Georgiana."
They met downstairs and planned out two-hour intervals to stay with Mr. Darcy until a nurse returned. Even Mr. Durnham , Mr. Darcy's valet availed himself of some time. He had been principally staying in his quarters nursing his broken ankle, but now felt he could venture out on his crutches and help at this time.
Everyone but Jane, who still felt inadequate to place herself inside that room for any length of time, offered to sit with him. Elizabeth was to replace Georgiana from the eleven o'clock hour to one in the morning. She was to be replaced by Durnham , then Winston, and then Bingley after that.
The threesome visited in the sitting room, while Georgiana spent most of the evening in her brother's room. Elizabeth visited the Pemberley library and spent a good amount of time looking through the vast collection of books there. If she could have spent a year here, she would have barely touched the surface in reading the books she desired to.
She picked one up and brought it back to the sitting room to read. She noticed Jane and Charles were still very attentive to each other and Elizabeth smiled as she saw more regard on Jane's part than she had in the past. She was obviously taking Elizabeth 's advice to heart.
Elizabeth was soon involved in the book she was reading and was surprised at how quickly the time had passed when Georgiana came out and asked her if she could relieve her. Elizabeth could see the drawn look of fatigue on her face and encouraged her to get herself right to bed and try to get a good night's sleep. "Please do not worry about your brother tonight; he is in good hands."
Georgiana smiled and wished everyone a good night.
Elizabeth picked up her book and set out for her two-hour sit with Mr. Darcy.
At first, she was content to just read silently from her book until she recalled the words of the doctor. Try to stimulate his senses. She decided to read aloud to him. She thought that would be easier than to try to carry on a one-sided conversation with him. This would be the next best thing.
Elizabeth began reading. Occasionally she would glance over at him as she read and make some silly comment about the book, ask him whether he was enjoying the story or was he bored with it, or suggesting that perhaps he had already read it before himself.
After a while, he began to stir a bit. She noticed his breathing became more laboured. She put the book down and watched him. She saw that his face had become more flushed, he was perspiring heavily. She put her hand to his forehead. He was burning up! Since the accident he had been running a mild fever, but this appeared to be very high. She looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was ten minutes before one o’clock. Durnham should be coming soon. She would have him find someone to go for the doctor as soon as he came in.
Elizabeth went over to the sink that was in a room adjoining the infirmary and filled a basin with water. She found some cloths and brought them over to the side of the bed where she dipped one into the water and wrung out as much water as she could. Taking the cool, damp cloth, she applied it to his forehead, face and neck. She knew that she needed to cool his body down from the outside, to try to lower the fever that was ravaging him on the inside. Concern gripped her, not knowing what brought on this sudden rise in temperature. She repeated this procedure over and over again.
Finally Durnham hobbled in on his crutches and Elizabeth quickly apprised him of the situation. "Please send someone to find the doctor and tell him that Mr. Darcy has a very high fever. If you are able, please return soon and help me with him."
"Should I summon Miss Darcy?"
"I do not want to wake Georgiana yet, as she needs her sleep. Let us wait a bit before we do that."
"I will fetch Winston, and then be back right away!" Elizabeth was grateful that he was able to use his crutches with ease.
She felt herself trembling as she applied the
They met downstairs and planned out two-hour intervals to stay with Mr. Darcy until a nurse returned. Even Mr. Durnham , Mr. Darcy's valet availed himself of some time. He had been principally staying in his quarters nursing his broken ankle, but now felt he could venture out on his crutches and help at this time.
Everyone but Jane, who still felt inadequate to place herself inside that room for any length of time, offered to sit with him. Elizabeth was to replace Georgiana from the eleven o'clock hour to one in the morning. She was to be replaced by Durnham , then Winston, and then Bingley after that.
The threesome visited in the sitting room, while Georgiana spent most of the evening in her brother's room. Elizabeth visited the Pemberley library and spent a good amount of time looking through the vast collection of books there. If she could have spent a year here, she would have barely touched the surface in reading the books she desired to.
She picked one up and brought it back to the sitting room to read. She noticed Jane and Charles were still very attentive to each other and Elizabeth smiled as she saw more regard on Jane's part than she had in the past. She was obviously taking Elizabeth 's advice to heart.
Elizabeth was soon involved in the book she was reading and was surprised at how quickly the time had passed when Georgiana came out and asked her if she could relieve her. Elizabeth could see the drawn look of fatigue on her face and encouraged her to get herself right to bed and try to get a good night's sleep. "Please do not worry about your brother tonight; he is in good hands."
Georgiana smiled and wished everyone a good night.
Elizabeth picked up her book and set out for her two-hour sit with Mr. Darcy.
At first, she was content to just read silently from her book until she recalled the words of the doctor. Try to stimulate his senses. She decided to read aloud to him. She thought that would be easier than to try to carry on a one-sided conversation with him. This would be the next best thing.
Elizabeth began reading. Occasionally she would glance over at him as she read and make some silly comment about the book, ask him whether he was enjoying the story or was he bored with it, or suggesting that perhaps he had already read it before himself.
After a while, he began to stir a bit. She noticed his breathing became more laboured. She put the book down and watched him. She saw that his face had become more flushed, he was perspiring heavily. She put her hand to his forehead. He was burning up! Since the accident he had been running a mild fever, but this appeared to be very high. She looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was ten minutes before one o’clock. Durnham should be coming soon. She would have him find someone to go for the doctor as soon as he came in.
Elizabeth went over to the sink that was in a room adjoining the infirmary and filled a basin with water. She found some cloths and brought them over to the side of the bed where she dipped one into the water and wrung out as much water as she could. Taking the cool, damp cloth, she applied it to his forehead, face and neck. She knew that she needed to cool his body down from the outside, to try to lower the fever that was ravaging him on the inside. Concern gripped her, not knowing what brought on this sudden rise in temperature. She repeated this procedure over and over again.
Finally Durnham hobbled in on his crutches and Elizabeth quickly apprised him of the situation. "Please send someone to find the doctor and tell him that Mr. Darcy has a very high fever. If you are able, please return soon and help me with him."
"Should I summon Miss Darcy?"
"I do not want to wake Georgiana yet, as she needs her sleep. Let us wait a bit before we do that."
"I will fetch Winston, and then be back right away!" Elizabeth was grateful that he was able to use his crutches with ease.
She felt herself trembling as she applied the
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