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Addressing William, Graham declared, “It appears that you are the key to Miss Bennet’s survival. Please stay close, for I intend to have Cook warm some of the beef broth we feed to those patients suffering from blood loss. With your assistance, we should be able to get her to take some of that, as well as more water.”

“I will do whatever I must to see Elizabeth recover.”

“I never doubted you would,” Graham replied before heading back to his office. “I have some work I must finish, but once I am done, I shall return. Hopefully, by then you will have been as successful with the broth as you were with the water.”

Chapter 28

Two weeks later

As Richard escorted Lady Morgan and her sister Catherine to Darcy’s home, the former began to speak.

“Colonel, you will never know how much I appreciate your intervention with Mr. Darcy. Had you not taken up my cause, I do not think he would have allowed me to see Lizzy until she was completely recovered.”

“It is my belief that hearing your apology will benefit Miss Elizabeth,” Richard replied. “However, my cousin still worries that seeing you will only awaken bad memories; so, I urge you to get straight to the point with your apology and say nothing that would hinder her recovery.”

“I-I shall keep that in mind, though my only desire is to apologise for any pain I have caused her … and Mr. Darcy.”

“That is admirable. To be honest, I do not think Darcy has even had time to think about your request to see her. He is so preoccupied with taking care of Miss Bennet that he has almost driven himself to exhaustion. The first three days she was at Darcy House, he slept so little—and when he did sleep, it was on a chaise in her bedroom—that Mr. Graham threatened to have him tied hand and foot and taken to his own bed if he would not do so himself. I am convinced that what finally persuaded him was Graham’s pronouncement that he would be of no help to Miss Bennet if he were to become ill.”

“I recall Lydia telling us that when she came to visit Emma yesterday,” Catherine interjected.

“Yes, she did,” Lady Morgan agreed. “I also think it very kind of Mr. Darcy to provide Lydia a carriage to visit Emma as often as she wishes. Lydia said that he offered to let her move Emma to Darcy House, but she refused because Emma enjoys playing with Alice so much. I tried to get Lydia to come back to my house, but she is upset that Mama does not recognise her. Mama was so unkind as to declare that her Lydia was beautiful and the ugly girl downstairs was definitely not her.”

“That must have been very hurtful to Mrs. Wickham,” Richard replied.

“It was, but Mama’s mind is so confused now that no one can convince her of anything she does not wish to believe. It is getting harder to deal with her, and I am hopeful of sending her and Mary back to Netherfield Park soon.”

“I have to say that I wondered at Miss Mary not coming to visit Miss Bennet,” Richard said.

“Oh, she wants to,” Catherine announced, “but she is needed to keep Mama in line. Mary is the only one she will listen to when we need to force her back into her bedroom. Mary did ask me to tell Lizzy that she is praying for her, and I intend to do that.”

“I am sure that will sooth her mind about Miss Mary,” Richard replied. “As for Mrs. Wickham, I am not certain what Darcy would have done without her in the beginning, though she will not be needed as much now that Miss Bennet is getting better. It is Darcy I worry about. He still insists on being present at every meal to make certain she takes in enough. If she does not eat what he believes is sufficient, he threatens to spoon-feed her more.” He chuckled. “I never imagined my stern cousin would make such a splendid mother hen.”

Lady Morgan could not help smiling at his description of that staid gentleman. “Truly, I am pleased that Lizzy has Mr. Darcy seeing after her welfare. In the short time he served as the executor of David’s will, my eyes were opened to what a kind and caring man he is—I mean, in addition to being very competent at handling estate matters. That is the main reason I began to consider marrying him. I thought he would be the ideal protector as my husband and an excellent father for my children.”

“Were I you, I would not mention to Miss Bennet any of your reasons for wishing to marry Darcy,” Richard replied. “Do not add to her guilt for securing Darcy’s love and devotion, for I can assure you that she owned it from the very first week of their re-acquaintance. Though my dour cousin wished to pretend otherwise for quite some time, his love for her never faltered.”

“You are correct, sir. It is not their fault that they fell in love so long ago and remain so to this day.”

“Well said,” he replied.

The coach began drawing to a stop. Pushing aside the shade at the window, he announced, “We are here. Just remember that when you are done with your visit, I shall be happy to return you to your home.”

“Again, Colonel, I am most appreciative of your help.”

“Do not mention it.”

Elizabeth’s bedroom

“William, I cannot eat another drop,” Elizabeth murmured, pushing the spoonful of broth in his hand aside. “If I do, I shall burst.”

William could not help but smile at her pronouncement. “Burst! You are still no bigger than … than one of these bed posts. You have lost so much weight since your injury that I have been worried sick; now that you are able to eat, I cannot help but press you to eat a little more each time.”

Still so weak she could barely hold up her arm, Elizabeth pushed herself to lift one hand and cup the face she loved so dearly. She said softly, “I know why you act as you do, and I love you for it. Still, try to recall that I am eating more often so I am getting more nourishment than it appears.”

Having set aside the broth, William leaned in to give her a quick kiss on her lips. “Forgive me. I love you so much, my darling, that I cannot think straight.”

A knock on the door interrupted them. Sighing with frustration, William called, “Come!”