Jump to new as of May 29, 1999
Chapter 1
Elizabeth looked out on to the crowd and smiled a little bit. But all the people who saw her smile crossed their chests and did not look at her any more. For who knew what she might be planning?
Elizabeth turned to her sister Jane and laughed. The two sisters could not have been more different in temperament and appearance. One of them looked like an angel (with the disposition of one), while the other's nose was a little too crooked, her eyes held a little too much laughter, and her mouth was too ready to laugh to be considered a beauty. If these flaws had not been there, she might have been worthy of a description of a fallen angel.
Jane was shocked at Elizabeth's behavior. "Elizabeth! Stop it at once. You know how they speak about you already!"
"Let them speak. What harm can rumors do?"
"More than you allow. They'll ruin your reputation."
"Good lord no. It's not like we're going to make good marriages. Besides, there be no eligible men in Salem anyway."
"Well, you never know till you try."
"You sound like mama, and speaking of her, we have to get some bread before she starts running around like a headless chicken screaming where have my darling girls gone!"
Jane suppressed a snort and walked to the baker. As the bell tinkled in the door everyone fell silent. Heaven forbid a witch should overhear their conversations.
"Mistress Jane, let me help you with the bread." The baker, a nondescript man any from 20 to 50, hurried over.
"Thank you," Elizabeth went over to examine the loaves. He made the sign against evil and gathered his courage.
"Mistress Jane, can you not have your sister look at the loaves?"
"Why not Baker?" Elizabeth's temper was rising.
"Cuz she a witch!" A little child yelled out, eager to contribute to the conversation. Elizabeth looked at him, frowned and swept out. Jane followed, but only after paying for the bread. They walked in silence, Elizabeth's head held high, as if in defiance of the townsfolk, while Jane's hung low, ashamed for her sister.
Chapter 2
Elizabeth flung a pot against the wall.
"Stupid townspeople! They know nothing of what I am! How dare they!"
"Calm down sister. You brought it on yourself by not behaving like a good Christian woman should."
"Meek, quiet and unhappy! I cannot do that! Sometimes I regret the day papa ever took us out of England."
"Don't speak ill of the dead!"
"I'm leaving Jane. I'll come back in a day or so. I can't stay in this hut any longer or I swear to god, I might kill someone."
"Fine!" snarled Jane. Stupid Lizzy. With two parents dead doesn't she know that we need good marriages. But who would ever ally himself with a rumored witch?
Elizabeth ran out of the cottage. Stupid Janey. With two parents dead doesn't she know that we will never get good marriages? So let's not kid ourselves and be independent, not cowlike!
She ran and ran till running was no longer an option. Breathing heavily she walked to the pond. She had always loved the pond. Hidden and quiet it seemed to be unpolluted by any person. And she wanted no contact with any person. She lay there and thought and thought. She missed England. She remembered everything so clearly. The balls, the smell of the air, the food, the laughter. If only she could go back there. She even remembered the dance steps.
Gracefully she began to dance around the pond, as if with an invisible partner. Her spirits began to rise. She pretended to be at a ball, the star of it. Every man wanted to dance with her. She laughed and made small talk. She was so happy she did not notice the slim figure of another girl watching her.
Chapter 3
"Mr. Witch inspector! How do you like our most Christian town? We try so hard to raise our girls properly. Meet Abigail Williams, one of our best girls." Mr. Lucas was a pompous fool, he thought.
Darcy looked her over. She looked like she did not have enough to do. He also hated girls with too much time on their hands. And it was worse when they had imagination too.
"Hello, Mr. Darcy was it?" Abigail tried to purr, unsuccessfully.
"I don't know let me check."
"You've come to aid us in our witch problem." Yes, he thought, no doubt you are the witch and the problem.
"Why else would I come to this place."
"It's hardly a palace, but it's good enough. That is when the witches aren't cursing everyone."
"Do tell me the symptoms."
"There are certain people here, who seem not to be good and honest. A woman may have the man that scorned her drown a few days later. A child may fall ill, after some displeasure of a dame. A sad business. There has even been dancing in the woods."
"Dancing? How absolutely scandalous." Darcy was amused.
"Sir! With the devil."
Darcy had enough. He went out to view the town. Nothing seemed wrong. He might as well stay and do some mumbo-jumbo to make it look like he was curing the town. Otherwise, it would be a horrible stay. He turned and took a path to the rambling cottage he had seen coming there. That at least looks interesting.
Chapter 4
The door was creaky, but Darcy didn't notice that. The reason he was oblivious was the voice that asked, "Who's there?" It seemed to hit all the right notes and linger sweetly, like a bell.
"Ma'am, I'm the new witch-inspector. I'm simply getting to know this place."
"Really? Does that mean breaking and entering?" She was a fiery sort.
"It's my duty." He said haughtily back. Or at least what he hoped was haughtily.
"You're paid for this. Could you find no real job?"
"Well, I have to say that you are rude. And rudeness to ones betters is a sign of a witch."
"My good lord, no. I must go down on my hands and knees to beg mercy." She made her eyes grow wide, and for the first time Darcy noticed how pretty she was.
"Forgive me, it was rude of me to come in uninvited. My name is Mr. Darcy. And yours?"
"Elizabeth Bennett." She conceded after trying to sweep him away with her broom.
"Bennett? I know a Bennett very well. He was my teacher back in England."
"Did he teach philosophy at Oxford."
"Yes, he was also a judge of some renown."
"You knew a Bennett. Daddy died." She closed her eyes as if someone had run a pin through her heart.
"Oh. I am sorry for you."
"As am I."
"Elizabeth, who is this! I thought we knew everyone in Salem!" Darcy turned to see another woman, just a pretty as Elizabeth but very different, come in.
"This is Mr. Darcy, Mr. Darcy this is my sister Jane." Elizabeth's voice lost its keen edge when she spoke to her sister and it grew soft and kind.
"Hello Mr. Darcy, do sit down." Jane flashed a nice smile at him.
"Hello Miss Bennett. I have to say you look much like your father."
"How would you know my father?"
"He was my teacher."
"Oh you were Will Darcy. He said so much about you. Do come and have dinner with us tonight. I do love company so."
Darcy agreed happily. He did not relish spending any time anywhere where that Abigail might catch him. She gave him the creeps.
Chapter 5
He went out the door and ran into to Abigail.
"Sir…" She began.
"Please, Mr."
"Very well. Two witches have been caught today. Do you want to look at them?"
"No, no, no. I am busy. Please leave."
Abigail narrowed her eyes but let him pass. She was secretly happy that he did not try to take over. She wanted to be in charge always. Then a girl came up to her, panting as if she had been running.
"James Smith is dead!"
"Do you know if it was witch craft?" This looked promising to Abigail.
"He just got a fever and within an hour he was dead!"
"Didn't he insult Elizabeth Bennett a few days before?"
"Yes he did."
"Oh goody."
Chapter 6
Darcy came in and she showed him his seat. She had to say he behaved tolerably well. He made excellent dinner conversation, but was too stuck up to be much else. She was sure that he was only mildly stupid. But she could never love a stupid man.
Then he asked to see Jane in private. Elizabeth knew what was coming next. Although Jane never tried to trap a man, she always seemed to catch them anyway. Now he would propose and be refuse. She expected him to storm out as they usually did. But something did not go as usual. Instead they walked out happy. Jane even laughed. Elizabeth was alarmed, would there be only one Miss Bennett from now on?
"Please Miss Elizabeth walk with me?" He asked stiffly.
"Yes, Mr. Darcy." Her curiosity was aroused. She wanted to get to the bottom of this.
They walked a little bit till he turned to her.
"Elizabeth…"
"Yes, yes, yes. I know you want my approval for Jane's hand in marriage, well did she say yes?" Elizabeth was not a creature of patience at all.
"I did not ask her that, so I would not know the answer to that. I want to know if you will be my wife. Ordinarily, I hate women, but I am willing to bear you out of love for your father. He was a great man, and I will be a good husband to his daughter."
"So I am to be loved for my father's sake. Sir, you are mistaken. The creature in front of you is Miss Bennett not Mr. Bennett! Do not propose to him then, but to me! And the answer is no." She felt her blood boiling at his pride.
"You cannot be serious."
"I know I am not in jest."
"I shall leave."
"Good."
Things were not helped by the fact that he took two steps and then tripped and broke his arm. Elizabeth called the doctor but did nothing else. She felt he didn't deserve anything additional.
Chapter 7
"I have decided something very important." He said in the raspy voice of a man who had not done much talking in the last hours.
"What?"
"Elizabeth Bennett is a witch. From what you have told me she has not only killed a child, but she has also bewitched me."
"How so?"
"I fell madly in love with her from the moment I saw her. She did this for her amusement. When I wished to end the infatuation in holy matrimony, she refused. Most unkindly I may add. Then when I was going off, I broke my arm. The left arm which is the witch's arm as everyone knows. She is a creature of Satan." He said coldly and broody. One could hear the howl of wolves in voice, as well as the cackle of witches.
"I shall go and tell the courts to arrest her." Abigail was pleased. Finally he was starting to do the job of finding witches. Good man.
Darcy himself remained slumped in his chair. Like a child who did not get the toy he wanted he desired to strike out. And poor Elizabeth had put herself in a position where he could easily do that. It did not matter if she was witch or not, Elizabeth Bennett was going to know what it was to scorn the honorable Darcy.