Page 43 of Saved By Mr. Darcy
“My God,” she breathed. “I must be alone. Please, leave me.”
“Out, girls! Ring the bell when you wish to dress.”
Lizzy nodded, briefly examining Mrs Reynolds to see if she, too, had read this dreadful missive. The news on this solitary piece of paper had the potential to destroy all of her sisters’ futures – and hers along with it. Such a scandal would tarnish the reputation of the entire family. That was assuming that Wickham had indeed married Lydia, and not just compromised her and left her alone and…
Oh!
Such judgement was rich indeed, for Lizzy knew if she were to press her face into the pillow beside her she would find Mr Darcy’s scent lingering there. His body had gone but his spirit remained, the memories of the night before etched on her skin for all eternity.
Where could he have gone? Surely he would not join the search for her wretched little sister without a word to her? It was not his burden to bear. His disdain for her family was no secret, and it was a subject they had carefully avoided in her time here. An ugly voice in her head whispered that he had left in such a hurry because he was disgusted with her. She was no better than her sister - she had let him touch her, she had kissed him without a care.
He thinks you are no better than Lydia. You both allowed lust to get the better of you.
She began to sob harder, utterly hopeless and useless in that bed that served as nothing but a reminder of her wanton behaviour. She could do nothing here except wait helplessly for news of what was to become of her sister. No, no, she must go.
She pulled the call bell beside her bed, and a few moments later a breathless Penny arrived.
“Yes, Miss?”
“Penny! Dress me for travel, please. I must go to Hertfordshire. Does Mr Darcy have a spare coach?”
“He has several, Miss,” she stated with a confused frown. “But surely…”
“I will borrow one. I will apologise to him later. Please, get me dressed and – and would you come with me as my lady’s maid? We must leave at once. There is no time to waste.”
Penny watched as Lizzy began to twist around to the edge of the bed. Penny grabbed the wheelchair and positioned it so Lizzy could transfer herself in, as she had taken to doing. Lizzy settled within the chair easily.
“But Miss, your leg! The roads are terrible bumpy ‘round here, and the doctor says you mustn’t…”
“I don't care! I cannot stay here! Do as I ask, Penny. Please.”
“Very well, Miss. I’ll tell the others, and be back to dress you.”
Lizzy nodded, and as the door closed she wished she had not woken up at all. This felt like a nightmare just as horrible as all the ones that had followed the accident – but there was no end to this. Mr Darcy was gone, and she did not know where. His last memory of her would be one that placed her no higher than Lydia – two fallen women from the same family.
Penny returned a few minutes later, readying Lizzy for the journey in silence.
“I suppose you are wondering what the letter says.”
“Of course, but my mother always did say I stuck my nose where it don’t belong. None of us have read it, Miss, I swear it. Mrs Reynolds told us we couldn’t. She hasn’t read it, neither.”
That was some small mercy, that the terrible contents of the letter were at least private and not to become household gossip. Nothing in the world spread gossip as quickly and efficiently as a house full of servants.
“There is trouble with my sister.”
“What sort of trouble?” Penny asked. “Is she ill, Miss?”
“She is not ill. It is too dreadful to say. I must go home at once.”
“There’s no changing your mind. We’ll miss you though. We quite fancied the thought of you as our new mistress.”
“I would make a poor mistress of this place. I am sure someone finer than me would do the job justice.”
“I don’t know about that,” Penny smiled, fastening the button on Lizzy’s coat. “There. Done. You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Give me ten minutes to pack a bag and send word to my mother. Miss Georgiana will want to say goodbye, Miss. You cannot leave without seeing her; she’s grown right fond of you.”
