My goodness, I had no idea how much I have actually written until I tried to make a plan to post all of the chapters. EEP! -Elizabeth Ann West
XOXOX Elizabeth Ann West
Chapter 13 - By Consequence of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
Jane Bennet entered Longbourn to the usual yells and taunts of her younger sisters fighting over some frippery. She had managed to remove her gloves before her mother spied her, coming from the kitchens with a jar of preserves in her hand.
“Ooooh, Jane dear, whatever are you doing here? Has he done it? Has Mr. Bingley proposed? Oh he must have, he must have, you are so very beautiful. Mr. Bennet!”
“No, Mama, I am here to pack more long sleeve dresses for Lizzie and me. And Lizzie asked for a book from her room.”
Mrs. Bennet sniffed, just as her husband deigned to open his study door. “Is Lizzie home, so soon? Impossible.”
“No, Mr. Bennet, your precious Lizzie is not home. I say, my poor nerves cannot abide this endless coming and going. Well, be off with you, Jane dear, fetch the items you require. And do make sure you thank poor Mr. Bingley for his hospitality, the man must be having fits with that girl’s headstrong ways.” Mrs. Bennet frowned at her eldest daughter and Mr. Bennet before taking her leave. Jane bowed her head and began to take the stairs.
“Before you leave Jane, I would like an audience.” Mr. Bennet called, causing Jane to turn and nod at her father.
Amid the loud voices of Kitty and Lydia, Jane tried to walk past without being noticed, but failed when the floorboard at the top of the stairs made it’s customary groan.
“Jane! Jane! Tell Lydia it’s my turn to borrow your bonnet. She won’t give it to me.” Kitty stumbled out of the bedroom she shared with her youngest sister, waves of her curly brown hair falling all around her face.
“La! I borrowed it first and I plan to wear it this afternoon as I am escorted by Lieutenant Denny. He said the cornflower trim was perfect for accentuating my blue eyes.” Lydia held the bonnet to her chest and sighed with a far off stare.
“Does Mama know you are being escorted by officers?” Jane inquired.
Lydia made a sour face at once. “Mind your beaus, and I’ll mind mine. Why are you here? I thought you and Lizzie were staying at Netherfield.”
An irksome tiredness settled on Jane’s shoulders as she felt the weeks of staying in a stranger’s home and caring for her injured sister which the rest of her family felt quite comfortable forsaking. A white-hot anger seared through Jane’s mind as she zeroed in on Lydia’s mocking face. Quite a surprise to the girls, Jane’s temper snapped and she marched forward to reclaim her bonnet and push Lydia back on the bed.
“You spoiled, spoiled children! To carry on up here over belongings that are neither yours, nor yours!” Jane glared at both Lydia and Kitty in turn. “You ought to be ashamed of yourselves and at least act concerned regarding our sister who sits miserable with a broken ankle and head wound. But no, you’re traipsing about with officers! Well, I will not abide such wanton behavior!” Jane sniffed and seemed to regain her senses. Her mouth opened in shock and she covered it as Kitty and Lydia began to cry in unison at their oldest sister’s cross words.
Straightening her attire that had come quite askew from her tirade, Jane resumed her mission towards the room she shared with Elizabeth. Just as she reached the door, she paused to note her sisters now recovered from their false cries. Narrowing her eyes, Jane felt her temper begin to rise in her chest once more, but this time she was better equipped.
Her demeanor as calm as ever, Jane parted with the sweetest threat. “Touch our belongings again and I shall cut your hair as you sleep.”
With a smile, Jane opened the door to her room, happy of the peace and quiet now reigning in her home. She made short work of her errand since Hill was now present to help pack the additional trunk. The two women shared a look of solidarity as the family’s head servant appreciated the set down of the two youngest Bennet sisters. With the arguing, Jane forgot the title of the particular book Elizabeth requested so she grabbed all three that sat upon her sister’s bedside table.
Her stomach rumbling, Jane did not wish to tarry longer than necessary and considered ignoring her father’s request. After all, he didn’t mean to make such an effort, but Jane’s conscience scolded her for her negative opinions. Hill disappeared to the kitchen to quietly pack her a basket for the journey to Netherfield and with reluctance Jane entered her father’s study.
“Jane, thank you for coming. Please, sit down. Tell me about Lizzie.”
Jane frowned for half a moment, but was quick to restore her countenance. Her parents had their favorites, never to be denied, but still the rejection stung each time they displayed their preference to the ill-favored daughter. “She is in better spirits, Papa. Mr. Darcy often visits to play cards or read to her and I think it cheers her a great deal.”
It was Mr. Bennet’s turn to frown, only he did not change his expression. “The man who nearly killed her visits you say? Well, what cheek for him to do so! I ought to have thrashed his hide!”
“No, Papa, he is indeed sorrowful, and . . .”
“Yes? Is there more to this accident I should know about?”
Jane shrugged her shoulders and squirmed in her chair. Her father gazed at her with a fierceness that she had not experienced since she was much younger and trying to cover some of Lizzie’s grand adventures that resulted in a secret mending of her gowns. Jane broke his gaze and stared at her hands in her lap.
“Jane, I believe there is something you wish to tell me. I see two paths before us. We can sit here for a few moments until I coax it out of you, or you can tell me what it is and we both can move on with the day with greater rapidity. The choice is yours, dear.” Mr. Bennet sat back in his chair, the twinkle restored to his old blue eyes and a small, smug smile playing on his lips.
At the most inopportune moment, her stomach growled and Jane took a deep breath. Lizzie would likely confess all to their father in time she supposed, what harm would there be in telling him what she knew?
“Lizzie was walking in the midst of the road because she was quite angry. She had set her intentions to John Lucas at the assembly, because she wishes to remain in Hertfordshire when she marries. He rode here that day to inform her she was not good enough for his family’s aspirations.” Jane felt quite out of breath and swelled at once with remorse. Once it all came out, there was no denying that she had betrayed her sister’s confidences.
“Not good enough!” Mr. Bennet stood up in anger, causing Jane to shrink back. He raised his hands to motion for her to calm, also in effort to apologize for his outburst. He walked over to his window and saw the young lad just hired by Mr. Flemming, the steward, as he coaxed their oldest nag back into the barn. “This is my fault.”
Jane’s head whipped around to stare at the back of her father’s form. “I am sorry, sir, but I am confused. Lizzie took half of the blame for the accident on her own, and I think between her and Mr. Darcy, the blame is satisfied.”
Mr. Bennet turned and shook his head. “Sweet Jane,” he smiled. “Lizzie is relentless in her loyalty to you, you know. It would appear that you reciprocate her feelings.”
He shook his head again and slowly trudged back towards his chair. Mr. Bennet picked up his book and found his place again, but before he began to read, he beheld Jane.
“Oh, bother, she will tell you now I am certain. Two weeks before that blasted assembly, Lizzie saw me stumble out in the fields. It was a trifling matter I am assured by Mr. Jones, but he told me to expect those episodes to increase as I age. But for heaven’s sake, do not tell your mother or we will see no peace in this house.” After such a confession, Mr. Bennet acted as if he had just told Jane he had stubbed his big toe and he waved her off.
Jane stood stiff and firm, barely remembering to nod adieu as she accepted the basket Hill covertly placed in her hands the moment she left the study. “The carriage awaits.”
Jane nodded and walked out of her family’s home so stunned that she left her gloves on the table in the entryway. As the carriage lurched forward and Mrs. Hill waved her off, Jane realized she was no longer hungry.
Chapter 14 - By Consequence of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
The evening proved to be a momentous occasion as Elizabeth’s afternoon interview with Mr. Jones granted her permission to take her meal and entertainment downstairs, provided she was carried and did not bear weight on the affected limb. Radiating with glee, Elizabeth asked Jane to attend her in appearing especially elegant. In her gaiety, she was heedless of her older sister’s guilt-ridden face.
A knock on the door startled them and a very sharply dressed Mr. Darcy, their afternoon partner in crime most days, bowed with a smile.
“Miss Bennet, I heard the good news and am come to offer my services to your charge.”
Jane smiled as the manners of Mr. Darcy had increased her estimation of the man, and she pleasantly nodded. As Mr. Darcy approached Elizabeth sitting on the bench in front of the looking glass, she turned so that he might spy the most pleasing dark curl resting against the nape of her neck. His breath caught as he came closer and Elizabeth turned a most violent shade of red, but surreptitiously watched his handsome form in the mirror’s reflection.
“Miss Elizabeth,” he greeted, with another bow. She gazed up at him and smiled her approval as she extended her arms to ease his task. He lifted her gently, mindful to keep his arm beneath her knees and endure his wandering thoughts. She giggled as he gallantly gave a rapid twirl to face the open door.
“Forgive me, I am reminded of my sister and the few times I’ve carried her across water or mud.” His deep baritone was cause for Lizzie’s breath to catch. She felt the vibrations in her own chest and blushed prettily.
“You are forgiven, Mr. Darcy. If you would be so kind to pause a moment. Jane? My slippers?”
Elizabeth’s sister quickly produced the slippers and scurried around to place them upon Lizzie’s feet. Jane Bennet’s efficiency gave Darcy only the briefest glance of his charge’s stockinged feet causing him to inhale sharply. Such an intake caused Elizabeth to search his face, raising a quizzical brow. The moment was disturbed however by the sudden appearance of Mr. Bingley in the doorway.
“Confound it, Darcy, must you always usurp me in attending our guests? I have just fetched a footman, but it would appear arrangements have been made.” Mr. Bingley’s voice rose in treble as he marveled at the marked preference his friend would give to Miss Elizabeth. Again, Elizabeth’s cheeks began to burn and she struggled to speak but Darcy interrupted, answering his friend’s query.
“It is only fitting, Charles, that I bear the burden of my foolhardy actions that injured our dear friend. Carrying Miss Elizabeth is a penance, nothing more.” The droll voice Darcy used to parry matchmaking Mamas and their ilk returned and Elizabeth became indignant. Crossing her arms, she suddenly became heavier in his arms, vexed that it was too late to demand a footman attend her without causing an even larger scene.
“Mr. Bingley, shall we start our journey? I know my sister is most eager to escape this room for the first time in a spell.”
“Certainly, certainly!” Mr. Bingley brightened and offered his arm to Jane. Inhaling the familiar scent of Jane’s rose water, all thoughts of Mr. Darcy and his troubles escaped Bingley’s attention until they reached the bottom of the stairs and his sister Caroline standing outside the dining room, white as a sheet.
The two couples refrained from conversation as they passed their hostess to find the dining room perfectly set for a most elegant dinner. Charles Bingley smiled as he led Jane to her seat on his right, so occupied with her beauty in the dim candlelight that Darcy had to clear his throat and call out to attract his attention.
“Oh, how deuced of me.” Bingley apologized and pulled out the chair for Miss Elizabeth so that Mr. Darcy could place her gently in her seat. Although his arms tingled from the extended exercise, Darcy could not help the slight pressure as he lowered her. He assumed it was imperceptible as Elizabeth began talking with Jane and altogether ignored him. With no further service required, he left her next to Jane, on the opposite side of the table.
“By the by, thank you, Mr. Darcy, for seeing me safely downstairs. I confess I was becoming a tad addled remaining only in one attitude.” She spoke but did not meet his eyes, instead focusing on her glass of wine.
Caroline Bingley glided into the room with her head held high, yet her attitude quickly soured as she had to wait for a footman to step forward and pull out her chair beside Mr. Darcy. She was unaccustomed to being ignored and privately vowed that she would not allow Mr. Darcy to cast her aside over the crass charms of a country miss.
“If you are addled, we ought to call Mr. Jones. Perhaps your head injury was more serious than we presumed, Miss Eliza.”
Elizabeth stared at Caroline with her quizzical brow, wondering why the woman was set on disliking her so. Instead, the jubilation of being out of her sick room returned and Elizabeth ignored the unpleasant attempt to draw her into an argument. “Miss Bingley, you’ve set a splendid table. I truly appreciate your kindness on my first evening dining out of my room.”
Mr. Darcy choked on his wine, but soon recovered. He gave a rare dimpled smile in Elizabeth’s direction, though she still would not meet his eye. He was most impressed that his Elizabeth refused to sink to Caroline’s level. Turning his sterling silver knife over next to his place setting, he frowned. Had his mind truly just called her his Elizabeth? He was in grave danger of raising her expectations if he did not check his behavior. The last thing he could do at this moment was offer for any woman.
“Mr. Bingley, I do not see Mr. and Mrs. Hurst. Ought we not wait for them?” Elizabeth asked as the first course was served.
“My sister and brother are dining with the Livingstons, as both women are in the family way. I’m sure if Louisa knew it was to be such a grand evening for you, Miss Eliza, she never would have made such plans.” Caroline answered before her brother could collect his thoughts since Elizabeth’s direct question interrupted his observations of Jane.
“The Livingstons are a good family. We’ve dined with them often in the past,” Jane said sweetly to cover her sister’s reaction to Caroline’s continued impertinence.
“Indeed, their cook makes the most delicious meat pie.” Elizabeth smiled as she took a second bite of the very same dish. Caroline gasped at the direct set down, but Bingley only laughed.
“Yes, well we leasing neighbors are at a disadvantage to attract the best help in the area, being so newly settled.” Bingley winked at Elizabeth as she patted her mouth with her napkin to hide her own glee.
“And how long do you plan to remain settled in the area, Mr. Bingley? Are you considering placing an offer to purchase Netherfield?”
“Er. . . no. . . that is, not yet.” Charles looked frantically to Darcy who was not minding the conversation, merely his dinner plate. “I planned to lease for a year and see how suited we are to this fine estate.”
“Mmm. I suppose that might be seen as wise or as unreliable. But, I am inclined to view it as very wise since you are such a kind-hearted man, I could never see you intentionally playing on the hopes of another.”
“Lizzie!” Jane exclaimed, surprised her younger sister would be so brazen. However, Jane was so distracted by Charles’ needs, she missed that for the first time that evening her sister was making solid eye contact with Mr. Darcy. The gentleman did not return her glare, but instead broke her heart by revealing the great sadness behind his gaze.
“No, Miss Bennet, I do not believe Miss Elizabeth was attempting to be rude. She paid me a compliment.” The affable Charles Bingley raised his glass in Elizabeth’s direction and she struggled to react. Quickly, she raised her glass and offered him a warm smile as she endeavored to sort out her feelings towards Mr. Darcy. Something about the man both delighted and frightened her.
“Indeed, you are the best addition to our neighborhood.” Elizabeth smiled as she managed to exclude his family.
“Hear, hear,” Darcy’s baritone joined in while Caroline Bingley sulked for the rest of dinner.
After three courses, Elizabeth grimaced as her ankle began to throb. Darcy noticed right away she was uncomfortable and asked if she wished to retire.
“No, no thank you, sir, I fear I just need to prop up my ankle.” She motioned for a footman to lift her and the man standing behind her chair hastened to assist. “I believe I will simply make my way to a sofa where I might place my foot on a pillow and I shall be right as rain.”
“Well, as you are making alliterative jests, I shall trust your judgment.”
“And I hope you always shall!” She retorted with cheek just as the footman lifted her. Jane motioned to be excused as well, and followed her sister into the drawing room. She was hopeful she could help preserve Elizabeth’s modesty before the gentlemen joined them.
“As we have guests ferried in and out of the dining room this evening, perhaps you and Mr. Darcy will join us ladies and forgo your port?” Caroline suggested as she made a point to wait for Mr. Darcy’s escort to the drawing room. Neither Darcy nor Bingley needed an invitation to look in on the lovely Bennet sisters.
Darcy humored Caroline, but was unhappy to see that Miss Elizabeth had been arranged on a far sofa away from the card tables and seating for the evening. However, he was arrested by the sight of her forlorn gaze at the moonlit gardens and remembered that her sister Jane often described Elizabeth as nymph-like in her daily rambles in the countryside. Had he been cooped up indoors for a month, he too might appear trapped.
“Darcy! Bring Caroline over here, I’ve heard of this card game many times. We are going to play Consequences!”
“Charles, don’t be droll. I’ve never heard of such a game and it sounds positively silly.”
Jane reddened but began to deal the cards.
“You are mistaken, Miss Bingley, the game is assuredly illuminating.” Mr. Darcy said, escorting Caroline to the seat across from him.
“Will not Miss Eliza be disappointed? Perhaps we ought wait until she may be able to join us.”
“Oh, do not delay on my account! I play cards aplenty each afternoon when Mr. Darcy visits. I am content to simply observe!” Elizabeth called from her far corner of the room, showing she could hear them quite clearly.
Stuck, Caroline attempted a smile that was more a grimace as Jane explained the rules. Predictably, Charles took to the game like fish to water, and it was Jane who took the first round. Thankfully, Darcy did not play any queens as those were divided between the Bingley siblings, with Charles complimenting Jane, who appreciated it, and Caroline complimenting him, which he did not appreciate. Before they started another round, Darcy checked on Elizabeth and chuckled to see the lady curled up and sound asleep against the arm of the sofa. He gently touched Miss Bennet’s elbow and motioned towards her sister with a nod.
“The evening was more taxing than we had thought. I’ll find a footman.” Jane started, but Darcy held up his hand.
“It would be my pleasure to carry her up. If a footman fell and further injured her, I would feel to blame. Would you join me?”
Jane nodded and followed as Mr. Darcy carried her sister up the stairs. Halfway up, Elizabeth woke with a start, but smelling the familiar scent of musk and sandalwood, settled her chin further into Mr. Darcy’s chest. With the softest of whispers, he heard her sigh. “I do not understand you, Mr. Darcy.”
Keeping his silence, Darcy carried Elizabeth to her bedroom. He placed her just on the edge of the bed as she was now fully awake. He bowed to Miss Bennet and left the room without a word, not trusting himself to confess all with just the slightest encouragement. But what would she think of him, a man with a wayward sister and one he was unable to find himself? She would hate him, and that he could not abide, even if he were unable to offer her more.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he found Bingley pacing the floor. “Charles? I assure you, Miss Bennet is fine and plans to rejoin us as soon as her sister is settled.”
“Of course, this just arrived for you.” Charles held out an express. Hands shaking, Darcy took the missive and inhaled deeply. He ripped the wax seal and unfolded the paper, but kept his eyes shut. What if it was bad news? What if she was gone forever?
“Well man, open your eyes. You can’t read omnisciently, not even the illustrious Darcy.” Bingley laughed, not knowing how grave Darcy’s situation had become. That Darcy received express mailings regularly had trained Bingley to not always think the worst.
Before Darcy could read his letter, he glanced around, realizing a modicum of privacy was necessary. “Charles, perhaps we ought to take our port now as we await Miss Bennet.”
Confused, Bingley escorted his friend to the sparse library that he was using as a study since the actual study of Netherfield was still decorated in grotesque medieval furnishings. The fire was near spent as the servants knew not of the delay for the gentlemen. Bingley marched forward to address the embers. Partly playing the pleasant host and partly giving his friend some privacy, Charles jumped when Darcy yelled out.
“Praise the Lord, he found her!”
“Darcy! A care to the wits of those around you!”
Darcy rushed forward to shake Bingley’s hand. “He found her! I must away at once!”
“It’s close on the middle of the night!”
Darcy leaned forward to peer at the same large moon Elizabeth had enjoyed earlier. “And the moon is brighter than the sun. I shall be fine. Call on me in London.”
“But it’s quite cold!”
Darcy waved an arm and hurried out of the library, absent-mindedly laying the letter on the desk as he began to prepare to hasten his departure. Bingley stood in the library positively confused at his friend’s actions when Caroline Bingley slithered her way into the room. She made a beeline for the open letter lying on the desk and began reading it before her brother might intervene.
“Caroline! That belongs to Darcy!”
“What? Oh, I had no idea,” she said with a fake sense of surprise. She handed the letter to Charles. “It appears our Mr. Darcy carried a secret all this time. What a scandal!”
Charles read the letter himself and his mouth dropped in horror. Georgiana Darcy had run away with the steward’s son? No, Charles could not believe it, Darcy was so careful and attentive to his sister! Charles shook his head, seeing a devilish grin on his own sister’s face.
“Caroline, no! I know that look you and Louisa get, and so help me, if word of this leaves this room I shall know it was you and I will cut you off. Every penny!” Charles turned away from his sister in disgust and cast the offending letter to the flames.
“Charles! I am shocked you would think so meanly of me! I was only thinking about how now, more than ever, we must show our support of the Darcy family. Why, we should hurry to London right away!”
Charles rubbed his chin as he considered his sister’s plea. He couldn’t confess that leaving now would take him away from Jane and that was the last thing he wished to do when he planned to approach her father once Miss Elizabeth was well to ask for a courtship. “Have you forgotten our guests?”
“Oh please, if she can be carried down to dinner, she can ride home in a carriage.” Caroline found a chair and sat down, beginning her first pantomimes of feeling a headache coming on. “This county is so very dreary, Charles.”
A knock on the library door startled the Bingleys and Jane Bennet tentatively entered. Bingley reddened, but Jane seemed not to notice as she gave Caroline a stern scowl. “I apologize for interrupting, I only wished to bid you a good night. I believe my sister and I will return home tomorrow and wished to thank you for your hospitality.”
“Wait, what? Surely Miss Elizabeth is not well enough to travel, Miss Bennet? Please say you will stay at least another week?” Mr. Bingley hurried forward to address Jane directly, but she only softened her expression for the poor man. After witnessing Caroline Bingley’s open rudeness to Elizabeth and hearing that Mr. Darcy was to soon leave, Jane was certain the best place for Elizabeth to recuperate was Longbourn.
“I’m afraid it’s my sister’s wishes, Mr. Bingley. She and my father are very close and she misses him most dearly. I know you understand.” Jane gently placed a hand on Mr. Bingley’s arm, before curtsying. “I wish you both a good evening.”
Bingley stared at the door for a few moments after Jane had made her exit. He finally gave attention to Caroline and reminded her that he was the youngest sibling of the family and keen on getting his way.
“Are you happy now Caroline? Our friends are leaving. And we are staying, and that’s final.” Charles Bingley bowed to his sister and retired for the evening. On the way, he found his butler, Mr. Higgins, and gave strict instructions for the stable not to saddle Mr. Darcy’s horse until dawn. He cared not what his friend or Caroline planned, but tomorrow he would be refreshed and escort the Bennet sisters home.
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 15 - By Consequence of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
The ruts in the road from Netherfield to Longbourn jostled the Bingley carriage as the Bennet sisters were escorted home by none other than the master of Netherfield. Elizabeth Bennet, precarious on one bench of the carriage, alone, to prop up her injured ankle, did her best to be an invisible chaperone as her sister Jane and Mr. Bingley made polite conversation. Flicking her attention over to see Jane giggling once again and Mr. Bingley appearing pleased with the jest he had made, Elizabeth sighed. By the time they had risen and readied the carriage, her favorite of the Netherfield party, Mr. Darcy, was long gone on his journey back to London.
“I apologize, Miss Elizabeth, if our levity is an annoyance. Does you ankle hurt, still?” Mr. Bingley asked with genuine care evident in his voice and expression.
Elizabeth waved her gloved hands in response. “No, no, I was thinking how despite my injuries, my stay at Netherfield was such a pleasure. The company, in particular, are those I hope to call friends for a long time.”
“Happy you should say so! I had not wished to offend, nor embarrass you, Jane,” Elizabeth held her breath as she caught Mr. Bingley using Jane’s Christian name, “but I had intended to speak with your father this morning if that would please you?”
With a keen intake of her breath, Elizabeth sat in agony as it seemed hours passed before Jane blushed and nodded, adding a meek “Yes, it would please me rather much.” The happy couple stared at one another and wishing she could disappear, Elizabeth became distracted enough to forget about bracing for the large turn in the road. She slid on the bench and her foot crashed into the carriage wall, making her cry out in pain.
“Lizzie!” Jane tried to reach for her sister, but Elizabeth stayed Jane with a gesture of her hands as she breathed through the pain.
Demanding her body not allow the water gathering at the edge of her eyes to fall as tears, Elizabeth started to speak in a terse manner. “Bravo, Mr. Bingley, for falling in love with my best sister!” Elizabeth took calming breaths before continuing, gently rubbing her throbbing ankle with restraint. “May I inquire as to the nature of the action that inspired your courage, sir? Suitors speaking to fathers is quite serious business.”
Jane groaned and hid her face with her hands, which Mr. Bingley tenderly helped to remove. Elizabeth noted he held onto her sister’s hand a bit longer than necessary and the adorableness of the action stirred an ache in Elizabeth’s heart that she tried to ignore.
“You are never one to avoid a subject head on, are you Miss Elizabeth? I will confess that my resolve does stem from my poor friend Darcy’s plight. Who knows what tomorrow shall bring? Fortune favors the brave!”
“Ignavum fortuna repugnat.” Elizabeth responded with a smirk making Charles Bingley laugh aloud. Jane gazed in confusion between them, until Charles spoke.
“Your sister merely provided supporting logic for my impetuosity. I did not know you were fluent in Latin, Miss Elizabeth.”
As the carriage rolled to a stop in front on Longbourn, Elizabeth did not answer Mr. Bingley’s comment as she made a covert glance at the inhabitants of her home spilling out of the front door. There was no sign of her father, Mr. Bennet, and Elizabeth’s mood soon soured. Her mother waved a handkerchief and Elizabeth spied Mrs. Hill’s strapping young nephew abandoning his work by the barn.
“Mr. Bingley! Mr. Bingley! How kind of you to bring home my girls! I do hope they were not a bother!”
“I am pleased to report nothing of the kind, Mrs. Bennet! We were discussing how amiable a visit this was, Miss Elizabeth’s injuries aside, of course.” He bowed respectfully to the woman before he reached out his hand to help Jane down from the carriage. The gesture halted Lydia Bennet in her tracks as she had been skipping around the carriage with Kitty in tow. The two younger girls bent close together in conspiratorial whispers and Mrs. Bennet began to lead Mr. Bingley and Jane towards the house, fretting over them both.
Left in the carriage, Elizabeth called out.
“Oh, yes, Lizzie. Marcus, fetch her if you please and carry her to her room? Now, Mr. Bingley, you must tell me your favorite meat dish and I will arrange for Cook to prepare it. You simply must come to dinner tonight, and . . .” her voice trailed off as she entered the house. Elizabeth watched, her jaw dropping, as not even Jane turned to see that she was helped out of the carriage. Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she pouted for a moment before laughing at the folly of her mother. What was a broken ankle to a potential suitor? It was in a fit of laughter that the gangly Marcus found the young miss. He popped his head into the finely leathered carriage and asked Miss Elizabeth if she required assistance.
“If you will lend me your shoulder, I should manage to hobble.” She gave him a wistful smile and slid from the carriage bench to sit on the floor. Tugging on her gown to keep it in place, she inched closer and closer to the door until she could reach up and grab the boy’s shoulder for steadiness. The younger girls followed and Elizabeth was grateful when Kitty offered another arm to help her hop to the door.
“Where is Papa?” Elizabeth managed to ask, the exertion of maneuvering with only one good foot wearing on her nerves.
“He is touring the estate with that Mr. Collins. He won’t be back for ages.” Lydia offered.
“Hold here a moment, I need a rest.” Elizabeth caught her breath as the front door loomed in front of her, the stairs beyond. Fixing a determined line to her lip, she nodded. “Let’s proceed.”
Once inside, Elizabeth let go of the young Marcus and shooed him back to his duties. Silently pleading for help from Kitty, lest the conversations of Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Bingley, and Jane be disturbed, made Elizabeth smile weakly as she awaited Kitty’s scowl, then sigh of agreement. Elizabeth crawled up the stairs as quietly as she could with Kitty blocking any unflattering views from behind.
Finally making it to her own bed after over a month of staying at Netherfield, Elizabeth felt relieved by the familiarity surrounding her. Kitty wasted no time in finding Elizabeth a clean dress as her current one was now horribly dirty from travel and crawling around on the floors.
“Is Netherfield as grand upstairs as it is down? I wish I had been invited to come stay.” Kitty said wistfully, helping her sister to dress.
As the dress came over her head, Elizabeth spoke. “I was not particularly invited, myself. Miss Bingley made no attempt to hide her contempt. Poor Jane suffered most acutely, I’m afraid.”
“Still, you attended lovely dinners and dancing. Is it true Mr. Bingley keeps a quartet of musicians employed?” Lydia tittered about the room.
“I cannot walk, let alone dance. There was no dancing, I assure you.” Elizabeth allowed Kitty to help her to her bed, and prop herself up on her pillows. Marcus appeared with Elizabeth’s trunk, then disappeared with haste. Waiting for him to leave, Elizabeth dropped her voice to whisper. “Tell me about home. Who is this Mr. Collins? Is he amiable?”
“Amiable if you’re Mary!” Lydia giggled.
“Mary? Mary with a suitor?”
“Heavens no, she wishes Mr. Collins would acknowledge her. But so far all he’s done is count the silver and follow Papa around. He’s our cousin to inherit from the entail.” Lydia flopped on Elizabeth’s bed, the sudden weight upon the mattress causing a pain in her foot.
“Lydia, have a care!” Kitty called, to which Lydia stuck her tongue out.
“It is endurable. I bump my own foot half a dozen times a day!” Elizabeth attempted to show good cheer. “What kind of man is Mr. Collins?”
“Boring. Smelly. Annoying.” Lydia responded, staring up at the ceiling. Elizabeth pressed her lips together to keep from laughing again.
“You do not like him, that much is clear. Kitty?”
The second youngest Bennet sister shrugged. “He is a man of black, and I do so prefer red!” Kitty’s jest stirred Lydia from her prone position just as Marcus brought up the last trunk from Netherfield that was Jane’s.
“Where is Mary?” Elizabeth asked, trying to move away from the topic of Mr. Collins.
“Must you know where everyone is? I thought you required a rest.” Lydia pouted, worn from the game of filling in her older sister with details she had missed. “I want to go downstairs and ask Mr. Bingley to hold a ball!”
“Oooh, a ball!” Kitty echoed.
Exasperated, Elizabeth dismissed them with a sigh and a shrug and the two younger girls ceased to wait for further encouragement. As muffled voices wafted up from below, Elizabeth found herself restless as she was not yet tired. Leaning over to reach under her bed for her thoughtfully placed trunk, she lifted the lid and dug deep into the bottom. Her fingers found the smooth, malleable leather cover and she grasped on to pull the book out.
Nestling herself down into her bed, she rolled to her side and opened the richly bound, gold-trimmed copy of Shakespeare’s sonnets. Inhaling what she imagined to be that musky mix of sandalwood and spice that she detected last night, she traced the name on the inner book plate: Fitzwilliam Darcy. Carefully, with plans to return the book to the man at her next opportunity, she turned to a sonnet that now meant more to her than ever.
Take all my loves, my love, ye take them all . . .
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.
Thank you, Elizabeth for posting this for our reading pleasure. It’s my second read – and I still love it as much as I did the first time I read it. I am enjoying re-reading it in installments. I can’t wait to read on! 🙂
YAY! I don’t have it ready yet, but I’m also working on like a Series Bible page where names in these posts link to the character list and pictures of the settings and an overall timeline. I think readers will think it’s cool, but I also plan to use it to make it easier to keep writing in the series without having to hunt through notebooks of notes.
I am really enjoying reading this story..