Jump to new as of October 6, 1999
Chapter One
Pemberley was embraced by darkness which filled it and held it in a veil of sleep. It was past 12 midnight and Caroline Bingley and Louisa Hurst, night creatures to the largest extent, were sitting up in Caroline's rooms discussing the only thing which animated them. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Elizabeth Bennet had come to dinner tonight with her Uncle in Trade in Cheapside, and Mr. Darcy in a moment of anger had stormed from the Music room after Caroline's outburst on the bad points of Elizabeth Bennet. "Caroline, you simply must do the only thing you can do..."
"I cannot, I will not reduce myself to such levels. This is what she should be doing. Not I."
"Caroline, you want him don't you?" Caroline looked at her sister.
"Yes. I want this more than anything." She motioned around the rooms.
"Then this is the only way to get him. Elizabeth has bewitched him. You must do the same."
"Of course you are right. I will go to him tomorrow night. I will do what must be done." The two sisters looked expressively at each other like the fates sharing an eye.
"Holmes, prepare my carriage and wardrobe, I depart for London tomorrow." Mr. Darcy called at his manservant as
Caroline Bingley stood mouth agape. He looked terrible and had red rimmed eyes. "Mr. Darcy. May I be of assistance..."
"Not now, Miss Bingley." Darcy dismissed as he stormed past her calling Georgiana. He found her in his study. "My dear. Miss Bennet will not be joining us tonight. She has been forced to return home. A family crisis or something. I have just heard I have been forced to go to London also tomorrow for a few days. You shall be mistress, will you be all right?"
Georgiana looked nervous. "Is Miss Bennet all right?" she asked.
"Yes, she is fine." Miss Bingley walked in a that moment.
"What is this I hear. We do not have the pleasure of Miss Bennet visiting tonight?"
Mr. Darcy then related that she had a small family crisis which was so insignificant that he could not currently recall. "Anyway. I have to go pack." He moved to the door.
"Brother!" called Georgiana, who had pulled herself up to her tallest, as if preparing for a battle. "Is their something you would like to tell me?"
He stared at his shy sister. "Tell you?"
She motioned for him to sit down. She sat at the head of his desk and let her brother sit at the lower position. "Well?" She asked.
"What?"
"Brother, you have been different these past few days. I can only conclude one thing."
"Oh?" he asked, leaning forward. "What would that be my lovely sister?"
"That Miss Bingley has been lying to me."
Now this interested him even more. He expected his sister to ask him for some new gowns, or a new wing to be added to the house. "Lying about what?"
Georgiana looked deep into his eyes. She thought how odd they looked together. Him so dark and brooding and her so pale and innocent. "Miss Bingley has had me under the impression that the two of you were mad in love and that it was only a matter of time before you were married."
Darcy fell back into his chair. He should have been mad, in a rage, throwing things about the rooms and instead he fell back laughing.
"Then you deny it?" asked his sister with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, whole heartedly. I can honestly say that she is the last woman I would ever be inclined to marry..." those words, so like those Elizabeth had spoken to him. He stopped laughing and became the dark, brooding Darcy Georgiana had not seen in the days when Miss Bennet was present.
"Then my brother, to conclude my tale, I must believe you in love with Miss Bennet." Darcy's steadfast gaze returned to his sister.
How could she possibly have known. "My dear, I believe..."
"Do not try to fool me, Fitzwilliam, I know you too well. Me and the Colonel have discussed this in great detail. He believed you partial and now, I believe you smitten. What, dearest, are you going to do about it?" she smiled to herself, feeling pleased with herself.
"What makes you think that I have not already proposed to her..."
"Oh Brother, that it..."
"...and..." he said with a raised hand to her face "...been refused?"
Georgiana glared at him. "Refused?"
"Yes, my dearest. At Kent I asked for her hand, and it was refused. She gave me a list as long as your arm as to why she would not have me. She called me un-gentleman like. She said so many things, and all of them were true!"
"Oh, how you must have suffered."
"I am attempting to make amends, and now, I have another amend to make. My dear. I didn't want to tell you this, but now I feel inclined to." He poured her and himself a glass of wine. He didn't mind her drinking, he thought she may need it. "My dear. Elizabeth is acquainted with Wickham." He thought she would spit out her wine at hearing the name.
"Oh dear God..."
"She accused me of using him ill, I was forced to set the record straight."
"That is why she realised my uncomfort! Oh she is an excellent creature."
"Now, he has eloped with her youngest sister, a daft creature if I dare say so. I must go after them. Because she kept my trust and told no-one of how ill he has treated us her family must suffer."
"Oh my, what is to be done!"
"My thoughts also. I must go and make ready. My dear..." he said, standing up and kissing her forehead. "...When I return we must discuss your coming out. You are becoming more and more grown up." She smiled as he left the room.
That night as Darcy retired to bed he lay awake thinking about his dearest Elizabeth. The way she moved, the way she smiled through her thick eyelashes. He adored her. He found himself fantasising about their honeymoon. Where would they go? To the continent. To Spain. He could imagine her fascinated with the trees, culture and the animals. He could almost hear her laughter as she saw her first lizard.
Little did he know a Lizard was making his way to his room...
Chapter 2
Miss Bingley stood before the door of the man she loved. She wore a chiffon see-through night dress in an ostentatious orange colour. She adjusted the straps to fall sexily over one shoulder. She had been forced to apply her make-up alone so not to arouse suspicion. Had she been able to see herself in the light of day she would have seen that she looked similar to a circus clown with slightly worse applied makeup. As she stood before the door she wondered if Darcy was greatly knowledgeable in the ways of love. All she knew was what Louisa had told her, that it was an awful business which should b e left to the mistresses once an heir was produced. She checked her rouge, and applying some more she took a deep breath. With trepidation she pushed open the door, slowly. She had never been inside a man's chamber before. Darcy's was filled with paintings, soft rugs, antiques and a large, black dog. Caroline stepped slowly around the dog and towards her future husband, who was laid sound asleep.
Charles Bingley strolled the halls of Pemberley with a heavy heart. Seeing Elizabeth tonight had brought back memories of his beloved Jane, who did not desire him. For the first time, he saw a resemblance to Jane in Elizabeth; although Jane did not share Elizabeth's eyes, she had her pouted lips, her flawless skin and her pert little nose. With a sigh of remembrance he turned back to his rooms.
Darcy was having the most marvelous dream. He and Elizabeth were getting married and were saying their vows. She wore white velvet and he wore black, they grasped hands as she said, 'I do.' Then, he lent in to kiss her.
Caroline sat on the end of his bed, she looked at the almost childlike Darcy who hugged a pillow close. Holding in a deep gasp she shook him slightly. His eyes flickered, he looked confused and dazed.
"My dearest..." she whispered. With quivering lips she leant down to kiss him.
As her lips hit his, she heard him whisper "Elizabeth."
With a look of horror on her face she shook him more violently. "Darcy, it is I, Caroline."
He looked up at the woman he held in his arms and recoiled in horror. "Caroline, what are you doing in here?" he asked.
Charles Bingley stood at the door, surprised t say the least at the sight of a near naked Caroline and Darcy in each other's arms. "Darcy, may I ask what you're intentions are towards my sister?" Darcy thought he would die and Caroline grinned.
"Why Charles, isn't it obvious?" she smiled. The Lizard had won the first round.