The Adventures of Lizzy Bennet - Book 2: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Kate Speck

  “Why is it a secret?” William began his steps to swing his foil and block her moves. “It cannot be that awful. I have a terrible middle name and my first name is Fitzwilliam and is probably the longest name in the world.”

  “I hated my middle name from an early age and begged my papa to change it but he would not relent. He said I might appreciate the name someday but I still despise it.” Lizzy shared. “What is your middle name?”

  William laughed, as he stealthily blocked Lizzy’s strike, “My middle name is truly atrocious and I will also never tell, Lizzy. It shall have to be a duel to the death before we tell each other our deepest and darkest secret!”

  Lizzy laughed, “Although I am now more curious than ever, I do not wish to tell you mine so I will not ask for yours.”

  “I will agree to that.” William answered as he knocked the foil from Lizzy’s hand. “I do intend to bribe your family to see if I can discover it, though.” He laughed as her eyes widened. “Pick up the foil, my dear. We will go again. You were close to gaining a point this time.”

  Lizzy smiled, “I will beat you someday, Fitz-’William Wallace’ Darcy! You may be the most famous Scottish rebel in history but I am gaining on you and you are positively ancient, remember?”

  William chuckled and they spent the next hour practicing and conversing with each other, wishing time passed ever so slowly, yet eager to grow up and experience what the world had to offer.

  Years 1806 ~ 1808

  Chapter 11

  March 1806

  “I cannot thank you enough, Darcy,” Mr. Bennet gratefully commented, “that you are allowing us to stay at Darcy House for the next ten nights. We were prepared to return home to Hertfordshire but it is very generous of you to host my entire family here after Edward’s daughter developed the rash. Madeline is beyond herself with worry but Lady Anne has been kind to comfort her while Grace is ill and to send extra servants in their time of need. Your doctor reassured them that although it might be contagious, it was likely that Edward and Madeline are not affected by the illness or otherwise they would have also developed the skin eruptions by now.”

  Mr. Darcy smiled, “It is a pleasure to have your family here, Bennet. Once I received word from my brother Lord Matlock that he wished for me to interview potential residents with his solicitor to lease out Rosings Park, I thought the timing was perfect to be in London while you are here. Fitzwilliam also wishes to finalise his Grand Tour plans and meet with his friends so it all worked perfectly. You can still take your wife out to a few outings and treat the girls to a shopping trip. Lizzy always enjoys the museums and gardens. If you are amenable to it, Bennet, I would not mind keeping Jane and Lizzy with us a further fortnight and deliver them home when we return to Netherfield. They can check on Grace Gardiner and be of help to Mrs. Gardiner.”

  Mr. Bennet chuckled, “That would be wonderful. No doubt Lady Anne will indulge the girls to several outings and spoil them rotten again.”

  “You know my wife well,” Mr. Darcy laughed. “She loves them like she does Georgiana and is ever grateful to have your girls spend time with our daughter. Georgiana has been getting along well with Mary and Kitty lately and once they are older, I would like to include the younger girls in our travels if they can be spared. Georgiana loves Lizzy best, though. That little girl of yours has a special place in all of our hearts.”

  “She is a brilliant thing, I agree, but I am very worried for her, Darcy. Lizzy has more intelligence and sense in her little body than the best men at the top of their class at Oxford, but she is a girl of not yet thirteen years in age. I know she is loved and accepted by those near her now but once she is exposed to more society, to those who do not see her as anything but a girl who is trying to rise above expectations, I fear that she will lose heart and, in the process, lose who she was meant to be. I do not wish to see her crushed but I know she will have to go through it.” Mr. Bennet ran his fingers through his hair. “If only I had wealth or status, or if she were to marry a man of consequence and patience, she might have the opportunity to achieve something great in her life. Why is it that we can have a monarch like Queen Elizabeth, who was beloved as a woman, and ladies of the first circles can do whatever they wish without regard to public opinion, but should a woman of gentle birth with little fortune attempt to show some sensibility, she is shunned and called a bluestocking? Do they not understand that we need rational women as much as intelligent men?”

  Mr. Darcy smiled, “I did not take you to be such an advocate for the rights of women. Are you a supporter of Mary Wollstonecraft?”

  “Yes, Yes, I am. I had never thought much about it until I began debating with Lizzy.” He laughed. “My daughter is quite persuasive and has convinced me that there are some women whose opinions are worth attending.”

  “Well, with a wife like my Anne and a daughter, Bennet,” Mr. Darcy responded, “and of course having Lizzy in my homes daily for nearly three years, I am an advocate now as well. You have heard of Lady Catherine and her antics. I agree with you that those with status or money are given the privilege of acting foolishly and are permitted whatever they wish and society’s rules do not apply to them. I wish for Georgiana to be more like Lizzy than an insipid debutante, and with my wife’s direction, I am hopeful that my daughter will have her heart’s desires. Remember,” Mr. Darcy paused, “Lizzy will be independently wealthy and her investment with Gardiner Enterprises is growing rapidly. Last your brother advised me, her majority funds were growing at twenty per cent on average, with the aggressive portfolio at nearly forty per cent growth. If all goes well, Lizzy will not only have Longbourn but her own funds to do as she wishes. And remember also,” Mr. Darcy beamed, “that you are not without connections. I adore Lizzy like my own daughter and my brother is the Earl of Matlock. Anne would demand the earl and the countess’ support and Henry and Margaret were delighted with her at Rosings. Whether Lizzy marries or not is entirely up to herself.”

  “Thank you, Darcy.” Mr. Bennet smiled. “You reassure me and I appreciate it. I do wish for her to marry and have happiness through her own children someday but I think not. Who would be able to take on such a girl as a wife and what man could possibly win her heart? I know William only sees her like a little sister and as much as you and I wish it, your son will find a worthy wife soon. Perhaps he may even return with one in tow from his Grand Tour!”

  Mr. Darcy burst out laughing, “I hope not! He is still too young and I hope to at least meet the young lady before he commits himself to a lifelong responsibility. I have not yet seen him interested in anyone and am curious what type of a woman he will find attractive. I know we men have our preferences and as much as he tells me that he wishes for an intelligent wife, his eyes will turn with his body faster than with his mind.”

  “I know it, Darcy. I had said the same but once I saw Fanny, I was a lost man.” Mr. Bennet concurred. “The heart has a way of beating on its own without listening to the mind. Logic does not apply when the heart strings are pulled the opposite direction.”

  The men laughed and spoke freely of their hopes for their children’s future. They made plans to attend the theatre and have a special birthday dinner for Lizzy next week. The Darcys and Bennets planned on enjoying themselves in London during the next week and a half.

  ~*~

  “I am most eager for our travels, Knightley.” William excitedly shared with his friend, as they sat at White’s and sipped on their drinks while watching their acquaintances make foolish bets on the books. “I enjoy an occasional bet or two but I am certainly more looking forward to seeing parts of England that I have never visited, seeing Ireland and Scotland, and of course, sailing across to Sweden. It will be the most exciting three and a half years of my life.”

  “Ah, about that, Darcy,” John Knightley flustered, “I... I wished to ask you on your thoughts... if you would allow our plans to change slightly. I assure you, but I would like to...” He took a deep breath. “I am engaged, Darcy. I
visited home before coming down to London and when I saw her...” He smiled as William’s mouth dropped agape. “Oh, dear friend, I have known Isabella all her life and I only saw her as a child before, but then when I saw her last week, standing in front of me as beautiful as an angel, I was struck by Cupid’s arrow and I was undone.”

  “You are engaged? You cannot leave for the Grand Tour, then?” William asked. “If I must find a different companion, I can certainly do so but engaged?! I could not be more surprised, Knightley!”

  Knightley smiled, “It is not a true engagement, unfortunately. It was more like the promise of an engagement. She laughed at me that I was a fool and that she could not possibly marry me because I would be leaving for three and a half years to sow my wild oats on my tour. She told me that she had cared for me all of her life and wished to marry me but she wanted me to experience what life had to offer and to see for herself what it is like to be out in society. I plan on spending a month with her before we depart on our journey but if I can request...”

  “Yes?” William asked. “What is it that you wish?”

  “Instead of three and a half years, I would like to see if an opportunity arises to shorten our trip by half a year. Three years should satisfy our wanderlust, would it not?” Knightley asked. “If we cut the sailing to Sweden since we were to keep that part to only six months, I can return to England and she will have turned nineteen and will be ready to marry me. I wish to marry her now but she told me she will not marry me until I have an occupation. I have more studying to do but I have been promised a paid position as soon as I return and I will marry her as soon as she will have me, Darcy. I love her and I know she will wait for me.”

  William grinned, “That is fine, my friend. Sweden is unstable in any case and there is talk of impending war with them so I can certainly wait. I envy you. We will have a grand time to see new places and meet wonderful people, but to have someone waiting for you back home must be a pleasant thought. I would not mind falling head over heels in love with a beautiful lady who will wait for me. Tell me more about your girl.”

  Knightley excitedly shared, “She and her family live next to my home and I have known Isabella since she was a little girl but I believe I have loved her for a long time. She developed quite early and I found her enchanting but she was so young, I only thought of her as a family friend. But oh, now, now she is a woman at sixteen and is most beautiful to me. Her father is an odd one but harmless and Isabella has a younger sister named Emma who is nearly ten now. I promised her that I would come back for her and give her everything she wants. My brother George will support me fully and once we return from our Grand Tour, he will set me up in London with our uncle and my allowance will support us for a while.” He laughed, “My only obstacle will be to convince Mr. Woodhouse that Isabella will not become ill when she leaves Highbury. He has become quite a... how can I put it gently... a pessimist and a worrier after his wife died several years ago. But he will have his second daughter who can stay home with him.”

  William replied, “I wish you the best, Knightley. I know we will have a great trip and I would be happy to see you wed.”

  “You will stand up with me, Darcy, and we will find you a wife.” Knightley declared. “Perhaps a beautiful Scottish or Irish lass with red hair?”

  The gentlemen laughed and spoke of their trip and their plans to meet again after completing their university education. They met several more friends from Cambridge and conversed until it was time to go their separate ways.

  Chapter 12

  Fitzwilliam Darcy headed out of White’s, the most prestigious gentlemen’s club in London, to walk the short distance home, as it was located only a quarter hour away. He thought of John Knightley’s situation and his elation while he spoke of his beloved, and wondered for himself if he would find such happiness with a worthy woman. He pondered if such a woman could possibly drop in front of him from the sky and chuckled to himself as he thought of how Lizzy would criticise him for wishing for such a selfish miracle.

  Suddenly, William heard a loud shout, “GET OUT OF THE WAY! RUNAWAY HORSES! WATCH OUT!”

  William turned to see two horses with a carriage running wildly, heading straight towards where he stood. He jumped out of the way, unfortunately being hit by the tail end of the carriage and being knocked onto the ground.

  He groaned as he raised his head to see the carriage stop several yards away and began to lift himself up to stand up on his feet. His left shoulder ached but nothing seemed broken. “Are you well, sir?” A young man called out, nearly in tears. “I know it was all my fault and I take full responsibility. Please say you are well.”

  William looked up and saw a shorter gentleman, dressed finely and appearing about sixteen years in age. “I am alive but I seem to have injured my shoulder. What is your name? What happened?”

  “My name is Charles Bingley.” The young man replied. “That carriage is my father’s but I attempted to drive it myself instead of waiting for the driver and lost control of the horses.” He looked at his feet. “I was able to stop it before crashing into the wall but it hit you right before. My father will pay for any damages. My sist...” He immediately paled, “Good lord! My sister is still inside the carriage!”

  Bingley and William ran to the standing carriage and the younger man rapidly opened the door. They saw the young lady sitting on the floor of the carriage, appearing dishevelled and pale.

  William looked at both of them and took charge of the situation. “My name is Fitzwilliam Darcy and your sister requires attention.” William stated. “My house is only a block from here and if you can move the carriage...”

  Charles Bingley interrupted, “I do not know if it can be moved. The wheel is cracked here and my father is going to kill me! But we must get my sister help, sir!”

  William saw the crack on the wheel as well. “I will have my servants come back to fetch it.” He looked inside the carriage and saw that the lady was watching them with more alertness, sitting upright on the seat now. “Miss, can you step out of the carriage? We must send for a doctor.”

  “Oh, yes, Mr. Darcy. Thank you for your assistance. I cannot believe what happened and I feel faint that I nearly died.” She stood up and reached for his proffered hand.

  As soon as she stood up by the doorway, the young woman fell forward, with William catching her fall with his one good arm into his embrace.

  “Oh, you are truly my hero, Mr. Darcy. My ankle is injured and I believed I was going to die until you opened the door to rescue me.” She began to cry. “Thank you for catching my fall.” She looked around and saw her brother. “Charles! You nearly killed me! Papa is going to murder you for damaging his carriage and for hurting me.”

  “I know, Caroline.” Charles responded. “I am so sorry. The horse’s nearly ran over this gentleman and the rear of the carriage caused him to injure his shoulder. I did not think I was going that fast until I lost control of the reins.” He helped his sister to stand straighter and rubbed her hand.

  William closely observed the woman he had been holding in his arm and softly smiled. She was very beautiful and had long red hair that was falling out of place from the accident. She appeared about eighteen years old or so, with alabaster skin, and was tall, with a light and pleasing figure. He saw the damsel in distress and wondered if it had been destiny to meet her right now.

  He nearly laughed out loudly as he recalled his thoughts only moments before about wishing for a worthy lady to drop in front of him from the sky, and how John Knightley had teased him about a Scottish or Irish lass with beautiful red hair. “Miss...”

  “I am Miss Caroline Bingley, sir.” The pretty lady blushed as she attempted to walk on her own after being in a stranger’s embrace for a while. “I apologise for my brother’s actions today. I hope you are well, sir. I feel awful that my brother has caused you pain.”

  William reached for her hand and placed it back in his right arm. “Miss Bingley, as you are injured and
the carriage is broken, please allow me to invite you to my home. It is only a short walk from here and you can seek rest while your brother calls for your father.” He offered kindly. “Perhaps take some tea and have a doctor see you for your ankle? I will need my shoulder to be examined also. I must insist on having you recover at my home.”

  Miss Bingley flustered, “Although I know nothing about you or your family, sir, it is a great honour to make your acquaintance and you appear to be very trustworthy. I would be happy to accept your offer and I will attempt to walk to your home, even if I must limp there. I hope you will not be mortified to see such an unladylike manner of walking.”

  “I will certainly not judge you for it this time, Miss Bingley.” He flirted. “I apologise I cannot carry you in your time of need. It would have been most chivalrous to do so if only my shoulder had not been injured.”

  Miss Bingley beamed, “Perhaps you might continue to offer me one arm so I can lean on you. You are so much taller and stronger than my brother and he can follow us. Thank you again for your assistance, Mr. Darcy. You are most charming.”

  “It is a pleasure,” William returned her smile. “Perhaps it was providence that we met in such a fantastic fashion. Let us go now.”

  William walked with the red-haired woman on his arm and paced very slowly as she limped her way to Darcy House. He called for the butler to see to the carriage and to call for the doctor.

  “My parents are not at home at this moment but will be pleased to meet you when they return.” William explained. “Please sit and rest while I change my coat.” He pointed to the tear on his shoulder. “Mrs. Mason will bring you some tea while we wait for the doctor to arrive.” He showed Charles Bingley the quill and parchment to send a note to his father. “I will return shortly.”