The Conservatory of Hope Read online

  The Conservatory of Hope

  Written and published by Melanie Schertz Edited by Pat Weston Copy writes 2013 Melanie A Schertz

  This book is dedicated to my family and friends, who have been there for me through thick and thin, and especially to the memory of my family’s close friend, Guy Smith, a man who never learned to read or write other than his name and a few simple words but always encouraged others to learn and make a better life for yourself.

  It is also dedicated to my beloved Darcy, my service dog who has filled my life with countless hours of laughter as well as his undying love and support to me. He lives up to his name in being handsome, protective of those he loves, and a most loving nature.

  I am grateful to you, Jane Austen, for your wonderful characters that have lived throughout the past 200 years, and brought so much love to the lives of many. Here’s to another 200 years of people enjoying your stories.

  This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, and incidents are either a created by the author’s imagination or are used with no intention of resembling actual persons, living or dead, events, or places. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

  Chapter 1 The sounds of wood breaking and shouting from the post driver filled her ears. She felt the carriage turning over and over, as her body was thrown about the confines. She could feel each time her body was struck, felt as if blood must be flowing from some of the places on her frail body. Was this going to be the end of her life? Was this a better way to die than the torture that she had been living for the past two years? Perhaps it was.

  It seemed like an eternity that she was tossed about as if she were a rag doll. Finally, the carriage came to a sudden stop. The pain that she felt was intense, and all she could do was wish for the oblivion to engulf her and take her from the world; the world where she had come to know daily pain, abandonment, isolation, and torment. Yes, death had to be much better than what she had been forced to endure.

  When she stepped into the post carriage in a small village north of Salisbury, in Wiltshire, all she knew was that she was heading as far north as she could go. It was impossible to go to her family for help. That was the first place that would be searched for her. She could not even contact her beloved sister, for he would expect that to happen. Her uncle had business dealings with him, so there would be no assistance from there either. If people only knew his true self, the man who was truly cruel to those in his home, they would have avoided him as if he were a leper.

  No, he was suave and convincing as being a perfect man, the sort that all the ladies swooned over when he entered a drawing room or stepped upon the dance floor. And everyone wished to be his partner. If they only knew what she did, what his staff knew. If only.

  Suddenly, she realized that she must have injured her head, as the pain was overwhelming. Please, God, take me from this place. Show me mercy, let me find peace.

  And then, the world turned dark.

  ~~ ** ~~ Fitzwilliam Darcy was in his carriage, travelling the final few miles to his estate, Pemberley in Derbyshire. Darcy had been in charge of the estate, and his much younger sister, Georgiana, since his father’s death nearly five years prior.

  He had just taken his sister to London, to attend school. At only fifteen, Miss Georgiana Darcy had the figure of a grown woman, and, as their mother died when Miss Darcy was one day old, she needed guidance in a way that Darcy was unable.

  Now Darcy was returning to Pemberley to manage the estate, with the help of his steward. Darcy knew that he would be lonely while his sister was away from him, but it was for the best.

  Suddenly, Darcy heard his driver shouting and slowing down. When the carriage stopped, Darcy opened the door and climbed out. “Joseph, what is wrong?”

  “Mr Darcy, there appears to be a carriage accident ahead. I can see a broken wheel on the road, and it appears that the carriage may have gone down the ridge.”

  Darcy walked ahead of his carriage and looked around. He spied what he was looking for. Down the slope was a carriage which had overturned several times, from the way it appeared. Bits and pieces of it were seen littering the ground between the road and the remains.

  After shouting to his men that he had discovered the carriage, he began to climb down the incline. He saw the body of a man nearby, most likely the driver, Darcy thought. No horses could be seen, so it was logical that the team had broken away.

  When Darcy reached the carriage, he climbed on top, which was actually the side where a door was located. Several attempts were made at opening the door, before Darcy and one of his footmen were able to pry it open. A gasp was heard from the Master of Pemberley. Inside the carriage was a young lady. Darcy estimated that she could not be more than twenty, and he could not tell if she was breathing.

  He climbed inside, checking the young lady for signs of life. Letting out a sigh of relief, Darcy called to his footmen and instructed them to bring rope from their carriage, along with any blankets. One of the footmen went to their carriage to retrieve the items; another searched the debris for anything that could be used as a stretcher.

  Finally all the items were gathered and Darcy wrapped the young lady in a blanket before securing her to some boards. He helped guide the makeshift stretcher out of the wreckage before climbing out. Once they had returned to the road, Darcy began to bark orders to his servants.

  “Place her inside the carriage; I will tend to her wounds while we make for Pemberley. Hand down the jug of water and some of my clean linen shirts. I can use them to make bandages.”

  Joseph handed down the items to his employer. “Sir, might you require the flask from your trunk as well? If she has a great deal of pain, the brandy might be of comfort to her.”

  “You are correct, as always, Joseph. Pass it to me as well. Once I am inside, set out for home. And let us make haste. I would not wish to see this young lady meet the same fate as the driver.”

  Darcy was soon tearing one of his shirts into strips. He poured some water onto a strip and began to clean the blood that was covering the left side of the young lady’s face. Though bruised and a split lip adorned her face, he could see that she was truly a beauty. Her hair was disheveled, and several locks of hair had fallen from their pins. Picking up one of the luscious mahogany curls, Darcy could not stop himself from admiring it.

  A moan drew his attention back to the fact that there was an injured young lady bleeding beside him. “Calm yourself, Miss. You are safe. My name is Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley. Can you tell me who you are?”

  There were several moments of silence. Finally, the young lady spoke in a whisper. “Miss Elizabeth Moreland.”

  “And where do you live, Miss Moreland?” “I came from…Plymouth. I am traveling to Scotland.” She had to think fast of what to say, for she did not wish to give away the truth. Her very life depended on keeping her secrets.

  “Is there anyone you would wish for me to send a message, to inform them of where you are and of your injuries?” Darcy asked.

  Fear grew inside her. “No, there is no one. I am an orphan. No one will care where I am.” Darcy could sense something was wrong, something that had made the young lady agitated. “Miss Moreland, please remain calm. Is there something wrong? Is there something I can do to be of aid to you?”

  Elizabeth turned her eyes away from the young man who was watching over her, being so kind and gentle in tending to her. “Forgive me, Mr…Darcy?” “Correct. Please know that you may speak openly to me, if I am able to assist you or protect you, I will do so. And I can keep your trust, if you need it.”

  Turning her head back towards the gentleman beside her, she spoke. “I thank you, Mr Darcy. It is only that today has been difficult. I am d
rowsy and in pain, and I did not mean to speak rudely. But there is no one who will even notice if I were to die. And, in case you were wondering, I was a servant in the house of a kind, elderly lady. When she died, I was forced to find other employment. That is the reason I am going to Scotland, to look for work.”

  “Well, I doubt you will be able to travel for some time. I will send for the physician as soon as we arrive at my house.”

  “It will not be necessary, Mr Darcy. Is there an inn nearby? You could leave me there.” “Nonsense, Miss Moreland. I have plenty of room and my staff will be able to tend you. You will be unable to care for yourself, for you have taken quite a tumble in that carriage.”

  Suddenly, Elizabeth remembered the accident. “The driver, is he with us?”

  Darcy shook his head. “I am afraid that he died. My men will return to see that he is properly buried.” Tears began to well up in Elizabeth’s eyes. “The poor man, he had to take the carriage by himself. His assistant had an accident and he could not find anyone to come with him. Perhaps it is better; another person might have died as well.”

  “And you were traveling alone to Scotland? I must say that I am shocked at a young lady placing herself in such jeopardy.” “I had no choice, Mr Darcy. There was no one I could ask to travel.” Elizabeth gasped as she moved slightly. “My back feels as if there were knives sticking from it.”

  “I saw no knives, Miss Moreland, though I do not doubt that you are experiencing pain. Fortunately, we have you secured to a board to transport you. It will help keep you from harming your back before the physician can examine you.”

  Frustrated, Elizabeth could not believe her misfortune. “Why now, why did this have to happen now? I finally find a way out and now this. What am I to do?”

  Darcy’s eyebrow rose as he attempted to contemplate her words. “Miss Moreland, are you running away from something? Are you in danger?” “Forgive me sir,” Elizabeth said, panic that she had spoken so in front of him. “Please, do not repeat what I said. I beg of you, not to tell anyone.” “Miss Moreland, you have nothing to fear from me. Please know that I will assist you if you require it.” Something deep inside him told Darcy that this beautiful young lady was running for her life from something dangerous. He also knew that, for some unknown reason, he would do anything to protect her. This young lady had grabbed ahold of his heart and was holding on for dear life. He would not allow anyone to harm her.

  “There is nothing you can do for me, and helping me can only bring you difficulty. Please, take me to an inn and leave me be. I cannot allow you to be in danger from simply helping me.”

  “As I said, I am taking you to my home. You have nothing to fear, including my safety. I can take care of myself. And you will, most likely, require someone to take care of you. With an injured back and a head injury, it is doubtful you would be able to even sit up, let alone get out of the bed or dressing. I have plenty of staff who will be more than happy to tend you.”

  Elizabeth finally realized that she had no choice when she attempted to raise her head from the makeshift stretcher and felt a wave of dizziness come over her. “It seems that you are correct in my not being able to take care of myself. Please, no one must know where I am. I cannot explain, and I only ask for you to keep my secret to protect yourself and those in your home.”

  “Is your name truly Elizabeth Moreland?” Darcy asked, sure that it was not.

  “Elizabeth is.” She said as she looked away. “Well, if we are to keep you safe, we should change your first name along with the last. What was your grandmother’s first name?” “One was Gertrude. The other was Julia.” “Hmmm, I believe Julia Moreland would be a fine name for you. Miss Julia Moreland from Plymouth, it is safe to say Plymouth, is it not?” Elizabeth gave a slight smile of relief. “That would be perfect.” For the first time in two years, she felt a tiny morsel of security. There was something in the deep blue pools of this strange man’s eyes that spoke of his being honest.

  ~~ ** ~~

  The carriage arrived in front of the grand house of Pemberley, and the Master quickly climbed out, calling out orders as a drill sergeant would. The housekeeper, Mrs Reynolds, a pleasant woman of five and fifty years, came scurrying out. “Master William, what has happened?”

  “We came across an accident just a few miles from Pemberley. It was best to bring the only survivor here. Would you have someone ride to Lambton and bring back the physician? The young lady is injured and will need to be attended.”

  “Of course, and I will have a room made ready immediately.” Mrs Reynolds turned to direct the maids standing nearby. “Mrs Reynolds, I believe that the floral rooms in the family wing would suit the needs for Miss Moreland. My sister’s friend used the rooms just before we left for Town, so it would be the quickest to ready for use.”

  This surprised Mrs Reynolds. A single lady, unknown to any of them, staying alone at the house with her unmarried master was one thing, but for her to be occupying rooms in the same wing as the young man was nearly scandalous. “Are you sure, Master William? We can have a room in the guest wing ready in less than half of an hour.”

  “No, the floral rooms will be perfect for Miss Moreland. She has been through a trial today, and that suite will allow her a pleasant view of the estate as she recovers. It will also be easier to heat that section of the house rather than two sections.”

  As it was early November, and winters had a tendency to be bitterly cold, this was a fact. For only two people, it would be silly to heat two full wings of the house. “Very well, I will have Hannah serve as a maid for the young lady. Mary, run and tell Hannah to prepare the floral rooms in the family wing for a young lady.”

  The young maid quickly made her way inside and up the staircase. One of the stable hands was dispatched with the request for the physician. Mrs Reynolds noticed that there did not appear to be any bags with the young lady’s belongings. “Master William, as you did not bring any of Miss… did you say Moreland… clothes, shall I borrow a night gown from your sister for the young lady to wear after we help clean her up for the physician?”

  Darcy had not thought of this matter. He was sending men back to take care of the body, he could have them collect Miss Moreland’s bag as well. “Yes, the men will bring Miss Moreland’s belongings back after they see to the driver’s body. Until then, Georgiana would not mind using one of her night gowns.”

  The footmen quickly moved the makeshift stretcher with its injured passenger inside the grand house. As she was able to view only a small portion of the house, she was not overwhelmed, though she could see enough to know that it was a fine place. Not gaudy or ornate, but quality and comfortable. This spoke a great deal of the owner, telling of his desire to have a home rather than a house.

  They moved up the stairs, as Elizabeth tried not to cry out from the pain that the bumps caused her. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she bit her lower lip between her teeth. Finally, the bumps smoothed out, as they arrived on the second floor. She was carried down the hallway and into a beautiful set of rooms that was very feminine in decoration. The paper on the walls had small bouquets of flowers on a cream background. The flowers included rose buds, lavender, and lily of the valley.

  The furniture was warm and inviting, light colored oak. The bedding was a mint green, which went well with the flowers on the wall. And the bedchamber was large and comfortable, so unlike any other room she had ever slept in. Her bedchamber for the past two years was… no, she could not think of that now. She would not go back to those memories. She was going to plan for the future and not worry about the past any more.

  Once the footmen and Mrs Reynolds had Elizabeth on the bed, the men were scooted from the room, including Darcy. Then Mrs Reynolds and two maids, one of which was Hannah, began assisting the young lady from the clothing that she wore. What they saw nearly made the second maid swoon, as she had never seen such a sight. Unfortunately, Mrs Reynolds and Hannah had seen such documentation of the cruelties that life c
an have for some young ladies.

  They brought two basins of clean, hot water and some cloths, and began to clean the young Miss Moreland. As they worked, Elizabeth finally lost her battle to stay awake. Mrs Reynolds noticed the fiercely protective look on Hannah’s face, a look that she knew was obvious on her own. They would do whatever was necessary to help this young lady, as they knew that she had not been taken care of previously.

  Mr Blaine, the physician from Lambton, arrived and was shown into the rooms. He was equally appalled at what was clearly written on the body of the unknown young lady. She began to wake as the kindly physician began his examination. “Ah, Miss Moreland, I wish that this were not necessary, but it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I hear that you took a very unusual carriage ride today. I highly recommend not repeating such an adventure in the future.”

  Elizabeth smiled slightly. “I will attempt to remember that, Mr…” “Forgive me, Miss, I am Paul Blaine, humble country physician. Mr Darcy has asked that I tend to your injuries. He stated that your back and head were causing you a great deal of pain.”

  “Yes, when the carriage was rolling, I was thrown about so much that I am not certain what I struck.” “Could have been a great many things, we will most likely never know for sure. Now, if you would humor me, we will begin with some basic things. Can you move your toes and feet?”

  Elizabeth wiggled her toes and turned her feet about. “Good, good, now, how about your fingers and arms?” Seeing that she could do that as well, he began to gently push on her abdomen and sides. When she only slightly showed signs of pain, Mr Blaine moved upwards. Just under her breasts, she began to feel the severity of her pains, running around the entire upper half of her torso. Her left shoulder was also paining her, though she knew that was from before the accident. Mr Blaine continued to move up, to her neck and then her head. The cut on her head had ceased its bleeding, and had been cleaned up. He felt that a couple of stitches would keep the wound closed and heal better, and fortunately, it was near the hairline of her forehead and would not be as noticeable when healed.