Going back to Charles, she smiled wanly at him. “You cannot know how relieved I am to have you back.”
“And you do not know how glad I am to have been able to return to you.” Charles took her hand and squeezed it. “Is there anything I could do that would be helpful?”
Tilting her head, Jane sighed. “It has occurred to me that this might not be the only family so affected. There could be any number of families that are as bad off as the McGregors. Once we have a few things settled here, would you mind riding out to all the tenant homes and checking on them? We need to know how many people are sick and where they are.”
Eyes squinting in the bright of the day, Charles seemed to ponder the problem before nodding his head. “That is something I can easily see to. It might take a few days to check on all the families with as many of them as there are, but it can be done.” Gazing over to the little clearing where the two men were digging graves, and then at the wagon full of supplies, he returned his attention to Jane. “The four of us have no plans to return to Pemberley until this is all over. Your mother suggested that there is an unused building where we gentlemen can stay at in order to quarantine and prevent the spread as much as possible. Meanwhile, you and Susan will stay here.”
“Thank you.” Jane saw the risk of what they were all doing and could only be grateful that she was not in the struggle alone. “I should go inside and check on the children. I think I will need to have a conversation with them about us burying their father, sister, and grandmother. It would be best to move the bodies out of the home as soon as we can, but I am uncertain they even realize that they have died.”
Charles’s eyes bore into Jane’s and somehow, she knew he could comprehend the pain she had felt. How many men would see that at a time like this? After a pregnant pause full of silent conversation and compassion, he said, “Let me know if I can help tell them. I would like to meet them both, but I will let you decide when that will be best.”
“I think that would be good, though I am uncertain when the best time will be. I really should get back to them and see about helping to prepare everything for taking the bodies away for burial.” Jane froze, a look of heartache crossing her face. The young family that had been so happy with the birth of young Patience not six months ago would never be the same. In all likelihood, those children would be orphans in the span of a few hours, and she was forced to worry about the logistics of getting the deceased bodies buried. The weight of confronting the harsh realities of life felt unbearable. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on breathing through her sorrow. She had tasks she had to accomplish; she could not wallow in sadness.
Then she felt Charles’s hand on her shoulder and his whisper in her ear. “You are not alone in this. Whatever needs doing, we will do it together.”
Jane found her lips wobbling as she tried to smile. Her usual mask of calm acceptance faltered, but as she looked up into Charles’s eyes, she wondered if it wasn't as much of a problem as she thought. He did not seem to mind her wet eyes and broken smile. Swallowing thickly, she said, “Thank you. You do not know how much your support means to me.”
Giving her shoulder a squeeze, Charles said, “You go inside and see to the children. I will start unloading the wagon.”
After watching him turn away and get to work, Jane moved into the building, blinking to allow her eyes to adjust to the darker setting. It was easy to spot Susan bustling around, and Jane found herself smiling at Susan's industrious movements. She scuttled about the room, gathering all the dirty cups, plates, and pans in sight before placing them all in a large tub. Noting Jane’s presence, Susan nervously offered an explanation. “It is quite the mess in here, but I had assumed as much when I volunteered. Once I get all this gathered, I will start the stove and get some hot water going for washing and the like.”
“I am sure you have it all in hand. Do tell me if you need assistance with anything. I am going to look in on the children and Mrs. McGregor.”
Returning to the dark back room where the children waited for her, Jane could not help but wrinkle her nose at the stench. She could only hope that as soon as they had the kitchen in hand and the bodies buried, they could start cleaning and washing laundry. It was not the family’s fault that things had progressed to such a state, but that did not make her long for strong soap and hot water any less.
The children had barely moved an inch in her absence. At least Allen had finally stopped staring at his unmoving parents. Grace was using the rag that Jane had left to cool little Allen’s brow.
Smiling, she knelt next to the two. “Grace, you are such a good sister. Has he fallen asleep?”
“Yes, I think so.” Grace’s voice was small and trembled slightly as she spoke. “I thought Papa was asleep at first, too.” Little lip trembling, Grace gazed at Jane, her eyes too full of knowledge for a child of her years.
“Do not worry, Grace, your brother is just sleeping. Look, you can tell. Watch his chest rise and fall.” Jane directed Grace’s gaze to her brother’s sleeping form, his chest rising and falling with little puffing breaths. They sat for a moment in the near silence, simply watching the boy breathe, before Jane finally forced herself to say what she must. “You are right, though; your Papa is not sleeping. He and your grandmother and little baby Patience were too sick, and they died.”
Biting her lip, Grace asked, “What about Mama? Is she going to die too?”
“Your mother is very sick. It is very possible that she may die, but then again, she may not. I cannot say what is going to happen.” Jane watched Grace carefully, worried about her solemn acceptance. Grace had little to no reaction. She merely looked down and then continued to pat her brother’s forehead with the damp rag.
Eventually, Grace whispered, “Mama said I had to be brave and take care of Allen.”
Understanding made Jane shudder at the memories that resurfaced. She could well remember pushing her own anxieties away to take care of her younger siblings and soothe their fears and worries. It was probably one of the reasons she had come to rely on her smile so much. Jane struggled with the lump in her throat before she could say, “Soon some men are coming in here to take your papa, grandma, and little sister away to bury them. It is not healthy to keep them here.”
Focused on her brother, Grace diligently cleansed his face, her words filled with a mix of sadness and acceptance. “At least they will be together.”
In the end, it was a simple affair to remove the three McGregors and inter them into the simple graves. They used the blankets from their beds to wrap them, as they had no coffins. Jane knew she would never forget the sight of those bundles being taken away. She chose not to see them buried; she stayed with the children instead. Was it a coward’s action to not want to see them slowly covered with dirt? Or did she truly feel the need to stay with the children as they mourned the loss of all they knew?
Bingley made his way into the sickroom as quietly as he could manage. Jane was busy with Susan scrubbing out the other room. He wanted to check in on the children while Jane and Susan were occupied. He did not want to disturb Mrs. McGregor or the children if they were sleeping. At first glance, Mrs. McGregor appeared unchanged based on Jane’s description of the woman. She was still unconscious, rasping with every breath. He watched her for only a moment before turning away. He knew there was nothing he could do for her, and it hurt to acknowledge that to himself.
So he focused on the children. He liked children, though he rarely spent any time with them. None of his friends had children and his sister Louisa had only recently had her baby. He was looking forward to the time when he would be able to play with the lad. For now, though, he was happy enough to be to be working on his relationship with Jane.
Right away, he noticed that the little girl was silently watching him, so Bingley smiled and asked, “Would you mind if I sit down?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Grace smiled tentatively and nodded her head. Approaching slowly, he sat down cross-legged, all the while maintaining his smile. He did not want to scare the children on top of everything else. Figuring introductions were in order, he said, “My name is Charles Bingley.”
Grace responded by saying, “My name is Grace McGregor, and this is my little brother Allen.”
Hearing his name, little Allen rolled over and rubbed at his eyes, mumbling, “Wha?”
Grace, showing ample mothering instincts, patted her brother on the shoulder reassuringly. “Do not worry, Allen. I was just introducing you to Mr. Bingley.”
Trying to bring as much normalcy to the situation as possible, Bingley said, “It is nice to meet you, Grace, and you as well, Allen. Though if you want, you can call me Charles.” He watched the two siblings and wondered how the tragedy they were experiencing would affect them throughout their lives.
Sitting up, Allen looked around and asked, “Where is Miss Jane?”
“She is eating, but I told her I would come in and spend time with you so you would not be lonely,” Bingley explained, eager to reassure the boy. Spotting a pitcher of water and a pair of cups, he asked, “Are either of you thirsty? Would you like some water?”
Allen nodded his head. “Yes, please, Mr. Charles.”
Reaching over, Bingley’s long reach allowed him to grab the pitcher and cups without having to get up from his spot. Filling both cups with a small amount of water, he handed them to Allen and Grace, respectively. He watched Allen gulp his down and said, “Be careful you do not choke. I can always get you more.”
As Allen slowed his water consumption to a more sedate pace, Grace, unlike her brother, sipped at her water slowly. Eventually Allen stopped drinking and just looked at his cup, until suddenly he blurted out, “My papa died, an’ Grandma and baby Pa’tince.” The comment might have seemed random, but Bingley was unruffled. It was one of the reasons he liked children. They said what was on their mind.
“I am sorry about that, Allen. I know how sad you must be. Both of my parents and my older brother died, too.”
After the burial, Charles took the time to console the children before seeking Jane out. He informed her of his plan to visit the families living nearby and then bring supplies to Glenn Cottage, where the men would be staying for the duration of the epidemic. She watched him mount his horse and ride away, vaguely marveling at how attached she had become to him. She had known she had feelings for him for some time, but the desire to keep him with her was a surprising development. Squaring her shoulders, Jane turned back to the house to face the task of seeing to the living.
