A/N: It is looking more and more likely the preorder on this book will be cancelled. I delayed it and still couldn’t wrap it up. Not to fear, this is still the most important story and I will continue posting chapters and working on it. I am through Chapter 14 in drafting. As for when will it come out? Likely no later than November 12, since I have a writer’s conference in Vegas then I am teaching at. My goal is just one chapter per day and get it done, while also giving this series the epic happy ending for all it deserves. It’s going to be like Oprah Winfrey giving out cars: and YOU get a happy ending, and YOU get a happy ending. Also, put your votes in the comments if you do or do not want Georgiana to have to stand in a corner for being rude to the staff before the end of the book . . .
-Elizabeth
P.S. This is a gut-wrenching scene…
Chapter 6 - The Heart of Marriage, Book 6 of the Moralities of Marriage, a Pride & Prejudice Variation
In a change to her usual schedule, Mrs. Darcy answered the summons of Dr. Matthews to her father’s suite. The walls of Mr. Bennet’s suite were covered in a deep crimson with gold plastered accents. It was a pleasing room, with a large fireplace, and a door that led to the balcony that overlooked the grounds. A month since the good doctor had come to live for a time at Pemberley to see to her father’s care, the man’s healing talent had been delayed some weeks while he nursed a severely sprained ankle.
Mr. Bennet’s room appeared full of light when Elizabeth walked in. His burns healed, the man still suffering the effects of apoplexy turned his head when his favorite daughter entered, but he did not speak. He sat up in his bed, with the distinct air of a man waiting for the inevitable.
Upon the promise of gains in his abilities, Elizabeth’s hopes felt dashed when she realized Dr. Matthews had not yet enabled her father to regain his voice.
“Mrs. Darcy, I believe your father would say that you look very radiant this morning,” Dr. Matthews said, with a sly smile.
To Elizabeth’s shock, her father began shaking and lightly thrashing in his bed. “Please, Dr. Matthews, is he seizing?”
Dr. Matthews began to laugh as Mr. Bennet ceased his movement and turned his head away from his daughter.
“Dr. Matthews, this is no laughing matter! Please, help me!” she said, running to her father’s side, checking his head for fever.
“Mrs. Darcy, there is no need, he was merely agreeing with me.”
Elizabeth looked at the doctor and back at her father, who once more began to shake in a frantic manner that was very distressing. It certainly did not look to the casual observer that Mr. Bennet was agreeing with anyone, but instead, losing complete control over his faculties.
“Mr. Bennet, would you like me to fetch your wife, Mrs. Bennet?” Dr. Matthews asked, and Mr. Bennet immediately stilled. He turned his face away.
“See, Dr. Matthews? I think you are distressing him. He calmed when you asked for my mother,” Elizabeth said, though she still felt perplexed by the demonstration.
Dr. Matthews walked over to the bedside table.
“It’s logic, Mrs. Darcy. Your father can answer yes and no questions, but his ability to control movement is limited. That is why he appears to be having a seizure, the nerve damage is impacting his options. Watch,” he said, and then addressed his patient. “Now, Mr. Bennet, no funny answers. I have to convince her what your wishes are, okay sir?”
Upon that question, Mr. Bennet answered with the disturbing jerky movements he could manage. Dr. Matthews picked up a book and began to read. Elizabeth recognized it instantly as one of her father’s favorite plays, Hamlet.
Snapping the book closed, Dr. Matthews began his interrogation. “Was that book I just read the Bible?” he asked.
Mr. Bennet looked away. Elizabeth gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.
“I chose a complicated tome as well, Mrs. Darcy, so you would know he understands exactly what we say. But the man is trapped, without speech,” Dr. Matthews explained, then continued his patient’s demonstration of skill. “Mr. Bennet, was that book written by Shakespeare?”
Performing on cue, Mr. Bennet jerked his body several times to answer in the positive.
Feeling brave, Elizabeth tested her father’s abilities. “Was that story Romeo & Juliet, Papa?” she asked, biting her lower lip, praying this was not all some trick.
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 6 - The Heart of Marriage, Book 6 of the Moralities of Marriage, a Pride & Prejudice Variation
Her father’s doleful eyes connected to hers and turned his head away to the same side he had been.
Impatient that they would not ask him the correct question, Mr. Bennet again caught his daughter’s eye and furrowed his brows, but only one of them slanted down, while the other side remained slackened and unchanged. She giggled at the odd expression, but Dr. Matthews shouted with joy, rushing to the other side of the bed to fetch his folio.
“That is a new reaction! He is displeased! Bravo, Mr. Bennet!” he said, hastily scratching down his notes, and checking the watch fob fastened to his vest.
“Papa, was the book Dr. Matthews read Hamlet?” she asked and clapped her hands as her father once more began to jerk his movements. “Dr. Matthews, this is most remarkable? Have you shown Mama?” she asked.
Mr. Bennet turned his head to the side, and Dr. Matthews began to explain.
“No, that is, I did attempt to show her, and I’m afraid she was very distressed by the way your father gives his assent. She did not remain for the subsequent questions.”
Mrs. Darcy took a seat on the side of her father’s bed and gently reached down to grab his hand on the side that showed the most movement. “Logic is not my mother’s strongest suit to play, I’m afraid,” Elizabeth said, and her father reacted by breathing through his nose in quick, short breaths, with an almost perceptible snort. “Dr. Matthews, has he done that before?”
Dr. Matthews lowered his spectacles at his patient, clearly incensed that the man had been holding back his methods of communication. “No, I dare say he is laughing, though we may have to conduct more tests to know for sure,” Dr. Matthews said, adding to his notes. “Mrs. Darcy, I may have to ask you to visit with me here more often as it seems your father is much keener to perform for you than me.”
Mr. Bennet continued his snortish breathing, and then took a large gaping breath and made a sound like a low- out of tune horn. Dr. Matthews and Mrs. Darcy sat there stunned and then burst out laughing.
“Another new sound! This is more progress than the entire previous week,” Dr. Matthews commented. He allowed Elizabeth to whisper softly to her father’s good side and peck a kiss on his forehead before he interrupted the touching father and daughter moment. “There is a very important reason though that I have asked you here, Mrs. Darcy. How familiar are you with anatomy?”
Elizabeth Darcy blew out a breath and closed her eyes. “My father shared books with me in his study, but I hardly think it appropriate—”
“No, no, Ma’am, nothing like that. I just wanted to know if you were familiar with the vascular system, our veins run like tree roots through our body supplying blood to various regions. Now the research is young, and there’s only been a handful of successful surgeries in the world—” Dr. Matthews began, and Elizabeth interrupted him by darting up from the bed.
“Surgery? Surely that is too dangerous. My father was lucky enough to survive the fire, surely we cannot subject him to anything as barbaric as a surgeon’s blade,” she exclaimed, but Dr. Matthews walked closer and asked for permission from Mr. Bennet to show his daughter his wrist. Mr. Bennet did not agree, nor did he turn his head. Tears began to well in his eyes.
“Your father has more mobility than we have been allowed to believe, Ma’am. And while I believe that he perchance did this in his sleep, nevertheless, I would be remiss in not showing you.” Dr. Matthews lifted Mr. Bennet’s somewhat good arm that he had limited mobility in to move and turned it so Elizabeth could see the inside of his wrist. Deep gouges and bite marks marred the frail skin up and down the inside of his forearm.
Elizabeth gasped to see the injury, much younger than the fading scars from months ago.
“There is a surgeon in London, Dr. Astley Cooper. I have written to him about your father’s case and answered his questions. The more recent gains in his mobility and understanding are most promising. Thank you, Mr. Bennet,” Dr. Matthews said, gently. Then he reached up and guided Elizabeth’s hand to her father’s neck in the front. He allowed her to feel both sides.
One side, the one where Mr. Bennet held the most mobility, felt firm, but nothing amiss. Instinctively, Elizabeth raised her other hand to feel her neck in the same area, to feel that they were similar. When Dr. Matthews brought her hand over to the other side, she could instantly feel some abnormality under the skin. She jerked her hand back.
“I apologize, Mrs. Darcy, this is not a matter for a lady. But I had to try, for your father’s sake.”
Elizabeth took a few steadying breaths and then asked if her father knew what Dr. Cooper would do to perform the surgery. When Dr. Matthews started to explain the details, she held her hand up for him to spare her the grisly procedure.
“Does my father know what they will do to him?” she asked again, and Mr. Bennet began to jerk, the most violently since Elizabeth entered the room. When he calmed, Elizabeth bent over and looked him directly in the eye.
“If you want the surgery father, no violent shakes. You make the horn sound again, go on, show me that you are of sound mind, just not body,” she said, in her most serious tone.
Swelling his chest to take the largest breath he could muster, Mr. Bennet attempted to make the sound he had earlier and failed. But Elizabeth was patient. Breathing quickly through his nose, he tried one last time to take a deep breath and then open his mouth, which only opened slightly on one side, but the low moan came out once more. This time Elizabeth Darcy did not laugh at her father’s antics, she wept.
Dr. Matthews turned away to make himself busy with his notes as Elizabeth worked to compose herself. To her surprise, her father tried again and again to move his good hand and on seeing it move a few inches, Elizabeth reached down to take it. She squeezed it gently, and Mr. Bennet closed his eyes as though to rest.
After a few moments, Elizabeth gently released her father’s hand as she could see they had tired him out immensely. She walked over to Dr. Matthews to spot that his folio was full of many drawings and notes of his various examinations of her father. She cleared her throat to get his attention.
“Ask Dr. Cooper if he will come to Pemberley. Tell my father when he wakes up. If we will lose him one way or the other, I’d much prefer the surgery that gives him a chance at living his life,” she said, quietly.
Dr. Matthews nodded and said he would send a messenger to London immediately. Elizabeth Darcy then went in search of her husband. She made it halfway to his study before recalling that he had ridden out that morning with Mr. Bingley and the steward to inspect a far boundary on the property.
Holding back a sob, Elizabeth walked aimlessly until she realized she was heading in the direction of the chapel tucked away in the east wing. The chapel was a small room, often overlooked and neglected, but it was one of Elizabeth’s favorite places in Pemberley. She loved the peace and solitude it offered.
As she entered the chapel, Elizabeth could feel the tension leaving her body. She walked over to the altar and knelt, closing her eyes and offering up a prayer for her father. She asked for strength and guidance from the Almighty, wishing for one of the few times in her life that her father had been blessed with a son. She had just finished her prayers when Mary walked in and apologized for interrupting Elizabeth’s prayers.
“You did not interrupt me, Mary. I am happy for the company,” Elizabeth said as she rose to her feet and walked over to hug her sister.
“I was just on my way to see Father and saw you walking this way. I thought perhaps you might like some company,” Mary said.
“Thank you, Mary. That is very kind of you,” Elizabeth said. Pushing her thoughts of dread out of her mind, she asked her sister if she came often to the chapel.
“Yes, and I have begun working with Mrs. Reynolds about the tapestries that were here. We packed some of them away to preserve the Darcy family heirlooms and I believe new ones are being commissioned,” she said, pointing out locations where the wood paneling lay bare.
“I recall her mentioning that to me in our daily meetings. I was remiss in thanking you,” Elizabeth said and Mary laughed.
“This home is too big for one person to take responsibility for everything! Mrs. Reynolds has her assistants, that’s what your sisters are for,” Mary said, quietly.
Then it was Elizabeth’s turn to laugh. “And what shall I do when you all marry and leave me? Or will you simply live here forever? Hmm?”
Mary blushed. “I won’t say that I know what God has planned for my life, but I could be very happy living here at Pemberley with you and Mr. Darcy.”
Elizabeth accepted the compliment and the two sisters knelt side-by-side, each offering up their silent prayers.
You’ve been reading The Heart of Marriage.
Coming soon to stores.
Book 6 of the Moralities of Marriage Series.
The final book of the Moralities of Marriage Series sees Mr. and Mrs. Darcy fighting off scandal and family strife once and for all. Mr. Darcy is summoned to London to provide answers for Mr. Wickham’s crimes. Too many of High Society were hoodwinked by the mining scheme, and outside forces would relish plundering the Darcy coffers to compensate for their losses.
At Pemberley, Elizabeth is set on establishing herself as Mistress of the House, no matter what her mother believes. As the house goes into mourning for Mr. Darcy’s aunt, her sisters are despondent that the yuletide ball is cancelled. Especially when none of them knew the woman! The Bingleys try to distract the younger sisters by enlisting their aid in finding a home of their own.
The old scores of his parents’ generation keep Darcy in London longer than he planned. Not even his cousin is immune to the costs of past treacheries. Despite the machinations of Marlborough and Derby, Fitzwilliam is desperate to get home and see the birth of his first child.
+ 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.
Elizabeth has much to consider when it comes to the remaining health and life of her father. Of course, her mother would not be able to handle the truth of the matter. Strokes at that time were no laughing matter. How sweet of Mary to tell Elizabeth that she wouldn’t mind living at Pemberley with her and Darcy. Of course, anything was better than Longbourn and the Collins family. How are they by the way?
I am thrilled for the Bingley’s. They are finally going to have their own residence!
Please put Georgina in a corner and let her face the music that she so richly deserves. Pardon the pun, but she is a spoiled brat! Her guardians did not do her any favors either!
YAY someone likes the idea of her being made to behave 🙂