Page 27 of Saved By Mr. Darcy
“Was it a pleasant stay? I imagine Mr Darcy must have been very happy to have his good friend Mr Bingley here.”
“They were meant to come last week,” Penny said absently as she brought the bowl of water closer. “Only Mr Darcy sent them a letter to tell them not to come because…well, you know.”
“Because of me?”
“I s’pose so, Miss. Mrs Reynolds wouldn’t talk much about it, just told us that things had changed.”
“I am sorry to have got in the way of Mr Darcy’s plans.”
“Oh, I don’t know. He looks happier in your company than he does with that Miss Bingley!”
Penny grinned mischievously. The other maid jabbed her in the ribs, glaring at her furiously. The bowl of water wobbled precariously, and Penny set it down, turning and preparing to retaliate. Lizzy had seen such squabbles a thousand times – and she had certainly been on both the receiving and giving end of a jab to the ribs. However, she had certainly never seen two serving girls act this way in the presence of others.
“Girls!” Lizzy scolded. “You forget yourselves!.”
At once the pair were snapped out of their argument, standing to attention as they realised where they were and just how they were behaving. Such a slip in decorum would certainly be enough for a dismissal, and Lizzy was sure that both Mrs Reynolds and Mr Darcy would not be impressed by their behaviour.
“Sorry, Miss,” they both mumbled.
“Her tongue runs away with her,” Rosie added sullenly. “Ma always said so.”
“You are sisters?”
“Yes, Miss,” the pair answered in tandem.
“Well, that certainly explains the argument. I can see it now; Penny, you are the younger, I am sure. How wonderful to have your sister so close. You should be kinder to one another.”
“You have a sister, don’t you?” Penny asked. “We’ve heard you talk about her.”
“I have four. I miss all of them terribly. You remind me of my youngest sister Lydia, Penny. She never could keep her tongue still either.”
Penny had the good grace to blush.
“I’ll go get the men, Miss. We’ll get you to breakfast shortly. We’re sorry, I promise,” Penny said, dropping to a curtsey.
“Please don’t tell Mrs Reynolds,” Rosie added. “If you’d be so good, Miss. I forgot myself, but she don’t approve of bickering.”
“It is quite alright. I shan’t tell anyone.”
The pair ran off, and not long after two footmen appeared. They lifted her chaise, one standing at each end, as though it were made of air. Lizzy did not feel quite so at ease with the procedure, and closed her eyes for the entirety of the thankfully short journey to the dining room. She had yet to see this part of the house, for she had taken all meals on a tray in her bed. She had found herself strangely missing the dinner table. How inconsequential things seemed when you were well, how easyto take the smallest things for granted. She was sure she never would again!
Penny had followed them to the dining room; she seemed to have given herself the role of Lizzy’s lady maid, and her personal protector.
“Set her down carefully,” she barked, arms crossed as she oversaw the scene. “By the table.”
“We thought we might drop her,” one of the men muttered under his breath, the sarcasm reaching Lizzy’s sharp ears. She laughed, thoroughly amused by the chaotic scene.
“Miss Bennet!”
Mr Darcy’s voice startled her, and her eyes flew open. She wished she had not been so impulsive, for she was still several feet above the ground and was not fond of heights.
“Set her down,” he instructed sharply. “Gently.”
Without a further word, the men set her down on the floor.
“I was not expecting you,” Mr Darcy said.
He stared at her, and she tried to understand his expression. She did not think him angry, nor happy. His brow was slightly furrowed, his mouth a straight line. Perhaps this was his surprised expression.
