The peace of the winter was briefly fractured by an event outside their control. News came from Longbourn that Mr. Bennet had been taken ill with a severe inflammation of the lungs. The letter from Jane was fraught with a quiet anxiety that immediately set Elizabeth’s own nerves on edge.
Darcy, seeing her distress, did not hesitate. “We will go to them,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “At once.”
The journey to Hertfordshire was a cold, anxious blur. Alexander, confused by the disruption to his routine, was fretful, and Elizabeth’s worry for her father was a cold stone in her stomach. She was grateful beyond words for Darcy’s presence, his calm efficiency in managing the travel arrangements, his strong arm to lean on.
They arrived at Longbourn to find a house subdued by
