The Ashes of Longbourn by Melanie Schertz

I read of the tragedy.”

“We are not certain how that rumor started, though I have allowed Caroline to believe it, fearing how she would treat my fiancé as well as Elizabeth. Elizabeth is frail, and still has a long road of recovery before her.”

“How was she injured?” Richard asked.

“She and Jane were in her room, so they went out the window. Jane climbed down the trellis as Elizabeth told her, then Lizzy attempted to reach the middle sister, Mary. While Elizabeth was outside the second floor window, there was an explosion, which threw Elizabeth through the air, and she struck the trunk of a nearby tree. You can well imagine that she looked like a broken china doll when we arrived to help the Bennets. The flames could be seen from Netherfield and other estates through the area. That night is permanently burned into my mind.”

“And now, is she recovered?” Richard was having a difficult time imagining the strong, vivacious young lady he had met in the spring being so harmed.

Bingley looked away. “Elizabeth still feels nothing from her waist down. We fear that it will be permanent. Both of her legs were nearly shattered. The left leg will always give her difficulty, if she regains the use of it, that is. The burns and cuts are nearly healed, though she has many scars. Her broken ribs have mended, as well as some of her other minor injuries. But now we are worried, as she is so thin and lifeless most of the time. She has not been from her bedchambers since the fire. I have purchased a wheeled chair for her; it should arrive within the week at Netherfield. Colonel, you have seen her. Elizabeth is nothing more than skin and bone. Even her hair is lifeless. There is no life in her eyes. I only learned a few weeks ago that she had an arrangement with Darcy, and I fear that every day which goes by, with no word from him, she loses the will to continue living.”

“That is not the Elizabeth Bennet I met. She was lively and her eyes sparkled with mischief. What does the physician say of her condition?”

“Mr Freemont agrees with the belief that Jane and I hold, which is that she is devastated at the fact that Darcy has not come to her. She believes that he has abandoned her. We have tried to come up with a reason that he had not responded to my letters, but she asks Jane daily if there has been any word. Each day, when there is no word, she sinks a little further into melancholy.”

“I will send expresses to Pemberley and to Scotland. Perhaps Darcy’s Aunt Rebecca knows where they were going. She had talked as if she would travel with them. Her daughter still lives in Scotland, at the estate where I went to speak with Darcy. I do not return to duty for a fortnight, I will go wherever necessary to bring him back to England.”

“Colonel, I appreciate your offer. I must state to you that Jane fears that in Elizabeth’s mind, Darcy already knows what has happened and has decided he cannot tolerate her frailty and has refused to return to her. As I said, each day, with no word, she sinks further into her melancholia. If we learn he does not wish to contend with such afflictions ravaging Elizabeth, I wish to know myself as soon as possible.”

“If you had seen the devastation in his eyes, the cries that came from him, you would have no doubt of his feelings towards her. I have the confidence that he will come immediately to be with her. Nothing would change his love for her.”

“I pray that you are correct. Where were these relatives in Scotland?”

Richard walked towards the door of the room. “I will write a message to Rebecca. Father, could you have an express runner prepared to leave as soon as I am finished?”

Lord Matlock nodded his head.

For the first time in several months, Charles Bingley took a deep breath and prayed that there would be a future for his fiancé’s sister.

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Chapter 7

Darcy and Georgiana had traveled many locations before finally