“Does that satisfy your curiosity, my dear?”
Elizabeth smiled softly. “Yes, Mum, it does.”
“Good. Now I do hear rumors that there may be another gentleman that has been showing up in the midst of society. An officer, I believe? George Wickham.”
“I know who he is!” Lydia piped up. “He is a militia officer stationed in Meryton right now.”
Mrs. Bennet looked at her young daughter. “And have you spoken to this gentleman?”
Lydia flushed. “Of course, Mother, though it was very proper. Kitty and I had cause to speak to him when we were all in town. He held the door for us as we entered the café to meet Uncle Phillips who was treating us to ices. He, of course made himself known to Uncle, who then introduced Kitty and I.”
“I have heard he is a fine gentleman, has money, though he is an officer and is very intelligent and charming. But if you have any wits about you, you will stay away from him.”
“Whatever do you mean, Mother?” Lydia asked in a huffy voice. “I have spoken to him several times and he never seemed like anything other than a gentleman. Who is spreading vicious lies about him?”
Mrs. Bennet shook her head. “I have not heard of any lies. I am merely stating facts, as we know them. I would like to meet the gentleman myself before I make any decisions about his character.”
Lydia immediately retreated, saying nothing more about this officer the rest of them, aside from Kitty, had not met.
“He and Uncle chatted for a bit, and he did mention that he and Mr. Darcy were once friends.”
“They are no longer friends?” Mrs. Bennet probed as she slowly ate her breakfast.
“No, they are not friends any longer. I know very little about their situation, as I am not one to pry…” she gave Kitty a narrow look when the girl snickered. “I am not one to pry into other people’s business so I only listened. I did not ask any questions, nor did Uncle. He did imply that there was bad business between them. I took that to mean Mr. Darcy was living up to the untrustworthy reputation of his family history.”
Elizabeth listened to them discussing it, her thoughts confused. She did not want to think that Darcy could be as much of a swindler as they made him out to be. She was sure he was the one with whom she had danced and was almost positive it was he who had stopped to chat in the street. She wanted him to be a gentleman who was generous and kind, hard-working and honest, trustworthy with all those he dealt with.
But why should she want so much from a man she had yet to actually meet?
“Mother, I would like to meet Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. I want to find out for myself what they are like. I would rather decide than be told how to feel about someone.”
Her younger sisters had finished their breakfast and asked to be dismissed from the table. Their mother nodded and waved them off, then she turned her attention to Elizabeth.
“I used to feel the same way. And I have spoken with your father about it on many occasions. He is not forbidding anyone from meeting anyone. He is, instead, not giving his blessing on the matter.”
“But if he does not give his blessing, we are going against his will by pursuing any kind of meeting,” Elizabeth protested. “I do not wish to displease him.”
Her mother’s smile was warm. She leaned forward and patted her daughter’s hand. “I suggest then, dear daughter, that you go and speak to him yourself on the matter. I am sure you can find a way to convince him to at least let you meet these men who have caused our family such distress.”
“They did not, though, Mother. It was not anything they themselves have done.”
Her mother withdrew her hand, giving her daughter another smile. “That we are aware of at this time. That is your father’s concern, my dear. And we must take it into account. Your father will be in his study after half past one today. You can speak to him then.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Elizabeth smiled.
Chapter 13
Jane looked back at Longbourn, trying not to feel as guilty as she did. She had vowed to meet Charles Bingley in the field beyond the old barn so that he could take her to Netherfield and meet his family in person. She knew it was improper, meeting him alone, and she prayed that no one would find out and she would be compromised. Their secret notes and messages had so far stayed hidden from her family. It would not be long, however, before she would be forced to inform them of what she was doing. Though she did hope to keep most of it still secret because it would not do for it to be made public knowledge. It would truly ruin her reputation and that of her family’s.
Her heart was thumping in her chest so hard she thought it might beat its way out. She put one hand over it and tried to breathe a bit slower as she hurried down the path. She was so anxious to see Charles. He was such a handsome man, he had a quick wit, and he made her feel protected whenever she was with him.
She did not wish to disappoint her father, but she knew that her heart was going to win out on this one. She pulled in a sharp breath when she spotted Bingley’s open carriage waiting for her at the end of the path near the field. She went to it as quickly as possible, glancing one more time over her shoulder in the direction she had come from. She could no longer see Longbourn, but she knew it was there. This was her last chance to turn around and go back.
The thought was fleeting. Once she saw Bingley’s smiling face and his outstretched hand, she knew she was not going back. He had invited her to visit Netherfield and that was what she intended to do. She took his hand and he helped her into the carriage. She did not want to let him go and did so only reluctantly, after squeezing it lightly. She was pleased to see that he’d had the forethought to provide her with a maid to protect her reputation. And she gave the girl a smile before sitting next to her.
“You look lovely, today, Miss Jane,” Bingley said.
“And you look very handsome, Mr. Bingley,” Jane replied.
“I am sorry that we are relegated to meeting in such a way. I fear for both of our reputations, should it get out. I do hope that changes soon.”
“My sister, Lizzie, is going to speak to our father this afternoon about the situation between our families.”
“There really should not be any situation.” Bingley sounded a little irritated. “We have done nothing to anyone in the Bennet family nor to your extended family.”
Jane nodded. “I understand that. I know that my father is a very smart man. He will see the truth and see around all of this nonsense.”
“Perhaps.”
“Oh, you do not know my father,” Jane insisted. “He is very kind and generous and intelligent. If he would just see reason and get to know you and Mr. Darcy, perhaps it would change his mind about the whole thing. He is only worried because of the bad blood between our family and the Darcy family. He feels it spills over into other matters because the two of you are so close.”
“Mr. Darcy and I barely have any business connections. We are friends. We enjoy each other’s company.”
“What is he like?”
“You will meet him. He is staying at Netherfield.”
“I thought he had a home of his own. A large estate. Pemberley Hall?”
“Pemberley House, yes. He’s just taking a vacation from the big, empty halls. At least our big halls are not empty. There are people around besides the servants.”
“I imagine he does get quite lonely in that big house by himself.”
“Have you ever seen Pemberley House?”
“I have not, but I can imagine. I have visited other manor homes before. I am sure his ceilings are tall and his rooms are wide and long.”
“They are.” Bingley nodded. “It’s decorated in the most elegant colors his father could design it with. His father was a better designer than his mother.”
“How odd.”
Bingley smiled and shrugged. “We all have our peculiarities, do we not?”
Jane gave him a return smile, wishing she could sit next to him instead of across from him. She enjo
yed being able to look him in the eye. But she wanted to feel him closer to her. It made her feel warm and comfortable.
“I do hope you are hungry. I have asked the cook to prepare something special for lunch.”
“You needn’t have done that, but I do thank you. I am hungry and I am sure I will devour whatever is put in front of me.”
“That is not a pleasant thought,” Bingley said and then laughed with her. “I can think of many unappetizing things that could be set in front of you and you would regret eating it.”
“Oh yes, I was only teasing. Exaggerating. You, sir, are being exasperating.”
Despite her feelings of guilt at having snuck out, Jane felt happier than she had in quite some time. Looking up into his bright blue eyes while he smiled from ear to ear made her feel a certain way, a way she had not felt before in her life. She knew it was love. She was not sure she could handle such a strong emotion. It practically swept her off her feet, made her weak in the knees. She wanted to jump across to where he was sitting and spread kisses all over his handsome face.
But she knew that was highly inappropriate and feared his reaction to such a thing. He might leave her wherever the carriage was to walk back to Longbourn.
But then again, what if he returned the emotions? What if he returned the kisses?
She looked away from him, staring intently at the fields that passed by, focusing on any house, barn or other structure dotting the landscape.
“Are you all right, Miss Jane?” He sounded concerned.
She looked at him again, praying her thoughts could not be seen on her face. “I am well. Why do you ask?”
“You are very red in the face. You look as though you might be feeling ill.”
She shook her head vigorously. “No, no. I am well. I am looking forward to meeting your family. I suppose I am a bit nervous.”
Bingley nodded. “I understand the feeling. Please, there is no need to feel nervous, but do allow me to warn you that my sisters can sometimes be hard to handle. They are very much aware of the fact that we come from wealth and they love to flaunt it. They have no tolerance for anyone who is slightly lower in status than they are. Despite this, they have been warned to treat you with great respect or they will feel my fury.”
Jane pictured him telling his sisters to behave or else. It made her smile.
He grinned back. “Yes, I had to tell them to behave. It is the only way to keep peace in my house.”
“Are your sisters young? Always bickering with each other?”
Bingley shook his head. “They are not very young. Well, I suppose you could say they are, but they are at the point where they should be making mature decisions, instead of thinking like a child all the time.”
Jane thought of Lydia and Kitty. “I have sisters like that, as well.”
“Do you? Well, my younger sister is still unmarried and I am quite sure I will not live to see the day that an intelligent man comes to court and marry her.”
“I am sure there is someone who will marry her, Mr. Bingley, despite her flaws.”
He grinned at her. “There may be someone for everyone but I did not say there was no man for her. I said that no intelligent man would marry her.”
They both laughed again. One of the things Jane loved most about being with Charles Bingley was that he could make her laugh so easily. It was not an easy task sometimes. She giggled, thinking his next challenge should be getting Mary to laugh for a while. If there was a hard nut to crack, it was her sister Mary.
She was just about to make mention of that fact when he lifted his hand and pointed. “Look, we are already here. I told you it was not very far.”
She opened her eyes wide and turned in her seat to look where he was pointing. She could see Netherfield, but it was going to take more time before they actually reached the front porch. The road curved and wound up the side of a small mountain and then back down on the other side. She thought it was one of the strangest roads she had seen in a long time.
“This land all belongs to my family,” Bingley said. “It has been in our family for generations.”
“I guess you did not lose it to my family, then.” Jane smiled at him and he chuckled.
“No, we have not lost even an acre, nor has any of our land been sold to anyone outside the family.”
“I think that is very important.”
Bingley nodded.
By the time they reached the front porch, his sisters and brother-in-law were waiting for the two of them. As expected, the girls were polite and quiet. Jane noticed when they spun around to go back into the house, giving each other looks and whispering frantically behind their hands.
“You girls stop behaving like fussbudgets!” Bingley barked at their retreating backs.
They stiffened and looked back at him.
“You will behave or I will ask you to leave.”
“We live here,” Miss Bingley said. “We do not have to leave.”
“You will leave if I say you will,” Bingley replied firmly. “You will behave and treat Miss Bennet with respect.”
Miss Bingley spun around to look at Jane, holding her arms out wide. “Come and give us a big hug, Miss Bennet. You are welcome here at Netherfield.”
Chapter 14
Elizabeth stepped into her father’s office at a quarter to two. She had waited a bit to give him time to settle in after his lunch break. He looked up at her from his desk. When he caught sight of her, he smiled and stood up.
“Good afternoon, Lizzie. Are you well today?”
“Yes, Papa, thank you, I am. I wish to speak to you, if you have time for me.”
He gestured at the chair in front of his desk with his glasses. “I always have time for my sweet, good daughter. Please sit.”
“Thank you.” She sat down, stiffly, keeping her back straight and kneading her fingers together in her hands. “I… I…” she shook her head and decided to start again. “Papa, will you tell me again about the feud that our family has with the Darcy family?”
Mr. Bennet shrugged. “I thought we had already discussed this. There was a bad land deal and someone was killed. The families have held grudges against each other for generations and it has not stopped with ours.”
“But do you not think it should, Papa?” Elizabeth asked softly. “Do you not think it would be a good idea to end this now? Why continue arguing? What is the point?”
“It is not that the young members of their family have given any direct reason to doubt their honesty. But we might take pre-emptive caution against what they might try to do in the future.”
“If you do not get to know someone, how in heaven’s name can you judge them?”
“Their family is not trustworthy.”
“But in our family, there is not just one person. We are all individuals. Can you not see that Mr. Darcy is an individual? And the Bingley’s aren’t even involved and yet they are to also be mistrusted because they allow Mr. Darcy in their home?”
Mr. Bennet was quiet for a moment, studying his daughter. “Why are you asking me these questions, Lizzie? Have you met these men? Are you acting as an advocate for them?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I’ve not met them, Papa. I would not say I am an advocate for them. I am simply a woman who thinks they deserve a chance to prove themselves before judgment is passed on them. It…it just does not seem fair to me. Or to Jane.”
Mr. Bennet nodded. “So this is about Jane and Mr. Bingley, is it?”
Elizabeth allowed her father to think their conversation was about Jane and Mr. Bingley. She was concerned for her sister, there was no doubt. However, she also wanted to take pre-emptive caution, as her father said, in case the man with the monkey pin truly did turn out to be Mr. Darcy. She wanted to find that man. If it turned out to be Darcy, she would not be turning away from him as easily as her parents might want her to. She may have to sneak off and meet him, the way Jane had taken to doing with Bingley. Her dear sister. Elizabeth tried not to gri
n. She was not fooling her sisters. She had instructed her younger sisters not to say another word about what Jane was doing. They tried to argue, but arguing with Elizabeth when her mind was made up was an impossible and fruitless task. They had eventually given in and wished Jane well with her adventures. Though Jane did not know they knew. They did not let on even for a moment.
“It is not only about them, Papa. It just does not seem fair to them. They are judged without being given a chance to prove who they are.”
Mr. Bennet shook his head. “I do not understand, my dear. What is it you want? What are you asking me?”
Elizabeth was quiet for a moment. “I wish to meet them. I wish them to meet all of us. I think we should give them a chance. Especially you. Our family could be missing out on some advantageous connections.”
“I have many advantageous connections already,” Mr. Bennet said. “I do not know if I want to risk anything on those two families.”
“But, Papa, getting to know them, inviting them for a dinner party, this costs you nothing. There is no risk involved there.”
“I do not know about that,” Mr. Bennet twisted his pen through his fingers, rolling it from side to side. “I have five beautiful daughters. They are two eligible suitors. I might be risking the future of my offspring on untrustworthy men.”
“They will not harm any of us, Papa. I know they will not.”
He shook his head. “There is no way for you to know that, dear.”
Elizabeth sat back, disgusted, her arms crossed over her chest and a sour look on her face.
Her father grinned. “You should not make your face like that. It will eventually stay that way.”
“No, it will not,” Elizabeth teased. “I have seen you make this face many times and yours is still perfectly formed.”
Mr. Bennet burst out laughing. “You have convinced me with your humor and wit, Lizzie. I will talk to your mother about inviting them to our home for a dinner party so that we might all get to know each other. Perhaps you are right. Perhaps we need to end the feud between our families.”
Elizabeth and Darcy: A Romeo and Juliet Twist: A Pride & Prejudice Regency Variation Page 7