Page 24 of Her Brother's Keeper
It startled her that he would even ask; she did not detect criticism in his tone, but itmustbe there. “I have tried everything I can think to do. Gestures, speaking clearly and with great emphasis, showing him objects with constant repetition.” She hesitated, until the words came tumbling out, a confession he could not want to hear. “He is superb physically, in every way a robust, healthy child, and big for his age. It is all I can do to contain him as it is. In another few years, I might not be equal to it. If I cannot care for him myself, and since Mr Philips will not provide help unless I return to Longbourn, what is to become of him? He will be locked in Longbourn’s attics before I know it. I fear he truly will become feral if he is denied the outdoors, which he loves, if he is beaten and trapped and treated as an animal.”
His face was a study in impassiveness. “Your mother will not stand for him?”
“She is too apt to be influenced by her brother-in-law’s opinions. Her father trusted him, and her tendency is to obey him, regardless of even her own sense. Also…she hates me. I am the least likely person she would listen to.”
Mr Darcy frowned. “How could she hate you?”
“Perhaps hatred is too strong a word. I lived through the fever that killed her favourite daughter. I survived by bringing Neddy out to Fox Hollow and quarantining us out here. She wishes with all her heart that I had brought my twelve-year-old sister, Lydia, with us as well. But I did not heal Neddy—he was never ill. I only kept him away from infection. Lydia was already sick. I could not bring her. Or Kitty. How I wish I could have.” More stupid tears escaped, and the guilt she felt escaped with them. To live, when beloved sisters and a fatherhad not, was a scar upon her soul; she did not need her mother’s reminders to feel it.
Feeling wretched, she wished that he would go, leaving her alone to her misery.
Darcy had been about to explain to Elizabeth that she could not possibly continue to try raising Edward by herself with her useless companion.
Of course she has already realised it.
Edward’s behaviour was unacceptable; he could not be permitted to continue attacking wildly, whenever he was upset. He must learn; nevertheless, he appeared to be incapable of doing so.
That was not quite true, though, was it? He had easily learnt the word for ‘deer’ because deer fascinated him, had he not? If he was interested enough, he did not hesitate to add to his vocabulary.
Darcy knew it had been a bad idea to follow them inside the home. It was hardly his fault that the child misbehaved, and it was none of his business what she did about it.It is a sign that I should leave, and leave quickly.
But he suddenly remembered Georgiana’s fits of temper at the age of six years, in that dark time after their mother died. He remembered, after her piercing screams had brought him upstairs, her nurse throwing up her hands in frustration and worry. He remembered how she had fought his hold at first, only calming when he held her so tightly that she could not fight any longer. Georgiana had possessed difficulties in learning to read, and, much later, another of her nurses had devised a system of rewards for her efforts, motivating her tokeep trying. The reward she had most often wished for was his own attention.
Of course, Georgiana had never had any difficulties in speech. She had never been violent in her behaviour. Neither had anyone ever laid a hand upon her in anger. He would have dismissed, without a reference, any who had.The very idea of being helpless to prevent my sister from being abused is a terrible one. Even so, Elizabeth has been required to lose the safety of Longbourn and move to this draughty stone building to prevent anything happening to Edward.
Was there a means of capturing the child’s interest, of holding it long enough to stretch that window of fascination to include objects other than animals?
Edward stood from his bricks, ran to his sister, and softly touched her face. “Hurt,” he said.
Did he see her crying? Was the child sorry? Was he even aware that he had done something wrong? Did he know his own name?
This is not my problem.Heis not my problem. Her troubles should not concern me. I ought to apologise for having brought Mabel to disturb her peace and upset Edward, and take my leave. I need to ensure she knows I am never returning.
Her distress was obvious; plainly, she was holding her life together by the thinnest of threads. The urge to gather her into his arms, to comfort…to do much, much more than that was nearly overwhelming.
Was there a reward that would motivate Edward’s best efforts totryto improve, to learn?
Darcy could think of one.
“I will teach him to ride,” he said.
Twenty-One
ANXIOUS TO PLEASE
“Jane!” Elizabeth cried, seeing her sister at her door. “Come in! You should not have walked here when you are scarcely recovered.” She examined her sister carefully; other than a slightly unusual paleness, she looked as lovely and thankfully healthy, as ever.
Neddy looked up and went to Jane—and although he did not put his arms up to be lifted into hers, he tensed with joy at the sight of her.
“Neddy!” she said, greeting him with a smile and bending down to kiss his forehead. “How do you fare? I swear, you have grown an inch!”
Neddy smiled, but quickly returned to his books, studying them with his usual exultant intensity, tensing over each page with his entire body.
Jane took a chair by the fire. “Oh, nonsense, I am as well as could be. It was a slight fever, nothing more. I was tired to death of remaining indoors, and even more so of Mama’spestering me about Mr Bingley. I am well-protected from the cold.”
And so she was. Elizabeth noted the fine fabric of the new wool coat she wore, and could not keep from envying it, just a little.
“So, Mama is already making wedding plans?” she asked, pulling a chair over near her sister.
