This is the book that was never planned in this series… but when I sat down to write what I wanted Book 3 of the series to be, Elizabeth Bennet had other plans . . .
XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West
Chapter 25 - The Whisky Wedding, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
A BIRDSONG WOKE Elizabeth Darcy on her fourth morning at Broadmeadow. She tugged the covers closer, over her shoulder and snuggled down deep into the warmth with a content heart of knowing exactly where she was and that she was married to Mr. Darcy. Her eyes threatened to flutter closed, but the reminder that she was married to Mr. Darcy sent a jolt of energy through her bones. Frantically, she struggled to remove herself from the bed as fast as she could manage.
Her bedroom door opened and a young maid carried in a tray of food, nearly dropping the heavy silver platter to spy her mistress leaning with one arm playfully holding the bed post.
“Good morning, Fiona!”
“You know my name!”
“And mine! I am Elizabeth Darcy!” Elizabeth covered her mouth as she giggled and the joy filled her all the way down to her feet. She looked down and wiggled her toes in her slippers.
Fiona busied herself with the domes covering Elizabeth’s preferred meal but her mistress would have none of it. Elizabeth dashed to her closet to rummage for a robe, and upon finding a silken treasure in pale blue, she slipped it on and rushed past her maid out the door.
“Mrs. Darcy!” Fiona called, but her mistress was already in the hall looking in both directions.
Here, Elizabeth stood perplexed. She had never actually gone to Mr. Darcy’s rooms and supposed they must be to the right of hers in the same wing of the house instead of past the staircase and in a separate wing, altogether.
“Mr. Darcy? Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth knocked on doors in a manner befitting a child playing a game of Sardines. “Which door?”
Elizabeth paused before a set of double doors that matched the two to enter her suite and she figured this must be correct. Taking a deep breath, she turned the handles and let herself inside to find the tall frame of Mr. Darcy standing near the window, his back to her.
“There you are!”
Elizabeth’s voice shook Darcy from his perfect posture as his valet’s hands dropped the ends of his cravat. Fitzwilliam turned around in time to meet Elizabeth who had strolled confidently into his room, wrapping the robe more tightly around her as she began to rethink her boldness with each step.
Despite his cravat remaining untied, Darcy bowed. “Madam. I was not aware I was expected to be elsewhere.” Darcy turned his face up so that Mr. Stewart could return to his business.
Elizabeth watched, fascinated, as the valet’s hands whipped around Mr. Darcy’s neck and tied the elegent knot in less time than it took Elizabeth to tie her bonnet.
When the valet removed his hands, Darcy turned to the full length mirror and satisfied with the outcome, instructed Mr. Stewart to leave them. The silent valet nodded and hastened out of the room, making sure to close the doors behind him with a thud that reminded Elizabeth of where she had ventured.
“Did you read your letter this morning?” Mr. Darcy asked as he casually took a seat in the chair near to his bookshelf, inviting Elizabeth to join him in the small sitting area of the room.
Elizabeth gawked at the masculine contrast to her own room; the walls were papered in a deep burgundy, with solid wood wainscoting all the way around. The furnishings were not of the Queen Anne style in her room, but more rugged and solid. She struggled for an adjective to describe them when he repeated his question.
“Elizabeth? Did your letter aid you this morning?”
“Oh, no,” she finished her inspection of the room, purposely not giving his bed a closer consideration, and returned her attentions to him. “That is why I rushed here. I remembered without my letter!”
Darcy sat up stiffly in his chair as if to pounce upon his wife, but recalled his false hope yesterday. “You are being truthful? You did not read the letter this morning?”
Elizabeth shook her head and rocked back on her heels. “I woke up and knew instantly this was Broadmeadow, and Fiona’s name,” she began to enumerate on her fingers all of her memories, “and that I am Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy!”
His wife’s joy being contagious, Darcy rose swiftly from seat and crushed her smaller form to his.
“This is astonishing news! But truly of the best nature!” He held her away from him and rubbed her upper arms vigorously as if she were chilled, making Elizabeth giggle at the man without a clue as to how to treat her.
“I am well. And I am ever so sorry how much pain it must have caused you, to marry a woman who could not remember. . . ” Elizabeth’s voice trailed off as she tried to recall actually marrying Mr. Darcy, but the memory was a false one. She could imagine what it might have looked like, but actual recollection did not exist.
“What? What is it? You suddenly look concerned.” Fitzwilliam stared deeply into her eyes with his own so full of fear.
“I am afraid that I only remember yesterday.”
“I see.” Darcy dropped his hands from his wife’s body as if he had been scalded.
“That is, I cannot- I cannot remember the actual moment when we were married!” Elizabeth began to panic and looked to Mr. Darcy for support, but he appeared to be just as lost and panicked as she. “Fitzwilliam?”
Hearing her say his name soothed over Darcy’s fears like thick honey from the end of the season. He pulled Elizabeth back into an embrace as she prattled on and on about what she could remember, almost everything from yesterday including their argument, and what she could not. Any event from before yesterday up to the carriage accident she did not have a memory of in her mind.
“But it’s not fair! Why? Why can I remember such a horrid experience as the carriage accident but not the moment in which we wed?”
Darcy rested his chin on the top of her head, spying them as a couple in his full-length mirror on the far wall. If there ever was a more perfect proportion for husband and wife, he did not know of one.
“Dr. Rowley warned it might be the whisky to blame.”
“Whisky? Yes, my letter yesterday did say something about that.”
Darcy laughed as Elizabeth’s voice suddenly sounded calm and calculating. He released his wife and was suddenly lost in his thoughts as he realized she had never dressed for the day. As Elizabeth gathered the neckline of her robe closer together under his careful gaze, Fitzwilliam closed his eyes and willed himself to behave in a more proper fashion.
“Have you eaten?”
Elizabeth shook her head and he clucked his tongue in disapproval.
“Why do you not dress and break your fast? I will send word for the doctor to come, tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? But I feel well today.”
“Yes, one day of recovery. Forgive me for not fully believing your miraculous restoration. I believe another night’s sleep to see if your memory fades is in order before we trouble Dr. Rowley.”
“What a sensible plan.” Elizabeth said, flatly. She did not wish to interview with a physician twice in the span of one week, but it could not be avoided. She did not care for the delay, either. “And when will we go to London?”
Darcy cocked his head to one side, aghast that his wife still only cared about leaving Scotland. As his face began to redden, Elizabeth twisted her mouth into a sign of annoyance.
“No, sir, do not renew that argument. You promised when I was well, we would leave immediately for London.”
Still piqued, Darcy uttered that if the doctor examined her and found her of sound body and mind to travel, then they would make preparations.
Elizabeth tilted her chin down and flicked her eyes upward as she recognized Mr. Darcy no longer appeared to be in high spirits. But she didn’t feel particularly happy, either.
“In the meantime, perhaps you should chop wood until you find a better mood.” With a pert nod, Elizabeth Darcy walked away from her husband who could only stare after her with his mouth open in shock.
If she remembered him chopping wood, then she held memories not in her letter she wrote herself last night. This time he assisted her with writing the “remember this” note so he knew the contents and could not be fooled once more. And if she recovered so much as to remember yesterday, then perhaps at long last his greatest dream of loving Elizabeth Bennet could come true!
After waiting a moment for his wife to reasonably reach her bedroom and for his ardor to calm, Darcy walked out of his room and nearly crashed into poor Callum Stewart.
“My apologies, sir.” The valet had waited in the hall to anxiously complete his morning duties, again finding the disruption of routine most vexing.
“Oh, yes, I suppose very soon we shall need to alter our arrangements with Mrs. Darcy prone to be in my company at any moment. Perhaps I should begin calling you in the morning from the pull.”
“I believe that wise,” Mr. Stewart agreed with his employer. While the entire house knew of the lack of nocturnal activities between the mistress and the master, the valet knew such matters would soon find resolution. And the last thing he wished was to come upon Mrs. Darcy in a state of undress.
“Right, and please relay that information to Miss Grace.” Mr. Darcy called over his shoulder as he attacked the steps in a half jog to arrive at his study in double-speed. He never even sat at his desk to quickly pen a missive to Jamie to come tomorrow. It was now a matter of love or denial and Darcy so deeply hoped it would not be a denial.
Chapter 26 - The Whisky Wedding, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
THE PARLOR OF number twenty-three Gracechurch Street devolved into chaos. Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bennet argued over the newly arrived express from Mrs. Gardiner as Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived with Jane Bennet.
“What’s this, Colonel? Why are you with my daughter?” Mr. Bennet, angry at the news that Mrs. Gardiner had left Elizabeth alone in Scotland, vented his spleen upon the unsuspecting soldier.
“Peace, I ran into Miss Bennet shortly after my interview with an associate of Mr. Wickham’s. When I told her that I had news to share, I offered to escort her back to her uncle’s house.”
“Jane? Where were you when the Colonel found you?”
Jane Bennet gulped, knowing she was going to likely be in trouble for finally getting caught searching where she ought not. But lying was not an option. “Old Pye Street, Papa, near Westminster Abbey.” The distance was well outside the mile or so radius Jane was permitted from Cheapside.
“How did you, whatever took you there, child?” Mr. Bennet scolded Jane as Mr. Gardiner and the colonel eyed one another.
“What about this contact Colonel Fitzwilliam found? Perhaps we should discuss this to not take up anymore of his time.” Mr. Gardiner interceded on his niece’s behalf, to Jane’s visible relief.
“I see what you are about. Distract me, eh? You spare this one from running further than she should and condemn Lizzie.” Mr. Bennet coughed and the others waited for his fit to stop. When he at last took a chair, Jane’s bottom lip wobbled at the mention of her sister.
“What about Lizzie?”
“Your sister left her aunt to conduct the search on her own. Your aunt could not stay in Scotland and just wait to see if she would return. She took a footman and some funds your father gave her.”
“Don’t go blaming me! Your wife left an unmarried woman with little more than hackney fare!” Mr. Bennet pointed a finger at Mr. Gardiner, whose complexion reddened in frustration.
“She left money for the post-chaise.” Mr. Gardiner countered. Again the two older men sparred over the new problem of a second lost Bennet daughter when the colonel took a careful step closer to Miss Bennet. His voice just barely a whisper, he took a risk to help calm her nerves.
“I have it on good authority your sister, Elizabeth, is safe.”
Jane startled at the closeness of the man as he took a step in front of her to interrupt the squabble.
“Gentlemen, I have achieved a small amount of success in finding a lead on Miss Lydia. Not only have I been permitted leave, but I have interviewed an associate of Mr. Wickham.”
“And?” Mr. Bennet asked.
The colonel took a seat to stall for time. “This associate gave little information of a concrete sort, but there was almost as much in what she did not say as what she did.”
“This was a woman who associates with Mr. Wickham?” Mr. Bennet’s cynicism dripped from his every word.
“It’s a very long story that involves confidences I am not at liberty to share. But suffice to say, yes, this woman has seen Mr. Wickham since he came to London but she has not seen your daughter.”
Jane let out a cry, then quickly covered her mouth with both of her hands. Mr. Gardiner walked over to his niece to offer aid. But Jane had restored her emotions back under good regulation and shrugged off her uncle’s concern.
“No, it was a shock to hear, but I am well. If Mr. Wickham has abandoned Lydia this was information we most desperately needed to know. It does not mean we have to give up the search.”
Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner shared an awkward glance between themselves, and Mr. Bennet shook his head.
“I’m afraid, my child, it means the search has come to an end. Your sister is lost and the sooner we return to Longbourn and perform our sentence of shame, the sooner we might move beyond this costly turn of events.”
Now it was the colonel who was shocked, but years of battlefield experience prevented him from crying out like Miss Bennet. He merely fisted his hands behind his back.
“But Miss Elizabeth and my cousin Fitzwilliam, they are married and headed this way. Surely you would remain in London until then?”
Mr. Bennet shook his head and looked about for drink, but he had none. “I am certain Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth will stop at Longbourn on their way to London as it is north of here. There is no reason for me to remain here when I might receive my married daughter in my own home. Jane, we ought to prepare and leave in the morning.” Mr. Bennet announced, but did not remove himself from his chair.
The room remained silent as all parties began to process the enormous amount of information in their possession. Lydia was lost. Elizabeth was married. The Gardiner household might soon return to a normal schedule. And then Jane spoke:
“With the permission of my uncle, I’m afraid I will not go with you, Papa, home to Longbourn. If Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are coming to London, I should like to receive them here and I believe,” Jane hesitated, as she could not believe she was about to defy her father’s wishes but could no longer remain silent and fall victim to his lack of leadership, “I believe I shall have a better chance of future happiness with opportunities the city might provide.”
“Do not be preposterous, Jane. Your mother so relies upon you, stop this nonsense. Tomorrow we will be in a more familiar setting to digest this terrible news.” Mr. Bennet did not pay Jane’s defection any mind as a lifetime of experience had proven her to be a steady sort of daughter. Where the other four were prone to spells of emotion and fits, Janie had never so much as given her parents a moment’s trouble.
“Papa, I do appreciate the compliment you pay me in regards to how I am a favorite of Mama, but I must think of the future. Lizzie will need me, and we still need to find Lydia. I will not give up the search.” Jane Bennet’s steely gaze gave her father much to think on, but he wisely kept his mouth closed. Even the colonel, having watched many a disagreement between his younger sister and their parents, marveled at the quiet power Miss Bennet held when she spoke her mind. Shaking off his admiration for the eldest Bennet daughter, Richard again had more to say.
“I do not mean to interfere with your plans to return to Hertfordshire, but I do wonder if you might join me, Miss Bennet, in a visit to Darcy House after this discussion? I find I will have need to speak about many difficult matters with Mr. Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, and I should greatly like to have a relative of Miss Elizabeth with me to help soothe the news.”
“Uncle, may I take Sarah with me?” Jane asked Mr. Gardiner, who nodded.
Mr. Gardiner did not speak further as he calculated that with Jane leaving the house, he could work upon Mr. Bennet to overcome his lack of interest in finding Lydia.
“Thank you. Colonel, if you will grant me a few moments I shall ready myself for the journey.” Jane stood and gave a cursory bow of her head to her father, uncle, and finally, the colonel, locking eyes with him when she finally looked up. The man offered her a slight upturn of his lips and Jane reciprocated in kind before quitting the room.
As Jane climbed the stairs to her room to change her bonnet, gloves, and spencer, as her attire had been dressed down for the search, but would not put her at her best, she wondered how much more information she might pull from the colonel during their journey? She was not certain, but there appeared to be more the man knew of the situation with Lydia and Wickham and Jane hoped to get to the bottom of it. If need be, she would emulate her sister Lizzie more and more as it appeared to work just fine in the parlor and no one was going to make her return to Longbourn.
In spite of the immense insecurities still weighing heavily upon her shoulders, Jane caught herself smiling in the looking glass as she pulled on her gloves. This would very likely be her future, day after day of setbacks but never surrendering. She would take comfort in the tiny pieces of joy that life still offered.
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 27 - The Whisky Wedding, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
RICHARD HAD NOT brought a carriage to Gracechurch Street and so they borrowed the Gardiner coach for the two mile journey to Grosvenor Square where Darcy’s town house resided. The arrangements made while Jane readied herself for the visit, the carriage would return once they arrived at Darcy house and a Darcy carriage would drive Jane back.
“Miss Bennet, please forgive my forwardness but there is vital information I must impart and then, after you have listened, I fear I have a great favor to ask.”
Jane startled at the abruptness of a man so recently in her acquaintance. She had expected this would take far more conversation and subtlety to learn more of what the colonel knew of her sister. As Jane reflected on that truth, she realized it was now two sisters that she needed intelligence from him, Lydia and Elizabeth, and so she heartily nodded in agreement to his request.
“Mr. Wickham nearly absconded with a woman in my family just last summer. It was Fitzwilliam who put an end to the attempted elopement. The woman employed as my relation’s companion is the associate I saw today and I was not entirely truthful about how much information she knew.”
Suddenly, Jane began to fret as to the nature of the additional information the colonel held. Did he know good news or bad news about her sister, Lydia? Jane’s mouth felt dry as she worked up the courage to ask him to continue.
“I am very sorry to hear of what happened to your family member. Please, do go on.”
Further impressed by the mettle of Jane Bennet, Richard began to feel more confident in his plan.
“I need to confirm the location of your sister as it appears that Wickham has sold her to a house for the amusement of gentlemen. Forgive my vulgarity, but are you aware of such establishments?”
Feeling ashamed, Jane looked down at the floor of the carriage and gave a single nod to convey that she did know of such houses of ill-repute, but for a lady to ever speak of such was below her station and so she found herself unable to do so.
“I suspected you might be aware of that possibility when you stated you wished to continue the search for your sister. If I find a way to confirm the location of your sister, would you be brave enough to go with me in an attempt to recover her?”
Jane’s head snapped up to attention and the fierceness of protection for her foolish sister flashed in her eyes. “I would do anything to save my sister from her folly, but I am afraid my father will never pay the handsome amount I am to understand those houses require?”
“This is why I saved our discussion for the carriage. Your father need not know nor put up any funds.”
Jane suddenly understood. “Mr. Darcy has paid for this?”
Richard laughed in spite of himself. “You are as quick as your sister. No, no please do not take it as a criticism,” Richard began to save himself as Jane scowled. “I enjoyed many a conversational battle with your sister when we were in Kent. And yes, my cousin does have his uses, usually arising from his infinite purse. But there is more at stake here than your family’s salvation. There are many others who are quite keen to see Mr. Wickham find justice. If we can find your sister, we may have more information to find him.”
Jane looked at Sarah who tried to look away as if she were not present in the carriage. In her sternest voice, Jane gave a warning. “You may tell your employer of our plans, but I entreat you not to speak anything to my father. Can I rely upon you?”
The young maid Sarah nodded and Jane took it at face value. “I do not wish to be a burr in your saddle,” Jane offered a metaphor she thought the colonel might enjoy as a member of the cavalry. “While I am eternally grateful our aims are to recover my sister, would it not be easier to find Mr. Wickham through the previous associate of the companion?”
Richard raised his eyebrows as he had grossly underestimated Miss Bennet’s mind for strategy. “I have men watching her house as we speak, but Wickham is a slippery eel. It is unlikely he will return to her friendship if he has already partaken of her company in town and was not there when I visited.”
“I see.” Jane said as the carriage began to slow in Mayfair. Jane gritted her teeth as the most uncharitable thoughts and descriptions of Mr. Wickham began to flood her heart and she tightened her hold upon the reticule in her lap. Richard noticed the change in Miss Bennet’s demeanor and began to feel poorly to see the lady in such distress.
“Miss Bennet?” He attracted the lady’s attention as the carriage rolled to a complete stop. “We shall save your sister. There is no difference to me as to her value and worth as she is a member of my family. Do not forget your sister is now married to my cousin.”
“Thank you. I believe Lizzie may indeed be the one who has saved us all.” Jane said earnestly as Richard gave her a nod in agreement and exited the carriage so that he might offer assistance to Miss Bennet.
Outside the carriage, Jane marveled at the distinct differences between where Mr. Darcy lived in London and where her aunt and uncle lived. She had come to this part of London for a few exhibits over the years and once for a delivery with her uncle to a fabric shop, though she had remained in the carriage when he conducted his business. The marble columns of the grand homes appeared as long, disappointed faces as Jane followed the colonel up the stone steps to Mr. Darcy’s house. Giving Jane a roguish smile, Richard Fitzwilliam opened the door without knocking and called out boisterously as they entered.
“Is there a fair-haired maiden in residence?”
Jane tentatively stepped inside of the doorway as a young woman parted the double doors of the front parlor.
“Richard!” The young woman rushed into the entryway and greeted her cousin with the joy and excitement of a woman her age. Georgiana Darcy’s eyes lit up as she noticed her cousin brought a visitor. Immediately, Georgiana dipped into a small curtsy and Jane responded in kind. “Who have you brought to visit?”
“May I present Miss Jane Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire.” Richard made the formal introductions and both ladies expressed a gratitude in meeting one another.
Richard looked above Georgiana’s head into the stirrings of the parlor and found himself perplexed. “Dearest, are you entertaining?”
Georgiana’s eyes widened as she had completely forgotten about her guests. “Yes, Miss Bingley and Mr. Bingley are here. They have received a letter from Brother. Oh, Bennet!” Georgiana’s mind jumped from one fact to the other as she suddenly realized that the woman with her cousin shared the same surname as the woman said to have married her brother. Richard chuckled.
“Yes poppet, this is Miss Elizabeth’s older sister, Jane. She is in London visiting her relations and I thought it might be wise to bring her to meet you as we all have such happiness to share.” Richard’s jaw involuntarily tensed as he could not discuss the sensitive matters of Wickham and the lost Bennet sister with the Bingleys in the home.
“Mr. Bingley is – is – here?” Jane stuttered as she tried to remain unaffected by the name.
“I believe you know the Bingleys well because my brother mentioned you had fallen ill at his home, did you not? But you are better now I see.” Georgiana accidentally provided the missing puzzle piece for Richard as the situation turned from inconvenient to an absolute disaster.
Richard realized now that Jane must have been the woman Darcy rescued Bingley from last autumn! He clapped his hand over his face and dragged it down as he realized how stupid he must have sounded in Kent. Darcy never mentioned what offenses Elizabeth laid at his feet when she rejected his proposal apart from Wickham’s lies, and Richard suddenly began to think he had played no small part in the woman’s justified anger.
“Miss Bennet, if you would rather not see them, I can escort you to Darcy’s study until the Bingleys have been encouraged to leave.” Richard said very quietly as Georgiana frowned.
Jane gazed deeply into his eyes. Just as Jane was about to tell the colonel she was perfectly happy to visit with the Bingleys, a shrill voice from the parlor called out.
“Miss Bennet! Miss Bennet! How wonderful it is to see you, why it’s been nearly six months since we last saw you in Hertfordshire.” Caroline Bingley smugly smiled, attempting to begin the narrative she desperately wished to be true.
Jane stepped forward, no longer worried about sparing Miss Bingley any embarrassment. “You are mistaken, Miss Bingley, I called upon you and your sister here in London, in January.”
Behind his sister, a curious Charles Bingley appeared as a child finding a lost favorite toy. “Miss Bennet! How peculiar to see you here.”
Tired of shouting from the entryway, Richard gestured that perhaps they ought to enter the parlor.
You’ve been reading The Whisky Wedding
When Elizabeth Bennet of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice learns of her sister’s elopement before leaving for the Peaks District, she and her aunt are off to Scotland to chase the wayward couple. Inn after inn, there is no sign of Lydia or Mr. Wickham, but Elizabeth won’t give up. A foolhardy decision to continue to search on her own lands Elizabeth right into the arms of a familiar face . . . Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Join author Elizabeth Ann West in a tale of carriage accidents, amnesia, and a forced marriage, but happy endings for all. Well, maybe not Mr. Wickham!
The Whisky Wedding
a Pride and Prejudice novel variation
Release Date: December 28, 2016
514 pages in print.
+ 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.