One thing I love about this series is the devotion I get to write between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet! Can’t wait to start Book 5.
XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West
Chapter 10 - The Blessing of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
As Fitzwilliam and Charles left the former’s study, Fitzwilliam related his disastrous afternoon at the solicitor’s office. The two men halted their conversation at the presence of both Caroline and Georgiana. Both ladies chatted nervously in a soft tone, dressed very smartly with rich plumes in their hair.
“Caroline? We are to go into the dining room any minute. Are you and Mrs. Wickham taking a stroll?” Charles Bingley asked his sister of her plans, his voice punctuated with a tethered gruffness to remain speaking like a gentleman ought.
“Sadly, Mrs. Wickham overlooked a previous invitation to dine this evening with Lord and Lady Kensington. The pity is it is far too late for us to send regrets without creating an insurmountable burden on Lady Kensington. You shall have to dine without us.”
“And what of the insurmountable inconvenience to me?” Darcy looked at his sister most carefully, with suspicion, but the fair-haired sixteen-year-old had nothing to say for herself. “This evening is of rather great importance to Miss Bennet and me.” Darcy turned his attention to the elder of the two ladies, knowing Miss Bingley rarely resisted the opportunity to cater to his whims. “I should like it very much if the two of you were here to lend your support on her first evening dining out of her rooms.”
“Brother, you encouraged me to seek support from my peers. This is precisely what I have done, with the aid of Miss Bingley. I am invited to dine out this evening. If I do not go, I almost ensure I shall receive no future invitations this season after offending Lord and Lady Kensington.”
Darcy raised an eyebrow at the two women as a servant announced the carriage was ready. Looking to Charles for some semblance of support, the younger and more affable man merely shrugged his shoulders at Darcy.
“Very well then,” Darcy leaned forward to peck his sister on the cheek as a farewell, “I sincerely wish you both well and hope the evening is enjoyable.”
The two women nodded their heads, with Caroline Bingley’s eyes resting on Darcy for a much longer spell than what was proper, before they both took their leave for their plans. Darcy cleared his throat uncomfortably as he did not know what the woman wished to accomplish by tarrying so long.
“We mustn’t keep her ladyship waiting,” Georgiana urged, finally spurring Caroline to farewell her brother and the two exited the house for their evening plans.
“Suppose dinner shall be a great deal more enjoyable without them, don’t you say, Darcy?”
Remaining silent, Darcy frowned. Something about the interest Miss Bingley held for his sister made Darcy uncomfortable, yet he could hardly argue her attentions were undesired. Georgiana’s attitude had improved immensely towards him, and he could only credit Miss Bingley’s influence as the cause. Before Darcy could choose a properly worded compliment for Miss Bingley, Charles’s attention was drawn to the staircase.
With her sister Jane clutching one arm, and a sturdy footman supporting the other, Elizabeth Bennet descended the stairs with the widest grin upon her face. Darcy’s breath caught in his chest as the vision of his Elizabeth, strong enough to walk towards him with little aid, brought a bursting spurt of joy to his heart. His eyes never left hers as he gallantly strolled over to take the footman’s position, who quietly disappeared into the shadows of the hallway. Before leading her another step, Darcy pressed a kiss to the top of Elizabeth’s hands with a lengthy duration.
“Mr. Darcy, I fear I may need that hand to eat my meal.”
“Mmm, I’m beginning to regret that we did not take the meal in your rooms, madam.”
Charles Bingley cleared his throat, producing a growl from Darcy. But his Elizabeth smirked and tucked her lower lip under her upper one to keep from teasing the man further.
Darcy’s expression slackened as he led Elizabeth to the dining room and felt how much she needed his arm to support her weight. Intermittent surges of rage clouded his mind as the two couples took their places at the far end of the table, forgoing any formalities of the seating cards that included Georgiana and Caroline and separated the Bingleys. Elizabeth picked up a tidily scrawled place card designating Mrs. Wickham at the seat where Darcy escorted her.
“My sister failed to recall a previous engagement. She will be dining out this evening,” Darcy explained without much concern.
Elizabeth flinched, remembering her afternoon argument and what lies the two women were sure to spread tonight. Jane witnessed her sister’s expression and interjected to divert Mr. Darcy’s attention.
“Mr. Darcy, this course is quite superb. Even though our sisters dine out, please be sure to tell Mrs. Wickham her meal planning is top notch!” Jane raised her wine glass and toasted to the missing woman, making sure to capture her husband’s eye at referencing his hurdling days in school. The Bingleys’ latest game involved divulging secrets of their childhoods. Charles relayed to her just that morning the story of how he came to possess such a deep scar on the inside of his left thigh.
“Thank you, Mrs. Bingley, I shall be sure to pass along the message.” Darcy did not take a bite before turning to Elizabeth. “What has you upset, dearest? Are you hurt that Georgiana is not here?”
Elizabeth shook her head, relieved she was not telling a falsehood. She cared not a whit if Darcy’s sister or Charles’ sister were present. “I felt guilty to have placed Mrs. Wickham in a perplexing position. To ignore a standing invitation or disappoint a relation is not a charmed place to find yourself. I hope she was not unduly distressed in her dilemma.”
Darcy frowned, observing the two sisters present at the table exchanging looks of chastisement and mocking. Bingley ate like a starved pig next to him, roasted duck being a particular favorite. “She took the conflict in stride, but I am sensing an underlying meaning to your words.”
“Oh, have I not spoken plainly?”
“I cannot say if you have or have not, I merely detect a current of intrigue between you and your sister regarding mine and Charles’. Is there discord between the ladies?”
Elizabeth was saved from answering right away as Charles Bingley piped up in confusion about his name being mentioned. Swiftly, Elizabeth’s mind raced through the benefits of telling Mr. Darcy the truth of Georgiana’s gossiping, but could find none. He might not be angry with her and throw his sister out of the house, a fate Elizabeth wished upon no one else. Alternatively, he would be angry with her as the source of the problem and call off their engagement. Years of playing chess with her father had taught her to make no fool’s gambit without a plan in place, and lacking one, she needed silence.
“No, Charles, I did not say I have a discord with your sister. Or mine, for that matter. I was inquiring if there was something done or said to give Miss Bennet and her sister an unease,” Darcy explained.
“Sir, I can happily say that I am not in any way feeling uneasiness towards your sister, or yours, Brother.” Elizabeth smiled as she used the familiar moniker towards Charles making the man brighten at the reminder of his marriage to her sister.
“Very well, see Darcy, the sisters, all of them, are at ease. Now, may we be at ease and finish our meal?”
Jane Bingley quickly raised her serviette to her mouth, and her eyes widened in fear. Elizabeth spotted the danger but sat helplessly on the opposite side of the table, nor could she race to her sister with any alacrity due to her sustained injuries. No matter, in seconds the contents of Mrs. Bingley’s first course returned to the dining room table with a horrible cough and sputtering.
“Jane!” Charles dropped his silverware with a clatter and reached for his wife, with no reward of cleanliness for his actions.
Sobbing and coughing, Jane Bingley profusely apologized. Elizabeth frowned in such sympathy for her sister that she looked around for a pull cord. Spying one on the far wall, she motioned towards it and Mr. Darcy, understanding her need, pushed himself back from the table to go and pull. A maid appeared and before Darcy could answer, it was Elizabeth’s voice that took command.
“Send Jack in to help me upstairs and have him bring another footman to assist my sister. Tell Cook to send up mint tea and a drought of ginger root if she can manage it.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the maid curtsied and left to follow her orders to Mr. Darcy’s astonishment.
Trying to give the Bingleys some privacy, Darcy assisted Elizabeth up from her chair.
“You will not need Jack when I am present to aid you, Miss Bennet.”
“Nay, you have not yet received your orders, sir.”
“My orders?”
“Indeed.” Elizabeth leaned forward and grasped Mr. Darcy’s coat lapels to pull him closer. Whispering into his ear, she charged him with comforting Charles as she would take Jane up to her bedroom to rest.
“Should we not call the doctor if your sister is so ill? I should send a note at once.”
Elizabeth patted Darcy’s arm as she turned to find Jack in the doorway waiting for instruction. Calmly, she ushered him over to accept his help. As she hobbled away, she called over her shoulder to her Mr. Darcy, “It is a malady as old as time. I’ve helped my aunt through many a spell as these; Dr. Matthews cannot make her well. Only patience.”
Another footman approached Mrs. Bingley, who also accepted assistance, as her husband argued lightly that he, too, should be the one to help her above stairs.
“Please, Charles, I am embarrassed and unwell. Let Lizzie fuss over me. I promise you may continue to do so once we are home.”
Managed by the two Bennet women, Darcy and Charles held little recourse but to retreat to Darcy’s study as the dining room was not fit for use.
Chapter 11 - The Blessing of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
Darcy’s study had become a regular retreat for both men over a number of days since the flight from Kent. Bingley helped himself to the same chair that was a favorite of Darcy’s cousin and waited as Darcy poured them both a drink.
“Would you like a tray of food to be brought in? Neither of us had much of a meal.” Darcy offered, handing the drink to his friend.
Bingley helped himself to a healthy gulp of the beverage and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before shaking his head at Darcy’s suggestion. “She’s been so very ill these last few days, and I find myself unable to eat when Janie cannot.”
Darcy furrowed his brows, remembering the complicated pregnancies of his mother before Georgiana was born. But he did not wish to worry Charles more than necessary and truly he had no inkling if Jane Bingley’s bouts of sickness were of a greater number than most women in her condition. “I do believe some nausea and unfortunately, even severe cases of nausea–” Darcy cleared his throat, unwilling to be more precise with Jane Bingley’s malady, “is to be expected?”
Bingley rubbed his hands across his knees before ducking his head and cradling the nape of his neck with his warm palms. Breathing deeply through his nose, he uttered out to Darcy that was the same reasoning his Jane gave him every time she lost the contents of her stomach.
Darcy frowned at his agitated friend, frustrated that he could offer no comfort or guarantee of Jane’s well-being. Remembering his own marvel at the strength in his Lizzie, he realized the sisterly bond might cheer Charles up. “You must admit, the Bennet women have more fortitude than any lady of our mutual acquaintance. Who knew they made them hale and hearty in Hertfordshire?” Darcy’s clunky jest attracted Bingley’s attention so that the man raised his face in abject horror to his friend’s poor comedic timing.
“What I mean to say — that is —“ Darcy fumbled over his words as his attempts to aid and comfort were failing so thoroughly, “I have seen Miss Elizabeth through trials and injuries that I am convinced would have killed a woman of lesser spirit. And as Jane is her sister, then it is only logical she, too, be made of sterner stuff than the ladies of the Ton.” Darcy kept talking until Bingley’s smile began to return with two small flicks of the corners of his mouth.
“Darcy, that is the most daftly executed cheering up I have ever heard. You count my Sister Elizabeth’s brushes with death as a sign of her fortitude?”
“Well, not particularly. I mean to say, I take responsibility for both brushes as you call them, but I have found it is the only bright lining to be found in either situation. So I offer to you that Mrs. Bingley shall be well for she was a Bennet before she was a Bingley.”
Charles Bingley finished his drink and laughed at the immensely awkward logic of his closest friend, placing entirely too much stock in one sibling bond to determine safety in the face of grave danger.
The subject appeared closed between the men. Darcy accepted Bingley’s empty glass to pour the man another. The silence did not last long before Bingley changed the subject of his wife’s well-being to another more pressing concern for both of them.
“If we are to away to Scotland now that Elizabeth is on the mend, who shall you leave here with Georgiana? Or do you intend to bring Mrs. Wickham on our journey since Mr. Wickham is no longer welcome in this household?”
Darcy’s hands trembled to pour listening to the logistical nightmare Bingley reminded him still lay in his lap. The truth of the matter was that Darcy had not entirely calculated what he was to do, initially intending for his aunt and uncle to keep close watch over the young matron. But after the day’s visit to his solicitor, that plan was little more than shreds of its original perfect picture.
“I’m afraid my aunt and uncle are no longer suitable for the task and had not thought more of it since this afternoon. You are correct,” Darcy handed Bingley his second, “it is a new problem to add to the pile. Should we take Caroline and Georgiana on our trip? I had not intended to do so, but it would solve both of our problems.”
Bingley shook his head. “I have traveled enough with my wife and my sister to tell you with no reservations that including Caroline on our trek to Scotland will ruin everything. However…”
“Go on. If you have a proposal, no matter how unlikely you think I am to agree, I am happy to hear it.” Darcy’s eyes flicked to the timepiece on the mantle noting another hour had chimed. He had not explained to Bingley that his man of business arranged a meeting in the late hours of the day before the watch set with an informant on Wickham and Lord Strange. “I should like to solve this particular problem with little delay.”
Bingley rubbed his chin and shook his head to dismiss his own thoughts without speaking them.
“Out with it, man, it could not possibly be a worse suggestion than what I have offered which is to add to our baggage,” Darcy said.
“Caroline is no young maiden. She ran my household at Netherfield with impeccable efficiency and I would trust her to keep your sister safe. I suggest we leave Caroline and Georgiana here at Darcy House to enjoy the last of the season and pick them up on our way back for Pemberley.”
“You would place your sister on the shelf? Make her a companion?”
Bingley shook his head. “There is no dimming of her paltry social standing, though Caroline puts more value on it than I, since Georgiana is wed. By rights, it is Georgiana chaperoning an unmarried woman, though we know the reverse to be true.”
The steady ticking of the clock increased the tension in Darcy’s shoulders. His mind tried to muddle through too many problems and matters at once. There were the ladies above stairs in poor condition, the ladies out on the town against his better judgment, and scarcely little time to excuse himself from the house without raising alarm.
“If I agree to make my home the safe haven for our sisters, will you trouble me with staying at Darcy House at least until I return?”
Bingley looked at him, perplexed. “You made social plans for tonight and intend to go? Send your regrets.” Bingley waved his hand to dismiss the social exercise that had long been a specialty of Darcy’s.
“This is not social. It is business and delicate. I should return before midnight.”
“And where is this clandestine business to occur? If it be at the club, I should not mind to join you, leaving the ladies a brief repast from our hen-like worrying down here.” Bingley glanced above him to the ceiling, knowing his Jane was always to be more worried about him than she ought.
“This meeting is not at the club.” Darcy returned to his desk to pull an elegant wooden box and carefully removed two cigars from his private collection. Noticing Bingley perk up at the tobacco, Darcy shook his head. “Not for us, I’m afraid, my friend. Payment for information I need most desperately.”
Bingley pinched his lips together in disapproval. “You are seeking evidence of that scheme Wickham’s tied up in.”
“Wickham, my sister, my family.” Darcy sighed as he completed his preparations for his rendezvous. His man, Simmons, opened the study door with the grave expression of a taskmaster set to see to a nasty deed. “Bingley shall stay behind, the ladies are well?”
“Indeed, sir, and your carriage awaits.”
“Now see here, you can’t just run off and leave me with no details! What am I to tell Elizabeth if you should not come back?”
Darcy accepted a plainer walking stick from his valet and an older overcoat with larger pockets. Placing the cigars and other items carefully, he patted his pockets in a silent inventory of his supplies.
“Tell her the emergency trust still stands. She is protected. Seek out my cousin Richard and Gardiner.”
Bingley began to stutter as Darcy tapped two fingers away from his brow in a dismissal of himself from his own study. Leaving with Simmons, he whispered for the man to keep Bingley plied with good Scotch.
“Am I to stay behind?”
“Yes, Simmons, I shall take Young Jack. I do not wish for any to see your face should we need you to play a role later in this game.”
Unwilling to show disloyalty, the ever faithful Simmons bowed to his master and handed his care over to the young footman, Jack, nearly quivering by the door and awaiting his Master. It was clear the youth had not been given much notice as to the mission at hand and did not enjoy the same courage of Mr. Darcy.
Darcy kept his own counsel as the two men entered the Darcy carriage with all insignia removed from the doors. As the equipage hied away from the small drive, Darcy closed his eyes to steel himself for what lay ahead.
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 12 - The Blessing of Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
A dense fog smothered Wapping Street as Fitzwilliam Darcy softly whispered a tune matching a popular pub melody. His walking stick echoed on the pavement in a legato beat against the hoarse shouts of smugglers and other merchantman, with wares the dock agents need not see, moving swiftly in half moon’s light to complete their work. Unlike other great men of his status, Fitzwilliam Darcy never felt himself above physically visiting the necessary evils of his livelihood. Not someone to break the law himself, he did not in good conscience agree with all of the tariffs putting a chokehold on his fellow countrymen and so felt little remorse turning a blind eye to the shady activity around him.
Counting the berths from where his carriage dropped him off to where he stood now, a stiff breeze full of the river’s stench temporarily relieved his path of the murky fog. An old, weathered man, so slight in bulk that an adversary might underestimate him in a physical brawl stood with his face half illuminated by relighting of an intricately carved pipe. The red glow acted as a beacon for Mr. Darcy to casually stroll forward and offer his hand to the man waiting for this meeting.
“Mr. Holmwood, I thank you for meeting with me personally.” Darcy shook the man’s hand as he sucked one last satisfying drag on the pipe, carefully cradling the smooth ivory in his left hand. A massive tall-ship lay moored in the still waters of the Thames, a lone crewman visible making his rounds above to keep the watch.
“Not many fancy gentlemen come down to the wares. You must be a brave one at that to be coming down at this hour.”
“Not so much brave as diligent, sir.” Darcy watched as the sign of respect registered in the man’s face. “Should a villain think me a mark he would not only find nothing on my person but also rue the day he attacked a Darcy.” Mr. Darcy absently tapped his cane on the pavement attracting the other man’s notice. The quality of the stick and hefty, plain knob made it obvious to anyone with such experience to know a weapon lay concealed inside.
“I still says a man like you don’t be needing to come all the way down here to discuss the particulars of his shipment.” Silas Holmwood held the prestigious position of purser for the Lady Rosalyn, a reliable transport for goods if a client had the means to pay.
“I agree with you, Mr. Holmwood. I supposed we might discuss a matter you are more intimately aware of, perhaps your dealings with Cecil Tindrell?” Mr. Darcy reached into his inside breast pocket of his coat and produced a handful of coins that he pressed to the skilled sailor.
“And where’s you been hearin’ I’m up for talking about such a matter?” Holmwood took the money and spat the extra saliva pooling in anticipation of more smoke, but he was out. “What says I don’t keep your money and give you nothing?” He tapped the remains of what was in his pipe to the ground and tucked the prized possession back into his coat of many pockets.
Darcy reached into his other breast pocket and revealed two expertly rolled cigars, smirking as the sailor couldn’t help himself from licking his lips at the sight. Handing one to Mr. Holmwood, the man used three of his remaining functional teeth, which was a feat as many were missing in the man’s mouth, to bite the end off, discarding the end. Darcy used a handy personal tool with a razor-sharp blade to nip the tip, and a round cylinder to bore a hole on the other side. A small tin box came out of Mr. Darcy’s larger outside pocket to strike chlorate to light both cigars, the man of the sea trying hard to show no reaction to Mr. Darcy’s hospitality.
For a few minutes, the two men merely enjoyed the faint glimmer of Diana’s glow, inhaling the fine tobacco in spite of the eerie sounds of water lapping the boats and various crates creaking as they lay tethered to the dock. Darcy rocked his weight to the back of his heels in a measure of continued patience. Nothing he might say would convince this man to tell him what he needed to know, but regardless, all Darcy had to do was wait the Old Salt out. In less than another quarter hour, Darcy’s experience won out.
“All I’m sayin’ is them be some slippery fish. Poor Cecil nearly took it in his gut, as he gathered up a lot of lads’ money to be ‘vested. I listen to no fancy talk, no plans to play the rich man’s game. But others on the crew, they don’t know no better. Paid him a good chunk of their earnings.”
“But it was only Cecil you dealt with, directly?”
“Nay. The first night when they explained the mines and figures down at the pub, His Lordship come. The younger one. Always carries a mean scowl on his face when he follows his father from ship to ship.”
“Lord Strange?”
“Aye, that be him.” Holmwood puffed heartily on his cigar before using the instrument to point directly at Darcy. “You might call me coward, somes did. But as I don’t see the father, I say no to the opportunity they selling. I know enough that the son don’t be doing nothing without the father, unless it be something you don’t want his father to know about.”
Darcy’s stomach felt ill, but he continued to smoke his cigar rather than show weakness. If Lord Strange had become so desperate in finding funds to pay his earlier investors that he would approach the seedier classes of men who would sooner slice you navel to neck than see you thrown in debtor’s prison, George Wickham joined the venture at a most dangerous time. By relations, his family was now ensnared in what could possibly be the largest financial scandal in recent history.
Darcy knew those mines produced nothing, but somehow Thomas Stanley had managed to convince too many men with deep pockets that silver was running through the veins of Derbyshire. Everyone knew the ancient history of such sites in those lands, but it was deep in the clutches of lead and long gone from the surface. A true find of such a cache would ripple through the country in no time at all, using the greed of men to keep such prizes to themselves was a brilliant stroke of strategy. Stanley managed to keep all the investors from talking to one another. But if the sailor could be bought with a cigar and a few coins, it would not be long before news of the propped up business would spread.
“So what happened to Cecil when the money was paid back?”
The old sailor smiled, revealing two rows of rotted gums and cracked teeth. “All the lads be happier than a day of extra grog. They made their money back and then some, some even sayin the fancy men lost out. But I don’t regret keepin’ mine to myself. One night, the lads scare old Cecil to within an inch of his life and the next week, the money is there. I says if you can pay the money that fast, there be a lot more than what was paid out.”
Darcy nodded and offered his hand once more as his own cigar was more than half gone. The business acumen of such a man who moved up through the ranks of the fleet had thoroughly impressed the owner of half of Derbyshire. He made a mental note to see to it Mr. Holmwood worked hand-in-hand with his own steward to help oversee all of the Darcy family interests in shipping. He could handily see how Elizabeth’s uncle trusted Mr. Holmwood. The man was a sharp, with a shrewd business sense for a livelihood fraught with uncertainty.
As a new wave of fog rolled in with the tide, the two men that met at the number three berth strolled their separate ways as if the conversation never occurred. The chill of the night’s air seeped through Darcy’s lawn shirt and pimpled his skin in goosebumps. He thought carefully about all that he learned and Mr. Holmwood was correct. Without hard evidence, there was no chance Lord Strange would ever be made to pay for his schemes. While the eldest son of Darcy’s greatest adversary moved the chess pieces, it would be the pawns caught holding the bag and swinging from the gallows.
You’ve been reading The Blessing of Marriage
Book 3 of the Moralities of Marriage. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet find nothing but a mess in London after they escape Kent. The town home bare and the Wickhams caught up in Lord Strange’s illegal business venture, Darcy has little choice but to make unsavory friends as Elizabeth heals from her cousin’s attack. With the support of the Bingleys, Darcy and Elizabeth are finally ready to secure their future at the anvil in Gretna Green when Elizabeth has one small request.
A novel of 55,000 words, The Blessing of Marriage continues the rewriting of Jane Austen’s amazing story of Pride and Prejudice, wondering what might have happened if Darcy never saved Georgiana from the clutches of Mr. Wickham.
The Blessing of Marriage, Book 3 of the Moralities of Marriage
a Pride and Prejudice novel variation series
Release Date: March 14, 2016
310 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.