Thank you so much for reading, I know this series is HIGH DRAMA. But I promise it pays off in later books.
XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West
Chapter 31 - By Consequence of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
The unceremonious deposit of William Collins in front of number twenty-seven Gracechurch Street, by a carriage much too refined for a post-chaise, spoiled the pretty party of the three Bennet sisters with their aunt and uncle. The Gardiner family took in their distant cousin, all aside from Elizabeth curious as to the circumstances surrounding his abbreviated Kent visit. Unwilling to betray his patroness, the pastor explained away concerns with a romantic tale.
“I’m afraid I am fallen victim to, as the poets say, a most violent affliction. No sooner had I arrived in Kent and attended my business affairs but Lady Catherine announced she was returning to London. I found myself anxious to return to the side of my beloved cousin, Elizabeth.”
This explanation sated Jane Bennet and Mr. Edward Gardiner, devastated Mary Bennet, and raised the suspicions of Mrs. Gardiner. It wasn’t the words the pastor had to say, but more the flat and disinterested tone of his delivery that rankled her nerves.
“Mr. Collins, what a handsome compliment to pay our Lizzie.” The encouragement of Mrs. Gardiner spurred Elizabeth into pulling a gruesome face at her aunt, which only elicited a wink from the older woman.
“I find I am ever in the happy position to pay ladies compliments. A kind word or phrase raises the spirit in a way few other affections may accomplish. In fact, I am myself a diligent student of the handsomest of compliments for the exalted ladies of my acquaintance.” Mr. Collins clasped his hands behind his back and rocked on his heels.
Elizabeth Bennet failed to resist such a keen opportunity to poke fun and ridicule. “Would you say then, sir, your compliments are the fruit of such practice or are they only the spontaneous thoughts and feelings you find yourself in the throes of when in the presence of such ladies?” Elizabeth tried to conceal her mirth but only managed a half smile awaiting his pompous and ridiculous response.
“I have, on occasion, taken time to write down the prettiest words and phrases so I am not victim to my faulty memory, but even in the situation where I deliver such compliments, I do take ever such care to give them an air of unpracticed recitation.”
Elizabeth opened her mouth to retort, but her aunt’s nod made her hold her tongue. She wanted nothing more than to inform the windbag his compliments were no sooner unpracticed than his manners would be considered practiced! The anger and meanness burned her chest, how violently she disliked her cousin! Mary took Elizabeth’s silence as an opportunity to fret over Mr. Collins’ wellbeing and inquire as to his plans for lodgings while in London.
Removing a handkerchief that appeared quite soiled from his pocket, Mr. Collins elicited an unappealing sound as he cleared his nose and sinuses. “I do believe I will inquire about a room for the two days we are to remain in London. The cost of such is an extravagance for most men of my station, but thanks to the economy of traveling with the generous Lady Catherine de Bourgh, I suppose I do possess those funds to spare . . .”
“Oh Mr. Collins, you should not rent a room! Why, you are a part of our family. Perhaps I might share a room with Lizzie and Jane, Aunt? Mr. Collins may take my room,” Mary sounded quite hopeful for such an arrangement, even though it would mean she would need to sleep on a crude mattress on the floor.
“There’s no need for you to run off to the nearest inn, Mr. Collins.” Mrs. Gardiner scarcely gave him a warm invitation into her home.
Mary volunteered to move her belongings from her current room into the larger suite with Lizzie and Jane right away. Mrs. Gardiner left the room for a moment to instruct a servant to move a spare mattress to the larger suite for Mary. All three girls would be cramped, but only for two nights of their weeklong visit.
Not wishing to remain in the parlor with Mr. Collins and Jane, Elizabeth suggested a walk in a small familiar park in the neighborhood.
“It is colder today than yesterday, Lizzie. I’m not certain I’m in possession of your vigor for a second walk today.” Jane Bennet offered her regrets to her sister.
“I promise we shall return before Mr. Bingley arrives for dinner.” Elizabeth tried to persuade her sister with a concession.
“Truly that is not my concern . . .” Jane glanced down as she affirmed her position. “Yesterday my hands were chilled to the bone. I am so very sorry, but with the wedding next week, I don’t want to risk catching cold.”
“No, it is I who am sorry. I should not expect so much from you during your wedding week. What you say is wise, but as there is no wedding with myself as the bride, I shall ask Uncle if I may take a maid with me.” Elizabeth smiled at her sister to show there were no hard feelings. “I wish to keep my foot nimble and strong for the ball.”
Mr. Collins cleared his throat, attracting the attention of both ladies. “I’m afraid to say I believe you are making an error, Cousin Elizabeth, in seeking a second stroll in this wretched weather. I’m sure your Uncle will support me on this matter. If Cousin Jane feels it is a risk to her health, it must be a risk to yours as well.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and glanced to her Uncle Gardiner with her usual smile. “Mr. Collins, I do appreciate your attention but as our acquaintance is little more than a few weeks, I wager you’ll find Uncle Edward will not think a second walk a hindrance to my stamina.”
Mr. Gardiner frowned as he studied the faces of the young people remaining in the room. Ordinarily, he would side with Elizabeth without question, but Jane did raise a valid point concerning the family hosting a rather large social event the coming week. Mulling the needs of Elizabeth to take a second walk against the shrill complaints and abuse he would undoubtedly receive from his sister Fanny Bennet should either of the girls fall ill, Edward Gardiner made his decision.
“Lizzie, I must side with Mr. Collins and Jane. Your mother will heap abuse upon me if any of her girls are ill next week for the wedding. I won’t go so far as to prohibit all walks, but I do think it wise you limit yourself to one per day.”
The hideous, smug visage of Mr. Collins inflamed Elizabeth. She was able only to control her anger by fantasizing of rushing over to him and scratching out his eyes! Why was her family against her?
Inhaling three measured breaths through her nose, Elizabeth spoke through gritted teeth. “I believe I will go upstairs and assist Mary with the room arrangements.” Elizabeth made a minor curtsy and bowed her head, quitting the room before any might object or dismiss her. She struggled to walk quietly up the stairs and resolved to avoid the parlor until she was required. If only she might take dinner upstairs!
When Elizabeth reached the room, she spied Mary glowing with perspiration as she tried to move her effects alone.
“Here, let me help.” Elizabeth offered.
Mary blew out a labored breath and together the two girls lifted the trunk, tiptoeing it into the already packed room now expected to sleep all three girls. “Did you place everything in here?”
Mary nodded. “Yes, and now I need to unpack it all.”
Elizabeth held up her hand. “Why don’t you allow me? I need to move a few of my things in the closet to make room for your dresses regardless.”
” Truly? You do not mind? I thought you would not desire my move in with you and Jane.” Mary said quietly.
Elizabeth laughed and hugged her sister, her earlier anger no longer stewing, but not forgotten either. “Mary, if you want to sleep with Jane I could just as easily take the smaller room. I am simply used to her snoring since we share a room at home.”
Mary gasped. “She snores?”
Elizabeth nodded vigorously. “Loudly.” The two girls shared a giggle until commotion downstairs alerted them another visitor had arrived. “Poor Jane, Mr. Bingley has arrived early. Go, go, I’ll arrange the room and you can allow Jane to give her attentions to Mr. Bingley.”
“You wish for me to talk to Mr. Collins?” Mary’s voice did not hold her normal sermonizing tone, for once she sounded like the young woman she was.
“Of course, you share so much more in common with him than I.” Elizabeth hummed as she stared at the closet, wondering how she was going to fit their things when many of their new dresses were to arrive tomorrow. She hid her smile and continued her work as Mary started to leave, then doubled back, dug in her trunk for her trusty volume of good old Fordyce, and then hurried out again. With a fervent prayer, Elizabeth wished more than anything that her cousin William Collins would recognize the perfect wife for him if she placed Mary in his way.
Chapter 32 - By Consequence of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
On the last night before losing Georgiana Darcy forevermore to a new woman, Mrs. George Wickham, her older brother Darcy caught up on the last of the correspondence which accumulated while he searched the whole of England for her. The social event invitations still lay in a pile on the very edge of his desk, but this was not a new development as a result of Georgiana’s running away but was a normal avoidance for Darcy. Soon, he would cast them into the fireplace.
Although his shoulders ached, he reminded himself he should rest for the following day would likely require a majority of his strength and fortitude to navigate. He had just one last letter for his steward at Pemberley discussing the spring crop rotations. As he worked furiously to finish, the door to his study burst open with a complete lack of ceremony.
His cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam stormed in wearing his full regimentals, his medals and regalia clinking as they swayed with each of his steps.
“A man takes one week to answer the call of his Major General. One week to return to training and preparing the young lads who will ship over to the Continent to give their lives for King and country.” Richard stopped in the middle of the room, posting nearly at attention. “One week, and I return to find not only is my bachelor cousin to marry, hear me out, he’s to marry the one woman he refused to marry for over a decade! Explain yourself, sir.”
Darcy dipped his quill pen into the inkwell and continued to scribble on his parchment, ignoring Richard’s tirade. As he exaggerated the final punctuation mark, Darcy began to speak, though his eyes raced over the letter in front of him. “Good evening to you, too, Richard.”
“Are you mad?”
Darcy affixed his name, sprinkled sand on the letter and shook it free, then picked up the red wax to hold it over the lone candle sitting on his desk. As he held the wax over the flame, it began to melt and he turned it slowly to keep it from dripping before addressing his cousin. “There is a fallacy to your question.” Darcy stamped the wax on his letter allowing it to cool for a moment before impressing his signet ring. “Should I answer I am not mad, you will take my actions as proof I am mad and cannot recognize it.” He picked up the letter and triumphantly placed it atop the stack of correspondence to send out the following day. “Should I say I am mad, how can you trust the ramblings of a madman?”
Richard relaxed his posture and performed the famous Fitzwilliam rake of his fingers through his hair. Disheveling his appearance a great deal, Richard looked at his cousin Darcy with distress.
“I acknowledge you have not lost your faculties, sir. But Anne? Good God, what did they do to you? Should I inspect your person for marks of torture?”
Darcy examined his favorite cousin carefully. There was a peculiarity to Richard’s distress; this was not a man worried about a cousin he considered a brother. There was a personal worry written plainly in the lines on his face. “How about a drink, Cousin?”
Richard nodded and took two steps towards the fireplace only to about-face because his chair was not where it normally sat. He whirled around the room spotting it next to Darcy’s desk. As he pulled the buttons on his coat with one hand to release the warmth and pressure, he unceremoniously rested his laurels in the chair. Darcy clapped the man on the shoulder as he passed on his way across the study to pour them both a drink.
“I cannot fathom how they worked upon you. For years, sidestepping and avoiding Catherine’s machinations were your strong suit. You should hear my parents! They informed me I must take leave again at Easter for another family wedding!”
Darcy handed the drink to his cousin, then returned with his own drink to his position in the room: behind his desk. “They did not explain to you the argument they championed regarding why I must marry Anne?”
Richard gulped down his drink and placed the glass on the desk with the practiced manners of an officer in his Majesty’s Finest. “If they had, would I be here asking you for an explanation? They made it seem you acknowledged your loneliness and wished to start a life as Georgiana begins hers. It was the largest load of bull I ever heard my father try to pass off as truth.”
Darcy laughed. The weight of his decision and irritation of his cousin combined into a perfect storm of frivolity which seized his entire body. Richard resumed shouting at Darcy, but it wasn’t until his laughter had escaped his body that Darcy could resume his composure. “How long have you loved our cousin, Anne?”
The Colonel stuttered in his shouts, shocked at such a question. “How – how did you know? ” He narrowed his eyes at Darcy, awaiting an answer.
“I confess I did not, not until you reacted just now to the question.”
Richard stood from his chair, shrugging off the burden of his regimental coat, and took Darcy’s place in pacing the worn path in front of the fireplace. “For years Anne and I shared an affection, mostly through our letters. I could never offer for her, you know they would never allow us to marry.”
“That I am not so certain of, Cousin. You do possess a number of admirable traits, plus you are the second son of an earl.”
Richard stopped his pacing for a moment to stare at Darcy. “Lady Catherine de Bourgh will never substitute a Fitzwilliam Darcy with property and wealth for a lowly colonel in the army with impeccable bloodlines.”
Darcy ruminated over his cousin’s predicament, and tried to look at the situation as Richard saw it. Years of attending Rosings together at Easter played in his memory, with Richard always poking fun when Lady Catherine would bestow her compliments on Darcy. “Why did you never say? I would have supported you.”
“She did not wish for me to talk to anyone in the family unless we were sure we would be able to wed. She is so alone, Darcy. We write to each other with frequency, which is overlooked by her chaperones because we are cousins and I am at war. She was afraid if we came forward and were denied, we would not be permitted to write one another.”
Darcy rubbed his face, the blood pounding in his ears as his head throbbed mercilessly. Somehow, he had become the Paris to a Romeo and Juliet! Moreover, he questioned his own abilities to understand any of the people around him if he missed completely both Georgiana’s resentment and now, Richard’s love affair with Anne.
Equally exhausted, Richard backed away to sit again in his favorite chair, but the chair was not in its normal location. “Why the devil is my chair all the way over there?” Richard barked with annoyance. He walked over and heaved the chair over his head to move it back to its rightful home with a tremendous shudder to the poor piece of furniture’s legs.
“Have a care, if you mind. The chair did nothing to you.” Darcy held up his empty glass. “Pour us another round?” His cousin growled but retrieved both glasses from the desk.
As Richard poured drinks, he continued to unburden his soul. “I followed you to Kent each year that I could just to ensure her mother not force a wedding between you two, either through compromise, trickery or other such means. I thought if you were forced to go through with it, somehow I would find a way to stop it and take your place. But here I am in my thirties still without a means to provide the lifestyle Anne so desperately deserves.”
Darcy accepted his drink and stared at the flames scarcely flickering on the logs in the fire. Richard retreated to his favorite chair spent, a man with a broken heart.
Running his finger around the rim of his glass, Darcy made his decision. He would tell Richard all he knew and together the two cousins would find a way to fix this mess their family had once again created. Someone in this cursed family would have a happy marriage, and it would be Richard and Anne.
NEW RELEASE
For the Love of a Bennet
What if Elizabeth Bennet traveled with Lydia to Brighton?
A reimagining of Jane Austen’s most beloved tale, Pride & Prejudice, join author Elizabeth Ann West as she writes the romantic adventure story she always wanted! When Lizzy and Lydia arrive in Brighton, it’s very clear that the younger Bennet sister came with very serious plans towards Mr. Wickham. Thankfully, an old ally is also in town, with problems of his own to solve. After Mr. Darcy, himself, is summoned to Brighton to hopefully solve two dilemmas with one wealthy member of the gentry, the whole militia is thrown into an uproar by Wickham’s most dastardly deed, yet. Together, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy have to save Lydia from her own undoing, or it will mean more than just mere reputations are ruined.
For the Love of a Bennet is a novel length story, currently being posted chapter by chapter on Elizabeth’s author site. This story was originally conceptualized in 2019 as a part of the All Go to Brighton challenge.
Chapter 33 - By Consequence of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
The ballroom at Netherfield Park glowed with the light of a thousand suns from the candles lit on every wall. Elizabeth’s favorite vista was the boughs of evergreens decorating the stark white walls, illuminated with the light diffused by the numerous crystals hanging from the ceiling. As she took her first steps into the grand room with her family, it was as if she was stepping into the pages of a fairytale where she was a fair maiden awaiting her gallant knight’s arrival.
Mr. Bingley shook her hand profusely, wearing such a grin the very width of it threatened to split his face. Elizabeth giggled to find such delight in her future brother-in-law, and she spied a similar exuberance upon Jane’s countenance. The wedding between Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet was not only the highlight of the neighborhood, but likely a superb match to be told of for generations to come.
“I’m so happy you are recovered, Miss Elizabeth. It is difficult to imagine you recuperated from the accident right here in this house, and in just two short months!”
Elizabeth laughed and nodded her head to Mister Bingley. “Sir, I thank you again for your hospitality and care. I’m certain Mr. Darcy and I will have a grand time deciding how we shall relate the accident to the curious minds present.” Elizabeth surveyed the ballroom, already noticing the town gossips waiting to pounce for the salacious details.
Bingley’s tone changed to one of regret. “I’m terribly sorry, Mrs. Elizabeth, but my friend Darcy never came. I spoke to him in London, and I was certain he was coming to the wedding and the ball. But I’m afraid his business has kept him in town.”
Elizabeth stood there stunned with the revelation her knight was not racing to her on his trusty steed. She began to move into the ballroom as the reception line shuffled to allow more people to greet Mr. Bingley and Miss Bingley. The mismatch of strings echoed in her ears as the musicians started their warm-up. She was so lost in her thoughts, trying to puzzle out why Mr. Darcy would say he was coming and then not attend, she did not acknowledge Mr. Collins bustling up to her side.
“Cousin Elizabeth, there you are. Come, we will be expected to dance the first set together.”
“Mr. Collins, I do not wish to dance the first set. I wish to admire Jane and forever imprint tonight’s joy in my mind. Please sir, do not make me refuse the first set so that I may not dance the entire night.”
William Collins puffed out his chest and set his chin. “You will dance with me or you will not dance. You should understand by now, Elizabeth, I am not a man to be trifled with . . .”
Elizabeth was frightened at first, but remembered they were in a room full of people. Mr. Collins could not grab her arm here and drag her away, leaving angry marks upon her porcelain skin. She narrowed her eyes at the man and released the anger she had pent up these many weeks.
“You could not convince me to dance with your sweaty, bumbling person even if you were the last man in this ballroom! I simply shall not dance this evening.” Mr. Collins moved as if he were about to grab Elizabeth and press his point, when Elizabeth changed her face from one of anger to one of joy and waved over his shoulder. “Yoo-hoo my dear Charlotte, have you met my cousin, Mr. Collins?”
A demure woman in a pale pink gown and perfectly pinned brunette curls approached Elizabeth and Mr. Collins wearing a prim smile on her face. Elizabeth made the necessary introductions and began her playacting. Taking a step toward Charlotte, she dramatically grabbed Mr. Collins’ shoulder and cried out in pain. “Oh, my ankle, my ankle!” Charlotte assisted Elizabeth on her other side, and Collins had no choice but to assist his cousin and her friend to the sofa in the corner of the room.
As Elizabeth arranged her skirts comfortably on the sofa, the musicians stopped and a subtle hush fell over the ballroom. “Oh Charlotte you must take my dance with Mr. Collins, I won’t be able to join the fun tonight.” Elizabeth whispered hoarsely.
Charlotte Lucas had rarely been asked to dance the opening set at any assembly or ball since she was in her early twenties. Now a woman of twenty-seven, she was regarded to be on the shelf and therefore garnered sympathy requests to dance sometime during the evening.
As Mr. Collins accepted the plan and escorted Charlotte away to line up in their places for the first set, Elizabeth wished she had thought to ask for a glass of punch. The music began and the couples twirled and spun in time with the music. Soon, Elizabeth had trouble finding the face of her beloved Jane with her intended Mr. Bingley through the crowds lining the dancing area. Familiar attendees of the ball saw her predicament and spent a spell visiting her as she recuperated on the couch.
In the middle of the third set, with Mr. Bingley dancing with Lydia and Jane dancing with Mr. Collins, her father came to visit Lizzie in her reclining position. He sat on the edge of the sofa, sipping from a glass of punch.
“Oh Papa, I wonder if you would be so kind as to fetch a glass of punch for me? I am so desperately thirsty.”
Mr. Bennet surveyed the dance floor to watch his other daughters enjoying the ball. “I believe, my Lizzie, you are most capable of walking across the room and fetching your own glass of punch.” He turned his head to gaze meaningfully at her.
“But it is a tragedy, father. Just as I was about to dance the first set with Mr. Collins, I twisted my ankle and ruined my entire evening!”
Mr. Bennet chuckled. “Elizabeth Bennet, my dear, if you wish to convince a wise old man you have suffered a new injury to your foot, next time take better care to limp on your left foot and not your right.”
Mr. Bennet stood from the sofa and wandered his way through the ballroom. Elizabeth crossed her arms in front of her chest and pouted. She did persuade Charlotte to fetch a glass of punch. This meant she endured the rest of the ball until supper stuck on the sofa with Mr. Collins and Charlotte attending her and chatting happily away in her ear.
To Elizabeth, the entire evening had been an utter disaster, and her heart still ached over never fulfilling her dream of dancing with Mr. Darcy. She stewed in her melancholy long after the carriages delivered them home for a fitful night of sleep before the morrow’s big day.
You’ve been reading By Consequence of Marriage
By Consequence of Marriage, Book 1 of the Moralities of Marriage
a Pride and Prejudice novel variation series
Release Date: December 23, 2014
65,000 words, ~334 pages in print.
When his horse throws a shoe, Fitzwilliam Darcy misses rescuing his sister, Georgiana Darcy, from the clutches of George Wickham by only one day. Now on the hunt to find them both, the gossip beginning to swirl in London forces him to abdicate the search to his cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, while he plays the wayward gentleman in Hertfordshire with his friend Charles Bingley. After a collision with his future, Darcy struggles to satisfy his attraction to a pair of fine eyes and keep his family’s scandal hidden.
Elizabeth Bennet dreams of nothing more than remaining close to her sister, Jane. When a rich gentleman, Charles Bingley, enters the neighborhood, it seems certain that Jane will make a match with him. After all, Jane Bennet is the sweetest and most beautiful woman in the county! But Elizabeth’s efforts to find her own local match go awry and she feels abandoned by the first man to cause stirrings in her heart. Her parents attempt to marry Elizabeth off to her cousin, William Collins, who is set to inherit the estate. But when she refuses, she soon finds herself In London with relatives, forced to find her own happiness.
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A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 8 novels and 11 novellas, 18 of which are story variations of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.
Enjoyed this. Nice to hear the rest of the story. A great read
thanks forsharing
enjoyed
Working on this series is a blast! It’s so involved and dramatic!
We are the recipients of your efforts.