The Portrait of Elizabeth

by Jane Angwin

  Elizabeth was shown to a room that she felt must have been a mistake. While the others were all in the guest wing, Mrs. Reynolds walked her to a different wing, and Elizabeth inquired why she had been singled out. Mrs. Reynolds said that Mr. Darcy had instructed her to give this room to Miss Bennett, and although quite curious as to why, Elizabeth asked no further questions. The room was the largest bed chamber she had ever seen. The walls were papered in soft yellow and pale blue flowers with a lovely blue carpet and blue velvet chairs next to a beautiful mahogany writing desk. The immense canopy bed was covered with a pale blue and yellow coverlet and scattered with silk throw pillows in exquisite fabrics that because she had often visited her uncle's factory in Cheapside, she knew were expensive silks imported from the East Indies. She walked to the window that was still being pelted with rain, but she could definitely make out the large pond and bridge in the front of the estate. She was stunned at the view, which meant she was being honored with a room of great importance. Guest wings were usually in the back of the house, and only the family wing rooms looked out over the magnificence of the lake and undoubtedly, glorious sunrises. Something was very strange to her, and the fact that she had been given a room, most likely close to the newlyweds greatly troubled her. What would Anne think about her accommodations? Wouldn't this raise questions with the other guests? After one night, even if it was still raining, she would insist that the Gardiners brave the storm and return her to Lambton.

  Dinner was a lively affair, with thirteen people sharing a large table in the main dining room. The Chastains, the Charrons, Angelique, the Gardiners and Elizabeth, Darcy, Anne and Georgiana, Mrs. Barrett, and Mrs. Annesley, who had been introduced to the new guests before dinner. Again, Elizabeth felt Mr. Darcy's eyes on her often during the meal, and when she would dare to glance at him, he was looking at her as if he wished to speak to her. Anne sat next to him, but she barely spoke, only conversing quietly with Georgiana. It seemed so odd to Elizabeth that Darcy did not attempt much conversation with her, and it became more and more clear to her that theirs was not a marriage of love at all. Her suspicions about Mr. Wickham compromising Anne could be the only answer for their unusual relationship and their quick marriage. She felt such sadness for them both, but she felt an even greater sadness for herself. To think what a different kind of marriage she and Mr. Darcy could have had should Wickham not have so maliciously interfered with everyone's fate. Elizabeth spoke little at dinner, and she hoped that no one noticed.

  When the gentlemen separated from the ladies after dinner, the ladies returned to the sitting room, and her aunt took her aside and asked her if she was alright. "I am sorry that this day turned out like this for you, Lizzy. I know that this must be quite difficult. If we had known that Mr. Darcy and his new wife were arriving today, we would never have agreed to this visit. And it was such a lovely morning, how could we know that a storm was approaching."

  "It is fine, Aunt Madeline. I have realized that for whatever reason this has happened, I will learn from it. Have you noticed how little Mr. Darcy and Anne converse? It almost seems as though they are miserable together. What kind of a life will they have here in this glorious place without someone to love and feel joy in life. I am now even more certain that I will never settle for a relationship based on anything but the deepest love. I want what you and Uncle Edward share."

  Janine shared her experiences about life in America and the difficulties she had adjusting without understanding English as a child. She spoke about the people of the South who lived in large plantations and had great numbers of slaves that worked in the cotton fields. Georgiana was most interested in listening to Janine talk about how Nicolas learned the business of managing a large plantation, and how he dreamed of being able to return to France to buy his own vineyard and make wine.

  "I have always wanted to visit France," Georgiana said wistfully. "It sounds so beautiful, and I have learned so much French since you have been here. Perhaps one day I can visit you and your family when you return there." Angelique gave her a knowing look, and Elizabeth noticed. It was obvious that Georgiana had developed an attachment to the handsome Frenchman, and the young girl's heart was probably imagining a romantic life with him in France.

  "I pray you do not have your heart broken, sweet girl" Elizabeth thought to herself. "Love is a delicate flower that rarely grows unless the miracle of soil and water and sun come together at the same exact time. Many things can harm or even destroy it before it has a chance to survive."

  Angelique inquired about Anne's wedding, and Anne's eyes lit up. "It all happened so fast, but it was a perfect day. There were only a few family members there, but the church was beautiful, and the wedding breakfast was wonderful. My Aunt Edith went to so much trouble to make it seem as though she had spent months planning everything."

  "I would imagine that your mother was delighted, was she not?" Mrs. Gardiner inquired. The room became quiet, and Anne glanced at Georgiana and then to Mrs. Barrett. "She was unable to attend," Anne said in a whisper. Clearly, her compromise had infuriated her mother and she refused to attend, Elizabeth concluded. Anne continued, "I never thought I would marry at all, and especially to such a wonderful man, someone I have known all my life."

  "Are you not going to take a wedding trip, my dear?" Madeline asked again. "I am surprised that you have arrived here at Pemberley so soon after your wedding."

  "Yes, we will be taking a trip later this year after the holidays, but it was necessary to leave London quickly, and Richard had business to attend to, so things will just have to wait."

  Elizabeth wondered why Richard's business had anything to do with Anne's wedding trip, but not much was making sense to her, and her head was pounding with a headache that she had felt coming on all night.

  The men returned to the sitting room, and it was obvious that they had imbibed in more than one glass of brandy. Frederick claimed fatigue and said that he wished to visit with his father before he went to bed. Nicolas had likely had a bit too much brandy and was somewhat unsteady on his feet, so Darcy offered to escort him to his room. Edward took his wife's hand and said it was time for them to go to bed too, and Elizabeth saw her aunt give him a sly smile as if to say she was understanding some romantic message. Everyone else agreed to retire as well, and they all climbed the staircase to go to their respective rooms. Elizabeth was quite embarrassed when the other guests went toward the guest wing, while she and Georgiana and Anne went to the family wing on the opposite side of the staircase.

  As Georgiana stopped at a doorway, Anne said goodnight and proceeded down the hall to another door, presumably the Mistress's chambers. Once they were alone in the hall, Elizabeth whispered, "Georgiana, I am extremely pleased that I have been given such a beautiful room, but why am I not staying with the others in the guest wing?" she asked.

  "My brother asked that Mrs. Reynolds prepare this room for you, Miss Bennett." She smiled at Elizabeth, knowing that her brother was definitely smitten with this lovely woman, and she was thrilled at the prospect of her becoming her sister some day. "He wants you to know how happy he is that you have come to visit us here at Pemberley." She asked if Elizabeth knew the way to her own room, and Elizabeth assured her she did. "This is my room, and if you need anything or if you are frightened by the storm in the night, please do not hesitate to come and be with me. I have never had the joy of having a sister, and I would love the company! It would be such fun!" She turned the doorknob and entered her room, turning back to Elizabeth and saying goodnight. "I am so glad to have met you, Miss Bennett. You are everything I had imagined you to be."

  When Georgiana closed her door, Elizabeth stood in the hall, more confused than ever. Hadn't Anne just become her new sister? And what did she mean by saying she was everything Georgiana had imagined? What had Mr. Darcy told his sister about her to say something like that? As she tried to make sense of what had just happened, she heard a sound behind her, and she saw Mr. Darcy approaching her from down the dark
hallway. She tried to hurry to her door, but his long strides caught up with her before she had the chance to open her door, and he stood in front of her, just looking at her as he always had before she learned of his marriage. "What is it, Mr. Darcy?" she asked.

  "I just wanted to speak to you privately for one moment, if I may, Miss Elizabeth. There are so many things that I want to tell you."

  "There is no need to do so, Sir. I will be leaving in the morning, and we will soon be on our way back to London. Your life is here now, and it is improbable that our paths will cross again."

  Darcy knew that this was his only chance to explain, and he reached out to take her hand. Elizabeth pulled her hand away from him as if it was on fire, and she angrily confronted him. "Mr. Darcy, what are you doing? Why have you been staring at me all night, and why have you provided this room for me in the family wing? You are a married man, and I am afraid you have greatly misjudged me." She turned around and grabbed the doorknob to her room, and she felt his hand on her arm, gently pulling her around.

  "Elizabeth, please listen to me." He did not realize that he had called her by her Christian name, but she did. Incensed, she tore his hand off her arm, and she opened her door and darted in the room and slammed it shut. Darcy knocked on the door, quietly asking her to open it and hear him out. "Please, Miss Elizabeth, let me explain." He heard nothing, and after two more attempts, he knew it was futile. As he stood there feeling angry at himself for allowing this charade to continue, he once again felt a breath of air cross his face and the all too familiar scent of lavender filled his nose. He knew that he had to find a way to explain, but it was impossible to yell out the truth in the hallway at this hour, and so feeling deeply frustrated, he went to his room to try to sleep. He would have to try again in the morning. Unable to sleep, he tossed and turned, and finally spoke out loud to whatever this force was that was mysteriously communicating with him. "Nothing will keep me from her this time. Nothing will stop me from making her mine." It was a long and sleepless night in both chambers that night.

  Chapter Forty

  A tragic mistake

  The following morning, Elizabeth sat in the cushioned window seat of her room, watching as the sun started to peak over the edge of the valley below. The rain had stopped, and she was overjoyed that she would be able to leave Pemberley as soon as possible. She felt sad that she hadn't been able to see the magnificent gardens and explore the walking paths before leaving, but the longer she looked at the gorgeous scenery, she decided to dress and take a quick stroll around the outside of the estate, just to see what she could see without going off too far. No one else could possibly be awake yet, so she thought to just escape for a short time and none would be the wiser. Her uncle's words about being more careful came to her, but she felt certain that there could not be any danger in this idyllic place, so far from other homes and the town.

  She draped a small quilt from the bed over her shoulders to keep her warm, and she slipped out of her room and down the stairs, moving as quietly as she could. She opened the front door and noticed that there was a young boy with his back to her sweeping the front stairs at one end of the entrance leading to the stables, but he didn't see her, and she carefully descended the set of stairs leading down the other end of the entrance toward the gardens she had seen from her room. It was still quite wet from the rains the night before, and she wished that she had worn her sturdy half boots, but they were back at the Lambton Inn, and it wouldn't be the first time her feet got wet on one of her walks.

  It was getting a little lighter, and she could see the beautiful array of trees and shrubs that lined the house, and in perfect symmetry, she saw the gardens that had been impeccably arranged to showcase each species planted there. "How I wish I could see this in the Spring," she said to herself. It must be the most glorious sight in the world." She kept walking, inspecting all the rock formations and neatly trimmed bushes that separated each garden. As she rounded the back of the estate, she noticed a large perfectly trimmed hedge that curved around, almost appearing to be circular. She spied an opening at one end, and she wondered if this was the maze that Georgiana had mentioned to her. Having only read about them in books, and never having seen one in person, this intrigued her, and she didn't think there would be any problem exploring it. She looked up to see which way the sun was rising to give her a frame of reference, and she entered the maze.

  She was having great fun, moving around the perfectly trimmed pathways, sometimes coming to a dead end, and having to retrace her steps. She thought it looked familiar to her, but just as she thought she was back where she started, she came to another dead end. Now, turning around again, she found herself on a much narrower path, not at all familiar to her, and the twists and turns were becoming sharper and more difficult to walk through. She looked up to see where the sun was, and much to her dismay, the sky was becoming dark again, and the sun was no longer visible to her. She began to feel frightened, but she knew that if she just kept moving and walking, she would ultimately find her way out. On and on she walked, still unable to find the entrance or the exit to return home before the rain came again. She had definitely underestimated this maze, never realizing how large it was, and she was also beginning to feel the temperature drop. Her wet feet were starting to hurt from being cold, and the light quilt around her shoulders was not enough to ward off the chill. Wanting to cry, she stopped walking, and tried to calm her fear by taking deep breaths.

  As she gained her courage to begin again, all of a sudden from behind her, a cloth of some kind was put across her nose and her mouth, making it hard to breath. Then something dark and damp came down over head, and everything went dark. It smelled like an old potato sack, and she grabbed at the fabric, desperately trying to remove it, but strong hands held her arms at her side and she couldn't move. "Who are you? What are you doing to me?" she cried out. She squirmed and kicked, but she began to feel a slow drowsiness come over her, and she could no longer fight. As she lost consciousness, the last thing she thought she heard somewhere in her mind was a menacing voice saying " I finally have what you want, Darcy".

  Sometime later, Elizabeth awoke to her head pounding and a sick feeling in her stomach. She tried to open her eyes, but something was covering them, and she couldn't see anything. A small recollection of being lost in some dark place came back to her, but she could remember nothing else. Where was she? She realized that her hands were tied behind her, and she was lying on some type of bed. Knowing that it would be dangerous for whoever had done this to her to know that she was awake, she remained still and just tried to listen.

  Somewhere in the distance, she heard what sounded like a horse coming closer and closer, and she prayed that it was someone coming to find her. A door opened, and heavy boots entered the room, walking back and forth across the floor, as if the person was pacing. The next thing she heard was some kind of liquid being poured, and then the sound of someone sitting down. She dared not move, but the ropes around her wrists were cutting into her skin, and she had to relieve the pressure somehow. Slowly she twisted her hands to see how taut the ropes were, and she could feel some movement. Thinking she was being careful, she moved her wrists back and forth, but the rubbing ropes made a noise, and she was caught.

  "So, Miss Bennett, you are awake at last! I trust you had a pleasant rest?"

  The man's voice sounded familiar, and whoever it was knew her name, so she replied "I am sorry, sir. I do not speak to strange gentlemen until I am properly introduced. May I inquire who you are and why I am here in this uncomfortable position?"

  "Do you not recall my voice, Miss Bennett? We met one fine day in Meryton, and we had a pleasant conversation until your admirer arrived. I thought you would be pleased to see me again." She heard him walk next to her, and the sack over her head was violently ripped off. The room was quite bright, and the brightness hurt her eyes, so she closed them before she got a look at her captor, but by now she knew that the man was George Wickham, and she knew
why she was there. She now recalled being lost in the maze, and that he had been the one to kidnap her.

  "This is a terrible way to rekindle a friendship, Mr. Wickham. Wouldn't it be far easier to bump into such a friend as she shopped in town, or perhaps at a ball? " Elizabeth knew she was being flippant, but she did not want to appear frightened, even though she was feeling more vulnerable than she had ever been before.

  She started looking around the room to see where she was, and it appeared to be a small, one room shack of some kind. There was a small table and two chairs at one end of the room and a small bed and a large weathered leather chair at the other end. Hanging on the walls were animal traps, snow shoes, large jackets and hunting hats. She also noticed several rifles standing on end, propped against the wall. She then turned her attention back on Wickham, who was watching her as she surveyed her options. He walked over to the rifles and said, "Don't get any ideas, Miss Bennett. You won't be going anywhere today." He picked up the rifles and took them outside the cabin. While he was gone, Elizabeth continued wiggling her hands back and forth behind her back, trying to loosen the ropes. She felt a slight give on the tightness, but quickly stopped when Wickham returned.

  "Why are you doing this, Mr. Wickham?" Elizabeth asked. "I know that you are trying to hurt Mr. Darcy, but why kidnap me? What makes you think that Mr. Darcy will even know that I am missing?"