Chapters 10-12 By Consequence of Marriage

Within a week, Elizabeth felt recovered from her head injury, yet her broken ankle required her to stay abed. Never a spirit easily subdued, Elizabeth passed the time with Jane reading aloud, playing a funny little card game from when they were younger where certain numbers meant you told a truth or a lie, and talking of home. Jane tried to interest Elizabeth in some needlework, but the hoop lay mostly neglected as Elizabeth Bennet had never understood the usefulness of an embroidered doily.

After tea one afternoon, while Elizabeth read and Jane sewed by the window, a knock on the door startled both women out of their secret world of sisterly affection. Mr. Darcy appeared with books in hand and bowed low.

“Since it was my folly to cause this injury, I thought perhaps you’d like some new books, Miss Elizabeth? I inquired of your sister for your tastes and had these brought from my town home.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened as she took stock of the handsome man before her, feeling both pleased and vexed that he brought her books, yet was the very cause of her current pain. Looking to Jane, she nodded and the elder Bennet sister rose to move her chair closer to the bed as Mr. Darcy entered the room. Once settled, Jane returned to her sewing, marring her serene countenance occasionally to glance up and glare at Mr. Darcy.

“I am touched you sent for books from London. Do you bring gifts to every woman you avoid trampling in the street?” Elizabeth asked, making Mr. Darcy cough uncomfortably at her frankness.

“Lizzie!” Jane warned her younger sister, but said nothing more.

“A sound query, but then I should wonder if you are so bold with men who must make haste to avoid you as you meander in the midst of the road.”

His face like stone, Elizabeth was frightened at first she had truly offended him until she noticed his tell. His left nostril flared slightly and Elizabeth couldn’t help but giggle. This encouraged Mr. Darcy to smile in return, and the two spent the rest of the afternoon discussing every book from the Odyssey to specific sonnets of Shakespeare. The only break in their delightful afternoon was when Caroline Bingley arrived to announce dinner. Performing another deep bow, Mr. Darcy exited the room to dress, reluctantly leaving the sisters.

Sighing, Elizabeth slid down in the sheets and laid her arms back. “I suppose if one must stay abed, it is highly convenient for potential suitors to await your beck and call and hold intelligent conversation.”

Jane frowned as she selected a nightgown to help Elizabeth change before she herself would attend dinner.

“If you’re not careful, your behavior will cause chatter.” Jane hummed to herself as she found the hairbrush and ties in her sister’s trunk. When she turned around, Elizabeth was stricken with silent tears and Jane rushed to her side. “Lizzie? Shall I fetch the laudanum?”

“No,” she sobbed, wiping her eyes. “I am not hurt. I simply remember.”

Clucking her tongue, Jane began to pull the pins from her sister’s hair and raked her curls gently with her fingertips. “It must have been a frightful sight to see the horse rear up and nearly strike you.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “He said that. That’s why I ran away. I remember everything, Jane. The assembly, you dancing with Mr. Bingley, John dancing with, dancing with—” she let out a huge sob as Jane embraced her. “Mr. Lucas will never marry me, Jane. I am not held in his esteem nor do I appear an advantageous match.”

Downstairs, ruffled feathers belonged to one Miss Bingley. The party was delayed waiting for her to join them. Caroline Bingley, famously the last dressed and habitually five minutes late to every dinner call, descended the stairs with her smug demeanor only to appear bewildered when she realized they were awaiting Jane.

“Are we not all here?” she asked, innocently, as if she had been the one imposed upon.

“We are yet to be joined by Miss Bennet, and I fear there is something keeping her.” Mr. Bingley glanced furtively at the stairs.

Caroline huffed and began to walk towards the dining room. “A slight foot injury and our lovely country retreat is ruined with two months of playing hospital.”

Darcy finished his private conversation with a maid and as she scurried away to the kitchens, he followed Miss Bingley into the dining room as it appeared all manner of escorts and assigned seating were to be abandoned. “A broken limb is hardly a trifling matter, madam. I once only sustained a sprain as a young lad climbing too many trees and it took many months for the pain to subside.”

Miss Bingley sputtered as her sister joined her side. “How dreadful, Mr. Darcy. I do hope your ankle is well now?”

Darcy blinked. “Perfectly, madam. As I said, I was but a child.”

“Lord, I’m squashed, how about some grub, eh Bingley?” Mr. Hurst found a seat and began motioning with his hands to be served. Bingley scowled at his brother-in-law’s crude behavior, but nodded to the footman just the same and dinner proceeded to arrive from the kitchen.

Upstairs, Jane continued to soothe her sister and tried to remind Elizabeth of the wonderful qualities any man would be lucky to boast in a wife, and they were all encompassed in her. As the girls snuggled in bed, a servant knocked on the door with a tray in hand, allowing the two sisters to eat in peace. Jane didn’t know for sure, but she suspected that Mr. Darcy had seen to the repast and she found that she had a small amount of respect for a man who would see to the care of others.

Another week passed before a rainy day brought Mr. Darcy back to Elizabeth Bennet’s sick room. He happened to come in on the girls playing their card game and politely asked if he might join.

“Oh, this game is too much of a trifle for a gentleman of your caliber, sir. Leave it to us ladies.” Elizabeth gave the cut in all seriousness. After remembering how she came to be bedridden in the enemy’s home, she had sworn off encouraging the attentions of any man, even one so handsomely clothed as Mr. Darcy.

“And gentlemen have no trifles? Surely, Miss Elizabeth, you grant us more amusement in life than a destiny of unabated boredom.”

Elizabeth scowled, frustrated that she was stuck in her prone position. She turned to Jane for help, but her sister only gave a slight smile at Mr. Darcy. So much for sisterly support!

“The game is simple, Mr. Darcy. We each play cards in the middle to make matches of the numbers, if you cannot make a match, then you must play a face card,” Jane explained.

Mr. Darcy pulled a chair from the wall and took off his jacket. He flashed Miss Elizabeth a brilliant smile showing off his dimples as he accepted his hand of cards from Miss Bennet. “And what befalls me when I play a face card, ladies?”

“A knave and you must tell a lie. A queen and you must pay a compliment. A king and you must tell a truth known to but a few.” Elizabeth took his measure as the game began. Much as she wished to dismiss the man outright and return to her father’s home in recuperation, something about his demeanor disarmed her.

“And if I hold no face cards? Then what must I do, a Herculean labor?”

“Nay, nothing so onerous. You simply draw a card until you can play. First one to lose her cards wins.” Miss Elizabeth finished.

“Or he.” Mr. Darcy added.

Elizabeth smiled, cheered to see the bit of competition in him. “Agreed, or he that loses his cards first.”

The game began and the first few rounds saw all of them making matches as it appeared that Jane had not shuffled the deck well from the last game. Elizabeth was the first to play a face card and giggled as she had the best lie. “On nights with a full moon, I love best to borrow father’s breeches and go running through the fields astride the largest stallion in our barn!”

Jane made a face at Elizabeth, but it was Mr. Darcy who cleared his throat. “Pardon me, but I believe we are supposed to tell a lie when we play a knave.”

Elizabeth’s jaw dropped that Mr. Darcy would impugn her integrity to tell such a tale, and Jane covered her mouth to stifle her mirth. “It most certainly is a lie, Mr. Darcy. I hate horses, and prefer walking to riding no matter the distance.”

Darcy nodded, and played a card as Miss Bennet had begun a new round with a six and he had one. Elizabeth, still smarting from his jest at her expense, played a seven and it was Jane who had to play a face card. Her face immediately turned red, as she knew Lizzie would not let her get off with nothing less than a most embarrassing truth. Settling her shoulders back, she decided to be as honest as she cared to be, in hopes to avoid her younger sister’s ribbing.

“I find Mr. Bingley in possession of the most pleasant manners I’ve ever met in a dance partner.” Quickly, Jane turned her eyes back to her cards. Mr. Darcy said nothing and played a nine, hoping Elizabeth did not hold any, but he was to be disappointed when she produced one. Jane played a ten and caught Mr. Darcy wanting.

With a deep breath, Mr. Darcy viewed his face cards and nothing but women smiled up from his hand. Taking out the Queen of Hearts, he played her on the pile and wondered why he had agreed to such a ridiculous game. How was he to compliment one of these women without showing a preference? It was very serious behavior for a man to compliment an unmarried woman, and with his own situation in such disarray, a courtship and marriage was the furthest thing from his mind. Thoughts of Georgiana pained his heart, but provided the necessary inspiration.

“I find I have never witnessed such a powerful bond of sisterly affection as I discern between you, Miss Bennet, and you, Miss Elizabeth.” Both women smiled at this sincere compliment.

The game continued until both Darcy and Elizabeth were down to one card each. Poor Jane had the unfortunate business of multiple draws, so she sat with five cards in her hand. She played a seven, hoping once more to catch Mr. Darcy off his game. Instead, the man stood up from his chair and triumphantly played his last face card, one he held from the start. This accomplished, he fulfilled his final requirement.

“Ladies, I can honestly say this has been the most engaging and pleasant card game I have ever played. Thank you for teaching me.”

Realizing how late the hour was, the group gave their goodbyes and both Jane and Mr. Darcy left to dress for dinner. Elizabeth sighed as they left her to rest. She carefully picked up the cards into a proper deck. As the bottom card was the Queen of Hearts, she wondered at Mr. Darcy’s truth that he was only in Hertfordshire until he heard from his cousin. Whatever it was, as she yawned and realized the afternoon had indeed taxed her strength, she hoped that Mr. Darcy’s cousin would misaddress the letter.