CHAPTER 3 – TRUTH AND LIES CHAPTER 3 – TRUTH AND LIES
“No sir, I—I wasn’t thinking of George Wickham. I was just—“
Then she lifted her bleeding right hand to show it to him and fainted, Mr. Darcy then embraced her, Mr. Wickham, upon noticing it run to the pair.
“What happen to her, Darcy?”
“She is bleeding, someone slash her hand.”
Col. Forster saw that Elizabeth fainted and heard what Mr. Darcy told Mr. Wickham.
“Bleeding? Then let her lie in the couch for while and—Mary King, tell her mother and sisters that she is here! Hurry now!”
Mary King runs to Mrs. Bennet who was sitting with her 3 younger daughters and told them of what happen. They went to where Lizzy is and find her lying in the couch. Lydia looked at her sister’s wound and exclaimed.
“It was a dagger who caused this! I am sure! Because if this is a glass of wine, she wouldn’t faint.” Mrs. Bennet added while grieving. “Oh! —Find the man who caused this to my child! I shall have no rest till the man’s not found!” Jane hugged her mother and Charles Bingley told one of his servants.
“Prepare the carriage, quickly!” Then he turned to Darcy and Mr. Wickham and told them. “Used my carriage, take her into their house! We will fetch the doctor!”
After he had said that, Wickham stood up and he likewise carries Elizabeth. Darcy stood up and ran to open the door of the carriage. While the sisters and mother of Elizabeth go with Charles Bingley in the house of the doctor. Col. Forster and his men study the place and hope to get evidences.
In the carriage, Wickham was looking at Elizabeth’s face that is turning paler. “I hate to look at her at this moment.” He drew the notice of Mr. Darcy who looked from him to Elizabeth; he was suddenly surprise when Elizabeth’s handkerchief fell from her right hand. It was full of blood. “She was keeping it since we are dancing—but how, without me knowing it, did she get one?” Wickham was not listening at him, instead he denoted. “From the beginning of our meeting, I find her beautiful enough. Her eyes we’re noticeable, I never in my life saw any woman whose eyes we’re shiny and dark. Her cheeks we’re pink and I love to look at it as she smiles. Her lips we’re red and it is, I believe, the lips of an innocent lady—whoever did this to her—with such a strong reason to do this to her—We’ll be paying and suffer under me, for he had hurt Elizabeth.”
Darcy listened to him but he lifted the handkerchief and found it dripped in blood, he look at Lizzy’s face and he remembers what he denoted about her.
“She is tolerable, but not that beautiful.” He then tells George.
“I was wrong to think ill of her, because I saw you together. I am sorry.” Wickham then looked at him and he at a mad voice answered him. “Think ill of her?! How could you be so judgmental?! You didn’t even meet her yet—and yet; think ill of her, Darcy?”
He only looked at him with a course of civility and as the carriage stop, Mr. Darcy then go down; he was met by the worried Mr. Bennet. He quickly told him in an agitated manner.
“Sir, you’re daughter. Miss Elizabeth!” George then went down in the carriage, carrying the fainted Elizabeth. They went inside quickly and he went on. “She fainted because someone slashes her hand.”
“Dear Lord, who will do this to my daughter? Is she in somebody’s way?”
“I don’t believe you’re daughter is in somebody’s way.”
Mr. Bennet then went to his room to find the first aid kit. Meanwhile, George laid her at her bed and pulled the ribbons of her gown, he then turned to Darcy who is just watching him.
“Darcy, get some mild water and a towel, I will stop the bleeding for awhile! Hurry now!” Darcy, as told, went downstairs immediately to get some mild water and a towel, the servant gave it to him and he run quickly upstairs, he was fortunate enough not to tripped because if he did, he could have returned to get water again. He placed the basin in the chair and he dripped the towel in it and he rinsed it. He then gives it to Mr. Wickham who was checking Elizabeth’s temperature, Mr. Bennet then went to her daughter’s room to give him first aid kit. He asked them about his wife.
“Where are my wife and my other daughters?”
Mr. Darcy then answers with a piece of civility. “You’re wife, sir and you’re other daughters we’re going to the doctor’s house. They told us to go here to assist you’re child, sir. But I am afraid that, none of us know what to do.”
By that time, a carriage stop, it is by that time, the Bennets’ carriage. The sisters, Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bingley and Doctor Clinton had arrived. Mary opens the carriage and run upstairs to her sister and asks them breathlessly with intelligence.
“Is she having a fever? Or does she talk to anyone of you?”
“No, Miss. I am afraid that she is having one. Where is the doctor?”
“I am here.” He then went to the room and he took his stethoscope off to examine Elizabeth.
“I see no problem with her heart or lungs though. Though the cut is not a simple one, it has to be stitched up.”
“Pray—sir, how long would it take to stitch up my sister’s wound and how long she has to rest?” Mary said with a worry on her face, which was behind Jane.
“Miss Eliza is a very lively girl of this neighborhood, I daresay that she can be standing up the next morning or the other morning—if you have no questions, I wish to proceed now.” Jane then with an assuring look on her face told him politely. “Yes, sir, we wish you to proceed now. I might as well, inquire to assist you?”
“Yes, you may do so, Ms. Bennet.” Charles then also persists and he was likewise allowed to help them. They we’re suddenly surprised that Elizabeth spoke as she was sleeping. “George!—Do not leave me here—protect me, please stay by my side, sir.” They all look at him, but instead of standing there, went to Elizabeth. He sat in the chair and holds her left hand with his both hands. He then looked at them and told them. “Please do precede sir.” Without a word, the doctor opened his bag and he took out the thread, needle, piece of cloth and a bandage. Jane and Charles with politeness and after 6 hours, the operation was finished. It was 11 in the evening and the doctor said good bye. He told Jane what to do when her sister catch a fever. He then was attended by Mr. & Mrs. Bennet in the gate of the estate. Jane sits in the chair near the window and looks at the necklace Elizabeth had given her when she was 6 years old and her, at 10.
FLASHBACK------------
Jane was swinging in the swing, when her sister, young Elizabeth runs up to her.
“Jane! I do not understand why Kitty cries too easily when I hold her.” Jane then stop from swinging and she stood up. “Maybe she is just surprise that you hold her or maybe she is hungry.” She said with a smile and an assuring face. Her sister’s face is angelic that she smiled at her mostly; she took out the necklace and showed it to her.
“Look, Sir William gave this to me. But I bet that this doesn’t look nice at me.”
“Why do you think so, Lizzy?”
“Because it looks so nice on you, Jane!” Without any word to follow, Lizzy put it to her sister’s neck. “There!” She smiled sweetly. Jane only looks at her sister’s face and she look down at the necklace.
--END OF FLASHBACK—
Jane was in tears, the memory of their childhood was replaying on her mind. The day Lizzy gave her that necklace, was Lizzy’s birthday. Sir William gave it to her for a present, but instead, she gave it to her. Those sweet moments she had spent with Lizzy will never be forgotten. As Charles Bingley looks to his object of admiration, he saw the tears in her eyes. He reached for his pocket to get his handkerchief. He gets it and walks beside her.
“Miss Jane, please do not grieve for you’re sister. I may not be so in the position to tell you this, but I assure you that Miss Elizabeth will be safe.”
Jane looks at him with a tearful look in her eyes, even though crying, she managed to suppress a smile to assure him. He then handed her the handkerchief and she accepts it.
The sun was almost beginning to set, Charles Bingley woke up near Miss Jane, they we’re sharing in the sofa, but he is sitting, while she is lying. He stood near the window. Darcy woke up too, he was sitting near the bed, he looks at Elizabeth, who was still sleeping, her features we’re beautiful to him. I think I am starting to admire this beautiful lady. He thought as she slowly stirred, waking up in a daze. George woke up too, feeling the movement she makes, as she held into his hand. He asks her in his most concerned voice.
“Miss Elizabeth, are you now feeling well?” a worry on his face tells Elizabeth that he is serious, so she answers him.
“Yes, a little bit—I am having a slight headache.” At this, George puts his right hand on her forehead to see if she has a fever or not. Elizabeth winced at his touch, the coolness of his hand, the way it touch her forehead. Am I really feeling his touch? She thought to herself for awhile. As she rinsed her thoughts, she found George looking at her; a slight blush covered her face as she lost herself in his blue eyes.
“You still have a slight fever, Lizzy, its better if you still rest.” He then looked at her and was shocked when Elizabeth laughed; his blue eyes search her eyes for a reason for laughing. But she did not give it. He coolly asks as she stop her laughing, but looks red as she stops. “Why are you laughing, Miss Elizabeth?” The lady then smile, he smiled too in reply as she answered. “You call me in my nick name, sir.” Then George bursts into laughter, she studied his face. There, there was a good rendition of feelings in his face, he is laughing because he realizes now. She joined in and stops as she felt steps approaching them. She looked up, much to her surprise, she saw who it was. He was staring straightly into her eyes—yes, to her very eyes! And in reply, she could not help but stared at him too. George looks into her face and found her eyes not looking at him, but to another. As he follows the trail of the gaze, he found her looking at Darcy. He coughed loudly, causing them to notice him and Jane to wake up from her bed, which is the sofa. He looked boldly at Darcy—actually, more of an ill look at him, but Lizzy saw none of this, and she was glancing at Darcy, while studying his features. Suddenly, as George spoke, their locked gaze broke.
“Darcy, have you got any business in Netherfield with Charles today?” He eyed Charles, sensing the tension between the three of them, Darcy decided to turn and quit the room. Charles looks at them and told them.
“Thank you, Mr. Wickham, for reminding my friend about his business.” He turned to Lizzy.
“Miss Elizabeth, I hope you will be better—and you can visit sometime in Netherfield with Miss Bennet.” The man blushed and Jane turned reddened, Lizzy tried hard to not suppress a smile on her face, but she did so. It was truly evident that they fall for each other that fast! It was love at first sight! He bowed to her and Jane accompanied him. As the doors closed, her thoughts strayed on to the gentleman who left the room abruptly. She turns to Wickham, his eyes on her primarily fixed on her face.
“Why does Mr. Darcy left in that manner, Mr. Wickham?” Wickham answered with gentility as much as gentility as he could.
“I did not know why, Miss Elizabeth. But it seems that his anger for me was still evident even if years passed.”
Elizabeth contemplated on the last phrase. But it seems that his anger for me was still evident even if years passed.
“Anger? Years? You know him, sir? You know Mr. Darcy?” Her face was slightly flushed; she did not even feel the tense between them when the two gentlemen were on a locked gaze. She was curious to know in what circumstances are they related.
“Yes, I have known him for years. Since infancy.” He look deeply into her eyes as he continue his story, while she, grab her pillow and hug it while listening to him as he continued. “I am not clearly related to him, I am the son of the steward of his good father, the late Fitzwilliam Simmon Darcy. We have been friends and we have a lot of things in common that we both enjoy, such as fencing and shooting. I was the favorite of his father when it comes to fencing, saying that I can become a successful commodore or even a captain in our troops, and then jealousy comes in when his father told him that I should get half of his money when he died. His sister, Georgiana Darcy became my fiancée when she was fourteen years old, I can say that she is still young at that age—but if you get to know her, she is a very pleasing young woman—whose mind was set, though at the age of fourteen. Well, her father knows about our relationship and when he died, he trusted the three of us in the guardianship of Georgiana.”
“Three of us? Who are those two?” Elizabeth interrupted, obviously, listening to him.
“Me, Darcy and Richard Fitzwilliam—Darcy’s cousin at his mother’s side.” He smiled onto Lizzy. “When his father died, Darcy took all the responsibilities. And, one of them was breaking up me and his sister. And not only that—he did not even give me my property which was the Norrington Mansion in Germany. And I was also forced to leave Georgiana and the mansion because he told me so. I came here to Hertfordshire now as a soldier—but now, a lieutenant. I work hard to get Georgiana with me, to show her that I love her still even she hates me now because of her brother—and she was now engaged to Lord Robbie Wellis.” Lizzy looked sadly on his face—this man, who had been a good companion, a good man and a good lover was treated so cruel! Her prejudices we’re touch and had she, with pride, ready to go to Darcy and tell him how much she disliked him now, she scowl as she repeated the story George lay down before her. Wickham, on his part, was happy of what had been the product of his falsehood story. He was sure that she had affected her and had improved her judgment against Darcy. He was gladly happy for his victory and after a long while decided to go and learn details of her case. She rested on her bed; thoughts were still straying on her mind as she contemplates on George’s story. How could Mr. Darcy do that to him? He had been a good friend to him! He is so cruel, oh! How could he be a disagreeable type of man—so disagreeable as to let his pride overrule him! As she let these thoughts passed, she did not know that she fell asleep. But her mind was still set—set on Mr. Darcy being a type of man not worthy of being friends for.
After a few moments, Darcy returns from her room. He quietly sit to the chair beside her dresser, he smiled as he studied her features. Her face contained no worry or any feeling none other than innocence. She looks like an angel! He thought as he studied more. Her pink lips we’re parted slightly and curved into a slight smile. What is she dreaming? He did not notice that her eyelids opened and he was shocked as he saw those dark fine eyes staring at him straightly with shock and slight embarrassment. Say something you, idiot! Said his sensible brain cell and he did.
“Are you well enough now, Miss Elizabeth?” he swallowed slightly as her eyes gaze at him intently.
“Yes, I do, sir. But I wish to rest more so I could regain my strength by to-morrow.”
“Would you like me to stay here with you, to attend you? Say anything, Miss Elizabeth; I am willing to do anything.” He told her as his eyes focused on her face.
“No I don’t need anything, sir! Mary or Catherine can attend me – You, sir, do not need to be concern about me.” He stared at her menacingly. Why is she doing this? Is she mad? Is it true that I am seeing her face stern? He could not understand why she was staring at him in that manner and why had she said those words. Regaining his composure, he said in a husky voice, more than a whisper.
“If you said so, Madam, then I only wish that you will regain you’re spirits and do you’re activities. I must depart now; Have a good day, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Have a good day, too, Mr. Darcy.”
He then bowed politely and went out of her room quickly. What had just transpired between them? What had just happen? Her face had filled by disgust and scorn, but why? Why she seems so civil to him? He had, by that time, reached the Netherfield Hall. Miss Bingley stood up in the swing near the foyer. She thus greeted him worriedly.
“Oh pray – Mr. Darcy! Are you alright? Is there anything I can do for you or has any of you is aching? Pray – tell me, sir.” He stopped; look at the face of the woman who is, following him.
“Thank you, Miss Bingley. But I am afraid that none of my person is aching – Sorry, but I have no time to listen to you’re practiced flirtations. He then hurries his pace to be quickly up in his room, making Caroline sit herself up and cry small tears.
“Damn that little chit! Why does Fitzwilliam need to be involved of her! Why! Why! He never did such a thing for me! Why that little Miss Elizabeth have it!” She was very much jealous of Elizabeth that night; she had sworn that she would never be defeated by any woman. And that she would never look into them as a couple. If ever, they were to be. She took the dagger from a small pocket in her dress, she stared at it evilly.
“Caroline!” She heard her elder brother’s call. Thus hiding her dagger and to look as if nothing had transpired. Then they appeared at the hall, her elder brother with Jane Bennet on his side. She ran up to her brother, giving him a little peck on the cheek and smiling up to Jane.
“Hello, Miss Jane. I am so delighted as to see you here in Netherfield.”
“Thank you, Miss Caroline. The pleasure is mine.”
Both curtsied to each other, and they talk about many things while touring up at Netherfield…
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