Indisposed by Alix James

Author:Alix James
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Alix James
Published: 2020-01-31T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Elizabeth stared. Coughed lightly in astonishment—then gasped until her throat was dangerously dry. She tried to swallow, but a full-body seizure swelled and crashed upon her until it could be deemed an uncontrollable fit.

Mr. Darcy was at her side at once, his hands floating above her shoulders as if he wished to support her. Wisely he withdrew them before touching her, but by this time, the music and conversations had fallen quiet and all eyes in the room were upon her. Suddenly conscious of the attention, Elizabeth managed to stifle the next round of coughs and draw a few steady breaths of air.

“Here.” Mr. Darcy held her tea for her again, his face rather pale.

She shook her head. “Thank you, but no. I… I believe I would like to rest. Kitty? Will you ask Papa if he is available to help me up the stairs?”

Her mother, for some strange reason, was sobbing. “Oh, my dearest Lizzy! My poor girl! What cares your father for all your sufferings? Has he even lost a moment’s sleep? My dear Mr. Darcy, you are very attentive. Would it be too much to ask you to help my daughter up the stairs?”

Elizabeth suppressed a sigh. What she had hoped to gain was an immediate removal from Mr. Darcy’s presence, for the way the man seemed to hover over her was disconcerting at the very least. And surely, he had not said what she thought she heard!

“I would consider it a privilege, Mrs. Bennet,” Mr. Darcy answered firmly. He was standing before her now, and Elizabeth’s eyes fell to his fists, clenched in determination. He looked down, catching her attention, and offered one of those hands. “Miss Elizabeth?”

She tried to force a polite smile and took it. Hoping that of everyone in the room, at least Jane would empathize with her discomfiture, she sought her sister’s gaze only to find that Jane was weeping silently. Mr. Bingley, giving up all pretense of propriety, was gently stroking her shoulder and murmuring something.

Had the world gone mad? It seemed the only person who was behaving normally was her father, and he, wise man that he was, had left the rest of them to their own silliness. And so, with no other alternative, she allowed Mr. Darcy to lift her to her feet.

“Ah…” She flinched when he led her forward and she had to put weight again on her sore leg. “More slowly, if you please, sir.”

The gentleman checked himself at once, and Elizabeth had to confess, his manner was everything patient and attentive. But it was almost overbearing, and more than a little frightening all at once. An involuntary shiver passed through her and she felt her escort’s arm tighten in response.

“Are you well, Miss Elizabeth?”

“Now, if I were ‘well,’ Mr. Darcy, would I require assistance to my own room?” she answered with more tartness than sweetness.

He blanched, then looked straight ahead. “Of course, Miss Elizabeth.”

They neared the stairs and Elizabeth was forced to lean on his arm far more than she liked.

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