A Dangerous Courtship Read online

  “I have been unhappy because I have worked too hard. Frankly, meeting you at the dance is the longest time I have ever spent with a single woman, and I enjoyed our talks. Miss Bennet, I am not experienced in the ways of women, though the society writers from The Times cover my every move as though I am this rich and handsome bachelor who no woman has yet succeeded in marrying.”

  “I do not read such stories, but my younger sister Kitty collects them. So are you living a lie?”

  “In some ways, I am. Often I am hounded by mothers and their daughters, but I value a woman for her mind and her goodness above everything else. You have those qualities plus beautiful eyes that sparkle like diamonds when you smile. Your voice comforts me.”

  “But you are an honest man. Then you must know that I have no experience in such matters, but the dance may have changed me. I was proud to dance with the handsomest man in the room. At that moment I did not feel sorry for any other young women. I felt like a princess when I danced with you.”

  “Since we are speaking of such things, I was a happy man after meeting you. That night after the dance I could think of little but you, Miss Bennet. Is there something wrong with me?”

  “No, it just seems that you finally have found that you do not need to work so hard and must get out into society more often or otherwise amuse yourself some other way. What good does it do if you lose these years and have nothing to show for it but that you increased your wealth?”

  “Again, you are correct. I just wanted to show everyone that I have worked hard to learn how to properly manage the Darcy estate. Miss Bennet, I am much more interested in learning more about you. Please tell me more about your life at Longbourn?”

  Elizabeth began to speak just as Georgiana entered the room. “Georgiana, your brother has just asked me to speak of my life at Longbourn and I may be repeating some things you heard me say earlier.”

  “Oh, I do not mind at all, so please continue.”

  During the tea, she next told of having four sisters and not one brother and how Longbourn will pass to a distant cousin after her father dies.

  They wanted to hear more of her parents and her sisters and other relatives, including the Gardiners. After going on for several minutes, she paused to let the others speak.

  “Miss Bennet, how come you have never married?”

  “Georgie, that is not a question you should be asking Miss Bennet and certainly not in the presence of others.”

  “I have always thought myself too young and several boys have told me they could never marry a girl who knows everything.”

  Darcy laughed and soon his sister and Elizabeth joined in.

  Elizabeth saw her young friend blush with embarrassment and grabbed her hand.

  “You have not offended me, Georgiana, and your question needs answering. For all my years I have never given much thought to marriage and always believed myself too young. A few boys have told me that they would never marry a woman of superior intelligence. I was not made to be a flirt, and frankly there were no men who stirred my curiosity. Call me a prude, but I have never been kissed by a man.”

  “With the entail looming, I suppose there is angst in the family about what will happen to your family after your father passes?”

  “Mr. Darcy, that is a major concern. My mother is hoping that Jane, my older sister, and I will make a good match and marry soon. The truth is that my mother would like to see all her daughters well married and the sooner the better.”

  “So, does your mother expect you both to marry under the right circumstances even if you are not in love?”

  “I believe she feels that love can come later, but I will never marry except for the deepest love and respect. I do not believe my sisters feel the same.”

  Darcy took in all he heard. Surely this young woman is not a fortune hunter. Elizabeth next brought Georgiana into the discussions and Darcy soon saw his sister open up in a way he had never seen. He watched as she appeared to grow up before his very eyes and he had to give credit to Elizabeth for such a change. Elizabeth could see that Darcy and his sister lived lonely lives, and even though they were wealthy, they were not happy, but they seemed happy around her and she was happy around them.

  After she returned to the Gardiners she suddenly felt bereft of Darcy and Georgiana’s company. Elizabeth had changed and now she had other feelings and stirrings about her and for the first time in her life, she wished a man, Mr. Darcy, would kiss her. Though only in a dream, she had her first kiss by the one man she knew could break her heart, yet she did not care, for she would live her life to the fullest and not complain if her heart chose wrongly for her.

  But Elizabeth was not a person to look on the dark side of things and she would not be defeated. Later the following day, Georgiana visited with Elizabeth and the children and this turned out to be a happy occasion for everyone. When Mrs. Gardiner mentioned she grew up in Lambton, Georgiana and her spoke of Pemberley and Elizabeth asked what that was.

  “Lizzy, Pemberley is the great Darcy estate outside of the little village of Lambton, in Derbyshire. Many people describe it as the grandest estate in all the country, and Mr. Darcy is its’ master.”

  “He never told me of the place.”

  “That is because he is not one to brag of such things, Elizabeth, but I do hope and pray that you will see Pemberley soon. It is particularly beautiful in the spring, but of course it is beautiful in all the seasons. My brother likes to ride on the many trails and he even manages to work some of the gardens. All the Darcy men have had a fondness for working the land, and William is not an exception.”

  By the time Miss Darcy prepared to return to Darcy House, the Gardiner children all ran up to her and hugged her and told her to return soon. From the happy tears, the shy young woman showed, it was clear that she would return soon. That night at the Gardiners, Uncle Edward Gardiner asked of her day and was briefed by both women.

  “So Lizzy, how do you find the Darcys?”

  “Aunt, I am most pleased to call them my friends, but I must not let my imagination go too far away. Mr. Darcy is an unbelievably good man and he treats me as if I am special.”

  “But you are special, and he would not deceive you,” replied her uncle.

  “Has he kissed you yet, Lizzy?”

  I cannot believe my aunt is asking such a question. Elizabeth was certain the Gardiners could see her blush.

  “No, Aunt, but that might not be painful at all. What scares me is I am not experienced in matters of the heart.”

  “It appears he is the same, Lizzy. His aunt tells me that he works all the time.”

  “There, Lizzy, you see the task at hand. You have him wounded so why not finish him off and make him your own?”

  “Uncle, I am more naive than Mr. Darcy. Though I will probably end up hurt, I wish to let these matters play out on their own. You must understand that I have no thoughts at all that he and I might one day have a future together, but for now, I consider him my best male friend.”

  That night, in bed, she thought of her day with Georgiana and her brother and she thought of her dream the night before and how Darcy’s kiss had affected her such that she woke up giggling. The next day she and her aunt completed their Christmas shopping and returned to Gracechurch Street. Early the next day she received an express from her father.

  19 Dec1810

  Dearest Lizzy,

  I hate to disrupt your visit with the Gardiners, but your mother is very ill with influenza and so are many people in Meryton. Already one man has died. Your mother has had a tough go of it and Doctor Jones is sick, so he cannot help her. I beg you to come soonest and try to save your mother. I think you are our best hope.

  Love,

  Your Papa

  Madeline Gardiner immediately helped Elizabeth finish packing whilst Elizabeth wrote a missive and next asked her aunt to give it to Miss Darcy. Minutes later a servant uploaded her things and took her to catch the next coach to Meryton. She soon bought her ticke
t and within thirty minutes she boarded the coach to return home.

  CHAPTER 2

  Elizabeth wished to stay in town longer, but she knew she had to help her mother and others. There was no doubt that she would do all she could, but with Doctor Jones also sick, she understood that she would be alone. Her thoughts were also of Mr. Darcy and Georgiana and she wondered if she would see them again. It upset her that she only had time to scribble a few lines of a brief missive that she asked her aunt to deliver to Georgiana. Elizabeth especially felt bereft at being away from the only man who had stirred her senses. She had never known the feeling of caring for a man and knowing he cared for her. Those dark eyes could see through to her very soul and just his nearness made her feel like she was special. The previous night he had again kissed her in her dream, and she was happy that next morning, that is, until she read her father’s letter.

  She had never known any man so above her sphere or so wealthy and gentlemanly and handsome. It was as if she was living a fairytale and he was the handsome prince who had come to love her. Her father had often said that one day she would marry a great man, one who would appreciate her mind and her wit, but now she had to try and put him and his sister out of her mind. That was a difficult task, for she still could not fathom why he could be interested in the likes of her, not when he had his pick of rich and beautiful women from the highest circles.

  He had told her of the fortune hunters and his time learning to manage the Darcy estate. Was their sudden meeting just a matter of timing that they met at the dance? She had not looked to be introduced to him, like so many other young women. It took them trying to walk pass one another in a doorway and her comments that got his attention. Now she thought of that meeting and began to chuckle.

  The trip home was mostly uneventful as only two passengers rode on the first leg of the trip. After that, a mother and her son rode the next leg and for the balance of her trip she was alone.

  Elizabeth was happy when the others began to doze off as that afforded her time to sort out this bad news from Longbourn, for she was very worried and knew from her father’s brief missive the urgency of her returning as soon as possible. All these years of talking about the entail of Longbourn after her father’s passing had taken its toll, but the Bennets had an understanding of what would happen to them. They had never considered the possibility that their mother might die first, and now that was looking likely unless Elizabeth could save her.

  She could not think on it without making herself sick so she turned her thoughts to making her mother well. Elizabeth knew her parents were not that close but also knew that in their own way, they loved one another, even if they did not show it openly. The sisters were deeply loved by their parents. For now she could do little but organize her plan for nursing her mother and she prayed that all would go well. It was not a good sign that Doctor Jones was also sick and Elizabeth knew she had to speak with him before treating her mother.

  A servant waited in Meryton to bring Elizabeth home and it was not long before the carriage pulled up to the circular drive and her father and the others came out to greet her. Her sisters spoke at the same time as Elizabeth acted confident that all would be well, but the first thing she did when she came inside was to speak with her father.

  “Papa, I need to know everything you can tell me about how she got sick and about Doctor Jones and others in Meryton.”

  He told her all he knew and she prodded him with further questions to learn more information. The facts were that ten days ago a man had taken sick and died thee days later, but he did not see the doctor. Three days after her husband died, his wife became ill and Doctor Jones treated her and he became sick, even though the woman later improved. Mr. Bennet next said that his wife first became sick four days ago and at first she thought it was just a little cold, but by then Doctor Jones was sick. From what her father said, most of those who were sick had symptoms similar to her mother but he said that the coughing spasms had not yet appeared. He said she has had nausea and hot and colds spells and severe body aches.

  “Papa, I want to see her briefly, and then I must take the carriage to see Doctor Jones.”

  “But Lizzy, he is doing poorly and may not be able to see you.”

  “Papa, I know what I need to do and if you will not provide the carriage, I will set off to walk there.”

  “No, Lizzy, let us see your mother and after that, I will take you to see Doctor Jones.”

  As they left the library, Mr. Bennet instructed Mrs. Hill to have a servant ready his carriage. The two ascended the stairs and approached Mrs. Bennet’s room and slowly entered. Once inside Elizabeth called out for Jane to come.

  “Jane, whilst mama is sleeping, Papa and I will leave to go and visit Dr. Jones. I have instructions that you and Mary must follow while I am away. Mama is presently having hot spells and a fever and you must keep her temperature down. Get a basin of cold water and many hand towels and keep patting her face and her head with fresh cool towels and change them if she perspires too much. Get some cold water and see that she drinks some every time she wakens. She will alternate between hot spells where she will try to kick off the covers and minutes later she will experience chills. You must be here to provide her comfort for that as well.”

  “We will do that, Lizzy.”

  “How much has mama eaten?”

  “She has not eaten much at all since her nausea.”

  “Get her crackers and have the cook make chicken soup, and fresh bread. She must eat and drink many cold fluids or she will die. Papa and I will return as soon as we can.”

  “Yes, Lizzy, I will do as you say.”

  “Lizzy, you have returned.”

  “Yes, Mama, you are going to get well, but you need to keep hydrated and eat, even if it makes you sick. I will return later to tell you what else we will do to make you better. I love you, Mama.”

  “Lizzy, this is fools play. Doctor Jones will not see you.”

  “Papa, I am one of the few people he will see.”

  Soon they made their way to the man’s home and both were let inside. “Lizzy Bennet, my husband has been asking about you.”

  “Lizzy, what a fine mess. You and I have treated others with influenza, but this one is nastier. Special care must be taken to keep others away from the patient and to avoid being coughed on and making contact with that person without washing one’s hands right away. It is also important to not allow the patient to become overheated, so you must fan them to cool them. You may also dampen their skin with water and have someone fan to cool them by evaporative cooling.”

  “I will do all these things, Doctor Jones.”

  “In your mother’s case, be certain she eats often and takes plenty of clear liquids. It is terrible to be so sick and one might think it is better to die than to suffer, but all will be well. Now go and look out for your mother and you can give her the drought we have used to keep her resting. And Lizzy, please check on me in a few days and tell me how Fanny is doing. I am certain that she will be better now that you have returned.”

  Before they left, Elizabeth asked if he needed for them to get him anything and he did not need anything but he did ask her to reach out to Mrs. Thomas, whose son was sick. On the return home she insisted that her father stop at the Thomas home, if only for a few minutes. She returned in less than twenty minutes and had written instructions for Mrs. Thomas to treat her son, who was improving. Elizabeth then said she would return within three days.

  Finally, back at her home, her father embraced her. “Lizzy, I have never been any prouder of any of my children. Somehow, I know that your mama will survive all of this. Do not be shy to ask for whatever you need.”

  “We need prayers, Papa, many prayers and hot chicken soup and honey and tea for the coughing that will follow.”

  Elizabeth went to her mother’s room and spoke with Jane and Mary and went over the doctor’s instructions. “I will stay the night and if I require any help before midnight, I will ask yo
u, Mary. After midnight, I will ask you, Jane. Where is the chicken soup?”

  “Cook is preparing it as we speak and has crackers and cool tea for mama to drink.”

  “Thank you, sisters, now go and scrub your hands and have the servants scrub all the door handles and other places where hands might leave germs. Jane, that is your task.”

  “Yes, Lizzy, I will do whatever you ask.”

  “I will also help, Lizzy, and already I feel much better”

  ****

  Back in town Darcy watched as Mrs. Gardiner was invited inside and handed Georgiana the letter that Elizabeth had written earlier.

  “Mrs. Gardiner, it is good to see you, is Miss Bennet with you today?”

  “No, Mr. Darcy, that is why I have come. She received an express early this morning and is returning home to Longbourn. Here is a letter that she asked me to give Miss Darcy.”

  Georgiana opened the letter and Darcy saw her reaction and the tears she was trying to hold back before they would run down her cheeks. “It is her mother. She is sick, and Elizabeth has gone to help her. This is terrible.”

  “Will you join us for tea, Mrs. Gardiner? At least you can sit for a spell.”

  “Thank you, but no, I will leave shortly. Lizzy said she planned to leave Saturday but that was before she received this news. It is always hard to deal with sickness, but coming so soon before Christmas, it is much worse, yet it could not be helped. I never told you, but Lizzy sometimes accompanies Doctor Jones when he makes his rounds helping the people of Meryton when they are sick or injured. This time it is an influenza outbreak and several are sick, including the doctor and Mrs. Bennet, and already one man has died.”

  “But is there anything we can do to help the family?”

  “I am afraid that only prayers and Elizabeth’s doctoring will work now. At least this is her strength as she has had a lot of experience in treating influenza.”