Come on Darcy! You had to know it would make the papers that the most eligible bachelor in London took an unknown to the theater!
::head desk::
XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West
Chapter 46 - By Consequence of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
The gossip column of the London Times was ordinarily bereft of any news when the majority of families in high society were still in their country homes for the winter. Happily, the attendance to the theater by one of London’s most eligible bachelors, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, and a mysterious woman, was all the fodder the columns needed to run rampant with a story of Mr. Darcy moving off the marriage market. Two days after the fateful night, copies of the Times reached the far edges of the country, including one breakfast table in Kent.
Mr. F.D. was in attendance at the opening premier of the ____ Company’s latest play with a mysterious woman identified as a Miss. E.B. from H. Is London’s most eligible bachelor off the marriage market? We suspect many families will be back in London early this season . . .
Lady Catherine de Bourgh slammed her fist down upon her breakfast table, causing the fine china to clatter and clink from the force.
“That insolent buffoon of a parson! I gave him explicit instructions to marry that girl, and he brings home the simpering daughter of a lowly baronet. Ready my carriage!” Lady Catherine demanded.
As her staff shuffled and meekly moved away to begin preparing the grand lady’s luggage, Lady Catherine bustled to her office. If this was the way Fitzwilliam wanted to play at being a gentleman, taking a mistress in plain sight before taking his vows, she would fight fire with fire. Muttering to herself as she mended a pen with great force, she dipped her quill into the ink, beginning to pen her own piece of gossip for the newspaper.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh of Kent is happy to announce the engagement of her only daughter, Anne de Bourgh to Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Derbyshire. . .
Lady Catherine paused for a moment and grimaced. As soon as this ran in the papers, she would declare victory after all these years in the battle of wills with her nephew.
Chapter 47 - By Consequence of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
It was early evening before Lady Catherine’s carriage came to a stop in front of Matlock House in London. The woman merely shoved the footman out of her way as she hobbled down from the carriage under her own steam. Furious with Fitzwilliam as she was now within the city limits of London, Catherine made the unscrupulous decision to open the door to the town home herself.
“Margaret! Henry!” The lady yelled as the poor butler came forward, unsure how to handle this uncouth relative of his master. “Where are they? I demand to speak to them at once.”
“I’m afraid they are away to dinner, milady. At Lady and Lord Sefton’s to celebrate their arrival in town.”
This news hampered Lady Catherine as she could not drag their family’s business into public, nor had she been invited. She was brash and bold, but not stupid. “Fine. I’d like my usual set of rooms prepared. I shall rest until they return.”
A note was sent to the Seftons immediately upon Lady Catherine’s arrival. The staff of Matlock House knew better than to argue with the grand lady and listened to her whims and complaints as they readied her usual room when she came to visit. A few had worked for the Fitzwilliam family for decades and remembered Lady Catherine from when she lived in the town home as a young and demanding woman.
The guest list for the Seftons’ dinner was a premium selection of London’s social elite. Lady Matlock had no true desire to attend, but it was imperative she began the narrative the family wished to have spread about her niece before the less tolerable details began to make their rounds.
“I wonder that you never left for your country seat this winter. I heard mention there was a wedding in your family.” Lady Amelia Sefton asked her greatest rival between courses.
Margaret Fitzwilliam had prepared for this moment, even going so far as to practice her expressions in her mirror at home. There was no room for error. “The new generation, I tell you! My son and nephew allowed my niece to make a love match! In my day, marriages were decided by the important family members, but in this case, the documents were signed and the ceremony was planned with Henry and I barely making it to the church in time!”
“A love match? How singular. Did not your nephew Darcy wish to increase his lands with his sister’s marriage?”
“Apparently it was their father’s wish, some sort of nonsense, allowing his children to marry as they desired. The man was a mate of Darcy’s at school and has known the family for ages.” Lady Matlock started the half-truths and prettied up the facts.
“And where is the happy couple? We simply must throw them a ball!” Lady Sefton offered. Lady Sefton would throw a ball every day of the week if her husband allowed.
“Unfortunately, they are no longer in town, you see. My nephew gifted them a trip to Bath and they intend to remain until Easter.”
“Well, I, for one, am happy to hear young Miss Darcy found love. It keeps things interesting for the rest of us.” Lord Burly raised his glass in toast to the happy couple with the Fitzwilliams joining in, causing the rest of the party at the table to raise their glasses, even if some did so reluctantly.
Hours later with the Fitzwilliams in their carriage, the earl imparted the intelligence of his sister’s arrival in London.
“What bee is in Catherine’s bonnet now?” Margaret Fitzwilliam asked, allowing herself to feel the annoyance her misbehaving family members had wrought.
“I cannot even begin to fathom. By the by, what was all the nonsense you were talking about concerning Georgiana at dinner tonight? I thought we were keeping the marriage quiet.”
“Husband, the best defense is a good offense. Something our son, Richard, has taught me.”
“Do you really think tonight prevented any social repercussions from such an ill-conceived marriage?” Henry Fitzwilliam honestly doubted his wife’s efforts would amount to much.
“Most likely not, but I had to try. At the very least it might help some of our friends feel better about supporting us when the full details of her wedding become common knowledge.”
The earl nodded and shrugged, trying to peer through the window at the congestion keeping their carriage fixed in place. The town homes were all walking distance apart, but the desire to display one’s wealth always resulted in the worst carriage traffic and vexed the earl’s nerves.
“With any luck, the Wickhams will stay away long enough for an even greater scandal to hit society.” Even as she uttered the words, Lady Matlock did not hold out much hope.
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 48 - By Consequence of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
Due to the late hour at which they arrived home from the Seftons,’ the earl and countess avoided Lady Catherine’s presence until the following day. Making the transition to town hours, it was nearly noon before the earl arrived to break his fast. His sister Catherine waited for him, triumphantly holding a page of the London Times.
“I cannot believe you and your wife were not more vigilant. To allow him to take a mistress right under your noses! Well, no need to bother. I repaired the damage,” Lady Catherine announced with a smug look on her face.
The earl’s head throbbed most viciously as more and more he found wine did not agree with his person. Accepting a cup of strong coffee from a servant, he glanced at his sister and belched. Predictably, Lady Catherine glared at her younger brother, while he apologized for the faux pas.
“Pardon me, Catty, it was a long evening. Those Seftons are an energetic bunch, and I find all social schemes most tiring. Unfortunately, I am not so young as to hide in my cups as they say. Now what’s this you are going on about?”
“You repulse me, Brother. No gentleman of good regulation would indulge in too much to drink. Our father would be ashamed!”
“Spare me the theatrics of invoking Father and kindly arrive at your point.”
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam called on his family for the first time in over a week. Having to take an extensive leave in the search for his cousin Georgiana, Richard was obligated to return and train as many of His Majesty’s soldiers as possible. One of the few officers of noble birth, but earning his rank, it was not in his personality to rest on his laurels.
Hearing shouts and the distinct voice of his Aunt Catherine, Richard held a finger up to the butler to instruct him not to announce his presence. Pressed against the outside of the breakfast parlor door, he listened to the argument inside.
“I thought we were united on this! The two of you clearly hold not a care for my wellbeing or that of your niece. That Wickham boy does not share our blood. He is the unwanted product of my husband’s dalliances, and he should’ve been sent off to a workhouse instead of held by the tender heart strings of George Darcy!”
The earl pinched the bridge of his nose and reminded his sister that her late husband had received more than his just desserts when his dalliances were the cause of his death. Of course, the family doctor swore Sir Lewis died of apoplexy, but the rest of the family had no doubt it was the French disease. The only way to invalidate the last will and testament of Sir Lewis de Bourgh was to admit he was likely out of his mind when he willed Rosings to Anne upon her marriage or thirtieth birthday and to his male bastard children if she should not marry or produce issue.
“Tell me what you did, Catherine.”
“Merely what is my right! If Darcy can run around and become the talk of the gossip rags, it is only fitting his engagement be formally announced.”
“Are you telling me you want to announce his engagement to Anne formally? Without even a signed marriage settlement?”
“No, certainly not. I’m telling you I took the matter in my own hands, and the engagement announcement should be in this morning’s paper.”
Outside the door, the Colonel clenched his fists and resisted the urge to storm into the breakfast parlor to give his aunt a piece of his mind. A small hand touched his shoulder and the military man startled before turning to see his mother’s face.
“Warn Darcy,” she whispered.
His face white with anger, Richard bowed his head to his mother to take his leave and stalked away towards the front door. He did not bother to call the carriage and chose to release his anger over the two blocks between the grand houses in preparation to brief his cousin. There was no doubt they had precious little time to shore up their defenses before Lady Catherine and his parents would be at Darcy House demanding satisfaction.
With the knocker restored on Darcy House, the Colonel had no hindrance to his entrance and found Darcy in his study, well into his day.
“Richard, what a pleasure! I thought the Major General was keeping you busy nigh until Easter-time.”
“He is, Cousin; he is. I happened to visit my home during a break before afternoon exercises, and I’m afraid I have some intelligence to impart.”
Darcy’s joy faded from his face. “I am to visit Miss Elizabeth very soon. What news do you carry?”
“You’d better sit down, Cousin, and let me pour you a drink.”
“It’s bad as all that? Is it Georgiana? Has something happened?” Darcy asked.
Richard poured two healthy glasses of scotch and joined his cousin at his desk. He didn’t bother to take a seat himself, as he had to hurry back to the barracks. “Lady Catherine read the news of your theater outing in the Times.”
Darcy groaned and helped himself to his own drink. He worried about the repercussions of the gossip and hoped his aunt would miss the current edition of the Times. “Go on.”
“Have you checked this morning’s paper? Particularly the engagement announcements?”
Darcy’s face drained of all color. He fetched his copy of the newspaper from the bin and shuffled the sheets to find the engagement announcements. Seeing his name announced with his cousin’s, fear gripped his heart.
“No! No! No! That biddy, I’ll make her pay for this! Do you have any idea the damage this will do to Elizabeth?”
Richard finished his drink, placed the glass on the desk and held his hands up in mock surrender. “I am merely the messenger. I’d say you have about ten minutes to vacate this house before all hell breaks loose and descends upon you.”
Darcy shrugged on his coat and yelled for his carriage, nearly knocking Richard out of the way as he exited his study. Remembering his manners, he turned back around. “Would you like to be dropped off at the barracks on my way to the Gardiners?”
“Why, yes, Cousin, I believe I would. Let them find an empty Darcy House to sit and stew in.”
Unfortunately Darcy was in no mood to laugh and find mirth in their situation. He hoped and prayed the Gardiners had not read this morning’s edition of the Times as his carriage drove to the opposite side of London to drop off his cousin before taking him to Cheapside for a visit he wished was under different circumstances.
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.
+ 23 additional Pride & Prejudice variations are available at these fine retailers . . .
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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.
Oooh the suspense is thrilling Are you related to Alfred Hitchcock the movie director of suspense movies in the 1960’s “Rear Window” and “To Catch A Thief” with Grace Kelly.? So enjoying this
I have a weak bladder.