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Posted on Monday, 29 December 2003
As he walked beside Miss Elizabeth Bennet in the park Darcy remembered his sister's excitement the night before as she told him of her visit that day to the Gardiners. He had been surprised to learn that his love was indeed in town and that Georgiana had met her.
Georgiana's words rang through his head, he could scarce believe what she had said.
"She loves you brother. She told me she loves you dearly, but she fears it is too late. She thinks that your pride is too great for you to ever ask for her hand again. She thinks you despise her, Fitzwilliam. I assured her that that was not true but I think she doubts my assertions."
Could this be true, could she love him. Was Georgiana not reading into Elizabeth's words what she wanted to hear. She had said Elizabeth admitted to loving him and ruing her words that day at the stile. Those sounded like the words of a woman who regretted refusing him and had since then fallen in love with him.
He could thank Mrs. Larch for a great deal of that. It seemed from what Georgie had told him that Mrs. Larch had indeed convinced Miss Bennet of Wickham's lies and his true character.
Taking a deep breath he said, "Miss Bennet, my sister tells me that you no longer hate me, if this be true it makes me a very happy man."
"It is true, Mr. Darcy, I have so much to apologise for. My words were spoken in anger and spite. I assumed that you would try to separate my sister and Mr. Darcy; but I find that you are responsible for getting them together again. I am so grateful to you for restoring my dearest sister's happiness.
"I accused you of pride and arrogance but it was I who acted so. I resented your refusal to dance with me and determined to dislike you without knowing you. Such arrogance and pride on my part, I am so ashamed. I believed Mr. Wickham because he confirmed what opinion I had formed of you. He realized my resentment and made the most of it.
"How unfair of me. Of course you would resent the happiness of all of us, dancing and laughing while you dear sweet sister sat in London weeping over Wickham's chicanery." "You said nothing to me that I did not deserve. How arrogant was I to blame all of you for my sister's pain, when you knew nothing of it," Darcy replied. "You have no apology to make to me Miss Bennet."
Taking another deep breath he turned to her and said, "You are too kind to trifle with me, if what Georgiana has told me is true, that you can love me please tell me so at once. I love you so very dearly and again ask for your hand in marriage. If Georgiana has misunderstood please tell me so at once and I shall be silent on the subject forever."
"Dear Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth smiled, "Georgiana does not misunderstand I do indeed love you and would be honored to be your wife."
Darcy stared at her in disbelief, "You have made me the happiest man in England," he grinned taking her hand and kissing it. "When do you return to Herefordshire?" I would speak to you father as soon as may be. I want to take you for my wife as soon as possible."
"My father arrives today, he should be at Uncle Gardiners when we arrive back there," Elizabeth laughed. "He will shocked and surprised, but he will be happy for me when he learns how much I wish to be Mrs. Darcy.
"My mother, though!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could spare you her raptures when she finds that she is to have another wedding at Longbourn. If we could make it a double wedding it would be delightful.
"Oh, dear, we have walked and talked longer than I thought. We must hurry back to Gracechurch Street. My aunt will be worried and my father beside himself."
Calling to Jane and Bingley they all hurried back to the Gardiner's where Mr. Darcy spoke to Mr. Bennet with all haste and received his blessing on the betrothal after receiving Elizabeth's assurances that she did love Mr. Darcy and wanted to marry him. He acceded to her request that they not say anything to her mother until they reached home."
Never had Bingley or Georgiana seen Mr. Darcy so happy. He paced back and forth looking out the window for the Gardiner's carriage.
Caroline Bingley, however, was not so happy.
"What is wrong with Mr. Darcy," she thought, "he seems to be on edge tonight. I suppose it is because Georgiana invited those people to dinner. What was the girl thinking, to invite a tradesman from Cheapside to dine not only in the Darcy house but to do so when the Earl and Countess of Matlock were there.
"I must speak to the girl about associating with people of such low rank.
Darcy hurried to greet the guests who were now arriving. He wanted to introduce them to his favorite aunt and uncle. When he had told them of his betrothal they were surprised and a little concerned in spite of the glowing reports from their own son Colonel Fitzwilliam.
They promised to reserve judgment until they met the Bennets and the Gardiners. His uncle was sure that he was acquainted with Mr. Gardiner through some dealings and his aunt wondered if this was the same Mrs. Gardiner who was so active with the Society For The Poor.
"Bennet, Bennet," his lordship had said. "I wonder if this could be the same Thomas Bennet who used to come to the chess club to play. He was had to best."
When the introductions were made they were all happy and relieved to find that they were old friends and the evening went well. As Lady Matlock watched the two Bennet girls through the dinner she began to see why these two young men should love them and Darcy's obvious happiness was a joy to see. The girl was perfect for him, he had chosen well.
"Poor Catherine," she thought. "She will be fit to be tied."
She smiled to herself as she thought of her most disliked sister in-law. She knew that Lady Catherine Debourg had planned for over twenty years to marry her sickly daughter Anne to Darcy. Now all her plans were dashed. Catherine would be in a rage.
Caroline Bingley was not a happy diner. Why did Mr. Darcy pay so much attention to these lowly guests while almost ignoring her and the Hursts. It was most unseemly. Georgiana too seemed to be taken with Miss Eliza and laughed and talked to her much of the evening.
Why did she never talk to like she does to her, Caroline thought. What has Miss Eliza Bennet done to enchant the Darcy's. Did they not see what she was. A social climber who was after Mr. Darcy for his wealth and position.
Well she would take care of that.
"Miss Eliza, she said coyly, how dull it must seem to you to be here in town with no redcoats coming and going."
"I have enjoyed London very much, Miss Bingley. Why should you think we would miss Meryton when we have the opera, the theater and the shops to enjoy here."
"Oh, I thought you might be missing Mr. Wickham, I know what a favorite he is of yours," she purred a smirk on her face.
Everyone jumped at the clatter of a knife as Georgiana dropped it, turning pale and looking desperate.
Elizabeth laughed, "Miss Darcy, I am so glad to see that I am not the only one who drops things. I have been trying so hard to be careful this evening so I do not drop anything as I have done in the past, so many times.
"Do you remember Jane when I dropped my soup spoon and knocked my bowl of soup into Lord Weatherby's lap as I tried to retrieve it." "Or the time you dropped your butter knife down the cleavage of your Aunt Phillips when she pinched you and made you jump," Mrs. Gardiner put in with a laugh.
Georgiana was so grateful to them she could have kissed all of them as they laughed and told of their own embarrassing moments. It seemed that all of them had done something at some time to be red-faced about.
Darcy smiled at Elizabeth with heartfelt love and gratitude. She had turned a humiliating moment for his sister into a triumph of fun and remembrances.
Caroline could not understand and she was angry. What she had hoped would be an embarrassing moment for Eliza Bennet had instead turned into what could have been a humiliation for Miss Darcy were it not for the Bennets.
She could feel a headache coming on. The evening in which she had hoped to shine was becoming a disaster. Mr. Darcy had glared at her with such anger contempt after she mentioned Wickham and he instead of finding Miss Bennet beneath him for her seeming preference for Wickham he was grateful to the tart for rescuing his sister.
Thank God they were leaving on the morrow for Longbourn. Charles was going back to Netherfield but she was staying in town. She wanted to make herself the best friend Georgiana would ever wish for and therefore put herself in a better light with Mr. Darcy. When the Bennets were gone she would spend as much time at Darcy House as possible.
"I will have him," she thought, "I will never let her win."
Posted on Monday, 15 March 2004
Elizabeth smiled as she thought of this day.
Her sisters had gone to Meryton and her mother had gone to her room to rest for the ball at Netherfield tonight.
She knew, when her father came to the door and motioned her to follow him, that it was time to tell her mother the news of her engagement to Mr. Darcy and she sighed as she wondered what her reaction would be.
They had decided before Mr. Bennet left London to return to Longbourn that they would say nothing to Mrs. Bennet until the last possible minute. Mr. Bennet had agreed that it would be best to spare Mr. Darcy the vulgarities of Aunt Phillips and Mrs. Bennet as long as possible.
Tonight Mr. Bennet planned to make the announcement the at the Netherfield ball.
Elizabeth knew how much her father was looking forward to springing the surprising news to friends and family and friends in this way.
She and Jane had spent six wondrous weeks in town before Jane and Mr. Bingley returned to Herdfordshire to tell Mrs. Bennet of their betrothal.
Jane's letters had only made her more determined not to let her mother know of her engagement til now.
Poor Mr. Bingley, Jane had said, He had to suffer daily the pandering and gushing from both their aunt and their mother.
"Such a dear man," Jane had written, "he smiles and answered all their embarrassing questions with such amiability."
The time they spent in town was made even more enjoyable by the departure of Miss Bingley and the Hurst's as soon as Mr. Bingley told them he was going to marry Jane. Though they gave many excuses Elizabeth knew they were leaving town to escape the possibility of having to entertain the lowly Bennets and heaven forbid they should have to introduce them to their friends in society.
She and Jane had had the most glorious time of their lives going to card parties, plays, dinners, and the opera with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy and his sister
Since Aunt and Uncle Gardiner and for six weeks, Mr. Bennet was with them always no one suspected that she and Mr. Darcy were to be wed to. Everyone knew Mr. Bingley and Jane were to be married and congratulations flew everywhere they went
People fell in love with Jane at first meeting, and who could blame them, she thought.
Mr. Darcy had wished to keep his proposal a quiet until he could go to Kent to tell his Aunt, Lady Catharine Debourg that he was not to marry his cousin, Lady Anne Debourg.
Elizabeth worried about her sister Mary and her new husband Mr. Collins, who was Lady Debourg's clergyman.
Mr. Darcy was certain his aunt would be furious but he doubted that she would dismiss Mr. Collins whose toad-eating ways suited her ladyship very well.
When he had come to Longbourn two days ago he told her of his aunt's rage and her threat to send Mary and Mr. Collins from, Rosings at once if he did not promise to forget this engagement and post the banns with Anne at once. He had not relented, but assured Mr. Collins that he would find him a post if Lady Catherine made good on her threat.
As her father knocked on her mothers door Mrs. Bennet answered angrily that this had better be important if they were to interrupt her rest.
"Well," she whined "what is so dire that I cannot get my sleep. Are the tenants rising up against us?"
"NO, Mrs. Bennet," he replied, "it is not about the tenants it is about Mr. Darcy."
"Mr. Darcy," she snapped, "what has he done to you now Lizzie. Dreadful man, how I despise him even if he is Mr. Bingley's best friend."
"Well, Lizzie, what are we to do now," Mr. Bennet grinned, "I have given my consent to your marriage to Mr. Darcy and now your mother tells us she despises him and would rather never lay eyes on him again.
"Dear me, my love, we do have a problem here, but you will be living in Derbyshire and London so she will not have to entertain him and I shall be glad to visit you whenever I can."
Mrs. Bennet stared at the two of the her mouth agape.
Lizzie was beginning to wonder about her mother's health it was so long since she had even breathed.
Finally, Mrs. Bennet let out a squeak and rising walked about her couch four times before falling back into it only to rise and take three more trips around it before she squealed.
"Lizzie, Lizzie, my dearest Lizzie, Marriage to Mr. Darcy. Oh my dear girl, what jewels, what carriages, what clothes you will have. Why you will have more pin money than most people make a year.
"My dear girl, you must let cook know what our dear Darcy's favorite foods are so that we can serve them when he comes to Longbourn. Oh, dear, what time is it, do I have time to run to Meryton to tell my sister the wonderful news.
"You will tell no one until I announce it at the ball tonight Mrs. Bennet her husband said, sternly we will make it a surprise. Can you just imagine the looks on the faces when they hear,"
"But I must tell Phyliss, Mr. Bennet," she wailed, "you cannot be so cruel as to rob me of the chance to inform my family."
"No one," Mr. Bennet repeated, and when he saw the stubborn look cross her face he went on, "if I suspect one word gets out the wedding will be in London, I promise, Mrs. Bennet."
"Ohh, Mr. Bennet," she wailed, "Lizzie, you are so cruel."
"Mama, Mama, they heard from below, where are you Mama, we have dreadful news, our hearts are breaking."
"Lydia and Kitty," Mrs. Bennet, smiled slyly.
As she started to rise her husband put his hand on her shoulder.
"Not a word, Mrs. Bennet," he said sharply.
"Mama," Lydia wailed as they descended the stairs.
"That dreadful Colonel Fitzwilliam has come to town with a lady and he says she is Mr. Wickham's wife."
"Mrs Foster says it is true, what are we to do, she says they will be at Netherfield tonight."
Posted on Monday, 15 March 2004
"Mr. Wickham, married," Mrs. Bennet gasped. "Oh dear, oh dear, my poor Lydia, and he has been showing you so much attention. This must be a falsehood my dear, I am sure Mrs. Foster is mistaken, it cannot be.
"Oh, dear, oh dear, my smelling salts, my smelling salts, Lizzie. Oh how could it be. Mr. Wickham, so charming, so handsome. I am going to faint, give me your arm Mr. Bennet."
"Perhaps Mrs. Bennet you will be too ill to go to Netherfield," was his reply. "Lydia, Kitty you will stay at home with your mother, she is becoming to ill to attend such a large function and I can see that you two are too upset to go either, especially you Lydia."
"No, no Father," the girls shouted in unison. "We will be well in time to go to the ball.
"I know I shall be the most well person there," Lydia cried, "I shall dance with all the redcoats. Lt. Denny will be only too happy to gain my attention. I know he has been very jealous of Lt. Wickham."
"I too am feeling much better, my dear Mr. Bennet and I can see that Kitty is too," Mrs. Bennet assured him.
"Come girls it is time to prepare we must look our best, you will be the most beautiful and popular girls there.
"Mr. Bingley's sisters arrived yesterday and we must not let them look finer than the Bennets so get on those lovely dresses Lizzie and Jane brought you from London and show everyone that the Bennet girls are as fine as any of the ladies in London."
The dinner was finished and the orchestra was setting up for the dancing when Mr. Bennet arose.
"As you know this ball is to celebrate the engagement of our daughter Jane to Mr. Bingley, however Sir William Lucas has an announcement to make so I give over to him."
To great applause he sat down with a look at Lizzie as Sir William rose, smiling hugely.
"My dear friends Lady Lucas and I are proud to announce the engagement of our daughter Charlotte to Dr. Benchley of London."
Claps and congratulations followed to Sir William and Lady Lucas' delight.
Mr. Bennet again arose.
"Come sister," Miss Bingley said taking Mrs. Hurst's arm, "let us go to the sitting room, I do not want to be a part of the congratulations and glad-handing which will go on when he is done."
Mrs. Hurst agreed, "What is Doctor Benchley thinking," she sighed, "Charlotte Lucas. I doubt the Earl will be happy about his son, marrying a nobody from Meryton."
"Where is Mr. Darcy and Georgiana, where is she?" Miss Bingley looked about the room, "I am sure they will want to be with us. I know they will not but condone Charles rash act."
"The are there with the Bennets," Mrs. Hurst, replied, "why are they there, Caroline."
Mr. Bennet made the formal announcement of the impending marriage between his eldest daughter and Mr. Bingley. Holding up his hand to stop the clapping and shouting he said with a satisfied grin, "We have a second betrothal to announce tonight, our daughter Elizabeth is engaged to marry Mr. Darcy."
A shocked silence filled the room as Mr. Darcy took Elizabeth's hand and brought it to his lips.
The silence was broken by a scream from the doorway of the room next to the ball room.
"No, no, no," a woman's voice screeched.
"Oh dear, that sounds like Caroline," Mr. Bingley cried.
Louisa Hurst jerked her sister out of the ballroom into the sitting room. Leading her across the room to the far side she shouted over the noise of the crowd at Mr. Bennets announcement.
"Control yourself Caroline, do not let them see your dismay. You must never let the Bennets know that you wished to marry Mr. Darcy."
"I cannot be silent about this, Louisa, he is mine, he is mine, sister, and I will never let Eliza Bennet have him."
"It is too late Caro," Mr. Hurst said, "over his wineglass. Too bad Caro, you lost to that country nobody."
"Get out, get out you stupid drunk," she screeched, "get him away from me Louisa or I shall not be responsible for my actions."
As Mr. Hurst, laughing, left the room as Caroline turned to her sister saying, "I must put a stop to this Louisa. I must speak to him. I must make him see that she is unfit to be Mistress Of Pemberley.
"I must speak to Georgiana, to Lady Matlock, I am sure she will not condone this marriage. Perhaps I should go to Kent to see Lady Catherine ."
"Stay out of it Caroline, you will only succeed in making Mr. Darcy angry. Do you wish to be banned from Pemberley, from all the Darcy homes and friends. If you try to interfere that is exactly what will happen."
"Nonsense, Mr. Darcy and I have been friends too long for him to give up our friendship for a country chit. Wait and see Louisa, I will prevail with Georgiana's help."
"Stop it, Caroline, stop it now. Have you not noticed how well Georgiana gets on with Miss Eliza, she loves her already as does her brother."
"I have seen it in the way he looks at her, Caroline as you have if you just admit it. Is that not why you have always hated Eliza, because you knew Mr. Darcy favored her from the beginning of their acquaintance. Now stop sniveling and raise your head up and return to the ballroom and our guests. The dancing is about to start."
Posted on Sunday, 22 August 2004
"Caroline, you must get control of yourself," Mrs. Hurst snapped, "you must not let these people know of your unhappiness at the engagement of Mr. Darcy and Miss Eliza Bennet. Can you not imagine how they would laugh at the thought of you losing your dream to her."
"Of course, sister, you are quite right, I must remember who I am. I am so superior to these clods that I shall never let them see my true feelings.
"This is not the end though, I can assure you, I shall have a talk with Darcy in the morning before he has a chance to leave the house. I must make him listen to reason. I must make him see that she is entirely unsuitable to be Mistress of Pemberley."
"Let it be, Caroline," Louisa cautioned, "you do not want to make Mr. Darcy angry. You must never do or say anything that will get you banned from Pemberley. Let it go, Caroline and resign yourself to the fact that he is going to marry her."
"You are right of course," Caroline said with a small smile that convinced Louisa that she would do as she wanted whatever she or anyone else said.
With a sigh of consternation she followed Caroline back to the party.
Lydia was not happy as she turned to Kitty saying, "I don't see why he would marry her, she's not very pretty and she's old she must be at least thirty."
Kitty agreed, "I would think a man as handsome as Mr. Wickham would be able to find a better wife than her."
Lydia now turned her attention to the cluster of redcoats across the room.
"Why are they all giving so much attention to Miss Darcy," she said angrily, "I don't think she is very pretty either and she certainly is not at all lively. Why should they all give her so much attention when I am here and I am better looking and certainly I have more personality."
"They give her their attention because she is a lady of quality, " a voice behind them said.
Lydia recognized the voice at once as that of Captain Mark Cole.
She had thought she would never dislike any man in a red coat until she met Captain Cole. He was always trying to make her feel inferior and she hated him.
"If she is a lady of quality what am I," she said fluttering her eyelashes at him in an attempt to make him fall under what she called her spell.
"You are a tart, Miss Bennet," he said with a superior smile.
"A tart, how dare you call me that," Lydia glared, "all the single men in the regiment are in love with me and you call me a tart. If I were to tell Denny or Johnson what you just said to me they would call you out at once."
Cole threw his head back and laughed, "In love with you ," he gasped. "You are the biggest joke in the mess. The only reason they tell you that they love you is because you show them your breasts when they do.
"They make jests about which of them will bed you first, but I can assure you that you are quite safe, Miss Bennet. No one would wish to take the chance of having to marry such as you. You must be very happy that Miss Elizabeth is to marry Mr. Darcy. Think of all the men of the ton you will able to chase after."
"Lizzy, marry Mr. Darcy, of what are you speaking," Lydia gaped at him, "you have had too much wine sir. Lizzie marry Mr. Darcy, what a joke."
Your father just made the announcement. What a stupid child you are, you are so wrapped up in yourself and your jealousy of Miss Darcy that you did not listen to what your father said, stupid, stupid, girl," he said as he turned on his heel and marched off.
"Stupid, child, tart, I will show him," Lydia said angrily as she took off across the room to grab the arm of Lt. Denny.
"Denny, I must speak to you at once," she said trying to drag him away from Georgiana.
Denny angrily tried to get away from her, but she hanging on until he went with her.
"Why do all of you give all your attention to Miss Darcy," she snapped. "You said you loved me. You must fight a duel with Cole. You must defend my honor," Lydia cried as she repeated what the Captain had said to her.
"He called me a tart and said you laughed at me in the mess. I know it is a lie, I know how much you all love me, you have told me again and again."
Denny was getting more and more frustrated and angry as he watched Stewart move in to ask Miss Darcy to dance. The one he wanted to dance with her.
"Why should I fight a duel when what he says is the truth, he snapped at Lydia. Do you really think any man would love a girl who flaunts herself as you do, who shouts across the streets so loudly that the entire town can hear you calling our names, and begging us to wait for you.
"Cole is right Miss Bennet, you are a tart and everything he said is true. Now let go of my arm, I wish to join my friends." With a stern look at Kitty, who stood gaping at him he said, "You would do well not to follow your sisters lead so eagerly, Miss Kitty."
Elizabeth excused herself from her betrothed as she saw Lydia run from the room in tears. Catching her as she tried to open the front door without success she led her sister to a small room near the door.
"Now, Lydia tell me what has happened, I saw you talking to Captain Cole and Lt Denny and run from the room. What is it Lydia."
Lydia was crying too hard to speak but Kitty coming so quietly into the room that neither of them had heard her entrance explained to Elizabeth what had occurred. Kitty then began to cry too.
"Dear Lord, Lydia, tell me that this is not true. Surely not even you would expose your breasts to these young men."
Lydia wailed still unable to speak. One look at Kitty's face answered her sister's question.
"I can scarce believe my ears," Lizzie scolded. "What were you thinking, Lydia, of course they would think you a tart, only a tart would do such an improper, brazen thing. I am thoroughly ashamed of you two. I knew you were wild, but this is more that I would have dreamed.
"No wonder they spend all their time with Miss Darcy. She is the kind of girl any young man would be proud to be seen with, but you two are another matter." She felt ill as she turned to leave, "I cannot even look at either of you tonight."
"Wait, please, Lizzie, can you not forgive me, can you not teach me to be a lady of quality," Lydia sobbed.
"I don't know how, Lord knows Jane and I have tried but you never listen to anyone, and you Kitty you never have a thought for yourself, you follow in Lydia's footsteps even though I know that you know it is wrong."
"We will listen, we will do as you say, I promise," Lydia hiccupped and Kitty shook her head in agreement.
"Very well, go and wash your faces and wait until your eyes and faces are not so red and then come back. When you do try to act as if you had at least a little sense."
"Yes, Lizzie," Kitty tried to smile.
"Is it true, what Cole said, are you and Mr. Darcy to marry."
Elizabeth smiled radiantly as she confirmed her engagement.
"If you take the trouble to watch your soon to be sister, you will see how a lady of quality acts," she said as she went out the door.
The next morning Darcy was shocked to find Miss Bingley in the breakfast room when he entered.
"This is a surprise," he said, "I would have thought you would sleep until at least ten o'clock."
"I know," Caroline smiled, "but I wished to speak to you before you go for your morning ride."
"Indeed," Darcy was leery at once.
"I know you will forgive my frankness," Caroline went on. "But I must have my say, Sir."
"About what," Darcy asked.
"About this engagement which was announced last night," she continued. "I don't what witchcraft or other means she used to lure you into her web but you must know that Miss Eliza Bennet is really most unsuitable to be the wife of Mr. Darcy, Master of Pemberley and all the Darcy estates.
"She will entirely lost in Derbyshire and most of all in town. You need a wife whose is your equal socially, one who is well acquainted with your set of friends."
Caroline swanned around the room moving her hands and arms in her most graceful manner as she talked, hoping that Darcy would see that she was the woman who should be his wife.
Darcy watched her in disgust.
"I can assure you that there was no witchcraft in my falling in love with Miss Bennet," he chuckled.
"But what will you do when you find yourself with an entirely ignorant and unsuitable country girl as Mistress of Pemberley. No, no she will not do.
"Why do you not go to your lodge in Scotland for a few weeks. I am sure that there you will come to your senses and the cold air of Scotland will clear your mind so that you will see that I am right and thank me for saving you from such a grave mistake. You will recall last fall that I told you that she had set her cap for you but all you would say was that I knew nothing of the matter.
"Well I tell you now I do know all about these country girls and their lures and enticements and I will not let such a dear friend be taken in by one of them."
"You still know nothing of it," Darcy laughed, "that very day I had offered Miss Bennet my hand and she refused me."
"Refused you," Caroline gasped, "I cannot believe that Mr. Darcy, no woman would refuse a marriage proposal from you, why you are the most sought after man in all of England."
"I can assure you that it is true, Miss Bingley," he smiled. "It has been all these many months before I could prove to her that I was worthy of her. So you see Miss Bingley nothing you say can stop this marriage between my beautiful Elizabeth and me. We love each other and shall have a long and happy marriage."
Caroline fled the breakfast room to rush to get to her own room where she wept for and hour. She cried the hardest when she saw him ride away knowing he was going to the woman he loved.
She had lost everything she had dreamed of all these years.
Posted on Monday, 7 February 2005
As the Hursts entered the breakfast room Louisa noted that her sister was not there.
"I wonder what is keeping Caroline, she said, I was sure she would be here by now. I hope she has not done something foolish."
She sat for a moment but before her husband took his chair she rose again saying, "Go ahead and have you breakfast Harold, I am going up to Caroline, she might not be feeling well."
"Feeling well," he snorted, "of course she is not feeling well. All her hopes and dreams of becoming Mrs. Darcy have been dashed by Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I could almost feel sorry for her if she didn't think herself so far above everyone else."
"Harold, how can you speak so of my sister, I know she is sometimes sharp with you but that is no reason to enjoy her heartbreak."
She swept from the room leaving her husband to enjoy his breakfast without listening to the sisters' abuse everyone of their acquaintance.
As she lifted her hand to knock on Caroline's door she heard her voice screeching, "Make haste girl, what is the matter with you, cannot you not tell that I wish to be gone from here as soon as possible. Move, girl, finish that packing."
Louisa threw the door open to see dresses, coats, hats, jewelry, and all other things owned by her sister being thrown at the maid Martine.
"Caroline, what are you doing," she shouted, "have you lost your senses? Leave us Martine, I would speak to my sister."
"Continue packing, Martine, my sister can have her say while you are doing it," Caroline snapped. "I am going back to town Louisa, I will not stay her and be humiliated. I will not be laughed at by these country nobodies. My mind is made up, you cannot stop me, Louisa, I mean to be off my noon."
"Don't' be a fool Caroline. You will stay here and face every one of these country barbarians. You will go to every tea and dinner and what is more you will host some yourself. You do not want to be laughed at by these unimportant people. What foolishness, How are any of them to know that you had designs on Mr. Darcy unless you tell them by running off to town to hide.
"Leave us, Martine, leave off with the packing. My sister will not be going."
"What am I to do Miss, you tell me to pack and Mrs. Hurst tells me not to, what am I to do."
Caroline turned to her maid screaming savagely, "What impertinence, how dare you interrupt a conversation between my sister and I."
As she finished her tirade she struck the girl across the mouth sending her reel and bringing blood to the corner of the lip. "Get out, get out, you French wench, get out, I never want to see you again, you are dismissed"
Martine tried to duck out of the way of the brush her mistress threw at her but she was not quick enough and she fled the room with a welt on her forehead and blood dripping from her mouth.
"Caroline, control yourself," Louisa grabbed her enraged sister by the arm and forced her into a chair. "Now you listen to me Miss Caroline Bingley, You say you do not want to be laughed at by these country bumpkins. What do you think will happen when you rush back to town?
"I can tell you what will happen. The banns have already been posted in the London papers, so every one we know is aware of the fact that Mr. Darcy is engaged to a country girl who no one knows.
"Can you not imagine how Lady Wentsel and her sister Lady Carter Jones will chortle behind their fans every time you enter a room. Do not think you can hide the fact that you have run away from here from any of them. Even if you hide away at the house and see no one they will know you are in town.
"They will all enjoy that, won't they, it will talked of at every party, the theater, and anywhere else they meet. The calling cards will be flying. Don't be silly enough to give them the satisfaction of seeing your pain and anger.
"Lady Matlock arrives this afternoon. You know that she will be only too happy to send an express as soon as she finds you gone. She will let everyone we know that as soon as the announcement was made you turned tail and ran to London so that you would not have to watch Mr. Darcy and his Eliza celebrate the engagement that you yourself have longed for all these years. I have tried to tell you that you should not make remarks about becoming Mistress of Pemberley, but you would not listen.
"You never listen to anyone, do you, Caroline. You went down this morning and tried to tell Mr. Darcy that he should not marry Eliza, didn't you."
She could tell by the look on Caroline's face that that was exactly what had happened. "Caroline, Caroline, did I not tell you to keep out of this. No do not try to justify it with me. You have made a fool of yourself already today and I will not allow you to further humiliate us by leaving."
Caroline opened her mouth to reply but Louisa would not be gainsaid.
"No, Caroline, do not try to justify you foolishness to me. Get those thing hung up and then come down and make plans with Charles and I for the dinner we will give to honor the newly engaged couples, including Miss Lucas."
"Very well, Caroline," pouted, "find Martine and send her to me. He said he loves her, that she is the only woman he could ever love," she said softly, "he said she is the heart of him, Louisa."
Martine had stumbled down the hall crying, only to bump into Mr. Darcy.
"Miss Martine, what is wrong, are you unwell. Here take my handkerchief, your lip is bleeding. Good Lord, that is quite a welt you have there. Come sit down and tell me what has happened to you.
As Martine sobbed out her story Darcy became angrier and angrier. He knew that Caroline did not treat her servants well but this is was too much even for her.
"What am I to do sir, She has dismissed me. How am I to find a new position here. How am I to get to town to start looking."
Darcy stopped one of the lackeys who was passing telling him to go to the stable and have his carriage readied and at the door in 15 minutes. Turning to Martine he said, "I am getting married miss and my new wife will need a maid. Go and pack your things as quickly as possible and be at the front door as soon as you finish."
He knew he was assuming a great deal by hiring a maid for Elizabeth without consulting her but he would take Martine to Longbourn and hoped that Elizabeth would accept her. If she would not have her he would find her another position so that she would never have to work for anyone like Caroline Bingley again.
Martine did not have much to pack and she wanted to get away as soon as she could so she was down stairs and in the carriage in 15 minutes.
When Elizabeth heard Mr. Darcy's story of Caroline's abuse of the girl and saw her face she was moved to tears.
"Of course, I will gladly have her, but I fear that Miss Bingley is even now looking for her, she had told all of us that this is the best maid she has ever had. She says that the girl is the best hairdresser she has ever seen and she keeps everything clean and neat.
"Yes indeed, I will be most happy to have her. We will be in need of all the hands we can find before this wedding is over."
"Thank you, my love from the bottom of my heart."
Taking Martine by the hand she said, "Come Martine, you must meet your new family."
Darcy smiled tenderly at her saying, "You have a tender heart my dearest, is it any wonder I love you so much."
Caroline stomped through the house finally asking one of the footmen if he had seen her maid. "I need her at once," she hissed "and wouldn't you know she is nowhere to be found. I need my things put away and she is dallying with one of the lackeys I imagine. Why did I take on a Frenchie."
"She left with Mr. Darcy, in his carriage," the lackey stammered, "backing away, she packed her things and went with him. She said you had dismissed her."
"Dismissed her, dismissed her," Caroline shouted, "find out where he took her and let me know at one, at once, do you hear me."
"Caroline," Charles spoke sharply, "of course he can hear you, they can hear you in Meryton. Lower your voice and try to speak as if you had some sense."
Caroline stomped down the hall muttering to herself, but she changed in a trice when she met Miss Darcy. "Dearest Georgiana, she cooed, why did you not tell me of your brothers attachment to Miss Bennet? We have such good friends all this long time, I would have thought you would let me know." She twined her arm with Georgiana's and moved on down the hall toward the yellow sitting room.
"I promised my brother that I would tell no one she, said he wanted to discuss it with the family before he made it public. He did not even tell your brother until yesterday. He wanted to surprise everyone last night."
"Well, it was certainly a surprise," Caroline snapped, "I did think that we were such good friends that you would trust me with it."
"I gave my word," Georgiana replied, stubbornly, "I would never break my word to Fitzwilliam."
"Georgiana, Georgiana, are you here," they heard her brother's voice.
"I am her brother," she called, in relief.
When Darcy entered the room he stopped, startled at the sight of miss Bingley.
"We were just talking," she cooed, "I am so fond of Georgiana."
"I am told that you absconded with my maid Martine. Whatever have you done with her?"
"You dismissed her, did you not?" he asked.
"I did, but it was all a misunderstanding, so you can bring her back so that she can arrange my things for me. Just tell me where I may find her and I will put her mind at ease with no trouble at all. I will give her a bauble or two and she will back and happy to be with me again."
"I cannot do that," he answered, "I have given her the position as my wife's maid. Elizabeth is in need of a maid and as you have told us so often, Martine is the best there is to be had. I-
Before he could finish his sentence, Miss Bingley leapt from her chair. "You have done what?" she screeched, "I will not have it , Eliza Bennet is to have my Martine, I will not allow it, I will not. She cannot have everything that is mine."
"It is done Miss Bingley, You dismissed her and I offered her a position on my staff which she was most happy to accept. She is already learning her new household."
Caroline ran from the room seething. No only had she lost Pemberley but she now had no maid.
Posted on Saturday, 25 June 2005
Lizzie called Mrs. Hill to explain to her about her new maid Martine.
"A Frenchie, Miss Elizabeth, I do not think I like the sounds of that," Mrs. Hill scowled.
"She has been in the employ of Miss Bingley for some time, Hill and I know she is an excellent maid. It is very good of Mr. Darcy to hire her for me and I hope you will find it in your heart to make her welcome.
"Please, just take her to the servants quarters and introduce her to the rest of the staff," Elizabeth asked.
"Martine, come here, she called, This is Mrs. Hill, our housekeeper, she will take you and acquaint you with the staff."
"Good heavens child, what happened to you," Hill exclaimed when she saw the state of Martine's face.
"Miss Bingley did this before she dismissed me," Martine said softly as she lowered her head in shame.
"Well, you come with me miss, we'll fix you up."
Turning to Elizabeth, Hill snapped, "Miss Bingley, so this is the way she treats her servants. I never did like that woman, thinks too highly of herself, I say. Hrummp, typical of a tradesman's daughter."
As Hill and Martine walked off Lizzie heard her Mother's shrill shriek, "Lizzie, Lizzie, where are you girl."
Spotting her daughter she rushed to her wringing her hands. "Lizzie, Lydia say's that Mr. Darcy came and went away directly.
"What have you done girl, he came to break the engagement, didn't he. Oh dear, what did you do girl, I have told you again and again that your tongue will get you into trouble. What did you say to him to make him angry enough to leave without even a hello to the rest of us.
"My poor nerves, my heart is breaking, two daughter engaged to rich men and now you have ruined your chances forever."
"Mama, Mr. Darcy came only to bring the maid he has engaged for me. He had to go back to wait for Mr. Bingley. The engagement is still in tact, Mama, but if your nerves are in such a state I think I should write to Aunt Gardiner and beg to have the wedding there. I would not have you become ill from too much excitement.
"If your nerves and your heart are in such a sorry state you must got back to your room and stay there for the rest of the day. I will send Lady Lucas a message telling her we will not be there for tea. I will see Charlotte this afternoon though, when you are napping."
"No, no girl," Mrs. Bennet gasped, "You cannot deny me the pleasure of having your wedding at Meryton. See my nerves have calmed already. A maid, did he, such a gentleman, to send to town for a maid, such consideration."
"He did not send to town, Mama, it is Martine, Miss Bingley's maid. Caroline dismissed her and knowing what a wonderful maid she is he immediately engaged her services for me."
"Miss Bingley's maid! Lizzie why did Miss Bingley dismiss her?
"You cannot keep her, Lizzie, I know how much Miss Caroline thinks of her, she must have done something dreadful for her to dismiss her. You must send her packing Lizzie, I insist."
"Indeed I shall not, Mama. Mr. Darcy herd the whole thing and Martine is without fault in the matter. Miss Bingley lost her temper with her for asking a simple question and told her to leave at once after striking her.
Mr. Darcy simple stopped her in the hall and made her an offer which she was all too happy to accept."
"Miss Bingley, why I can scarce believe it Lizzie. I am sure she is sorry and will want her maid back. If she does Lizzy, you must let her have her."
"If she wants her back I shall let Martine decide, No Mama, that is my final word on the subject."
"Mr. Darcy," Caroline cooed as she met him in the hall. "What is this I am hearing, surely you did not run off with my maid."
"I engaged her for Miss Bennet," Darcy said tightly, "They will take care of the wounds inflicted by you."
"But she is my maid and I want her back. We have had these disagreements before and she has been happy to stay with me after I give a few baubles and beads. I shall offer her a dress or two, that should make her happy to return. Martine would never be happy living in the country, she is very much a town girl"
Miss Bingley was very wrong in her assumptions about Martine. She was only too happy at the thought of working for the Darcys. The fact that she had been seeing Mr. Darcy's valet made the offer that much sweeter.
"If you would hurry to retrieve her for me, I shall need her before we go to the Lucas' this afternoon."
"I shall not retrieve her," Darcy snapped, "if she wants to come back you will have to settle things with her, but I will not assist anyone who beats their servants."
Caroline gritted her teeth as she watched him go up the stairs two at a time. She hurried to the sitting room to discuss matters with her sister. Miss Bingley was beside herself with anger as she paced the room.
"How I despise that woman Louisa, Miss Eliza Bennet, I hate the name Eliza, I have always hated it, now I know why.
"This is not to be born, sister, first she steals my husband, now my maid. I will not have it Louisa, I will not lose either of them to that chit, that country bumpkin. He is mine, mine. I shall be Mistress of Pemberley, not Miss Eliza Bennet."
"There is nothing you can do about it, Caroline so you had better put on your best face and make the most of the situation."
"Oh, I don't know sister, there must be poachers around her with all the game. She likes to take long walks, perhaps a poacher will shoot her, or she might fall down a flight of stairs. It could happen, Louisa, it could."
"Caroline do not even think such things. Get some control of yourself. Do not try anything stupid."
Georgiana stood outside the door. She had come down in search of Mr. Bingley's sisters when she heard Caroline's tirade. She didn't want to see them now, besides if she entered the room they would know she had heard them.
She fled back down the hall in search of her brother and found him and Mr. Bingley preparing to leave for Longbourn.
"Please, William, let me go with you," she gasped
"Of course, dearest, Darcy, took her arm, we will go in the carriage."
"Bingley, tell the stable boy to return the horses to their stalls and bring the carriage round."
"Now Georgie, what is wrong, what has you in such a state. What has happened."
"Not till we get in the carriage." Georgiana was almost in tears. "You must warn Elizabeth, brother, she could be in danger."
"Danger," Darcy sat back in the seat, "what danger, Georgie, of what are you speaking."
"Danger from Miss Bingley," she cried. "When did you make an offer of marriage to her, brother, how could you propose to Elizabeth if you have already promised to marry Miss Bingley."
"Marry, Caroline," Bingley laughed, "you must have misheard, Miss Darcy. There is no engagement between your brother and my sister."
Between sobs Georgiana told the two men everything she had heard between the Bingley sisters. "You must protect Elizabeth, Brother. I love her already, I could not bear it if something were to happen to her."
"You have nothing to fear Miss Darcy, I shall attend to my sister," Bingley growled. "I will let the two of you off at Longbourn and return to Netherfield and have a talk with my sisters, perhaps it would do Caroline good to spend some time in a nunnery. Please tell the Bennets that I had to go back to Netherfield to attend some urgent business and I shall be back directly."
Darcy too several deep breaths to get rid of his anger before he went inside. "Her husband, she is the last woman in the world I could marry, Where did she get the idea that I wished to marry her," he choked, "Mistress of Pemberley, the thought is enough to make me ill."
Caroline and Louisa stared in shock when their brother walked into the room. Never had either of them seen him look so angry.
"You look upset brother, did you have a quarrel with the Bennets already, you are back uncommonly quickly."
"Do not say another word, Caroline," Bingley said between his teeth. "What do you mean planning the demise of Elizabeth Bennet? Do not try to deny it Caroline, you frightened poor Miss Darcy to tears. She heard it all."
"But I would never do anything to hurt dear Georgiana," Caroline wailed, "you must believe me, Charles. You know how much I think of that dear girl."
"I believe Georgiana, Caroline. Poor girl she was in tears all the way to Longbourn. What do you mean Miss Elizabeth has stolen you husband and your maid. Mr. Darcy has never made an offer for your hand and you dismissed Martine. Everyone in the house heard you.
"She will be far happier with Mrs. Darcy than she has been with you. She will not beat her. She far too much a lady of quality to strike a servant. You decry the fact that our father was in trade, yet you persist in proving that you are not such a lady as the Bennet sisters.
"If anything happens to any of the Bennets, I shall cut off your allowances and you Caroline will spend the rest of your life at the Sisters Of Mercy nunnery. Do I make myself clear to both of you?"
"Yes Charles," they cried in unison.
"Good, then I shall return to my beloved," Bingley stalked away his back ramrod stiff and his sisters staring open mouthed at him.
Posted on Wednesday, 9 November 2005
"Oh, Jane, Jane, I am so happy," Elizabeth cried as she danced in front of her sister who was sitting on a bench in the garden
"Lizzy you are so funny," Jane laughed.
Elizabeth stopped and looked at her sister with love, before asking, "What have I done to merit such happiness, Jane, What have I done to merit Mr. Darcy's love.
"Oh Jane, I find it hard to forgive myself for the way I treated him all those months; for the vile way I spurned him when he first asked me to marry him. I cannot think of it without wanting to weep. My vanity, my stupid vanity."
"But Lizzy, Mr. Darcy says that it was the best thing you could have done. That it made him take a hard look at himself and he did not like what he saw. He says he hopes he is a better man for learning to cope with your refusal."
"I know, Jane, I know but I still am heartily ashamed of myself. I hope that in time I can be worthy of his love, I don't deserve it now. I don't deserve to be so completely happy."
"You on the other hand my dearest sister deserve all the happiness in the world and I am sure you will find it with Mr. Bingley. If ever I saw a man who completely adores his bride to be it is he."
"I love the way you have done your hair today Jane, Martine is the best there is. I am so fortunate to have her, I can well under Miss Bingley's consternation at losing her. I think thought that there is more to her choosing to stay with us rather than going back to Caroline. I do believe that there is something between my maid and Mr. Darcy's man. I have seen some very interesting looks pass between them."
"I hear the sounds of horses Lizzy," Jane leapt to her feet. "We must get to the house quickly. We must not let our beloveds get cornered by Mama."
Elizabeth laughed as the two of them ran for the house.
At Netherfield it was quite a different mood among the residents there. Mr. Hurst slept on the divan after a huge breakfast. Mrs. Hurst was beginning to feel a headache coming on as she watched her sister pace about the room. She was getting more than a littler tired of Caroline's constant tirades.
"So, Louisa, they couldn't even take the time to have breakfast with us. They are gone to Longbourn as soon as the cock crows."
"They were here for breakfast with us, Caroline, it is not fault of the rest of us if you sleep so late and take so much time to dress."
"I put the blame for that on Elizabeth Bennet's shoulders," Caroline snapped. "If she had not stolen my Martine I would not take so long. Now I have to wait for Roberta to finish your toilette before she can even give a thought to mine.
"That country clod, how could Martine prefer that family to me and Mr. Darcy what is wrong with him. I think he has lost his senses completely. Well, the Matlocks arrive today perhaps his lordship can talk some sense into him. I dare not utter another word on the subject."
"Yes, that is it I shall have a word with his lordship as soon as possible after they arrive. I know it would be useless to speak to Lady Matlock. I really don't understand why she dislikes me so much. I have tried in every way to get into her good graces but she disdains my efforts. "
"Come now, Caroline you know that to her ladyship you are just a tradesman's daughter and beneath anyone in her family."
"I know, I know, how I detest that term, tradesman's daughter. Will we ever live it down sister. Does our money and the position we now hold in society mean nothing."
Caroline's words only seemed to irritate Lord Matlock who finally spoke quite sharply to her letting her know that Darcy knew his own mind and if he would not intercede for his sister Lady Catherine Debourg he would certainly not do anything to help her put a stop to the wedding.
"Poor Miss Bingley," Lady Matlock smiled at her husband when he complained that the woman was an unceasing bore. "One could almost feel sorry for her if she wasn't so arrogant. She seems to think that her money can buy anything but she will have to understand that it will not buy her love, especially the love of our favorite nephew."
Caroline went to her room to cry and throw things, she had to admit at last that she had lost and it was not easy.
On the day of the wedding she stood ramrod stiff staring straight ahead, looking at no one.
"I will show them," she thought, "I will show them all. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy will rue the day he chose this country chit over Caroline Bingley. Even my own sister has gone to their side," She grimaced. Louisa had told her that she wanted to hear no more about it, it was done and they had to get on with their lives.
To make matters worse Louisa was with child and that would take time from her.
"I don't know how now, but I will come out on top to them," she scowled as the clergyman pronounce the couples husband and wife.