Brave New World of Toil and Trouble

By Beth M

Jump to new as of May 14, 2008
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Posted on Wednesday, 7 May 2008

Part One - London, February 1808

Chapter 1 - Innocent Abroad

Elizabeth Bennet sat on the edge of her seat. She leaned out and held tight to the rail of the theatre box. She was totally focused on the stage below. Her eyes sparkled and she unconsciously licked her lips like she was savoring something delicious. Her face was a panoply of emotions - smiles of delight, merry giggles, hearty laughs and occasionally she would even pant slightly with anticipation and intense pleasure. She was mesmerized by the performance of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Elizabeth had read the play numerous times and knew much of the dialogue. She had been thrilled when Lady Hughes, a school friend of her Aunt Gardiner, suggested she and her aunt and uncle join her and Lord Hughes for this performance.

One moment Elizabeth shivered in horror at the portrayal of Caliban and the next she was curiously drawn to him. She laughed at the drunken antics of Trinculo and Stephano but most of all she identified with Miranda. The actress playing Miranda was small in stature and had long chestnut curls like Elizabeth. Lizzy pondered Mr. Bennet's similarity to Miranda's father Prospero. Mr. Bennet had few expectations of Elizabeth but those he had she felt duty bound to honor. She should remain chaste and not be too silly. Like Prospero, Mr. Bennet never explained his past, the causes of his lackluster marriage and the families' precarious economic situation in the event of his demise. He owned a prodigious library and allowed Lizzy to learn things that many other young women did not know but she had no idea how to apply the knowledge or how it helped her in her quest to remain chaste and escape silliness. She smiled as she remembered her father teaching her French while reading Perrault's fairy tales at five. Le Petit Chaperon Rouge or Little Red Riding Hood contained the essence of her understanding of remaining chaste. Stay away from the big bad wolf.

Her father's small estate, Longbourne in Hertfordshire was beginning to make her feel confined. She wanted something more but could not put her finger on what she desired. She wasn't sure she wanted to rush into marriage just to please her mother and guarantee her economic security. Being in London and experiencing its diversions was at least allowing her to see other possibilities.

In December when Elizabeth turned fifteen, her mother began pressuring her to come out in the local, Meryton society and of course start the hunt for a husband. In Hertfordshire, she had chafed at her mother's obsession with marriage but watching the performance she wondered whether there was a Ferdinand for her. Was she being silly when she dreamed of loving someone intensely? She could envision herself gazing on him with wonder as Miranda did. He would love her with extreme fervor and free her from the mundane life of gossip, embroidery and the four and twenty families that were Meryton society. The scenes between Ferdinand and Miranda caused Elizabeth to get a dreamy, far away look on her face.

The reality was that Mr. Bennet unlike Prospero knew no magic and Elizabeth was never going to become acquainted with or loved by a prince or even an earl. A baronet was a possibility. If Tom had not died, Jane would have married a baronet. Wasn't she right now in the box of Lord Hughes who was a baronet?

Even though she would miss her long walks in the country, she could imagine a marriage like the Gardiners' with a house in town and access to London's cultural wealth. She would like being mother to lively, well behaved, attractive, intelligent children. A husband in trade with a prosperous business would definitely be tolerable. Her aunt and uncle seemed loving and content unlike her own parents.

Mr. Bennet locked himself in his library and seemed to take no responsibility for his children's conduct or future. His pleasure came from his books, his port, his tobacco and his delight in making sly, cynical comments about the foibles of his family and friends. Deriding Mrs. Bennet and her nerves seemed to be one of his main sources of enjoyment. Lizzy had often found her mother exasperating and had developed a closeness with her father. He had taught her to read at three, play chess at four and over the years they had spent hours reading and playing chess together in his library. Sometimes they read to each other and often would discuss what they read. Lately Lizzie read almost exclusively to her father as his eyesight diminished with age. More and more he relied on her to help him with accounts and correspondence.

Mrs. Bennet's one goal in life was to see all five of her daughters married. This single-minded pursuit did not seem to give her much pleasure as she was always complaining about her nerves. Mrs. Bennet's nerves and her vexation with the unmarried state of her daughters even though most of them were too young to be married was one of the major sources of Mr. Bennet's entertainment. Mr. Bennet's estate was entailed on the male line and when he died his wife and daughters would have no security.

Mrs. Bennet had developed her obsession with marriage soon after her fifth daughter was born and it only became more urgent after the death of their neighbor's son. She had hoped to be blessed with a male child and later was sure Master Trent would marry Jane and ensure some security. At least once a day since Tom's death, she reminded her daughters of the need to make advantageous matches and they heard their mother's admonition of their father, “How can you laugh at that which makes me weep?” Lizzy appreciated her father's humor but as she became more knowledgeable about estate business she concluded that her mother's concerns were real and should not merely be the butt of his jokes. She wished she could find a way to calm her mother and make her feel secure.

Her older sister Jane was already out and quite the most beautiful. She was blond, blue eyed, tall, statuesque with regular features and a serene countenance. Even with Jane's looks entering into an advantageous marriage would not be easily accomplished. The Bennet girls were practically without dowries. They each had one fifth of Mrs. Bennet's original five thousand pound dowry. They were all attractive but with such a small bridal prize they were not even going to be the first choice for local men in the marriage market. The local gentry usually needed an infusion of cash just like the larger estates to ensure prosperity. Thomas Trent would have been the exception. He and Jane had loved each other since they were practically infants. Nothing would have kept them apart except what did. He died of a trifling cold at fifteen.

Elizabeth's aunt and uncle noticed Lizzy's distress with her mother's prodding when they were at Longbourne for Christmas. She clearly was not comfortable with being out and unlike her sister Jane at fifteen, Lizzy still looked childlike. Despite her girlish appearance, she was by far the most intelligent of the Bennet girls and the most resourceful in solving problems. Just as she had been writing letters about estate business for her father since she was thirteen she often helped him to resolve problems between tenants. She was the diplomat of the family. She loved her sisters and often was called upon to advocate on their behalf with her father or mother and she found ways to settle disputes among her sisters by using humor to dissolve the tension.

Elizabeth had long been a favorite of the Gardiners and they soon found a solution to the animosity between mother and daughter that pleased both Mrs. Bennet and Lizzy. They offered to have Elizabeth come to London for an extended period ostensibly to help Mrs. Gardiner with her two older children. Mrs. Gardiner had recently given birth to her third child and her other two children, seven year old Thomas and four year old Marianne, adored their cousin.

Lizzie read to them and was very talented at doing the voices of the different characters. Witches were her specialty and she even did a credible dragon. Marianne would bury her face in Lizzy's lap during the scary parts but Thomas refused to even flinch when his cousin let out a cackle. She made up exciting stories of knights and princesses that had both her cousins enthralled. She was using Perrault to teach her cousins French. Both Thomas and Marianne liked Puss in Boots best and Elizabeth was a master at capturing the tricky cat's personality. Despite his less than ethical actions, Thomas and Marianne thought Puss clever, funny and he certainly knew how to survive by any means necessary. Together Elizabeth and the children went for long walks in the park, built snowmen and made kites in anticipation of the spring. Elizabeth had taught Thomas to climb trees but promised her Aunt Gardiner she would not indulge in the activity in front of Marianne and that she and Thomas would restrict their tree climbing to Hertfordshire.

Chapter 2 - Cruel Intentions

Edmund Fitzwilliam, the Viscount Wolfbridge, eldest son of the Earl of Matlock and heir to the earldom was in London for the winter. None of the rest of his family was in town so in the interest of economy...ah yes, the ever present need to economize...he was staying at Darcy House with his cousins Fitzwilliam and Anne Darcy. They were spending an evening at the theatre in the Darcy box.

The theatre was not one of Lord Wolfbridge's favorite diversions but it did afford him the chance to peruse the spectators. As he looked out he was arrested by a sight that set his blood tingling. He could not take his eyes off the young woman practically hanging out of Lord Hughes' box. She was oblivious to every one else in the theatre except the players. This was not someone from the ton hoping to be seen and admired. There was no coyness in her demeanor and she had the look of the country about her. The style of her gown was not the latest even though the couple with her was dressed more fashionably. The woman was too young to be her mother so he assumed she was not with her parents. Perhaps she was with an older brother or sister or an aunt and uncle hosting their country relative in London. She would be vulnerable with out the familiarity of her surroundings. He felt pleasure thinking of her look of mortification if she knew he was watching and the tingling he was feeling increased when he envisioned her look of panic if she knew what he was thinking.

Her facial expressions as she watched the play reminded him of women in the throes of passion but unlike most of those he had observed this one was very young. She was tiny with a mass of chestnut curls in a very girlish style and her figure was not at all womanly. The modest and girlish cut of her gown told him she was not out. Her countenance was dominated by large, expressive eyes the way children's faces are before they grow into their features… eyes so appealing... he wanted to see them helpless. But he must be wary as there was intelligence in those eyes. Intelligence meant danger but then again danger made the game more enjoyable. Of course she was a female so how much of an adversary could she be. It had been a long time since he had seen such an exciting creature.

Lord Wolfbridge was bored with London but he did not want to go home to Matlock. His father the Earl urged his first born incessantly to get married and produce an heir. He ordered him to find a young woman with a large dowry. Lord Matlock did not care what kind of connections had produced the wealth he just insisted that she bring at least fifty thousand pounds. Their family was an ancient titled one and could stand money from trade as long as there was plenty of it. The Viscount had met a young woman through his brother Richard, Eleanor Harding, who fit that requirement. His brother seemed to be quite fond of her so she couldn't be a harpy caring about nothing but improving her family's connections. Richard preferred pleasant, amiable women who loved dancing and witty discourse. Yes, Eleanor would do nicely as a wife for him. She was even small, not very curvy and moderately pleasant looking.

Edmund at twenty six was resigned to please his father...that meant being resolved to pursue Eleanor when she came to town in April. Richard was not as handsome as he was and he was after all a second son. Edmund was sure with his charm, good looks and title he would be successful. Until then the little bird across the theatre could be a charming diversion. Maybe he could even smile and flatter her into being a diversion for a while after he married. The problem with all his fancies was they were short lived. Unfortunately little girls just get bigger all the time.

It was time to start planning his immediate pursuit. Lord and Lady Hughes estate was next to Pemberly in Derbyshire and it would be rude for the Darcy's not to speak to their neighbors. He just had to be present when the introductions took place. He needed a beard and Anne would do nicely. It would be simple to encourage her to befriend the little country lass.

Anne was very susceptible to his charm and easy to manipulate. In an unguarded moment, she once told him she wished her mother was set on a marriage for her to him instead of Darcy. He had briefly thought about a marriage of convenience to Anne but Darcy acquiesced to Aunt Catherine's wishes after only one season in the marriage market. Anne met some of Edmund's physical requirements. She was tiny but her smallness was the result of lack of health and she just seemed sickly and not the child-like appearance he preferred. Also Anne would not have been as indifferent to a marriage with Edmund as she was to Darcy and that could have been trouble for him. Edmund did not need the family discussing his peccadilloes at every gathering. Of course Darcy was never going to commit any indiscretions. Darcy and Anne seemed to be moderately happy with each other although joy did not seem to be the most important commodity to Darcy. Very little seemed to elicit passion in his cousin except duty and honor. He was kind to Anne and very protective of his sister Georgiana.

Chapter 3 - The First Time Ever He Saw Her Face

Darcy's attention was drawn to the same vision his cousin was contemplating. The vision made him smile with remembrance. The young woman's joy was palpable even across the darkened theatre. She would occasionally mouth Miranda's dialogue and her face expressed an amazing array of emotions. She obviously knew The Tempest well. He thought back to the first time he had seen Shakespeare performed. He had been thirteen and was in this very theatre and this very box with his parents. They had brought him to see Hamlet. He had also known much of the dialogue and he had identified with the brooding Danish prince and his obsession to uphold the honor of his family and expose the murder of his father by his uncle.

Darcy experienced something when he looked at this young woman that he could not identify. Nothing similar had ever happened to him before. He felt a kindred spirit. He was moved by her unaffected manner, her lively enthusiasm, her joy, the beauty of her eyes shining with intelligence. He wished he could know her better but was unnerved by his cousin's fascination. He knew it was not stemming from an admiration for her love of Shakespeare. He was appalled to think that his feelings could stem from someplace akin to Edmunds. He was after all a married man and any breach of propriety or commitments was abhorrent.

She was sitting in the box of his Derbyshire neighbor, Lord Hughes. He wondered if he should talk to him of his fears for the young woman with regard his cousin. Yet the idea of exposing his families' secrets and perhaps creating a scandal was unacceptable so he immediately rejected the thought. Surely the young woman had adequate supervision to protect her from rakes even if they were viscounts.

Darcy knew his cousin was by far the most handsome and charming of the eligible bachelors of the ton. As he looked out over the theatre he saw many a woman looking at his cousin behind their fans. Edmund could woo and wed any woman he wanted but instead he liked the sport of hunting women who were either safe or outside his circle. Darcy had only heard of his liaisons with married women and widows. He had always been discreet and resourceful in arranging the capture but the way he was looking at this young woman made Darcy cringe.

Darcy, Edmund, his brother Richard and Darcy's friend George Wickham had played together as boys at Pemberly. Edmund had been the oldest with his brother two years younger and Darcy and Wickham three years younger. Edmund had been the leader of their group often deciding what they would play. He usually displayed a selfish recklessness that made Darcy uncomfortable. Over the years Darcy and Richard became closer than even Edmund and his brother. Their personalities were much more compatible even though to the outside they seemed opposites. Darcy was quiet and aloof and many thought him arrogant. Richard was amiable, perhaps even jovial and sometimes Darcy thought his openness bordered on the indiscreet. Richard had a similar charm to Edmund but like Darcy he was very serious about his obligations. Richard was now a Captain in the regulars and Darcy was married and the master of a vast estate. Mr. Darcy senior had passed over Edmund and the Earl and appointed Richard to share guardianship of Darcy's twelve year old sister, Georgiana with his son

Darcy became estranged from George Wickham while they were at Oxford. He was a favorite of Fitzwilliam's father and Mr. Darcy had paid for Wickham's education. The rumor was that Darcy did not approve of George's dissolute ways. Darcy neither confirmed nor denied the rumor but when Wickham came to him shortly after his father's death, he paid him off for the living Mr. Darcy had promised. Fitzwilliam knew the man should not be a clergyman. Darcy knew Edmund considered Wickham a protégé and they had spent time carousing together over the years. While at Oxford they had shared a liking for young innocents usually the daughters of shopkeepers. Wickham was the son of Pemberly's steward and his lack of consequence gave him more latitude. Edmund being the son of the Earl of Matlock had to be more careful about his liaisons than George but he had much more of an ability to impress and bribe than Wickham. Over the years they had shared more than once.

Darcy probably would have become estranged from Edmund as well except than he was family. Darcy was in agreement with his uncle the Earl that family harmony and unity was important to preserve. Concealing any whiff of friction was of the uppermost importance to the Fitzwilliam and Darcy families.

Chapter 4 - God Bless the Child that's Got Her Own

Anne felt a surge of jealousy when she noticed both her husband and her cousin were watching a young woman across the theatre. It did not surprise her that her cousin was watching since she was definitely his type. This one could not possibly be older that fifteen and she could be even younger. She was not sure what her husband saw in the young woman. He had never expressed much interest in any woman including Anne and avoided social interaction at all costs. He had been miserable the one season he had attended and at twenty he proposed to Anne just to avoid having to attend a second time.

At the time of his proposal, Darcy had been the most eligible bachelor of the ton followed by his cousin. Darcy was not titled like Edmund but he was much wealthier. He had also been seen by the matchmaking mamas as much more reputable than Edmund and consequently would be kinder to their daughters even if a trifle indifferent. The daughters actually preferred the Viscount because he was much more charming than his dour cousin. The cousins looked very much alike with dark curly hair and penetrating brown eyes but Darcy only measured up to Edmund's looks when he smiled and his dimples were displayed. That was a rare sight...Darcy had been interminably serious for as long as Anne could remember and he had become more so with the death of his father six months ago. He had numerous obligations and was uncomfortable with all company outside of his family and close friends. This aspect of his personality was what perplexed Anne. Why was her husband expressing an interest in a totally unconnected young woman...a little girl really?

Anne really couldn't complain about their marriage. She had desperately needed to get out of her mother's house and out from under her thumb. She enjoyed living at Pemberly and Georgiana was a pleasant little girl. Her father-in-law had not said much about their marriage but Anne felt he did not completely approve. George Darcy had married her mother's sister Anne because he was in love with her. He had pursued her until she agreed to marry. Anne always suspected that Mr. Darcy thought his son should have married for love rather that convenience.

Anne handled her responsibilities as mistress adequately but was beginning to have doubts about her ability to produce an heir. An heir was a necessity - more for her estate Rosings than for Pemberly. Georgiana could always produce an heir for the Darcy estate. Her mother was always reminding her about her duty to provide an heir for Rosings as well as to inherit the considerable wealth her father had left to Anne. Anne did not enjoy her marital obligations. Fitzwilliam was a gentle lover but Anne was petrified of giving birth. She refused her husband more than she should if she was serious about becoming with child. To her relief Darcy did not pressure her. He was too immersed in running Pemberly and being guardian to Georgiana. A year after his father had become ill her husband still struggled to keep up with all his responsibilities and she knew the grief he felt for his father weighed heavily.

Perhaps the young woman awakened a feeling of nostalgia for his youth. Both of Darcy's parents had instilled a love of literature in their children. She often found Fitzwilliam and Georgiana in the library and Darcy would be reading one of Shakespeare's plays to her. He was an excellent reader and even did voices for the different characters. Georgiana loved the voices he gave to the witches in Macbeth. Each one was different and more frightening than the last.

Anne was relieved they had come to London for the winter and was pleased her cousin Edmund was staying with them. Anne enjoyed his company. He was able to tell her all the gossip of the ton. He was adept at flattering and teasing Anne and he was willing to be available for visits from and to her acquaintances. Anne had very little experience making calls or accepting calls and Darcy was not much for participating in the social niceties. Edmund gave Anne confidence and while he was with her she became very popular among the ton.

Chapter 5 - First Impressions

During the break the Darcy party went to get some refreshment. As Edmund expected they encountered Lord and Lady Hughes, the unknown couple from their box and Shakespeare's ardent fan.

“Lord and Lady Hughes are you avoiding the Derbyshire winter as Mrs. Darcy and I are?” Darcy said.

Lord Hughes gestured to the couple and said, “May I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gardiner and their niece Miss Elizabeth Bennet who is visiting from Hertfordshire. We are here in town because Lady Hughes is Godmother to the Gardiner's new baby girl and we are here for the baptism. Mrs. Gardiner is from Derbyshire and went to school with Lady Hughes. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, these are our nearest neighbors in Derbyshire Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberly.”

Everyone bowed and curtseyed appropriately and Darcy said “It is a pleasure meeting you Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Bennet. I would like to introduce you to my cousin the Viscount Wolfbridge.”

Edmund stepped forward and bowed and then gave all a spectacular smile. Elizabeth had never seen anyone as handsome as the Viscount. He was tall with an athletic build, dark curly hair, penetrating dark eyes and the straightest, whitest teeth she had ever seen. She immediately blushed. Mr. Darcy looked a great deal like his cousin but he seemed more severe and his looks were not enhanced by that brilliant smile.

Edmund was pleased he got to see the hoped for blush but felt he should not be too obvious in his admiration in front of the young woman's aunt and uncle.

Darcy began the conversation by asking Mrs. Gardiner where she was from in Derbyshire.

“I am from Lambton. My father owns several shops, a haberdashery, a gun shop and he buys wool from the estates in Derbyshire. He does the washing, carding and spinning and sells the yarn to knitting workshops in Manchester and several places in Scotland. I was privileged to meet your mother once when she came into the haberdashery. She was a beautiful and elegant woman.”

“Thank you for your kind words. Lambton is not five miles from Pemberly. Is your father Mr. Davies?”

“Yes he is. Do you know him?”

“Not well but I do sell wool to him occasionally and your cousin, Mr. Wilder has recently become our family physician.”

Mrs. Gardiner was unable to discern whether Mr. Darcy was cognizant of her Cousin Jamie and Aunt Maddie's history so she said very little. “That is right; I do remember my father mentioning Cousin Jamie had become the physician for the Darcy family. I believe it was Lord Hughes who recommended him. I also remember him mentioning that your father passed away recently. Please let me offer my condolences.”

“Thank you again for your kindness. Mr. Gardiner are you also from Derbyshire?”

“No, I am from Hertfordshire but now have my business here in London.”

“What is your business?”

I also supply yarn to those making textiles. I import linen, silk and cotton. I have just recently expanded my business and have begun importing indigo from the Americas and spices from Asia.

Mr. Darcy continued making conversation with the Gardiners and was impressed by their intelligence, taste and good manners. He finally turned his attention to the young woman who had captured his attention during the performance.

“Miss Bennet is this the first time you have seen Shakespeare performed by a professional troupe?”

Elizabeth's face lit up and her eyes sparkled at his question. She breathlessly replied, “Yes Mr. Darcy and it has so far been one of the most extraordinary experiences I have ever had.” Her mouth broke into a lopsided grin as she gushed, “Of course I have been in Hertfordshire my whole life and have not had many experiences but I do so love Shakespeare and The Tempest is one of my particular favorites. I was ecstatic when I heard that Lord and Lady Hughes had extended an invitation to my aunt and uncle and me to join them in their box.”

Darcy was amused by her exuberance and candor and he was unable to help himself. He smiled at her and his dimples were evident to all.

Elizabeth now thought he was as handsome as his cousin. She blushed again and looked down at her feet for a few seconds but then continued the discussion in the hopes of seeing that smile again. “I hope to see more of Shakespeare performed in the future but my most fervent dream is to see Moliere's Le Misanthrope performed at the Comédie Française in Paris. However with the situation between France and England I doubt I will get my wish anytime soon.”

Darcy smiled again and said, “What does one so young know about misanthropy and hypocrisy?”

“My father is a great studier of human folly and enjoys mocking other's failings. I have enjoyed his barbs over the years and was struck when I first read Le Misanthrope and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme at the similarity between my father's and Moliere's humor. The irony is that my father is a bit of a misanthrope and I even now and then see a bit of the misanthrope in myself. That is what I like about the theatre. It helps us all to become more self aware while indulging in an entertaining evening with friends - and not to slight my mother's legacy - it gives me an excuse to dress up.”

It had been such a long time since Darcy had engaged in such stimulating conversation. He decided to challenge this young woman. In an almost conspiratorial voice he asked, “Do you feel comfortable with Moliere's satirizing the hypocrisies of the French aristocracy considering the results of the French revolution?”

Elizabeth was enjoying her conversation with this man. She moved quite close to Darcy and was speaking directly to him as the others conversed around them, “In truth, he poked fun at both the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy. You are unfair to blame him for the Jacobins.” She glanced toward the Viscount as she said, “I have no connection to any aristocracy so I am free to be much more egalitarian in my outlook and hopefully still keep my head about me. The corruptness of the society created its critics even within the ancien regime or how do we explain Laclos or the duc d'Orléans?”

Darcy's mouth dropped in amazement, “You have read Les Liaisons Dangereuses? How old are you?”

Elizabeth whispered, “I just turned fifteen and please be discreet. I would not like my aunt and uncle overhearing that I read one of the forbidden books my father keeps on the top shelf of his library. Besides the threat to my morals from the risqué contents, I almost broke my neck climbing. How delightful that would have been for the gossips in my village. Can you not hear their whispering about the young woman who died in pursuit of improper and lascivious reading material?”

Darcy threw back his head and laughed at this young woman's delightful impertinence.

Edmund and Anne looked at each other and neither could believe that the dour Darcy had not only treated a stranger to one of his rare smiles but then proceeded to laugh out loud. Anne could not even remember the last time Darcy had smiled at her like that. She also was struck by just how handsome he was when he smiled.

The time had come for the two parties to return to their boxes.

Elizabeth Bennet was flushed with excitement as she reviewed the recent interactions with Lord Wolfbridge and the Darcy's. She was pleased with her ability to converse easily with such important personages. She thought both the Viscount and Mr. Darcy very handsome. She hoped her Ferdinand could look like them. She thought about how tall they were...and oh, those broad shoulders, narrow waists and slim hips. Luckily it was dark in the box because she was sure she had turned bright red at the thought of their bodies. Elizabeth had watched them as they walked away and sighed at the elegance of both men. Oh my, she should not be thinking about this. She was sure it was highly improper. Elizabeth concentrated instead on Lord Wolfbridge's smile and brilliant teeth and Mr. Darcy's dimples and the fact that they had both seemed to be pleased with her...these men's smiles made her feel special.

Lord Wolfbridge smiled lasciviously in the darkness. What an innocent. She admitted she had been nowhere beyond Hertfordshire. He liked her impertinence and would enjoy matching wits with her. Was she knowledgeable enough to pick up on any sexual innuendos he might throw into the conversation? He knew if she did he would get to see her blush but he needed to be careful. He did not want to scare her off. Who was this Laclos fellow she had read that she and Darcy were laughing about? He would have to find out. He was not totally fluent in French but was pretty sure the title translated to Dangerous Liaisons. And he probably should brush up his Shakespeare and get ready to start quoting him now. Ah there she was leaning out of the box again. This was going to be delicious.

Fitzwilliam Darcy was confused about what had just happened. He had never been so relaxed - not to mention charming - and charmed when talking to a total stranger. She had the most beautiful eyes he had every seen. They were green with flecks of gold and they sparkled as though they reflected an inner light. He could barely remember any other feature other than her delightful chestnut curls glimmering in the candlelight. Why was he fixated on a child? Yes she was a child - a very intelligent, literate and witty child with beautiful hair and eyes. He remembered her lopsided grin when she admitted she had climbed to the top shelf of her father's library to retrieve Les Liaisons Dangereuses. She was so refreshing. There was no disguise of any sort. However, what did it mean that he found her so delightful? He was married. It would be totally inappropriate and he was sure gossiped about in great detail among the ton if he befriended a child who was not at all within his realm. He would forget her immediately after tonight but for the duration of the performance he would indulge himself and watch her reactions. Maybe vicariously he could gain just a bit of her joy. It had been so long since he had felt such joy.

Anne Darcy was intrigued by this young woman who had enthralled both her husband and her cousin. She seemed so at ease in conversation for one so young. Maybe they could become friends. Anne had never been allowed to have friends outside of her family. The only women she related to with any intimacy were her mother, her aunt the Countess and Georgiana. Her companion when she was growing up, Mrs. Jenkinson, was a very quiet sort of woman and not lively like Miss Bennet. Perhaps some of this young woman's ease in social situations would rub off on Anne. She was currently relying on Edmund to help her in society while in town. Miss Bennet had almost no connections but perhaps through confidences shared she could understand how to gain assurance and élan. As Mrs. Darcy she garnered respect among the ton but always there was that anxious feeling that everyone knew that hers was a marriage of convenience and that he was indifferent to her. If she projected a more assured image perhaps she could quash the gossip and gain esteem in her own right.

Posted on Wednesday, 14 May 2008

Chapter 6 - PG 13 - Great Expectations

Within days of the meeting at the theatre, Lady Hughes, Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth had been invited to tea with Mrs. Darcy. Lady Hughes picked up her friends at Gracechurch Street and they arrived at Grosvenor Square a short time later.

Darcy House was an imposing structure. Elizabeth was in awe the minute they walked into the entrance hall. It was larger than the drawing room at Longbourn and had a beautiful hexagonal table in the center with the most unusual arrangement of flowers. Lizzy had never seen such flowers…they looked tropical, exotic and more than a bit unreal. The flowers were on thin stems with large multiple blossoms on each. There were two different varieties displayed. One was white with a purple center and what looked like a tongue. The other was a beautiful purplish pink with just a hint of yellow at the center. Spiky green leaves and willow branches in their first buds augmented the blooms.

Once past the large entrance hall table, Lizzy noted the grand staircase and a series of three beautiful landscapes on the first landing. From there the staircase split with stairs going up both sides. One of the paintings was of a country town that reminded her of Meryton. Another used light in a most amazing way, and she felt the wildness of the approaching storm it depicted. The third painting was a watercolor of a town from the prospect of a hill. Lizzy would have loved to look at the paintings close up.

The room like the table was hexagonal with the staircase and the front door making two sides and arched entryways into other rooms were the remaining four sides. The floor was a beautiful white marble with a black and gray marble inlaid border. Above her head was the most beautiful chandelier she had ever seen. She was sure it held at least a hundred candles, and thought it must be amazing to behold the light reflecting off the lead crystal tear drops dangling from the three crown-like golden tiers. Her impression, despite the grandeur, was of an understated elegance highlighting the few extraordinary elements of the room.

The footman took the women's outerwear, and the three women were shown into another unbelievable room. It was almost entirely glass, and housed an incredible assortment of plants. It ran most of the length of the house, but in the front of the room, furniture was arranged as in a drawing room. The fragrance wafting from the plants was intoxicating. She and Jane had been making sachets and toilet waters from flowers since they were ten and twelve respectively. Elizabeth was envious of this remarkable room and not being restricted by the seasons for blossoms. There were lemon trees and orange trees laden with fruit, and there were numerous other varieties of the same flowers she had seen in the entrance hall. One of the plants had very large blossoms with petals that looked like a spotted leopard with a white center and a purple tongue or lip. Jane would be in heaven in this room.

With her eyes even larger than normal, she gushed her praises of the room to her hostess. “Mrs. Darcy, I have never seen anything like this room. How lucky you are. With this room you would never have to suffer the doldrums of winter.”

“Yes, Mr. Darcy's mother, my aunt, had this built, and a similar one at Pemberley when he was just a boy. They are very special rooms to him, and I quite like them as well. The house I grew up in seemed perpetually dark to me. It was a very grand house with beautiful grounds, but it did not have any place like this where you could miraculously escape winter.”

Elizabeth continued to bubble over with enthusiasm. “My sister Jane loves flowers. She would be in heaven if we had a room like this. You will have to tell me about all the types of flowers, especially the ones that smell delicious. Jane and I make sachets and toilet waters as gifts.” Elizabeth noticed that Lord Wolfbridge was in the room and was introducing her aunt to an older couple. Lady Hughes seemed to know them.

The viscount walked toward his cousin and Miss Elizabeth. He had his smile turned on full force. “Miss Bennet, I am delighted to see you again.” He took her arm and directed her to the older couple. “Miss Bennet, these are my parents, Lord and Lady Matlock. Elizabeth curtsied. Lord Wolfbridge continued, “Father, Mother I would like to introduce you to Mrs. Gardiner's niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Hertfordshire.”

Elizabeth realized that Lord Wolfbridge had inherited his looks from his father...including the smile. His mother was a pleasant looking woman who smiled sweetly at Elizabeth. She said, “What a pretty young girl you are. Your hair and eyes are quite extraordinary.”

Elizabeth gave the Countess her signature grin and said, “You are very kind Lady Matlock. I rarely get compliments when I am home in Hertfordshire. My older sister, Jane, is the beauty of the family. She is tall, blond and serene, with exquisite features and quite the perfect figure. None of the rest of the Bennet sisters get noticed when she is around. I would have left home sooner if I had known that once out of her presence, I would receive such compliments.”

Lord Wolfbridge and Lord and Lady Matlock smiled at her humour. Anne and Lady Matlock walked away toward Lady Hughes, leaving Elizabeth alone with the viscount and the earl.

Lord Matlock said, “I asked your aunt if your family is related to Charles Gardiner. There is talk of his being elected a representative peer from Ireland. I understand he is a prominent member of the Protestant Ascendancy and has extensive estates in Ireland. Your aunt said she had never heard of their being any connection to any Gardiner's in Ireland, even though she herself had relatives with estates in Ireland. Have you ever heard your mother or your grandfather mention a connection?”

Elizabeth grinned at the earl and said, “No, my Lord, I have never heard any connection. My grandfather was but a country lawyer in Hertfordshire, and he died when I was ten. I am sure had he known of a connection, he would have mentioned it to my mother, my aunt or my uncle…and if there had been a connection, my mother and my aunt would have told everyone in Hertfordshire about it.”

Lord Matlock smiled back, but inwardly considered her impertinence a bit disdainful of the aristocracy. He had expected her to fawn over a possible connection to the peerage...even if it was through Ireland.

Lord Wolfbridge turned to the earl and said, “Father, Miss Bennet is a Jacobin. Darcy got her to confess she is always on the hunt for the heads of the aristocracy. You must be careful around her or she may try to take yours.”

Lord Matlock got a very odd smile on his face. It was beautiful like his son's, but somehow seemed a little off kilter. He had decided he would get back at this disrespectful little chit. He smiled at Elizabeth and then turned to his son and said, “As you know son, it depends which head she is after. One I will guard with my life, but the other I may ardently consent to let her borrow.”

Elizabeth had no idea what he was talking about with his comment about two heads. She thought maybe he meant the heads of the father and the son. She was afraid they would think her slow witted if she let on she did not understand, so she smiled sweetly and said, “Your son is teasing me, Lord Matlock. I am neither a Jacobin nor a Girondist. The confusion, I am sure, comes about because I am widely known for preferring mountains* to flat land. Oakham Mount in Hertfordshire is my most favorite place. Rest assured sir, I am not out after either of your heads.”

Lord Wolfbridge and Lord Matlock gave each other knowing looks and laughed heartily.

Elizabeth blushed and felt they were laughing at her and not with her. She knew she had not understood their humour, but she was just as sure they did not get her bon mot. She was no longer as sure of her ability to charm peers or potential peers. She quickly excused herself and went to find Anne to ask for a tour of the conservatory. Learning about flowers seemed a safe occupation. Anne was not that knowledgeable about the types of flowers, but promised someday she would have Mr. Darcy give Elizabeth a tour. She did know that the flowers Lizzy thought were so beautiful and exotic were called orchids.

Over the next month, Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner were invited to tea at Darcy House five times. Mrs. Gardiner invited Mrs. Darcy three times. Mrs. Darcy was very gracious and came to Gracechurch Street as though it was nothing unusual. She met Thomas and Marianne and thought them delightful children and thought baby Susan was the prettiest baby she had ever seen. She expressed her desire to have children, but only she knew how frightened she was of the event. Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner both thought they were developing a true and close friendship with Mrs. Darcy. Elizabeth was hoping the friendship could continue once she returned to Hertfordshire, and Mrs. Gardiner was keenly aware that a friendship with Mrs. Darcy would be advantageous for her family's businesses.

They were never invited for dinner, nor was Mr. Darcy ever present at tea. The earl and the countess were present on one other occasion and the viscount on two. Elizabeth still thought Lord Wolfbridge the most handsome man she had ever met, and was proud she seemed to please him. Sometimes she would think about him romantically in private but she also felt as though she did not truly understand what he was thinking. He made her blush a great deal, and he asked the most peculiar questions when no one else was close enough to hear. She knew she was not of his sphere and was not becoming infatuated, but she did think highly of herself because he would sometimes be attentive.

* The Jacobins were sometimes known as the mountain because they sat on the highest benches of the Legislative Assembly. La Montagne was a political grouping within the Jacobin Club led by uncompromising men of action such as Marat, Danton, David and Robespierre.

WARNING: This chapter has a rape scene.

Chapter 7 - PG 13 - Lord Wolfbridge, Has Such Teeth, Dear…and He Shows Them Pearly White

Elizabeth and her Aunt Gardiner had been invited to Darcy House for tea on March 15th. The day of the engagement, Lizzy awoke thinking about Julius Caesar and the significance of the Ides of March. Was it truly a day that forewarns disaster, or was it just the stuff of theatrical allusion. She tended not to believe in superstition, but then again, she had her own history with which to contend.

A year ago on this date, she had gotten her courses for the first time. She had known to expect it because of her late night talks with Jane, but she was shocked by her mother's reaction. Mrs. Bennet was elated that Lizzy could very soon become a candidate for matrimony - since she could now bear children. This was the beginning of her conflict with her mother. Elizabeth would have liked some compassionate explanation of this life transition. She endured severe pain both the first time and several other times during the past year. Jane never had pain as intense as Lizzy's, but after her initial interaction with her mother, she had decided to suffer in silence. Since arriving in London, she had been able to talk to her aunt about such things, and she was mollified that her experiences were not unusual. The former Madeline Davies had attended a school for young ladies in Derbyshire and was much more knowledgeable about such things than her mother.

At breakfast, her aunt informed her that the baby, Susan, was croupy and teething. She felt it unwise to leave her, but encouraged Lizzy to visit Mrs. Darcy anyway. Mrs. Darcy had offered to come by to collect them. Mrs. Gardiner was confident Elizabeth would be well taken care of.

Elizabeth dressed carefully. She wore her yellow frock with the embroidered violets and lily of the valley around the neckline. The design was by Kitty, and Jane had executed the embroidery. Even though Kitty was only eleven, she was developing into a talented artist. Since Anne was picking her up in a Darcy carriage, Elizabeth decided to wear her new kid slippers. She looked at herself in the full length mirror and was pleased with her reflection.

Spring was still a week away, but the day was sunny and had the promise of the fine weather to come. Elizabeth felt her ensemble reflected that promise. She assumed they would take tea in the solarium and was quite looking forward to feeling the sun on her back as was wont to happen in that extraordinary room.

Anne had given the Gardiners some lemons and oranges, and Elizabeth had told her aunt she would give some of Jane's sachets and toilet water to reciprocate. Jane's sachets were a gift that all their friends enjoyed receiving. The sachets were dried blossoms enclosed in small squares of handkerchief linen. Jane would embroider the flower of the scent on the sachet and tie the bundle with the appropriate slip of ribbon. The two most prized by recipients were lavender and rose. They complimented the toilet waters Jane created by crushing the blossoms to release their oils and then steeping the mixture in spring water and a minute amount of the liquid Tom and her father used for killing beetles and butterflies for their collections. Jane had seriously occupied herself with this endeavor after Tom died, and it had grown steadily over the years. The products were much prized in both Hertfordshire and Cheapside as gifts. Lately their Uncle Gardiner had found a source for glass bottles with stoppers. Kitty had designed the image of the flowers that Jane embroidered on the sachets, and their uncle had the same image etched onto the bottles.

Anne often complained of feeling anxious, so Lizzie prepared a basket of some of the lavender sachets, lavender toilet water and a special chamomile tea blend. It tasted quite pleasant, as Jane had added bits of dried apple and cinnamon. Lizzy told Anne how Jane had created the tea for their mother. Throughout their acquaintance, Lizzy had entertained Anne with her descriptions of her mother's nerves and how they would come and go with spectacular speed depending on what was happening. The tea was quite helpful to calm her nerves, but the best thing to dispel her mother's flutterings was a visit from her Aunt Phillips with delicious gossip.

Anne and Elizabeth enjoyed comparing their mothers' idiosyncrasies. They had been in each other's company quite often in the past month, but had to remain circumspect in their discussions of their mothers when in company. Today they could be much more open out of the hearing of aunts, uncles and cousins.

Once alone together in the carriage, Anne told Elizabeth she could call her by her given name and asked if she could do the same. Elizabeth readily agreed. She felt Anne was already a close friend. She both envied her and felt sorry for her. She had great wealth and an incredibly handsome husband. On the other hand, her husband seemed a bit indifferent, and Anne seemed to lack confidence in her ability to win friends. Elizabeth was quite looking forward to corresponding with Anne once she returned to Hertfordshire.

Their discussion rapidly got on to their favorite topic…whose mother was the most distressing. Lizzy knew her mother was just mildly obsessed with marrying off her daughters while Anne's mother had felt the need to control every aspect of her daughter's life. She even interfered with what she ate and what she could learn. Anne's mother had decided she was not healthy enough to learn to play the pianoforte, never let her attend the season in London and only allowed her to socialize with her family. Elizabeth was not sure love was the motive for Anne's mother's behavior. Somehow it just seemed she had a need to be in charge and cared not for her daughter's happiness. Elizabeth realized her mother's preoccupation with marrying off her daughters had at its core love and wanting to protect them from a life of reduced circumstances.

Elizabeth suddenly felt a surge of homesickness and wished she could hug and kiss her whole family. She realized that despite their financially precarious situation they were lucky girls to be so loved by both their parents and each other.

When they arrived at Darcy house, they did not go to the solarium, but instead went upstairs to a sitting room in the family quarters. For the first time, she was able to observe the three landscapes up close. Anne was knowledgeable about the artists.

“My husband inherited a love of art from his mother. She started a collection, and he continues to add to it. These are three recent additions. The one on the left of the country town is by Constable and the one on the right is by a man named Turner, it is Oxford from the prospect of a hill overlooking the city. The larger, middle painting of the approaching storm is by another man named Turner.

My father-in-law collected first edition books and Fitzwilliam also enjoys adding to his collection. I have not yet decided what I should collect. Do you have any suggestions?”

“My father collects beetles and books. He has a few first editions, but he is more interested in reading the books than preserving them. Thankfully he is very generous in letting his children share. Papa uses his beetles to illustrate his favorite theological point. When someone asks him what he knows about God. He always answers that the only thing he is positive about is that God seems to be quite fond of beetles since he made so many of them*. He then proceeds to tell them he is attempting to capture every species in order to ensure his entrance into Heaven. Most people do not know what to make of his reply. My sister Mary thinks his remark borders on the sacrilegious. She is very devout and collects sermons.”

Elizabeth got a nostalgic look on her face as she continued, “My childhood friend Tom, aided by my sister Jane, collected butterflies and moths before he died. I collect voices. I try to learn to imitate unusual voices I hear, and then I use them when I tell stories to children. I am particularly good at scary voices. My youngest sisters collect ribbons. I am sure you have realized by now that our collections are suited to people with limited funds. You have many more options than we.”

Anne laughed at her lively friend. “If you ever meet my mother, you will be able to collect a prime specimen with her scary voice. Lately I have been thinking I might help Mr. Darcy with his collections. You already know he collects orchids, and I might like helping him with that.”

Elizabeth looked at the painting of the approaching storm one more time. The way the artist used light made the storm both beautiful and menacing at the same time. She shivered with a feeling of something akin to impending doom as she looked at the painting. She wondered if it was a premonition that it was going to rain.

Anne and Elizabeth were served tea and chatted for a while. Anne was encouraging Elizabeth to accompany her the following week on a shopping expedition; thinking Elizabeth should buy a few gowns before she went back to Hertfordshire.

“Elizabeth, you must see this new gown I had made. I think the style will suit you well. I am just going to take your wonderful presents into my room, and I will return shortly with the gown. You will see what I am talking about...the fabric is luscious, and the cut of the gown is most flattering. I will only be gone a short time.”

Elizabeth thought it odd Anne left by the door to the hall, but assumed maybe the sitting room was not one that was exclusively hers. Elizabeth wandered around the sitting room while she waited for Anne to return. She noticed a pile of books on a table and decided to indulge her curiosity and see what the Darcy's were reading. She noticed one was Les Liaison Dangereuses. She wondered who was reading it, since she knew Mr. Darcy had read it before. While she was wondering, she heard the door to the hall open and close. She turned around expecting to see Anne, and instead saw Lord Wolfbridge. Lizzy smiled, but suddenly became nervous. She had felt slightly uncomfortable around the viscount and the earl ever since their exchange about the French Revolution the first day she came for tea. She was not sure why she felt their remarks improper. What they said had made no sense to her, but she felt their laughter had somehow been at her expense. The viscount had also asked her very odd questions about whether her father had to punish her often. She wished Mrs. Darcy would return soon. She did not wish to be in the room alone with Lord Wolfbridge, but she also did not want to offend him.

The viscount smiled and said, “Miss Bennet, what a pleasure to see you. You are certainly very spring-like today. I hope you will be warm enough going home. The weather has taken a turn for the worse. It has gotten quite windy outside, and it looks like a storm is moving in.”

“You need not worry about me, Lord Wolfbridge. I have worn my cloak. I am experienced enough to know how changeable the weather is this time of year.”

“Oh yes, old enough...but you must promise me, Miss Bennet, that you will not get any older. You are quite perfect as you are.”

Elizabeth was determined to do something about the impropriety of her current situation. She continued to smile at the viscount but said, “Lord Wolfbridge, I think I must be leaving.” She cautiously, and she hoped casually, walked toward the hall door. Lord Wolfbridge continued to smile at her as though she were daft. However, he did not try to stop her. He seemed to be holding his breath, waiting for a desired reaction. React she did when she turned the knob and realized the door was locked. The look of panic on her face was worth the wait for Lord Wolfbridge.

Elizabeth was unsure what to do. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, but she knew she had to stop them from flowing. He seemed to like her distress, and she was sure tears would make him even happier. She could not figure out what he wanted with her. He was a man ten times her consequences. Surely he was not planning to propose. Was this the way men seduced women? If it was, why did he seem to enjoy seeing her suffer? She would have thought the object would be to charm her into forgetting what was about to happen. He kept smiling at her with those teeth she had thought so beautiful. How silly she had been to think it was because he found her someone worthy of knowing.

“Lord Wolfbridge, why are you here?'

“I want you.”

“What do you mean, you want me? Surely you do not mean you want to marry me.”

“Oh silly girl, of course not. My situation in life, my title, my connections are entirely too substantial to consider marriage with someone like you. As I am sure you have noticed with your snooping, I am reading Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and I know you are aware that sometimes viscounts seduce young women. I want to be your first. You are a little girl in need of education and possibly punishment. I am just the man to do that for you.”

Elizabeth shuddered. “Please do not compromise me. I have four sisters and a scandal would be disastrous for their prospects. We have very small dowries. Please, I beg you, let me go home. I will never tell anyone what you just said. Please, I am only fifteen. Please, Lord Wolfbridge, I just want to go home. Please, I am afraid.” Lizzy realized immediately she had said the wrong thing. She saw the look of pleasure that crossed his...could she have really thought him so handsome...face.

The viscount came over to her and put his hand around her upper arm. His hand was huge compared to her arm. She smelled port on his breath. With practically no effort, he pulled her toward the connecting door. The door led to a bedchamber that smelled of pipe smoke.

Elizabeth realized Anne had not taken her to her own, but instead to Lord Wolfbridge's sitting room. She thought Anne had been her friend. With that realization, she knew her situation was hopeless. She was petrified, and was struck by just how large he was. He was more than twice her size…perhaps even three times as large. She was afraid to try to fight him...she was afraid to scream. The Darcys' servants would come to know she was alone with him in his bedchamber. Because of Anne's role, she was positive they would think she had agreed to be here with him. She was still fighting back tears when she came to a decision. If she went along with him, perhaps an opportunity to escape might present itself. Her first priority had to be to ensure no one found out what was happening to her.

Lord Wolfbridge calmly sat down in a chair and proceeded to light his pipe and sip his port. “Now, little girl, I think it is time for you to disrobe. I want to see just how deliciously girlish you are.”

Elizabeth was horrified at his suggestion. Suddenly she realized there was an avenue of escape she had not explored. She ran to the hall door and turned the handle...it was also locked. She began to have trouble breathing, her knees felt weak, and she was afraid she was about to collapse.

A horrifying thought streaked through her foggy mind. For the first time, she became aware of what would happen if he ripped her gown. She had to keep her wits about her. Now that she was convinced there was no escape, she quickly changed her tactics. Her new priority became making sure no one learn of her violation. How could she leave without the Darcys' staff seeing that her frock had been torn? How could she explain the state of her clothing to her aunt and uncle if he forcibly removed them?

Before acquiescing, she tried one last ploy. “Please sir, I do not want to remove my clothes. My body is not pleasing to men. My mother says I have not developed yet, and no man will have me.”

“What do mothers know? Oh no, little one, I like you undeveloped. You are most pleasing to me. Maybe I should disrobe you myself.” With that he walked over to her.

Elizabeth wished he would stop smiling and showing those teeth. Instead of thinking it the most beautiful smile she had even seen...she kept thinking of the big bad wolf. She was sure he was going to eat her or do something quite horrifying. She said, “I will help with the buttons. Please do not rip my gown.” The dress wrapped in front with buttons on the side. Luckily she could reach them. She quickly unbuttoned her gown and pulled it over her head. She carefully placed it on another chair. She stood before him in her chemise.

He had gone back to his chair, port and pipe. With a leer, he said, “Do you want me to help you with the rest?”

She hung her head and nodded, no. She proceeded to remove the rest of her clothing. She saw the look he gave her and heard the words he spoke to describe her when she was naked. She realized nothing she had ever read prepared her for this humiliation. She closed her eyes and began thinking about anything but her current reality. She thought of dawn on Oakham Mount. She thought of Jane...oh, how she wished she were at Longbourn with Jane.

“The time has come, Elizabeth, “Lord Wolfbridge said, “to move on to other things.”

Elizabeth thought about the impropriety of his using her first name and then choked back a hysterical laugh. What a ridiculous thing to worry about. She would allow him to call her anything...or say anything about her if she could just stop him from doing what she was certain he was about to do.

The minute he put his hand around her arm again and started dragging her, Elizabeth receded once more into memories of her life in Hertfordshire. She thought of her childhood…Tom, Jane, Charlotte and Becky...walking the fields...making flower wreaths...Tom teaching her to climb trees while Jane, Charlotte and Becky looked on in horror because they were sure she would fall. She remembered their teasing because she was afraid of horses and she focused as much as she could on the evening she and Jane caught the Luna Moth for Tom's collection.

When he was finished with her, she was unaware of exactly what he had done. Her eyes had remained closed throughout her ordeal and she desperately tried to stay focused on pleasant images. She had felt tremendous pain occasionally and let out involuntary cries and moans. Somehow she had been conscious the sounds she made were pleasing to him. However, the most devastating thing was his running commentary on her body.

After it was over, she lay perfectly still for quite some time. She heard the door open and close. After a while, she opened her eyes and realized he was gone. She walked to the door to the hall and tried the handle. It was unlocked. She saw blood on the bed linens and realized she could see blood and something else on her thighs. She wished she could wash, but was afraid to go searching for water. Instead she quickly dressed and tried as best she could to tidy her hair.

When she got downstairs, she asked for her cloak. She was surprised the footman also gave her the basket in which she had brought Anne's gifts. Once again she was struck by the complicity of Mrs. Darcy in the attack by her cousin. What kind of people were they? They were as depraved as the French aristocracy if not more so. Neither cared whether they ruined her life or her sisters' lives…and probably assumed when they were thrown out in the hedge-rows and couldn't afford to buy bread they could always eat cake. Lizzy let out an involuntary giggle. Lord, she sounded like her mother.

She managed to get out of the house with no one seeing her except the footman. She would walk home and never tell another living soul what had happened to her, and if she was lucky, never see anyone from this most despicable family again. Her most fervent wish at this moment was when he read the end of the Laclos he would feel fear. Elizabeth knew there was no one who would ever avenge her, but maybe some other young woman would have a loved one who would kill him.

*This is a paraphrase of a very famous remark made by the scientist J.B.S. Haldane more than a century later.

Chapter 8 - Hey There Little Red Riding Hood the Man in Black is Following You

Mr. Darcy was just arriving home when he saw a diminutive figure with a red cloak coming down the steps of his townhouse. There was mist in the air, and the tiny woman pulled the hood of her cloak over her chestnut curls. It was the young woman from the theatre, but he could not remember her name. As she passed him, she seemed to be quite agitated. She kept mumbling to herself what sounded like, “beware the Ides of March”. She did not acknowledge him, even though he was standing beside his carriage. She began walking away from the house, and he noticed her shoulders would slump and then she would straighten herself as though a war was going on in her body between sadness and determination. He ran to catch up with her...he could not remember her surname but finally remembered her first name. “Miss Elizabeth, where are you going?”

She did not look at him, but in a voice that was barely audible said, “Home”.

“Is a carriage coming to pick you up?”

“No”

“Where is home?”

“Cheapside”

“You plan to walk from here all the way to Cheapside?”

“Yes”

“It is raining and very blustery.”

“I have a cloak.”

“But you are not wearing boots, only slippers.”

“I am a good walker. I will be fine.”

“Do you know the way?”

“I have made the trip five times, and I remember most of the directions. I will ask the first constable I see if I become unsure.”

“Miss Elizabeth, it is dangerous for you to walk by yourself. Where are your aunt and uncle?”

“My uncle is at his warehouse working, and my aunt had to stay home with baby Susan because she is sick. Mr. Darcy, please leave me alone. I do not want to talk. I just want to go home.”

“Let me take you home in my carriage.”

“No”

“Why not?”

“Because I do not want to...Why will you not leave me alone?”

“You are too young to be out alone in London.”

The young woman slumped once again and said in a profoundly defeated voice, “You are right. I am too young and too silly. I should never have left Longbourn. But please, I still want to be alone.”

Mr. Darcy followed behind the young woman who looked very much like Little Red Riding Hood. She was even carrying a basket. For a tiny thing, she could walk very fast. He caught up to her and asked once again, “Please let me take you in the carriage. I am very worried about you. At least let me walk with you.” He attempted to take her arm.

Her response was loud and fearful, “Mr. Darcy, do not touch me!” She paused as though she realized she had been too sharp in her reply. She continued with, “I am very dirty, and I fear I must reek.” She turned and looked at him. Her face seemed haunted and consumed with sadness. He could see tears pooling in her eyes, but there was some inner fortitude that stopped them from rolling down her cheeks. When he met her, she had seemed to have an inner light that gleamed out through her eyes. The light was gone...Where did it go?

What did she mean she was dirty? She didn't look dirty, but there was a peculiar odor about her. He remembered when he had met her at the theatre, she had smelled of lavender, and that fragrance always reminded him of his mother. Her odor today was something he had smelled before, but could not quite place. One thing he discerned was the acrid smell of blood...and he thought he smelled tobacco smoke. He wondered if the blood meant she was injured. He would have liked to ask, but she had made it clear she did not want to talk. Had she been smoking? That would be very improper...a young woman of fifteen smoking. He dropped back and decided to follow her and motioned his driver to follow him.

For the next hour, they made a strange procession...A demented Little Red Riding Hood, trailed by a very tall, elegant man in black, holding on to his hat to keep it from blowing away, followed by a very fancy carriage with the Darcy crest. For most of the time she appeared to be having a conversation with herself. Her arms would periodically gesture erratically or she would smack her head. Oftentimes she hugged herself as if she was cold. He was very concerned that something terrible had happened. However, he had only met her that night at the theatre. He knew Anne had developed a friendship with her, but she had not told him much about the young woman. He had determined that his interest in her that night had been improper and had tried to excise her from his memory. Maybe she was unstable and Anne had not been in her company long enough to perceive her true nature. She looked back several times to check whether he was following her. Finally as they were getting quite close to Cheapside, she whirled around.

When he was in front of her she spoke, “I have changed my mind. I will take a ride for the rest of the way. It is only about five blocks. I left Gracechurch Street in one of the Darcy carriages… I should arrive back in one in order not to arouse suspicion. He had no idea what she was talking about, but decided to accommodate her. He motioned to the driver and opened the door to the carriage.

Darcy attempted to take her hand to help, but she quickly pulled it away from him. “I am perfectly able to get in without your help.” She scrambled into the carriage, holding on to the door and pulling herself up and through the opening. The maneuver was decidedly unladylike, but she seemed determined to have no human contact.

“Mr. Darcy, please stay here. I do not want my aunt and uncle to think I was alone with you in the carriage. It is only a few blocks. Your driver will be back very soon to pick you up and take you home. It is very kind of you to let me ride in your carriage for this last short distance.”

Once again he thought her behavior odd. She had walked from Grosvenor Square to Cheapside without any qualms...well not quite without qualms as she had seemed agitated the entire way. Now, after more than three miles, she was concerned about raising suspicion by being alone in a carriage with him. Did she not think her aunt and uncle would be suspicious at the condition of her slippers? She had been limping the last ten blocks or so, and he was sure she had blisters. Maybe Anne could shed some light on why she seemed so erratic today. More and more he was convinced she was an unstable young woman and it was probably the result of inheriting bad characteristics combined with improper supervision. She admitted she read forbidden books. He would never allow Georgiana to act so improperly. If Miss Elizabeth behaved like this in the future, something dire was sure to befall her. Hopefully this would be the last time he would ever see her. He struggled to remember why he had been so intrigued when they first met. He had thought about her quite often in the last month despite his efforts to forget her. This encounter should wipe her out of his mind and then he could get back to what his life was like before he met her.

Posted on Tuesday, 20 May 2008

Chapter 9 - Secrets and Lies

Elizabeth arrived at her aunt and uncle's house, and decided to let the footman help her down, as she did not want to call attention to herself. She was disgusted by his touch, but knew she had to pretend she was exactly as she had been before she went to Darcy House, so as not to arouse suspicions. Standing erect, with her head held high as she entered the house, she was relieved that her aunt was not downstairs. Aunt Gardiner was probably still up in the nursery with baby Susan.

Elizabeth asked Mrs. Jones, the housekeeper, if she could have a bath arranged for her. Once undressed, she put her gown and underclothes aside to be laundered, knowing she would never wear any of them again. Discarding them would draw attention… and what about the blood stain? Would it be noticed, and should she worry? Helplessness was threatening to overpower her... if only she could talk with someone. Jane was the only person she could ever trust with her confession. Elizabeth desperately wanted her sister.

No, the best thing was to never reveal the incident to anyone, and she would be spared the humiliation. She had learned her lesson, and now had to prepare to return to Hertfordshire and refuse to be out. Lord Wolfbridge's despicable actions had convinced her she was not mature enough to understand the motives of men... and maybe never would be. What arrogance to think that her extensive reading made her knowledgeable about the human condition and people's motives. In the future, she would also stick to the company she knew from real interaction. Her father had read Chaucer's Chanticleer and the Fox to her when she was only five, and she had always been a big reader of the bible, though not as much as Mary, however, she had not heeded either's advice. Had she listened, she could have avoided what she now decided was her major sin... `Pride goeth before a fall.' She had been so proud of her ability to charm a viscount and an earl. Oh, what a fool she was. She was sure she was the silliest of all her father's daughters.

Elizabeth braced herself - it was time to go downstairs and face her aunt and uncle. She was glad their fears for Susan's welfare were their main concern today, and it was easy to divert attention from herself by asking after her cousin. Her face was schooled with the appropriate look of worry as she listened to the account of Susan's prognosis, but she could not concentrate, and hoped her inattentiveness was not noticed behind her mask.

Dinner was uneventful, but afterwards during tea, her aunt asked her about her visit with Mrs. Darcy. Elizabeth had prepared a response before coming down for dinner. “I am sorry, Aunt, but I had a quarrel with Mrs. Darcy, and she will likely not invite us for tea again. I sent a note to apologize for my behaviour, but I doubt she will forgive me. She found me too familiar in criticizing her mother. Though we have gossiped about our mothers in the past, it was clear she thought I overstepped the bounds of propriety and was entirely too disrespectful with my remarks about someone so much above me.”

Mrs. Gardiner thought Elizabeth's explanation rang false. She found it unbelievable that Mrs. Darcy had been annoyed about something Elizabeth had said of her mother. It was clear from her experience with her that she was a young woman with great animosity toward her mother.

Elizabeth continued her rambling explanation. “My feelings of inadequacy about being out have been proven correct. I have not mastered how to speak to those outside my narrow society.” Elizabeth saw her aunt's face, and she knew she was not entirely successful. Perhaps it was a case of protesting too much.

Elizabeth felt tears welling with her falsehood, but hoped her aunt would think she was distraught about her lack of social graces.

Mrs. Gardiner scrutinized her niece intensely, but was unsure what she saw. Something was wrong… Elizabeth was not telling the truth. She saw the pooling tears, and decided not to probe her niece tonight. There would be time before she went back to Hertfordshire for heart-to-heart talks. Elizabeth was so young, she thought, recalling the angst of her youth. Had Elizabeth become enamoured of the viscount, or even Mr. Darcy? Infatuations were something all young women went through.

Fitzwilliam Darcy arrived back at Darcy House, and immediately searched out his wife. He found her in her sitting room, instructing her maid to put some sachets into her drawers. He could smell lavender. Anne looked shocked when he asked about her visit with Miss Elizabeth. How had he known Elizabeth had visited that afternoon? She stammered as she replied, “It was eh, it was pleasant, but I started feeling unwell, and the visit was cut short. How did you know about her call?”

“I saw her leaving the house. She was distraught about something, acting very agitated and walking almost all the way to Cheapside - in slippers - in the rain and wind. She seemed very unstable and was gesturing quite wildly the whole way. I offered her a ride home in the carriage, but she refused. She seemed particularly averse to being touched. I think she might have been wounded. I smelled tobacco smoke. Were the two of you smoking?”

The whole time Fitzwilliam was speaking, Anne became paler and paler. She was caught, and had to figure out how to recover from this disaster. “Of course we weren't smoking. You must be mistaken about what you smelled. She gave me some lavender sachets and toilet water she helped her sister make. They have been making them since they were quite young. She told me how the occupation had been a solace to them after a tragedy. Your mother always smelled of lavender.” She forced a little smile. “I think I shall like smelling like her. I miss my aunt. It is hard to imagine she was my mother's sister. She was always so cheerful and loving, always laughing a great deal. Miss Elizabeth also gave me some special chamomile tea. She thinks the lavender and the tea will help me feel calmer.”

Fitzwilliam was aware Anne was babbling and trying to divert the conversation away from Miss Elizabeth's state of mind. He decided he would drop the accusation of smoking and ignore her remarks about his mother in the interest of finding out why Miss Elizabeth was acting so irrationally. “Is there anything that happened that could have upset her?”

Anne gripped the back of a chair, hoping she could keep her trembling from being noticeable. She tried to think of something to say to him that would end his queries. She stammered several beginnings, and finally settled on, “I think... I believe... I have noticed for a while that she had become enamoured with Edmund, and I might have said a little too strongly that there could never be anything between them. She did seem quite unhappy with the news and became very quiet, which I thought strange because she is usually so lively. I was feeling unwell and decided it was better to leave her alone with her disappointment. I excused myself, and when I came back ten minutes later, she was gone.”

Darcy thought about Anne's revelation and decided it was plausible. He had thought Miss Elizabeth too sensible to fall for his cousin's suave glibness, but then again, she was very young. She had indicated she had been silly about something. Importance, power and wealth were always very attractive to those from the lower circles, even if they came in the package of an intelligent, joyful, little girl on the brink of womanhood.

Anne Darcy noticed that her husband seemed to momentarily accept her story. She resolved to confront Edmund... if for no other reason than to ensure their stories were in agreement. She would try to get to him before Fitzwilliam decided to ask him if he had been home and seen Miss Elizabeth. The first thing she needed to accomplish was getting rid of her husband. If she was to hide her allowing Edmund to be alone with Elizabeth from Fitzwilliam, she needed to think, and she needed to talk to Edmund.

“I am still feeling unwell. I think I am going to lie down and have a tray sent up for dinner. Miss Elizabeth is very young; she will get over her infatuation soon. If you will excuse me, I will see you tomorrow.”

Mrs. Jones asked to speak with Mrs. Gardiner before she retired. She explained that Molly had shown Mrs. Jones a bloodstain on Miss Elizabeth's pantaloons. She had been afraid she was hurt, but was unsure whether she should mention what she saw. Molly was only fourteen, and she did not notice the other substance that was on the underclothes, but Mrs. Jones did.

When Mrs. Gardiner was shown what her housekeeper had seen, she collapsed into a chair. She finally found her voice and said, “Mrs. Jones, please do not mention what Molly found to anyone else on the staff. Perhaps you could remove the stains before you give them over to be laundered. I am not sure what it means, and I want to ask my niece about this without causing any undue suspicion.”

Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Gardiner were very close. She and her husband had served Mr. Davies while his family was growing up. Mr. Jones had died just before Miss Madeline Davies married, and it was decided that Mrs. Jones would go with her to her new home in London. “Rest assured… no one will know what we found. Miss Elizabeth is a good, respectful young woman. I promise you complete discretion.”

Together they decided that Mrs. Jones would tell young Molly that occasionally there would be spotting between cycles of courses. Molly would be cautioned not to mention her findings to Miss Elizabeth because it would mortify her employer's niece.

Mrs. Gardiner asked Mrs. Jones, “Did Miss Elizabeth send a note to Darcy House this evening?”

“No, Mrs. Gardiner, she did not. There is one other odd thing about her clothes. Her brand new kid slippers are practically worn through the soles. It appears she has walked considerably in them.”

“That is odd, as I know today is the first day she wore them.” Mrs. Gardiner did not have the heart to mention these findings to her husband that evening. She needed to have another conversation with Elizabeth about what happened at Darcy House. Men always wanted to insist on revenge or marriage when women were compromised. There was no one to avenge Elizabeth except her husband. Elizabeth's father could barely see, and she had no brothers. The Gardiners' children needed their father.

Elizabeth was such a good, sensible girl. She had to get to the bottom of what had happened before she involved anyone else in the family.

Chapter 10 - Good Morning Heartache

Elizabeth Bennet finally gave up trying to sleep just before dawn. She sat on the ledge of the window and stared out at the last of the night sky. If she were in Hertfordshire, she could go walking. Hopefully the weather would be pleasant today, and she could go to the park with Thomas and Marianne. Avoiding her aunt and the questions she was sure to ask was uppermost in her mind. She hoped her explanation last night would stop the questions about why Mrs. Darcy did not call or invite them to tea. She hoped Anne was not so cruel that she would try to continue their friendship and bring her into company with the viscount again.

When it was light, Elizabeth wrote to her sisters and parents. Each one of them got their own letter. She made sure the letters were joyful, even though she felt anything but. She told her mother and sisters of the latest London fashions, and how many women no longer wore bonnets, but instead wore hats with a decidedly Oriental look. Shawls with ornate embroidery were very fashionable again, especially in an Indian motif. Copies of periodicals showing the latest fashions were promised. She told her father of seeing the Rosetta Stone and amazing sculpture from Egypt, Greece and Rome at the British Museum. She told everyone how much she missed them and hoped she would return to them soon.

Once her letters were complete, it was still half an hour before anyone would be down for breakfast. Lizzy sat at her dressing table, looking at herself in the mirror, and continued her thoughts from the night before. All night she had struggled to make sense of what had happened and tried to envision how she could gain control of her life. Yes, she had lost her chastity, but more important she had lost control; not that she had a great deal of control before, but at least she had been able to go about in the world and feel confident she would not be harmed.

Marriage was now out of the question. How would she ever convince her mother she could not marry? She dreaded the first time she had to embrace her uncle or even her father... and she loved them. She would never be able to allow a man wholly unconnected to her to touch her other than getting in and out of carriages; but how would she avoid calling attention to her aversion. How did women bear the marital bed? It seemed a very high price to pay for financial security.

Spinsterhood would be enjoyable if only she had a little money. Perhaps once her sisters were married, she could talk her parents into letting her be a governess. She laughed at herself in the mirror. What a daft idea. She would not be able to risk going into the home of a wealthy man... totally unknown to her. She could never again go through what she endured yesterday. She even wondered whether she should end her despair. Her family would rally, and her shame would definitely die with her. She chastised herself for such dark thoughts; with time she would conquer this despair.

For some unknown reason, her thoughts drifted to Mr. Darcy. He had never been present any of the times she had met with Anne. Was he part of her entrapment? Was he licentious like his cousin, and as she had come to believe… his uncle? He had seemed concerned about her yesterday. Had he walked the whole way to Cheapside to protect her; or to make sure his family was not exposed for their depravity?

Lord Wolfbridge slept late. Once fully awake, he remembered his conquest of yesterday. He had decided to act immediately because he had heard from Anne that the little one would be going back to the country soon. He had always charmed his prey in the past, but this time he was forced to pounce. Her fear had been great, but she had not reacted exactly as he had hoped, and the experience was not as pleasant as he had anticipated. She did not struggle. He had wanted her to struggle. There were a few times she had cried and moaned... that little bit was enjoyable.

Now he had to deal with Anne… what a nuisance she was. She had confronted him and asked him what had happened. He assured her he had just talked with Miss Bennet, but Anne would not desist. She told him Darcy had confronted her, and she was worried he would find out she had allowed him to be alone with the young woman. She told him Darcy had come to her quite agitated because the young woman was very distraught, and might possibly have been injured. Anne accused him of tricking her, and asked why Miss Elizabeth would act so strangely if they only talked. Because of years of practice, he was able to quickly find a plausible lie. He told his cousin how unhappy Miss Bennet was when he told her there could be no future for her with him. Next she told him not to tell Darcy he was in the house yesterday during Miss Bennet's visit. How did Darcy even learn of the chit's visit? He was such a prig. The last thing he needed was his cousin pestering him about whether anything had happened between him and Miss Bennet.

How was he to find some little girl he could have as a mistress once he was married? On the other hand, a little girl mistress was both a contradiction in terms, and about as likely as a pig with wings. He would just have to keep his hunting practices alive and well after he married. His father had accomplished a whole series of seductions since he had married... of course he was not interested in little girls. He had much more mundane interests... His father enjoyed demure, tall, blond statuesque young beauties. His father had wasted so much money over the years on his dalliances... now Edmund had to economize. On the other hand, at least he did not have to waste time with an occupation like Richard. Miss Harding's dowry would give him some much needed cash to play with.

Just then, he had a delightful thought... he would get dressed and go to White's. He would enjoy telling his cronies about the little country girl who helped with her buttons. That was the best part of yesterday. He remembered watching the wheels turn in her silly little low class brain as she tried to figure out how to save her gown. Good God... she had said she was worried about her sisters. When would women understand they were created for only two purposes... playthings and broodmares?

He was lucky it was March. He had a tremendous desire for oysters.

Fitzwilliam Darcy had slept very poorly. He wished he was in Derbyshire. If he was, he could go riding and exhaust himself. He knew he could ride in London, but it was not the same. He was very disturbed about yesterday. It was his house, and he was responsible for the well being of the guests. She was a child. He was sure Anne had not told him the truth. She knew something more about the incident, and she felt guilty about it. He knew he should pursue the truth, but he did not want to create unpleasantness within his family.

How sad such a lovely young woman would be so unstable. She was allowed to come to his house without a chaperone. He wondered whether her parents had been as lax with her as her aunt and uncle had been. Anne had hinted Miss Elizabeth had become enamoured with his cousin as many women had and implied the realization he was too much above her in consequences probably caused her to become disheartened. He had never gotten a definite answer whether Edmund or Anne had told her there could be nothing between them. Anne had insisted Edmund was not home yesterday.

He decided to go for a walk, and found himself tracing the path of their journey to Cheapside. He had forgotten to inquire of his driver her exact address. He had no intention of visiting her, but he was somehow drawn to the vicinity. He wished he could find out if she was well.

He saw a small park on a residential street called Gracechurch. It was lined with pleasant houses... not grand like those around Grosvenor Square, but well maintained and quite large. The day was pleasant, but still a little breezy. He decided to sit on a bench to rest before walking home. About ten minutes later, he saw a young woman enter the park with two children… a boy and a girl. They were entering from the opposite side and did not notice him. It was Miss Elizabeth. She was without a bonnet, and only had a shawl over her frock... no red cloak today. They had a kite, and she showed the boy how to run to let the wind catch the sail, and then let out the string as it began to soar. He smiled when he saw they had made the kite look like Puss in Boots. Puss had a long tail attached that swung jauntily in the breeze. The little girl clung to Miss Elizabeth's skirt and watched with fascination. Once the boy had the kite flying, he offered to let the little girl fly it for a while. She clapped her hands and twirled around with excitement before doing a very credible job for one so small.

Miss Elizabeth seemed somewhat subdued, but determined the children in her care would enjoy themselves. It was obvious to Darcy the children loved her. He was momentarily overcome with a desire to have his own children...to make and fly kites with them. Sadness came over him as he watched the trio. What if he and Anne never had children?

On the way back to Grosvenor Square, he decided to stop in at White's. Maybe he would meet up with some acquaintances. He suddenly felt the need to be distracted.

Anne Darcy had been unwell most of the night, and decided she would stay in her room today. She did not want to be questioned by Fitzwilliam, because she was sure Edmund had hurt Elizabeth. She could see the truth in his eyes when she had confronted him last evening. It was not guilt she saw, but some kind of smug satisfaction that she did not understand. Somehow she knew enough to realize something had happened that had pleased Edmund and caused Elizabeth to become distraught.

It was only yesterday they had given each other permission to use their first names. She knew instinctually she would have to give up her friendship with Elizabeth. She started to cry... she had never had a young woman for a friend. She was such a sweet, supportive person, and Anne knew it would be hard to find anyone like her among her acquaintances within the ton. Anne suspected she had been beginning to accept her as part of her inner circle that included her sisters and her friends, Charlotte and Becky. She had mentioned corresponding... now that would never happen. Why had she let Edmund convince her to do such a horrible thing, and what should she do about it?

She was petrified Fitzwilliam would find out she had left Miss Elizabeth alone in Edmund's sitting room. She knew the honourable thing to do was to confess her guilt and tell her husband what she suspected their cousin had done... but she was not sure what he had done. He was a viscount, and an honourable and respected member of the the highest circles. She could not believe he would compromise a fifteen year-old girl.

He had related events of yesterday that luckily coincided with what she had told Fitzwilliam. He had told Miss Elizabeth how much he admired her, but as he was talking, she misunderstood and became overly excited and embraced him. He pushed her away and told her there could be no future between them. She collapsed, and he had given her some water and tried to console her. When she appeared to have herself under control, he suggested she leave.

Anne asked, “Cousin, did you order a carriage for her?”

Edmund smirked at the question and answered, “I did not think it necessary. I assumed she had come in her own carriage.”

Anne could not believe how callously uncaring Edmund was. She wanted to be out of his presence, so she concluded their interview and returned to her room to ponder what had happened to Elizabeth. Edmund said she had embraced him…that would explain the smell of smoke. He positively reeked of it... that and the port on his breath. She had never noticed his odour before. His teeth, smile and flattery had always dazzled her, but now she was struck by the fact that for such a charming, handsome man, he did not realize that smell also played a role in how one was perceived.

She hoped Fitzwilliam would not be able to put the smell of smoke together with Edmund. If he did, she would have to admit it was possible Edmund had been home and might have been in Miss Elizabeth's presence for a few moments. What would explain her injury? Edmund had said she collapsed…maybe she hurt herself when she fell.

Anne had tossed and turned all night... she had been tortured by the loss of Elizabeth's friendship and feelings of guilt. Their friendship had been giving her confidence, and she had looked forward to their trip to the modistes the coming week. Now they would never shop for gowns together. Elizabeth would go home and have her sisters and her friends. Anne, on the other hand, would be left with an indifferent husband, a sister who was still a little girl, and she was now sure, a thoroughly disreputable cousin who smelled of tobacco smoke and port.

Anne thought about Elizabeth's cousins. Mrs. Gardiner had let her hold the baby. Even though she was petrified of giving birth, she had to admit it was pleasant cuddling baby Susan. The baby had looked up at her with big blue eyes, broke into a smile and gurgled. Perhaps it was time to become serious about producing an heir. She was determined she would not be like her mother. If she had a child, she would make sure he knew he was cherished. She felt sure the baby would be a boy, and he would love her in a way that no other person ever had. He would love her as Fitzwilliam had loved his mother. She wanted to spend the rest of her life loving him and letting him learn and have all kinds of experiences. Yes, she would protect him, but she would not smother him. He would grow to be a great man who controlled two estates.

If Anne encouraged Fitzwilliam to come to her more often, maybe he would forget about trying to find out what happened to Miss Elizabeth. With this thought in mind, she finally drifted into sleep.

Chapter 11 - Don't They Know it's the End of World?

Mrs. Gardiner said nothing to her husband in the beginning. She had so little evidence of something happening that day at Darcy House that she originally decided her best course of action was to observe. Not wanting to force a confrontation with the Darcys or Lord Wolfbridge if it was not necessary was uppermost in her mind. Elizabeth was definitely not herself. In those first weeks, she asked numerous times if anything was wrong, and each time the answer was the same. Elizabeth assured her aunt she was fine and evaded the truth by saying perhaps she was just a bit homesick.

Elizabeth played with the children as usual, but Mrs. Gardiner was certain she was simply going through the motions. Even Marianne noticed and asked her mother what was wrong with Cousin Lizzy. She told her mother that when she told them a story, she did not use any voices.

About three weeks after the day Lizzy went to Darcy House alone, she tried to eat breakfast, and almost immediately had to excuse herself. Her aunt went to her and found her lying on her bed with a cold compress on her head.

“Aunt Gardiner, I feel quite sick this morning as well as being fatigued. Would you mind if I stayed in my room for a bit?”

“Do not worry, Lizzy, the nurse and I can manage the children. Get a good rest, and we will see you later in the day.”

During the next three weeks, Mrs. Gardiner observed that Lizzy was both nauseous in the morning and excessively tired on an almost daily basis. Elizabeth assumed it was part of the sadness and guilt she felt at allowing herself to be violated. She should have fought. Honourable women fight when they are about to be compromised. She was sure she had read that in novels.

Mrs. Gardiner asked Mrs. Jones to inquire of Molly when was the last time Miss Elizabeth had her courses. Mrs Jones told Molly she needed to make sure she had the proper supplies on hand. Luckily Molly did not seem to find the question unusual, and readily answered that it was two months ago. Mrs. Gardiner knew the situation had reached a point where she had to inform her husband about what she feared had happened to their beloved niece.

She told him in the privacy of his office after dinner. He asked numerous questions about the circumstances, which of course Mrs. Gardiner had no knowledge of, other than the stains on her clothing, the despair she exhibited and the very recent physical symptoms. Mr. Gardiner was devastated at first, and then ranted at the nameless person who had hurt his niece. He despaired over telling his sister and brother. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner felt certain Lizzy had been violated, but both instinctually knew she had not been to blame.

Once calm, Mr. Gardiner began thinking of next steps. He knew the Darcy and Fitzwilliam families were formidable opponents if it came to a confrontation. He decided to have an acquaintance make some discreet inquiries to see if a young woman was being gossiped about by the servants at Darcy House or in any of the clubs about town. They agreed they would wait for the results of the inquiries and perhaps more definitive evidence of a baby before confronting her.

Four weeks later, the first results of the inquiries had been favourable for avoiding a scandal. There was no gossip at Darcy House, but the physical evidence definitely kept building to support her being with child. The morning sickness and fatigue had not abated, and Lizzy's spirits were still depressed.

Despite her distress, she continued to entertain her cousins. She could not deny them the pleasure of the park as April showers gave way to the beauty that was May. Marianne had become proficient enough to fly the Puss in Boots kite by herself. Lizzy and Thomas launched the second kite they had made... a spectacular red dragon, spewing fire from his mouth and possessing a magnificent tail with a spike on the end. They had affixed scales all over the dragon that flapped in the breeze. Uncle Gardiner had found some kind of sparkly material from which to make them. They named the Dragon, Llywelyn, after their Grandfather Davies. Thomas and Marianne told her he was a very kindly man, but looked quite frightening with eyebrows that grew in every direction and silver hair as bushy as a lion's mane. He did not spew fire, but his voice boomed.

While keeping her cousins occupied with kite flying, Lizzy was allowed to rest on a bench and just observe her cousins. Several times in the distance, she thought she saw a tall man in black across the park. The thought of being watched by someone who could be Lord Wolfbridge made her heart race, and her breathing become laboured. Whenever she would look again, the man would be gone.

Two and a half months after Elizabeth's visit to Darcy House, Mr. And Mrs. Gardiner asked Elizabeth to join them in Mr. Gardiner's study. Elizabeth was hoping they would talk about her returning to Longbourn. She needed to confide in someone, and knew the only person she could even consider sharing her humiliation with was Jane.

“Elizabeth, what happened to you the last time you visited Mrs. Darcy?” Mrs. Gardiner tried to keep from looking accusatory.

Elizabeth had become adept at keeping a placid countenance over the last two and a half months. She said, “I do not know what you mean. Nothing happened except the quarrel I told you about.”

“You are not telling the truth. I know something happened to you.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I fear you are with child.”

Lizzy looked uncomprehendingly. “That is impossible. I am not married.”

“Elizabeth, you do not have to be married to have a child.”

“Aunt, cannot we talk about this alone? I do not want to talk about this with my uncle here.”

Mr. Gardiner gave her a stern look. “Elizabeth, I need to be here so we can find a solution for your dilemma.”

Elizabeth looked nervously at her uncle. “But I do not have a dilemma, and I am uncomfortable talking about such things with you present. I think it is improper. I have never talked about these things with anyone but Aunt Gardiner and Jane, and a very little bit with Mama.”

Mr. Gardiner continued to look at his niece with an unyielding gaze. “I am not leaving, Lizzy. Your aunt and I both need to find out what is going on.”

The standoff between the two lasted several minutes, and finally Lizzy spoke in a tremulous voice. “How is it possible to have a baby if you are not married? I thought first you become a woman when you get your courses, and then you are ready the way Mama said. Then when you are married and come together in the marriage bed, you are able to have a baby.”

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner looked at each other in the stark realization of the naivety of their favourite niece. Mrs. Gardiner said, “People who are not married can do the same things married couples do.”

“Yes, but God would not bless it and give them a child.”

“Unfortunately, making a child does not require God's blessing.”

Elizabeth looked stunned for a few seconds, and the Gardiners watched as her certainty disintegrated. She collapsed on the floor sobbing. They watched in horror as she began rocking back and forth and pounding her head against her uncle's desk. Mr. Gardiner got on the floor and pulled her to him in an embrace. She struggled to push him away. She pounded her fists against his back, and shouted “let me go” but her uncle steadfastly refused to remove his arms. He was determined to keep her from hurting herself. She continued to fight him, but he was in the end stronger, and she finally settled and sobbed quietly.

After about ten minutes, she pulled back from her uncle and stood up. She spoke quietly as she paced - more to herself than her aunt and uncle. “How could God abandon me and my family? I have been good. I have always honoured my parents... I have not stolen nor murdered. I did have private thoughts that Lord Wolfbridge and Mr. Darcy were handsome, but I do not think I lusted. I am not even sure what lusting is. It doesn't seem fair that he would punish me for something I did not even know I was doing. I know... it is because I was proud... oh so very, very proud, and I should have fought... God must have wanted me to fight. If I had fought, God would have protected me. I was just a prideful girl and had no faith in him. The whole time I never once prayed... just thought about hiding my humiliation.” Lizzy started another chorus of keening and rocking. When she calmed a second time, her next words were punctuated by hiccups and sniffling. “I have ruined my family, and oh, oh, oh, my poor sisters. How will Mama and my sisters survive when Papa dies? No one will want to marry any of them now that I am a disgrace.”

“Elizabeth, I know you are distraught, but you must tell us what happened.” Her uncle guided her to a chair. “Would you like some water?” She nodded, and he poured her a glass from the carafe. “Niece, did Mr. Darcy do this to you?” Mr. Gardiner asked. She looked uncomprehendingly at him with big round eyes still laden with tears.

His wife was annoyed with his assumption. “Husband, why do you assume it was Mr. Darcy? Why do you not question Lord Wolfbridge's honour?”

“Because Lord Wolfbridge will one day be a peer, and he will play a role in shaping the policies of our nation. More importantly, Mr. Darcy paid a great deal of attention to Elizabeth that night at the theatre.”

“Yes, but Mr. Darcy has not been seen by either Elizabeth or myself since that night, and Lord Wolfbridge has. I am also not as certain as you that his rank makes him honourable.”

Elizabeth drank the water while her aunt and uncle sparred. When she had finished, she put down the glass and began her narrative. She told the story beginning with Mrs. Darcy coming to pick her up, and finished the story by telling of her walk from Grosvenor Square to Cheapside with Mr. Darcy following her.

Her aunt and uncle were momentarily speechless. Her aunt spoke first. “Mrs. Darcy left you alone so you were accessible to Lord Wolfbridge? How despicable.”

With the haunted look of the Ides of March on her face, Lizzy said, “Aunt, Uncle, I need to lie down. I am overwhelmed by the news, and I must think about what this means. I promise I will talk to you again soon, but right now I am going out of my mind with fear and anxiety, and I need to rest. Her head was throbbing, and it hurt as badly as she had ever experienced. Lizzy slept, or tried to sleep, through the entire day and night. She awoke the next morning with a tear soaked pillow and a resolution for her future. She hoped she could persuade her aunt and uncle to go along with her plan.

Posted on Wednesday, 28 May 2008

Chapter 12 - I'd Rather Be a Hammer than a Nail…Yes I Would…if I Only Could

“Aunt, Uncle, you must help me. I do not want to marry Lord Wolfbridge; and you must agree it is unfair to this child to ever know who its parents are. I have thought of nothing else but this baby since yesterday. At first, I just wanted it to go away; but the more I pondered my dilemma, the more I realized that was not possible. I soon came to feel that this child is innocent and deserves the same chance as other babies with parents who would care for and support it. It needs a chance, regardless of the foolishness of its mother or the cruelty of its father.”

Lizzy's countenance hardened, her eyes narrowed into slits, and she practically spat out her words. “I was silly to be flattered by the attention I was receiving from such prestigious personages, but I committed no impropriety. Lord Wolfbridge is a predator. He told me he wanted me because I looked like a child.”

Mrs. Gardiner shuddered at her statement. Lizzie softened and gave her a sad smile. ”I know I am young, but even I know that is depraved. When I think back, he purposely waited until everyone was occupied somewhere else to ask me questions about whether I was naughty as a child and whether Papa often had to punish me. I thought he was teasing me. Like a foolish child, I thought his teasing and his smile meant I was special. I will always hate him… hate... not be indifferent to... I mean truly hate. I know this is a very unchristian thing to say and feel, but I would kill him if I thought I could get away with it. I do not want this babe to know the truth about how much its mother hates its father.”

Elizabeth bowed her head. Her uncle was sure if he could see her face, he would see tears. His wife was openly crying, and he could feel tears welling in his own eyes. She was right - Lord Wolfbridge was depraved. He had taken this beautiful, lively, happy, girl, and tried to break her spirit. The next moment, Lizzy lifted her head, and he saw not tears, but determination. Mr. Gardiner was sure she would never be the same joyful spirit from before; but her look showed she was not broken.

Elizabeth continued, “All last night I tried to decide what was most important. My priority is to give this baby as good a life as I am able; and I know that a good life can never be with me. I am requesting your help to find a way to cover my disgrace, not for my sake, but to preserve the good name of our family and give this child the chance it deserves. I am reconciled that I will never be able to have the life I hoped for - but you, my cousins, my sisters, my parents and this babe must be allowed to enjoy all that this exciting new age has to offer. Please help me find a place I can go for my confinement that will protect our family from scandal. Do you have any ideas about who could take the baby?”

Mrs. Gardiner looked at her husband before she started talking. “Elizabeth, your uncle and I have also given considerable thought to your dilemma. We both feel the most prudent thing to do would be to at least try to get Lord Wolfbridge to marry you. However, your point about concern for the child is valid. Even though I think marriage would be the best thing, I am quite positive he would refuse, and we would risk exposing your circumstances to a wider public. If that happened, his family would weather the storm of scandal and disapproval, but ours would not. Those from the highest circles are always forgiven their indiscretions... particularly if the compromised is from a lower stratum. You are right to be concerned about your sisters.”

Mr. Gardiner scowled as he said, “I had an acquaintance, Mr. Thatcher, make some inquiries. I wanted to find out whether Lord Wolfbridge had mentioned compromising a young woman to anyone. He did talk about the incident at White's, but did not mention your name. None of the staff at Darcy House has been heard gossiping about his taking advantage of a young woman. If your father and I confront him to force him to marry you, we definitely run the risk of exposing the incident. Your aunt is right that our family, and particularly your sisters, would suffer much more than the viscount if your violation became public.”

Mrs. Gardiner smiled at her niece and said, “Elizabeth, your uncle and I have thought of a plan to raise the baby as our own. You, Susan and I will go to Derbyshire to my family. My Cousin Jamie is a physician and can deliver the baby. He and my Aunt Wilder have a small and loyal staff, and have no near neighbours. My family is very adept at keeping secrets. My father, aunt and cousin will all be very sympathetic to your plight... particularly when they learn you were violated by a viscount.”

Her smile turned to a more serious demeanour as she continued. “Before we leave, we will disclose to family, staff and friends that I am with child, and that you are needed to help me through what is proving to be a difficult confinement. Once I am in Derbyshire, we will communicate that my cousin thinks it unwise for me to travel, and you and I must remain in Derbyshire until I have given birth. You have been very persuasive, and your uncle and I plan to concede to your wishes and not tell your father the truth. Once you are back in Hertfordshire, no one will ever know. Is that acceptable?”

“Oh Aunt, Uncle, you are truly wonderful to help me, and your plan is perfect. With remarkable parents like you, this baby will grow and thrive in such a loving home. I do have one request... I want to confront Lord Wolfbridge and the Darcys and make them pay. You should have help raising this child, and I would like to force them to give enough, that something can be set aside for Mama when Papa dies. I was thinking of asking for three thousand pounds from each for my silence.”

Mr. Gardiner put his arm around his niece, and this time she did not flinch. “Lizzy, you run the risk of having your situation exposed. My business is thriving. Your aunt and I can afford to raise this child, and I am prepared to help my sister when the time comes.”

“Uncle, you have always been kind and generous to our family. Your way is to always look forward and plan for any eventuality... unlike my father. I love Papa, and I am glad he has taught me so many things, but you are who I plan to strive to be like in the future - protective, loving, devoted to my family, and most importantly keeping my pride under good regulation. I will be proud of what I accomplish, and not who I know. With this six thousand pounds, I know you and I can make it grow and prosper to help with the babe's and Mama's future.”

The Gardiners conceded to Elizabeth's wish. Mr. Thatcher made additional discreet inquiries to find out useful information about both the Darcys and Lord Wolfbridge. Mr. Gardiner wrote a note to Mr. Darcy requesting a meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and Lord Wolfbridge. He thought about using his solicitor to make the request, but Lizzy felt strongly that no lawyers be involved to ensure secrecy. Within two days, Mr. Darcy agreed to the meeting for the following Tuesday.

Elizabeth dressed carefully once again for her trip to Darcy House. This time she chose to be more sedate and hopefully businesslike. She chose a new gown of beautiful green silk. It had no ornamentation, and only caught the eye because of the novelty of the fabric. It appeared to have a wavy, watery pattern woven into the material. Her Uncle Gardiner had come across the silk at one of his friends' warehouses and brought some home in ivory and green. He was hoping to get one of the textile mills where he had contacts to duplicate the fabric. It was imported from France and called moiré, and she and her aunt had been allowed to have gowns made. Elizabeth chose the green because it enhanced the colour of her eyes and set off her hair. The only adornment she wore was the garnet cross her father had given her for her fifth birthday.

Once settled in the carriage, Elizabeth asked, “Uncle, please allow me to conduct the negotiations. I know Mr. Darcy and Lord Wolfbridge will think it inappropriate for me to speak, but I am hoping if I tell the story, I can at least get Mrs. Darcy feeling guilty. I think she was very thoughtless, but I also think she is afraid of her husband finding out what she did. I do not know why, but I am hoping Mr. Darcy is at least slightly honourable. According to Mr. Thatcher, Mrs Darcy is quite wealthy, and I am hoping Mrs. Darcy will be particularly susceptible to my appeal. As you know, I have rehearsed my approach numerous times, and with the intelligence Mr. Thatcher provided about Lord Wolfbridge, I think I will be able to convince them to give me six thousand pounds.”

“Lizzy, I have confidence in you, and I know you are persuasive. You convinced your aunt and me not to tell your father. I should not be letting you do this, but I am aware how much anger you feel. I hope you are successful so you might be able to feel at least slightly vindicated. I too want something on your behalf from Lord Wolfbridge and Mrs. Darcy, and this is certainly preferable to fighting a duel. Please tell me one last time what is most important.”

“I have not forgotten… even more important than getting reparations from Lord Wolfbridge and Mrs. Darcy, is the necessity to maintain the honour of our family. I love my sisters too much to jeopardize their futures. In the past week, I have thought a great deal about the necessary steps to ensure secrecy. Most important is that all correspondence and settlements should go through you because there will be much less suspicion of what the money is for. I do not want the name Bennet to be used at all, even as an address to me. Both today, and in the future, I will only identify myself as Miss Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth grinned at her uncle and said with bravado, “Lord Wolfbridge needs Miss Harding's fifty thousand pounds. He has a lot to lose if this affair comes to light, and Mrs. Darcy is culpable.”

Chapter 13 - Her Pound of Flesh

Mr. Gardiner and Elizabeth were shown into Mr. Darcy's study. Lord Wolfbridge and Mr. and Mrs. Darcy were surprised to see Elizabeth. Mrs. Darcy looked worried, Mr. Darcy looked confused and Lord Wolfbridge looked irritated. Mrs. Darcy and Lord Wolfbridge were sitting in chairs on one side of the fireplace, and Mr. Darcy was sitting behind his desk. Elizabeth was relieved to see no lawyer present. The fewer people who knew about what had occurred in this house three months ago, the less likelihood of a scandal. It was not a matter of her own reputation. She thought of her life as unimportant in the scheme of things, and was already planning to spend the rest of her time on earth doing what was best for her sisters, parents, the Gardiners, and of course, this babe she was carrying.

“Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Gardiner, please have a seat.” Mr. Darcy gestured to the two chairs on the other side of the fireplace.

Elizabeth and Mr. Gardiner sat, and the others in the room looked expectantly at Mr. Gardiner. Elizabeth waited a few seconds and then began to speak. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and Lord Wolfbridge were startled that Elizabeth was to address them.

In choosing her dress that morning, she had debated whether she should call attention to her childish looks or appear more sober and mature. She had settled on appearing somewhere in between. Her gown was modest, but she noticed Mr. Darcy looking intently at her... possibly even admiringly. She was unsure at what he was staring. Was it her audacity to be speaking or was it her recently increased bosom that was capturing his attention. It was hard to tell with him, since he seemed to be trying to keep his expression regulated; but she did notice that he would move his eyes away from her only to have them return a few seconds later, and more often than not they were riveted on her décolletage. Good Lord, having him admire her had not been part of her plan! She had hoped to appear businesslike. The last thing she needed while she was carrying out these negotiations was to be worried about the other cousin getting lascivious thoughts. One likes them small, the other likes them big. What was wrong with this family?

She had practiced for days... schooling her face to show no emotion. She did not want to become emotional and let her words betray the anger she felt. “Lord Wolfbridge, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, I am with child. I was violated by the viscount three months ago in this very house. The baby I am carrying is the result of that encounter. I told no one of what happened here last March until my aunt and uncle made me tell them. I very much wanted to keep the incident secret from everyone. My father had only two expectations of me. He wanted me to remain chaste and not be silly. I experienced the ultimate humiliation that afternoon; I failed my father on both counts. Obviously I am no longer chaste. Even worse, I was incredibly silly.”

Elizabeth let her face relax into a very slight sneer; nothing too impertinent, but something that allowed her audience to know the disdain she felt for their status. “My silliness was exhibited in the pride I felt to be receiving attention from such great persons as you. All three of you come from prestigious and ancient families, and you, Lord Wolfbridge, will one day be a peer. I was flattered you would want to associate with a country lass like me. All I have to recommend me is a father who owns a minor estate and numerous relatives in trade.”

Her face went back to her unemotional mask as she continued. “I was not knowledgeable enough at the time to realize that a child could be the consequences of Lord Wolfbridge's attentions. My aunt first noticed what was happening to me. I thought the sickness in the morning and the constant tiredness was caused by my sadness at failing my family. Unfortunately, the fact that I will soon be increasing forces me to disclose my circumstances to the three of you.”

The Darcys looked shocked, and Lord Wolfbridge merely looked annoyed at the news. Elizabeth did not hesitate, but focused a steely glance on the viscount and continued with, “You need not fear that I intend to force you to marry me, Lord Wolfbridge. I can assure you that event would be much more repulsive to me than it could ever be for you. My aunt and uncle thought marriage between us would be the best solution, but I was able to convince them that this baby deserves a better life than being saddled with a mother who will forever entertain fantasies of the father meeting Madame Guillotine, and a father who has already acted on his fantasies and now thinks the mother has as much significance as the last pheasant he shot.”

Elizabeth stood and positioned herself so Mr. Darcy could see her better. “The Gardiners and I have devised a plan which will allow the world to think this child is theirs. My parents know nothing, and will never know what happened here in this house three months ago, or that a baby was the result. Never fear - my uncle and I are both firmly rooted in the 19th century. We think it quite proper that duels have been outlawed. They are really only fashionable amongst those who are unable to see beyond the past. No one will ever call you out. I have no brother, and my father can barely see. I am, however, demanding six thousand pounds for my silence. You will give me my pound of flesh, or I will go to the Earl and Countess of Matlock and tell them all the sordid details of what happened between us. I will look and act as much like a child as possible. As you know, I love the theatre. I am a very good actress; and I will cry - I will blush - I will stammer - I will have trouble describing what happened; but believe me, in the end they will know just how depraved you are.”

Lord Wolfbridge smiled at Miss Elizabeth. He was trying to convince himself that he need not be afraid of this silly little girl taking her tale to his parents. His father knew of his indiscretions, just as he knew of his father's, and he had always been able to convince his mother of his innocence in the past. Any women who had threatened exposure in the past were always clearly from outside their circles, and most were older. In his Oxford days, many were young, but then he was young, and none of those indiscretions were ever brought to his parents. He had paid whatever small remunerations were demanded out of his own spending money. It was only recently, he had become emboldened to lower the age of his prey. Each time he had felt compelled to make the game more dangerous.

In the past, his parents had just enough arrogance to believe the others had been avaricious in their intentions from the beginning. His father always admonished him to be more careful in his associations because they did not have the money to pay off every chit he compromised. On the other hand, his mother had originally believed he had just foolishly associated with the wrong people, but each time it happened, she became less forgiving. His mother was a Darcy, and was cursed with that ridiculous code of honour that had been passed down from generation to generation. She and his father were forever arguing over how to treat the tenants. Plus, she was a typical woman, and not much of a thinker.

Miss Elizabeth's age and status was a concern. Her father was a gentleman. She was not a shopkeeper's daughter as most of the others had been. She did look extremely young, and his mother would probably be influenced by her looks and the fact that she ended up with child. He was afraid, knowing his mother, she might insist he do the honourable thing and marry her; she was anxious for grandchildren. Miss Elizabeth was much more intelligent than any of his other conquests, and he was sure she could be very convincing. His mother had liked Miss Elizabeth when she met her. Oh well, he would just have to be a bit more facile and persuasive in his explanation. He was still quite adept at charming his mother.

Elizabeth looked right at Mrs. Darcy when she spoke next. “They will know how I happened to be in this house that day. They will be told how I happened to be alone with Lord Wolfbridge.” Anne Darcy turned deathly pale and gripped the arms of her chair. She looked at her husband and saw that he was looking at her questioningly. She quickly averted her eyes.

Anne was consumed with guilt. Over the months, she had convinced herself that Miss Elizabeth had not been compromised that day... she was just disappointed in love. She now steadfastly tried to believe the viscount had not planned to violate Miss Elizabeth. Why had she foolishly arranged for them to be alone? Edmund had told her he admired Miss Elizabeth and wanted a few moments for a private conversation. He had said he knew there could never be anything between them, but she deserved to know of his admiration. She was still very young, and knowing that a viscount thought her charming would be good for her confidence. Anne suddenly felt nauseous... what a fool she was for believing Edmund's ridiculous lie.

Miss Elizabeth had always exuded confidence. She did not need Lord Wolfbridge to tell her she was charming. She was like no one Anne had ever met. She was an odd combination of ease and liveliness in conversation with new acquaintances of both sexes. She had confided in Anne that she thought herself too young to be out for the purpose of securing a husband... and marriage had clearly not been on her agenda. Why had she allowed her cousin's charm to convince her to do something she knew to be nonsensical; only to find it was utterly dishonourable and immoral? What would Fitzwilliam think of her? There had to be a way to keep her role in this quiet.

Elizabeth's next statement wiped the smirk from the viscount's face. “My uncle does a great deal of business with a Mr. Harding. He is a wealthy manufacturer of textiles from Manchester. My uncle will make sure that Mr. Harding knows that you are not an honourable man, Lord Wolfbridge. He will particularly make sure he knows that he should be concerned for his daughter.”

Fitzwilliam Darcy could not believe the cold, calculating look in Miss Elizabeth's eyes. They were still that amazing green colour, but the gold flecks seemed extinguished, and instead, her eyes glittered like emeralds. Her body was changing as well. Was that because she was with child? What an irony - the child becomes a woman as she carries the child. Five months after he met her, she looked much less like a child and much more like a woman... a calculating, mercenary but increasingly sensuous woman.

He had gone to the park on Gracechurch Street several times in the past months. He would sit on a bench on the other side of the park from where they generally played and just watch them. He had noticed she was not very lively and seemed to have to sit down much of the time while her cousins played. Twice he was sure she had seen him, so he left immediately. Why could he not conquer his concern for her? If only he had never met her, his life could go back to being predictable.

Anne had used the last few minutes to come up with a plan. She jumped up and said, “Lord Wolfbridge, will you take Mr. Gardiner and Miss Elizabeth to the drawing room? I need to talk to Mr. Darcy alone.”

With a slight sneer, Elizabeth looked from Lord Wolfbridge to Mrs. Darcy to Mr. Darcy and said, “I refuse to go to anywhere with Lord Wolfbridge. If you do not object, I will take my uncle to the solarium and show him the orchids. We will be there when you are ready for us to return.”

Darcy was annoyed and amazed at her audacity. She was going to show her uncle the orchids in the midst of this tempest.

Chapter 14 - A Good Man is Hard to Find

Once they were gone, Anne said quite forcefully, “I want to give Miss Elizabeth twenty thousand pounds, and I want to raise this child as our own. Do not try to dissuade me; you know I brought much more than that into this marriage with my inheritance. Nobody else needs to know. She said they were not even telling her parents.

“Please stop looking so sceptical. We have been married for three years, and I have not become with child; and as you know, I am petrified of giving birth. This child is of our blood and can be our heir.” She spoke in a rush, not allowing Darcy to stop her words from tumbling out.

She took his hand and looked at him beseechingly. “Please Fitzwilliam, I want this child. Miss Elizabeth said they have a plan. We should be able to substitute ourselves for the Gardiners. You must also help me to coerce Edmund into giving Miss Bennet three thousand pounds. He will insist he can not afford such a large sum, but we both know the money is there if he economizes. What he has done is despicable. Please, please Fitzwilliam, this baby deserves to be part of our family.”

Darcy had indeed been looking quite sceptically at his wife. “Anne, what happened that day? What did she mean she would tell Uncle Henry and Aunt Cassandra how she came to be here that day?”

Anne tried to remain calm and give her answer nonchalantly. “I told you what happened when you questioned me before - the day she insisted on walking home. I had no knowledge anything had transpired. She came to see me, but I was not feeling well and left the room for a short while. When I came back, she was gone. I assumed she had left. I was unaware Edmund was in the house. I am bewildered as to why she thinks that news will have an impact on the earl and the countess.”

Darcy noticed that Anne seemed nervous and more than a little guilty - just as she had when he had first questioned her about Miss Elizabeth's visit. He was sure he was not being told the full story, but he did not know what to do. Anne was probably right… they should raise the child. He felt a need for children; and it seemed as though he and Anne were not going to produce any in the near future… or maybe ever.

He was sure that this horrible event happened because of lack of supervision by the Gardiners; and it was now evident Miss Elizabeth had not been given proper guidance by her parents. She had given him some excuse why she was alone that day, but he could not remember. Edmund's mother was his father's sister, so this child had both Fitzwilliam and Darcy blood. It would be unconscionable to have this child raised by people in trade. The Gardiners had seemed intelligent, were dressed tastefully and had excellent manners when they met; but in the end, breeding always tells.

“I will agree, Anne; but I think the amount excessive. We should only give her ten thousand pounds.”

“Please, Fitzwilliam, do not argue with me. I want this baby, and I want to give her twenty thousand pounds… and I think it only right that Edmund give her three thousand.” Anne thought to herself that he may think twenty thousand excessive, but she knew it would truly be more appropriate to give her thirty thousand pounds… wasn't thirty pieces of silver the price for betrayal?

Fitzwilliam shrugged his shoulder in acquiescence. “I will agree; but I want to spend as little time with Edmund as possible in the future. He will not be welcome to stay with us anymore. Regardless of whether the young woman agreed to be alone with him, helped with her buttons or consciously hoped to wrench filthy lucre from a viscount with poor control… I feel he has acted ungentlemanly. She is very young, and he had no business agreeing to whatever scheme her unstable mind concocted.”

“Fitzwilliam, I could not agree with you more. I wish I never had to see Edmund again. He is not honourable; and I can not believe I had always thought him so charming.” She turned her face away from her husband and fought back tears. She thought to herself… and I am as dishonourable as he is.

Mr. Darcy sought out Miss Elizabeth and her uncle in the solarium. As he entered, he overheard the two talking about what would be needed to build such a room. Darcy was annoyed that it appeared she was so sure of her success extorting money from them that she was already planning what she would do with her bounty. What a ridiculous extravagance. Miss Elizabeth obviously had no financial sense. It did seem strange that Mr. Gardiner seemed to be sharing her enthusiasm. He had seemed to be a particularly savvy businessman.

Elizabeth and Mr. Gardiner followed Mr. Darcy back to the study. Anne was waiting for them with an apprehensive look on her face. She and Darcy had agreed that he would present their proposal. Anne held her breath waiting for husband to begin.

He put on his most serious and haughty mask and said, “Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Gardiner, we would like to present an alternate proposal. My wife and I would like to substitute ourselves for the Gardiners and raise this child as our own. This child would be our heir and have all the advantages we can provide. Just as with your plan, this child would appear to the outside world as ours. We are prepared to compensate you twenty thousand pounds and convince our cousin to contribute an additional three thousand pounds. We will also ensure complete secrecy. It would not be in any of our interest to have our plot known beyond ourselves.”

Elizabeth felt a surge of fury run through her body at Mr. Darcy's words. For the first time that day, she could not keep her face from displaying her emotions. How dare they think she would sell this child to them? She had come to demand her due in return for her silence about the vicious and dishonourable behaviour of their family. Now he was standing here, casually proposing that she give them what had been conceived so brutally. She could tell by his demeanour that he cared nothing about what she had endured; and he and his disreputable wife only thought of solving their need for an heir for a measly twenty thousand pounds. Who did they think she was that she would allow this innocent and helpless child to be raised in a nest of vipers?

Elizabeth reined her features back to a placid countenance before she spoke. However, she was unsuccessful in keeping the fury from her eyes. “Your proposal is quite out of the question. You are not worthy of raising this child. I miscalculated. I thought you to be honourable; and would see the justice of paying me for my silence, but obviously I was wrong. If you are not willing to give me six thousand pounds for my silence, my uncle and I will be on our way. I hope I can at least expect you to be honourable enough to keep silent about my disgrace at the hands of your cousin.” Elizabeth noticed that her uncle appeared to think she was being too abrupt. Mr. Darcy looked confused and then angry, and Mrs. Darcy looked about to collapse.

Anne Darcy had tears in her eyes as she captured Elizabeth's hand. “Please do not reject our proposal so quickly. I know there are many things that have not been said to explain why you should accept our proposal. Please, Mr. Gardiner, go with my husband. Leave me alone with Miss Elizabeth. I have things I need to tell her; things I should have told her long ago.”

The two men left Anne and Elizabeth in Mr. Darcy's study. Mr. Gardiner gave Elizabeth a look that advised her to listen and not act precipitously as he left.

His look encouraged Elizabeth to allow Mrs. Darcy her private audience. She did not think there was anything she could say that would convince her to give this baby over to the Darcys, but perhaps she had acted hastily, and she should at least keep channels open in order to be successful in getting payment for her silence.

Anne twisted her handkerchief and looked forlorn as she began speaking. “Elizabeth, I want to apologize.”

Elizabeth stiffened at the use of her Christian name. She had given her permission, but was amazed she assumed she was still allowed despite her betrayal.

Anne saw her reaction and started again. “Miss Elizabeth, I want to apologize. I did not know what my cousin intended. He told me he wanted a private audience in order to tell you of his admiration. He knew there could never be anything between you; but he said he felt knowing of his admiration would give you confidence.”

Lizzy looked at Anne with utter contempt, and shook her head in disbelief.

Anne's tone became one of pleading. “Miss Elizabeth, I know I should have been more discerning in acquiescing to my cousin's request. I am not experienced in the ways of the world. My mother refused to allow me to have friends or attend the Season. I did not even have masters to teach me to be accomplished. My cousins were my only companions when I was growing up; and I was usually only in their company at Easter and Christmas. The two summers I spent at Pemberley were the most magical time of my life.”

Lizzy stared intently at Anne as she continued her explanation, but did not allow her face to register any emotion. “I went from my mother's home to my husband's. Mr. Darcy agreed to come to town with me this winter, but he eschews visiting acquaintances because he feels very ill at ease in London society. Lord Wolfbridge volunteered to help me become more comfortable. I have no experience with rakes, even though my husband did confide some rumours he had heard about our cousin. I knew not what to make of his disclosure since my cousin was always very charming toward me.”

When Anne's pleading came to an end, Lizzy looked her straight in the eye and said, “Mrs. Darcy, I find your explanation oddly touching, but I think it a lie.”

Anne looked at the ground while she struggled to figure out how to convince Elizabeth she was not totally dishonourable and could be trusted with this baby. Her apology was sincere; but convincing her to relinquish the child was her main objective.

Elizabeth looked stern as she began making her speech. “Mrs. Darcy, I say you did not tell the truth because even if you believed your cousin, you can not convince me that you do not know the rules of propriety with regard men and women. It was totally improper to allow me to be alone with Lord Wolfbridge… even if all he did was talk to me and tell me of his admiration.” Lizzy rolled her eyes and sneered at the absurdity of Mrs. Darcy's contention. “Being alone in his presence was enough to compromise me. If a servant had come in while we were alone together, we would have been gossiped about, and my reputation would have been in tatters. I have four sisters, and my father's estate is entailed. Unlike you, we are not wealthy. Scandal would severely diminish my sisters' chances of marrying; and without secure marriages, they would face reduced circumstances, possibly even poverty, when my father dies”.

Elizabeth noticed that Anne had looked back up, and she saw tears in her eyes, but was unmoved. She had shed enough tears to float one of Lord Nelson's frigates in the past three months. She continued berating her, “Mrs. Darcy, my uncle had some investigations done; and he tells me you brought a great deal of wealth to your marriage, and I am sure you have a very generous allowance. You have opportunities I will never have. Once you were out of your mother's house, you could have hired your own masters, made as many friends as you desired, and if nothing else… you could have read books about proper behaviour. Your husband is guardian to his sister. Surely he must know about propriety and could have answered your questions. Did you ask him if I should be left alone with Lord Wolfbridge?”

Anne looked frightened at the mention of her husband. “No, I did not ask him. He did not know much about our friendship, and did not know we were having tea that day. I once told him I liked you and hoped we could become friends; but he knew none of the particulars. My impression was that he did not want to talk of you. Never had I related what the circumstances of our friendship were and I fear he would be very angry with me if he knew what I had done. I do not want to lose his favourable, albeit, indifferent opinion. He is the opposite of Lord Wolfbridge. He takes honour and obligations very seriously. He is much like his father was; a very good man.”

Anne sat down and put her head in her hands. For several minutes there was silence. Finally, she spoke again. “I know you think I would not be a fit mother; and you would possibly be correct if I were to raise the child by myself. I am not alone though, and Mr. Darcy would be an excellent father, just as he is an excellent guardian to his sister. May I tell you about Mr. Darcy?”

Lizzy nodded and sat down in anticipation of Mrs. Darcy's tale. Her anger toward Mr. Darcy had subsided. She still thought his arrogant manner unforgiveable; but for some reason, she had a desire to know about him. From the moment they had conversed at the theatre, she had felt some unknown emotion for him. It was more than thinking him handsome, but she could not discern what it was. She was unable to sketch his character.

Chapter 15 - A Tale of Two Families

“My mother's sister, Lady Anne, was my husband's mother, and Lord Matlock was their brother. The Fitzwilliams are an arrogant group, with a few exceptions. Lady Anne was an exception, as is Lord Wolfbridge's brother, Richard. Lady Anne was publicly loyal toward her siblings; but my mother says in private she voiced her disapproval of both. She spent her youth reading, becoming proficient on the pianoforte, learning to sing and applying herself to becoming an accomplished young lady.”

Anne's face became distorted by something bordering on contempt. “My mother thought those things unimportant. She decided she did not have to apply herself because she would be desirable as a marriage partner because of her appearance and her position. She now loves to tell everyone how she could have been supremely accomplished, but circumstances did not allow for that. What she should say is she was arrogant and indolent.”

Anne's faced registered some misgiving as she continued. “I do not want to give you the impression that Lady Anne was not proud of her family. She was, and she had been my mother's constant companion when they were young. As they grew older, they drifted apart because they wanted different things. Lady Anne wanted a loving husband and children, my mother wanted prestige and wealth, and their brother felt he was entitled to just about anything he desired. He was somewhat of a rake, and Lady Anne thought his behaviour toward women reprehensible. However, it was not the way in their family to talk about his actions outside.”

Anne pointed to a painting of a beautiful young woman dressed in the style of thirty years before that hung facing her husband's desk. “That is she. My grandfather had this portrait and one of my mother painted just before they were presented at court. The artist was George Romney, and it certainly captures her beauty. I prefer the painting of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and a five year-old Fitzwilliam by Gainsborough that hangs in the portrait gallery at Pemberley. The three of them look so happy, and Gainsborough even included their dog, a beautiful spaniel that Fitzwilliam named Puck because he was so mischievous.”

Anne smiled at the painting for a few seconds and then turned to Elizabeth. “Mr. Darcy asked Lady Anne four times before she agreed to marry him. She was prejudiced against him because her brother wanted them to wed. Mr. Darcy and the earl had been acquaintances at Oxford. Lord Matlock wanted to marry Mr. Darcy's sister, Cassandra, because she had a dowry of thirty thousand pounds. In order to facilitate his goal, he wanted his sister to marry Mr. Darcy because despite not being titled, he was very wealthy. The Fitzwilliams' wealth had been diminishing with each generation; unlike the Darcys'. My uncle promoted the marriage between my parents for much the same reason.”

Anne chuckled at a memory from her youth. “According to my mother, Lady Anne enjoyed being in company with Mr. Darcy because they shared similar interests, but that did not stop her from refusing him. They were great readers, they were passionate about the theatre and they loved to ride; but she was convinced no friend of her brother could be honourable. She never disclosed to Mr. Darcy the source of her reluctance, so he just kept proposing. Each attempt was different.”

Anne got a sort of a dreamy look as she told the tale of her father-in-law's final proposal. “Finally Uncle George won her over with his fourth proposal. He recited a detailed list of everything he loved about her. He counted the ways. I think there were at least twenty on the list. I do not remember all of them, but I remember several that she particularly liked. She loved to tell the story, and her eyes would twinkle as though there was something naughty about it. He told her he loved that she never came late to the theatre, and when there, she was not afraid to laugh out loud. He told her he loved the way she sipped her tea and he loved that she refused to bother with people of her sphere she did not find worthy. Her favourite one was, and she really twinkled when she related it, that he loved her excellent seat, and how impressive that was considering she had to ride side-saddle. He won her because not once on the list did he mention how beautiful she was. He had waxed poetic on her beauty numerous times in the other three proposals.”

Elizabeth thought the tale of Mr. Darcy's parents interesting; but she really wanted to hear about Anne's husband, so she decided to try humour to hurry her along. “Mrs. Darcy, this is all very interesting, but you told me you were going to tell me why Mr. Darcy is a good man, and why he would be a good parent. So far all you have told me about are his parents, your mother and the earl. Is this your way of turning the tables to get me to accede for your silence?”

Anne could not help herself and laughed at Elizabeth. “I apologize for the delay, but Mr. Darcy's parents influenced his character just as my mother bears some responsibility for my failings.”

Clearing her throat, she began her tale again. “I told you earlier that I spent two magical summers at Pemberley. It was glorious because my mother was not there either summer, nor was the earl; but my Aunt Cassandra, the countess, came with Edmund and Richard. Those summers I got a glimpse at what family life could be like. The Darcy family was truly like the Gainsborough painting. They were happy. They rode together every morning and they took long walks together with their dogs. Lady Anne played every evening, and we all sang. My aunt and uncle would read to us, and they made the stories come to life by portraying the different characters. Fitzwilliam started reading with them when he was very young; and he would sometimes be a part of the story. Both summers we had a Midsummer picnic, and my aunt and uncle would be Titania and Oberon and the rest of us would be their fairy subjects. My husband let Edmund be Puck to get him to participate, but even with that plum role as an inducement, by the second summer he thought it unseemly for him to be a fairy. My cousin Richard and I thought it glorious; especially since my Aunt Cassandra made wings for us to wear.”

Anne noticed that Elizabeth was enjoying the depiction of the scene she had painted of their idyllic summer. She smiled at Elizabeth as she continued. “Mr. Darcy still grieves for his parents. I barely remember my father, so I have no idea what he feels. I do know if my mother died tomorrow, I would probably feel some sadness because she was my mother, but it would not last long. Mr. Darcy's sadness is magnified by the extent of his loss. His longing to get back the joy he once felt consumes him at times.”

Anne made very sure she kept Elizabeth's eyes focused on her as she continued. “He has tried to recreate that kind of joy for Georgiana, but he has not been altogether successful. His wounds have not healed, so he walks around with a face of stone. I think you have mistaken that look for arrogance. Currently, Georgiana is the only one who gets his love. Both of them need someone wholly unconnected to the past to take away their sadness. They need someone who could join them in their Darcy rituals of playing chess, reading Shakespeare, telling stories, doing voices, enjoying music, walking and riding. A baby would be both an obligation and a source of joy for Fitzwilliam. He is a man who rigidly honours his obligations; and I have seen him when he is joyful. I know he wants to be that way again. Remember back to the night he met you. That was the Fitzwilliam Darcy I knew before his mother died. He so dearly loved to laugh.”

Elizabeth was convinced. She prayed she was making the right decision. Her instincts were telling her she was. Mr. Darcy was a good man, and he would make sure this baby was both well provided for; and more important, loved. She felt a pang of regret that the child would not be in her life as it would have been had the Gardiners raised it. She was quite sure her pain would decrease… out of sight, out of mind… or at least she hoped that was the case. Her family needed this money. This was an enormous amount, and would solve many of their financial dilemmas. She had to be practical. The twenty three thousand pounds would allow her to take care of her mother and increase her sister's dowries.

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