He left the window and looked around the small room that they now shared. Once her health improved and she could think more clearly, would she feel comfortable spending the rest of the trip in the confines of this cabin with him? Would she continue to trust him or would she harbour suspicions that he had ulterior motives in proposing this arrangement? Would she have second thoughts and regret her decision?
Darcy let out the breath he had been holding. It would be too late for second thoughts. The captain had married them, and they were now husband and wife—at least until he had the marriage annulled back in England. It may have been something he had done with very little rational thought behind it, but he believed he had done it with her best interest in mind.
Knowing he would be unable to simply sit still and wait for her to awaken, he began to pace nervously around the room, going to the window and looking out, walking the short distance over to Elizabeth, and then back to the window.
Darcy’s movements eventually awakened Elizabeth. She opened her eyes, aroused from the deepest sleep she had enjoyed in close to a week, and took a moment to get her bearings. Darcy was standing with his back toward her, as he stood at the window, and she was able to watch him for a few moments before he turned and saw that she had wakened.
“Good afternoon, Elizabeth. Did you sleep well?”
Feeling a little self-conscious lying in the bed, she struggled against her weakness to pull herself up. “Yes, Mr. Darcy, thank you.”
Darcy ignored her persistence to acknowledge him formally.
“I brought you some tea and something to eat, as well. I think it would be best for you to eat something first before we go to the dining room. It would be wise not to spend too much time with anyone until we know that you are improved. Try to eat and drink a little, and then we will go up and join the captain for the announcement.”
The announcement. He spoke those words devoid of any emotion. She could certainly comprehend his feeling, or lack of feeling about this whole arrangement. But at the moment, although she greatly enjoyed the welcomed sleep, she was hard-pressed to know exactly what her feelings were regarding this marriage. She still felt the assault against her body from illness and lack of sleep, and she could barely conjure up a reasonable sentence, let alone discern her thoughts at the moment.
Elizabeth brought her feet around to the floor, quite convinced that she looked as poorly as she felt. But she had slept soundly, and for that she was grateful.
Darcy walked over to her. “Here, let me help you over to the table.”
As he reached out his hand to her, her initial response was that she could do it herself, but due to her ankle’s continued tenderness and her unsteadiness upon sitting up, she accepted his offer. He pulled her up and slipped his arm underneath hers, supporting her body as she used one foot to propel herself along. Surprisingly, she felt a strength from him that seemed to boost her energy even more.
He set her down at the table and she looked down at the plate of food in front of her. Instead of the normal fare of dried, hard, unpalatable food, she found a very pleasing array of some fresh fruit and chicken.
“This looks delicious.” Her appreciation was apparent, but subdued. “Is this what everyone is having this evening?” She dabbed a little at the food, unwilling to pass it up, but suffering from an untimely lack of appetite.
“Not exactly. This is something special from the captain’s cupboard. He had some fruit that was still good, however very little, and there is a pen of chickens onboard that he gets eggs and an occasional chicken meal from.”
Elizabeth looked up at him curiously, wondering what he had to pay the captain for him to turn over some of this delectable fare.
“Thank you.” As Elizabeth took some small bites, she wondered how often he himself had been privy to these kinds of meals all along.
“If you would like, I shall leave you to finish eating and then you can tidy yourself up before going to the dining area. Is there anything I can get for you before I leave?”
“No. Unfortunately all my things are still in steerage.”
“Help yourself to anything of mine that you require.” He pointed to a dresser full of items. “The captain will join us to make the announcement in the dining area. We shall linger but a short time to allow you to speak briefly with your acquaintances. We shall then retrieve your things from steerage. You must not exert yourself.”
Elizabeth merely nodded in weak acquiescence. She had a difficult time fully comprehending all that Darcy had just said, but knew that he was resolutely laying things out the way he expected them to be. She realized if she had a morsel more of strength and even a remote ability to think more attentively, she would have been inclined to challenge these dictates he was giving.
Darcy left the room and the first thing Elizabeth did was to take her unused napkin and hide the remaining morsels of food into it, slipping the napkin into the pocket of her dress. She would take it down to her friends in steerage.
She hobbled over to the dresser, propelling herself along with her arms braced on the tabletop and dresser top, putting as little pressure on her injured foot as she was able. She sat down in front of the mirror and for a few moments silently looked at her reflection. Elizabeth weakly picked up a brush and combed out her hair, pulling the dark, thick locks back on top of her head. She reflected back on how uncomplicated and unemotional their conversation had been. He talked as if he were discussing with her the details of a business arrangement. She sighed as she looked at her weakened, pale reflection in the mirror. Perhaps he was.
When she had finished, she called out and Darcy stepped back into the room. He looked over at the empty plate on the table, wondering how she could have eaten it all so quickly, but said nothing. “Are you ready to go to the dining room?”
“We might as well get it over with,” Elizabeth replied, suddenly feeling very uneasy. She wondered what the reaction would be from those with whom she had formed acquaintances.
Darcy’s jaw tightened at her response, speculating whether now, after having had a good sleep, she regretted what they had done.
He walked over to her and his arms easily scooped her up. She made every attempt to view being held in his arms as strictly a necessity born out of her clumsy stumble earlier in the day. She had begun to feel an unanticipated warmth and appreciation toward him, however, that in her condition, she could not dwell on.
They proceeded to the dining room, which was already crowded with people. As Darcy walked in carrying Elizabeth, a sudden quietness fell over the room, followed immediately by whispering and rising speculations.
The captain quickly walked up to join them and raised his arms to silence everyone. “Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement I wish to make. Today, as captain of this ship, it was my privilege and honour to unite Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet in holy matrimony. I am honoured to present Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.”
A very audible buzzing was heard as people came around to bestow upon them surprised, but sincere, best wishes. Darcy accepted their words of congratulations with a simple nod of the head and “thank you.” He watched as Elizabeth received their attentions warmly, and she graciously offered back words of encouragement herself, despite her weak and fragile state.
Not everyone was inclined to approach; some from simply a lack of introduction to either of them. A certain handful of ladies sat rather stupefied that this singularly common woman had somehow snatched the one man onboard they deemed most eligible and desirable. They thought it was incomprehensible!
Darcy carried Elizabeth to a table and set her down, whispering to her as firmly as he could that they would only remain for a few minutes because of her health. They accepted continued words of congratulations from their well-wishers and soon were joined by Mr. and Mrs. Jennings, who had made Darcy’s acquaintance earlier, but not Elizabeth’s.