The Ashes of Longbourn (19 page)

             
“I am grateful, Mrs Bogs. So much has happened the past few days that I am overwhelmed.  I promise that I will do my best to do as you request.”  Elizabeth said.  Darcy squeezed his wife’s hand gently.

             
Mrs Bogs could see that the marriage was a love match, and that would give her patient strength to work through the hard times during the coming weeks.  “Mr Darcy, I will ask you for a chance for a private interview with your wife.  There are questions I need to ask and begin to see your wife’s tolerance levels so I know where I will begin in her treatment.  If you were to remain, I do not believe she will be able to concentrate fully.  Once we have set the routines, I will allow you to participate, if that is your choice.  Until then, I will require a few hours without you in the room.”

             
Seeing the look of hurt in her husband’s expression, Elizabeth reached out and caressed the side of his face with her fingertips.  “It will be fine, William.  I know that there is much to deal with to assist the other men, please join them for the time being.  I will send word to you as soon as we are finished.”

             
Nodding, Darcy kissed his wife before leaving the room. Once Darcy’s footsteps could be heard in the distance, Mrs Bogs began to speak.  “I do not wish to appear to be impertinent, but I have learned over the years that most ladies have some issues that they do not wish to discuss in front of their husbands, no matter how much in love they are.”

             
“It is all new to me.” Elizabeth said as a blush spread over her cheeks.  “We have only been married a few days.”

             
“Were you betrothed for long?  How long has it been since your accident?”

             
“Mr Darcy and I had an understanding last spring.  We had to wait for him to speak to my father, but business and Mr Darcy’s sister taking ill forced him to travel north.  Then the accident happened and Mr Darcy was told that I had died.  No one could find him to tell him the truth, for he and his sister traveled.  He was in Ireland when he learned that I had survived. The day after he arrived here, we were married.”

             
“What an amazing tale.  I do not wish to be indelicate, but I will need to know everything there is to know with regards to you and your body, so that I will be able to do the best that I can for you.  Have you and your husband had…marital relations?”

             
Elizabeth’s blush was nearly as red as a strawberry.  “No, we have not.  When my husband first arrived here, I was weaker than I am now, if you can imagine.  I had stopped eating and had wished to die, believing he did not want me.  It is due to him that I have made the progress I have in just a few days.  I believe he wishes to wait until I am stronger before we…”

             
“I spoke with Mr Jones.  He stated that your loss of feeling is from the middle of your thighs down.  You would be able to have relations, to feel what you should from your joining.”

             
“William asked Mr Jones of this.  He wishes to be involved in all of the care for me.”

             
Mrs Bogs smiled.  “He is the sort of man who would not wish to turn his most cherished love to be tended to by servants.  I respect that. All of his money does not matter; he wishes to make certain that you are taken care of properly, which, to him, means he does what he can personally.  Now, shall we ring for your maid?  I wish to speak openly with both of you.”             

             
Mrs Hill and Betsy soon joined Elizabeth and Mrs Bogs.  “Ladies, as you have been taking care of Mrs Darcy since the accident, I have several questions I would ask of you.”

             
The ladies turned to Elizabeth, who nodded her head in agreement to their speaking openly.

             
“Since the accident, Mr Jones says that Mrs Darcy has had no feeling in her legs. As ill as she was, and with her not taking care to recover, did her course cease to flow while she was so ill?”

             
Mrs Hill was more comfortable in speaking of such matters.  “She has had no courses since the accident.  As keeping her alive was far more important at the time, I have not given it a second thought until you asked.  Does this mean that she will be unable to bear children?”

             
Elizabeth’s eyes were wide with fear.  Though Darcy had stated that having children was not important, she could not imagine being unable to bear a child for him.  Mr Jones had spoken as if it would be possible to eventually have children.  She was lost to thought when Mrs Bogs spoke again.

             
“No, it tells me that her body is still attempting to recover.  As with her legs, part of her body has shut itself off to give strength to more important aspects.”  Mrs Bogs reached over and took Elizabeth’s hands in her own.  “Mrs Darcy, only time will tell us the truth.  This is the reason I feel as strongly as I do about treating the entire body and spirit, not just the injured area.  The herbalist that I studied with explained a great deal of the Orient and their views on balancing the whole body.  If this all sounds too far-fetched for you to believe in, tell me now.”

             
“No, I see that there is truth in this sort of thinking.  As it is not traditional, it may seem confusing to me at times, but if you explain as we go along, I am willing to try.  Mrs Hill, Betsy, do you agree to keep an open mind and attempt what Mrs Bogs suggests?”

             
“If it means your recovery, Miss Lizzy, I am more than open minded and willing to do my part.” Mrs Hill smiled.  Betsy nodded her head in agreement; she had taken a liking to the new Mrs Darcy and would do what she could to see that the young lady recovered the best that she could.

             
Mrs Bogs was pleased.  Many in English society scoffed at the ways of Chinese treatments. “Very well, let me describe my plans for treatments.”

             
Mrs Bogs went through a list of the different treatments that she would use. Tui na was a technique of massaging using fingers and thumbs applying pressure into muscles to release any tension stored in the muscles.  Qigong was a form of exercise that would incorporate massage, breathing and slow movements to bring the body’s life force, or qi, into balance. They would try using a technique called acupuncture, the use of slender needles or pins which would be inserted into the skin to assist in bringing the qi in balance, as well as allow blood to flow smoother, thereby aiding in healing.  There would also be the use of herbs, taken in teas as well as some which would be made into lotions to be applied to Elizabeth’s skin.

             
“I will write all of this information down for each of you, for I know it is a great deal to comprehend so quickly.  Mrs Darcy, when I spoke with your Mr Jones, he stated that your husband is well read.  I have copies of the books which my instructor gave me; he is welcome to borrow them to read the information.  Now, if you have no objections, let us begin with a hot bath with these herbs sprinkled in the water.  After a few moments of soaking, we will begin massaging your legs.  By this evening, I will guarantee, you will be exhausted, but each day, you will grow stronger.”

             
“Miss Lizzy has never been one to shy away from exercise or work.” Mrs Hill bragged of the young lady she took a part in raising. 

             
“That pleases me.  And I assume that you have known Mrs Darcy for a long time.” Mrs Bogs asked.

             
“I was beside the midwife the day she was born.  I cleaned her and swaddled her before giving her to her mother.  And she has been a joy to me every day since.”

             
“Thank you, Mrs Hill.  You have always been kind to me and I appreciate you now more than ever.  After all I put you through these past months; I am surprised you can still speak so highly of me.”

             
Taking hold of Elizabeth’s hand, Mrs Hill squeezed it lightly.  “Dear girl, you have been through so much, it was natural for you to behave out of character.  But now you have begun the journey back and have married a man that I believe deserves you.”

             
“Mrs Darcy, this process will take some time, and having the love and support of those around you will make a great deal of difference as you heal.” Mrs Bogs said as she stood.  “Mrs Hill, would you be so kind as to show me the rooms we will use for treatments and what supplies we have on hand?”

             
“This way, Mrs Bogs.” Mrs Hill showed her into the dressing chamber.  Darcy had also asked that the rooms next to Elizabeth’s, which were his rooms that connected to hers, be made ready in whatever manner Mrs Bogs required for Elizabeth’s treatments.

             
Just moments past before the door opened from the hall to allow her husband into the room and make his way to her side.  “I saw Mrs Bogs and Mrs Hill in the hallway and was told that I was allowed to return to your side.  I wish you to tell me what you think of Mrs Bogs.  She comes highly recommended by a former soldier that Richard knows.  Richard says that her ways are different, as she has trained in some of the arts from the orient.”

             
“She explained some of the techniques that she learned.  Some seem strange, though I will do what I can to recover.  I am also curious to learn more of what she told me.  I pray that you will be with me as I undergo the treatments.”

             
“Of course, my love, and I cannot think of anywhere else I would rather be.  From what Richard told me, I am curious to learn more as well.  He was telling me it made a tremendous difference with his friend.”  Seeing Elizabeth’s eyelids beginning to droop, Darcy kissed her on the tip of her nose. “Dearest, you are in need of a nap.  Shall I join you?”

             
“Mmm, that sounds perfectly wonderful.” She said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.  Darcy lifted her easily, carrying her to bed.  The newlyweds cuddled together, with Elizabeth’s back against Darcy’s chest and his arms surrounding her snuggly.

             
                                          ~~ ** ~~

             
The next day began the treatments and routine that Mrs Bogs had set for Elizabeth.  The nurse had spoken with the cook to prepare a special menu for Elizabeth, separate from the rest of the occupants of the house.  There would be more fish in Elizabeth’s diet, as well as rice which Mrs Bogs had brought with her.  She had friends in London who were from China and had food and herbs shipped to them, so she was well supplied.  The herbs that Mrs Bogs brought were to be used daily, some in cooking, some in Elizabeth’s tea.  There was a special blend of herbs that was added to the lotion that would be used when massaging Elizabeth’s legs and her back. 

             
Darcy was more than willing to learn the proper way to massage his wife’s body to aid her.  He loved being able to touch her openly, and feel her skin as he kneaded her muscles as Mrs Bogs dictated. At first, Elizabeth was nervous, especially having anyone witness to such an intimacy between them.  But Mrs Bogs had insisted that it was part of the treatment.

             
The most intriguing for both of the Darcys to witness was the use of the needles in the acupuncture treatments.  The first time that Darcy watched the needles being applied to his wife’s skin, he nearly shouted at Mrs Bogs to desist.  After a few moments, Darcy finally spoke.  “Mrs Bogs, I cannot see that this would do anything but give my wife pain from all the needles.  I know that my wife’s legs feel nothing, but if you are placing them on other sections of her body, the pain will be extreme for her.”

             
“William, believe me when I tell you, the needles do not cause me any pain.  It is a tingling sort of sensation, but not painful.  Hold out your hand.  Mrs Bogs did this to me yesterday to prove to me that it would not hurt.”

             
Darcy held out his hand and watched as Mrs Bogs inserted several pins in the back of his hand.  He was surprised at the feeling, not painful at all. 

             
Mrs Bogs had started out slowly, to accustom the couple with the use of the needles before she moved forward. To accomplish what was needed, the needles would also need to be applied to the skin on her back, shoulders, neck and head. 

             
By the end of the first week of treatment, a celebratory dinner was prepared to encourage Elizabeth to continue her treatments.  It was pleasing to watch the changes that were small, but obvious to her family.  After the dinner, Georgiana performed a concert for the family on the pianoforte.  For the first time since their wedding, Darcy and Elizabeth remained in the drawing room with the others after dinner.  Everyone was pleased and encouraged Elizabeth to continue with her hard work.

             
Lady Matlock and Mrs Gardiner had decided that a good reward for their niece would be to have a modiste come to Netherfield to begin working on a new wardrobe for Elizabeth.  She had only had two morning gowns that she could wear without their looking as if she were a stick figure poking out of a tent of fabric.  Now that she was able to do more and come from her room to be with others, it was time she had more clothing to wear.