Beginning, Section II

XV

Posted on 2011-03-19

Mrs Bennet hummed happily as she walked through the room inspecting the silk and lace as she went. She was a little put out because Lizzie and Jane refused to have the expensive ornate dresses she picked out for them. To make matters worse they were having them made by the local dressmaker instead of the one she had written to in London. She just could not understand how they could prefer Mrs Rose over the wedding dressmaker preferred by the best of the ton. Lizzie had said that she was far too expensive and fussy for her taste. To which Jane agreed.

"Too expensive, she thought in high dungeon, too expensive. What nonsense, their husbands could certainly afford the best but the girls seemed determined to ruin her big day."

She wanted to have the grandest weddings that Herfordshire had ever seen. Why did they have to have a double wedding? It would be much more enjoyable to have two fine weddings.

How Lady Lucas would envy her. Lady Lucas who had thought she pulled off such a coup by the marriage of her plain, 27 year old Charlotte to a clergyman. Mr Collins, who thought that he was good enough for Lizzie but had settled for Charlotte instead

It was not just the wedding plans that had her smiling, it was the plans she had for Netherfield. New curtains, drapes, furniture to start. The place would come to life under her guidance. It would be the most beautiful richly furnished house in the county.

She would entertain all her acquaintances every day with teas , card parties, and even balls. What a merry place it would become.

She wondered when Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley would return. they had been gone ten days now. What could have taken so long. All they were doing was escorting Lady Hart Hamilton home to Cheshire.

The great lady had quickly turned tail and ran when she found out that she Fanny Bennet was to plan the weddings and she need no help from anyone. It was worth swallowing her pride (at least for a short time) to return to Longbourn without her dearest Lydia to get rid of her nemesis.

Lizzie and Jane were staying at Netherfield with Miss Darcy until Bingley and Darcy returned. It was preferable to home with their mothers planning and whining because they refused to let her spend hundreds of pounds and instead held out for simple weddings.

Cousin Cassandra had a friend jut 25 miles from Pemberley who was considering selling her estate as she was widowed for a year and had no children to help her with it or to inherit. She wanted to remove to London to live close to her sister and brother.

Bingley and Darcy had gone to Cheshire with her to look at it and decide if Bingley would buy it.

Darcy and Georgiana knew the family and told them much about it. It sounded like a lovely place, well tended and cared for. Georgiana was a talented sketcher and had drawn them many pictures of all she remembered about it. It truly looked like just what Jane dreamed of.

Mr Bingley's sisters would be well pleased too. They had long been urging him to buy an estate.

Lizzie laughingly expressed her wonderment if it would be good enough for Miss Bingley since she judged everything by Pemberley.

They were both surprised when Georgiana said that if it was not fine enough for her she could stay in town.

The men returned in a months time with everything signed and sealed. They owned a home, as he gleefully told Jane.

They brought Michael Farnsworth with them since Darcy wanted him to be in the wedding party and he had two months before he took over the pulpit at Kympton.

It was only a fortnight until the wedding and everything was in an uproar at Longbourn. Mrs Bennet didn't even bring up her nerves or her heart palpitations. She knew that Mr Bennet would confine her to her room most of the time if she gave any indication that she was having her usual fits of pain and jitters.

Lady Cassandra had returned to Nethefield to stay until the wedding and Mrs Bennet was determined not to give her the chance to take thing over. That odious Lady St John was there too, Fanny thought and she would love to help her grace take things away from her.

She didn't like that Mr Farnsworth either, The man was mad, a candidate for Bedlam if ever she met one. He had to be mad to give up his title and estate that went with it all because his brother had been killed in the war with Boney.

She didn't like Kitty spending so much time at Netherfield. Most of all she disliked her spending time with Mr Farnsworth. She had plans for Kitty and they certainly did not include a mad clergyman.

If only Mr Bennet would listen to reason and make the girl stay at home. Her sisters could introduce her into he cream of society now and Mrs Bennet was determined that her middle daughter would marry a title but Mr Bennet seemed to approve of the man and made him welcome at Longbourn where they had long conversations and played chess in the library.

It was two days before the wedding and Mrs Bennet was hosting a large dinner party for the wedding party and their families along with many local friends.

She was in her glory but as usual proving to be an embarrassment to her family with her indiscreet remarks.

Smiling at Lady Farnsworth she said." How painful it must be for you for your son to become mad. "

The entire table gasped, but her Ladyship only looked at her coldly saying, "My son is not mad, madam. He is a loving caring man.

"But, only mad man would give up a title and a fine estate just because his brother died in France. It was war and men die in war. One has to put them out of one's mind and forget them, One must go on just like my sister Mrs Phillips. Her only child was killed in the war but she has put him away and forgot him. We never speak of him. She is much happier for it"

Lizzie could not believer her mother's thoughtless cruel remarks. She knew her mother was stupid but this was more than even she was capable of.

She looked at her aunt and saw that she was white and looked quite ill, while her husband looked angry and was bout to reply when Lizzie said in a shocked voice. "Mama Aunt Philips has not forgotten Paul and we speak of him often. We enjoy remembering what a scamp he was and what a fine man he turned out to be. Our Aunt is very happy to know that we do not forget him.

Mrs Phillips rose and asked her husband to take her home, she was feeling unwell.

As Mrs Bennet started to berate Lizzie for making her aunt ill. Lady Hart Hamilton interrupted saying, "it is not Lizzie who has upset your sister, it is you Mrs Bennet.

"Mama, no mother forgets her child no matter what, " Lizzie said.

As her mother began to scold her again she was interrupted by Lady Farnsworth, "Your daughter knows whereof she speaks she said, no mother can ever forget her child."

Mr Bennet smiled at Lady Farnsworth, "I greatly admire your son, Mr Farnsworth is a man of honor above anyone I have ever known. To take the vows of the church because he wants to give people hope and never wants to kill again . He is a man I am proud to know. As he has said to me, every young man who falls in battle is some mothers son. He never thought of that until it was his own mother who felt the pain of such loss., You have a young man to be proud there your Ladyship"

"I thank you Mr Bennet, she answered quietly, I can assure you I am very proud of Michael, that is why I am here."

"Enough of that, Mrs Bennet said, We must speak of something pleasant. I must tell you Mr Bingley and Jane I think you will be delighted with the changes I have planned for Netherfield. When you and Mr Bingley return from the honeymoon you will find Netherfield a much improved place."

Mr Bennet laughed," I doubt that Lord and Lady Harker will appreciate you decorating their new home."

"Lord and Lady Harker, Mrs Bennet snapped, What nonsense you speak, Mr Bingley is buying Netherfield and I intend to have many improvements made before they return to their home."

"No Mama, Jane said "Mr Bingley is not buying Netherfield. Lord and Lady Harker have bought it. They have been kind enough to let us stay there until after the wedding. We shall be going to town after we are married and will not return to Netherfield again"

"Mrs Bennet looked first at Mr Bingley then at Mr Bennet.

"Why have you not told me this," she gasped

I"I told you Mrs Bennet, her husband replied, but you paid me no mind."

Mrs Bennet stared at him her mind going back over their conversations, she remembered him saying something about someone named Harker and Netherfield but her mind had been too full of weddings and decorating rooms that she heard little of what he said.

Suddenly a smile overcame her face, "Town she cried, of course, that is even better. When Lydia comes home from school it will be even better for her to be in town where she can make friends with all the rich people. Oh Jane, Jane, how wonderful it will be, the shops, the parties, the balls, what fun we shall have. I am sure Lydia will soon be a Lady. Some titled gentleman will fall madly in love with her and marry her.", Almacks, I am sure Mr Bingley can get us into Almacks, oh I can hardly wait."

"No Mama, Jane stopped her."

"No, what do you mean no, "Mrs Bennet demanded.

Mr Bingley has bought an estate in Cheshire and we will be living there," Jane told her, It is but 25 miles from Pemberley and I know I shall love it."

"Cheshire, Cheshire, Mrs Bennet, shrieked, this is Cousin Cassandra and Lizzie's doing, I know them. They want to take you away from us."

"You are welcome to visit anytime," Jane said quietly.

"Visit Mrs Bennet snarled, visit. If you do this Jane, I shall never speak to you again."

She ran from the room and up the stairs.

The few guests who were still there quietly left the family to settle things and made quick departures.

XIV

Posted on 2011-08-06

Caroline was not in a good mood. She hated rising early but she wanted to catch Mr Darcy before he went for his morning ride and then off to Longbourn as he did daily. She looked again at herself in the mirror, She could not but admire herself in her new riding habit. She was certain that Darcy would too. She took one last bite of a muffin and a drink of tea before snapping at her maid to bring her her riding crop.

After that fiasco at the Bennets last evening she was sure that Darcy would be open to reason and agree with her that these two marriages were out of the question. She would leave the convincing of Charles to him. He would listen Darcy.

How she had laughed at Mrs Bennet's folly on the way back to Netherfield. She was sure that Darcy would wish to break this silly engagement to Eliza Bennet after her mothers stupidity last night.

She swept down the stairs and into the breakfast room, but the only one there was her most detested brother in law Hurst.

"Why Caro, he said , startled at her appearence, what are you doing up at this hour, and in a riding riding habit. This is certainly not like you, I have never known you to rise before 10:00."

" I thought Mr Darcy was here, she snapped, I plan to ride with him this morning."

Hurst grinned, "I fear you are too late, Caro, Darcy left some twenty minutes ago."

"Left, Caroline snapped, left, he always waits to speak with Georgianna before he leave and her maid said she is not up yet."

" I know nothing of that, Hurst answered, I only know he has gone."

Caroline went to the door and shouted to a servant to have her horse brought around at once. She was determined to find her quarry before he went to Longbourn

Lady Sophia entered the room saying " Good heavens Miss Bingley, what has you shouting like a fishwife at nine in the morning, I believe you need more sleep."

"My sleeps none of your concern, she snarled, why I raise my voice to the servants is between me and them." so saying she turned on her heel and strode from the room and out the door to mount her horse and head for Longbourn whe she intended to wait for Darcy.

Elizabeth was feeling as unhappy as she had ever felt in her life. She sought out Jane and begged her to send Mr Darcy to the garden when he arrived so that she could have privacy for her talk with him

"Lizzy, what is troubling you, I can see that you have been crying. Is it Mama, Lizzie."

"I will explain it to you after I talk to Mr Darcy, Lizzy said, but please not now, I must go before our mother comes."

Darcy arrived a short time later and Jane sent him to the garden as Lizzy asked.

Darcy hurried to the bench in the garden where he and Elizabeth often sat to talk.

He found her crying and hurried to sit down beside her taking her hand and saying,"Elizabeth , my love what is troubling you, why do you weep."

Elizabeth withdrew her hand and stood up.

" I cannot marry you Mr Darcy, she blurted, we must go to the church and tell Mr Roberts that we cannot marry"

"Not marry, Darcy said, what do you mean you cannot marry me, do you not love me anymore, have you found another?"

"Oh my dearest Mr Darcy, I love you so very dearly but I cannot submit you to the embarrassment of have my mother in your family, of having to put up with her silliness and her outburst of uncivil stupidity, I saw the looks on your family"s faces after her remarks to Lady Farnsworth. To have her free to visit you in town and even at Pemberly. It would be an abomination."

Darcy laughed as he took her hand and sat her down.

"Oh my dearest Elizabeth he said quietly. what your mother said is nothing compared to what some of her oldest friends or should I say her oldes aquaintces have said to her.They all think she is mad herself to continue to associated with her son."

"Lord DeBourg was kin to Lord Farnsworth and Lady Catherine has threatened to take over the estate from them and send them all packing. She declares them all to be mad and she must save the estate from their follies."

"Miss Bingley constantly chastises me for letting Georgianna associate with Michael . She declares that such associations will damage her chances of making a good marriage for the people who count in society have shunned him and would not want their sons to marry a girl who does not share in shutting him out."

"But Georgie and Mr Farnsworth are such fine friends, she feels at ease with him. She dislikes the pretensions of most of the young men she has met of the ton."

"I know my love and I welcome their friendship, he is like another brother to her, she knows she can trust him"

"So let me hear no more of our not marrying, I will not accept anything less from you."

Kissing her hands he pulled from the bench saying, "Now let find Miss Bennet and Bingley, I would imagine the are close about."

"Carolyn, what do you her, I would have thought you still in your bed," Bingley said as he espied his sister lurking in the bushes.

Caroline jumped and spun around saying', "Charles, what a fright you have give me. I, uh I was looking for a place to rest until the Bennets are astir. I went for a ride this morning hoping to join Mr Darcy but I seem to have missed him."

"We have been astir for some time, Miss Bingley, Jane said as she moved to stand beside Bingley.

"Oh dearest Jane, I didn't see you," Caroline turned red at the sight of her future sister. I think I will return to Netherfield, Charles, I must change and write a note to Louisa to let her know that Mr Hurst and I are here in Herdfordshire."

She stomped to where she had left her horse only to find it gone. "Where could he be she wondered, could that gardener who had come upon her as she tried to hear what Lizzie and Darcy were saying, have taken it. Odious man, how dare he look at her with disdain and wait for her to move on. He must have taken it to the stables.

Sure enough a stable hand was standing waiting for her as she rounded the corner from the garden.

She mounted and started for Netherfield thinking how much she wished Louisa was here now.

"Isn't that just like my sister, she thought, Louisa would have to be with child and unable to travel just when she needed her

She had heard Miss Bennet tell Darcy that she could not marry him (Her heart had soared at those words) but Darcy's back had been to her and she could only hear bits and pieces of what he said. She heard him mention her and Georgianna but she couldn't hear any more.

She suddenly stopped her horse, "Of course she thought, of course he had told her that he agreed, that she, Caroline Bingley was better suited to be his wife. That her close friendship with Georgianna made her his best choice.

As she hurried her horse into a trot wanting to get changed from her riding clothes before he beloved returned to Netherfield to tell her his news and beg her to marry him.

"Louisa, Louisa, selfish, selfish, sister, I need you to talk to and you are sitting in town awaiting your brat and saddling me with your oafish husband." she thought.