Posted on: 2010-12-29

Chapter 40 – What's in a Name?

Sir Walter Trent and Mr Bennet sat in his study drinking port and smoking cigars. The proximity of Longbourn and Netherfield had brought them into acquaintance in their infancy, and the two men had remained almost like brothers for more than forty years. Though an odd couple of friends, their companionship endured.

Sir Walter was very concerned with appearance and could even be considered shallow. Thomas Bennet had a tendency to bury himself in books and often seemed detached and cynical. Neither gave the appearance of being diligent parents, but both in their own way loved their children fiercely.

Walter's only son had been named for his friend. Thomas would have reciprocated, except he had no sons, only daughters. The two men had rejoiced when their oldest children, Thomas Trent and Jane Bennet had attached themselves to each other at about the same age as their fathers. When Tom died, it changed both men and much of the current state of both families could be traced back to that event.

The two long time friends were engaged in a serious discussion of how best to ensure the futures of Jane and Becky. Sir Walter considered Jane a second daughter, and had noticed that she was reacting to Mr Bingley's abandonment in a manner most odd. She did not seem sad, as he would have expected, but instead had gotten a very uncharacteristic edge of cynicism to her character. For the first time, he could see an aspect of his friend's personality coming through in his beautiful, serene Jane.

"Tom, I have written to Isabella to request she and Lord Hastings sponsor Becky and Jane for this Season. As you know, my sister's daughters are securely married, and their house in town is quite fashionable. Rebecca would not participate by herself, but with Jane as her companion; I hope she can be persuaded to make an effort. She needs to marry, and honestly, I am worried about our Jane."

Sir Walter's face registered contempt. "This Mr Bingley is only one of many fickle young men who swarm around quality folk these days. I am certain he is inferior to Jane in every way." With a sneer he added, "I have never met any other with that name. It is the same as a very unfashionable town I once rode through in Yorkshire. The only thing the young man has to recommend him is some cash." He got a thoughtful look on his face and said, "His appearance did impress me… he wore a beautiful blue coat when we signed the lease agreement, and I must admit his hair was impeccably coifed. That reminds me, Elizabeth was looking much better this year. Should she be encouraged to go to London with Becky and Jane?"

Mr. Bennet was amused at his friend's lapse into the topic of the latest trends in clothing and hair… no wonder he and Fanny were so close. Some day the world would allow couples to form based on affinity… however, he was not sure a marriage glued together by a shared fashion sense would have kept food on the table. "No, despite her improved appearance, Lizzy is still adamant she will never marry."

Sir Walter saw Thomas Bennet's look of sardonic amusement, and realized he had digressed. He put on his most haughty face as he concluded his speech. "You are a gentleman, and this Bingley's family was in trade. London will allow Jane to be seen as the prize she is, especially now that you have increased her dowry. Jane deserves a young man of quality, and the Season in London is where they abound. I would not be at all surprised, if she returns home with a viscount or maybe even an earl on her arm."

Mr. Bennet thought of his daughter Elizabeth, and was not sure a viscount was what he wanted for his oldest. However, he decided not to dispute his titled best friend. Jane needed something to divert her, and Walter's plan presented little inconvenience to him as a remedy to her current confusion.

Mary was anxious for Elizabeth to arrive. She had persuaded her sister to make the trip into Kent shortly after Jane and Becky had left for London. The past fortnight had given rise to second thoughts about whether her request had been wise. She had assured her father that Lady Catherine De Bourgh would be no threat to Elizabeth; but since that time, the situation had drastically changed.

William had questioned her nervousness, but she was not yet ready to confide in him. He had mentioned how much Bethany reminded him of Lizzy to Mary in private. Her response had been nonchalant to deflect any speculation on his part, but she was frightened what Lady Catherine might think of the resemblance. Should she have advised her sister to stay away once she met Georgiana and Bethany? Probably, but now it was too late. Mary was particularly grieved by her disobedience to her father's admonition with regards her sister's secret, but she was more than a little confused why he had said Mr Darcy had not been involved in the way they speculated.

As the day of Lizzy's arrival had grown closer, Mary had justified her decision by thinking her actions a solution for her sister's happiness. Mr Darcy was no longer married. The shame of their affair could be somewhat hidden by marriage. Papa had said she was just trying to recapture a little joy by waltzing with him; so think of the joy she could acquire by marrying him. Mary, who had never been romantic, had created a scenario for her sister's happiness worthy of Mrs Radcliffe.

A nervous stomach caused Mary to abstain from breakfast. Fear her actions would cause a rupture in her relationship with her sister was her excuse to miss luncheon as well. As a parson's wife, she should probably be thinking of an admonition for her sister's immoral behaviour, but her biggest concern was for Lizzy's welfare. She had lived with her these past five years. Elizabeth had paid for any transgression in lack of sleep, nightmares, sadness and forgoing any happiness of her own to bring the same to her sisters.

Mr and Mrs Collins were waiting in their front garden as the Gardiners' carriage pulled up outside the parsonage. The sisters embraced, and Mr. Collins, knowing Lizzy's skittishness about being touched, only smiled broadly and told his new sister, "I am delighted you have agreed to join us in our humble abode."

Elizabeth observed that the house was well proportioned, and the front garden delightful. It was quite early, but plants had begun to sprout, and a few of the abundant shoots of daffodils and hyacinths would be in full bloom within a se'nnight. Several fruit trees were budding, and she was pleased she would be here to see this garden in all its spring glory. She noticed a heart-shaped bed, outlined with stones, off to one side. The plants in this bed were just beginning to peek through the ground. She now remembered just how knowledgeable her cousin had been when discussing gardening in Hertfordshire, and that he had been unusually pleased that the house he was to inherit had a solarium for growing plants year round. Seeing his garden, she believed she might have uncovered one of his passions. She smiled broadly at the tall, much less grave parson. "Mr. Collins, your garden is beautiful, and it appears marriage agrees with you."

"Thank you, sister. It does indeed."

Mary and Lizzy left Mr. Collins in the garden and entered the house.

"Lizzy, I thought you would never arrive. I need to talk with you."

Elizabeth saw anxiety in her sister's eyes, and worried she was not as happy with marriage as Mr. Collins, or perhaps she was having difficulty with his patroness. She smiled a calming smile for her sister and said, "I have missed you, Mary, and I promise we will have a long talk as soon as I have cleaned off some of the dust from the road." Elizabeth did feel the need to consult her sister. She was worried about Jane. Before coming to Kent, she had spent several days with the Gardiners. Jane and Becky had come for tea several times, and one afternoon they had all gone shopping. Jane was acting in a very bold and unrestrained manner. She had sent three notes to Mr Bingley's townhouse, and according to Becky, had grown angrier each day there was no response. Elizabeth was hoping Mary could provide some insight into interpreting Jane's changed character.

Mary, realizing she had not been the best hostess, said to her sister, "Rose will show you to your room, and you can freshen yourself. Once you have rested a bit, we will have some tea and talk."

An hour later, Elizabeth was shown into her sister's private parlour. It was at the back of the house, and looked out on another lovely garden. Mary was embroidering a sampler that included a picture of Hunsford parsonage. She told Elizabeth she planned to include the front garden once she saw all the flowers and colours displayed when the plants were in full bloom. She wanted to depict the spring garden because she felt the newness and promise was indicative of her life. She had not settled on the bible verse she would use, but hoped Elizabeth could help her choose.

Elizabeth looked at the sampler and thought for a moment before she smiled with her suggestion. "I am much enamoured, currently, of Mr. Coleridge's verse:

That might be lovely on your sampler, especially one showing Mr. Collins' garden. The little bird in the tree you included made me recall the verse."

"Lizzy what a beautiful sentiment. I am certain that quote and "God Bless our Home" across the top will make this sampler perfect. Now I only hope my design and embroidery skills are up to the challenge." With nervous laughter she declared, "Where are Jane and Kitty when I need them?"

Lizzy took her sister's hand as she spoke, "Oh Mary, were Papa and I wrong to encourage you to marry Mr. Collins? Are you happy? Your needlework suggests you are, but your face is filled with anxiety."

"Lizzy, we are quite content, and all of your advice to both of us has made the transition into married life much easier. My concerns have to do with Lady Catherine De Bourgh's family. Did you know that Mr Darcy is both her nephew and her son-in-law?"

Elizabeth turned pale, averted her eyes from her sister and said much more confidently that she felt. "No, I did not." Panic threatened to engulf her. She feared where this conversation was heading, and wondered whether her uncle's carriage had left to return to London… If it had, when was the next post?

"Mr Darcy's sister and his children have been visiting Lady Catherine since the middle of February. Mr. Darcy is expected to arrive in a fortnight for Easter. It has been my good fortune to become a close friend of Miss Darcy. She is a shy, demure type of young woman, who recently experienced a personal disappointment, and she was in need of a woman friend and confidant close to her age. A love of music brought us together."

Yes, someone other than her naïve, witless brother… momentarily crowded thoughts of exposure from Elizabeth's mind.

Mary looked over at her sister and noticed she was studying her hands. She was not ready to confront Lizzy, so she continued talking about Miss Darcy and music. "She has had the benefit of a master for the last five years, and her expert advice to me was to play with more joy. In her opinion, my technique is good, but the love I feel for the music is not apparent when I play. I told her you had said much the same thing. She asked me about your playing, and I told her your technique is a bit flawed, but most people who hear you play enjoy your performance more because you always display such passion."

Mary could tell Elizabeth was barely listening, but instead seemed to be planning an escape. "Miss Darcy is looking forward to meeting you. Her brother told her about making your acquaintance in Hertfordshire. It seems he was quite complementary in his description of your playing, as well as other things."

At this revelation by her sister, Elizabeth blushed and began trembling. Mary became more convinced that Mr Darcy held the key to both her sister's secret and happiness.

Mary steeled herself and continued her monologue. "As I wrote you, Lady Catherine is quite overbearing, and advises both Mr. Collins and myself on everything from how to arrange our closets, to what to feed our chickens in order to increase egg production. Georgiana--she asked me to call her by her Christian name--overheard her aunt tell me I could never be truly proficient on the pianoforte unless I practice. Lady Catherine offered to allow me to use the instrument in the room that had been that of her daughter's governess. Georgiana was offended by her aunt's condescending behaviour, and even though she is quite shy, she immediately invited me to come to Rosings and practice with her on the pianoforte in the music room. She is even hoping to get Mr Darcy to persuade Lady Catherine to allow the pianoforte in the former governess's room to be brought to Hunsford for my use."

Elizabeth seemed to be praying now, and the pain she was causing her sister increased the guilt Mary felt. However, she knew there was no way to hide this secret from Georgiana. She decided it was time to forge ahead with her tale. "Georgiana often brings Mr Darcy's children with her when she visits me, and both of them have often participated in our practice sessions. We are a merry group and laugh a great deal. Georgiana is teaching Miss Bethany to play, and Master Lewis likes to sing… Bobby Shafto is his favourite. He likes to point to the buckles on his knee and pretend to comb his hair. They are wonderful children, and having spent these past weeks with them makes me desirous to have my own."

Mary noticed unshed tears in her sister's eyes, but stoically continued on. "Through my talks with Georgiana, I have found out some very confusing and potentially dangerous information. In addition, I have also noticed several things about Miss Bethany, whose full name is Elizabeth Anne Darcy."

Mary saw the tears streaking down Elizabeth's cheeks, and how her shoulders shook with silent sobs. She put her arms around her sister, but continued speaking. Her tone was soft and quiet, and not at all accusatory. "The Darcy and De Bourgh family have no immediate relative named Elizabeth, and Georgiana thinks it odd that Mrs Darcy wanted her daughter to have that name. Master Lewis is named Lewis George for both his grandfathers, but Miss Bethany was only named for one of her grandmothers. Georgiana remembers overhearing her brother and sister-in-law arguing over the name shortly after the baby was born." Mary could feel her sister's sobs increase as she continued to recount Miss Darcy's speculation. "Georgiana remembers Mr Darcy saying it was dangerous because it would raise questions, but Mrs Darcy said she refused to honour her mother and was insistent on the need to honour Elizabeth."

Mary let go of Lizzy and hoped she would look up, but she did not. "Lizzy please look at me. Georgiana has been wondering for the last five years who this mysterious Elizabeth was. She asked her brother once, and he became very defensive, and told her she was a friend of Mrs Darcy who had died tragically. Georgiana was certain her brother was not telling the truth. She is troubled by the mystery because Georgiana says this is the only time in her life she felt her brother deliberately lied."

Mary squared her shoulders and exhaled slowly to calm herself before she continued. "Miss Bethany wears an amber cross just like the one Papa and Mama gave you on your fifth birthday… the one with the ant inside that you used to wear and said you lost. I told her how beautiful it was, and asked her about it. She said her mother had left it for her."

Mary took Lizzy's chin and lifted her face in order to claim her eyes. "Elizabeth is Bethany your daughter? And is Mr Darcy her father? Why, if he compromised you, would Mrs Darcy want to raise your child and honour you?"

Elizabeth's sobs became audible and her shaking violent. Mary cradled Elizabeth in her arms and lovingly rubbed her back. She whispered comforting words into the ear of the sister who had been the rock for so many years for the rest of her sisters. Elizabeth was the one who provided dowries when their father could not, and made sure Mary admired and respected Mr. Collins before she was at ease with their marriage plans. The precarious situation of their family because of the entail was not enough justification for Elizabeth. Mary knew not what had happened six years ago, but her duty, at this moment, was to comfort Lizzy. Despite being a great believer in morality, she knew that whatever had happened to her sister transcended some rigid notions of right and wrong. She just needed to know… so she could protect her sister and her family.

Suddenly Elizabeth pulled herself up, wiped her eyes, and spoke for the first time. "I must leave. I will go to London, and my uncle will book passage for me. The only solution to protect Bethany and my family is for me to leave England. I will go to Canada. It is becoming impossible to keep my disgrace secret… I made a bargain with Mr Darcy."

"Elizabeth, there is the threat of a war with the United States, it would be dangerous for you to go to the Americas. Mr Darcy should leave the country. He caused your shame,"

"Mary, you do not understand. Mr Darcy is not Bethany's father."

Mary looked dumbfounded. In every possible scenario she had contemplated for Elizabeth's disgrace, Mr Darcy inevitably figured as the compromiser. "Who is her father?"

"Mary I will tell you, but then you must help me to leave. Miss Darcy must not know. Her brother thinks very poorly of me, and he would have a reason to retaliate if he found I allowed his sister to know our secret. Did you show her or Bethany your amber cross?"

Mary was confused, but shook her head 'no' and looked at her sister expectantly.

In a voice completely devoid of emotion, Elizabeth began her narrative, "I am Bethany's mother. Her father is Mr Darcy's cousin, Edmund Fitzwilliam, the Viscount Wolfbridge. Six years ago, I met the Darcys and Lord Wolfbridge at the theatre. Mrs Darcy began a friendship with me that I now believe was to accommodate her cousin. Mrs Darcy and I were in each other's company quite often, but my aunt was always with me. Mr Darcy was never present, but Lord Wolfbridge was occasionally."

Lizzie broke the monotone of her story with a derisive snort, "Papa always told us that all he expected of us was to remain chaste and not be too silly. In one day, I lost my virtue, and my silliness was, I am sure, the source of much derision among Lord Wolfbridge's friends. You would never have been so easily fooled, Mary. Such pride and arrogance filled my heart when thinking of how well it reflected on me that both Mrs Darcy and the heir to an earldom wanted to be in my company."

Elizabeth paused as she collected her thoughts and decided what she was able to tell her sister. "Lord Wolfbridge was not attentive enough to me to make me uncomfortable, or Aunt Gardiner suspicious. He would occasionally flash that beautiful smile of his at me when he was sure no one was looking. He made me feel special, and I would often colour under his gaze. I became aware that he liked to see me blush, but I knew not the meaning of his pleasure."

Mary cringed at her sister's last words. She began to understand where her sister's tale was going and noticed a subtle shift in Elizabeth's tone. For the first time she detected a quiet sort of anger as Lizzie continued; "One day when we had been invited to tea by Mrs Darcy, Cousin Susan was sick, and Aunt Gardiner stayed home to care for her. She encouraged me to go on to tea at Darcy House. Anne came in her carriage to fetch me. We went upstairs to what I thought was her sitting room. Tea was served and we chatted for a while. Anne wanted me to accompany her shopping the following week so she could take me to London's best shops. She excused herself to retrieve a recently purchased gown she wanted to show me."

Mary noticed that tears had once again begun to form in her sister's eyes. "The Viscount entered. I knew it was wrong to be alone with him, but was confused about what to do. I kept praying Mrs Darcy would return and was very polite when I asked him to leave." Elizabeth laughed unexpectedly as she said, "instead of being indignant that he had put me in a compromising situation, I worried that I would offend him with my request. But, the look in his eyes told me something was very wrong. I decided to go myself and told Lord Wolfbridge of my plans. Mary, he just kept smiling at me with those dazzling white teeth as if I was daft. The door was locked. Mrs Darcy had allowed her cousin to trap me."

Elizabeth schooled her face to reflect no emotion in response to the horror reflected in her sister's eyes. "There is more, but I am unable to reveal all the details. Much of what happened is gone from my memory. I only recall the humiliation and pain, but that is enough to cause nightmares. Shame made me try to keep the incident a secret from everyone. My naiveté made me unable to realize the possible consequence of what he had done. When Aunt Gardiner began to suspect I was with child, she forced me to reveal what had happened."

"How did the baby come to be raised by Mr Darcy?"

"Aunt and Uncle wanted to confront Lord Wolfbridge and make him marry me. Mary, I could not agree to that. I hated him and pleaded with them to help me find a way to preserve our family's honour and keep secret what had happened--even from Papa. They took pity on me and the baby, and together we developed a scheme to pretend the child was theirs."

Elizabeth's whole body sank as she began to relate the next part of her story. "Both Uncle Gardiner and I were very angry, and I foolishly persuaded him, and he foolishly allowed me to confront Lord Wolfbridge, as well as Mr and Mrs Darcy, to demand money for my silence."

For the first time since her sister began her tale, Mary looked disapproving. "Lizzy, why would you do such a reckless thing?"

"I made a poor decision and Uncle did not stop me. The Viscount and Mrs Darcy had treated me as though I was of no importance and beneath their consideration, so I decided I would act like the vulgar and low person they thought I was. I demanded six thousand pounds, but Mrs Darcy decided she wanted the baby, and in the end I was forced to agree. They offered me twenty three thousand pounds, but you are right in your assessment--the bargain has caused me great anguish, and will be the undoing of our family. It would have been believable that a child of the Gardiners looked like me."

"How did Bethany become known as the child of Mr and Mrs Darcy?"

"The original scheme was modified to have the world think the baby was theirs. Because Aunt Gardiner's cousin is the Darcy family's personal physician, it was not difficult; and only a few people knew of the deception."

Mary's disapproval was forgotten. She could not believe that her sister had gone through such an ordeal at barely fifteen. "Elizabeth, how have you survived with no one at home to share your sorrow? I am ashamed I thought you consented to an affair."

Elizabeth took her sister's hand and gave her a smile of forgiveness. "Since that day, I often wonder when I hear of a young woman who has been disgraced, whether she consented. I had no idea someone so important would be so callous of a young woman's feelings--not to mention the reputation of her family. I appealed to him to stop by telling him of my fears for my sisters. He laughed at me. Oh, Mary, the guilt I feel because I did not fight or scream never seems to go away. It was fear everyone would know I had been compromised that kept me quiet. My disgrace means there is so much I will never be able to experience… perhaps in another country…"

"But Lizzy, why not consider marriage with Mr Darcy as a way to at least protect yourself from scandal and gain a bit of happiness. Your daughter and his son are wonderful children. I have seen the way Mr Darcy looks at you… he likes what he sees, and you do not seem to hate him."

"Yes, he likes my figure, my hair, and that I make him laugh, but he thinks me totally mercenary. That is why he became angry at the ball. He became convinced I had joined with George Wickham to extort more money from him."

Mary looked startled at the mention of Mr Wickham. She had forgotten the reference to him the morning after the ball. "I knew that name was familiar, and I have some additional information why Mr Darcy would have become so agitated. Miss Darcy's companion was a friend of Mr Wickham's. She told him that Georgiana would be in Ramsgate last summer. He came there, and Mrs. Younge, the companion, allowed them to be alone together. He reminded her he had known her as a little girl, and was devastatingly charming. Within days, he persuaded her to elope with him, but Mr Darcy arrived to visit, and she confessed their plans. During the confrontation between her brother and Mr Wickham, it became clear to her he only wanted her dowry. Her confidence is shaken as she knows she almost sentenced herself to a loveless marriage. But, the greatest source of sadness is because she feels her brother has lost trust in her."

"Oh, the poor girl… I wish I could assure her just how precious she is to him. When we were together at Netherfield, he spoke glowingly of her accomplishments. However, her brother has no trust in me either. I tried to tell him of the role his wife played, but he refused to listen."

"I think you both need to reassure each other about Mr Darcy. Georgiana says he spoke of you often since he returned to Derbyshire."

"Mary, I refuse to meet Miss Darcy. I have told you my story, and now, as promised, you need to help me leave. When does the next post leave for London?"

Just then, Rose knocked on the door and was bid enter. Behind her stood a young woman Elizabeth recognized as Georgiana Darcy. No longer a child, she looked like the portrait of her mother in her brother's study at Darcy House. Lizzy stood up as if to run, but realized all hope was lost. Intense fear registered on her face as her life spiralled out of control. The number of people knowing her secret continued to grow. She must flee Kent!.

Georgiana Darcy looked at the woman standing before her and wondered why she had a look of sheer terror on her face, and then she recognized her. It was… yes, now she remembered, Mrs Bennet, Jamie's cousin. It was as if one of the children's picture puzzles was assembling itself in front of her eyes. Disparate images being pieced together… her brother sending her away just before Anne was to give birth… Bethany forever reminding her of someone she could not recall… the painting of the young girl reading in her brother's study… the choice of the name Elizabeth… fitting together to become an understandable image. "You are Bethany's mother and my brother is her father." Georgiana herself became frightened. "Did he compromise you, and then force you to give him the baby?"

For the second time that day, Elizabeth Bennet told her story.

Posted on: 2011-01-01

Chapter 41 – Oh, Tell me the Truth about Love, Depravity, and War

Fitzwilliam Darcy and Richard Fitzwilliam were disparate personalities that complemented each other. The Colonel admired Darcy's determination to be honourable in all things, and thought him the epitome of a good man and father--though too sombre for his own good. Richard was gregarious and more than a little irreverent, but with an equally fierce sense of duty and honour. The older of the two cousins preferred to remember the younger from that time when, as children, they both laughed a great deal. Richard always felt it his duty to chip away at Darcy's face of stone when they were in each other's company. Often when together, the two would reminisce about their age of innocence… the time when they knew not about life's habit of delivering random cruelty. Together they had realized the Earl's cruel disregard for the Countess--to one a beloved mother, and to the other a favourite aunt. Before they were sent away to school, they had observed Mr and Mrs Darcy struggle to maintain their own loving marriage in the face of one's brother humiliating the other's sister. The Colonel covered over the pain he felt for his mother with humour while for Darcy the death of his mother was the termination of his frequent laughter.

The two were on their way to Kent for Easter--a journey they had made together many times since they were boys. While still in the environs of London, the Colonel decided to provide comic relief for Darcy by debating which was preferable--the previous four years fighting Napoleon's troops or his resumption of their annual pilgrimage to visit their formidable aunt. Richard was not fond of Lady Catherine, but he agreed to endure her in the interest of spending time with Darcy, his cousin Georgiana and Darcy's children. His only requirement was that his cousin promise not to allow matters of estate management to totally disrupt their time together.

Darcy needed to ask Richard about Edmund, but feared the topic might not be welcomed. The Colonel seemed to be avoiding speaking of the time he had spent at Elderton while Darcy had been in Hertfordshire. The first hour of their journey became devoted to stories of Richard's adventures in Portugal, and Darcy was struck by the edge of cynicism that had become imbedded in his cousin's character since his return.

The Colonel could tell Darcy was brooding about something and assumed it was Ramsgate and Wickham. The two shared joint guardianship of Georgiana and had spent hours discussing how to handle the incident and her resulting melancholy. His friend, Colonel Lawrence Forster, had recently written him that he had been in Darcy's company in Hertfordshire. However, the main purpose of his letter had been to learn about Wickham's character. He had joined Lawrence's militia unit, and the local populace was concerned about unsavoury things they had heard about the new recruit. Unwilling to tell his friend the details of what the cur had done to his cousin, he had replied with a warning that the family of any young woman with an inheritance or significant dowry should be advised that his interest was probably for their fortune.

He ended his stories of combat and conflict and created an opening for the subject he suspected his cousin desired by injecting some irreverant reflection on the subject of love. During the time of Darcy's first foray into the marriage market, Richard had often jokingly commiserated with him by bemoaning the fact that he had not been born the Earl's first daughter instead of his second son. The Colonel decided to remind his cousin of that topic. "Think how simple it would have been for both of us if you could have wed me. You would have been saved from those devious women whose treachery you feared, and I could have lived leisurely in the style I prefer and avoided a life of war. I would have been available to make you laugh, and society would have been spared that eternal dour expression of yours." Richard recalled that it been during an Easter trip to Kent, and shortly after one of his ribbings of a demoralized Darcy, that his cousin had proposed to Anne. The Colonel had always felt more than a little guilt for propelling his cousin to settle for a marriage of convenience and at such a young age.

Richard felt disheartened when his humorous musing did not even result in a smile. Believing Darcy might be missing his wife he added, "Though I doubt I would have been able to give you such beautiful children as Anne." Darcy's sigh at his words seemed to confirm his assumption. He decided to watch the scenery and wait for his cousin to ask for aid in unravelling his knotted thoughts.

It was not long before Darcy spoke. "Richard, tell me about Edmund."

His cousin's question prompted a snort. This was not what Richard had been expecting. "Darce, what exactly do you want to know… his shoe size, his preferred foods or perhaps his favourite pursuits?"

"I guess something more on the lines of favourite pursuits. I have heard him called a rake, is that true?"

"He was definitely a rake, like my father before him, but now I think he is a bird of prey."

"What do you mean?"

"When younger, Edmund enjoyed the game of charming women in order to be granted that commodity which our society considers so precious… her virtue. I think that is more in line with the definition of a rake. That was how he pursued a love… no, lust life, once mother was no longer looking over his shoulder." The Colonel noticed his cousin was hanging on his every word. He was unsure why this subject held such interest. "About six or seven years ago, I noticed a change in his pursuits. He was more and more attracted to very young women." Richard saw his audience wince. "Once, when we were both a little drunk, and before he married Eleanor..."

This time it was Darcy's turn to watch his cousin react adversely to the topic.

Richard cleared his throat, but only paused for a second before he continued. "As I recall, he used the term childlike. His new sport became capturing a woman who was very naive and vulnerable. These young women were closer in age to Georgiana--or even younger. I doubt they had any idea what was happening. Edmund spoke of enjoying a young girl's fear once she realized what was happening."

With these words Darcy's face registered revulsion, and he was moved to wonder aloud. "Was it possible he did not wittily, prettily talk her down? She sang of a fifteen-year-old being teased and pleased. Was that not her story?"

Richard was unsure of the meaning of his mumbling. "Believe me, she experienced nothing pretty, nor did he please her, if you are, indeed, acquainted with one of Edmund's prey. Watching his victim's horror and humiliation as he inflicted a bit of pain… all became part of his pleasure. I suspect he found ways to trap them that did not require any form of consent. He liked his game dangerous, and I think several times his tail feathers were almost singed. I heard that one was a gentleman's daughter, and there was some threat of exposure."

Darcy's voice cracked as he asked, "Is he really that depraved? How do you know?"

"Eleanor told me. It came out during a fight she had with Edmund; when he was, once again, drunk. Supposedly this young woman had threatened to tell Eleanor's father just how depraved Edmund was before they were married. He had some momentary concern he might not be able to take possession of her fifty thousand pounds."

"How could he trap a gentleman's daughter? Why was she not protected by her family?"

"Cuz, how was Georgiana almost caught? A charming man like Edmund can get another woman's help with his scheme… just as Wickham persuaded Mrs. Younge."

Darcy's look was growing more and more troubled. "What more do you know of this gentleman's daughter?"

Richard looked at his cousin and realized this was at the heart of his reason for questioning him about Edmund. "Not much, but I think she was the one I heard chatter about at White's. Edmund's friends were laughing about how she had helped with her buttons, and how afraid she was for her sisters' reputations. Even at that time, and before I experienced Spain and war, all I could see in my imagination was a petrified child clinging to any hope. We live in a cruel world."

Darcy was having difficulty breathing as he squeaked out, "Are you saying you believe he raped her? But I had no idea a man from the highest circle--someone soon to become a peer--would stoop so low. I thought only brutes from the lower classes took women by force."

Richard gave his cousin a look of intense scorn. "Darce, you sound so arrogant… uh and naïve and possibly a bit witless. Do your tenants make a habit of raping women? Are wellborn rakes more acceptable to you?" His scorn softened and he could only shake his head in exasperation. "Charming some young woman with promises of marriage they have no intention of keeping is a cruel deception. Or do you reserve your animosity for a steward's son like Wickham--who promises love but is really only interested in collecting a woman's dowry?"

Darcy heard his cousin's voice become a sneer. "That and an heir is all Edmund wanted from Eleanor. "Richard suddenly looked deflated and turned away from his cousin to view the passing countryside. A few seconds later he continued. "I struggle to see the difference between those lowly brutes you envision and elegant charming men who take as they please. But, you are correct about what happened to the young woman I was describing. Rape is the appropriate word… at least that is what I would call it."

Darcy became aware that the affable Richard was suffering his own anguish. "Why did Eleanor agree to marry Edmund?"

The Colonel's voice dripped with cynicism as he replied, "He, as you said, prettily talked her down in order to win her fifty thousand pounds."

"Do you love Eleanor?"

"I do, and I did long before my brother teased her and pleased her into believing he was offering her undying love. I was away training troops for deployment to Portugal, when I learned that Eleanor and Edmund had become betrothed. Just a few months before, she had seemed to be expecting and wanting me to propose. We had spoken of our mutual affection and admiration quite openly, and my brother knew of my intentions. Edmund's treachery and Eleanor's betrayal was the most crushing defeat I have ever experienced. I raged at them for months."

"But, why do you still love her?"

"After the raging was over, reflection replaced that emotion. I had depended on her constancy despite my precarious lot in life. Though the blow of her turning to the prestige of Edmund was a severe one, I believed I should try to forgive. She was now my sister. Had her marriage been a happy one, a few years might have reconciled me to my loss. My affection for her had been genuine--it was never just about her her large dowry."

Richard reflected back to that time more than five years past. "My duties kept me from having to attend their wedding. By the time I arrived home several months later, regret was already etched into Eleanor's face. I could not help but remember the warmth of her heart and the eagerness of spirits--not to mention an irreverence that matched mine. Those things that had drawn me to her could not be forgotten. They were now hidden, and her foolish decision had doomed her to the same fate as my mother. I pitied her and prayed she could someday return to her former lively character. When she lost the baby she was carrying and Edmund did not even bother to come to comfort her, my pity became compassion. She begged my forgiveness for the weakness of spirit that had led to her folly. As we talked, my love returned."

Once again, scorn crept into the Colonel's voice. "Edmund had been both charming and relentless in his pursuit. Her father's obvious preference for the Viscount Wolfbridge as his son-in-law added to her confusion. Eleanor had become a commodity to him, just like his textiles. He had been eager to sell her for a title. His dream was to "lord" it over his business cronies that his daughter would one day be a countess; and his aspiration for such a connection was worth fifty thousand pounds to him. He had cared nothing for her happiness."

"But, what can you do about your love for Eleanor, and obviously her love for you?"

Richard's face displayed resignation. "Nothing--but attempt to ease her pain. My brother has no regard for her; his pleasures as we have been discussing were not what they ought to have been. From the first he treated her unkindly, and she has grown to hate him. She even admitted she prays he will die. Edmund's death would still not mean we would be able to marry. Once, Edmund suggested that I could assume the job of producing the heir, but Eleanor refused. She had scruples about dishonouring her marriage vows, but more importantly, she did not trust him. Once he had his heir, she feared he would accuse us of adultery and divorce her. He would have her money and would no longer need to keep Eleanor. There is absolutely nothing we can do but continue on with our lives."

Darcy felt his cousin's despair, and wanted to determine just how resolved he was to a lifetime of unhappiness. "Did you never try to find love somewhere else?"

"I did find love in Spain, but that was even more disastrous. It has left me a cynic of the worst kind… the kind that has seen too much, and will never embrace hope again." Richard laughed at the pun he had unconsciously made. He could tell his cousin had no idea why he was laughing. Perhaps he would realize the source of his amusement if he told him the history, that no one--not even his mother--knew. Darcy had, after all, wanted to understand human depravity.

"What happened in Spain? I was not aware you spent time there… I thought you were in Portugal?"

"Yes, that is what you were supposed to believe. Portugal has long been an ally of Britain, and when Napoleon decided to extend his Continental System to Denmark and Portugal… Portugal refused. Napoleon invaded, and my regiment was sent to their aid. Napoleon wanted to control the whole European coastline. In pursuit of that goal, he also needed to control the ports of Spain. By a series of deceptions, he was able to change the regime there quite easily. He got Charles IV and his son Ferdinand to abdicate the Spanish throne, and made his brother, Joseph, king. Of course, he had to reinforce him with a large army."

Darcy noticed his cousin had gotten a haunted look… that look he had first seen the day he met Miss Elizabeth coming out of Darcy house. Richard's eyes told him just how difficult it was for his cousin to relate this history.

"Napoleon was now involved in an entanglement from which he may never escape. The Spanish resented the French soldiers. Some considered them godless villains who desecrated churches; others just resented being occupied by an alien force. Fierce Spanish guerrillas took the field, and cruelties were answered by atrocities. I was sent as part of an expeditionary force to sustain the insurgents; as you know, the war is still going on. It has gone badly for Napoleon because he was not counting on the ferocity of the Spanish people."

Richard struggled to maintain his composure. "I was stationed in a village near Madrid, and the leader of the insurgents in that area was the mayor of the town. His daughter, Esperanza, was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She was also courageous, and aided the fighting by any means necessary. She was particularly adept at carrying messages and even ammunition about town. She was excellent at deceiving the deceivers."

Darcy startled his cousin by exclaiming quite loudly, "that is what she said in her letter."

"You have a female correspondent who has studied Machiavelli?"

"I guess she has. There is so much I do not know about her, because I never bothered to find out. She also said all warfare is deception."

"Ah, she has read The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Will I ever meet your military strategist friend?"

Darcy looked ashamed as he replied. "I doubt it. I treated her very badly, and I am sure she never wants to see me again. I too have lost all hope." Darcy's face registered understanding. "Ah, now I see. Esperanza means hope in Spanish." Now his shame became compassion. "Your painful lapse into humour a moment ago prepares me for Esperanza's fate. Finish telling me your story, and then maybe I will tell you my hopeless tale."

"I fell in love with Esperanza and it was glorious. For the short time we knew each other, she wiped out all thoughts of Eleanor. I petitioned her father to allow us to marry once the fighting was over. He agreed, but insisted we remain in Spain. Except for you, Georgiana and my mother, I had nothing to tie me to England… of course I had Eleanor, but I am resigned that can never be. It was war, and propriety seemed unimportant, so our relationship became physical. I am so thankful we had those beautiful stolen moments."

The sadness deepened in Richard, and he again stared out the window rather than allowing Darcy to see his face. It would not do to allow him to know that colonels and affable older cousins sometimes cried. "Napoleon's troops caught Esperanza in the act of transporting weapons. First they raped her, and then they beat her and abandoned her. She could have possibly survived, but the humiliation of the violation destroyed her will to live. Her father allowed me to hold her hand through the night, but in the morning, just at dawn, she died."

Richard's voice became firmer and tinged with pride as he said, "the insurgents retaliated for what they did to Esperanza; and the French rounded up many of the villagers and formed a firing squad. They cared not whether they had those who retaliated, because the executions were mostly about intimidation. A neighbour of Esperanza's told me about the executions. She described a row of disciplined men, impersonally obeying orders, in the name of an emperor hundreds of miles away. They shot down a huddled and helpless group of other men who refused to accept their domination. It happened in the dead of night. A lantern illuminated the gruesome target… lighting up faces and hands contorted by anguish. Some faces depicted despair or terror, while others displayed defiance and courage at the moment of death."

Darcy once again donned his arrogant and haughty face. "Oh, that Napoleon is a curse to the civilized world."

"Oh, please, Cuz, talk to your military strategist friend. Maybe she can knock some sense into your head. This endless war we have been involved in for more than fifteen years is now about to spread to the Americas. It is about deceit and greed on both sides."

He scowled at his cousin and was glad the conversation was becoming less personal. "In the beginning of the war, Britain was afraid of revolutionary ideas spreading to the lower strata--you remember, those brutes that rape--but then Napoleon came to power; and he began conducting a relentless diplomatic and military struggle against us on behalf of the victorious French bourgeoisie. They were in competition with us for control of the backward continental countries and the world market. The noble goals of the French Revolution--Liberty, Equality and Fraternity--were left behind in the dust, and Napoleon just wanted to further the economic development of the French tradesman, just as we want to make certain that British trade is unimpeded." Richard's sardonic laughter returned. "Eleanor's father had no idea how much more I was doing to improve his business than Edmund could ever contribute. If France controls all of Europe's ports, they could shut out British goods and destroy British trade."

"But where is your patriotism? Our troops are not as brutal as Napoleon's--our goals are noble."

Richard proved to his cousin he was a Fitzwilliam, and could display the disdain that was part of his birthright. "Oh, yes, they are, and our goals are very similar. We need to check Napoleon in order to protect our possessions such as India and Ireland, our trade with Asia and the Americas and the superiority of our navy. In order to keep Denmark from joining the Continental System, we bombarded Copenhagen for four days. I believe the Danes think us brutal. Ask some of the men who fought in Ireland in 1798 whether there was cruelty… ask them about the rape of women. It is part of the deceit of war. It is never about fighting for noble goals. It is time to change the subject. I am becoming too agitated." Richard closed his eyes for few minutes, then opened them and grinned at his cousin. "Tell me about this woman you have hurt and have no hope of winning. She sounds like someone I could love. Do I have a chance, or do you love her?"

"I think I love her, but I am very confused."

"Ah, you think you love someone. I am not sure thinking is what it is all about."

"How did you know when you first loved Eleanor?"

Richard threw his head back and laughed at the memory. "It came without warning… just as I realized I had mashed potato on the tip of my nose while dining at Lord Colton's. Eleanor was seated next to me, and we had been having a delightful conversation. I was already quite impressed with both her wit and her dowry. Suddenly, as it dawned on me that I had this thoroughly unfashionable blemish; she reached out--without causing anyone to notice--touched my nose with her fingertip and popped the offending potato in her mouth. She had me and everything from then after was just confirmation that she had captured my heart. Her act had been so bold and I knew she was the one. I had often wondered whether love when it came would alter my life altogether… it did. Tell me why you think you love this military strategist. Is she brave?"

"Yes, it seems so now. But, I don't truly understand her… mainly, because I never took the time. It has been six years, and I am unable to stop thinking about her; I even thought about her when I was married to Anne."

Richard let out a low whistle. "That is some admission, Darce."

"I have felt such guilt and believed myself to be no better than Edmund, because she was very young and I was married. I should not have had those feelings. Obviously, as it turns out, I was not exactly like him. She is the gentleman's daughter who was raped by Edmund. She demanded six thousand pounds not to tell Eleanor's father about your brother. I realized Edmund had taken advantage of her, but I believed he seduced her and I decided it was mercenary to demand money for her ordeal"

"She demanded money and she was so young? Now I know I love her. She is definitely brave. Why did she demand the money of you as well?"

"She blamed Anne and me because the rape took place in my house."

"Where were you at the time of the violation?"

"At my solicitor's."

"Where was Anne?"

"She said she left Miss Elizabeth alone in a sitting room because she was feeling unwell, but I am unsure… "

Darcy realized the carriage was turning into the park at Rosings. He noticed out the window two kites flying in the distance. One was a green dragon, and the other was Puss n Boots. "Richard, I was wrong, you are soon to meet this military strategist woman that I think I love, and before you do, there is something else I must tell you."

Posted on: 2011-01-05

Chapter 42 – Disguise of Every Sort

Bethany Darcy ran as fast as she could. Positive speed was the key to success, she was resolved to make Puss n Boots climb higher than the green dragon Lew was holding. Looking over her shoulder to determine his progress, she saw he was making absolutely no attempt to send his kite further aloft. Abruptly she stopped and scowled at her brother. He seemed to have lost all interest in their competition. Lewis had needed much more help from Miss Lizzy than she did to launch his kite. He might be taller, but he was a year younger and not as quick as she was. Besides, ever since making Mrs Mary's sister's acquaintance, he reminded Bethany of Papa--his mind always drifting off somewhere. Now, he was standing perfectly still with a ridiculous grin on his face, looking toward their smiling instructor.

Lewis Darcy returned Miss Lizzy's look with laughter. The warmth of her gaze prompted him to run in her direction, heedless that his kite was dipping dangerously close to the ground. He had a powerful need and nothing would keep him from her side. When he reached her, he handed her the string of the kite and put his arm around her leg at the knee. Her smile was now for him alone, and his face lit up with delight.

"I am tired, Miss Lizzy. I need to lean on you." He laughed as he looked up at the woman he loved. Lewis Darcy, who had been deprived of a mother since birth, was talented at inventing excuses to satisfy his need to touch Miss Elizabeth.

In appearance, Lewis was a miniature of his father. He had the same unruly dark curls and the same dark eyes--not to mention the dimples. However, the resemblance was purely physical. In character, they could not have been more dissimilar. Elizabeth wondered whether the father had been like his son as a child. Anne had told her Mr Darcy dearly loved to laugh, and Lewis almost never stopped. He had even laughed when he had proposed to Elizabeth.

Three days into their acquaintance, as she was reading a story to him and his sister… and he was cuddling into her body… he popped the question. His laughter had been a bit more like a giggle, but his dimples had danced with delight as he looked up at her and said, "Miss Lizzy, I love you. Will you marry me?"

Before Elizabeth had a chance to answer, Bethany pulled away from Lizzy and said, "Lewis Darcy, you said you were going to marry Sian."

"I am, Bethie, but I want to marry Miss Lizzy too."

"You cannot be married to two people."

No more giggling… now Lewis frowned. "Not fair."

"Lew, I think Papa should marry Miss Lizzy. He is taller than she is, and that is the way it should be. She would be your mother, and you could still cuddle with her."

Elizabeth did not want to give these children unrealistic expectations. She said diplomatically, "Lewis, besides being too tall for you, I am also too old; but most importantly, I have decided I will not marry. Bethany, I do not believe your father would want to marry me."

Bethany said, "Why, because you wear spectacles?"

"Yes, and I am sure he would not approve of my hair."

"That is true. He does not like flat hair. He likes curls like mine. Millie could fix yours so he would like it." She had stared intently at Miss Elizabeth as she asked, "Why do you wear spectacles? Sometimes you do not… you wear them most around my Grandmama. Is it because her house is dark?"

Since meeting Bethany, Lizzy had often felt as though she was being interviewed by her. She wondered whether she had been so impertinently inquisitive at her age. "Yes, I have trouble seeing in her house."

Lizzy looked down at Lewis, while remembering his proposal and caressed his hair. She had heard his father was due to join them tomorrow with Lord Wolfbridge's brother, and she was once again filled with anxiety. She had managed to thoroughly enjoy spending time with Bethany, Lewis and Georgiana, despite her fear that Lady Catherine would discover the truth about her granddaughter's birth.

Georgiana and Mary had disguised her looks so the resemblance to Bethany was not so obvious. They had made Elizabeth look quite homely by using the substance Mr. Collins had applied to his hair to make hers lay flat. Once sufficiently tamed, they pulled it back in a severe bun. Mary had gotten a pair of spectacles from the local apothecary for Elizabeth to wear when they went to dinner at Rosings. They were due to go again this evening.

Mr. Collins had been very suspicious of her changed looks, and questioned Mary about the reason for the disguise. Mary could no longer withhold the information from her husband. She determined to tell him Lizzy's tale, but divert his full attention from the unravelling of her sister's mystery with something more pleasant. Lizzy had noticed that Mary was nauseous every morning and complained often of fatigue. She asked her sister if her breasts were tender, and once she got a reply in the affirmative, she told her sister of her suspicions. Mr. Collins was elated at the possibility of a child, and it was only after hearing her delightful news--that Mary horrified him with a repetition of Lord Wolfbridge's and Mrs Darcy's depravity. He knew his sister-in-law to be a good woman; and though he had never met Lady Catherine's daughter, her conduct was deemed thoroughly reprehensible by him. Lizzy's story pushed his belief in the goodness of human beings to the limit. Once again, his admiration for his patroness was diminished by the action of the young woman she had reared. He questioned Mr Darcy's character as well and was dubious about Mary's plan to have him marry her sister.

Georgiana had been talking with Mary while Elizabeth played with the children. She stood up from the bench where she had been sitting and said, "Bethany, Lewis, it is time for us to go. Your grandmother will be anxious that you have been outdoors too long. You know how she worries about your health. If we are gone too long, she will try to limit our time outside."

Bethany put her hands on her hips and said, "Luckily Papa is coming tomorrow, and he will not let her tell us what to do." Bethany wrinkled her nose and continued, "Do you think my mother was like her?"

Georgiana and Mary looked at Elizabeth and said simultaneously an emphatic, "No!"

When Georgiana, Lewis and Bethany arrived at Rosings, they saw a carriage with the Darcy crest, and realized Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam had arrived early. Bethany twirled while Lewis jumped and laughed. Georgiana smiled secretively, knowing that the time had come to implement "plan matrimony." Unexpectedly, her niece pursued a similar objective.

Bethany ran to Richard, and once firmly ensconced in his arms, and at a height close to her father's she said, "Papa, we have found you a wife."

Lewis, who had been picked up by his father, and also had a similar height advantage said, "Bethie, I want to marry her."

"Lew, she rejected you. She said you were too short and too young. Papa is tall and old."

Richard watched the family tableau unfold and started to laugh. "Darce, are they talking about your military strategist friend?"

"Yes, I believe so. Georgiana, are they talking about Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"

"They are." Georgiana gave her brother a smirk and said, "I believe you met her in Hertfordshire."

"Papa, did you reject her because she wears spectacles? She does not wear them all the time. She wears them in Grandmama's house because it is dark. Millie can make her hair look the way you like it."

Richard continued to laugh, and Darcy looked thoroughly confused. "She wears spectacles? What is wrong with her hair?"

Darcy saw for himself exactly how Miss Elizabeth had changed when the Hunsford party arrived for dinner. He was not pleased, but then he happened to notice Lady Catherine peering intently at her, and knew it was for the best. Besides the spectacles and the slicked back hair, she had added a collar to her gown that hid her bosom. He was miffed that Richard would think her quite unattractive, and not applaud his cousin for his exquisite choice. Until he had that thought, he was not even aware he was competitive with his cousin.

"Miss Bennet, I understand you know my son-in-law."

"I do, your Ladyship. We met in Hertfordshire last fall. The estate Mr Bingley was leasing, and where Mr Darcy was visiting, is next to my father's, and the owner of that estate, Sir Walter Trent, is my father's oldest friend."

"Mr. Collins will inherit your father's estate. Is it well managed?"

"It is. My father has an excellent steward, who quite by coincidence is the nephew of Mr Darcy's housekeeper. Under his stewardship, the income from the estate has increased one thousand pounds per year. Mr Reynolds has just announced his engagement to my sister, Catherine. They will be married in September."

"Your father is a gentleman, and yet he is allowing his daughter to marry a steward?"

"He is. Mr Reynolds also owns a brickworks in the neighbourhood, and has recently begun making decorative tiles as well. He owns a lovely house, and your son-in-law can attest, my sister is a very happy young woman. Mr Darcy is having his townhouse refaced with Mr. Reynolds' brick, and Mr Reynolds is hoping Mr Darcy will recommend his brick to his London neighbours."

"Whether he is in trade or in service… it still seems beneath a gentleman's daughter."

Mr. Collins took over defending their family from his sister-in-law. "Yes, Lady Catherine, Mr Reynolds has become one of the most upstanding young men in all of Hertfordshire. He just recently accompanied my father-in-law on a visit to warn a young woman's guardian about a fortune hunter from Derbyshire who was in the neighbourhood. He gave testimony of his bad character, which he had learned from his many acquaintances in Derbyshire. My entire family is pleased with the prospects of their wedding."

Elizabeth was sitting next to Georgiana and squeezed her hand under the table. Mary, sitting across from Georgiana, smiled at her friend. Darcy watched as his sister returned Mary's comforting gesture and then gave a shy look of gratitude to Miss Elizabeth. He knew, in that instant, that she had confided the incident at Ramsgate to both sisters. He was also certain that Georgiana knew about Bethany.

Richard nudged his cousin under the table. If he truly wanted to win this woman, he needed to confront his aunt with regards her rudeness.

Darcy decided it was time to prove that he was not as witless as Richard thought. He said, "Aunt, Mr Reynolds is indeed one of the most admirable young men of my acquaintance. He and Miss Catherine are destined to have a wonderful marriage. They have strong affection, admiration, respect and common purpose, on which their love is based."

Elizabeth looked at Darcy first with wonder and then with pleasure. She smiled her appreciation, and out of the corner of her eye, saw the Colonel's amusement.

Lady Catherine gave her son-in-law a withering glance. "Fitzwilliam, I am appalled at your lack of understanding of the need for marriage to reflect respect for our social order."

Darcy chose to ignore her comment.

After dinner, the ladies entertained with music. Instead of playing the pianoforte, Georgiana entertained with a series of folk tunes played on an Irish whistle. This act, which seemed calculated to annoy her aunt, confirmed for Elizabeth that there might be a growing attachment between Georgiana and Jamie. Her dear friend had more and more begun to mention Miss Darcy in his letters, and Elizabeth had increasingly become suspicious of the possibility. So much had happened in the last weeks, that she had not remembered to explore Georgiana's acquaintance with Dr Wilder, but it was obvious she had become quite an expert on his favourite instrument, and that meant they had probably spent considerable time together.

Elizabeth decided not to play. She encouraged her sister to display her expertise on the pianoforte for the gentleman with the explanation that she preferred to entertain with Pamina's aria of her lost love Tamino to Mary's accompaniment. The two had been performing this selection from Mozart's The Magic Flute for years, but to this group it was fresh. Elizabeth was very pleased with the rapt attention of their audience. Even Lady Catherine seemed momentarily interested before once again reverting to her supercilious expression.

Lizzy's eyes found Mr Darcy's as she sang the lament. He was wearing his 'look of love' countenance, but she knew how changeable he could be. She did find it odd that his gaze reflected such feelings despite her homely appearance.

Once the musical interlude was concluded, Colonel Fitzwilliam sat down next to Elizabeth. He saw her apprehension and said, "I am nothing like my brother… or my father for that matter. My mother is a Darcy, and a most remarkable woman. I am like her."

Elizabeth was momentarily uncomfortable that his words indicated knowledge of her violation. Searching his eyes, she believed she saw only compassion and decided to relax. "Many years ago, I met your mother. She was very kind to me." Elizabeth touched her spectacles and her severe bun as she gave him a grin. "She complimented me on my hair and eyes."

Richard returned her humour with some of his own. "Ah, that explains my Goddaughter's remarks to her father and his flustered reaction. She said you did not wear the spectacles except here in my aunt's dark house, and she was sure Millie could fix your hair. He, of course, looked quite befuddled and a bit horrified at the image she painted of you. Am I correct in believing, you are…." Richard looked around before he whispered the completion of his sentence. "... you are in disguise? I do love intrigue and applaud your Machiavellian efforts to deceive my overbearing aunt."

Elizabeth looked at Darcy, who was conversing with his sister. She caught his eye, and he had a look that registered concern of some kind. No more look of love. She was unsure what emotion his countenance reflected, but the thought that raced through her mind was… here we go again.

Elizabeth thought Richard Fitzwilliam to be as charming as his brother, but without the duplicity. He was nowhere near as handsome, and he had quite ordinary teeth, but to an older and wiser Elizabeth, he was an extremely pleasant man. She was not sure why she felt him honest, but perhaps it was that hint of sadness she could see in his eyes that made him seem more genuine. Besides being charming, she could not remember the last person who caused her to laugh so often. He told her stories of his childhood with Darcy and his visits to Pemberley.

Her favourite story was of one midsummer picnic, and how he and Darcy had fought a duel with wooden swords to determine who would get to portray the Indian changeling. They had argued for days over who had the most qualities to make them like that character. Richard insisted he was, because he had a voracious appetite, and did not like to wear shoes. Darcy insisted he was, because he knew more large words and everyone knew changelings were wise and their talk was highly intelligent. Richard mimicked his cousin's haughty mien when he made his pronouncement of the superiority of his vocabulary. Elizabeth hoped Darcy would not realize the cause of her hilarity. Richard said both had an abundance of curly hair that was quite messy, so this changeling characteristic resulted in a draw. Neither had wanted to own to having a greenish tint to their skin. Their mothers put up with the argument, but on the third day, Mr Darcy said 'enough,' and encouraged the duel. Richard had won, and Darcy had pouted for days. When he told the end of the story, he again imitated his cousin, and the pout was a look she recognized from that last morning on Oakham Mount.

Shortly after Mr Collins indicated they were about to return to Hunsford, Mr Darcy said his farewells and told his mother-in-law he was going upstairs to check on his children. Instead, he waited in the vestibule, and while Mr And Mrs. Collins were putting on their outer garments, he whispered to Elizabeth, "We need to talk. Do you walk at dawn here in Kent?"

"No, without Caliban, and being unfamiliar with the terrain, I am not brave enough. I do walk before breakfast, but after sunrise."

"What is your favourite path?"

"I like to end at the open grove with the toppled tree that makes an enjoyable seat for reading."

"I will meet you there tomorrow."

Elizabeth nodded her agreement.

Elizabeth arrived at the grove before Mr. Darcy. She sat on the log and spent the wait perusing Jane's last letter, and dwelling on some passages which proved that Jane had not written in spirits. Elizabeth expected sadness from her sister, but her mood was enhanced with anger, cynicism and even hysteria at times. She hoped her conversation with Mr. Darcy could perhaps allow her to raise her fears for her sister with him. She had been very deceived as to Mr. Bingley's character, and knew not what to make of him. The passage that worried her most said,

I have sent numerous communications to his townhouse informing Miss Bingley I was in town. For the first month, I received not a note, not a line. Finally, last week, Caroline sent a rather curt response. She made a slight apology for not responding earlier, but it was very evident she had no pleasure in it. Not a word was said of wishing to see me, and she seemed to delight in telling me her brother knew of my being in town. Once again, she relayed how busy he was, and his partiality to Miss Darcy. I knew that to be a deliberate falsification, because Mary had written of her being in Kent since February. I learned from both your letters how close a relationship you have developed with Miss Darcy; and both of you have stated she never mentions Mr Bingley. I do not at all comprehend Caroline's reason for wishing to be intimate with me while in Hertfordshire, nor Mr Bingley's reason for pretending he felt affection for me. I should be almost tempted to say that there is a strong appearance of duplicity in all this. Am I wrong to feel he owes me an explanation? Even George told me he was forced by circumstances to leave because he needed to marry someone with a fortune. I am disheartened that I misread Mr Bingley so completely. He admitted during our private conversations that he was thought of as fickle and feckless by Mr Darcy and his sisters, but that since meeting me, he wanted to change those behaviours. He wanted to become the kind of steady gentleman who could manage an estate and make it prosper. I trusted him, and I am now persuaded it is useless to trust any man. I believe I should develop my ability to break some hearts.

Mr. Darcy came into view, and Elizabeth refolded the letter and put it in her pocket. He seemed to be rehearsing a speech.

"Miss Elizabeth, I have come to beg your forgiveness." His speech was stilted and it was difficult to tell whether he was sincere. "I have been naïve and witless…."

Elizabeth started to laugh, and Mr. Darcy abruptly ceased speaking. He looked incredulously at her, and a hint of a scowl stole across his face.

"I am sorry to interrupt your apology with my laughter, but we must write Dr. Mesmer immediately. With your last statement, there is now positive proof you are able to read my mind."

"Naïve and witless is what Richard called me. He also said I was arrogant."

"Yes I have thought you arrogant, but insufferable is my favourite word for you."

"Yes, you said I was insufferable that day on Oakham Mount. I heard you after I had started down the hill. You also told Caliban that Mrs Darcy had not confessed. She tried to do so as she was dying, but was unintelligible. My speculations about what she was trying to tell me might have been erroneous. After hearing you, I surmised her guilt was about coercing you to relinquish Bethany. Richard has enlightened me about his brother's depravity, and I now believe her confession was about her involvement with your rape."

At that word, Elizabeth shuddered. For so long, all she had wanted was for him to acknowledge she was justified to desire retribution; but she had not expected to feel mortified that he might now be able to imagine her humiliation. Quickly lowering her eyes to avoid his probing gaze, she feared he would see her shame. It was unbearable that he might now realize that she had not fought, nor cried out; and had even helped by undressing. Elizabeth knew he expected her to speak, but her head remained bowed and her voice was barely audible as she said, "She left me alone, and Lord Wolfbridge came in. I tried to leave, but the door was locked. I did not know what to do."

Darcy wished she would look at him. He found it difficult to relay the depth of his remorse with his voice. He wished he could hold her and whisper his apology, but he knew that was impossible. His voice trembled with great emotion as he stated, "My family treated you abominably. You had every right to be angry, seek revenge and ask for money. I have been intolerably rude to call you mercenary." Richard's words describing the petrified child praying for any opportunity to salvage the reputation of her sisters reverberated in his head. He sat down on the log at a respectable distance. She might be crying, but he was unsure. Waiting was all he could think to do because he was out of words.

Elizabeth was certain she would never be able to tell anyone--especially Mr Darcy--the entirety of her ordeal. She was relieved Richard had assumed the responsibility of the ugly disclosure to his 'naïve and witless' cousin. She choked back a giggle when she recalled their identical description, and resolved as she studied the ground, to move the conversation to their shared responsibility for hiding the truth. She composed herself by thinking of Bethany, Georgiana, Jane, Lydia--and even Lewis. She and Mr Darcy had to protect them from any scandal. All deserved the best life could offer.

After what seemed like hours, but was only minutes, she looked up at him and said; "I thank you for your apology. All I have ever wanted was for you to not think ill of me because I demanded money. As we have spoken of before, I have determined that it was an unwise gesture; but I still believe my action was just. You were not wrong to believe I felt coerced by Mrs Darcy to give up Bethany, and that definitely overshadowed her role in my… eh violation. The similarity between Bethany and myself would not be quite so suspicious if she had been raised as my cousin."

Elizabeth grinned at him. "I do not believe Lady Catherine has discovered our secret. She only seems to notice things relating to her own consequence. But, you would not believe my panic after both Mary and Georgiana figured out my relationship to Bethany… the first day I arrived in Kent. You should know that both assumed you were her father, and she was the result of an affair. I was mortified that they would think us so wanton… a fifteen year-old and a married man. I had to tell them the truth."

Elizabeth paused before she continued speaking. "Mary has told Mr. Collins, and he has been quite supportive. He has developed a ferocity for defending my family that I would not have thought possible. You witnessed his defence last night with regards my sister and Mr. Reynolds. I am surmising you told the Colonel." Elizabeth looked reflective before she spoke again. "Once our bargain was made, I should not have left her the cross; Anne should not have named her Elizabeth, and who would have imagined she would have my eyes and hair." Elizabeth laughed at Mr. Darcy's look of consternation. "Our sisters came up with the disguise. They were quite resourceful… were they not?"

Darcy was relieved they were reverting to teasing banter. He knew much had not been spoken, but he also sensed she was unable to reveal the details of her ordeal. He fell into her mood and said, "Yes, they were ingenious, but I find it frustrating seeing you this way."

Without thinking, she reverted to flirting with him. Her look was coy as she said, "Which is the greater loss… my hair or my assets? Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed not to notice my diminished looks." Elizabeth's eyes twinkled as she added, "He is very charming. Are you certain we can trust him?"

Darcy fought back his jealousy. His reply was solemn. "You need not fear, Colonel Fitzwilliam despises his brother as much or more than you. He is in love with Lady Eleanor, and they loved each other before she married. The agony of losing Richard to war first caused her to waver in her constancy. Though Edmund knew of their attachment, he still pursued her. We all know how charming he can be, and she eventually succumbed to his appeal. Lady Eleanor had no idea how dishonourable he is until after they were wed. Her father was also very persistent in his persuasion. He wanted the prestige of having a daughter who was a countess."

Elizabeth's twinkle had been extinguished by his words, and her face reflected the guilt she felt about Lady Eleanor. "I should have told her father of the Viscount's depravity. My fear for my own reputation has ruined two more lives."

"You are not guilty! Edmund ruined all your lives; and according to Richard, her father would not have heeded your warning. He was determined to buy a title for his daughter, whether she wanted it or not. You and your family saved Miss King. I was too wrapped up in my own jealousy and resentment to give a fig for the inhabitants of Hertfordshire. When I read of your concern for Georgiana, I knew what a truly good woman you are, and my respect for you is without parallel among my acquaintances."

He hid from her the knowledge that his desire to hold her and comfort her was also without parallel.

Darcy and Elizabeth agreed that morning in the grove that she would continue to wear her disguise in Lady Catherine's presence. Darcy confirmed what Elizabeth already believed… his aunt rarely spent much time thinking about others, so it was doubtful she would notice the resemblance between her granddaughter and Elizabeth. Still, better to be prudent than provoke her wrath.

In the days that followed, the Hunsford and Rosings inhabitants, with the exception of Lady Catherine, spent many hours together. Once again, Elizabeth was reminded of a carefree time before… days spent with Jane, Charlotte, Becky... and Tom. There was much kite flying, singing, pianoforte and Irish whistle playing, storytelling, reading, twirling and jumping. Richard and Mr Collins were impressed with Elizabeth's expertise with the bandelore, while Bethany and Lewis clamoured for her to teach them how to use it. What Lizzy relished the most was all the smiles, grins and the abundance of laughter that had returned to her daily routine.

Mary's birthday was Tuesday, the 24th of March. The Hunsford party invited the guests at Rosings to celebrate with a picnic. Lady Catherine was invited, but declined after first chastising her nephews for spending so much time with her parson, his wife and her sister. She felt too much fraternizing with those beneath them was not the proper example for her grandchildren.

Mr. Collins organized the festivities despite it being Holy Week. His sermon was ready for Easter Sunday. He and Mary had written it together. With the benefit of her skilful prose, it would be a very uplifting tribute to the hope of redemption that the season celebrated. Now he was free to enjoy his wife's birthday to the fullest. Mr. Darcy arranged transportation to the grove--which he and Elizabeth had become so fond. Mr. Collins had already sent Rose, Millie and Gerard, one of Lady Catherine's footmen, to the spot with baskets of cold meat, salads and Rose's special cake studded with currants and redolent with almonds and rosewater. His special treat for the adults was several bottles of his own elderberry wine. It was known to deliver a kick, despite its sweetness.

When the party from Rosings arrived, Mr. Collins had all descend from the conveyances. He wanted to show them his present to Mary. He directed them to the small heart shaped bed outlined with stones in the front garden. Growing inside was a mass of grape hyacinths spelling out "Mary." He told how he had hurried back to Hunsford last fall, as soon as he became engaged, and planted the bed. He chuckled as he revealed that it had been very difficult to keep it a secret, and then, as by miracle from God, they had popped their heads out of the ground just over a fortnight ago and were now in full flower on this most wonderful of occasions. The entire assemblage could not believe what a romantic this man, so many had dismissed as Lady Catherine's toady, had become. Bethany and Lewis begged him to plant their names for next Easter. With thoughts of the birth of his own child--he agreed.

Blankets were spread and pillows scattered. The food was passed and the wine was poured. After the meal, Mr. Darcy initiated the giving of gifts by informing Mary that the pianoforte in the governess' room was being moved to Hunsford today. It would be waiting for her in her private parlour--per Mr Collins' instructions--when she returned home. If she preferred a different room, Mr Darcy informed her he would see that it was moved. Elizabeth gave her sister a beautiful cashmere shawl she had bought while in London. It was a mossy green in colour, and Mary could not believe the softness of the wool. Georgiana gave her dear friend a straw bonnet with ribbons that matched her new shawl. Lewis and Bethany had painted pictures for her with the help of Georgiana. Lewis had painted a pony, and Bethany had depicted one of the many cherry trees that were in bloom in the grove. Mary exclaimed she would look beautiful at Easter services, and would display the pictures in her private parlour. They would inspire her; and she would remember the dear ones who had drawn them, as she practised the pianoforte.

Again Mr Collins amazed those assembled by making flower wreaths for the ladies to wear. Elizabeth removed her bonnet and chose a circlet of violets and wild pansies, and then placed a matching one on the head of her daughter. Mr. Darcy was moved by her simple gesture. Suddenly, he felt as if it was his birthday. The full impact of seeing Elizabeth without her disguise hit him. She was even more beautiful than he had dreamed, because those rebellious curls he so loved were escaping the pins holding them in place. Whenever Lady Catherine was not in attendance, she had begun forgoing the spectacles, and these last few days he had even seen those flecks of light shine from her eyes on several occasions.

The day was warm for March, and Lizzy, who was feeling both the sun's rays and the wine, removed her shawl. She caught the Colonel grinning at his cousin's reaction. Mr Darcy was feasting his eyes on the sight of her frock without a collar. To Lizzy his face reminded her of a child anticipating a sweet, and she recalled seeing this look several times in Hertfordshire.

Elizabeth, Georgiana, Lewis and Bethany had practiced a recital for Mary and those at the picnic. They performed The Bells of London rhyme alternating the refrains.

As they neared the end, it was time for Lewis to say his one line. Unable to keep from giggling, he proclaimed quite loudly, "I do not know say the great bell of Bow." They all concluded with "Gay go up and gay go down to ring the bells of London Town."

The applause of their audience was great, and the Colonel yelled out "bravo" several times. Elizabeth noticed that Mr. Darcy had a loving expression on his face for the performers. She was a little tipsy, so the thought that ran through her mind was what an improvement it was to that stony countenance he often wore.

Bethany and Lewis fell asleep between Lizzy and their father on one of the blankets. The rest of the group were scattered about the grove. Darcy was telling Elizabeth stories of their midsummer picnics. He tried to look very stern as he said, "Last summer, Bethany persuaded Lewis and Sian to take off their clothes, and only wear the wings attached to a harness the Countess had made for them. Bethany showed them the bookplate in the worn copy of the play my mother had given me as a boy. The picture depicted naked fairies, and Bethany insisted they must be accurate in their portrayal. They waited to make their entrance behind several bushes, and when it was time, the assembly gasped in a mixture of horror and amazement as they leaped out into view. I was mortified, but continued on with my lines. All I could think of was…"

Elizabeth interrupted him by saying. "I know… you wished at that moment you could give her back."

Darcy laughed loud enough to cause Bethany to stir. He whispered, "Yes, something like that." He noticed that the sparkle in Elizabeth's eyes was replaced by a look of concern, and knew the cause of her distress. "Do not worry, Edmund was not there."

Soon after the adults noticed changes to the sky, and Mr. Collins, who was himself a little tipsy pronounced, "From the heavens the Lord sends his lightning." Mary laughed that spirits had unleashed her husband's predilection for pretentious prose. Those assembled agreed with the parson that the Lord had indeed sent them lightning, and the rain could not be far behind.

They hurriedly packed up and headed home. Lizzy was in a curricle with Mr Darcy, Lewis and Bethany. In their hurry, she had not put on her shawl or bonnet, and her hair had slipped its moorings even more. Lewis was on her lap, and Bethany cuddled into her side. During the ride, the three fell asleep. In her slumber, Elizabeth nestled against Mr Darcy--Elderberry wine and fatigue having removed her inhibitions.

In that instant, Darcy absolutely knew, this was what he wanted. This time, nothing would keep him from his goal.

He drove first to Rosings, so Millie could settle the children in the nursery for a nap. Once awake, Elizabeth disengaged herself and sat apart from him, a look of chagrin in her eyes. The absence of her warmth left him feeling bereft

From an upstairs window, Lady Catherine, observed her son-in-law's arrival. She noticed his frequent glances at Miss Elizabeth's bosom, and the daft smile he was wearing. He did not seem to be at all appalled by her unkempt hair.

Darcy was imagining that state which would allow her body to be next to his without fear of society's disapproval. Now all he needed were the appropriate words and the courage to broach the topic.

Posted on: 2011-01-08

Chapter 43 – Oh, What a Day

Elizabeth awoke the Monday after Easter with cramping due to her courses. She contemplated asking Rose for a hot water bottle and remaining in bed for the day, but she knew from experience, moving around would lessen the duration of her pain. Some blankets and pillows, as well as a basket, belonging to Rosings were still at Hunsford. She decided to return them before setting out for her pre breakfast walk to the grove.

As she was giving the basket filled with the blankets and a pillow to Gerard, Lady Catherine entered the vestibule. "Miss Bennet, please come with me. I have an urgent matter I must discuss with you."

Elizabeth followed her down the hall to a small sitting room. Lady Catherine locked the door after they had entered. Elizabeth shuddered with the recollection of another locked door, and had a premonition this encounter would not be pleasant.

Elizabeth was in too much pain to make an effort to converse with this woman who seemed even more insolent and disagreeable than usual. Mr Darcy's arrogance was nothing in comparison to his aunt. She would have to compliment him at some point for his well regulated pride… especially if it came from the same Fitzwilliam source as Lady Catherine's.

As soon as they were settled, Lady Catherine began, "You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason for my insisting on a meeting. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I demand it."

Elizabeth looked at her with unaffected astonishment. "Indeed, you are mistaken, madam. I am not able to account for your request."

"Miss Bennet," replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "you ought to know that I am not to be trifled with. But, however disingenous you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness. Last week I happened to be looking out a window and viewed a most alarming sight. You were without bonnet, hair unkempt, bosom exposed, curled into my son-in-law's side with my grandson on your lap and my granddaughter nestled against you. Yesterday after services, I overheard my niece and nephew discussing the possibility of Mr Darcy proposing to you. He will never consider marrying you. I am certain they were just indulging in idle conjecture, as both are wont to do when not adequately occupied. Despite their foolishness, I instantly resolved on confronting you with both the spectacle you made in front of my servants and this gossip you are generating among my relatives."

"If you believe Mr Darcy would never consider marriage to me," said Elizabeth, colouring with astonishment and annoyance, "I wonder you took the trouble of confronting me. What could your Ladyship hope to achieve?"

"I insist upon having my niece and nephew's nonsensical speculation contradicted by you."

"I think your queries are to the wrong person. Should you not ask Mr Darcy if he has plans to marry me?"

"If I did ask him, and he said no, can you likewise declare that you are making no effort to entice him?"

Elizabeth responded to this question with a look of disdain equal to Lady Catherine's. Her green eyes glittering with anger.

"This is not to be borne! Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has my son-in-law made you an offer of marriage?"

"Your Ladyship has declared it to be impossible."

"I fear he may no longer retain the use of his reason. Your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, make him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family."

Elizabeth refused to tell Lady Catherine she planned never to marry. Instead she said, "I will make no promise of any kind with regard Mr Darcy."

"Miss Bennet, I am not accustomed to such obstinance as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, and I am entitled to know all his dearest concerns."

"But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behaviour as this, ever induce me to reveal them to you."

"Let me make certain you understand. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place… no, never. You will leave Kent immediately, and if you do not, I will take the living away from Mr Collins."

When she did not receive any reply to her threat, Lady Catherine stood up and walked to the window. "After seeing your vulgar display from here, I sent an express to my brother in London to determine whether they had ever heard of you. I received a reply from my nephew, the Viscount Wolfbridge, and his report of you is scandalous. He has heard rumours from reliable sources that you are a wanton temptress who demanded money six years ago. He says you seduced someone from one of the best families in England and were paid twenty thousand pounds to leave the honourable young man alone."

Elizabeth thought of the knife in her reticule. She was certain she had murder in her eyes as she stood toe to toe with Lady Catherine and said, "If you do not unlock this door this instant, I will scream so loud that all of your servants and your family will know just how vulgar I can be."

Lady Catherine did as she was told, but shouted at Elizabeth's retreating back, "My son-in-law, my grandchildren will not be aligned with a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, who has greedy designs on those above her. Your sister is about to marry your father's steward and the nephew of my son-in-law's housekeeper. Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?"

Seething with anger while simultaneously trying to stave off sobs, Elizabeth ran toward the security of the grove. Once seated on the log she had shared with Mr Darcy during his apology, she finally allowed the release of her tears. Half an hour later, she was again calm and sensible and began to plan what she must do. Lord Wolfbridge's accusation was revolting and potentially damaging. Though Lady Catherine could not remove Mr Collins from his position, she could add to the stew of gossip that always seemed to plague Elizabeth. Bethany was at risk as well.

Her first decision was that it was better for everyone to make it appear she had complied. Perhaps, that would stay the tongue of the hateful woman. It was almost time for her to return to Longbourn, and no one would question why she left a little sooner than expected. Returning to Kent would be forever out of the question--just as London had been deemed out of bounds for her six years earlier. Mary and Mr Collins could instead visit frequently in Hertfordshire.

Tears threatened to spill again. Marriage had never been her desire. She had been indulging in foolish behaviour to which she had no right these past weeks. Elizabeth was so lost in her thoughts that she did not notice Colonel Fitzwilliam's approach. She forced a smile and said, "I did not know before that you ever walked this way."

"I have been making the tour of the park," he replied, "as I generally do when at Rosings, and I intended to close with a call at the parsonage. Are you going much farther?"

"No, I was only resting here before returning myself."

They walked towards Hunsford together.

Elizabeth began a conversation with the intention of getting some advance warning if the speculation of his cousin's proposal was true. "When do you leave Kent? I heard Mr Darcy mention Saturday?"

"Yes, if he does not put it off again. But I am at his disposal. He arranges our schedule just as he pleases. I have no quarrel with his plans, as I am currently without assignment, and enjoy the company of my cousins, and Bethany and Lewis."

Elizabeth smiled at the recollection of Mr Darcy persuading Mr Bingley to include a waltz at his ball. "He does seem to take great pleasure in arranging things. He has at times been very definite in his plans, and he seems to take great pleasure in making choices for others. I do not know anybody who seems to enjoy the power of doing what he likes more than Mr Darcy."

"He most assuredly likes to have his own way," replied Colonel Fitzwilliam with humour. "But so do most of us. It is only that he has better means of achieving it than many others, because he is rich. I speak from experience. A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and dependence."

Elizabeth could hear cynicism and sadness mingled with his laughter. "Colonel, I owe you and your sister-in-law an apology. Mr Darcy said my disclosure about your brother would have made no difference, but I will forever feel that I should have tried to protect Lady Eleanor. Does she know of me?"

"She does, but not your name. Edmund confessed some things to her once during an argument, when he was drunk. Her compassion for you is great, and I wish the two of you could meet. You have similar personalities… irreverent and witty. She does not know about Bethany's parentage, but she is her Godmother, as I am her Godfather."

"Your cousin is an excellent father and a most loving brother. His success has been remarkable in raising Miss Darcy for one so young."

Colonel Fitzwilliam's chest swelled with pride. "He has not done that alone, as I am joined with him in the guardianship of Georgiana. We both appreciate the aid you and your sister have given her in restoring her to good spirits."

Elizabeth decided to seize the opportunity to query Colonel Fitzwilliam with regards her own sister's disappointment. "Before I met her here in Kent, I had been given the impression she was enamoured of Mr Darcy's friend Mr Bingley. His sisters seemed to assume that connection, although she has never mentioned him to me. I think I have heard you say you know him and his sisters, Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley."

"I know his sisters a little. Their brother is a pleasant, gentlemanlike man, and he is a great friend of Darcy's. Georgiana has no affection that I know for Mr Bingley. Darcy believes her incautiously enamoured with another. That is one of the reasons he insisted she remove to Kent in February. He believes the man too old for her."

Elizabeth felt another surge of anger course through her body. The Colonel's assumption about Darcy's interference in the friendship between Jamie and Georgiana made her remember the role she suspected him of playing in persuading Mr Bingley to abandon Netherfield. As the Colonel seemed unaware of her motive, she felt confident in continuing her intelligence gathering. "My observation is that your cousin is uncommonly kind to Mr Bingley and is always vigilant in looking out for his interests."

"Yes, I believe he does take care of him in those points where he most wants care. From something, Darcy told me when he first came to London last winter; I have reason to believe his affable friend very much indebted to him. But I ought to beg his pardon, for I have no right to suppose that Bingley was the person meant. It was all conjecture."

"What is it you mean?"

"It is a circumstance which Darcy, of course, would not wish to be known, because he seemed to think it to be an unpleasant thing, if his actions got round to the lady's family."

"You may depend upon my not mentioning it."

"And remember that I have not much reason for supposing it to be Bingley. What he told me was merely that he had lately saved a friend from the inconvenience of a most imprudent marriage, but without mentioning names or any other particulars. I suspected it to be Bingley from believing him the kind of young man to get into a scrape of that sort, and from knowing them to have recently been together."

"Did Mr. Darcy give you his reasons for this interference?"

He said at the time, he persuaded Mr Bingley of the unsuitability of the lady. He said he believed there to be evidence to support her being a fortune hunter."

"And what argument did he use to separate them?"

"He did not talk to me of his words," said Fitzwilliam, smiling. "He only told me what I have now told you. I will add that he seemed a bit unsure whether his conduct was justified, but related that it was too late to undo his actions."

Elizabeth made no answer, and walked on, her heart swelling with indignation. After watching her a little, Fitzwilliam asked her why she was so thoughtful.

"I am thinking of what you have been telling me. Your cousin's conduct does not suit me. We have had a similar disagreement in the past. Why was he to be the judge of her intentions?"

"You are rather disposed to call his action officious?"

"I do not see what right Mr Darcy had to decide on the sincerity of his friend's inclination, or why, upon his own judgment alone, he was to determine and direct in what manner that friend was to be happy; but as we know none of the particulars, it is not fair to condemn him." She laughed and smiled before she added, "I suppose there was not much affection in the case, or his friend would not have been so easily persuaded."

Though her observation was spoken jestingly; the Colonel's good humour completely evaporated as he pondered her words about the lack of constancy in those who bent to the influence of others when making decisions. They walked in silence for several minutes.

On Elizabeth's part, the portrait of Mr Darcy the Colonel's words had revealed increased her resentment--to the point that she could not trust herself with more discourse on the topic. She decided to change the conversation, talking on indifferent matters until they reached the parsonage. Once in the solitude of her own room, she began to think of all that she had heard. Surely, it was not to be supposed that any other people could be meant than her sister and Mr Bingley. There could not exist in the world two men, over whom Mr. Darcy could have such boundless influence.

That he had seemed a tad remorseful in the measures taken to separate his friend from Jane meant nothing to her. He seemed to stumble through her life creating turmoil and trouble. She was now certain it had been his persuasive arguments delivered in retaliation for his jealous misunderstanding of her that were the cause of all that Jane had suffered--and continued to suffer. That prideful man's capricious behaviour had ruined every hope of happiness for the most affectionate, generous heart in the world; and no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted.

And now this dubious expert on love and marriage was interfering once again. She knew Georgiana and Jamie well enough to know they were suited. Yes, he was twice her age, but he was a very robust two and thirty. His sister would hardly be condemning herself to nurse him in the sick room. Her insufferable brother seemed to prefer a marriage of convenience like his for dear Georgie.

The distress she was feeling caused her to skip breakfast and luncheon. Later, when the post was delivered, she was pleasantly surprised to receive a letter from Jane. She told Mary of her plans to stay in her room until she was feeling better. Elizabeth hoped for good news in her sister's correspondence, and perhaps it would ease the headache that had been brought on by the morning's agitation and tears. She doubted the letter could end the cramping from her courses, but no more pain in her head would be at least one step toward recovery. They had all been invited to Rosings for tea, and as Elizabeth did not want to encounter Mr Darcy or Lady Catherine, she asked Mary to make her excuses and tell all she was feeling unwell.

The letter was anything but good news. There were once again passages that displayed evidence of Jane's altered attitude, but toward the end of the letter Elizabeth read something that caused her to panic.

I saw Mr. Bingley at a ball Becky and I attended with Lord and Lady Hastings. He was there with his sisters and Mr Hurst. Miss Bingley was busily trying to ignore me. She seemed quite perturbed that I was present, and from a distance, it appeared she was trying to encourage her brother to leave. He did not, but boldly presented himself with one of his amiable smiles and asked me to dance. Not for a minute did I believe his pathetic lies that he did not know I was in town. I was quite cold, as I related the numerous times I had written, and of his sister writing once to relate how extremely busy he was, and that none in his family had time for me. With that, I refused to dance and turned my back on him and walked away. Elizabeth, do you believe that he actually put on a sad face and acted as if he was the injured party.

Sir Gareth Hughes has become enamoured with our Becky, and she with him. His wife died in childbirth four years ago. Lady Hughes had been one of Aunt Gardiner's closest friends, and was Cousin Susan's Godmother. I recall you writing from London that you met them. He remembers you fondly and is a close friend of both Mr Darcy and Dr Wilder. Lately all social functions we attend are meant to provide Sir Gareth and Becky an excuse to be in each other's presence. After I cut Mr Bingley, I could not continue to dance, but I did not wish to leave the ball for Becky's sake. I had a most enjoyable evening chatting with several new acquaintances. Lady Isabella introduced me to Mr Darcy's uncle, the Earl of Elderton, and his cousin, the Viscount Wolfbridge. What charming and handsome men! I told them I had met Mr Darcy in Hertfordshire, and the Viscount, in particular, seemed quite interested in our family. Lord Hastings and Lady Isabella are long time acquaintances and we have all been invited to their house in town for tea on Wednesday next. Becky and I are finally making some quality connections.

Lizzy became almost blinded by pain and fear. She hurried downstairs to see if her sister was still at home. It would be necessary to leave tomorrow so she could be in London before Wednesday. There was no time to communicate with her Uncle Gardiner to send his carriage. The post would have to be her method of transportation. She believed it left at ten from Hunsford village.

Rose said Mary and Mr Collins had left a half an hour ago. Elizabeth was pacing and wondering whether she should go to Rosings and fetch her sister when Mr Darcy was shown into the drawing room. Elizabeth looked at him in horror.

He knew not what to make of her reaction, but he had rehearsed his words all last night, and was determined to carry out his mission. "Miss Elizabeth, I refuse to repress my feelings for you any longer. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

"No, Please, Please No--Mr Darcy, you must cease speaking immediately! I cannot believe this is happening now." Lizzy's tone and face expressed her extreme exasperation with the circumstances. She saw that Darcy looked stricken.

Swallowing, she cleared her throat, shrugged her shoulders and then began again--this time she resolved to remain calm. "I have told you many times that I have no intention of marrying. Please accept my apology that I am unable to refuse you politely. I am certain you mean well, but three times today I have been assaulted by news from your family that has left me distressed. One of my sisters is in danger, and I need to prepare to leave for London immediately."

Mr. Darcy looked shocked that he was not to be given the courtesy of an explanation for his rejection. He continued despite Elizabeth's request that he not, "I do not understand why you are unable to speak with civility. I have spent time with you in Hertfordshire and again here in Kent. I assure you I love you despite my earlier misgivings. I know you love Bethany and Lewis, and they love you. Our marriage would allow you to be with your daughter."

"Oh, Oh why am I so cursed? If I was not so distressed, I would laugh at you for once again exhibiting those traits for which you are so famous. Mr. Darcy. I begged you not to do this. Now you have me teetering between hilarity at your blissful ignorance and fury at your arrogance and cruelty. Every prejudice that I have ever harboured against your family is bubbling to the surface. Even one as obtuse as you must now realize--my resentments are legion."

Elizabeth sat down in a chair and closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them, he was standing in front of her looking totally perplexed. She attempted to give him the answer he seemed to be requiring. "You confide that you love me despite your earlier misgivings. Well let me confess… I have misgivings about being connected to your disreputable family. Most are totally without honour, but yet they look down on everyone outside their circle."

Mr Darcy took a seat across from her and seemed to be considering her words. She resumed her explanation and struggled to keep her resentment at bay. "I have been a plaything that has been used and abused by some in your family… and now you have condescended to love me. And from where does all your vast experience with the topic derive… from your marriage of convenience to Anne? You looked at my beautiful sister gazing demurely into the eyes of Mr Bingley as they whispered quietly of their hopes for the future, and knew without reservation, that was not love. Instead, according to Colonel Fitzwilliam, you decided that she was what a ruthless fortune hunter looks like."

Elizabeth's voice became wistful, "You are right; I do love Bethany and Lewis. I would give anything if the circumstances would allow me to be their mother. I have come to love Georgiana, and I would be proud to be her sister." She looked at the children's drawings and Mary's sampler as she whispered. "Sometimes I think under different circumstances I could have loved you," her voice hardened as she said, "but I also love Jane and Jamie. You broke my sister's heart… and I fear Mr Bingley's as well. I believe you are now trying to do the same thing to your own sister and Jamie."

Elizabeth's rage returned, and she looked defiantly at Mr. Darcy. With glittering eyes and raspy voice she fumed, "Your ridiculous aunt corners me and accuses me of luring you into marriage… and of course, it was because she saw me after the picnic. It was you who requested I not attend in disguise. I think your words were that you wanted to see me once while in Kent without spectacles, with my hair natural and in a gown without a collar. Once again, I agreed to your request--much as I complied with your desire to waltz with me. We both know what a disaster that was."

She saw his look of remorse, but it was too little too late to prevent her from raging on. "Lady Catherine accuses me of trying to get you to notice my allurements as an inducement… as if I have ever had to try to get you to notice them. She told me I must leave Kent, and threatens to take away the living from Mr Collins if I do not concede. Besides everything else, she thinks me too stupid to know she cannot do that. I am a bad influence on her grandchildren, and you and Georgiana, and if we were to marry, the shades of Pemberley would be polluted!"

Lizzy emitted a hollow laugh as she added, "And she has it on good authority from her nephew, the Viscount Wolfbridge, that I seduced an honourable young man from one of the best families in England and demanded twenty thousand pounds to leave him alone."

Elizabeth let out a very witchlike cackle. "What an arrogant, officious woman, Lady Catherine De Bourgh is. Her own daughter told me how overbearing she is. Mr Darcy, you have made me wish I had made it clear I plan never to marry." A decidedly unladylike snort preceded the reflection. "I should have enjoyed telling her you are nothing to me. At the time she was harassing me, all I could think to do was deny her the satisfaction of assuming she had intimidated me."

She put her head in her hands and sighed. When she resumed speaking, her voice was barely audible. "I received a letter from my sister Jane today. She is very vulnerable, because for the third time in her life she is broken-hearted This time, however, she is acting very recklessly. She publicly cut Mr Bingley at Lord Colton's ball, and then spent the evening talking to the charming and handsome Lord Wolfbridge. I am desperately afraid your despicable, predatory cousin is thinking he can have another bit of sport with a Bennet."

Her face exhibited momentary defiance, but then seemed to melt into madness. "If he hurts her, you need not fear. I will not ask for more money--I will kill him; and I do not care if they hang me." Her voice became ragged and hysterical. "I have a knife, and I am serious about my threat. What does it matter what happens to me? In so many ways, I am already dead. You, who have taken six years to get over your misgivings, will get the job of explaining to Bethany, Lewis and Georgiana why their friend was hanged."

Lizzy shook her head in disgust. "Now, if this was a Moliere play, the audience would laugh at me for being outrageously melodramatic and nonsensical. Why did you not leave me alone when I asked? I am completely out of control."

She sighed, and put her face in her hands once more. It was as if she had suddenly been deflated by some inner anguish, and she began to sob quietly.

Mr. Darcy sat helpless across from her. He tried to offer her his handkerchief, but she ignored him. Finally her sobs subsided, and she looked into his eyes. He saw neither fury nor madness. The haunted, look he had first seen during their walk to Cheapside had returned. He recalled that only a few days ago, during the picnic, he had seen those flecks of light he loved in her eyes… the light that had drawn him to her like a moth to a flame that night at the theatre. He was overwhelmed with guilt because she had spoken the truth. His family was the cause of her dead eyes.

Elizabeth spoke once more--her voice as dead as her eyes. "It is inexcusable that I have been so emotional. You deserve a full, civil explanation of why I plan never to marry. Please meet me in the grove tomorrow at dawn. I am sorry about the early hour, but I want to catch the post for London at ten. I need to go upstairs now, and start packing." Her voice became to tremble. "When Mary returns, she will hold me and rub my back. That is the Bennet sister method of comforting each other, and I am desperately in need of comfort.

Mr Darcy thought to himself how much he wished she would allow him to comfort her. How could he have not realized how abhorrent it would be for her to become part of his family? Fools rush in...

Posted on: 2011-01-12

Chapter 44 – The Lovesick Blues

Fitzwilliam Darcy remained at Hunsford parsonage after Elizabeth retired upstairs. He remained in the drawing room, waiting for the return of Mr and Mrs Collins. While walking about the room, trying to plan his words, he noticed the framed sampler. The embroidered quotation provoked a poignant memory of reading Mr Coleridge's verse to Bethany. She had touched his cheek and gazed at him with those blazing eyes she inherited from her mother. "How beautiful, Papa… you are great, and Lew and I are small, but still he loves us all." It was painful thinking about his daughter... her daughter, so he refocused his thoughts on his failings.

His renowned witlessness was first on his list. Of course she would not be like all the other women who swarmed around him when they learned of his income and heard about Pemberley, and now Rosings. Numerous times in his presence she had stated her intention of never marrying, but it was insufferable arrogance combined with naiveté that had caused him to conclude her words were simply another example of her decided opinions on display. He had not even stopped to think why she who had been raped by his cousin might be different. Of course she would have objections to his family.

He had loved her for what seemed like an eternity, and once the misgivings he had harboured for so long had faded, he thought only of making her his. Yes, he apologized, but without any real thought to how what she had endured might have affected her. Georgiana had lost confidence from Wickham's wooing her for personal gain, instead of the eternal love he so charmingly had promised. Richard's Esperanza had lost the will to live after being raped and beaten. What changes had Edmund's cruelty wrought in Elizabeth? The light in her eyes was rarely seen, and inevitably when he did occasionally observe it, he would rush to assume she was restored to that former joyous being… because that was what he wanted.

The day of the picnic was just such an occasion. She had been so happy, so easy with him, so loving toward Bethany, Lewis and Georgiana. She had even flirted a little, and fell asleep nestled into his side. All those signs had made him forge ahead to quickly bring to fruition his own happiness.

When Mr and Mrs Collins arrived back at the parsonage, they were surprised to see an ashen and agitated Mr Darcy waiting for them in their drawing room. Lady Catherine had informed them he had estate business to attend. That he was in their home, alone, looking unsettled and anxious made them apprehensive.

The urgency in Mr Darcy's voice was noticed by the couple as he said, "Mrs Collins, may I have a conference with you. Mr Collins may participate, but my questions are for you, and they are with regards to your sister."

Mr Collins said, "I will leave. There is no concern for propriety in the drawing room, since the doors are never closed. If you need more privacy, we can all three go to my study."

"I think we may need privacy."

Mrs Collins, realizing Mr Darcy had missed tea, asked Rose to bring refreshments to her husband's study. After she delivered some tea and some of her special cake, Mr Collins asked that they not be disturbed.

Mr Darcy began speaking. His voice shook as he formed the words. "Before I ask my questions, I should inform you, I proposed to Miss Elizabeth, and she rejected me. I would not ordinarily reveal such a personal failing, but my mortification is secondary to the distress your sister is experiencing as a result of my ill conceived action. She begged me to stop, but I refused to take heed. Lady Catherine abused her earlier today, and she heard frightening information of Lord Wolfbridge." Darcy looked at Mary with apprehension before his next admission. "Colonel Fitzwilliam confirmed what she suspected… that I was the cause of Mr Bingley abandoning your sister. She expressed a need to be comforted by you when she left me to go upstairs. Before you go to her, I need to know about Miss Bennet. I believe I have misjudged her."

Mary took in all that Mr. Darcy said, and asked with similar apprehension, "What exactly would you like to know?"

"Your mother said she was destined to be mistress of Netherfield. Is that her desire or your mother's?"

Mary did not answer quickly. She paused to collect her thoughts as to the proper approach. "Mr Darcy, I am unable to give you a simple answer. If you are willing to listen, I think I would like to tell you a story."

Darcy nodded for Mary to go ahead.

"Every morning before I do anything else, I say a prayer for my two older sisters. When I was eleven, never would I have guessed either would have needed divine intervention. To me they led charmed lives. Jane was, and still is, the most beautiful creature, and her heart has always been as beautiful as her countenance. Lizzy is smart, witty and utterly fearless--except for horses. I still remember her as the most joyful of all God's children."

Mary was inwardly chuckling at the remembrance of Lizzy's fear of horses, when she noticed a flicker of pain cross Mr Darcy's pale expressionless face. "I was the odd child… the middle child. Jane and Lizzy were a pair and Kitty and Lydia became inseparable. Jane was my mother's favourite, and Lizzy was my father's. All this is probably the reason I turned to God for comfort." Mary smiled lovingly at Mr Collins before she continued. "My point is not that my older sisters were cruel to me. They often included me in their adventures. It is just that I was in awe of them, and felt myself plain and dull by comparison. Truth be told, some of my reputation for self-righteousness among my sisters might have been the result of jealousy."

Mary's face reflected her search of the past. "Thomas Trent was the only boy, and the leader of Jane and Lizzy's group of friends. Charlotte Lucas, now Forster, was the oldest and the protector of the group… mainly that meant curtailing Lizzy's tendencies to climb trees. Becky Trent is Lizzy's age, so she was always included, but I am a year and a half younger. I was not old enough to participate when they first became fast friends."

Mrs Collins studied Mr Darcy's face to see what he thought of her tale. He was inscrutable as ever, but she thought she might have seen some amusement at Lizzy's tree climbing. "Jane and Tom had been very close since Jane was four and Tom was five. As a child, I imagined they were brought together by God in his wisdom. But, in truth, it all happened because Lizzy caught measles." Mary halted again in fear her audience might be annoyed by such a long explanation of their family's history. But, Mr Darcy's interest had seemed to increase when she mentioned her sister's illness. "The story has been told so many times by both my father and Sir Walter Trent, that I sometimes believe I remember it happening, but I know that to be impossible since I was only one. However, my mother is very excitable, so my father's story of her panic rings true. In Mama's defence, she loves her children fiercely and wants what she thinks is best for us."

Mary's thoughts drifted toward her own impending motherhood. She hoped she could learn to keep at bay those motherly tendencies that had often been stressful to her. "Despite my father's love of embellishment, I think this a true account of the incident. Mama was petrified that all her children were going to die, once Lizzy became ill. Papa did his best to calm her; but soon Jane and I were ensconced in the nursery at Netherfield. Jane, having heard the wailings about Lizzy, became frightened that something dire was about to happen to her little sister. She would not stop sobbing, and the nanny went to find Lady Trent. When she arrived in the nursery, Jane and Tom were lying on the floor and Jane was rubbing his head. Tom had shown her a dip in his scalp, and the feel of it had calmed her fear."

"He had a dip in his scalp?" Darcy immediately thought of Bingley's similar oddity.

Darcy had looked startled by her revelation. She worried that he thought the image she had painted to be improper, but he had asked to understand. There was defiance in her voice as she stated, "Yes, and Jane continued to rub his head right up until propriety demanded she stop. Her contention was that it was soothing. They became practically inseparable, and begged their parents to let them see each other often. Soon they were old enough to put themselves in each other's company." Mary softened and smiled at her memories. "Their affection blossomed beyond her delight with his concave head, and his appreciation for her golden curls and blue eyes. She looks the most like my mother, who had been a real beauty in her youth, and Sir Walter had been her greatest admirer. He did not marry her because of her lack of connections and significant dowry, but I do not think he has every stopped admiring my mother. Nothing improper, mind you… my father is his best friend. Tom was like his father, he admired Jane's beauty as his father had admired my mother's, but he also loved her inner beauty… her serenity and her kind heart."

Mary took a sip of tea before continuing, "As Tom matured, he became very interested in the management of Netherfield. In that respect, he took after his mother, and was a very serious and sensible young man. As his interest in the estate developed, so did Jane's. He knew Netherfield was not on a sound financial footing, and he began imagining and sharing with Jane things he would do to improve revenues once he was of age. They were destined to have the kind of marriage you so eloquently described recently with regards Kitty and Mr. Reynolds." Mary looked to pull the exact wording from her memory… "Strong affection, admiration, respect and common purpose."

Mary captured the proud man's eyes. "Mr Darcy, I hope I am not boring you with my long explanation of Jane's feelings about Netherfield. She does care very much about the estate, but I am trying to help you understand it is not as a crass opportunist." He gave her another nod. and she picked up the story again. "Every day Jane and Tom went out riding, and they used their rides to visit tenants and notice things that needed to be repaired. One day, when Tom was fifteen and Jane fourteen, they visited a tenant whose little boy was sick with a cold. Tom and Jane quarrelled over whether to call in the apothecary. Jane said, no, it was only a trifling cold, and she would have Mrs Hill make up some hearty broth and have it delivered to the family. Tom feared it had settled in the child's lungs. That night, Tom took sick, and the cold brought on a fierce fever. The tenant's son survived, but Tom died on the third day."

Darcy saw tears in Mrs Collins's eyes. Mr Collins, who had been holding her hand, noticed her distress, and tightened his grip. "Both of our families were devastated. He was the hope to save my mother and my sisters from our financially precarious situation with the entail. If Tom and Jane had married, we knew we would always have a home at Netherfield. Tom had been his father's hope to save the estate that had been in his family for more than a century. After his son's death, Sir Walter's will to prevail at estate management, which had never been very strong, was lost. As you know, he has been forced to cut expenses by moving to Bath and leasing his estate. Mr Richards, Netherfield's steward, relies on my sister's aid. She still visits the tenants and checks for things that need fixing when she is out on her solitary rides. One of my sisters rides, and the other walks to soothe their pain and guilt."

Mary's face took on concern for how this arrogant man would react to her next revelation. "My mother became obsessed with ensuring her daughters married well. Her favourite refrain was telling us that when my father died, Mr Collins would force us out into the hedgerows." Mary squeezed her husband's hand and gave him a loving smile. "She pushed Jane to be out soon after Tom's death. That same year, Netherfield was visited by Sir Walter's nephew, George. With Tom's death, George was next in line to the baronetcy, but the estate was not part of the legacy. In my estimation, he came to Hertfordshire with the hopes he might persuade his cousin to marry him; but Becky was not interested. She felt he had inherited much more of the Trent tendency to be shallow than she wanted in a husband. Instead George Trent fell in love with Jane's beauty. Since he had little money, he soon realized that marrying a young lady with a small dowry was not in his best interest. He left her with a few sonnets and Jane felt little discomfort."

She remembered how lost her sister had been when George had returned, and the reason Lizzy had not been there to help her. The anger she felt for Mr Darcy's cousin and wife over came her anxiety about her mother's crass behaviour. "When George Trent came back and renewed his acquaintance with Jane, Elizabeth was away... "

Mr Darcy closed his eyes with a shudder but nodded for Mary to continue.

"My mother was relentless in pushing Jane to accept his attentions. My sister desperately needed her best friend and confidante's sensible approach to things to help her sort out her feelings. My mother was relentless, and in the end, Jane finally became persuaded she loved George. Just as that happened, he of course left to pursue a wife with money. Jane was devastated, and swore she would never give her heart away again. The irony of his abandonment is that Sir Walter loves Jane and thinks of her as a second daughter. As my mother surmised, he probably would have changed his will to leave Netherfield to George had he married Jane… provided, of course, Becky married well."

Mary's gaze directed at Mr Darcy shifted to exhibit a bit of accusation. "When Mr Bingley came, Jane resisted his admiration for several weeks. He looked nothing like Tom, but we, who know her best, could tell she admired his easy amiable manners. When she was ill at Netherfield, they had several talks, and he told her of his desire to settle down, and become serious about owning and managing an estate. Reminiscent of Jane and Tom's practice, they began riding together daily. According to Jane, she told Mr Bingley about her role in helping Mr Richards. To her, his admiration deepened from just a shallow attraction to her beauty to the realization there was a great deal to respect about her. He was particularly impressed that she had begun selling her fragrances to have funds to pay the apothecary when Netherfield's tenants took ill. After Mr Bingley left, and Sir Walter told her he probably would not return; she was devastated. Once again her fragile heart was broken, and with Mr Bingley, all her confidence in men, and her ability to judge them, departed."

Mary took a sip of tea and cleared her throat from the emotion that had accumulated during her rendition. "Mr Darcy, I gave you the long explanation. The short answer to your question is, yes, Jane would like to be mistress of Netherfield. She would like to have the love and life she envisioned as a very young girl on the brink of adulthood. However, I do not believe her affection for Mr Bingley required his purchase of Netherfield. It was conditional on his offering a similar deep affection to that which she lost. We are all worried for her because she no longer thinks love possible… she has lost that most precious commodity… hope."

Darcy spoke for the first time. "Mrs Collins, thank you for helping a naïve, witless man understand. As a man, I have never considered the life of women… living at home, quiet, confined, waiting for love to be offered. From a very young age, I have always had pursuits, or business of some sort or other, to take me out into the world. Once my mother died, my view of marriage was merely a duty that civilized society required of me. However, one day I went to the theatre, and since then, because of the other sister you pray for, I have been in a six-year state of confusion. I hope I am not too late to save your oldest sister from my dastardly family. Would you ask Miss Elizabeth if I could see Miss Bennet's letters? I need to know the particulars of what is happening to her so I can devise a plan."

Mary agreed to his request and went upstairs to talk with her sister. Promising she would be back soon, she asked and was granted the right to peruse Jane's letters. She did not tell her of Mr Darcy's desire to see them, but only of her need. Elizabeth agreed, and once Mary was back in Mr Darcy's presence, she read the relevant passages to him.

Darcy, still looking as pale as when they arrived home, stood and said to hosts, "I must speak with my cousin and my sister, so I will take my leave. Thank you both for helping me find my way through this wasteland of feelings I have avoided for so long."

Fitzwilliam Darcy found his cousin in the library at Rosings. He stormed into the room declaring, "Richard, I need your help."

Richard Fitzwilliam had never seen Darcy so agitated. He was ashen and shaking. Unable to tell whether the emotion exhibited was an extreme form of sadness, anger or something different, he studied his cousin. The Colonel was reminded of soldiers' faces when they realized they were mortally wounded. There was always a mixture of vulnerability, shock, and an inability to comprehend what was happening to them reflected in their faces. Darcy had that and something else… He looked guilty.

Richard poured each of them a glass of brandy, and encouraged his cousin to sit and drink before he began talking. They sat in silence for at least ten minutes. Darcy started to speak several times, but stopped as though he was trying to find the right way to proceed. Finally the words just started to tumble out. The Colonel let him talk, although at times he was unsure what he meant, but he felt it was not the time to ask for clarification.

"We are a family of monsters, and I am one of the worst. A hypocrite who, as you pointed out, looks down on Wickham and thinks him beneath my contempt. But, we now both know Edmund is much more heinous. My abominable pride kept me from seeing the truth, and in my denial, I blamed an innocent young woman and publicly labelled her a fortune hunter. And now Lady Catherine continues this travesty by telling Elizabeth she will pollute Pemberley--if through her arts and allurements she lures me into marriage. Our aunt has proclaimed she heard from her nephew, the Viscount Wolfbridge, about Miss Elizabeth's low and vulgar ways." He spit out the accusation as though it was filth in his mouth, "According to your brother, she accepted twenty thousand pounds not to ruin the life of the scion of one of the most illustrious families in England."

Darcy took a breath and then resumed in a subdued voice. "I asked her to marry me today, and she rejected me. I had the audacity to pursue my proposal, even though she pleaded with me to cease. What a fool I am. Besides calling her a fortune hunter, I recently persuaded Bingley her sister is one as well. She had not known for sure of my role until you revealed the knowledge to her this morning."

Darcy slumped in his chair and put his head in his hands. He sounded defeated when he resumed speaking. "I realize now that I have loved her since the beginning of our acquaintance, but everything was so complicated. She was a child, and my attraction was abhorrent. Once she demanded money, I had an excuse for blaming her rather than trying to make sense of what I felt. It was proper that I never acted on my feelings as long as Anne was alive, but the way I treated Elizabeth was not right. Unlike you and Eleanor, who were close in age and travelled in the same circles, our meeting was a collision of two different worlds. The first time I saw her, I was 'mesmerized.' As Elizabeth likes to remind me, the concept of animal magnetism has been hotly debated... "

A hollow laugh punctuated his musing. "It was at a performance of The Tempest, and though barely fifteen, she was the most delightful, optimistic being I had ever seen. It was as though I was seeing Miranda offstage. She seemed to take pleasure in every new experience her brave new world had to offer. Edmund was not the only one who was captured by the vision that was Elizabeth Bennet that night. I loved her enthusiasm and the way her eyes sparkled as we discussed Shakespeare. She was delightfully exuberant as she gave her opinion of humour and Moliere. To her he captured human hypocrisy with biting satire in Le Misanthrope. We talked of similar things the night Bethany was born." Darcy stopped speaking. After several seconds, he again snorted with laughter. "I believe she was trying to tell me something, but I was too thick to understand."

His countenance changed to a faraway look as he said, "When she kissed Bethany's fingers for the last time, I thought her more beautiful than any painting of the Madonna I had ever seen. Even before I knew how truly precious Bethany was, I understood the depth of her sacrifice."

Darcy took a deep breath and looked out into space. "The day of the picnic, Lady Catherine observed me admiring Elizabeth's bosom and that prompted her attack. I fear I have given everyone the impression that is all I care for--but I esteem so much more about her. As you heard, she is exactly what Bethany and Lewis desire in a mother. I admire the care and understanding she has shown my sister. Most other women would have shown contempt for Georgiana's mistake, but instead she and her sister had compassion. I, on the other hand, have broken her sister's heart."

Richard observed his cousin's face change once again. This time there was a great deal of ardour laced with sentimental drivel as he proclaimed, "We have not spoken of this, but Elizabeth also believes my admiration is purely for her body and that frightens her. She still has nightmares, and fears intimacy because of your brother's cruelty. Edmund wanted to witness Elizabeth's pain and fear. I wanted the chance to fill her heart with joy. The only woman I have ever loved finds my touch abhorrent and believes there is not a single member of our family who has any honour or integrity--except Georgiana, and possibly you. With all the examples she has of my stupid pride and all her legitimate prejudices against our family, my love is doomed."

Richard rolled his eyes at his cousin's bathos. "Darce, snap out of it. You forget with whom you are talking. England is lucky you were not a second son and forced to make the military your career. You would have made a fiery speech and then surrendered at the first shot."

"But, I was just…"

"You were just what… wallowing in self-pity? She is not dead, nor is she married. You at least have hope! Get off your bloody arse and make a plan to win her. Can you fix this thing with Bingley and her sister?"

"I could have a month ago, but it has gotten much worse. Miss Bennet snubbed Bingley at a ball. Since she refused to dance with him, she had to sit down for the rest of the evening. Lord and Lady Hastings introduced her to the Earl of Elderton and the Viscount Wolfbridge. She found both of them quite handsome and charming, and is having tea at their house on Wednesday."

"So go to London and prevent her from attending. Will she know you have her best interest at heart?"

"No, I am of the opinion she knows that I, along with his sisters, persuaded Bingley to abandon her. Please, Richard, I need your help with this. You and Georgiana should take Miss Elizabeth in my carriage to London tomorrow. Mrs Annesley is at Darcy House. The two of you can accompany her to Elderton House on Wednesday for tea and ensure nothing untoward happens to either Miss Bennet or Elizabeth. Have the carriage return immediately, and I will leave for London on Wednesday morning with Bethany and Lewis. It would not do for them to know something is wrong. I heard a story today that has made me cautious of alarming them, and I particularly want to protect them from knowing anything is troubling Miss Elizabeth. The longer we can keep Lady Catherine from realizing anything is afoot, the better. Allow me to smooth over any ruffled feathers she may have after you and Georgiana depart. That should lessen any suspicions she may have."

Richard was pleased that his verbal slap had returned his cousin to the appearance of sense. "Why not just suggest Miss Elizabeth write a letter to her sister, warning her? You could send one of Rosing's stable hands with the letter. It would arrive in time."

"I thought of that, but I am not certain Miss Bennet would do as her sister says. According to her letters, she is acting in a very reckless manner. I fear her judgment might be impaired. I am writing to both Bingley and Sir Gareth Hughes to alert them to the danger. Sir Gareth has, I believe, become attached to Lady Hastings' niece. Lord and Lady Hastings are sponsoring Miss Bennet and their niece for the Season this year. It is at their house where Miss Elizabeth's sister is staying."

Darcy seemed to be contemplating what to say next. Richard waited patiently until his cousin spoke. "I have not told you, but I fear your father more than Edmund. Miss Bennet is the most beautiful, tall, statuesque young woman with fair hair and blue eyes I have ever seen. She is the loveliest example of what your father has made his mistresses over the years. Bingley's abandonment is the third time she has had her heart broken, and she is currently very vulnerable. I fear the Earl could have her settled in his love nest before she even realized to what she had agreed."

Darcy pulled his body erect and said firmly, "I plan to confess my treachery to Bingley, but I am afraid Miss Bennet's cut might have made him change his mind about her. He is a good man, and I hope telling him of her danger will motivate him to forgive her slight." Darcy laughed at his cousin's dubious expression. "My friendship is not what is important. The mission is to protect Miss Bennet, and I will use every avenue available to accomplish my goal. Have I caused you to have second thoughts about my abilities as a military leader?"

Richard joined his cousin's mirth with a guffaw of his own. "You are tolerable, Cuz. If you are ever able to persuade Miss Elizabeth to marry you, after making such a mess of your proposal--I will personally recommend you to Wellington."

"I am pessimistic I will ever be successful. Ever since I made a 'mess,' as you say, of my proposal, I have been thinking of obstacles I had never considered. However, for the time being, I will approach this war one battle at a time. Believe me, cousin, if she ever does agree, I will take her home to Pemberley, and Wellington and his war be damned. Will you help with my plan, Richard?"

"I will, Darcy; and please know, I want you to win this war."

"Thank you, Richard, but I must be off to see my sister. I want to alert her of the role I need her to play, but first I must talk to her about Dr Wilder. Elizabeth is angry that I have meddled in what she thinks is a budding romance between the two."

"I think I am the source of her knowledge in that matter as well. I told her you required Georgiana to come to Kent in February to put distance between them."

"Is there anything else you have told her to discredit me?"

"I told her you pouted because you did not get to be the Indian Changeling in the midsummer picnic pageant. She seemed to have seen you wear the face I imitated."

"Oh, mercy, mercy me. I am most assuredly doomed."

Darcy arranged to have trays sent to his sister's sitting room for dinner. He would dine privately with her, and ask her about her feelings for Dr Wilder. He found her in the nursery with Bethany and Lewis.

Bethany spoke first. "Papa, where have you been all day? We missed you."

Lewis was not laughing as he said, "Miss Lizzy is ill. She did not come to tea. Will you take me to see her so I can make her better?"

"Lew, I saw her. She is already somewhat improved. She has to go to London tomorrow with Richard and Aunt Georgie, and we are going the following day. We will see her there. She may even be staying at our house when we arrive. If she stays with us, she will be able to tuck you in bed. Would you like that?"

"Oh, yes, Papa. Bethie is right. If you marry Miss Lizzy, she will be my mama, and then she could tuck me in every night."

Darcy tried not to let his children see the pain Lewis' statement had evoked. "Aunt Georgie and I are going to eat supper in her room. We have to discuss leaving Rosings. Millie will get you ready for bed, and I will be in to read to you once I have finished eating. Does my plan meet with your approval?"

Both Bethany and Lewis laughed in anticipation of their father's story. He had been reading them Gulliver's Travels, and when they left off last time, Gulliver had awakened to find himself tied down by the Lilliputians. In chorus they said, "Oh, yes, Papa."

Once he and Georgiana were in her room, he told her all that had happened and explained his need for her to go to London. She put her arms around her brother and he cried into her shoulder. His pain was reminiscent of hers last summer. For the first time in her life, she felt they were equals, and the thirteen-year age difference evaporated.

After eating, Darcy knew he had to ask Georgiana about Dr Wilder. He had enjoyed their closeness and her sympathy when he told her of his disastrous proposal and all Elizabeth had hurled at him. All, that is, except her accusation of trying to separate Georgiana from her friend, Jamie.

"Georgiana, are you in love with Dr Wilder?"

Georgiana realized that Elizabeth had accused him of not persuasion, but outright interference with regards Dr Wilder. She wished Elizabeth could heal enough to accept her brother. There was no one she would rather have as a sister, and Bethany, and yes, even Lewis, deserved to have this woman as their mother.

"I am not prepared to answer yes or no, but what I do know is that I want to make that decision on my own. At first I thought the tragedy of Ramsgate was my inability to discern who loves me and who just wants my fortune. For several months, I replayed all that had transpired between Wickham and myself. The exercise allowed me to hear the discrepancies and falsehoods. It is true, I was too naïve when I first heard them. I have learned well from my experience with Wickham, and will never make that mistake again. For me, the real casualty of Ramsgate is that you lost confidence in me."

Georgiana smiled at her brother. "That was the biggest obstacle I had to overcome in order to heal. Elizabeth saw that immediately. She knew I was not pining because of Wickham's betrayal, but for the loss of your trust. I know not whether you have confidence in my ability to discern true affection, but I do know that you should. My feelings for Dr Wilder… Jamie... are that I admire and respect him. We have many interests in common… the first being music."

She stared steadfastly into her brother's eyes. "You have always considered Dr Wilder to be your friend. Do you know his father was hanged for participating in a rebellion in Ireland, and he risked retribution from British troops when he cut his father down in the middle of the night to bury him on their estate? Do you even know his family had an estate? Have you heard he would like to establish a hospital for the poor in Derbyshire? Aunt Cassie knows, and she is helping him find suitable buildings. He is fluent in Gaelic, even though it is unlawful to speak that language in Ireland. Until you separated us, I was spending my time getting to know him, something you probably should have done with Elizabeth. I am not ready to call what I feel for Jamie love, but I think it possible."

Chapter 45 – Star Crossed Lovers

Elizabeth arose before dawn, dressed quickly, and quietly left the parsonage. She had not bothered to put up her hair, and wore no bonnet; instead she wrapped herself in a warm shawl over her pelisse. She walked to the grove, and was surprised that Mr Darcy was already there. He had brought a blanket for her to drape over her lap for warmth, and a thick crockery jug of tea with milk and sugar--the way she liked it. He handed her a mug of tea and sat down next to her on the log.

Elizabeth looked deeply into Darcy's eyes as she spoke. "You are a good man, Mr Darcy. I was incredibly rude to you yesterday, and I apologize…but I will never marry. I said things that made you believe I could possibly marry someone other than you, but that is untrue.

Elizabeth lowered her eyes and shuddered at some memory. "You deserve to know why I will never marry. The only way I can help you to understand is to give you some additional details of that day. I am unable to promise full disclosure. I have told you a bit about what happened, but there is much more. The memories are very painful. As you know, my violation at the hands of Lord Wolfbridge, left me unable to bear being touched by any man in any meaningful way. A wife has certain obligations that I am convinced I would never be able to fulfil, and I made a promise to God that if he protected my family from scandal, I would devote myself to my parents and my sisters."

"Once my sisters are married, I will live with my mother and care for her. Thanks to you and Mrs Darcy, and the wise investments my uncle has made on my behalf, I will have money to allow my mother to live comfortably after my father dies." Lizzy decided to lighten the tone of her revelation. "Of course, she might surprise me and marry Sir Walter Trent and move to Bath. I will then be forced to use my investments to keep the two of them in the latest fashions. They are very fond of each other, and clothes."

Lizzy raised her eyes to Mr Darcy, and noticed he had missed her humour, and his eyes were filled with trepidation. "Mr Darcy, I am not without blame for what happened to me. When I met you, your wife, your cousin, and then later your aunt and uncle, I became puffed with pride that such prestigious personages wanted to become acquainted with me. My sister Lydia is, as you know, is ridiculously fond of officers, and my wanting to be in your family's company was an equally juvenile fantasy. I was a silly little fifteen-year-old to revel in the knowledge that both Mrs Darcy and a viscount… the heir to an earldom… practically a peer… wanted to spend time with me."

Elizabeth took a sip of her tea. "After our meeting my aunt and I were in Mrs Darcy's company often. I never saw you during any of the times I was in your house. Lord Wolfbridge was occasionally in company, as were Lord and Lady Elderton. The Viscount was not attentive enough to me to make my Aunt Gardiner suspicious. To me he was a handsome, important man; and when he flashed that beautiful smile, I would colour prettily for him. I had girlish romantic thoughts about him, but they were just thoughts I indulged in when alone. Later, I would remember the questions he asked me when no one could overhear. He wanted to know if I had been a disobedient child, and whether my father had to punish me often. These questions made me blush. I now I know he enjoying watching me react, but I knew not the significance of his pleasure."

She saw Darcy cringe at her last words but did not falter as she continued her story; "I did not tell you the other day, the entirety of how I came to be alone the day of my violation. One day when we had been invited to tea by Mrs Darcy, my baby cousin was sick. Aunt Gardiner felt she should stay home to care for her, but she encouraged me to go to Darcy House without her. She was certain your wife would take care of me. My aunt sent a note to inform Mrs Darcy she would not be able to attend. Anne wrote back and said she would come to fetch me in your carriage. When we arrived, we went upstairs to what I thought was her sitting room. Always before, we had taken tea in that beautiful room I loved so much… the solarium."

Darcy had noticed a subtle shift in Elizabeth's tone to a quiet sort of anger, but it was her words that caused him to close his eyes and moan. "Your aunt sent a note to say you would be alone?" It was worse than he imagined. Together, they had planned to trap her. It was not an accident… with Anne's crime being a cover-up to protect Edmund.

Elizabeth heard his question and saw his discomposure. She nodded in the affirmative. "Nothing else was out of the ordinary. I had brought gifts, and we chatted for a while. Anne wanted me to accompany her shopping the following week, so I could become acquainted with the best shops. She excused herself to retrieve a gown she wanted to show me. When she exited by the door to the hall, and I was struck by the oddity, but did not dwell on it."

Elizabeth could hear Darcy's laboured breathing but did not dare look at him, lest she be unable to continue. "The Viscount entered shortly after Anne left. I knew it was wrong to be alone with him. Instead of feeling indignant that he had put me in a compromising situation, I was worried that I would offend him if I asked him to leave. Despite his smile--or maybe because of his smile--I soon knew something was very wrong; but I was confused about what to do. As I told you before, the door was locked. I just stood there frozen, looking at him in horror, and he kept showing me those beautiful teeth. He walked toward me, as though he was enjoying my discomfort before he grabbed my arm and dragged me into the adjoining room. He was a giant compared to me. There was pain, words that mortified, and humiliation on a level that was unbearable."

Elizabeth looked directly at Darcy and tried to read his thoughts. She began speaking once more. "Mr. Darcy, I am so ashamed… I did not fight nor scream. All I could think of was hiding my foolishness. Panic set in, and my only thought became preserving my gown. If it was ripped, everybody I encountered on the way home would know of my disgrace. I was about to be…" Elizabeth shuddered, but knew it was time to use the word he had used, "... raped; and all I could think was that my dress would get ruined, and I would not know how to explain to Aunt Maddy what had happened. You can now despise me… I helped him remove my clothes. I have nightmares that he is at one of those clubs for important men… laughing with his friends about the silly country girl who unfastened her buttons and removed her frock for him."

Darcy moaned again. He remembered his reaction to the chatter at White's. He had assumed it was Elizabeth they were talking about and had condemned her. Unlike Richard, he had been positive that since she helped undress herself, he had proof she had fallen for Edmund's seductive charm. He was thoroughly disgusted and distressed by his reaction that day, and that he had clung to those 'misgivings' for six years.

He tried to speak several times, but each time the words stuck in his throat. When he was composed enough, he said, "Miss Elizabeth, I do not know what I should say to make amends for my behaviour. I am so ashamed that I thought you to blame all these years despite the fact that I think I have loved you from the moment I met you. It was inconvenient to confront my feelings for you, so I think I kept them at bay by believing you mercenary. You told me that your sister and my sister thought we had been involved in an affair that resulted in Bethany. You were shocked that they thought us so wanton. What if I told you I often imagined us in that way, even before Anne died? My guilt has caused me to experience Macbeth's 'fitful fever' many a night."

"Mr Darcy, unlike Macbeth, you did not act… you only thought. Yesterday, I told you I would kill your cousin, and that was only the latest instance of disposing of him by murderous imagination… I also thought of killing Lady Catherine. Words and thoughts are not actions. You and I are not like Lord Wolfbridge."

They sat in silence for several minutes. Finally, Darcy gathered enough courage to ask the question that had plagued him all night. "Miss Elizabeth, yesterday you said that under different circumstances, you could have loved me. Why do you say that, considering my cruelty toward you?"

"You have been naive, witless, arrogant and insufferable, but you have never been cruel--except maybe the night of our waltz." Elizabeth chuckled at the memory, but noticed her laughter had caused Mr Darcy to become very interested in his shoes. "Even then, you apologized the next morning. Sometimes you have even been very generous. I believe you paid Edmund's three thousand pounds and added another three thousand. For many years I wondered why you followed me to Cheapside. As I knew you better in Hertforshire, I decided you were being protective. You are nothing like Lord Wolfbridge."

Lizzy lifted his chin so she could see his eyes when she continued. "We both know there is an attraction between us. We have talked of it before. When we met that night at the theatre, something drew us toward each other, but you were a little too married and I was a little too young. The next thing I knew, my life had changed irrevocably because of your cousin. If we had met for the first time when you came to Hertfordshire--what then? That same spark would have ignited, and there would have been no obstacles. You and I would have danced at the assembly, and our affection would have grown. We are well suited to each other and enjoy the same things. Our life could have been what you told Lady Catherine about Kitty and John's--affection, admiration, respect and common purpose." Elizabeth gave him a shy smile. "In addition, I could have made you laugh."

Darcy marvelled at her touch. He was amazed that she and her sister had remembered his words. As he had listened to her scenario of love blossoming in Hertfordshire, he was not as confident as she that he would have acted appropriately. The same pride that had prevented him from seeing the truth about her rape might have kept him from acknowledging her worth despite his assessment of her inferior connections. Still, he answered her smile with a display of his dimples.

They sat in silence finishing their tea. Elizabeth finally felt brave enough to pursue something she had wondered about for six years. "Mr. Darcy, could I ask you a question? I am leaving in a few hours to go to Jane. She has been in company with Lord Wolfbridge and the Earl, and I fear for her. I know your cousin is dishonourable, but I do not know how to sketch your uncle's character. He once said something to me that I did not comprehend, and I have felt over the years that I should have understood it, and if I did, I might have known not to trust your cousin. They both thought it very humorous and seemed to enjoy my naiveté. Please do not think me disrespectful, but I need to know what it meant."

"You do not need to worry that I will disapprove of you. Tell me what he said."

Elizabeth repeated the Earl's remark about the two heads.

Darcy's face clouded with ire. She was unsure why he was angry, and became afraid she was the source of his fury. With fear in her eyes, Elizabeth said, "Please, Mr Darcy, I did not realize how disrespectful I was being to tell you that story. Please do not think poorly…" She got no further. He enveloped her in his arms. She was too startled to respond.

She thought she felt him kiss her hair, and she heard him murmur over and over and over, "I am so sorry… I am so sorry… I am so sorry."

Darcy continued to hold Elizabeth, saying nothing until he finally whispered in her ear. "Dearest Elizabeth, I do not think poorly of you, and there is nothing that could ever make me think poorly of you again. What my uncle said was highly improper… especially to one so young. If he were here before me, I would beat him until he wished he were dead, even if he is the head of my family. He deserves no honour from me."

Darcy finally released Elizabeth. "I apologize for my forwardness just now. I know you do not like to be touched. I beg your forgiveness."

Elizabeth could only stare at him and nod. She had felt apprehensive at first, but with every 'I am so sorry,' she began to feel warm and safe. When she thought he had kissed her hair, she felt a shiver and a little tug way down at the bottom of her belly--so many new sensations. He had called her 'dearest Elizabeth,' and it did not cause her to feel anger toward him, as it would have yesterday. Her mind was a jumble, and she was having trouble concentrating as he began speaking again.

"You are not going to London by post. You are going in my carriage with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana. Darcy House has been alerted to expect the three of you, and Georgiana's companion, Mrs. Annesley is in residence there."

Darcy tried to gauge how Elizabeth was reacting to his plan. She could decide his arrangements were officious. Her face was still wide-eyed and registering disbelief with what was happening. He decided to forge ahead. "Richard and Georgiana will go with you on Wednesday to his parents' house. If Miss Bennet comes to tea, the three of you will be there to protect her. I assume my aunt and Lady Eleanor will be there. If they are, it will be fortuitous. Neither Edmund nor my uncle would be that bold as to propose an assignation with your sister in their presence. I suggest, in the interest of Miss Bennet's safety, you persuade her to leave immediately. Make absolutely certain she spends no time alone with my uncle. She is too old to interest Edmund, but she is just what my uncle craves. I have written to both Mr. Bingley and Sir Gareth to tell them of my fears. I also confessed my persuasion based on totally false beliefs to Bingley."

Mr. Darcy grasped Elizabeth's forearms and forced her to face him squarely. "Miss Elizabeth, are you willing to accept my plan to protect your sister? Please say something, so I know I am not offending you once again."

Elizabeth looked up at him and wished she could be back in his arms. The warmth and safety she had felt had been reassuring. Her whisper was almost inaudible. "You are not offending me."

Posted on: 2011-01-15

Chapter 46 – We Will Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascals You!

Elizabeth was strangely silent to her companions. Both had heard from Darcy of her anger the day before, and assumed she was still revisiting the finer points of her rejection. In truth, her mind was both more and less pleasantly occupied. Neither Georgiana nor Colonel Fitzwilliam knew of their early morning conference in the grove. It was the warmth and safety of his arms that filled her thoughts as the carriage set out. After savouring the memory for some time, her six-year denial of any possibility of romance asserted itself. Once she embraced the obstacles on a path to marriage, the remainder of the distance to London flew by.

For the other occupants, their journey was also characterized by little conversation, reflection and thoughts of the future.

Richard spent his time planning a strategy for confronting Edmund and his father. He hoped his mother was in town, and he could persuade her to become an ally. She was much more involved in his father's public life in London. At Elderton, she avoided him. Her hours were filled by visiting tenants, playing a role in the village church and local charities--doing those things Darcy's had been revered for in Derbyshire. Lately, she had been devoting a significant amount of time helping Dr Wilder find a suitable building to use as a hospital for the poor. But when in town, the Countess had become very adept at playing a role for the ton.

Cassandra Darcy Fitzwilliam had been forced early in her marriage to choose which persona the world of her society would perceive. Should she be the naïve wife who was oblivious to her husband's indiscretions, or the wife who had never had any illusions that she had made--or even desired--a love match? She had chosen the latter. The acting skills she had honed as a child at Pemberley were put into play when she was required to pay homage to the fashionable notions of the importance of connections, titles and property over the fleeting pleasure of actual affection and passion.

Richard reflected on the history he had pieced together from youthful eavesdropping augmented by careful observation as an adult. George Darcy had learned of his mother's anguish early in her marriage. The Earl had flaunted one of his mistresses in her face, and his uncle had wanted to challenge his brother-in-law to a duel. She forbade him, and made certain he accepted that his wife and son were more important than her humiliation. Over the years, she had returned to Pemberley, often taking Richard with her, to find solace and spend time with her brother, Lady Anne and his children. Her visits continued after her brother and sister-in-law's deaths, and currently one of her favourite activities was spending time with her nephew's delightful children. She had grown distant from her husband and her first-born, but had developed a strong bond--based in mutual empathy--with her daughter-in-law.

Richard suppressed a sigh, as he remembered his mother's greeting upon his return from Spain. She had embraced him with the whispered words that he was the one validation that her marriage had not been without its achievements--adding that it seemed so unfair that she had to share him with England's need to defeat Napoleon. Her laughter had been tinged with hysteria as she finished by saying, "All in all, I would prefer to dote on your children."

Georgiana contemplated her new relationship with Will as she watched the countryside pass by. Elizabeth had been the catalyst for the change, but yet she was not ready to embrace the life she worked to achieve for others. Her words of reproach about his interference in the developing attachment with Dr Wilder had opened a door that might allow Georgiana to find happiness with her brother's approval. Yet, Elizabeth's rejection of Will had at its core the belief it was not possible for her to be a wife. What had Edmund done to her to make her so fearful?

Bethany and Lewis knew she would make the perfect mother. Mary agreed with her that their siblings could find happiness together. Even Mr Collins had been coming around. He was no longer quite so disapproving of Will recklessly insisting on a waltz. How could she help them to overcome their obstacles? All she could think to do was be the very best friend Elizabeth could ever want. Will had told her several things to make Elizabeth's stay at Darcy House more comfortable. That was a good place to start… that and making sure Elizabeth knew he had thought of the kindnesses.

The trip, though characterized by the passengers' silence, was successful. Nothing untoward happened to delay their mission; and within four hours of leaving Hunsford, they arrived at Darcy House.

The outside of the house was even lovelier than the first time Elizabeth had visited. However, she preferred to study the new brick and think of her profit, than recollect the past. Once inside, she concentrated on the flowers atop the hexagonal table in the entryway. They were full of the promise of spring… multi-hued tulips and flowering cherry stems accented with new growth ivy.

Elizabeth lingered in the hall after the footman took their outer garments. Her face belied the fear she felt as she looked up the stairs. Georgiana noticed her reticence to follow her and decided to implement the first act of kindness her brother had suggested. "I will not leave you alone. Will warned me you might be apprehensive. He thought perhaps you might like to sleep with me in my room. It is as it has been since I was six." She said the next bit of information with a giggle. "It is very little girlish, with pink flowered wallpaper and many dolls."

"You call your brother Will?"

"I do. Fitzwilliam was too difficult for me to say as a child."

Elizabeth returned Georgiana's giggle with a snicker as she moved away from thoughts of Mr Darcy and pictured her friend's room. "I like pink, and I like flowers; but I only ever had one doll. Her name is Portia. She is a cloth doll my mother made to look like me. She gave her green eyes and reddish gold hair. I am not as fond of Shakespeare's Portia as I once was. However, I still love that doll." Lizzy now giggled. "Besides, what's in a name? A doll you love, regardless of what you call her, can still be your sweet comrade in sleep."

"I should warn you my pug, Bianca, is here in London, and she will likely share our bed… especially since Will is not arriving until tomorrow. He frowns on Bianca sleeping with me. He says it sets a bad example for Bethany and Lewis."

"My father will not even allow Caliban in the house. He is a very large and very ugly dog, but he is my fiercest defender. On cold nights, I go down the back stairs, and let him in the servants' entrance. He sleeps on a rug in front of the fire in my room. I believe Papa knows, but since I do it clandestinely, he overlooks my disobedience."

"Are all Longbourn's dogs named for Shakespearean characters?"

"Caliban is the only dog that is a pet. We have hunting dogs, but I do not know their names. Years ago my mother had a spaniel named Fou Fou. I have no idea what inspired the name, because Mama does not speak French and the dog was female. However, she was a mad little dog and quite destructive. Her favourite thing was my father's slippers, and that is the reason dogs were banned from the house. Jane and Kitty each have a cat. Jane's cat is named Kitty, and Kitty named her cat Jane, in retaliation. Sometimes, it can be very confusing whether it is the human or the feline being called."

Georgiana shook her head in mirth and hugged Elizabeth. "You are so dear to my heart. Here you are in this house of horror… believe me, I can see the apprehension in your eyes as you look about… and what do you do? You make me laugh. Despite your fear, you are the bravest woman of my acquaintance, and I thank you for what you said to Will about Jamie."

They had arrived at the door of her bedchamber. Georgiana led the way into a cheerful pink room that definitely looked more appropriate for Bethany. Elizabeth stared in awe at the array of dolls. Georgiana smiled at her friend as she got ready to deliver the second act of kindness her brother had recommended. "Let us clean the dust of the road off, and I will have Mrs Hitchcock serve our lunch in the solarium. Will told me how much you loved that room."

Very shortly after their arrival, Richard left to reconnoitre with the troops needed for his battle plan. His first stop was his parents' house to be followed by a visit with Mr Bingley and Sir Gareth Hughes.

He arrived at Elderton House before two in the afternoon. His mother was indeed home. The footman directed her to the small downstairs sitting room she favoured. He was told Lady Eleanor was upstairs in her private chambers, and his father and brother were out. This information pleased him, because even if the Earl returned home, he would never venture into that sitting room. It was agreed upon between his parents that this was her sanctuary. Richard asked the footman to ensure he and his mother were not disturbed. The Colonel needed to be certain only his mother knew the reasons behind his request.

Lady Cassandra greeted her son warmly. "You do not look any worse the wear after being in your aunt's presence. How are Fitzwilliam and Georgiana, and those precious little ones?"

"Fitzwilliam is in need of your help, Mother."

"You know how I love that boy. Tell me how I am able to be of assistance."

"I understand you are having Lord and Lady Hastings, and their niece and her friend to tea tomorrow."

"That is correct, but how do you know that piece of information? Have you been given the assignment of spying on the populace? Do you think we are secret Luddites, who are plotting to blow up Parliament?"

"Oh, Mother, your sense of current events is abysmal. The Luddites are rebelling in Yorkshire and Lancashire, and their targets are machines--looms to be precise. The last threat against Parliament was by Guy Fawkes more than two hundred years ago. No, the young woman, Miss Bennet, who is coming with Lord and Lady Hastings and their niece, is the sister of Lady Catherine's parson's new wife."

Lady Cassandra shuddered at the mention of her sister-in-law's parson. She tried to look haughty, but instead a grimace was the best she could accomplish. She was not a Fitzwilliam by birth, after all. "Oh, you mean that obsequious young man who so often intervened in the conversation to praise Catherine?"

Richard grinned at his mother's attempt at disdain for Lady Catherine and her clergyman. He found it humorous how much his mother disliked his father's sister. "He is much changed since he married. Now he has someone truly worthy of his love and admiration to praise. While in Kent, I attended a picnic organized by Mr Collins for his wife's birthday. It was as pleasant as the ones Uncle George and Aunt Anne organized when I was a child."

"So what do these sisters have to do with Fitzwilliam?"

"They have another sister with whom Darcy is smitten. She is a bit of a tragic figure, and she is concerned for the sister coming to tea. Your nephew is trying to persuade her to forgive him for some transgressions by coming to the aid of the oldest Miss Bennet."

"Why is the one he is enamoured with a tragic figure?"

"Something very sad happened to her when she was but fifteen. She has never completely rallied, and because of the event has refused to marry… specifically she recently rejected Darcy. Actually you have met her."

"You say their name is Bennet?" Lady Cassandra seemed to be searching her memory, and her son watched as she struggled to sort through long forgotten images. She gave her son a very wary look as she said, "I remember a very pretty, witty, young woman, a girl really, with beautiful hair and sparkling green eyes. For some time now, the memory of her has been elusively flitting around the corners of my mind."

The Countess gasped as awareness suddenly dawned. "Every time I look at Bethany, I have tried to place a memory of someone… I now realize it is that young woman. I am very confused. The resemblance to my grandniece is great… are you hinting she is Bethany's mother?"

Richard started to answer, but his mother continued her questions without waiting for his response. She seemed quite agitated. "What does this all mean? Did Fitzwilliam compromise her and then force her to give him the child? Please, son, tell me what happened." Questions and comments continued to pour from her, as she tried to make sense of what Richard had implied. "Was he afraid Anne would never give him an heir? Did he persuade her to go along with raising his natural child? The previous Duke of Devonshire did that to the Duchess... they made no attempt to hide the child's parentage. I have always thought Fitzwilliam to be too honourable to stoop to this kind of perfidy."

"Mother, it is much worse than you have imagined, and it reflects very badly on the Fitzwilliam name, not that of the Darcys. Your scenario would be so very easy to remedy. The ton forgives all sorts of indiscretions. I know a man, he is a friend of father's--Charles John Gardiner, is his name. He married a woman by whom he had two illegitimate children and then they had two more legitimate children. Despite that, he was recently elected a representative peer from Ireland."

The Colonel's eyes strayed to the ceiling. He was remembering one who was upstairs in her rooms. "Darcy's love for Miss Elizabeth is almost without parallel and has endured for six years despite his Fitzwilliam arrogance working relentlessly to convince him she was a fortune hunter. She also seems to have some affection for him, despite her treatment at the hands of one in our family. They both adore Bethany, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet loves Lewis and Georgiana. Oh, if it was only a youthful indiscretion they had to overcome."

"Richard, I demand you tell me what you mean. What reflects badly on the Fitzwilliam name? Was she after our fortune?"

"Did Eleanor ever tell you about Edmund admitting during an argument about a gentleman's daughter he seduced who threatened to expose him to Mr Harding before they married?"

The look of trepidation on Lady Cassandra's face was great as she answered. "She did."

"Miss Elizabeth is that gentleman's daughter, but it was not a seduction. Edmund persuaded Anne to lure and trap her at Darcy House. Your son raped her. He enjoyed hurting and humiliating her." Richard paused and watched as horror spread across his mother's face. He took her hand and finished relating the rest of the story. "She became with child. This is when your nephew became involved in her tragedy. Despite being barely fifteen, she demanded money from Edmund, Anne and Darcy. Her threat was that she would expose Edmund to Mr Harding as well as to you and father. Darcy was appalled by her avarice... but of course he did not know the particulars of her violation. He now believes Anne feared he would find out about her role and came up with a scheme to divert suspicion. Her excuse to him for proposing they offer Miss Elizabeth twenty thousand pounds to relinquish the baby was that she feared childbirth and they needed an heir. I think Anne also saw the payment as a way to expiate her guilt. Over time, Darce gave Miss Elizabeth an additional six thousand… three thousand Edmund was supposed to pay and never did... and three thousand from himself, just because... even though she never asked for it."

Richard observed the look of anguish on his mother's face. With trembling voice, she said, "Edmund raped that beautiful girl? Oh, my, I remember, she was little more than a child. I think that is why seeing Bethany always makes me try to recall her. She looks nothing like her sister. Meeting Miss Bennet did not trigger my memory. However, I do remember Miss Elizabeth telling me that her oldest sister was the great beauty of the family." Lady Cassandra closed her eyes tight with the hope she could eliminate the repugnant images that were plaguing her. She was not successful. "Oh, Richard, I have raised a monster. Where did I go wrong?"

"I am not sure why Edmund enjoys observing fear and inflicting pain on very young women, but I do not think you are to blame. I have no such compulsion."

"Bethany is my granddaughter?"

Richard squeezed his mother's hand to bring her attention back to him. He could feel her body trembling. "She is indeed, but you must keep your knowledge to yourself. I received permission from neither Darcy, nor Miss Elizabeth, to confide in you, but I need to know you realize all that is at stake with regards my request. Miss Elizabeth has lived in fear these past six years. She is convinced that knowledge of all that happened will reflect badly on her family and ruin her sisters' chance at happiness."

"What exactly is your request?"

"I want you to send notes around, inviting a Mr Bingley and Sir Gareth Hughes to tea tomorrow."

"Sir Gareth has already been invited. Do you have an address for this Mr Bingley?"

"I do. Darcy wrote it out for me to give you." Richard pulled out the note and handed it to his mother. "Georgiana, Miss Elizabeth and I will also attend. What are your plans for tonight?"

"We are going to the theatre. The four of us will be joining Sir Gareth in his box. I am quite certain Lord and Lady Hastings will be attending with the two young women. Your father, who rarely wants to attend the theatre, was responsible for garnering the invitation from Sir Gareth. I believe he heard Lord Hastings talking about taking the two young women, and is anticipating the fair Miss Bennet attending." A cynical tone punctuated the rest of her words. "Once he had that intelligence, he was soon trying to cajole Lord Hughes to allow us use his box this evening. I must admit, I have very little sympathy for the young woman you are trying to protect. She seemed to be overly friendly with both your brother and father, and there was an edge of impetuous abandon that was decidedly unattractive. Are you certain they are not a family of fortune hunters?"

"I am, mother."

The Countess wrinkled her nose as those she smelled something foul. "She is just the sort of tall, cool drink with which the Earl enjoys slaking his thirst."

Richard felt his mother was in need of some levity along with his explanation. "Mama, you are probably just reacting to her newfound cynicism, and you know from my experience that a cynic is just a romantic with a broken heart. Darcy persuaded Mr Bingley to abandon her for reasons that are much too complicated to go into now, and according to her sisters, she is acting uncharacteristically reckless. Your nephew's hope is that Mr Bingley will rescue her from the evil earl and the vicious viscount, and she will forgive him for his lack of constancy. Then maybe her sister will reconsider her rejection of Darcy."

Richard could tell from the softening of her expression that she was willing to help her brother's son find happiness. "Regardless of your opinion of Miss Bennet, we owe it to Miss Elizabeth to try to help her protect her family's reputation and her sister from father and Edmund. Miss Elizabeth, Georgiana, hopefully Mr Bingley, and I will see you this evening at the theatre. We will be in Darcy's box. What is the play?"

Lady Elderton broke into harsh laughter. When she had calmed, she said, "The comic aspects of this evening are just too delightful. Tonight we watch the most fitting of all productions while playing out our own intrigue for saving the reputation of a young miss from the country. In addition, we will make a valiant attempt at keeping some particularly dirty linen from the gossip mongers. Mr Sheridan's The School for Scandal is the bill of fare. You know, the late Duchess and Duke of Devonshire, we spoke of before, were supposedly the inspiration for the play. Perhaps, I should have been as fashionable as she and allowed your father to bring his mistresses into the house to live. It would have been much cheaper. Scandal is such a relative thing. My son violates a minor gentleman's daughter--a child really--and my niece, who facilitated the rape, forces her to sell the issue--so the granddaughter of an earl could avoid childbirth."

The Countess shook her head in exasperation. "It appears poor Anne paid for her sins." Again her nose reflected her disgust. "But, your brother will be rewarded for his behaviour by someday taking his place in the House of Lords. And this poor young woman that Darcy loves lives with the constant fear of bringing dishonour to her family. All the while, those in our set like Lady Caroline Lamb and Lord Byron flaunt their indiscretions. I am sick of the hypocrisy!"

Richard told his mother he needed to make some other stops before returning to Darcy House. Before he departed, he nodded his head toward the ceiling and asked his mother, "How is she doing?"

"We think she is in her fourth month, and so far she seems to be faring a little better than before. This is the first time she has been in London during a confinement. Maybe the distractions of town will help her to forget her sadness."

"Darcy told me he wants to put joy back in Miss Elizabeth's heart, and I wish I could do the same for Eleanor. It is hard for me to fathom just how much unhappiness Edmund has created. Tell her I am in town and will see her tonight. Do not tell her anything more of our plot.

The only thing Elizabeth had that was appropriate for the theatre was the infamous green moiré. Of course, Mr Darcy would not be in attendance, and he was the one who had objected to the gown. She was not even sure he would continue to be affronted by it. One thing for certain, Lord Wolfbridge would not remember. It was not this dress that made her memorable to the Viscount. Elizabeth felt queasy at the thought of seeing him. She reminded herself that saving Jane was what was important, and the Colonel and Mr Bingley would not allow anything to happen to either Jane or herself. She had been heartened to hear from Colonel Fitzwilliam that Mr Bingley was enthusiastically embracing the task Mr Darcy had set for him.

Georgiana had her maid style Elizabeth's hair and offered a beautiful lace shawl with silver threads woven through for her to wear. When Elizabeth finished the ensemble with Mrs Wilder's Celtic cross, Georgiana asked her about its origin. She got a wistful look at the answer. "Tonight when we go to bed, will you tell me about your time with Jamie and his mother?"

"I will, if you will tell me about what Will was like before your mother died?"

Georgiana looked slightly forlorn. "Unfortunately, I do not remember and have only heard stories about him from Richard, Anne and my Aunt Cassandra."

Elizabeth was thoroughly enjoying their intimacy, and her eyes twinkled with merriment as she thought about their planned late night girl talk. She said, "Then tell me their stories."

Elizabeth Bennet looked out over the audience, and found the boxes containing the players in this farce. Somehow she could not label what was about to happen drama; especially when it was to be played out while The School for Scandal was being performed below. Their mission was definitely dramatic, but the strong comedic undertones caused her to repeatedly calm herself when hysteria came knocking. Georgiana was on her right and Mr Bingley was on her left with the Colonel next to Georgiana. She wondered whether the tightness of her grip on Georgiana's hand was painful and occasionally reminded herself to ease the pressure. Mr. Sheridan's play was one she had read several times, and the similarities to her own situation had never been overlooked. The principal themes of knowing the difference between appearance and reality and the fragility and fickleness of reputation encompassed both the tragedy and the comedy she had been living with these past six years. She was reminded of a critique of the play that concluded it professed both a faith in the natural goodness as well as the habitual depravity of human nature. Elizabeth snorted in the dark, and both Georgiana and Mr Bingley looked at her with concern.

Six years ago their places had been reversed. She had been in Sir Gareth's box, and Lord Wolfbridge had been where she was sitting. As a means of controlling her growing anxiety, she contemplated how his name fit right in with those in the play--Lady Sneerwell, Sir Benjamin Backbite and of course, the Surface brothers. The Viscount had caught sight of her, and it appeared his lip curled in a smirk. Elizabeth felt she could discern a bit of fear as well, and noticed his gaze flicked often to his brother. For the first time, she saw Lady Eleanor. Her heart went out to this woman, and she imagined her life had few comic aspects--at least that Elizabeth could fathom. The Countess seemed to be smiling at her, or was she smiling at her son? Lord Elderton was looking in the direction of her sister, and had a similar expression to the one his son had displayed six years before… a leer of lust disguised as admiration.

Jane was quite confused when she first spied Lizzy, and then looked to her left and saw she was sitting next to Mr Bingley. Bingley missed her gaze because his eyes were riveted elsewhere. She saw disgust and a hint of jealousy in his countenance and followed his sightline to Sir Gareth's box. His attention was devoted to the Earl. She was totally unsure what look to return to any, so complaisance laced with hint of discomfort became her mask.

Elizabeth was startled to see Miss Bingley in a box quite close to Lord Hastings'. She was glaring at her brother. Whenever his eyes left the Earl and moved to rest on Jane, he stopped during the journey to glower back at his sister.

The only participants who seemed to be watching the play were Lord and Lady Hastings and Lady Eleanor. Sir Gareth and Rebecca Trent watched sporadically when they were not smiling across the theatre at each other.

Bingley, who was not much of a theatre goer, had requested Elizabeth alert him just before the first intermission. She did, and he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of her seat… propriety and the fear he had heard she harboured at being touched be damned. They had an angel to save. He dragged her rapidly to the door of Lord and Lady Hastings' box, just as the break began.

The party came out, and Elizabeth embraced her sister. Jane noticed Mr Bingley and pulled her sister back into the box for a bit of privacy. "Why are you here; and why is he with you?"

"Your abandonment by Mr. Bingley is not as we believed."

Jane decided to act the elder sister. "Whose box are you in, and who are those other people with you? Where are you staying, and does Papa know where you are?"

"I am in Mr Darcy's box, and the people with me, besides Mr Bingley, are Miss Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. I am staying at Darcy House with Miss Darcy and her companion Mrs Annesley. The Colonel is staying there as well. He is the son of the Earl of Elderton and the brother of the Viscount Wolfbridge. We are all here--including Mr Bingley--to protect you from the Earl and the Viscount." Elizabeth saw her sister's face flicker with uncertainty before she registered irritation. "I am not certain if Papa knows where I am, but Mary does. I gave her instructions to send an express to our father about my leaving Kent and the reason why my departure was so sudden. I also plan to send a note to Aunt and Uncle Gardiner informing them I am in town first thing tomorrow morning. Have you told them of your new acquaintances?"

Jane looked very perplexed for several seconds at her sister's question, and then deemed it prudent to develop an air of superiority. "No, I have not. I am two and twenty. Why would they care whose acquaintance I have made? I am under the care of Lord and Lady Hastings." She walked back out in the hall and saw Lord Elderton the Sir Gareth coming toward them. She smiled prettily, but then noticed out of the corner of her eye that Mr Bingley and the Colonel were standing just behind her right and left shoulders. Looking forward, she noticed the Countess' eyes had erupted into mirth at the sight.

Elizabeth drew her sister back into the box for at least a modicum of privacy. "Jane, come back to Darcy House with me tonight so we may talk. I owe you an explanation, and it is impossible for me to give you the particulars with so many people around."

Jane looked at her sister and gave her an unequivocal "no" before she continued with, "You are obviously jealous that I have become admired by such important personages." She dropped her voice to a whisper as she said, "The Earl and the Viscount will put me in company with other rich and important men. Why should I waste my beauty on someone like Mr Bingley?"

Elizabeth wondered whether someone had absconded with the real Jane and put a being with the sense of a silly fifteen year-old Lizzy, in her place. She thought her father called those creatures Doppelgangers. For five years her sister had been pleading with her to confide the source of her sadness. If only she had acquiesced to her wishes, poor Jane would not be in this dire situation.

All the parties, including Caroline Bingley and the Hursts, moved from outside Lord Hastings' box toward the refreshment area. Mr Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam continued their presence as Miss Bennet's right and left flank. As others came up to speak with Jane, they inserted themselves in the conversation. Mr Bingley, much to Miss Bingley's horror, related to Sir Gareth and Miss Trent that he had written to Sir Walter Trent to inform him he planned to renew his lease next fall or perhaps even negotiate a sale. He was resolved to return to Netherfield just as soon as the new brick was installed on his townhouse.

Elizabeth stayed as far away from Lord Wolfbridge as possible. Luckily for her, his mother seemed to be monopolizing his time, and there was never a moment the whole evening when he was in close proximity to her.

The next break was a repeat of the previous. Lord Elderton was barely able to say a few words to Miss Bennet. By the end of the evening, his displeasure at being thwarted in his endeavour was clearly painted across his face.

The Earl fared little better the next day at his home when all were assembled for tea. He glared at the Countess when his second son and Mr Bingley showed up early. In addition, that disrespectful little chit came with his niece. When her sister arrived, she hovered near her the entire time. She even went with her when nature called. The other thing he observed was that the younger sister would occasionally send furtive glances in the direction of his oldest son, and the Viscount seemed to return them with a smirk--or was it a leer. Had he missed something? She was hardly his type. His wife, on the other hand, seemed determined to keep Edmund occupied in conversation with his wife and Sir Gareth. His one consolation was that Miss Bennet seemed bothered by never being allowed a moment's privacy to converse with her new friends.

Lord Elderton might have thought his plan for a new dalliance could not be thwarted any more thoroughly; but towards the end of their tea party, it was. Mr Darcy arrived. The anger he felt toward his uncle and cousin was palpable to all in the room Goodbyes were said rapidly as the group surmised some important family business needed tending, and prepared to leave. Darcy walked up to Jane Bennet and tried to put on a smile as he spoke to her. Instead, he looked more like he had eaten something distasteful. "Miss Bennet, you will go back to Darcy House with your sister. I have wronged you, and I demand the right to apologize." He did not seem to mind who heard his words, and his tone was definitely more indicative of an order than a request; but his commanding presence seemed to do the trick. Her resistance to all the protection she had been given seemed to melt beneath his austere countenance. She nodded meekly in compliance.

Georgiana noticed that her friend, Elizabeth, looked at her brother as if he were a knight in shining armour. The Countess and her youngest son saw the look, and exchanged a hopeful glance.

After the ladies had returned to Darcy House, Richard took his cousin to the library at Elderton House to brief him about all that had transpired in his absence and to plan their next. He concluded his rendition of the events with an appraisal of the troops. "Your amiable friend is a stalwart combatant. I believe a heartfelt apology for your interference is required, but Bingley is definitely determined to win back the fair Miss Bennet... even if it means grovelling. Our favourite military strategist handled herself beautifully. She never wavered in the face of the enemy. I told my mother a bit of our dilemma and recruited her to take part in our assault as well. Her hidden talent for subterfuge was brought into play, and she was excellent in the role of diverting Edmund's attention away from Miss Elizabeth. He never even got close."

At the conclusion of their brief conference, they determined it was time to confront the enemy. Richard asked his brother and father to meet with him and Darcy in the Earl's study. Once the door was locked to prevent any intrusions, Darcy began speaking. "Uncle, Edmund, I am demanding that neither of you ever again attempt to be in the presence of either Miss Jane Bennet or Miss Elizabeth Bennet. The Bennet family has suffered enough at the hands of the Fitzwilliam family. Both of you are so completely disreputable that I am ashamed we are related."

Lord Elderton spoke first in response to his nephew. "Fitzwilliam, you are completely out of line coming into my home and demanding such a thing of me and Edmund. However, I assure you, I have no desire to ever be in the presence of Miss Elizabeth Bennet again. She is a disrespectful, vulgar person. The first time I met her she was flippant about the peerage."

"Is that why you told her a lewd joke? For heaven's sake, she was younger than Georgiana. Believe me, I am not being flippant when I say, you may be a peer, but you are not a gentleman."

Lord Elderton shrugged his shoulders at Darcy's accusation. "Furthermore, how can one be alone with Miss Jane Bennet when her guardian angel is practically perched on her shoulder? This Bingley, he is a friend of yours? What is he to Miss Bennet? She does not seem to appreciate his heavenly protection."

Edmund decided it was time to chime in on the conversation. "Oh, Darcy we have had this discussion before. Miss Elizabeth did not know her place, and she threw herself at me. I do not understand why you even care about these women. Miss Bennet is far too old and buxom to excite me. She will make a tasty morsel for the Earl, though. The other one, even when she looked the perfect specimen, was not as enjoyable as I had imagined. Our bastard is quite lovely though."

Darcy pulled back his fist and punched his cousin in the face with such force that he went flying across the room, smashed into the door and crumpled on the floor. Darcy felt tremendous pain in his hand, but refused to give his uncle any evidence of his discomfort.

Lord Elderton sputtered, shook his fist and said, "Darcy, how dare you. You are not your cousin's equal… he will one day be a peer. I knew when I married Cassandra; it would someday come to this. Your father was forever threatening me. Why did I ever marry into your untitled family?"

Darcy was the taller of the two men, and he looked down on his uncle with a face worthy of Lady Sneerwell. "If I am not mistaken, you needed my aunt's dowry, just as you and your criminal son needed Lady Eleanor's dowry. Neither of you could even begin to understand how to manage an estate and keep it financially sound. All you really seem to be able to do is put yourself out to stud. Of course, the Viscount seems to be negligent in that field as well." Darcy laughed at his pun and continued, "Yes, and speaking of fields… he does not seem to understand it is about lovingly planting seed… and not about inflicting pain and humiliation."

His expression was a mixture of disdain and fury. He steeled his voice to ensure his determination was not missed. "The only time Edmund was successful, he forced his seed on a child, and I got the heir. Uncle, if he ever mentions Bethany or Miss Elizabeth again, I will not just punch him, I will challenge him to a duel; and you can ask your other son just how proficient I am with blade and pistol." Darcy pointed to his cousin, unconscious on the floor. "This despicable wasted life has never bothered to become proficient in anything except cruelty."

Darcy turned to Richard and said, "Cousin, I am sorry to leave you with this mess to clean up, but please know I want you back at Darcy House. Please make your father aware of the derision that would befall the Fitzwilliam name if his son's perversion is ever revealed. If you would like to bring your mother and Lady Eleanor for dinner, please do. It is time I returned to the ladies and my children."