Page 25 of The Heir and Spare
“But you’re burning up. We have to get your fever to drop.” She turned to a waiting maid. “Please bring me a bowl of water and cloths to lay on her head. Also, your cook’s best remedies for fever and a broth for her to drink.”
The maid bobbed a curtsey and hurried from the room.
A soft knock and the reopening of the door a crack made Lizzie smile. Bingley’s head poked in. “Is there anything you lack? Any other way I can possibly be of assistance?”
Jane pulled a pillow over her face. “Oh, Charles. You cannot see me thus.”
“You are beautiful no matter how I see you, Jane. Be well. Please be well.”
“She will be. I’ve sent the maid for things. Thank you for your kindness. We shall get her right as can be hopefully very soon.”
He nodded, looking past Lizzie to get a glimpse of Jane.
“Can he come in to see you?” Lizzie whispered.
But after a moment, the pillow moved as if Jane nodded.
“I do believe you may come to visit her.” Lizzie stood. “Mary will be with you. And I shall get ourselves situated for a moment while we wait for the servants to bring the required items.”
He rushed to Jane’s side and scooped up her hands in his. “Oh, my dear Jane. Jane darling. I cannot believe you are thus. We will do all in our power until you are as well as you have ever been. All that I have is at your disposal. If there is anything at all I can do to bring greater happiness and wellness.”
Jane lifted her fingers to his mouth. “Hush, my Charles. You are all that is good. If I might rest here, I do believe I shall be as well as ever.” She smiled, her lips dry and her eyes watery and clouded with fever.
But Bingley looked on as though she were the loveliest angelic human he’d ever seen. And in truth, she likely was. Jane was special indeed.
Lizzie nodded to Mary who would be the most diligent of chaperones, certainly, and then stepped across the hall. The view from that room covered the entire valley in that direction. It was a lovely situation and from the looks of things, would be all in Jane’s care not too soon a day. As long as wide-spread knowledge of a scandal could be avoided.
She sighed.
Prevention of the gossip spreading was all but impossible. She could not imagine the whole world not knowing.
But who knew now? No one yet. Except for Mr. Darcy and her family. She kneaded her hands together.
She left Jane in Mary’s care in a much-improved state. Her fever was lower. And she was in good spirits.
But she arrived home to a front room full of Lucases with way too many questions.
Lizzie greeted them all. “I’m sorry, my mother is indisposed. Let me order tea for you.” She waved to Hill who immediately left to take care of things and to hopefully keep their mother’s wails to a minimum.
“How is your mother?” Mrs. Lucas was a dear woman but the gleam in her eye told Lizzie she had also come for any bit of news and to confirm her suspicions.
“She is quite unwell to be honest. Something has really bothered her constitution. She is quite consumptive even and carries on about her nerves.” Lizzie shook her head. “She might be quite contagious and so she is keeping to her rooms with no visitors at the moment.”
Mrs. Lucas sat back in her chair a moment as though Lizzie herself were carrying the very thing plaguing their mother. Which of course she was, in a less obvious manner. Lizzie carried her worries and concerns hidden beneath the surface where her mother wore them like a medal.
The tea arrived and everyone spoke of the assembly at Meryton and the many dances they’d all enjoyed.
“And what of Lydia? Kitty?” Mrs. Lucas waved a fan in her face in an odd attempt to stave off the boredom.
“They are out.” Lizzie shrugged. “I do apologize. I am a weak substitute for the rest of the Bennets. But perhaps you’d like to see Mary’s needlepoint?” She stood as though to fetch it, but a slight groan and obvious dislike of the idea brought Mrs. Lucas to her feet. “Well, do tell your mother we were here to see to her well-being. She is as dear to me as any woman. There are nasty rumors about town and I wish to stave them off. Wickham has left too abruptly, left his post, and was perhaps seen with a young woman. No one can as yet identify his victim or if she be willing or no.” Mrs. Lucas clucked, eyeing Lizzie’s face too closely.
But though her heart nearly stopped and her hands ran cold, she shook her head as casually as she could. “What terrible news. I thought him the most congenial, the best manners. I think him incapable…” She tapped her fingers on her legs. “Perhaps no woman was involved at all, merely Wickham running? Hashe anything to run from?” Her eyes widened in the pretended innocence of being unaware. But her nails dug into her palm in the hand she clenched together under her skirts.
“I did hear he had much debt in town, people coming after for repayment.” She nodded wisely. “Perhaps you are right and none of our young ladies has been foolish enough to fall for his entrapments.” Her eyes narrowed. “I thought you were once enamored with the man.”
Lizzie gasped. “Goodness no. He was pleasing to look at to be sure, but no part of me was considering him as anything other than a distraction, I assure you.”
She nodded, appearing satisfied. “And your sisters. Nothing in them would attract a man such as he. You have nothing to offer.” She stood. “No, there is nothing for it. He must have preyed upon a servant or tenant family, or no woman is involved. I shall stop the idle talk at once.”
