Elizabeth jerked her head around to see him. “Thomas?”
Darcy’s response was immediate. “You forget yourself, sir!”
Thomas took a step towards them, pulling the scarf from his face.
“I repeat: put her down. Now.”
Elizabeth heard the menace in his voice, but in Darcy’s arms, she was not afraid. “Calm yourself. This is not what it seems. I tripped, injuring my ankle, and Mr. Darcy is kindly carrying me to the house.”
“Then I shall take you, as is my right.” He looked at Darcy. “Give her to me, sir.”
Darcy’s eyes shifted to Elizabeth. “Is it true? Are you engaged to him?” he whispered.
She shook her head, and the gentleman adjusted his weight subtly. Elizabeth could tell he had planted both feet firmly, pulling her closer to his chest.
He has no intention of yielding.
“Enough, man! Miss Bennet is freezing as we argue. I shall take her to Rosings, and we can continue this discussion there where it is warm. Perhaps you will agree to accompany us so that you can ascertain the extent of the damage and treat her, or would you rather stay out here until she is ill as well?”
Without another word, Thomas turned abruptly and stalked in the direction of the manse, pulling his scarf back over his mouth and nose as he went.
In due time, Rosings was in view.
Darcy lowered his face to whisper. “Do you still wish to attempt walking?”
“If you are not afraid of damage to your own reputation and I am not too heavy for you, I am inclined to continue as we are.” Her eyes met his. “I have no wish to encourage Thomas in thinking he has any sort of claim which entitles him to speak for me. He is my friend, but that is all.”
She could see the relief in his eyes.
“You are no burden to me.”
Thomas was standing at the entrance when Darcy walked up the steps to Rosings. He gestured for them to enter as the footman opened the door.
Darcy carried Elizabeth to the empty drawing room, issuing orders for tea and soup to be brought for them as he walked.
He placed her in a chair close to the fire.
A maidservant hurried to help the lady remove her outer garments, and a footman came forward to receive the clothing as she removed it.
Darcy and Thomas removed their snow-covered outerwear and tossed it into a pile on the floor. A second footman immediately retrieved it.
“You there. Bring a footstool,” Darcy said. “Build up the fire.”
Within a few moments, Elizabeth’s foot was resting on the cushioned stool as Thomas knelt beside it.
He frowned when he saw her boots.
“Wherever did you get these Hessians, Elizabeth?” he thundered. “They are fit for a man, not a lady, and they shall be the very devil to remove without hurting you.”
“My father gave them to me last year,” she replied in a clipped voice. “He knows how I love to walk in all weather, and I suppose he was more concerned with my health than he was for convention.”
She winced and stifled a grunt as Thomas tugged the boot from her foot.
He gasped. “What is this? What the dickens are you wearing?”
“Trousers, Thomas,” she said tiredly. “Surely you know what trousers are? I knew I would be outside for several hours in the snow, so I chose to wear warm clothing.”
“Elizabeth, this sort of behaviour was excusable when you were a child,” he scolded, brows drawn together. “But you are a grown woman now. This is most unbecoming! Is your father responsible for this as well?”
Darcy stepped forward and put his hand on the back of Elizabeth’s wing chair. His mouth was set in a grim line.
“He is not,” said the gentleman. “I both suggested the trousers and procured them for her. She would have been amenable to dressing ‘properly’ to please those around her, but I wished for her to be protected from the cold. Can you not examine her without a constant diatribe criticizing her for her actions?”
Thomas stood, scowling. “So, you forced her to do this? Knowing how it could damage her standing in society? I knew I should not have left her with you.”
“Mr. Darcy has never tried to force me to do anything,” answered Elizabeth, glaring at him. “He does not order me about as you do.”
“You mistake his courtesy for interest, Elizabeth. He is of a different sphere than you and I inhabit,” Thomas replied angrily. “We two are alike. Do not deceive yourself. A wealthy, powerful man like Mr. Darcy will never propose marriage to you as I have. He will never offer you his name.”
Elizabeth, astonished at his audacity, put her hand over her open mouth as the oppressive silence grew.
Finally, Darcy’s deep, steady voice echoed in the stillness. “I already have.”
Thomas looked from one to the other, settling on Elizabeth. “So, am I to understand that you have engaged yourself to him? You have broken your promise to me?”
She lifted her chin. “I have broken no promises.”
The physician narrowed his eyes.
“Do you intend to stand there all day?” asked Darcy impatiently. “Shall I send for Mr. Sims to care for her, or will you stop talking and get to the task at hand?”
“I will do it. ’Tis not necessary to send for the apothecary,” he replied tersely, kneeling and roughly pulling the sock from her foot. “This conversation is not over, Elizabeth. We shall finish this discussion later.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes tightly against the pain, trying to make no noise. A small cry escaped her.
Darcy moved to stand to the left of her chair. “You are hurting her unnecessarily. Be gentle.”
“Am I the physician, or are you?” asked Thomas through clenched jaws.
“I am no physician, but I am capable of removing her sock without causing her pain,” replied Darcy, enunciating each word.
“You will not touch her,” replied Thomas, glowering.
Anne de Bough’s calm voice came from behind them.
“Ah, there you all are. I confess I was confused to hear that you were in this room.” She clucked her tongue. “Darcy, you know we sit here in the evening.”
She walked sedately around the chair to stand beside Thomas in front of Elizabeth, looking down at her foot.
“My dear, you are hurt. I am so sorry. It looks quite swollen and discoloured to me, but I know nothing of these things. Mr. Jones, are you capable of seeing to my guest, or should I send to London for Mr. Hough?”
The young man took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.
“There is no need to send for anyone else. I think ’tis sprained, but not broken. I am quite fit to treat her injury.”
“Excellent. You may continue, Mr. Jones, if you are able to do so without causing Miss Bennet undue discomfort,” answered the lady.
The butler entered, followed by several footmen bearing trays which they placed on a table.
“Wonderful!” Miss de Bourgh clasped her hands. “There is the tea and soup you ordered, Darcy. Mrs. Robinson has her spies everywhere, and she keeps me abreast of what is happening in my house. Such a jewel. What would I do without her?”
She moved with dignity to sit in the chair to Elizabeth’s right, leaning forward to pat her hand for a moment.
“Smythe, please inform Mrs. Collins and Miss Lucas that we shall have tea and soup in here today, along with the sandwiches and biscuits I ordered. I believe the ladies are in the morning parlour. And tell Sally I should like for her to serve, for Mrs. Jenkinson is with Mama, and I am quite fatigued from all the activity.”
The butler nodded and quickly left the room.
“Now, Mr. Jones. Tell me what you shall do to help my friend. Do you need anything?”
Elizabeth hid her surprise. Her friend?
“I require a bowl of snow or ice and some clean cloths,” answered the physician, standing to face Miss de Bourgh. “Her foot is growing larger as it gets warmer, so I shall apply ice wrapped in the cloths to reduce both the swelling and the pain.”
Charlotte and Maria entered the room, followed by Sally and Smythe.
As the ladies seated themselves, Sally began to pour the tea and serve the soup.
Miss de Bourgh smiled. “Smythe, Mr. Jones has expressed a wish for ice or snow as well as clean cloths. Please have them fetched immediately, along with a pillow to be placed under Miss Bennet’s foot, and a warm blanket.”
He turned and left the room.
Miss de Bourgh sipped her tea with delicacy and sighed. “There is nothing which gives me more satisfaction than to see everything at Rosings done efficiently. Everyone is content when there is no confusion or animus. Do you not agree, Mrs. Collins?”
“I do, Miss de Bourgh. I feel the same about the parsonage.”
“Miss Bennet, I noticed your trousers, socks, and boots. I must say that I appreciate how sensible you are. Many people are far too shallow, placing the importance of society’s foolish constraints above their own health, as well as the health of others. If I were going outside,” she shivered slightly, “which of course, I am not, I would follow your wise example.”
Elizabeth nearly choked on her tea.
Miss de Bourgh raised a fine eyebrow. “My dear, are you quite well?”
She tilted her head. “Darcy, you must learn to take better care of our guest. First, you allowed her to suffer injury and agony under your watch, and now you have neglected her to the point that she may actually expire in my drawing room. I trusted you with her welfare, and you have been quite careless. I am shocked, indeed. Can you not help her?”
She waved her hand languidly. “Pat her back or hold her cup. Surely you are able to do something to relieve her present distress. A great, tall fellow like you should be more useful as you are too large to be ornamental.”
Darcy’s mouth twitched, eyes sparkling. “You are right, Cousin, as you usually are. People mistakenly underestimate your strength because you are so calm and unassuming, yet you direct this house with the crook of your little finger.”
“You know I saw you from the parlour window when you were walking back to the house.” Her eyes gleamed.
“I was quite sure you were watching, my dear,” he replied, “for nothing which happens at Rosings Park escapes your notice. Aunt Catherine would be quite lost without you.”
Elizabeth sipped her soup as she glanced from Darcy to Miss de Bourgh.
How curious. I have never before seen this side of Miss de Bourgh. ’Tis clear that she and Mr. Darcy are a great deal more than friends or relatives, yet he made an offer to me. Has he changed his mind because of my folly? Should I be jealous?
Smythe entered the room with white cloths, a pillow, and a blanket, followed by a footman carrying a large bowl of snow and ice. They placed the items by Thomas’s feet.
The young man placed his cup on a table and knelt before his patient.
He lifted Elizabeth’s foot carefully and tucked the pillow beneath it, and then busied himself in making a loose pack of ice within several cloths folded neatly.
Elizabeth shifted in the chair as Thomas placed his handiwork on her ankle, leaning towards her to whisper, “I am sorry I hurt you. This will make it better quickly.”
“Thank you.”
He stood and bent over her, putting his mouth to her ear. “I cannot bear to see you with him. It makes me angry and foolish.”
So, it is my own fault when he acts in this manner?
She turned her head and bit her lip as Thomas straightened, nodding to Miss de Bourgh. “Elizabeth should be able to walk a little tomorrow, as long as she remains indoors and does not overdo. I must go to her ladyship and make certain she is well enough for me to return to the parsonage. I dare not leave Mr. Collins alone with servants for too long, and Mr. Sims is on his rounds.”
The lady gazed at him. “No, indeed. Do not neglect our parson. You most definitely should go back to Hunsford and make certain he recovers as soon as is possible. My mother seems to be doing well, and we shall all be sure to encourage Miss Bennet to stay off her foot. There are many of us who care deeply for her. You are needed more at the parsonage than you are at Rosings.”
He nodded. “Someone must replace the ice when it melts and keep checking her ankle. Remove the towels from time to time so that the cold does not freeze her skin.”
He touched Elizabeth’s shoulder before he bowed and hurried from the room. She flinched and averted her face.
“Miss Bennet,” said Darcy, asking for her attention. “Christmas is but three days away. I can begin hanging the greenery this afternoon if you will sit and give me directions.”
He picked up the blanket and draped it over her legs and feet.
She looked into his kind, emerald eyes and smiled. “I shall be happy to tell you what to do, sir, but first, you must finish your soup and eat some sandwiches and biscuits. You will certainly need your strength.”
He bowed. “I am yours to command.”
Because you allow it.
She knew in that moment her heart would always belong to Mr. Darcy.
I will enjoy this time with him and remember it for the remainder of my life. If he marries another, I shall always have these days to cherish.