Healing Mr Darcy’s Heart Read online

  Stark, without any warning, delivers a stunning punch to Bingley’s chin. With no time to prepare for the blow, Bingley falls to the ground. Elizabeth reacts by crashing a flower pot onto Stark’s head which in turn stuns him, and he also falls to the ground. What Elizabeth does not count on is Cooperton’s possession of a pistol nor his willingness to use it on a woman no less. Darcy sees to his horror the Queen Anne pistol pointed at the woman he loves more than life. As he simultaneously throws a punch of his own to Cooperton’s jaw, he yells no! Cooperton reacts by swinging the gun on Darcy and firing just as Darcy’s punch lands. Elizabeth cries out “Fitzwilliam!” as she notes the impact of the shot slam into Darcy’s left shoulder. Darcy spins a bit to the left, both from the force of the shot as well as from his momentum. Thankfully Cooperton drops the pistol to have it kicked away by Darcy. Stark in the meantime stays down, dizzy with the impact of the flower pot. Bingley recovers and quickly subdues Cooperton. The resulting scrimmage draws the attention of the other townsfolk, and soon the authorities bound Stark and Cooperton.

  Elizabeth rushes to Darcy’s side, but before she can speak, he asks her urgently if she and her sisters are unharmed. Elizabeth tells him other than Mary and Kitty crying over the shock of what has happened, they are all in fact fine. “Miss Elizabeth, please, I must know for sure you are uninjured,” Darcy grimaces as he allows Elizabeth to lead him to a nearby bench. He sees Bingley attending Jane and Jane gently wiping his lip where he was struck. He also takes note of Kitty and Mary, seeing while they are clinging to one another, they have ceased crying and are comforting each other. He then turns his stricken eyes back to Elizabeth sweeping over her person to assure himself she is unmarred. “You are certain you have not suffered any injury? Your sisters also are unharmed?” Even though he repeats himself, Elizabeth hears the pleading in his voice. The fear for her is raw in his eyes. He seems only concerned with her and her sisters and is oblivious to the blood seeping through his shirt. She assures him again of their wellbeing and begins to focus on his injury.

  “Mr. Darcy you are bleeding, I fear you have been shot, please Sir let me attend you!” Elizabeth cries. Tears are beginning to mist her eyes, and she fears falling apart if she cannot do something productive. Bingley comes rushing over, and Elizabeth asks him for his cravat. This cravat she folds up and places over the wound, beginning to apply pressure to staunch the bleeding. Bingley dispatches a man to summon the surgeon. He also speaks with the constable about what transpired. Darcy only nods his head to the constable’s queries but mostly remains quiet with his jaw clenched. Elizabeth sees his stoicism and suffering which further alarms her. She looks deeply into Darcy’s eyes and sees to her astonishment not only is he looking back as deeply but there is a warmth in his eyes as he gazes at her. “Are you in much pain?” she softly asks him.

  “It is tolerable,” he states with a slight upturn to the corner of his mouth. Elizabeth’s eyes widen as she realizes he is jesting with her and mocking himself in the process over his rude remark about her person at the Meryton Assembly. She smiles a bit in spite of the dire consequences they find themselves in. Her smile seems to give Darcy some relief. “I imagine I will be planning for a longer stay than I might have foreseen before this incident. In fact, I said to my valet the other day that I could use a little rest. However, I did not account for a situation such as this. I suppose too I will not hear the end of it for ruining yet another shirt. Upper servants can be very persnickety about such matters.” This little speech is delivered with a contrite grin on Darcy’s face. While Elizabeth may have been shocked at the absurdity of him making light of such a terrible event, she understands it for what it is; he comprehends she is in danger of losing her composure, and he seeks to protect her feelings by a rather flippant exchange. He knows she is entertained by the follies of others and his diversion works remarkably well. How could she have ever thought him to be unfeeling? He put his discomfort and pain aside to attend to her. Elizabeth finds more to appreciate about the inscrutable Mr. Darcy.

  She decides to reward his efforts with some witty banter of her own. “Then tell me, Mr. Darcy, are you in the habit of such recklessness as to the ruining of fine shirts? I would have thought you a more serious, bookish type man. I require more insight to comprehend you,” she looks at him with her head cocked and a brow lifted. Darcy’s heart swells. She understands his ploy, responds to it, and furthermore takes the opportunity to learn more about him since the serious situation they find themselves in suspended propriety. Also, she uses some of the words from when they danced together at Netherfield. Before he can formulate a response, the surgeon arrives with his carriage.

  “Mr. Darcy, I am to understand you have suffered a gunshot wound. It appears to be your shoulder. Miss Elizabeth, please continue to hold pressure and with your permission Mr. Darcy, I would ask you to lean forward so I may examine the back of your shoulder.” Darcy nods his acceptance and leans forward while the surgeon peers down the back of his shirt. “It is as I feared. The ball must still be lodged in your shoulder. I would like to take you back to your quarters at Netherfield to remove it. Miss Elizabeth, will you be able to accompany Mr. Darcy and maintain pressure? Ah, that is good, you will have to allow Mr. Darcy to enter the carriage first then you follow and resume pressure.” The surgeon turns to Bingley to enlist him in helping Darcy into the waiting carriage. During this time, Elizabeth enlightens Jane about the plan for her to maintain pressure on the wound and Elizabeth decides it would be best if Jane accompanies her with Mr. Darcy while Kitty and Mary return home to inform their parents of what transpired.

  Upon entering the carriage, Elizabeth again applies pressure while Jane situates herself upon the opposite bench. Mr. Darcy closed his eyes but opens them with Elizabeth’s return. The ride back to Netherfield proves to be bumpy, and Mr. Darcy grimaces with pain on some of the more jarring motions. Elizabeth inquires as to his discomfort. “Your pain?”

  This time Darcy answers through gritted teeth, “Barely tolerable. I am in no mood for a carriage ride admittedly, but I would be unable to sit a horse to be sure.” Elizabeth is cognizant of the fact he again pokes fun at himself but is honest about the amount of suffering he is enduring at this point. He draws a breath and says, “I find I am not at my best for conversation right now, please forgive me, but you and your sister, by all means, should feel at ease to converse at will. I, however, will beg your indulgence and try to rest a bit.” Elizabeth tells him he should not concern himself with his lack of conversation. She and Jane understand his silence. Elizabeth finds though she does not have a desire to converse nor does Jane and the rest of the carriage ride is completed in silence.

  Chapter 3

  When the carriage halts outside of Netherfield, Bingley already scrambled servants to ready Darcy’s room, see to the horses, and to have the sitting room ready for the ladies complete with some refreshments. Jane steps from the carriage first followed by Elizabeth. The surgeon rode Darcy’s horse back, and he dismounts to assist Darcy. When Darcy begins his descent from the carriage, Elizabeth sees him take in a sharp breath as he steps down. That he is miserable is obvious as well as his reluctance to let anyone know the depths of his agony. He is hustled into his chambers by the surgeon and staff while Bingley settles Jane and Elizabeth in the sitting room. Seeing the blood on Elizabeth’s hands, he orders his housekeeper to arrange for her to clean up. He then leaves to check on Darcy with the promise to return to them as soon as he has any information. It is during the subsequent time Elizabeth decides to tell Jane of her changing feelings for Mr. Darcy. Perhaps by voicing out loud her thoughts, she can begin to understand how she has come to care for him.

  “Jane, are you quite sure you are fine? We endured a fright, and you seemed most quiet on the carriage ride here. I worry about you. Mr. Bingley seemed to be no worse for wear, as I saw you attending to him. Please tell me if you are in any distress,” Elizabeth first wants to assure herself of Jane’s wellbeing before she broaches t
he topic.

  Jane’s usually calm and serene nature is in place as she answers Elizabeth. “No Lizzy I’m well considering everything which has transpired. I declare I have never had such a fright in my life, but surprisingly I am calm. Mary and Kitty handled the incident better than I would have thought, but it is you, Dear Sister I am worried about and of course poor Mr. Darcy,” Jane is gazing at Lizzy thoughtfully. “Perhaps you would like to talk to me not only of the events of today but of some other concerns which are pressing on you?”

  Elizabeth is not surprised Jane would gently lead her in the direction of conversing about not only the scare they suffered but about Lizzy’s sentiments regarding Mr. Darcy. She made Jane aware of her dislike of him and his manners at the assembly, of his insulting proposal at Hunsford, his perfidy in keeping Jane apart from Bingley, and Jane naturally knows of his aunt’s visit. They had also discussed at length his apparent reformed behavior at Pemberley, his maneuverings to bring Lydia some honor, his lovely yet shy sister, and his admission of guilt to Bingley for his part in Bingley’s return to London. Jane forgave Mr. Darcy for his misguided attempt to protect Bingley from what appeared to be the machinations of a conniving mother to marry off her daughter to a wealthy man. Jane accepted her fault in the sad state of affairs because she recognizes her serene nature tends to make it difficult for others to guess at her true feelings.

  In this, she has admonished Lizzy that perhaps Mr. Darcy shares a trait with Jane in that his reticence hides a certain shyness. Elizabeth does have to admit Jane’s serenity can be misconstrued as indifference. What she did not consider was Mr. Darcy’s aloof behavior could be hiding a certain shyness as well. Naturally, it would never do for a man to admit to such a fault as it may be seen as a weakness. The forbidding scowl and dark mood would have quite the opposite effect. Few would want to cross such a formidable man. The concept of how protective Mr. Darcy is comes up often in these earlier discussions. Jane knew of his dealings with Mr. Wickham both regarding Georgiana and Lydia. Both sisters felt Darcy must have suffered great indignities each time as he searched for the best possible outcome. That he would protect the Bennet sisters in such a manner is cause for great speculation between Jane and Lizzy. Lizzy still holds her doubts as to his reasons for bearing such mortification, but Jane seems to think it all points towards a fondness for Lizzy. Now there are new questions to add to the old ones.

  “Jane, I do have concerns I wish to discuss with you, but I hardly know where to start. My feelings for Mr. Darcy have undergone a significate change. I am not sure when exactly but the truth of it is, they have changed. His letter began to remove my past prejudices against him, and when I saw him at Pemberley, he was all that was polite and kind. He was very solicitous of our aunt and uncle’s comfort, his staff and tenants praised him, and his graciousness towards me was most remarkable. He has all the reason to think ill of me, and I would have thought perhaps he would have sought some sort of revenge upon me for the poor way I treated him. Instead, it was as if he wanted nothing more than to prove he had changed his behavior and he sought my opinions. That he wanted me to make the acquaintance of his sister was even more astounding. Really Jane what a risk he took with a woman who had insulted him so thoroughly to his face. I can hardly think of it without shame.”

  With a look of compassion and understanding, Jane encourages Lizzy on. “Then today?” So simple of a question but it opens up a welter of emotions which Elizabeth is not sure she can handle at this point. She shakes herself and meets Jane’s eyes straight on. “I do not want to lose him, Jane! Even if we are to be no more than acquaintances, I just cannot bear the thought of him not knowing I no longer hold him in disdain but rather think him the best of men. How could fate be so cruel to such a man? I want to protect him, to offer him some comfort. He has to be well. Oh, Jane, I feel as though I am at fault for his injury and once again his suffering through my rash actions. He was forced to do something, and in the end, it cost him dearly,” Elizabeth states in a rush.

  “And what of you calling his name, Lizzy? I think it speaks of more than just concern for a good man. Perhaps there is more there than you are willing to admit?” Jane’s soft challenge is left unanswered as Bingley comes through the door.

  “The surgeon has left, and he was able to remove the ball from Darcy’s shoulder; there was a fair amount of bleeding to be sure however the doctor feels he cleaned the wound well. There did not appear to be any damage to the bone, but there is much muscle damage. I never saw a man so stoic, as the surgeon dug deeper into the tissues, all Darcy did was grimace and bear the agony. I would not think I could have endured what he did without uttering a sound,” Bingley shakes his head and glances to where Jane and Elizabeth sit. Jane is sitting up straight and is a little pale, but it is Lizzy’s reaction which draws his attention more. She also sits up straight and stiff, but it is the agony written on her face which gives him pause. “Forgive me! I should not have been so free with my description of what occurred. It was most insensitive of me.”

  Elizabeth assures him while she is startled at the thought of what Mr. Darcy went through, she is grateful to know. It pains her to think upon this fine man undergoing such torture, and it angers her that he suffered at the hands of two wholly worthless individuals who are known to be problems in the town. The unjustness of it all shatters her peace, and she feels an overwhelming urge to rush to his bedside. When Bingley suggests Darcy would welcome a short visit from them, Elizabeth jumps up to follow him from the room.

  Entering the dimly lit bedchamber slowly, Elizabeth draws in a deep breath. She sees him lying in bed propped up by pillows, eyes closed. He has been cleaned by his manservant and now is covered up with blankets. His shoulder is wrapped, and Elizabeth can tell it is a thick binding to hold pressure as well as soak up any attentional bleeding. Bingley states that the doctor will return tomorrow to change the binding and reassess the wound. At the sound of Bingley’s voice, Darcy opens his eyes. He slowly surveys the room and his gaze fixes on Elizabeth. He lifts his lips weakly in a smile, and a light comes to his tired eyes. “I am happy you are all safe. I was worried about you both.” Even though he speaks of Jane and Lizzy, his focus is all on Lizzy. Elizabeth steps up to the bedside. She peers down at his face, a face which is most dear to her she realizes. She assures him of their wellbeing and thanks him for his gallantry in defending them all from the likes of Stark and Cooperton. “I did as I should. A gentleman must protect those he cares for. It is his duty.” After this startling statement, he drifts to sleep. Bingley explains to the sisters Darcy has been given a liberal dose of laudanum causing him to become sedate. They silently file out of the room.

  The threesome discuss what transpired in town and speak of their fears for Mr. Darcy but feel since he received almost immediate care he will soon recover. Lizzy cannot speak to her anguish over the incident. Jane may have some inkling of her regard, but Lizzy is sure that Mr. Bingley does not realize the affection Lizzy has for his illustrious friend. At length, Jane suggests perhaps it would be best if they start for Longbourn as she can well imagine their mother in a fit of nerves over what transpired. Bingley agrees and orders his smaller carriage brought around for the ladies. As of yet, Caroline has not returned from her rounds and Bingley concedes it is for the best she was not here during the excitement. Elizabeth resists the urge to roll her eyes as she imagines the simpering Miss Bingley’s response to Darcy’s injury. The ladies bid Bingley farewell and Bingley, in turn, promises to keep them abreast of Darcy’s condition.

  Chapter 4

  As soon as Lizzy and Jane enter their home, they are beset by Mrs. Bennet. “Jane! Lizzy! You have come! Oh what horror, what a tragedy! My nerves surely can’t take it. What must Mr. Bingley think of our town? He may very well call off the engagement, yes he may! What scandal that will be!” Elizabeth can scarcely believe her mother to be so shallow. Jane’s fiancé has been assaulted, and Mr. Darcy suffered a grievous wound. All Mrs. Bennet can talk about is a
fabricated story of her own making regarding Jane’s betrothal being broken. Perhaps Elizabeth’s emotions are raw at this point, but she cannot stand it any longer.

  “Mama! Please! Mr. Bingley gave no indication he is upset with the town or that these events would have any impact on his betrothal to Jane. Furthermore, Mr. Darcy is now in a sickbed trying to recover from a grievous wound, and all you can think upon is something you conjured up in your mind? For shame!” Elizabeth’s eyes flash. Jane’s eyes widen in shock as she rubs the stunned Mrs. Bennet on the arm.

  “Mama, Lizzy means no offense. I believe we could all do with a light supper and an early night to retire to our chambers. Mary and Kitty are well? They saw more than young girls should have. I have no doubt they benefitted from your motherly hand to calm and guide them,” Jane steers her mother into the kitchen where the meal’s finishing touches are being done. Jane’s intervention and mention of Mary and Kitty help set Mrs. Bennet on a different train of thought. As for Elizabeth, she feels some embarrassment over her strong rebuke to her mother, but she still cannot believe the disregard Mrs. Bennet shows for both gentlemen. Elizabeth decides to take a moment to compose herself before she faces her family.

  Entering the dining room with eyes lowered, Lizzy notes the whole family has already seated themselves. Mary and Kitty appear to have recovered from their shock. Mr. Bennet is surveying his family with a hint of amusement as Mrs. Bennet addresses him. “Pray tell me, Mr. Bennet, do you think Mr. Darcy would use his power and influence to punish our town for the tragedy which has befallen him? He has made his disdain for the company here quite well known. Would he be such a punitive man? What of his influence on Mr. Bingley? Could he sway Mr. Bingley’s good opinion of us?” Mrs. Bennet asks these questions without the hysteria of a few moments ago. Elizabeth knows Mrs. Bennet thinks her duty as a mother is to see her daughters well married but Elizabeth never comprehended just how that desire colors her mother’s thinking to such a degree.