Elizabeth had been sitting by Lady Catherine’s bed for several hours, reading Wordsworth’s poetry aloud to her. Though the lady had not yet spoken, she appeared to be conscious as she stared at the ceiling.
The sun was just dipping below the horizon, and the room was in shadows, for the maid had not yet come to light the lamps.
Hearing a slight sound, Elizabeth glanced at her charge and noticed her eyes moving, turning in her direction. The young woman laid the book on the table by her chair, stood, and walked to the side of the bed.
“Lady Catherine, can you hear me?” Her voice was soft and melodic.
The lady focused her alarmed eyes on Elizabeth’s face.
I see fear of her condition, but no anger towards me.
“Ah, very good. You do hear me. Your ladyship, you have suffered an illness, and you are in your own room at Rosings. Mr. Sims has been to see you and stayed most of the day. Miss de Bourgh sent for your doctor in London. We hope he shall be here by the morning.”
I would apologize for my temper, but if she has forgotten it, I would not wish to remind her.
Lady Catherine blinked her eyes. She cleared her throat and moved a hand towards Elizabeth.
“Things I – must do. Help me.”
The lady tried to raise her head, but gave up after one attempt. “Fatigued.”
She is frustrated. I would not have her work herself into a fit.
“Is there something you require, your ladyship? Do not distress yourself by trying to rise. Simply tell me what you want, and I shall get it for you.”
The lady simply looked at her.
“Are you thirsty?”
“No.”
“Would you like for me to read to you?”
“No.”
“Shall I bathe your face with cool water?”
“No.”
“Is there someone you wish to see?”
“Yes. I – wish – to – see …” She stopped.
“Mr. Sims?”
Lady Catherine knit her brows in apparent frustration. She took a breath and spoke slowly. “No. Soon enough.”
“Miss de Bourgh?”
“Yes. Summon her. Now.”
Elizabeth smiled. “I shall have her fetched immediately, your ladyship.”
She stepped to the door and opened it, addressing the maidservant who was seated by the door.
“Her ladyship wishes to speak with her daughter. Please bring her here immediately.”
The maid nodded and hurried away.
~~oo~~
When Miss de Bourgh arrived at her mother’s bedchamber, Elizabeth hurried to the door and stepped into the hall with her. Once there with the door closed, Elizabeth quickly informed her of her mother’s progress, but cautioned her not to expect her mother to be her normal self. After Miss de Bourgh nodded her understanding, the two young women returned to the invalid’s bedchamber and stood by her bed.
Elizabeth spoke first. “Lady Catherine, Miss de Bourgh is here.”
The lady shifted her gaze to her daughter.
“Anne.”
Elizabeth continued. “Shall I stay with you, your ladyship?”
The answer was swift. “No. Leave. Shut the door.”
Miss de Bourgh looked at Elizabeth, pleading with her eyes. “Do not go far.”
“I shan’t. I shall just go below to see to Charlotte, and then return. Your mother wants something, and she does not wish for me to know what it is.”
“What shall I do if she needs assistance?”
Elizabeth smiled. “You will be fine, Miss de Bourgh. I shall be back in an hour, and there is a maidservant by the door. Send for me if you require my help.”
“Very well. Have a footman direct you to the drawing room. I believe Mrs. Collins and Miss Lucas are there.”
~~oo~~
A scant half hour later, Anne de Bourgh rejoined her company, seating herself across from Elizabeth and Charlotte.
Her voice was kind as she leaned towards Elizabeth. “Have you eaten?”
“No, thank you, I have not.”
“Oh, my. I am quite useless as a hostess.”
She fluttered her hands and called for the butler. “Please inform Mrs. Robinson that we shall dine in the small dining room as soon as possible.”
The man bowed slightly and hurried away.
Elizabeth stood. “I must return to Lady Catherine.”
Miss de Bourgh shook her head. “My mother has decreed that you will no longer sit with her. I am sorry for her rudeness, Miss Bennet. I am very grateful for your willingness to care for her, but she prefers that Miss Lucas read to her in your stead.”
Elizabeth lowered her gaze to her hands and sat down. “I cannot blame her ladyship for feeling that way, though I am most sorry for it.”
Maria rose and turned towards the door, but Miss de Bourgh’s voice stopped her.
“You will not go now, Miss Lucas. My mother’s maid shall read to her while you have your dinner. If Mama insists on being stubborn concerning Miss Elizabeth, she shall have to concede to whatever arrangements I can make, and I will not overburden you. You and Miss Elizabeth are guests here, along with Mrs. Collins.”
Maria returned to her seat without a word.
Elizabeth’s face betrayed her astonishment. “I must be useful or return to Longbourn.”
Miss de Bourgh surveyed her with gravity. “You will be of great use to me and Mrs. Collins. Please do not think of leaving us in this condition.”
“Of course, I shall not go if you wish me to stay, but I am more of a burden than a help. Surely her ladyship will relent if I apologize to her for my behaviour. I cannot see my responsibilities shifted to Maria when she already has her share.”
The lady took a deep breath, and spoke softly. “My companion and I are both able to read to my mother for an hour or two a day. Mrs. Jenkinson will make a schedule for us. A maidservant can sleep in her room at night, and we shall hire a woman, one of our tenants who is somewhat skilled in nursing, to attend her several times a day. Mrs. Smith does not read, but she is strong and able to lift and turn her.”
Mrs. Jenkinson nodded.
Miss de Bourgh continued, quietly but with resolution in her tone. “And when Mama is left alone with a servant from time to time, it shall be no one’s fault but her own. If she complains, I shall know how to answer her.”
Elizabeth’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “Please do not be harsh with her on my account. I would not have you quarrel with your mother. I am far too outspoken.”
Miss de Bourgh’s eyes flashed though her voice was low. “You speak your mind, true, but so does she. Even knowing how I feel about any understanding she imagines between me and my cousin, she persists in trying to control us. We have told her; however, she will not listen.”
“Surely your mother is merely looking out for your best interests. After all, she dearly loves both you and her nephew.”
Miss de Bourgh’s mouth settled into a firm line. “She dearly loves to interfere, Miss Bennet. He does not wish to marry me, and I do not intend to marry anyone. He and I have talked, and we are in agreement. She cannot force us to marry, after all. We have settled the matter between us.”
Elizabeth raised her brows in surprise but was saved from the necessity of reply by the entrance of a footman announcing that dinner was served.
Notwithstanding, she left the room thinking, There is some of her strong-willed mother in her, after all. She is most certainly not the timid creature I imagined her to be. She simply keeps her thoughts to herself in front of her mother. Perhaps I should follow her example.
~~oo~~
After dinner, Mr. Sims arrived to see Lady Catherine, and once he had completed his examination, he pronounced her to be doing better than he had expected.
When the apothecary took his leave, Mrs. Smith remained in Lady Catherine’s chambers to watch over her through the night.
The ladies parted for their rooms, all citing fatigue from the events of the day.
Elizabeth had not been in her room for more than a few minutes before she heard a soft knock at the door.
She crossed the room to see who it was and was pleased to see her friend, Charlotte.
“Come in, for you are a most welcome sight. We have hardly had a moment to visit since I arrived.”
Elizabeth took her hand and led her to the sitting area, settling in a comfortable chair and gesturing to Charlotte to do the same.
“This is a lovely room,” said Charlotte, smiling. “I do believe Miss de Bourgh likes you and wishes for you to feel welcome at Rosings.”
“I must admit that I have been quite mistaken in my understanding of her. Though her health is not robust, she is not a retiring sort of person. I quite like her. She is not fearful of her mother, and she has decided opinions of her own.”
Charlotte smiled. “I thought you might have to change your mind about her. I have seen this side of her before. Did you not think it was interesting that she does not intend to marry?”
Odd that she feels as I do. I will not marry rather than marry a man I do not love. We have more in common than anyone would suspect. “Perhaps, though it does not affect me.”
“Mr. Darcy has always looked at you a great deal.”
“Charlotte, you must know that much of what Lady Catherine said, though offensive and unfair, was true.”
Charlotte tilted her head. “Did you not enjoy your visit to Pemberley?”
“Very much, until I received a distressing letter from Jane.”
“Ah, I wondered if you were there when you received the news of Lydia’s elopement.”
“Mr. Darcy was with me when I read Jane’s letter. I was so upset that he insisted on knowing what was wrong, so I confided the whole, sordid business to him.”
“And what did he do?”
“He left immediately, and before an hour passed, the Gardiners and I departed for Longbourn.”
“I have always wondered how Lydia and Wickham were discovered and made to marry.”
Elizabeth looked away. “Aunt Gardiner told me Mr. Darcy found them in London. I imagined he put out a good bit of money to force Wickham into matrimony with my sister.”
Charlotte leaned forward to put her hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “And why do you think he did that?”
Elizabeth sighed. “He seemed to think it was his fault, though it most certainly was not.”
“I think he did it for you.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, Charlotte. When Mr. Bingley returned to Netherfield in September, Mr. Darcy came with him. My mother sent an invitation for the gentlemen to dine with us, and he sat by my side, hardly uttering a word, never offering a smile. He left very soon after that and did not come back to Hertfordshire until the wedding two days ago. As soon as the ceremony ended, he climbed into his carriage and never looked back.”
“Did you never speak to him about his assistance with Lydia’s situation?”
She lowered her eyes. “I certainly wished to. I wanted to thank him on behalf of all my family, for they do not know to whom they are indebted. However, the opportunity did not present itself. There was no time when we were alone. In any event, I imagine the subject would have been distasteful to him.”
“Perhaps you shall have another chance.”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked, looking up at her friend.
“These things have a way of working themselves out, my dear. Friday, the twenty-ninth of November a little more than a year ago, I had no prospects for marriage, and before the day was out, I was engaged. We married in January, and soon we shall have a child. I had no idea of what this past year would hold. You cannot know what is in your future, Lizzy.”
She pursed her lips. “I assure you, there is no one out there for me. I have no intentions of marrying.” She smiled, though it pained her to do so. “So, I will be an old maid governess. Shall you have me come and teach your ten children to play their instruments very ill?”
Charlotte smiled and rose from her chair. “My little one is jumping about at the prospect. I think I shall go to my chambers. You and I both need to rest, for neither of us knows what tomorrow holds.”
Elizabeth walked with her friend to the door, closing it behind her after she left.
I know what it will not hold. I know that I shall start the day alone, and I shall end it in the same state. And every day after that will be the same.