Clouds Over Pemberley

by Walter Oleksy

  The St. Angels thought that the Bennet sisters were not exactly blue bloods, but they would do, they were such warm bodies, so they put them on their bucket list.

  Mrs. Bennet said, wistfully, “I wish I were going with them.”

  Mr. Bennet sighed, thinking, So too do I, wish you were going with them. The St. Angels drove to a nearby farm where some slaves were toiling. Said Marley. “We would like to introduce you to some new friends. You may not think so, but among their own people, they are considered to be most agreeable in countenance and accomplishments. May I first introduce a gentleman from Mexico, Gael Garcia Bernaldo?”

  Said Dean, “This gentleman is from Africa, David Oyelolowe.”

  Said Madelyn, “And this gentleman is from Japan, Kioshi Watanabe.”

  The girls found all three to be uncommonly handsome but felt reluctant to shake their hands, since they were foreign to them.

  The slaves felt the girls’ rebuffs, but were accustomed to such a response from white people and shrugged it off. “When you talk to them and get to know them, I’m certain you will like them,” said Marley. “We are the same, actually. We are all in the family. The family of Man. Ever since Eve. At least, as it hopefully will be tomorrow, if the world moves on. Now let us dance under the stars.”

  In an open farm field, the sisters began to dance with the men of different color, music coming from a nearby ensemble of gypsies. The girls became increasingly comfortable dancing with them as the night grew darker, more stars filled the sky, and the dancing got dirty. As they talked with them and got to know them better, they began to even like them.

  After some time, Marley said, “Now let’s change partners and dance.” Ah, the young girls of Longbourn. Terminator Three.

  Having earlier been instructed by Marley, the three farm workers gave up the sister they had been dancing with and gave the girls over to the St. Angels. While dancing in Dean’s arms, Kitty said, “You and your cousins dance very well.”

  “We took lessons from two of the most accomplished ballroom dancers in the colonies. Fred and Ginger.”

  Mary, dancing with Marley, said, “I enjoy reading. A book I read recently about the future said that machinery some day will take the place of every profession.”

  Replied Marley: “That’s something you need never worry about.”

  Lydia, dancing with Madelyn, asked, “Have you had experience with men?” “You could say so. I was married three times, that I remember.”

  “Could you give me some advice, on men and marriage?” While they danced, Madelyn gladly obliged, saying, “On men… The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead or smiling into your eyes. My third husband loved to hold one of my toes while he looked into my eyes.”

  Lydia looked into her dance partner’s eyes and thought she was falling in love, again.

  Said Madelyn: “They say it is a man’s world. I do not mind living in a man’s world, as long as I can be a woman in it.”

  Lydia thought, You could be the woman in my world! You could free me from this well of loneliness. Madelyn said, “Everyone, man and woman, should ask themselves… ‘Who am I?’ Me, I’m just a small girl in a big world, trying to find someone to love and who will love me.”

  Said Lydia softly to her, “I will love you.” Kitty, in Dean’s strong arms as they danced, felt a sense of relief, thinking she would not, after all, be a forty-year-old virgin. While she rested her head on Dean’s shoulder, he kissed her neck. At least, she thought he had. She loved it, then felt weak in his embrace.

  At the same time, while dancing with Mary, Marley’s lips caressed her neck. She tingled in excitement. She felt like she had died and gone to paradise.

  The sisters thought they would write about the evening in their diaries. Chapter Thirty-Eight

  After his daughters had gone off with the St. Angels, Mr. Bennet became concerned after ten o’clock and they had not come back home.

  The following morning, Mr. Bennet received a letter from Virginia. He anxiously opened it and read,

  Dear friend, I am writing you from Virginia where I am staying with my daughter and her husband until I move into a home of my own nearby. I don’t need a big house, just one that can accommodate a guest, and I hope that will be you. I enclose passage fare to come visit, and we can go kite-flying together and just be friends.

  Raymond Mr. Wickham put the letter in his smoking jacket pocket and gave the invitation thought. If and when his daughters returned from their evening with the visitors in silver suits, they would find their own lives. So would Mrs. Bennet. He had begun to feel invisible around them anyway.

  “I shall take a late afternoon stroll,” said Mrs. Bennet and left the house. While walking on the outskirts of Longbourn, she wandered into a farm field and stumbled into a pig’s wallow. Coming up from the muck and mud without any damage to her dress or coat, she thought it had been a minor miracle. She then saw what she considered to be a major miracle.

  Dark clouds that had gathered overhead parted and she stood looking up into bright sunlight. An angel floated toward her and told her, “Start a new religion. The world is waiting for it and you.”

  The vision departed as soon as it came, and Mrs. Bennet felt she had been touched by the hand of God. She rushed back home to tell Mr. Bennet about her miraculous vision, but he took the revelation skeptically.

  “The prunes in the blood soup did not agree with you. You merely felt dizzy and think you saw an angel. Angels don’t usually appear around Longbourn.” “You can’t convince me otherwise,” insisted Mrs. Bennet. “I was visited by a divine apparition. I felt I had died in the pig’s wallow and had a near-death experience. The angel returned me to Longbourn and commanded me to start a new religion.”

  “What would it be?”

  “I gave that some thought on the way home and have decided. I have a calling. It began to come to me while listening to Mr. Collins’ sermon.” “The Mr. Collins who is no longer with us. I have learned that his wife found him in his parsonage, quite deceased. He had no color in his face or the rest of his body. Doctors were called but were out for the day, golfing, so the veterinarian was asked to inspect. He declared that Mr. Collins had apparently expired from a throat ailment, perhaps laryngitis.”

  “How sad,” said Mrs. Bennet. “I think.”

  “About the new religion you are going to spread to the world…”

  “It is for the select elect. The rest of mankind has its own religion, to assist and enhearten the poor. Mine will appeal to the uppermost of the wealthiest class.”

  Mr. Bennet thought, Blessed be the few. “Its motto shall be, “Greed is good. Do unto others as you would not have them do unto you. Take, do not give. Tomorrow may never come. You can’t take it with you, so amass as much as you can while you can. Live for yourself. You are not your brother’s keeper. Never give a sucker an even break. I got mine, who cares if you get yours?”

  “There’s really nothing new in that,” said Mr. Bennet. “You could run for public office on that platform, and even become Prime Minister.”

  “I shall wear a long white robe and call myself Sister Evangeline.”

  “What is your new religion to be called?”

  Mrs. Bennet had given that some thought, too, and decided upon two simple words that would be easy to remember: “Me First.” “That’s catchy. But you have no credentials to preach in ministry.” “I shall take a correspondence course. I can earn a doctorate for just a few hundred pounds. Mr. Collins took just such a course through the postal service.”

  She’s thought of just about everything, Mr. Wickham thought.

  “How will you spread the word about your new religion?” “I will disperse leaflets at sporting events. Religion may once have been called the opium of the masses. Today it appears to be sports. And there shall be music. I will endeavor to incorporate into my religious services the joyful music the St. Angels introduced us to. I can spread it to the whole world. Hallelujah!�
��

  “How will you finance your new religion?” “I also have given that some thought.. I will sell a patent medicine that will cure all ailments, including my own. Its base will be of pig’s dung, in keeping with the place where my miracle occurred, but sweetened with brandy and liqueurs. I have learned that Mrs. Collins, wife of the very recently late Mr. Collins, is home-brewing the most agreeable concoctions. I will offer her a percentage of sales to my parishioners in trade for some of her wares.”

  “Will your elixir have any adverse side affects?” “No more so than what Doctor Martin says a pharmaceutical saleswoman, Fay Baldwin, has given him to sell to patients, on commission. It is called SuperSex, not guaranteed to provide new life to a gentleman’s inability to perform adequately with his wife or mistress.”

  “I might be interested, if the side affects are minimal.” “The product does have a disclaimer, that a doctor should be notified if it causes symptoms such as severe headache, itching or hives, warmth or swelling of the face and hands, chest pain, trouble breathing, fast or slow heartbeat, dizziness or fainting, hearing loss, impaired vision, nose bleeding, an upset stomach, inability to have a bowel movement, fever, numbness in the hands, arms, legs, or feet, and if the member remains erected longer than two days. If death occurs, the next of kin are to notify the deceased’s doctor.”

  “So it is safe, then,” said Mr. Bennet. “Whatever. I will purchase a quantity and sell it at my church. I could offer a second bottle free, just add a few schillings more, to cover shipping and handling. I might ask those nice St. Angel cousins where I could obtain that music box they call a Walkman. I might advertise the product over it.” “By-the-by, where will church services be held?”

  “Here, to begin with.”

  Mr. Bennet began having more thoughts of Virginia. “When the congregation outgrows our house, I can have tents built on our lot. Eventually, and sooner than later, I hope, I will have a glass cathedral erected for services.”

  As Mrs. Bennet went on with plans for her new religion, he withdrew Lord Henderson’s letter from his smoking jacket pocket and re-read it.

  “You can be one of the ushers, passing one of the donation baskets.” Mr. Bennet now decided on his future and went to the writing desk in the library, took out an envelope, and addressed it to Mr. Raymond Henderson in Roanoke, Virginia. He then took up writing paper. He was not certain how long his visit would be.

  While writing to Lord Henderson he heard Mrs. Bennet in the parlor sermonizing to her imagined congregation: “Amassing for one’s self is not stealing from others. It is merely denying them what you have.”

  Mr. Bennet’s message to Lord Henderson was brief:

  Raymond, I’m on my way!

  Chapter Thirty-Nine The next day, while Mr. Bennet was en route to Virginia, Elizabeth got a letter from him while she and Mr. Darcy settled in at Netherfield until Pemberley would be rebuilt.

  Dearest Elizabeth, I must inform you and your sisters with this letter that I have decided to accept Lord Henderson’s generous invitation and ship fare to visit him in Virginia. I am uncertain how long I shall be gone, but trust that you and your sisters and Mrs. Bennet will get along fine.

  Mr. Collins is no longer, so he cannot inherit the house. I presume, if I do not return, that it will go to the first-born son of one of you girls, preferably one who is married and remains so.

  Your sisters went off yesterday with two gentlemen and a lady who are pale of skin but seem agreeable. They returned this morning also looking pale, after having looked robust. I didn’t seem to recognize them anymore. They have changed so. They did not talk to me, just kept looking at me, my neck in particular. It made me uneasy and I began to itch. Between that and your mother’s spiritual malady, I have decided to absent myself by going to America. I shall be taking a vacation from marriage. Perhaps at times every marriage needs time off for good behavior. Or bad.

  I love you and Jane especially and wish you both every happiness. I anticipate that your sisters will find their own, one way or another. They may not find matches made in heaven, but whatever.

  You girls are all grown, and I feel lost to Mrs. Bennet, so I hope you will allow me to live my own life now, in peace, and with a friend.

  Give my best regards to your excellent husband. I do hope that you have the first-born son who can inherit Longbourn.

  Your loving father.

  Elizabeth shared the letter with Darcy and he smiled.

  “Mr. Bennet is a very wise man.” That evening, while the Bingley’s were reading in their library, the Darcy’s sat before the fire in the fireplace and discoursed while Heidi played on the floor near them with Maxer. They talked about temptation and temperance and related concerns, all the while sensing what each other was thinking.

  “Always depend on my constancy,” said Mr. Darcy, “but do not think too highly of me, for I am but a man, not a saint.”

  “I should not have married you if you were. A woman likes a man of experience. Just not too much of it before marriage, and none after, except with her.” “But a man wants to marry a woman with no experience before marriage. That may change in future years, but I prefer marrying a virgin. I hope you believe me when I say I was not tempted by Pippa’s beauty. I did not stray in thought or deed.”

  “As I was not tempted by Sean’s countenance. He was always a gentleman to me and I a lady to him.” They spoke thusly although knowing that both of the Irish were flirts, whether researching for Mr. Collins or not. They made their protestations of fidelity while each crossed their fingers behind them.

  Elizabeth thought of Pippa and their friendship. She truly felt that she considered it to be no more than that, although she had feelings for her that went beyond her friendship for Charlotte or her sisterly love for Jane. It was different, yet she did not think she wanted more. Or did she?

  Mr. Darcy had similar thoughts about Sean, but concluded that his feelings for him were just friendship, although a very strong friendship. The aura he had seen surrounding Sean had been genuine, coming from an inner sensibility of nature.

  His thoughts then returned to the letter he had received from Mr.. Wickham. What would he write, if he did send him a reply? In all honesty to himself and to Mr. Wickham, what would he say?

  Had he been repressing stronger feelings than friendship for Mr. Wickham for years? Were they the reason he detested him? If he checked out his own true feelings, what would they be? Did he want friendship, or more?

  Was it a question many have to ask themselves? And what would their answer be? What if the answer was to want more? Would they give in to temptation or exercise temperance?

  It was a question to truly ponder. And, ultimately, did it make any difference which world one chose to live in as the best possible? Would it make any difference to themselves, or to God? He has commanded us to love each other, as He loves us.

  Mr. Darcy looked at Elizabeth and doubted she knew what he was thinking. He got up from his chair and went to her as she sat on the couch, then kissed her passionately on the lips. He felt content to live in his world with her. She was his true love.

  She had been concerned about her sisters’ future, but then decided they would be fine. The silly girls may yet find their true loves.

  Paula approached Mr. Darcy.

  “Sir, letters have arrived for you.”

  Thank heaven for small favors, thought Darcy. She has finally got it!

  Paula handed him four letters. He first opened the one from London that was marked “Urgent.” Darcy read, Sir, this is to inform you that you have been conscripted to serve in His Majesty the King’s Regular Army. You must report immediately to the War Office in London.

  He had read in The Times that the war with Napoleon was going badly for the British both in Spain and with the Americans in Canada. While thinking about the possible consequences of the letter from London, Mr. Darcy decided he would not attempt to use influence to get himself an officer’s commission. He would do the hono
rable thing and serve as a foot soldier, whether on the Continent or in America.

  He then opened the other letters, from Mr. Bingley at Netherfield, Mr. O’Reilly in Galway, and Mr. Wickham in Australia. Darcy discovered that each informed him that they had received similar conscription notices.

  Mr. Darcy decided to wait until morning to tell Elizabeth the contents of the four letters. He then held her in his arms and asked,

  “What’s it all about, Eliza?”

  She replied hastily, “I don’t have a clue.” Upon a few moments of reflection, she added, “The main thing is our love for each other. God has commanded that everyone love their neighbor. I believe that if we cannot quite do that, at least we should tolerate each other’s differences.”

  Darcy agreed. “We cannot go astray if we love, and that love hurts no one.” To want more of himself would be ungentlemanly, Mr. Darcy thought. And above all, despite his pride and prejudice, he regarded himself as being a gentleman. It was the bedrock that kept him on firm footing.

  That night in bed, while making love, they thought they could read each other’s mind again.

  Elizabeth said, “I think what we need is a fresh start. Not a vacation from marriage, but a vacation from the world. A second honeymoon.”

  Darcy wished it could be so, but the letter from London would make it a far less agreeable vacation from marriage than either of them would wish.

  Deciding that the night was warm, Darcy got out of bed and opened a window in their bed chamber.

  Upon Darcy’s return to bed, Elizabeth felt a chill. She got up and closed the window, exercising her veto over his action.

  Darcy again felt the room was too warm. Perhaps from his passion coming on. He got up and, as he never had before, exercised a double veto.

  Elizabeth began to think the unthinkable. Should she close the window again, thereby exercising a veto over his double veto?

  She wondered, Was this the start of a new chapter in their marriage? She then decided to let Darcy have the final veto. She found some comfort in thinking she would allow him to be sometimes irrational. He was, after all, a darling man and, while being exposed to temptation, had exercised temperance. She was certain of it.