Confusion, Confession and Conviction

by Victoria Winfield

  Pitt’s successor was his first cousin, William Grenville, who headed the ministry of all the talents, a coalition which included Charles James Fox.

  Pitt’s personal life

  Pitt was quite happy among his companions at Cambridge, or when with his family. He was not interested in making new friends. His lack of interest in expanding his social circle meant that it did not grow to endear to any ladies outside his family. From late 1784, Pitt was ridiculed for his lack of knowledge in women. He was thought by some to be a homosexual because he preferred the company of young men. Pitt was referred to as the “three-bottle man” due to his heavy consumption of port wine.

  His legacy

  He was a powerful prime minister who harnessed much power. After his death, the conservatives praised him as a great patriotic icon. One of his greatest achievements was the rehabilitation of the country’s finances after the American war of independence. He assisted with the management of the increasing national debt and effected changes to the tax system so as to improve the collection of revenue.

  Some of his plans were not successful though; failing to secure reforms in parliament, and emancipation of slaves.

  Cultural references of Pitt the younger

  Film and TV

  Pitt has been depicted in a number of films and programs on TV:

  Pitt was portrayed in the 1942 biopic, the young Mr. Pitt

  He is also played in the 1994 film, the madness of King George

  2006 film, amazing grace

  In the third series of the comedy, Blackadder, Pitt is caricatured as a boy prime minister

  In the series of prime ministerial biographies, Number 10, Pitt is there too

  Examples of Places named after Pitt the younger

  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

  University Pitt club

  Pittwater in Aussie

  Pitt street in Sydney

  Pitt town outside of Sydney

  Mount Pitt on Norfolk island

  Pitt water in Tasmania

  Pitt’s head in wales

  Pittsboro, north Carolina

  Pitt street and Pitt lane in Malaysia

  Pitt street in Hong Kong

  Pitt street in Glasgow

  Pitt street in Windsor, Cornwall and Kingston, Ontario

  Rue Pitt and Chemin Pitt in Montreal, Quebec

  Connection with Britannica

  Another issue that Pitt had to deal with was that of the future of Canada. By the constitutional act of 1791, the then province of Quebec was split into two; French and English dominates regions. Pitt’s foreign policy was not one hundred percent successful. In 1778, he formed alliances with Prussia and Holland so as to restrict the influence of the French. However, the alliance served only one useful purpose; Prussia’s support of his government enabled Pitt to be victorious over the Spanish without having to go to war in the Nootka Sound dispute.

  Therefore, Spain’s claim to a monopoly of trade and settlement on the western seaboard of North America was finally destroyed. Pitt’s intervention in Eastern Europe had no victories. Catherine the second of Russia was adamant in wanting to establish her supremacy in the black sea. In March 1971, Pitt sent her an ultimatum demanding the restoration to the sultan of all conquests apart from Crimea.

  However, this policy was neither supported by the public opinion nor cabinet. Since the government was badly shaken, it had to reverse this policy,

  Interesting facts about Pitt the younger

  He was the youngest ever prime minister of Britain, being aged twenty four

  He had a fight on the 27th of May, 1798 on Putney heath against George Tierney, a Foxite member of parliament. He wrote to his mum, “ the business concluded without anything unpleasant to either of the parties”

  On the execution of Louis of France, he said, “on every principle by which men of justice and honor are actuated, it is the foulest and most atrocious deed which the history of the world had occasion to attest.”

  Pitt died at the age of forty six.

  A Duke in Hertfordshire

  A Pride and Prejudice Regency Variation

  BY

  April Kelsey

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 1

  Lizzie returned to Longbourn in what could only be described as a foul mood.

  She could scarcely believe that Mr. Darcy had had the gall to propose to her. It had been a long carriage ride from her cousin's and Charlotte's estate back to her home, and Lizzie had plenty of time to go over the events of the past few days in her mind... Over and over and over.

  It was bad enough that he had somehow thought it a good idea to propose to begin with; she could barely stand the man. But to propose after admittedly sabotaging Jane's and Mr. Bingley's relationship? One had to be blind, or daft, or so exceedingly caught up in one's own sense of self-importance that the very possibility of rejection simply ceased to exist in one's mind.

  Lizzie endeavoured to keep her mind focused on these thoughts and nothing else. She did not wish to dwell on the revelation of Mr. Wickham's lies -because Mr. Darcy had readily admitted to his interference in Mr. Bingley's and Jane's future, Lizzie thought that despite his many faults, the man at least appeared to be honest and so she must believe that Mr. Wickham had deceived her-. She refused to think too deeply about whatever shared looks or fleeting smiles may have given Mr. Darcy the impression that a proposal (even one so poor as what he provided) might be welcome.

  No, Lizzie would not allow her judgement to be softened. The fact remained that Mr. Darcy had not only insulted her and her family, but he had also directly cost Jane her happiness. He deserved no sympathy.

  When Lizzie finally stepped off the carriage and arrived at Longbourn, sore and eager to return to her feet, she decided that she would leave behind all thoughts of unwanted proposals, all memories of the fleeting vulnerability in Mr. Darcy's demeanour, and would only be thankful that she had to see Mr. Darcy no more.

  Unfortunately, the atmosphere in the Bennet home did little to improve her temper. Her mother was still severely disappointed by the failure of not one, but two daughters in securing a husband. She certainly had not forgiven Lizzie for rejecting Mr. Collins and "forcing him to choose that dreadfully dull Lucas girl instead of one of my own daughters!", and would loudly wonder what she had done to deserve such treatment. Despite Mrs. Bennet's best attempts though, it was easy enough to ignore her with enough years of practice.

  Kitty and Lydia acted blissfully unaware of their family's misfortunes, squealing and giggling at the smallest provocations. Mary was far from being in a joyful mood, but that was no different than usual. Lizzie had learned to tune out her younger sisters years ago.

  Jane, on the other hand, was a different story. She insisted that she was alright, even a bit relieved now that she did not feel pressured to win Mr. Bingley's affections, but her facade was weak. The eldest of the Bennet sisters had never been a gifted liar. Lizzie couldn't help but think of how Mr. Darcy was to blame every time she saw one of Jane’s forced smiles, yet she never brought the matter into light. She reasoned with herself that it was best to keep quiet in order to protect her sister; knowing the truth would only cause her more pain. She did, however, disclose to Jane and only Jane the business about Mr. Darcy’s proposal, her refusal, and the revealed nature of Mr. Wickham. While Lizzie received some sympathy, Jane’s forgiving nature made her considerate of Mr. Darcy’s feelings in a way that helped only to increase Lizzie’s irritation.

  And so, the days dragged on slowly and rather painfully. When it seemed that the house could contain the general discontent no longer, Mrs. Bennet finally declared that it was
time to get to work.

  “I have heard the most wonderful news!” she was grinning from ear to ear as she spoke over breakfast that morning. It was the same manic grin she’d worn when she first announced that Mr. Bingley would be at Netherfield. She paused for a short moment, then said, “Well, come now! Don’t any of you want to know what it is?”

  Mr. Bennet didn’t look up from his plate. “Do tell us, dear. Please.”

  This was invitation enough for her to go on. “I have heard from Mrs. Lucas, who has heard from Mrs. Connolly, who knows the cousin of the Rothchilds, and has it on good authority that the Duke of Ausbury has had to meet with Mr. Elkins -you know Thomas Elkins, the one with the short little wife- well, he happens to have some distant relation to the Duke and they’ve had to meet to discuss some business or other.” Her face looked positively crimson with excitement. “And so the Duke has arrived in Hertfordshire but an evening ago!”

  Mrs. Bennet was met with silence. While Jane and Lizzie stared from one parent to another to judge the matter, Kitty and Lydia looked at each other with their mouths open in disbelief.

  “A duke?” Lydia all but shrieked.

  “A duke could afford to give an estate to each of us!” Kitty laughed wildly.

  “One duke is worth at least ten Mr. Bingleys!” Lydia joined Kitty’s laughter.

  Lizzie wished she could have pinched Lydia for that last remark. It only took one glance to see Jane’s calm face waver at the mention of Mr. Bingley.

  Mrs. Bennet however seemed just as delighted as the youngest sisters. “Indeed!” she said. “We must go out at once!”

  Mr. Bennet at last dragged his attention from his meal to look up at his wife now. “If I may ask, do you plan on chasing the unsuspecting fellow down?”

  “Oh, Mr. Bennet!” Lizzie’s mother took the remark lightly. “I mean only to have our daughters prepared! Surely there is to be a ball while the Duke is here, and I will not have them taken by surprise when the time comes! They must have their finest garments and ribbons ready!”

  “Ah,” was Mr. Bennet’s only response before returning once more to his food.

  “Shall we go shopping, mama?” Lydia perked up even further.

  “Yes!” Kitty squealed. “Let us go shopping! We shall have the prettiest ribbons at the ball!”

  “You don’t even know that there will be a ball,” Mary spoke now.

  “Well if not, we shall be the best dressed in Hertfordshire regardless!” Lydia retorted.

  The rest of the meal went by with the incessant chatter of Mrs. Bennet and the youngest daughters as they spoke of the possibilities of what clothes they might buy and what the Duke might look like and when the ball might be. Jane remained awfully quiet throughout it all, and Mr. Bennet was clearly doing his best to pretend that he had gone deaf.

  Lizzie thought it silly to make such a fuzz over a piece of gossip, but she had to admit that it was a relief to have the family’s thoughts diverted from their recent failures. Not to mention that spending a day in town, even if it did seem too indulgent to let Kitty and Lydia go shopping again, would be a welcome respite from the long days spent locked in the house.

  It was decided that they would all walk to town before noon that same day, and Lizzie thought that at the very least, it should help her return to normality and start forgetting all about unwanted proposals and disappointed sisters.

  Chapter 2

  It was a sunny Saturday morning and the shops in town were bustling with activity. It seemed to Lizzie that every time she turned she bumped into someone. The plus side was that, even though that same morning she had found her thoughts straying to Mr. Darcy’s rejected proposal and to the contents of his subsequent letter, once she was in town she could think of nothing except where she could step without running into anyone and where to look in order not to lose sight of her family.

  “Lizzie!” Jane’s golden hair stood out among the crowd and it was a signal that Lizzie could follow easily enough. Her older sister reached out a hand and Lizzie gratefully took it, allowing herself to be pulled closer to the small group that was her family.

  With Lydia and Kitty in the lead, Mrs. Bennet following, and Jane and Lizzie trailing behind (and Mary and Mr. Bennet having decided to remain in the house), the Bennet women forged a path through the rest of the shoppers.

  While Kitty and Lydia entertained themselves, Mrs. Bennet did not take long to begin hovering over Jane, suggesting ribbons and bonnets that would favour her complexion. Jane, ever modest, complied mostly to allow their mother to enjoy herself. After a while of trying different items on and laughing when Lizzie suggested that she simply wear every bonnet at once and as such she would be sure of catching anyone’s attention, the unexpected happened. Lizzie was having a good time. It seemed that they all were.

  For a while, Lizzie could not be bothered to remember her troubles at all. However, as the day dragged on into afternoon, the dense crowds and the loud chatter began to wear on her. She had managed to spend many hours with her mind occupied, but sure enough the recent memories began seeping back in. Before she could help it, Mr. Darcy was intruding upon her peace of mind again.

  Her mood officially dampened, Lizzie quietly drifted away from her exuberant mother and sisters. She wandered for a short time, searching for a place where she could wait until her family decided to walk home. She eventually found a place where a pair of barrels stood pressed up against a wall, short enough that she could take a seat on one of them and rest her back against the wall. Here she waited, staring at the crowd and entertaining herself by observing the townspeople.

  She amused herself by imagining the kind of person that those walking before her could be. She made a game of watching and guessing at their lives.

  There was the petite girl wearing a dress with enough pink ribbons that she could have passed for a wrapped gift- Lizzie imagined that she was on the way to pick up a basket of muffins to bring to her very old yet wealthy husband, who called her his “pet” in a seemingly affectionate manner but really he saw her as a particularly well-behaved poodle.

  There was the large blonde woman arguing with one of the vendors just outside a shop; Lizzie thought that the woman could be a widow who liked to sing opera by night, and was arguing with the vendor because he had sold her an old wig that gave her a rash.

  Lizzie continued scanning the town square and she saw a well-dressed man who stood out by his startling head of red hair. She decided that he was the heir to a massive fortune but was obsessed with collecting women’s bonnets, and had already lost most of his wealth indulging this fancy.

  Several minutes passed in this game, and several more could have passed, but Lizzie was startled back into reality by a man’s smooth voice.

  “Weary feet?” the man asked.

  Lizzie’s neck almost snapped as she turned her head in an instant. She was surprised to find the redhaired man standing less than an arm’s length to her right. He wore a half smile, and up close she saw that his eyes were the colour of the sky.

  “Indeed, I can grow quite exhausted myself in such places,” he continued talking without waiting for a response. “I don’t know how many of you ladies can manage to explore every corner of every shop and still come out with a hop in your step.”

  Lizzie raised her eyebrows in response. “Forgive me, good sir, but I cannot decide whether your words are an attempt at flattery by generalization, or if you have wilfully singled me out as lacking the good qualities that characterize other ladies.”

  She expected him to look taken aback, perhaps even put off by her reply, but instead he shocked her by laughing.

  “Ah, forgive me. I am not very gifted with words, you see. It would seem, however, that you are much more talented in this area, Miss-?” he looked at her expectantly.

  “Elizabeth,” Lizzie said, coming to her feet. She gave a short curtsy in greeting. “Now, as you say that you lack talent with words, I will be straightforward and say that it is customary fo
r a gentleman to introduce himself once he has asked for a lady’s name.”

  The man smiled again, and Lizzie found that he had the kind of smile that invited one to join in regardless of whether there actually was anything to smile about or not.

  “Charles Milford,” he said. “And I am very pleased to meet you, Miss Elizabeth.”

  “Likewise.”

  “You must forgive my intrusion if you were hoping to be left alone here,” he went on. “I was merely curious. I saw you staring at me earlier and it seemed as though you were laughing to yourself as you did. I must be honest, I have very easily wounded vanity, and so I told myself that I must speak to you in order to clarify matters. I should like to think that your laughter was the result of a remembered joke, completely unrelated to my person. However, in the event that you were indeed laughing at my person, I must implore you to share with me the reason, so that I can either strive to correct it or at least come to terms with it and be at peace with myself.”

  Mr. Milford was looking at her with such feigned earnestness that Lizzie had to laugh. “Be at peace, Mr. Milford. As it turns out, there is nothing on your person that I find amusing, save for your lack of proficiency in the art of compliments of course. If you must know, I was only keeping myself entertained by imagining what kind of a life the people in this town might be leading beyond the shops.”

  He looked intrigued now. “Would I be correct in assuming that you have imagined a life for me as well?”

  Lizzie looked away to hide a guilty smile. She felt the embarrassment of her earlier musings turn into a blush on her face. However, she thought that Mr. Milford had expressed enough good humour that he might not be offended if she told him the truth.

  “I fancied you a lover of bonnets,” she admitted.