When I was writing this story, I kept being tempted into broadening it into a full on mystery. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll branch out into Regency mysteries . . . but for this book, I wrote what’s next frantically, intending for it to feel like a whirlwind for the reader, just as it was for Elizabeth Bennet. I understand a different ending would be more traditional, but I love as a reader at the end FEELING something at the end like “Whoa, what just happened?” I hope you enjoy. -Elizabeth Ann West
Chapter 24 - For the Love of a Bennet a Pride and Prejudice Variation
By the time they arrived back at the Forster town home, Lydia hurried upstairs, to visit with Mrs. Forster, and restore her appearance. Elizabeth politely inquired from the butler if there was any post for her, and to her surprise, she finally had a letter from Jane!
Overcome with joy, Elizabeth ripped the missive open and dashed to the parlor to read her post. Retreating upstairs risked another fight with Lydia. Looking at the date, it took Jane’s letter nearly a week to reach Brighton.
My dearest Lizzy,
I read carefully your letters that we received. I have to say I was very surprised to hear the news that Mr. Darcy was visiting Brighton as well. Perhaps it is not so much of a coincidence that you spoke of. We have received word from the stores in Meryton that Mr. Bingley has ordered Netherfield Park to be reopened. No one is certain as to when he might arrive, but I imagine Mr. Darcy may be extended an invitation as well…
Elizabeth blinked at the intelligence in her hand. Mr. Bingley was returning to the neighborhood? Such a circumstance had to be the work of Mr. Darcy. The man truly was making amends for everything he had done, and Elizabeth felt sickened that it was all too late.
Tears blurred her vision and made reading the rest of the letter more difficult. But the end of her sister’s letter finally offered the advice she so desperately needed. Jane agreed that writing to their father would not remove Lydia from Brighton. However, Jane suggested that Elizabeth speak to Colonel Forster about her concerns.
Laughing at her elder sister’s advice that had matched her own two weeks prior, Elizabeth wiped her tears away. She held the letter in her hands and realized that Colonel Forster was so preoccupied with Mrs. Forster’s delicate condition, that he likely had not noticed any changes in Miss Lydia. How could he? She only noticed that morning her sister’s likeness resembled the times she had seen Aunt Gardiner with child.
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth heard laughter from Colonel Forster’s office. She waited and listened closely, and she heard more laughter. It did not sound as though the man was deep in work, and though she did not wish to interrupt him, she resolved herself to do exactly that. It wasn’t just for her benefit, Jane’s future with Mr. Bingley was at risk as well!
She had to knock twice before she was permitted entry. Colonel Forster sat at his desk with Mr. Denny standing uncomfortably rigid next to him. Elizabeth cocked her head to one side as the Colonel visibly exhaled a deep breath he had been holding. The situation appeared strange to her, but she could not have stated why if pressed.
“Colonel, I was hoping I could ask you for a private interview, sir. I have a matter that I must urgently bring to your attention.”
Mr. Denny moved as though he would leave the office, but the Colonel placed a hand on the man’s forearm.
“May I ask you who this matter concerns?” he asked.
Elizabeth gulped, feeling the burn of shame on her cheeks as she named her sister and Mr. Wickham. When she met the eye of Mr. Denny, instead of judgment, she spied compassion.
“I believe whatever you are to say on the issue of your sister and Mr. Wickham can be shared with Mr. Denny. He is Mr. Wickham’s sponsor into the militia and close friend. If there is truth to your concerns, then he will be able to corroborate.”
Elizabeth looked at the two men in confusion. Mr. Denny was nothing to her and her family, and her first reaction was to protest. But something in Mr. Denny’s eyes gave her pause. He walked forward and closed the door behind her and aided her to the chair, next to the Colonel’s desk.
“I have a report of an alarming nature to make. I believe my sister may be with child. Mr. Wickham’s child,” she said, with a sigh. She shocked both men by starting with a most indelicate subject.
“Miss Elizabeth, that is quite an accusation,” Colonel Forster began, looking rather uncomfortable, but Mr. Denny sighed.
“I’m afraid it may be true, sir. I have served as a lookout for Miss Lydia and Mr. Wickham’s amorous pursuits.”
Colonel Forster became flustered. “What? What? Why did you not tell me at once?”
Mr. Denny gazed down at the floor. “I did so at Miss Lydia’s insistence. I am afraid there’s more bad news, sir.”
Colonel Forster stood up from his chair, pushing it back with such force that the poor piece of furniture tipped backward and crashed to the floor. Mr. Denny rushed forward to right the chair immediately.
“Am I to understand that a Lieutenant in my own outfit has assaulted a young woman in my charge?”
Elizabeth hesitated as both she and Mr. Denny clarified that Miss Lydia was more than a willing participant.
“I believe they need to be made to marry,” Mr. Denny stated. “But that will prove difficult.”
Believing him to be speaking about the lack of funds, Elizabeth volunteered the other information that her sister shared.
“Mr. Wickham has promised my sister to marry. He recently came into a bonus of some kind from Captain Shawcroft.”
“Shawcroft? That man deserted two days ago. He is accused of stealing from the Prince Regent’s household,” Colonel Forster explained, and Elizabeth gasped.
A loud thumping began in her ears as she felt as though the room was beginning to spin. She felt as though she could not breathe, hearing that Mr. Denny knew of her sister’s shame. Worse, there was a charge of theft against the very captain that Mr. Wickham had involved himself with.
Mr. Denny did not notice Miss Elizabeth’s distress as he had walked over to Colonel Forster to speak to the man in a hushed whisper. When he turned around and saw her anguish, the man hurried to her side.
“Miss Elizabeth, oh please, do not cry,” he said, trying to calm her with a gentle voice.
Between sobs, she gasped for air. There was nothing to be done! Even if Lydia was made to marry Mr. Wickham, surely even the Colonel could see that the man was a cad.
Bewildered and overwhelmed by the disaster of it all, the maid she shared with Lydia was called.
The Forster household was soon in an uproar as Colonel Forster confronted both his wife and Lydia. Mrs. Forster confirmed that she suspected Lydia was in danger of a Jack-in-the-box. The entire ordeal turned uglier when Mr. Wickham appeared for his normal afternoon visit.
Unable to stomach the discussion around her, Elizabeth didn’t bother to excuse herself upstairs. She merely walked away without notice. The maid dutifully followed her to her room and asked her if she needed anything. Shouts from downstairs, mostly from Colonel Forster, could be heard and Elizabeth winced.
“Can you brew a sleeping draught? My head aches,” she said, touching her hand to her temple and sniffing to show that her sinuses were still congested. The young woman nodded and left to see to Elizabeth’s request.
Instead of waiting for the woman to return, Elizabeth began to stare out the familiar window where she had often daydreamed about becoming Mr. Darcy’s wife. There was no question such a dream could never come true.
Tears began to fall down her cheeks again as Elizabeth tended to her own undress and changed into a nightgown. When she was finished, the young maid returned with a tray of herbal tea and explained a drop of laudanum had been added.
Settling herself in her bed, Elizabeth thanked the maid and lifted the cup. She blew over the top of it gently and took a careful sip. Finding the water to not be too hot, she drank more freely and felt better that the loud voices had quieted from down below. Completely uninterested in comforting Lydia in any fashion, she finished the cup of liquid without delay.
Dreading the thought of writing to Jane in the morning, Elizabeth thought of the rest of her family back at Longbourn. She imagined her sisters would be most angry with Lydia, but potentially reserve some ire for her. After all, she had failed entirely to keep Lydia safe.
Refusing to cry again as she felt the familiar prickling sensation at the corners of her eyes, she forced them shut as she laid back on her bed, snuggling under the covers. Her last errant thought before sleep overcame her was that she began to understand why her mother took so often to her bed to avoid conflict.
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 25 - For the Love of a Bennet, a Pride and Prejudice Variation
“Lizzy, Lizzy!” Lydia said as she tried to jostle her older sister awake.
Elizabeth registered Lydia’s voice coming to her as though in a fog. She opened her eyes, believing she had just woken from a terrible nightmare. Her mouth was dry, and Elizabeth’s voice croaked as she tried to respond to Lydia jubilantly spinning around the room.
Propping herself up on her elbows, Elizabeth blinked profusely. Perhaps it hadn’t been a nightmare, as Lydia looked exactly the same as she had when they were sea bathing.
“You slept until the afternoon!” Lydia giggled, then stopped as she rocked back and forth on her heels.
Elizabeth groaned and flopped backward in the bed, draping her forearm across her face to cover her eyes. “How can you be so cheerful? Do you not comprehend the amount of trouble you have caused?” Elizabeth asked.
She sensed Lydia charging towards the bed, and Elizabeth opened her eyes once more to see Lydia staring over her, very cross.
“I suddenly regret even waking you up. But I thought you might wish to dress and come with us. So much has happened, Lizzy! Mr. Wickham and I are to be married, and he is a hero!” she said.
Both sisters heard Lydia’s name called from below, and Lydia squealed with delight.
“See? He’s here. And we’re all going to the Old Ship Inn. So put on your best, or rather your second best. You must save your best frock for my wedding,” Lydia commanded.
To Elizabeth’s surprise, her sister pecked her forehead and then flounced out of the room.
Rolling over, Elizabeth screamed as loud as she possibly could directly into the pillow. This was utter madness. And a good part of her mind wished for nothing more than to stay in bed until it was time to board the carriage back to Longbourn.
Unfortunately, Elizabeth’s sense of duty would never allow her to behave in such a selfish manner. Thus, three hours later, she stood back in the assembly rooms of the Old Ship Inn, where a mixture of cards and dancing was the order of the evening.
Lydia danced gaily with Mr. Wickham, and everyone from Mrs. Warrender to Mrs. Forster celebrated the young lady’s good luck.
Elizabeth sourly stood halfway between the dancing and the card tables, unwilling to participate in either activity. Mrs. Warrender approached her, and stated how jealous Miss Elizabeth appeared over the news of her sister’s triumph.
“I must say, Miss Bennet, I am rather surprised Mr. Wickham came to the point before Mr. Darcy. I was quite certain that he was going to make an offer for your hand,” Mrs. Warrender said. “But buck up, my dear. Perhaps your sister’s good fortune will push Mr. Darcy in the same direction,” she said, as Elizabeth refused to smile at Mrs. Warrender’s attempts to cheer her up.
A feeling of dread came over Elizabeth as the woman’s words only served to make her worry about the arrival of Mr. Darcy and his cousin. Inwardly, she prayed that the two men held other plans for the evening. But no sooner did her thoughts move in that direction, than she spied both of them coming into the assembly room.
After locking eyes with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth swiftly turned away and tried to think of somewhere to hide. All of England could believe Mr. Wickham to be some kind of hero and Elizabeth knew Mr. Darcy could never reconcile himself to calling the man his brother-in-law.
Working so diligently to keep herself on the opposing side of the room of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth failed to notice that he and his cousin had indeed split up. And so, as Mr. Darcy spoke to Colonel Forster on one side of the room, Elizabeth turned around and found herself staring directly into the kind eyes of Colonel Fitzwilliam.
“Miss Elizabeth, would you do me the honor of being my dance partner?” the gallant Colonel asked.
“I would prefer it if you did not ask,” Elizabeth said.
Keeping his features light, Colonel Fitzwilliam acted as though nothing were amiss. “I can well imagine, but seeing as I already have requested, and I believe you and I should speak, let us take a turn anyway despite your reluctance.”
Elizabeth focused on her breathing so as not to burst into tears. Thankfully, as they stood for the set, she did not see Mr. Wickham and her sister participating. There was no chance she would have to take Mr. Wickham’s hand for an exchange.
Elizabeth glanced around the room to find their location, but Colonel Fitzwilliam interrupted her query with a question. Keeping up with her dance steps and conversation was more than Elizabeth could handle in her current emotional state.
“It is strange, Miss Elizabeth, that Colonel Forster’s unit was the one to find Captain Shawcroft’s ill-gotten gains. Do you know my men and I searched Russell House from top to bottom?” he asked.
Elizabeth shrugged. She concerned herself little about how Mr. Wickham suddenly became a hero in everyone’s eyes. But Mrs. Forster explained to her that the previous day after she had taken to her bed, her husband and Captain Carter interrogated Mr. Wickham extensively.
Wickham convinced them both that he only agreed to Shawcroft’s scheme so that he could later aid in his capture. He pointed out how he had not hidden his involvement, even to Denny. To prove his loyalty, Wickham explained that he knew the location of the villain’s ledger books, and more importantly, the funds he was using to finance his operation.
“I believe it’s as the saying goes, Colonel. Money speaks louder than words,” she explained.
“Yes, but why hadn’t Mr. Wickham come forward after Captain Shawcroft deserted? What made him delay?” he asked, and Elizabeth had to agree that she shared Colonel Fitzwilliam’s suspicions. The entire ordeal was too neat and tidy for her.
The dance ended and Colonel Fitzwilliam leaned close to Elizabeth.
“I fear,” he whispered, “though I cannot prove it, Mr. Wickham is not a safe man. I believe he used violent means to learn the location of Shawcroft’s poison purse.”
Elizabeth laughed, earning a look of dismay from Mr. Darcy’s cousin. But she made certain he understood she was putting on a show.
“What a clever observation, Colonel Fitzwilliam! I shall be sure to share your wit with my friends.”
Deciding that the evening was all too much for her senses, Elizabeth searched for her sister Lydia so that she could make her regrets. With the wedding by special license planned before Mrs. Fitzherbert’s ball, there was nothing Elizabeth could do to adjust her sister’s fate. Truthfully, Lydia was responsible for the choices she had made. Sabotaging her wedding with Mr. Wickham would do nothing to change her behavior, and directly jeopardize the reputations of the remaining Bennet sisters.
Unable to find her sister, Elizabeth had forgotten about her game of staying away from Mr. Darcy. The man soon stood by her side, and instead of asking her to dance as his cousin had, he asked if he could be of service.
“I am looking for my sister,” Elizabeth said, as the laughter and merrymaking increased in volume around her. Nearly everyone swapped stories and tidbits of gossip about the whole scandal. The rumor of theft from the Prince Regent, combined with the newest gossip of recovery of a treasure so grand, prompted many to speculate how it might be used after the Prince Regent’s household was repaid its due.
Cautiously, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth walked around the assembly room and finding no sign of Lydia, Elizabeth began to fret.
“We will find your sister,” Mr. Darcy said, and he signaled for his cousin to join them.
Frantic, Elizabeth closed her eyes and tried to think about where her sister could’ve gone.
“Do any of you see Mr. Wickham?” she asked the two men.
Each cousin looked in an opposite direction, and finding Wickham missing too, Colonel Fitzwilliam caught on to Elizabeth’s thinking first. He began to bark orders.
“Take Miss Elizabeth and find Colonel Forster. Tell him I said he must meet me at his home!” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, placing his hand protectively on the sword he kept at his waist.
Pushing and shoving against the crowds, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth found Colonel Forster with Lieutenant Denny, deep in his cups.
“Miss Elizabeth! Mr. Darcy! Will we have the honor of a double wedding?” he asked.
Ordinarily, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth would have felt offense at the insinuation, but there was no time for idle chatter. Elizabeth began pleading with the man that something was amiss.
“I fear that my sister and Mr. Wickham have made a run for it,” she said.
Colonel Forster laughed. He patted Elizabeth patronizingly on the shoulder. “My dear, you have allowed your imagination to run away with you. Mr. Wickham and Miss Lydia are to be married, rejoice!”
“You do not understand, Colonel. Mr. Wickham is not to be trusted. He will try to steal the very loot you seized today,” Elizabeth tried to explain, but the Colonel assured her that her fears were unfounded. Captain Carter was on duty, standing guard over the substantial sum until it could be handed over to the proper representatives of the King in the morning.
Mr. Darcy finally interjected. “If we are wrong, Sir, then so is my esteemed cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. He has already left for your household, and I suggest we join him without further delay. If we are wrong, then no harm shall have occurred. But if we are correct in our suspicions, and there’s precious little time before the scoundrel gets away,” Mr. Darcy explained.
Colonel Forster paled as Mr. Darcy laid out the logical dilemma in clear terms. Elizabeth felt grateful for Mr. Darcy’s assistance, as her emotions made reasoning with the man difficult. Quite frankly, she had found Colonel Forster practically useless as not just a man, but as a military leader. Surely, the kingdom’s militia deserved better.
Deciding against disrupting the larger assembly, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth walked with Colonel Forster and his right-hand man, Lieutenant Denny.
Mr. Denny confirmed that Mr. Wickham had left some time ago, though he had not told his friend where he was going. The new intelligence spurred Colonel Forster to walk more quickly, and within a block of his home, it was quite clear a disturbance had occurred.
The door stood ajar, and Lieutenant Denny and Colonel Fitzwilliam told Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth to stand back as they entered the household together. Elizabeth pressed herself to Mr. Darcy’s side and the man instinctively wrapped his arm around her, protectively.
In the hall, the butler of the house lay unconscious, while the door to Colonel Forster’s office stood wide open. Captain Carter lay in a pool of his own blood. Lydia Bennet huddled in a corner, sobbing uncontrollably. With a pistol and sword trained on his person, Lieutenant George Wickham stood with his back against the wall, captured by none other than his nemesis, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.
“You bloody well took long enough!” Colonel Fitzwilliam said as both men drew their weapons and Richard could finally allow his arms to relax.
A shot rang out and Lydia screamed, prompting Elizabeth to duck out from under Mr. Darcy’s embrace and rush into the house. He was right behind her, trying to make her stop. But her strong sprint and headstart were no match for him over the short distance.
She nearly tripped over the poor butler, and almost vomited at the sight of Captain Carter laying at a grotesque angle. Taking a swift glance around the room, Elizabeth rushed to her sister’s side, completely ignoring the slumped Mr. Wickham in the far corner.
“They killed him! They killed him! They killed my dear Wickham!” Lydia shouted, tearing at her hair and rocking back and forth.
Elizabeth petted and hugged her sister, trying to make her calm. But Lydia was in hysterics.
“Get her out of here!” Colonel Forster roared, as he put his pistol away.
Elizabeth felt herself pulled away from Lydia by two strong arms, and she didn’t need to look behind her to know it was Mr. Darcy’s touch. In front of her, Mr. Denny came to Lydia’s side, scooping up the young woman and whispering into her ear.
“All will be well, Miss Lydia, all will be well. You have my word,” the man said.
Elizabeth allowed Mr. Darcy to lead her to the parlor and he gave instructions to the maid. Numb, she believed he had wished her a good evening, and she watched as he returned to the Colonel’s office.
Mr. Denny carried Lydia to their room and gently laid her on the bed that Elizabeth identified as hers. Like a small child, Lydia kept her eyes closed as she sobbed and Mr. Denny asked if there was anything else he could do before excusing himself downstairs for more orders.
Refusing to get undressed, Elizabeth removed her dancing slippers that were utterly ruined from walking home and they appeared to have blood on them from poor Captain Carter.
“Are you unharmed?” Elizabeth thought to ask the maid as she tended Lydia first.
“Yes, Ma’am, we was ordered to the back, see. Mr. Fisher was the brave one, confronting Mr. Wickham after Miss Lydia came.”
Elizabeth wondered if her sister had seen Captain Carter murdered, but it sounded as though she had not. Instead, Lydia had noticed that Mr. Wickham left the assembly rooms, just as he had the first time they attended, and she was not going to let him leave her behind.
Finally able to comprehend some of the events of the night, Elizabeth tried to avoid the maid’s later offer of another dose of laudanum.
“No, not tonight. I wish to have my wits about me in the morning,” she said.
“Please, Miss, I promised Mr. Darcy I would see after you,” she explained, and allowing her tears to fall freely, Elizabeth accepted the cup of tea.
Even after the absolute worst disaster and scandal, she could count on one thing: Mr. Darcy loved her as much as she loved him.
You’ve been reading For the Love of a Bennet.
Now available everywhere ebooks are sold!
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 26 - For the Love of a Bennet, a Pride and Prejudice Variation1
The trip to Brighton in support of her sister taught Elizabeth Bennet many realities of military life she had never considered. First, all matters were to be handled efficiently and expeditiously.
Mr. Denny devotedly tended to Miss Lydia’s recovery. In less than two days, it was decided the two would wed. At first, Lydia insisted that she would remain true to the memory of Mr. Wickham, but Mrs. Forster quickly disabused her of that notion. There was no mistaking that Miss Lydia was with child, and it was very fortunate that Mr. Denny agreed to claim another man’s child as his own.
Although Elizabeth knew Mr. Denny was an honorable man and that he felt some responsibility for the situation her sister found herself in; Lizzy could not help feeling that something was amiss in his eagerness to marry. She wanted to raise her concerns with Colonel Forster, but in the end, saved her breath for her own porridge.
The second reality of military life was that death happened too frequently for anyone to properly mourn. For the corrupt, like Wickham, no one paid any mind to the loss of a murderer. Memories of the man’s charm and geniality soon changed to everyone believing they knew something was off about the man. In Captain Carter’s case, the regiment wore a black armband in honor of their fallen leader, but the needs and necessity of the unit required them to shift their loyalties immediately to his replacement: Captain Denny.
Mr. Darcy visited every day and aided Colonel Forster in the arrangements for Lydia’s nuptials. On the Saturday before Mrs. Fitzherbert’s ball, both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy stood up as witnesses in church for the ceremony. Harkening back to the first reality of military life, Captain and Mrs. Denny were efficiently housed in the small town home that had been Captain Carter’s, a mere three blocks back from the seaside in a slightly shabbier part of town.
Participating in the modest wedding breakfast hosted at the Old Ship Inn after the ceremony, Elizabeth greeted Miss Darcy and her companion, Mrs. Annesley for attending.
“I believe Captain Denny is very much in love with his wife. I suspect he harbored feelings for her all while she was distracted by another,” Miss Darcy said, judiciously, careful to avoid mentioning Mr. Wickham’s name.
Elizabeth nodded, though she could not quite bring herself to agree with Miss Darcy’s sentiments. As Colonel Forster made a toast to the happy couple, particularly illustrating the good character traits of his new Captain, Elizabeth drank her wine and then politely excused herself.
She needed to walk and being of age and with Lydia married, she cared not a fig anymore to seek permission from the Forsters. The ends may have all tied up nicely in a bow, but their guardianship nearly resulted in disaster. Under Colonel Forster’s rule, Lydia was impregnated and nearly married off to a thief and murderer.
She wrapped her arms around herself and soon heard footsteps behind her.
“May I walk with you, Miss Elizabeth?” Mr. Darcy asked, and too exhausted to fight for the man’s dignity, Elizabeth relented.
She had not forgotten how safe his arms had felt that terrible night.
Their feet carried them to a place they had never strolled together, the long promenade along the shore. Neither of them performed for the sake of others, but it suddenly struck Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy had left his sister behind.
“Is Miss Darcy going to be safe with only Mrs. Annesley?” she asked.
Mr. Darcy coughed. “Her co-guardian is with her as well, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
Elizabeth nodded, her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink that she had forgotten that Mr. Darcy shared his responsibilities to his sister. The turmoil and distress of the week had robbed her of sleep and the ability to properly eat.
Spying a bench up ahead, Elizabeth pointed to the opportunity to rest and allowed Mr. Darcy to escort her directly. As they both sat down, the gentle rumble of the waves crashing to the pebbled shore amused them both. Elizabeth allowed her hand to rest on the bench between them and she closed her eyes to listen to the sound of the seaside.
“Would you be offended, Madam, if I spoke plainly on the subject that may cause injury to us both?” he asked, and Elizabeth opened one eye lazily to see a smirk on Mr. Darcy’s face.
She smiled and inhaled a deep breath of the brine-laced air. Boldly, she turned her face up in the direction of the sun’s rays, allowing their warmth to soothe her nerves.
“After this trip to Brighton, I don’t believe I have it within me to be afraid of any words one might say. Please, Mr. Darcy, speak your mind.”
Taking her hand in his, Elizabeth flinched at the sudden gesture but soon eased her tension as her body found the sensation delightful.
“If we are discovered, Miss Elizabeth, I’m afraid your reputation will be in tatters and you will have no choice but to accept my proposal of marriage,” he said.
Elizabeth groaned at his terrible jest and squeezed his hand. “Come, come, Mr. Darcy, you can do better than to threaten a lady with your hand in marriage. I refuse to accept this as a proposal.”
Mr. Darcy scoffed and then leaned forward to treat Miss Elizabeth to the only proper response he could think of for her impertinence. He pressed his lips to hers and enjoyed the sound of surprise that escaped her lips before she desperately kissed him in return.
His lips tingling after they parted, he gazed into her eyes and managed his words properly.
“Then please, end my agony. Days ago, before all of this, I tried to tell you that I would never abandon you no matter who your sister married or didn’t marry. I cannot live without you, my Elizabeth, and I certainly do not wish a lifetime of following you all over England. I will spend the rest of my days protecting you, providing for you and our children, and delighting in your company. I love you.”
Elizabeth maintained eye contact with the man throughout his entire speech. She wanted to tell him that she felt the same for him, that in the course of the last few weeks, she had sought to protect him from her sister’s scandal. She had wanted to provide him with care and assist with his sister’s needs. Certainly, she had delighted in his company, even during the bleakest of moments.
“I love you, as well,” she managed, and Mr. Darcy exhaled.
Loudly, with a broad smile on his face, he came to the point. “Will you consent to become my wife?” he asked, sliding off the bench to kneel before her like a knight.
Elizabeth giggled as the man became entirely silly in his affections for her. “Yes, yes, I will marry you,” she replied, and she accepted another kiss from the man before she confessed that they should return back to the Old Ship Inn before anyone sent out a search party.
Other couples muttered amongst themselves at the spectacle they had just witnessed, but Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth didn’t pay them any mind. Arm-in-arm they walked back to the wedding breakfast to find that nearly everyone had left.
Colonel Forster shook Mr. Darcy’s hand and Elizabeth realized that her beau had gone to him for permission.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to go back to Longbourn, sir, to meet with Mr. Bennet. I cannot sign for Miss Elizabeth,” he explained.
Elizabeth stood next to Mr. Darcy and finally spoke up for herself. “I am one and twenty and no longer need my father’s permission to marry. However,” she said, turning to Mr. Darcy, “I should dearly love to go home and marry in my home parish.”
Glasses were raised and those few still enjoying themselves on the Forster’s generosity, toasted to Mr. Darcy and his engagement to Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
After sipping her wine, Elizabeth looked around for Lydia but found no sign of her sister or her new husband.
“The Dennys left just before you returned,” Mrs. Forster explained, and Elizabeth smiled. “And don’t worry, I’ll make sure my husband grants Captain Denny a week of leave so they can escort you to Hertfordshire,” she said.
Elizabeth thanked Mrs. Forster for her kindness, and then followed Mr. Darcy to share their happy news with Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
Accepting their congratulations and well-wishes, a new emotion seeped into Elizabeth’s heart. So many times, she had been accused of jealousy in her sister’s quarter, and now she finally felt the venomous sting of discontent. It was patently unfair that Lydia enjoyed the attention of her husband and Elizabeth would have to wait weeks more for the same!
Epilogue - For the Love of a Bennet, a Pride and Prejudice Variation1
A caravan of carriages rolled into the drive of Longbourn in the last week of June 1812. Kitty Bennet had been the first to raise the alarm of the unexpected visitors, and the entire household soon rushed outside to greet the visitors.
The first carriage opened, and Mr. Denny jumped down, then assisted his wife.
“Mama! Mama! Look! I am married!” Lydia shouted as she was soon accosted by her mother and sister, Kitty, showing off the ring on her finger.
The second carriage, holding Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth, and Miss Darcy and her companion, was relieved of its passengers and Jane hurried to embrace her sister.
The two sisters shouted and laughed, spinning around and agreeing that the month of separation had been entirely too long.
Elizabeth had written to Jane the events of the worst week in Brighton, and the details of Mrs. Fitzherbert’s delightful ball on the last night they remained in the seaside town. But in a bit of mischief, and as an act of small revenge on her parents, she had sworn her sister to secrecy in the whole matter. Typical of Lydia, she did not write to their parents, either, and waited until they arrived at Longbourn to ambush them with her news.
“Jane, look, there is someone else who came with us,” Elizabeth said, pointing to the third carriage. Colonel Fitzwilliam aided Miss Caroline Bingley out of the carriage, and another poked his head out and waved.
Jane covered her mouth in excitement and beamed as Mr. Bingley approached them.
“Miss Bennet,” he said, greeting Jane first.
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth casually walked away to leave the two of them alone, as invitations to enter the house were issued.
Longbourn soon became a crush with the unexpected arrival of ten visitors, and everyone sat with Mrs. Bennet in the parlor, except for Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Those three received an exclusive invitation to Mr. Bennet’s library.
After offering a glass of brandy to all, Mr. Bennet took a seat in his favorite armchair by the fire. Elizabeth sat in the window seat, to leave the remaining two chairs available for the men. But both of them elected to stand.
“Well, Lizzy, you must congratulate me. We shall have everlasting peace now that Lydia is Mrs. Denny. Though I am surprised it wasn’t that Wickham fellow that won in the end,” he said, scratching his head.
In horror, Elizabeth watched as her father acted as though there was nothing amiss in having a daughter of sixteen married in a faraway county without the majority of her family present.
“I beg your pardon, sir, Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Mr. Darcy’s cousin said, introducing himself. Both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth sat incapable of speaking. “George Wickham killed a man and stole from the Prince Regent. He was executed for his crimes,” he summarized, and the only relief Elizabeth felt was witnessing her father’s discomfort firsthand.
“I cannot believe, no, no, that young man was nothing more than a flatterer,” he said, agitated. He rose from his chair and began to look at his desk through his correspondence. Picking up an unopened letter from Colonel Forster, Elizabeth, and Mr. Darcy exchanged glances at the negligence he demonstrated. “Here, let’s see what Colonel Forster . . . ” Mr. Bennet’s voice faltered as he read the lines penned to him from the militia leader in Brighton.
Stunned, Mr. Bennet fell into his chair and he turned to his daughter, Lizzy.
“My god, Child. And you tried to warn me,” he said, tears welling up in his eyes.
Mr. Darcy and his cousin offered to excuse themselves, but Elizabeth refused their courtesy. She particularly wanted Mr. Darcy present as she spoke to her father.
Calmly, she told her father that he had let her down and that she did not write to him out of fear that he would not believe her. It was evident now that her assumption had been correct.
“Mr. Darcy has asked for my hand in marriage, and I have heartily consented, and I would like your blessing,” she said.
Mr. Bennet scowled at his daughter’s criticism, but being outnumbered, he quickly returned to his affable ways. He raised his glass to Mr. Darcy. “You have my blessing, my consent, and my gratitude, sir. I shall announce your engagement tonight!”
Mr. Darcy thanked him but explained that he and Miss Elizabeth had resolved to grant Mr. Bingley one night to sort his position with Miss Bennet.
“So I am to lose three daughters,” Mr. Bennet said, with a sigh. Lifting his brandy to his lips, he took a healthy sip. “Your mother will be unbearable,” he commented.
Realizing she was uncomfortable with her father’s inability to treat anything with seriousness, Elizabeth stood up and offered him a kiss upon the cheek.
“You will visit us at Pemberley, won’t you Papa? Mr. Darcy has told me tales of his extensive library,” she said, with a wink.
“Over ten thousand volumes, sir,” Mr. Darcy said, in a humble tone.
Patting his daughter’s shoulder, Mr. Bennet promised Elizabeth he would indeed, and then threatened that they might regret extending the invitation when he refused to leave!
Leaving the man to accept the news of losing his favorite daughter, Mr. Darcy suggested to Elizabeth that they take a walk in the garden. She accepted his plan as Elizabeth and the Dennys would remain at Longbourn while the rest continued on to settle at Netherfield Park. Mrs. Bennet invited them all for dinner that evening.
Walking together through the rose garden, they both chuckled to see Mr. Bingley wasting no time talking with Jane. Even though they were on the far side of the garden, like the spectators at their own engagement, they could easily spy a proposal being made.
“What do you think, a double wedding in July?” Mr. Darcy asked his betrothed, and Elizabeth smiled.
“A very economical proposal, sir,” she countered.
“I care nothing for the expense, I simply do not wish to wait a day more than I must before calling you my wife,” he explained, and Elizabeth sighed, resting her head against his shoulder as they walked.
In the end, the solution proved far too sensible for them to turn down. A double-wedding, that would allow them to include the Gardiners, suited everyone’s desires. After the wedding, the Darcys could travel alongside the Gardiners and Mary and Kitty north to Pemberley.
Elizabeth lamented to Mr. Darcy that they would not reside as close as they had enjoyed in Brighton.
“I do enjoy morning strolls up Oakham Mount,” she said to him, sharing her habit of partaking in the vistas of the hill that rested between Longbourn and Netherfield Park.
“I will happily follow you to any part of the kingdom that pleases you. For the love of a Bennet,” he said, making her laugh.
THE END.
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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.