“The inside of my ankle, Mrs. Mullins. I twisted it two years ago and it goes out on me occasionally. It shall be back to normal in no time.” Elizabeth took some deep breaths, as this was all extremely arduous for her in her ailing state.
Darcy, trying to avert his eyes from the most desirable sight of her now bootless slender ankle, casually asked, “You said you sprained it?”
Elizabeth lifted her head slowly, looking up at him, and Darcy immediately noticed her pale and worn appearance. “Yes. Two years ago I fell out…” She abruptly stopped, then, as if she changed her mind, simply said, “I fell.”
Her fevered mind seemed to make an attempt to recall something, but it evaporated as quickly as it had appeared. Whatever it had been was gone, but she had a clear enough mind to know that she did not want Mr. Darcy aware that only two years ago she made it a practice to climb trees.
Elizabeth turned her attention back to Mrs. Mullins and therefore did not see the startled look upon Darcy’s face. From out of the past, a voice finished her sentence… out of a tree . He looked upon her and realized that it had to be her! Elizabeth had to be the one he shared the carriage ride with two years ago! His mind raced. What did he remember about her and that ride? She told me how she had fallen out of a tree and sprained her ankle. We had a lively discussion about books. She challenged my every thought. I was not able to get her out of my thoughts for months after. I chided myself for never asking her name!
Mrs. Mullins advised that they wrap it tightly and that she avoid walking on it. Darcy stepped out and called a member of the ship’s crew who was passing by to obtain something with which to wrap her foot. Darcy was grateful for the chance to step out of the room. His mind now reeled with the almost complete conviction that Miss Bennet was the very woman who ended up haunting him two years earlier.
He tried desperately to remember any details about that day. Where was she going on to after he departed the carriage? He did not recall. He recollected a man and a woman waiting with her and who gave her assistance as she stepped into the carriage, when he carelessly ploughed into her. Her aunt and uncle . She was on her way now to visit her aunt and uncle in America. All right, but most everyone has an aunt and uncle . He turned to look at her and thought he could simply ask her if she sprained it by falling out of a tree, but that would most likely embarrass her. He was quite sure she did not finish her sentence because she did not want to let on that she had climbed a tree and fallen from it. He did not believe it would do any good to ask her if she remembered him and the carriage ride, as she most likely would not.
The crewman returned with some rolled-up cloths, and Mrs. Mullins began the slow, delicate process of wrapping her foot. Darcy stood back with his hand firmly planted against his jaw, rubbing it briskly as his mind searched the deepest recesses of his brain to try to recall anything more about her. Elizabeth glanced up and noticed a very disconcerted look on his face and she felt he was most irritated and impatient with this interruption.
“I am so sorry. So sorry,” was all she could say. She was convinced he was put out having to assist her, when he must have others things he wanted, or needed, to tend to.
Darcy watched as Mrs. Mullins gingerly wrapped Elizabeth’s ankle with the cloth. It was very evident to him how weak she was. His anger had increased now and he directed it at the ship’s policy, of which he had been unaware, allowing children to be doubled up in beds. He was angry at the conditions in steerage, even though, on the whole, they were better than most other ships. He was angry that he could do nothing about Elizabeth’s situation.
She was very ill and she would not improve unless she was out of steerage. But how to get her out was the question. Where else could she go? There was not one available bed on the ship.
Once her ankle was wrapped, Darcy came over and helped Elizabeth stand up, asking her to try to put some pressure on it. As she stepped down upon it, she winced in pain.
“Miss Bennet, I am afraid you are not going anywhere with your ankle like that for a while.”
“Well I certainly cannot stay here!”
Her liveliness, even when she was feeling as poorly as she was now, humoured him.
“You need not worry about that, Miss Bennet. I shall carry you to the dining area so you can get something to eat. Right now you need to eat for strength.”
Elizabeth tried to protest, but he was correct; she did not have the strength. This time when he picked her up, she was too tired to do anything but relax against him, and as her head fell against his chest, not only could she smell a pleasant scent that came from him, but she could feel his beating heart, which in itself, soothed and comforted her.
As he carried her toward the door, Darcy looked down at her and spoke. “You are not well. I can see that you are not getting enough sleep. Miss Bennet, this can turn quite serious if you do not take care of yourself. You must claim your bed back.”
Elizabeth let out a frail sigh. “Perhaps in a few days. The Rawlings girls are improving.” She took a few shallow breaths before she continued. “But I fear it is not so much for want of a bed, but that I am a light sleeper, and am kept awake more by the sounds of the crowded room than the discomfort of sleeping on the floor.”
“Miss Bennet, certainly there is something you can do.”
“Mr. Darcy, I am unfortunately ill, as are several people in steerage. I just need some fresh air and something to eat.” Her words were almost whispered, and fatigue prompted her to close her eyes.
Darcy looked back into his room and rested his eyes upon the second bed in his room, the only vacant bed in the ship. If ever he had come up with a crazy notion, he had one now. The words of his valet in this very room came back to him. Get a wife for the trip. He looked back at Elizabeth as he closed the door behind them and carried her to the dining area.
There were not many people inside, for which he was grateful. He placed Elizabeth on a bench off by herself and secured for her some hot tea and some hardtack biscuits.
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy.”
Darcy watched her as she slowly sipped the tea, but he did not leave. She looked at him curiously. He seemed intent on saying something, but no words were coming.
“Was there something else, Mr. Darcy?”
“Miss Bennet, I… I have a proposition that I would like you to seriously consider.”
Elizabeth raised one eyebrow at him, wondering what it was he was proposing. “What would that be, Mr. Darcy?”
“I… uh… I am concerned about your sleeping conditions…”
“I have told you there is no need for your concern.”
“Since you do not seem to be inclined to ask for your bed back…” He did not seem able to go on.
“Yes?” She lifted her eyes to his face but seemed unable to lift her head.
Darcy sat down on the bench opposite her. “I would like to offer you the spare bed in my room.”
He saw the flash in Elizabeth’s eyes just a moment before he felt the sting across his face.
She would have indignantly stormed off, but was prevented by her sore ankle and the weak state in which she found herself. Darcy reached up to the place on his now stinging cheek she had just slapped. “Perhaps you are not as weak as I believed.”
Elizabeth turned her angry eyes back down to the meagre nourishment in front of her. “Please leave me alone, Mr. Darcy. I beg you, please.”
Darcy took in a deep breath. “Miss Bennet, I ask that you just hear me out. I am not suggesting anything unseemly.” He continued to rub his cheek.
Incredulous, but with extreme fatigue consuming her, Elizabeth turned to him. “And just what are you suggesting then, Mr. Darcy?”