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Soon after, Darcy heard the patter of feet descending the steps and then Charles was at hand.
“Good grief, Darcy! What happened?”
“The capstone came off the balustrade and Miss Elizabeth toppled over,” Darcy said. Now that Bingley had reminded him of it, he looked round for the stone, fearing for a moment that Elizabeth might have landed on it. He spotted it out of harm’s way, closer to the wall. “I tried to stop her but went over myself. I believe she is winded.”
Jane subsequently arrived on the scene with Louisa. “Oh, Lizzy,” she cried. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, Jane! I am fine,” said Lizzy, levering herself up.
But upon attempting to stand, Elizabeth discovered she was unable to put weight on her left foot. Obviously, the waltz was her last dance for that evening.
“I shall call a footman to carry her into the house,” said Louisa with cold civility.
“Oh, hang the footman!” said Darcy, scooping Elizabeth up easily. “Where should I take her?”
This action may have been less chivalrous than it appeared, for Darcy was extremely embarrassed he had not managed to save them both from the fall and was keen to depart the scene.
From the terrace, he could hear Caroline calling, “Back inside! There’s nothing to see! Someone who had a little too much punch merely tripped on the backstairs! Supper’s waiting!”
The housekeeper of Netherfield, Mrs Nicolls, emerged from the back door. Louisa ushered Mr Darcy through this and into the servants’ stairs, to avoid the milling throng above. Fortunately, as servants’ stairs go, the ones at Netherfield were quite wide, but still Mr Darcy had to turn sideways to carry Elizabeth up them. As all the rooms on the ground floor were occupied with the ball, Louisa suggested taking Elizabeth up to a guest room.
After switching to the main stairs, Mr Darcy was able to carry Elizabeth more easily across his body, and Lizzy soon found herself in the chamber that she and Jane had occupied during their recent stay at Netherfield. After depositing her on the bed, Mr Darcy bowed very correctly before taking himself off to change his creased cravat and head back downstairs.
A cup of tea was procured for the patient, and after Jane reassured Mrs Hurst that she had everything she needed to tend her sister, Louisa took herself back to the festivities.
“Oh, Jane, please do not let me stop you from enjoying the ball! I feel very stupid to have had such an accident!”
“But what happened, Lizzy?”
“I merely leant on the wall to adjust my shoe. The capstone was not fixed in place, and it slid out from under my hand. I was off-balance, and I toppled over the side.”
“The balustrade is very low,” replied Jane. “I remarked on it to Charles when we were out there earlier.”
“Oh? Charles, is it now?” Lizzy teased her sister.
Jane blushed. “Oh, Lizzy, he is everything I have ever wanted in a man! I cannot believe what is happening. It is like a fairy tale!”
“So, I am interrupting your fairy tale. Go back downstairs and enjoy yourself.”
“Are you sure?” asked Jane.
“Yes, just do not forget to take me home.”
Jane giggled. “Perhaps Mama will insist you stay here now, and that I stay to nurse you.”
“Don’t you dare let her!”
“Oh, no! In fact, she may not even know you fell as she was gossiping in the supper room when a footman quietly alerted Charles to your accident.”
“Then do not tell her, and we will rub on very well,” advised Lizzy.
“Is there anything I can do for you before I go?”
“Oh, Jane, these stays are so uncomfortable when I am lying down. Can you help me take them off?”
Jane helped peel off Lizzy’s dress to the waist to remove the stays. Because of the low-cut square neck of her gown, Elizabeth was not wearing a chemise, only a petticoat, tied at the waist. Once the offending garment was removed, she was much more comfortable, and Jane refastened the back of her sister’s dress.
“Anything else?”
