Page 5 of Infamous Relations

Dr. Trent allowed his arms to close around her, for one blissful moment allowing himself to hold her close. And then he took her shoulders in his hands gently and made her look at him. “Mrs. Collins, you must pull yourself together. Miss Bennet has escaped the worst, I am sure she has not been violated. But she needs you now. While I do not believe her skull to be fractured, she has some nasty bruising that needs to be minimised. She woke briefly, but spoke incoherently, so I suspect she may have a concussion. Cool cloths on that lump on her head must be applied constantly. I will go directly to Rosings, and apply to Lady Catherine to have some ice sent down to you.”

His practical, no-nonsense tone made Charlotte pull herself together. She nodded against his shoulder and stepped back. “I will take care of her. Her family has been sent for too.”

“Charlotte?” Maria’s voice sounded outside the door. “Charlotte, I have the hot water. Can I come in?”

“Find an errand and send Miss Lucas away,” Dr. Trent said in a low voice, “you want as few people as possible to see Miss Bennet’s true state. And burn her dress.”

Charlotte took a deep breath and nodded, taking a handkerchief from her pocket and wiping her eyes briskly with it. “Yes. Yes, you are quite right, Doctor. I – will send Maria…” she faltered uncertainly.

“I will send her around to my housekeeper, with a list of things to collect. Mrs. Thomas will keep her busy for a little while. I shall go on up to Rosings and return directly, Mrs. Collins.”

“Thank you,” she said, deeply grateful, and he opened the door to Maria.

“Good girl, Miss Lucas, admirable work! Now, I have an important task for you…” his voice trailed off as he led Maria away.

Charlotte had to take a few more deep breaths to collect herself. And then she closed and bolted the door again and bent to Elizabeth. “Who did this to you, my dearest friend?” she said softly, beginning swiftly to unbutton Elizabeth’s dress. “Whoever did this, rest assured they will not go unpunished – and you, I vow you will not suffer any more than I have in my power to prevent!” Tears still ran down her cheeks and dripped onto Elizabeth’s motionless form, because Charlotte knew that even though Elizabeth did not appear to have been ravished, should word get out of this, she would be just as surely ruined in the eyes of polite society.

Chapter Four

Darcy strode briskly down the lane, his thoughts dark. It was only his cousin’s gentle reprimand that it would be only good manners to take his leave of the Collinses and their guests that had made him change his wet clothes and walk on out again.

Elizabeth thought him entirely devoid of manners. Well, he would rectify that impression as he had rectified Wickham’s charges against him in the letter.

The letter. By God, had she even read it? His hands clenched and he gritted his teeth. She would have been well within her rights to throw it back in his face. He had behaved like an utter ass the previous evening, his wits destroyed as usual merely by being in her presence.

‘Had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner…’

He winced at the memory of her chilly tones as she spoke the words. ‘Your arrogance, your conceit, your selfish disdain for the feelings of others…’

While Wickham’s charges against him were false – and he still could not entirely regret separating Bingley from Miss Bennet – Elizabeth’s words had cut him to the quick. It had been a long, sleepless night looking into the darkness of his own soul, and Darcy had not much cared for what he found there.

He had been so angry with Lady Catherine for her rude condescension to Elizabeth. But he had behaved even more disgracefully towards the Bennet family, and with less cause. At least Lady Catherine actually paid Elizabeth attention! What had he done but look down his nose and sneer, and laugh behind his hand with Caroline Bingley on occasion? He shuddered to think on it now; his behaviour had been nothing short of despicable. It was no wonder that Elizabeth hated him so.

There was no possible way to make amends. Elizabeth would surely never want to see him again. At least he could hold the knowledge to himself that she would be safe from Wickham.

If she had read the letter. He had to know if she had read the letter, because if she had not, she would be as vulnerable to the scoundrel as ever – more so if Wickham should somehow discern how precious she was to Darcy. He quickened his pace.

He had to see her. Just one more time.

The parsonage door stood wide open. Puzzled, Darcy stood upon the threshold, looking into the hall.

“Hello?” he called, removing his hat. “Mr. Collins? Mrs. Collins?”

There was no reply, and he stood undecided for several moments, before realising that it would be the height of rudeness to enter the house without invitation. After a minute of hesitation, Darcy decided that he would walk around the house, perhaps see if anyone was in the garden.

He had circumnavigated the house entirely, stood at the open front door again, hat in his hands, when quick footsteps on the path behind him made him turn his head.

“Cousin! It is most odd, the door is open but nobody is home – why, Richard, whatever is the matter?” He saw his cousin’s grave expression as the other man removed his hat.

“Come inside, Darcy.”

“But…” Darcy glanced around the hall.

“Just come inside.” A firm hand on his elbow propelled him into the house, and, bemused, Darcy let Fitzwilliam guide him into the parlour.

“What is going on?” he demanded as the colonel closed the door.

Fitzwilliam glanced around, but saw no brandy decanter. He took a deep breath. “You’d better sit down. I have some distressing news to impart.”