Beginning, Section II
Jump to new as of April 17, 1999
Jump to new as of April 19, 1999
Jump to new as of April 23, 1999
Day Nine Continued. Posted on Monday, 19 April 1999
"Of course, I will prove myself to be truly good. I could never marry Miss Bennet with a deal with the Master on my conscience! I want to be worthy of her."
"You have made your decision. So be it. The truth will have it's way."
"One last thing, Master," said Darcy.
"What, what, I haven't got all day. There's another twenty souls to be bought after yours, (though I failed with that one) and I'm falling behind in my paperwork because of this deal with your aunt," said TMOAE impatiently.
"I'll be quick. Firstly, what was in the parcel you gave my aunt? And secondly, if my aunt is paying for you to make the day repeat, then how come she doesn't remember the things I do?"
"That's two more things, g-d dammit!"
Darcy eyed the Master interestedly. "I didn't think you'd say that word."
"What, 'that'?"
"No, ' G-d'."
"Don't say that!" screeched the master, holding his ears.
"G-, G-, G-," sang Darcy.
"Stop it!" TMOAE pleaded.
"I'll only stop if you tell me what I want to know without being silly."
"Oh, OK. It's all the same thing really. I have been giving her powders to make her forget what happens. She's not stupid, she knows that you'd take a while to bring round. She didn't want to get bored. Though, from what I've seen, you have given her little chance to be so. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be off." He swirled his black cloak and disappeared before Darcy's eyes in a cloud of smelly smoke.
Darcy had become accustomed to strange things happening. The only thought on his mind was how to prove his goodness. He resolved to think about it in bed, and returned to Rosings. Due to the mysterious disappearance of Lizzy, the Hunsford party did not make it to tea. The Colonel was astonished when his cousin displayed no concern and went to bed early. Darcy did not give it a thought; he was busy making plans.
Day Ten Darcy sprang out of bed at first light. Today was the first day of the rest of his life. He hoped. Otherwise, he would just stay in the rut he was in. Which would be bad, right?
The first thing he did after dressing himself was to go to the attic of his aunt's house. (Well, which other attic would he go to?) He decided he would poke around and look for stuff to give away to the poor children in the village. And before you tell me that giving away someone else's belongings does not constitute true goodness, let me tell you that he only did this as he was not in the vicinity of his own attic, and the bank had not yet opened.
Anyway, Darcy was scrounging around in the trunks that resided in his aunt's attic, when he came across a stack of yellowing papers. Like any good person, Darcy was the type of person who when he cleans his room (not, of course, that Darcy needs to do that very often, having so many servants), gets distracted by all the newspapers he hasn't finished reading yet. So he started to read. About halfway down the stack he came to a very interesting piece of paper. It was a very old map. And the map (surprise, surprise) led to some… buried treasure!
What fun! Thought Darcy. I can search for this treasure and use it for good. And if the day repeats again, then I will know exactly where to find it the next time. Yes, that is what I'll do.
He returned to his room, map in hand, and got dressed in all the proper treasure hunting gear. Then he set off.
The map was of the "Hunsforde" district. The trail started near the old town well. Darcy knew the layout of Hunsford very well- he was forced to visit his aunt at least once a year, but tried to spend as little time in the house as possible. So he knew where to go. He followed the map's instructions without any incident, making slow progress, as it was hard to read the spidery old writing. He went down old drains, across the woods, round corners, through valleys and over hills, till he came to… the back fence of the Hunsford personage.
Mr. Collins, fortunately, was not in the garden. However, both his wife and Miss Bennet were sitting under a tree, talking. Darcy crept up behind the tree and listened (with some qualms, let me reassure you.) Mrs. Collins was asking Miss Bennet if she was sure he, Mr. Darcy, didn't love her. This he had to hear. He moved in closer.
"Oh, no he couldn't. There's little enough to do at Rosings, he must feel that even my company is better than his aunt's! But do you know what, Charlotte?" Lizzy said more seriously. "I even dream about him. Last night I dreamt that he proposed to me, but I disappeared in a cloud of smoke and winded up talking about pears with some man named Marks in hell*. I mean, what kind of a dream is that?"
"I think you've got something for him, Lizzy!"
Darcy was leaning forward, trying not to miss a word.
"Oh, no I don't, it's just you talking about him to me all the time! Are you sure it's not you who has feelings for a certain gentleman?"
Darcy overbalanced, and fell into a rose bush headfirst.
"Umm… hello ladies?" he said when they stood up in shock.
Posted on Thursday, 22 April 1999
"Mr. Darcy!" Lizzy said in a horrified tone.
"Miss Bennet," he replied, sitting up and rubbing his head. "I had not…"
Elizabeth took two steps forward and gave him a *slap*.
"How dare you? What… I mean… how long were you there? What did you hear me say? You, sir, are no gentleman!"
"And you, miss, are no lady."
"Pray, why not?"
"Not sure, actually," replied Darcy.
"Then why did you say it?"
"Again, I am not sure… who knows why we say anything?"
"Are you drunk, Mr. Darcy? You appear to be out of your mind!"
"Yes- I am intoxicated by your beauty and wit! You have made me go out of my mind. Miss Bennet, I fear the only thing that will make me sane is for you to marry me! Will you oblige?"
Elizabeth was cross, of course, but she still had to bite her lip to stop laughing. Darcy, meanwhile, had straightened himself up a bit so he looked comparatively normal.
"Mr. Darcy," said Charlotte Lucas, pretending that she couldn't see Elizabeth furiously shaking her head. "Please excuse me, I have to go. You will forgive me?"
"Of course," Darcy said. He bent over her hand and kissed it. "Always a pleasure."
The composed Mrs. Collins blushed furiously, and went into the house, to spy from the back parlour window.
"Sir, may I inquire what you are really doing here? For I do not believe that you really want my hand in marriage."
"I do actually, but that's not why I'm here. I know it sounds odd, but I am on a treasure hunt!"
"Really," said Lizzy. "How fun!"
"Yes, I found a map in my aunt's attic. It finishes around here somewhere. I'm sorry that I intruded, I did not mean to."
"Oh, I forgive you," said Elizabeth. She had no idea why, but something about her feelings for the man in front of her had changed in the time it took to slap his face. Suddenly she found herself feeling affable, nay, even kindly, towards him. "As long as you let me help you search for it, of course!"
"Well, of course you may," he replied formally, and pulled out the map with a flourish.
Lizzy and Darcy both craned their heads over the ragged piece of paper. "I think we should start digging here," said Lizzy, and Darcy agreed. They found a shovel in the tool shed, and Darcy soon had clods of dirt flying everywhere.
"I think I've found something!" he yelled.
Slowly he pulled out an old fashioned wooden trunk.
"Fancy that sitting here all these years," marveled Lizzy.
"Especially with the map belonging to my aunt," he agreed. The trunk was locked, and the lock was not yet rusted enough to be broken manually. The pair were in despair, when Darcy had the bright idea of using an axe to break the chest. They found one, he began hacking away… and collapsed.
"Darcy!" screamed Lizzy. *
Charlotte, who had seen the whole thing, rushed out of the house, and the girls tried frantically to revive him.
Now you must remember that the day was hot, and the work was hard, and Darcy had not had anything to eat that day. He had collapsed merely from lack of food and exhaustion. He woke up groggily when they tipped some water on his head. The ladies sighed with relief.
"What happened?" he asked.
"You collapsed! Thank goodness you're all right!" said Lizzy.
"Come into the house to dry off and have something to eat," offered Charlotte. The words "dry off" made Darcy realise that he was wet. He blushed. Elizabeth had evidently had the same thought he had and also blushed. They acted like mature adults, however, and he sat in the kitchen of the parsonage quite dignified in a towel with his shirt drying over the stove.
"Bring in the chest so that we can see what was inside," he said to Lizzy, who had quite forgotten about it in the excitement. She consequently went out, but returned empty handed.
"The trunk is gone!" she said.
Once Darcy was dry and fed, they searched everywhere for that trunk, without success. When it grew dark and it was time to go to Rosings for tea, they parted, disappointed.
"Is that my nephew? Where have you been?" demanded Lady Catherine upon his arrival. "You have been missing all day and you look like you've been swimming with your clothes on. You must go to bed without any supper, young man, I am most displeased!"
Darcy went up to his chamber accordingly. He was disgruntled that he'd miss seeing Lizzy, but a friendly servant brought him up some food, so he didn't go hungry. Meditatively he munched on some bread. Who could it have been that stole the chest? When it came to be bedtime and he still didn't have an answer, he decided that it didn't matter anyway. Tomorrow he'd dig it up before anyone else could get to it. Decided, he snuggled under the covers and went to sleep.**
**The chest was actually taken by Mr. Collins, who intended to use the money inside for a new prayer book and some velvet cushions for Lady Catherine to sit on in church.
Day Eleven Posted on Thursday, 22 April 1999
Darcy woke up in the same manner as he had for the past two weeks.
"Will you be wanting the black coat or the green one this morning?" asked his valet.
"I'll wear the black one thanks… no, no, the green one," he replied. Once he was dressed, he went down for something to eat, remembering what had occurred the day before when he hadn't. Darcy decided that he would try and practice patience, a virtue that would be needed to get by with his future in-laws (he hoped). He put on a brave face, and helped himself to some kidneys and tomatoes. He put some on his fork, closed his eyes, and took a bite…
"Erk!" he exclaimed, spitting it out on his plate very uncouthly. "Fitzwilliam, how can you eat this swill?"
"I like it," replied his cousin.
Darcy shook his head, got up, and made himself three rounds of toast with marmalade. (I'm sure it would have been Nutella if it had been invented!) Hunger satisfied, he headed over to Hunsford with a shovel over his shoulder. As cautiously as possible, he started digging in the spot he remembered.
Charlotte Collins looked out the window while she was eating her breakfast.
"What's Mr. Darcy doing digging up our backyard, dear?" she asked.
"Oh, I'm sure he must have a reason," replied her husband. "Most likely he has been sent by Lady Catherine De Bourgh to do some gardening." Charlotte kept quiet, but as soon as she had eaten, she and Lizzy ran outside. They were just in time to see Darcy lift out the chest.
"What's that, Mr. Darcy?" asked Charlotte. "You know if it's buried in my back garden it belongs to me."
"Oh, but…"
"She's right, you know, sir," said Lizzy.
"Possession is nine-tenths of the law! Besides, I found it from an old map in my aunt's attic. It belongs to no one! And besides, I was going to use the money for a very good cause."
"What, lining your own pockets?" asked Elizabeth.
"I am hurt that you would think such a thing of me, Miss Bennet! I plan on starting an orphanage in the village. But if you like, I will give you some of this money, and use more of my own than I planned."
Lizzy was impressed. "No, keep it for the orphans. Are there awfully many in these parts?"
"Yes, a couple of years ago many of the adults in this town were involved in a fire at the tavern, and most were killed. The children have been living with other villagers, but there is much overcrowding and poverty. I plan to change that!"
"If I can assist you in any way, Mr. Darcy, I will be glad to. I think it is my Christian duty to do so. However, I shall keep it quiet from my husband, in case he thinks otherwise," said Charlotte.
"That's wonderful, Mrs. Collins. Now, I have decided to purchase an old, derelict house in the centre of town. We shall renovate it today so that it will be ready for the orphans before I leave here."
"That's very quick work, Mr. Darcy! Are you sure we will be able to do it?" asked Charlotte.
"Of course. I can pull some strings, and we will enlist the help of the whole town!"
So that is what they did. Darcy returned to Rosings to fetch Fitzwilliam, and they headed for the village together. The purchase was soon made, to the astonishment of the local attorney, and the materials for the renovation were easily acquired. Fitzwilliam went from door to door, announcing the project and looking for volunteers, while the Charlotte, Lizzy, Maria and Darcy started work. Soon a large crown had gathered to see what the nephew of the town's most stingy resident was doing, and one by one they joined in. It was not a large house, but it had a pleasant garden, and it was not in so bad condition as to be structurally unsound. There was not as much work to be done as Darcy had feared.
It was a grand day. The sun was shining, the smell of fresh paint was in the air, and the banging of nails, cheerful chatter, and snatches of song, could be heard all around. Elizabeth and Darcy worked side by side, talking freely and easily. They spoke of their childhoods, and Lizzy heard the true story of Wickham. She took the news relatively well. Darcy heard how hard it was growing up with such a mother, and learnt to understand Elizabeth better. They really got to know each other for the first time.
In the mid-afternoon, the work was completed. Everybody stood proudly out the front, admiring their handiwork. Darcy had an idea.
"Let's celebrate with a picnic! I'll bring the food, and we can have races, and games!"
Everybody agreed that this was a most capital plan, and went home to change into their Sunday best for the occasion. Darcy returned with a cart full of food, and an enormous goose under one arm.
"Will you introduce me to your new friend, sir?" asked Elizabeth, laughing at the ridiculous spectacle he was making.
"Oh, I thought we could use him as a prize in the races. First place gets a goose!"
The afternoon was a spectacular success. Little Freddy from the blacksmith's won the goose, and he was very proud. Elizabeth looked at Darcy presenting the winner with his prize, and smiled. He was so good with children, she thought. He is so nice when he is not being proud!
All too soon the sun started getting low in the sky. Everybody made their way home, laughing and happy. Darcy drove Fitzwilliam, Maria, Charlotte and Elizabeth home in the cart. When they reached the parsonage, he alighted.
"Could you drive home from here, cousin?" he asked. Fitzwilliam smiled knowingly and drove off.
Charlotte and her sister looked at each other and went in the house immediately, but Darcy and Elizabeth hardly noticed.
"Thank you for a lovely day," she said, noticing how handsome his hair was in the sunset.
"No, thank you," he replied. "You have taught me to give. I have been a selfish being all my life, and so I might be still, were it not for you. I wanted to change, to deserve your regard. May I dare hope that I have succeeded?"
She looked him in the eyes. "You have, Mr. Darcy. I believe that you may be one of the best men I have ever known. I believe we may be able to be just good friends at the very least. At the very least."
"Thank you," he said, and drew her hand to his mouth. "That is the most wonderful thing I have ever heard anyone say."
The watchers at the window sighed with disappointment as Darcy then turned, and walked down the drive, turning back for one last long look before he turned out the gate.
When he reached Rosings, he was immediately accosted by his aunt.
"Where have you been? Fitzwilliam informs me you have been at the parsonage. Where are my guests? What have you been doing, nephew, I demand to be satisfied!"
Darcy told his aunt he wanted to talk to her privately. She agreed, slightly apprehensive, but thinking that maybe this was the moment she had been waiting for when he formally asked for her daughter's hand. They went to her study and shut the door. She sat behind the desk, looking very imposing. Darcy was not fazed.
"What is it you wished to speak with me about?" she asked.
Darcy took a deep breath, and walked over in front of the desk.
"I have noticed over most of my life that you seem to wish your daughter to marry me. I have no intention of doing so. My affections have been engaged elsewhere. I thought that I would do you the honour of telling you this before it becomes public knowledge.
"I intend on asking Miss Elizabeth Bennet's hand in marriage eventually. I know that she will probably refuse me, at first, for she is not (unlike some people) a money grabber, but one who truly knows the worth of a man. I can only hope that I am worthy of her. As for your daughter, a man will almost never fall in love with someone who has been pressed upon him. Anne is too young, too sickly and not lively enough for me. And besides, there are genetic dangers in cousins marrying cousins! I know what you did, aunt, to try and make me marry her. I have broken the chain. There will not be another today tomorrow, and for this I must thank you. I am sorry to pain you so, but there it is. I must do as my heart dictates."
Lady Catherine was astonished at this speech. Her nephew was normally so polite, and what he was saying went against all her principles and expectations. How had he discovered her secret? How had he broken the chain? That double-crossing MOAE.
"Get out of my house!" she hissed in an alarming manner. "You would ruin your family thus? Bring ignoble blood to the strain of the Darcy's? You may do as your heart dictates, Darcy, but you will do it without the support of your family and without the association of any good society! I am ashamed to have harboured that girl in my house. I wish to see neither of you again!"
Darcy bowed and left the room, knowing that his aunt would eventually come around when she wanted something else from him. Besides, the loss of her company was not a great one to him, and he did not fear being rejected by the rest of society. She grudgingly let him stay one last night, but did not speak a word to him the rest of the night. He went to sleep a confident man.
Day Twelve Darcy woke up to the smell of frying eggs and bacon, and smiled to himself. He'd finally got it right!
Darcy and Fitzwilliam returned that day, as planned, to London, where they met Miss Bennet once again when she was on her way home. Darcy rectified the situation between her sister and his friend Bingley, much to everyone's satisfaction, and Bingley decided to return to Hertfordshire immediately. Darcy, of course, accompanied him, and the men spent several weeks courting the Bennet sisters, to the delight of their mother. Wickham, afraid of the truth being discovered, deserted the militia and went to London, where he soon died of syphilis. Lydia instead had a proper courtship with Lieutenant Denny, who she eventually married. Lady Catherine, of course, welcomed Darcy back into the fold after a couple of years, but the Darcys hardly ever visited Rosings. However, they often stayed at the parsonage-- Collins' awe of Darcy's influence outweighing even his love for Lady Catherine--to look after the orphanage, which flourished. And so ends our tale.