberley in three weeks’ time and the invitation was happily accepted.
The following day, Elizabeth and Jane were walking in the gardens. “Charles and I have been talking about hosting a Summer Ball in July. What do you think?”
“I think it is a lovely idea. Your ballroom has been unused for far too long. Who do you plan to invite?”
“David Brooks, of course, and most of our other neighbors. Charles has been very busy getting to know the landowners around us. I would be happy to invite Miss Darcy, but she told us she is not yet out in Society. I am certain she will not come if she cannot dance.”
“I doubt she will be in Derbyshire in July. I heard her say that she was going back to London in May to study with some masters.”
“Let us return to the house and start the planning. Lizzy, this will be a very important night for Charles and me and I want everything to be just right.”
“Jane, I am certain that the Bingley’s Summer Ball will be a night to remember.”
Chapter 19
Charles had not seen either of his sisters since his wedding and he issued invitations to them to visit Birchwood Manor. Mrs. Hurst replied that she and Mr. Hurst were unable to travel since she was entering her confinement at the Hurst’s estate in Sussex. Caroline Bingley happily accepted her brother’s invitation since all the important events of the Season had ended.
She arrived on a sunny day in May in one of the Bingleys’ carriages and she entered the house with a critical eye and little enthusiasm. Shortly after she arrived, Elizabeth and David Brooks entered the drawing room after their ride. Caroline did not even glance at Elizabeth but when she was introduced to Lord Winthrope, her curtsey was so low Elizabeth was tempted to look behind her to see if the Prince Regent had just walked in. “Lord Winthrope it is such an honor to meet you.”
“I am happy to meet you as well, Miss Bingley. Please call me Brooks, everyone does.”
“Your Lordship, I could never be so informal with a member of the nobility.” Brooks turned to Elizabeth with a knowing glance as he accepted a cup of tea from Jane.
David Brooks continued his regular visits to Birchwood Manor. Whenever Caroline Bingley was nearby, she quickly went to him and took his arm and tried to pry him away from Elizabeth’s side. Caroline looked up at him with fluttering eyelashes, her sweetest smile, and enthusiastically agreed with every word he uttered. Brooks was always polite, but he did everything he could to let Caroline know that he was not interested in anything she had to offer. Caroline knew that she was not making any headway in attracting Lord Winthrope’s attention, so she decided to take her pursuit to the next level. As the days of Caroline’s visit went on, the neckline of her gowns got lower and lower. She could not understand how he could possibly be attracted to Eliza Bennet, a poor country chit with no accomplishments, connections or dowry.
One afternoon, Brooks joined the Bingleys for tea and he asked Caroline if she would be remaining at Birchwood until the Summer Ball. Before she could answer, Charles quickly replied, “my sister is leaving tomorrow for a long-planned visit to our relatives in Scarborough.”
“That is a shame, but I do hope you enjoy your trip.”
Caroline smiled and fluttered her eyelashes. “Thank you, Lord Winthrope, you are most kind.” ‘Have no worries about me, my Lord. I will be back here for the Ball and you and I will be betrothed by the end of the night. Lady Caroline Winthrope has such a lovely ring to it.’
Brooks called on Elizabeth almost every day. They enjoyed riding and walking together and talking about their favorite books. They also discovered that they shared a love of music and poetry and Elizabeth found herself thinking about Darcy less and less.
While they were out riding together one morning, Brooks asked Elizabeth if she would mind dismounting and walking with him.
“You should know by now that I will use any excuse to take a walk.” As he helped Elizabeth dismount, he took her hand and placed it on his arm. Their horses trailed behind them as they set off.
“Miss Bennet, these past months of our friendship have passed so quickly and happily. I thought the spring thaw would never come.” They both smiled at each other. “Meeting you has been the highlight of my life. You are so lovely and such an intelligent, caring and charming woman.” Brooks stopped walking and faced Elizabeth. “I hope you know by now that I have fallen in love with you and I pray that you will accept me and become my wife.”
Elizabeth did not say anything and was looking down at the ground. After a brief pause, she looked up and said, “Sir, I am very flattered by your proposal. Your question has truly taken me by surprise and I am not able to give you an answer this morning. May I have some time to think about it?” Elizabeth was afraid to commit to marriage to a man she liked and enjoyed spending time with. She knew in her heart she could never love him the way she loved Darcy. ‘Or can I? Can I come to love David Brooks over time?’ Her thoughts were interrupted by Brooks speaking.
“Is there someone else Miss Bennet? I mean to say, are you in love with someone else?”
“No, there is no one else. I did love someone once, but he died.”
“Oh, I see. I am sorry. Please take as much time as you need, my dear.”
“Thank you for understanding. I will let you know as soon as I have made a decision. Perhaps we should head back now.”
Brooks took her hand and placed a light kiss on her glove. “Whatever you wish, my dear Miss Bennet.”
Darcy had been dead for almost a year and Elizabeth was confused. She knew she cared for David Brooks but did not know if she could truly open her heart to him after closing her heart to all feelings when Darcy died. Although she had not decided what she was going to do about the proposal, when Elizabeth awoke the next morning, she began dressing in brighter colors. She had decided that her period of mourning was over.
After eating breakfast together, Charles kissed Jane’s cheek and left the sisters alone. Jane moved over to sit next to her sister. “I have some wonderful news to share with you, but I must speak to you in confidence.”
“Of course, you know you can tell me anything.”
“Lizzy, I believe I am with child.” The two sisters embraced each other with tears of happiness in their eyes.
“Charles must be so thrilled with your news.”
“I have not told him yet. I want to wait until I feel the quickening. That’s why I must ask you to keep my secret.”
“You know you can trust me, Jane.”
“There’s another reason I have told you about the baby. I need to visit one of o
ur tenants tomorrow and bring them some much needed supplies. Mrs. Rhodes told me this morning that two of the Ward children are ill. Lizzy, you have always been so healthy, and I am afraid if I visit them I will become ill. I cannot think of doing anything that might put the baby at risk and I know we are all looking forward to our visit to Pemberley next week.”
Elizabeth did not react to Jane’s comments about their visit to Pemberley. She had been doing a lot of thinking about it and could not decide if she was looking forward to it or dreaded seeing what her life would have been if Darcy had not been murdered.
“Worry not, Jane. I will be happy to visit your tenants tomorrow. I assume that Mrs. Rhodes is making up a basket to be delivered.”
“Yes, it will be ready for you after we break our fast tomorrow morning.”
When Elizabeth arrived at the Ward’s home the following day, she saw that the Ward children were indeed quite ill. She spent a few minutes with Mrs. Ward and left the basket which had been prepared for them. When she returned to Birchwood Manor, Elizabeth found her sister in her sitting room. “Jane, the Ward children are quite ill, and they should be seen by the apothecary before the rest of their family becomes ill.”
“I will send a footman to Lambton and ask Mr. Carter to attend to them immediately. Thank you for going there in my place.”
“I am always happy to help you, you know that I would do anything you asked.”
“Thank you, dear sister.”
A few days after her visit to the tenants, Charles left Birchwood before breakfast to look over some newly planted fields with their steward. Elizabeth joined Jane in the breakfast room, “I do not know what is wrong with me this morning, I slept well last night but I feel as if all my strength has left me.”
Jane could see how pale her sister looked. “Lizzy, dearest, please let me escort you back upstairs to your room. You need to rest, and I will have a breakfast tray brought to your room and send for Mr. Carter.”
“I do not need a apothecary, I just need some…” As Elizabeth stood to leave the room, a feeling of complete weariness overcame her, and she slumped to the floor. Jane called for a footman and she held her sister’s hand as he carried Elizabeth to her bed chamber.
Elizabeth was soon in her bed and by the afternoon she had developed a high fever. After the apothecary completed his examination, he told Jane that there were no draughts to help her sister. He advised Jane to keep her sister as cool as possible. “Cool compresses on her head and the frequent application of cool water to as much of her body as possible is what will help most.” Jane was certain that Elizabeth’s illness was a result of her visit to the Ward’s home. Her guilt for sending her sister to visit the tenants in her place led her to refuse to leave Elizabeth’s bedside. Charles could not convince his wife to get some rest, she would not leave her beloved sister.
One night, while her fever was still raging, Jane heard Elizabeth mumbling the same words over and over. “Come back Darcy. William, love, my William, William.” Jane realized that Elizabeth had been keeping a secret, but she also knew that Mr. Darcy was dead. She now understood the cause of the melancholy her father wrote to her about when he asked her to invite Elizabeth to live at Birchwood. ‘Lizzy and Mr. Darcy must have grown very close while he was in Hertfordshire. Now I understand the real connection between Lizzy and Miss Darcy. How my poor sister must be suffering.’
May 1812
Birchwood Manor
Dear Miss Darcy,
With regrets, I must tell you that we are unable to visit you at Pemberley as planned. My sister is ill and will not be able to travel for some time. I know you understand and we look forward to seeing you and Mrs. Annesley sometime in the future.
With Kindest Regards,
Jane Bingley
May 1812
Pemberley
Dear Mrs. Bingley,
I am terribly sorry to hear about Lizzy’s illness. Pray give her my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Mrs. Annesley and I are leaving Pemberley soon to spend some time with my relatives in Matlock before returning to London. We plan to be back in Derbyshire in September and I look forward to enjoying your company then. Again, please send my sincere regards to Lizzy.
Yours truly,
Georgiana Darcy
David Brooks stopped by almost every day to hear news of Elizabeth’s health. With every call he made, he hoped to hear a good report. Jane informed him that Elizabeth’s fever was slowly coming down, but she was still sleeping for most of the day. “When she awakens, please tell Miss Bennet that I was here, and I am looking forward to her recovery.”
“Yes, Brooks, I will tell her as soon as she is well enough.” ‘He must care for my sister more than I thought.’
As her fever subsided, Elizabeth was able to stay awake for several minutes every few hours. Jane was very concerned that her sister had lost a great deal of weight during her illness and she spoke to Mr. Carter about it. He advised Jane to start feeding Elizabeth some clear broth whenever she was awake in order to build up her strength. When Elizabeth was waking up, the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Jane coming near her with a spoonful of soup.
Chapter 20
Elizabeth slowly began to recover, and the doctor said she could start eating some solid food and taking a few steps around her bed chamber as long as she was not alone. After several weeks of being bedridden she felt strong enough to join the Bingleys at the breakfast table. Charles was very happy to see her. “Lizzy, it is wonderful to see you this morning and looking so well. Please do not do too much, my dear sister. You had us all quite worried about your health.”
“You must stay indoors and help me with some of my household responsibilities. No racing through the woods on your horse or going for hour-long walks. You are too precious to me and to Charles.”
“Thank you both for your care and concern. I am happy I am able to join you this morning but, in all honesty, I still feel too weak to pursue any of my usual activities.”
“If you ladies will excuse me, I am meeting with some of our tenants this morning.” Charles kissed Jane on the forehead and left the room.
After Elizabeth filled her plate and sat down next to her sister, Jane said, “Lizzy, I would like to ask you a question and you do not have to respond if you would rather not.”
“You know you can ask me anything.”
“While you were ill, and your fever was quite high, you often tried to speak. I could not understand most of what you were trying to say but one evening you were calling out for Mr. Darcy. Lizzy, you said you loved him and you pleaded with him to come back.”
Elizabeth looked down at her hands in her lap and began to cry. Jane took her sister’s hand as Elizabeth told her everything. “I was so angry at Mr. Darcy for his insult at the Assembly. The very next day, I came upon him while I was out walking. When he asked if he could join me, I fear I was unkind to him. He told me that he did not mean what I heard him say and then he told me that he thought I was quite beautiful and he wanted to be my friend. I was carrying Papa’s copy of Shakespeare’s Sonnets with me and William showed me that he carried a pocket-sized copy of the same book. We laughed at our similar taste in books.
“When I went walking the next morning, he was waiting for me and we began walking and talking and getting to know one another every morning. William was nothing like the man we thought he was when we first met him. He was warm and kind and everything a woman could hope for. Shortly before you and Charles became betrothed, William and I were out walking, and we began talking about Pemberley. The next thing I knew, he got down on one knee and told me how ardently he loved me and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes. I knew I had been falling in love with him from the first day we walked together.”
Elizabeth told Jane that she and Darcy were walking toward Longbourn when he was called away by an urgent express. “He never got the chance to ask Papa for his permission so there was no official betrothal. Jane, I was so lonely when he left
. I walked to Oakham Mount every day in hopes of finding my beloved William waiting for me there.” Elizabeth told her sister about the account Darcy set up for her in the London bank, his handkerchief with her curls in it and Darcy’s signet ring which she pulled out of her dress and showed Jane.
“I saw that ring when your maid and I were changing you into your night clothes when you were ill. I placed it in your jewelry box and I knew you would tell me about it when you were ready.”
Elizabeth held Jane’s hand and continued to tell her about all that had transpired. “I returned from my walk one day and there was a strange carriage parked outside Longbourn. When I entered the house, Hill told me that I had a caller and was to go to Papa’s study the moment I entered the house. I was praying that it was Darcy and he had returned to me in time for us to have a double wedding. That is why I was crying so much at your wedding. I was thinking about William.”
“The carriage that was parked outside Longbourn belonged to Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. He told me about Miss Darcy being abducted and the circumstances of William’s death.” Elizabeth went on and told her sister about the death of Nora Kelly, Wickham’s hatred of William and his desire for revenge.
“Lizzy, why did you not share this with me? I feel so remiss about not being able to offer you the support you should have had from your sister.”
“I could not reveal that we were betrothed because we never got Papa’s permission and our betrothal was not binding. The longer William stayed away, I began to think he must have changed his mind about marrying such an impertinent, outspoken woman. I told no one because I wanted to protect myself from the humiliation and ridicule of our family and friends if William never came back for me.”