Fault or Virtue: An Imaginative Retelling of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'

by April Karber

  “As have I, Mr. Collins,” replied Mr. Bennet, having only been familiar with the man’s late father.

  “If I had known that such beauty awaited me, I would have come sooner. Indeed my cousins are the most beautiful ladies I have ever had the pleasure of seeing.” He bowed low, pleased more by his statement than by the lovely ladies.

  “You are so kind, Mr. Collins,” trilled Mrs. Bennet, suddenly pleased with the gentleman’s appearance.

  “I do find it hard to be away from my well-appointed parsonage, however. My most esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh is very kind to me. My parsonage abuts her estate, Rosings, and it is one of the finest homes in the country.” Mr. Collins went on to describe nearly every aspect of the estate from the ornamentation around the doorways to the variety of flowers on the grounds, making eye contact with all of them in turn.

  “It is a wonder you have been able to tear yourself away, Mr. Collins,” observed Elizabeth with a quick glance at her father.

  “Indeed, Miss Elizabeth, I would not have come except for the urging of Lady Catherine.”

  “And what is so important that Lady Catherine can spare you?” asked Mr. Bennet.

  “Family, Mr. Bennet.”

  Elizabeth did not appreciate the appraising look he threw at herself and her sisters, but she did acknowledge the pleasantness of his short answer.

  “Does Lady Catherine have any children?” Mrs. Bennet inquired.

  “Just one daughter. A fine young lady, of beauty without equal.”

  “Is she to be married?” Mrs. Bennet asked.

  “She is engaged to her cousin, a fine gentleman with nearly as fine an estate as Rosings. I have not had the pleasure of making his acquaintance but I hope to be so fortunate in the future. I have had the honor of dining at Rosings many nights since I was positioned as rector of the estate.”

  Elizabeth dared not imagine how supper would proceed.

  Chapter 5 ! "#! Mr. Collins gasped as the dinner introductions were made.

  “Excuse me? Mr. Darcy of Pemberley?” he clamored.

  Mr. Darcy bowed in response and all awaited Mr. Collins’ explanation. “Mr. Darcy! I had no idea that I had the honor. Indeed you do not know me, but I

  am the newly appointed rector of your most esteemed aunt’s estate, Lady Catherine de Bourgh of Rosings.” It was the first time anyone had been listening to him since his arrival. Mr. Collins bowed so low that Elizabeth was surprised he remained upright.

  “My Aunt has praised you most highly, Mr. Collins. I am honored to make your acquaintance.”

  Elizabeth reveled in the fact that the most courteous thing she Darcy had uttered in her company was directed at Mr. Collins.

  Mr. Collins’ compliments to Mr. Darcy continued long into dinner and wore heartily on the patience of all of those around him. Elizabeth could only credit the man’s portly figure with his living alone, for only then could he concentrate on food instead of flattery.

  Having witnessed Darcy’s temper before, Elizabeth thought he handled it fairly well and was grateful to him for it. Bingley hardly noticed the annoyance, locked in conversation with Jane. Elizabeth was unbelievably grateful that Miss Bingley had remained at Netherfield with complaints of a headache. The Meryton assembly had given Elizabeth the impression that Miss Bingley maintained harsher opinions of Hertfordshire than even Darcy had, and she wished to keep Mr. Collins away from her for as long as possible.

  Whilst Collins drew breath between long bouts of praise, Elizabeth sought to distract him from Darcy. With everything between them now in the open, Elizabeth felt obligated to relieve Darcy of further bother, and perhaps establish herself as being very different than what he had assumed, not that it mattered what the gentleman’s opinion of her was.

  “Mr. Collins, as you find yourself so useful to Lady Catherine, I wonder at her ability to spare you for such a great length of time.” Elizabeth stole a glance at Mr. Darcy and was happy at his visible relief, even imagining a small smile beginning to light his face.

  “Ah, my dear cousin, you flatter me. I am very fortunate to have the kindness of such a remarkable Lady bestowed upon me, and it was only after her advice that I came to look upon my relatives and the property that will some day, excuse me, Mr. Bennet, be my own, and hopefully offer…propose a compromise that would please everyone.”

  He turned his attentions to Jane, but was noticeably disappointed when he found her caught in a quiet conversation with Mr. Bingley, and with a sigh, he turned to Elizabeth, who’s attention was caught by her father’s glaring at Collins. The party so distracted, Collins again had the advantage of renewing his subject, and did so with possibly a more acute attempt at flattering than ever before.

  “Mr. Darcy, I feel it is my duty to inform you that your cousin, Miss Anne de Bourgh is doing very well. I have often remarked to Lady Catherine that your fair cousin was born to be a duchess, for she has all the accomplishments and manners as those of that rank.”

  ! "$! Darcy repositioned himself in his chair before replying. “I thank you, Mr. Collins, for taking it upon yourself to report the status of members of my family as well as your praise of them.” Elizabeth wondered if this was meant to be a joke, but her thoughts were interrupted momentarily when Collins continued.

  “I feel particularly bound to pay such compliments, and I have always found that they are pleasing to the ladies.”

  Elizabeth jumped in again. “Enlighten me, Mr. Collins, do these pleasing attentions proceed from the moment or are they result of previous study?”

  All eyes were on Elizabeth, whose eyes had brightened with anticipation and humor.

  “Though I often amuse myself with arranging such delicate compliments, I always endeavor to give them an unstudied an air as possible, Miss Elizabeth.” He fixed Elizabeth with an uncomfortably direct stare. Darcy’s deep voice frightened Collins from his study.

  “You do so admirably, Mr. Collins. I see why my Aunt has appointed you as rector of her estate and encourages you to visit your relatives for such a lengthy amount of time,” he stopped, noticing that he had drawn the attention of all the room.

  Mr. Collins sat in awe of the alleged compliment, and all remained quiet, digesting the statement. Elizabeth hid her smile with her hand and glanced at Darcy, determined to find humor in his expression if any indeed existed. Darcy felt her stare and they locked eyes. Elizabeth was soon too lost in her study to remember her intention.

  Later, Elizabeth and Jane discussed their dinner companions.

  “Indeed not for all of Derbyshire, not even the miserable half, dear sister!” she whispered to Jane later between fits of giggles. “I suppose he is handsome,” she said, once her mind was made up. All of their important discussions took place by candlelight under their sheets.

  “Mr. Darcy is very handsome,” Jane agreed.

  “But I would settle for a grinning sweetheart for half the income all the same,” prodded Elizabeth, wishing for her sister to admit her feelings for Bingley.

  “Elizabeth!” Jane cried, playfully slapping her. “We hardly know our new acquaintances! I should not say such things if I were you, and I will not admit to agreeing with you just yet!”

  “Then will you admit to wanting to spend more time with him?” Elizabeth demanded.

  “I would, but only because Mr. Bingley is everything every young man out to be. Handsome, amiable…”

  “Rich,” continued Elizabeth.

  “But that is yet all we know,” Jane finished.

  “Indeed, in a few weeks he might turn out to be as disagreeable as his friend, or his sister.” Elizabeth laughed heartily.

  “They are not so bad, Lizzy. Though I still cannot believe what Mr. Darcy said about you.”

  “It is of no consequence. I can admit that he is handsome despite his slights against me, so I must be the better for it.”

  ! "%! “For your sake, I am relieved of his departure to town, but I dislike being only able to think ill of him when he
goes.”

  “You will soon be in the company of Mr. Bingley again, and you’ll be allowed no other thoughts at all.”

  Their conversation dissolved into fits of giggles as each became preoccupied with their thoughts of certain gentlemen.

  Chapter 6 Elizabeth found herself wide awake rather early the next morning, and, fearing that she may meet Mr. Collins if she stayed at home, slipped out of bed and set out for a long walk. Thoughts of dinner the night before distracted her from any one particular direction, and she soon found that she was directly in line to meet a tall figure upon the same path. She could not make out who it was in the early morning light, but was sure that his company could not be avoided as he surely would have spotted her already.

  “Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy bowed.

  “I’m surprised to see you, sir,” she said. She felt a small pang of embarrassment recalling that she had deemed him handsome the night before. More embarrassment washed over her as she noticed that he was even better looking than she had given him credit for.

  “I’m sure that you’re rather closer to Netherfield than Longbourn,” he assured her.

  Elizabeth looked around and was shocked to see that she had indeed wandered very close to Netherfield.

  “I had not realized my direction, I must be quite distracted this morning.”

  “Are accomplished walkers allowed such leniency?” he asked playfully. When she made no reply, however, he said, “I am stretching my legs before my journey to London.”

  They continued on slowly together, back in the direction of Longbourn. She did not yet know how Darcy would behave at this meeting. So far he had been congenial, but in the past he had been rude, taciturn, mischievously comical, but not all at once and not any for very long. Elizabeth, weary of guessing which it would be, was just about to suggest he return to Netherfield and prepare for his journey, when he spoke first.

  “How long will your cousin be in town?” he asked carelessly.

  “I hardly know. We did not expect him for a few weeks, he was not direct with his intentions,” she trailed off, working out what made him ask such a question. When he chose to speak, he did not display any conversational skills befitting his station. Elizabeth was known as impertinent, but she at least stuck to suitable topics.

  “I found him to be rather direct,” he said pointedly and in all irony.

  “In character, yes. Since we have all been rather reticent to bring up the subject of his length of stay, however, he has failed to mention it himself. Perhaps your Aunt, Lady Catherine, has advised him on what would be the ideal length of visit, and therefore the subject will come up in time,” she glanced at him to see a reaction, but he seemed as far away as ever. She reproached herself for the slight stab of disappointment she felt in not having made him laugh or even reply.

  ! "&! Perhaps he was not as rude as he had made himself appear on the night of the assembly, but his behavior still did not highly recommend him as a gentleman. Compared directly with his friend Mr. Bingley, he would always come up wanting.

  “Have you ever met him before?” he asked after a while.

  “Never. Why do you ask such a question?” she stopped and studied him, making neither heads nor tails of his behavior. She noticed that when he spoke it seemed very calculated on his part, but to her, it was done so for reasons unknown. It was a cruel, one sided game he played, and she wanted no part of it.

  “To make out the character of your relationship,” he looked uncomfortable but continued, “he made it very clear last night that he intends to align himself with one of you so as to, as he said, ‘propose a compromise that would please everyone.’ It seemed a rather an awkward situation in the context of the future, or perhaps ill timed,” he stopped abruptly at the noticeable reddening of Elizabeth’s cheeks.

  “Whether or not he intends to align himself with my family is of no consequence to us, for I am sure my father would not allow it and none of us would ever consent. Mr. Collins is ridiculous. Besides the fact that he is a under the direction of your Aunt, I do not see that this is any of your business.” She could only gather that he had returned to voicing his disapproval of her family, “I wish you had warned me that you wished to return to the subject of berating my family when we first met this morning so that I could have continued in the opposite direction.” And I believed impertinence to by my folly! She thought as she hurried away. How could he speak of such things to me?

  Darcy could see that yet again the conversation between himself and the second Miss Bennet had gotten very far away from his control, just as all previous ones had.

  “I meant no offense, Miss Elizabeth.”

  “You claim that you do not yet your actions and choice of words betray you, Mr. Darcy. Either say nothing at all or own to it.” Darcy shut his eyes and tried to think of some way he could mend the situation, but Elizabeth continued, “As uncouth as you find my family to be, we are not one of us willing to align ourselves with a man of means whom we do not respect. If he, as you say, is in search of a wife and under the guidance of your Aunt, they will soon be disappointed. My younger sisters are far too young and Jane…”

  “Is meant for Mr. Bingley,” the words tumbled from his mouth before he could stop them. Do I enjoy provoking her?

  “I do not dare presume such a match and neither does she,” she answered directly, “or did we somehow give you that impression?”

  “It was fairly obvious that Mr. Collins was encouraged away from her and turned towards you so that she remains available for Mr. Bingley.”

  “Fairly obvious? You speak much on subjects of which you know little,” she fumed. “As I said before my sisters and I will not tolerate the attentions of a man whom we do not respect no matter the material worth. This includes Mr. Collins and any other visitor attired as a gentleman who has nothing but his pocket book to offer. Not even for ten thousand a year would my mother desire that we go to a man deemed to be disagreeable.”

  His mouth fell open. This was perhaps the greatest evidence of his behavior. Indeed his conduct must have been boorish if it were enough to discourage Mrs. Bennet

  ! "'! from forcing an alliance between himself and one of her daughters. It was indeed a feat to avoid the effusions of Mrs. Bennet.

  She continued, “I am so sorry that the world you see is so plagued with people of such ill-intent, I hope you find it more agreeable in London.” She stormed off and he followed her.

  “Miss Elizabeth!” he shouted, not knowing what he could say. “I do not possess the alacrity for conversation such as you. This, I hope, offers an explanation for my behavior at the night at the assembly as well as my poorly worded concerns I have voiced just now. I only wished to see that Mr. Collins’ presence would not trouble you for long. I meant to say that…”

  “Before you do, I must warn you to not speak ill of my cousin. He is the only one in the neighborhood who will be sorry to see you go,” her eyes flashed dangerously and she continued, “forgive me, I forgot your Miss Bingley,” she added icily.

  “My Miss Bingley!” he roared, “your studying of character utterly fails you, Miss Bennet.” How could she have thought such a thing? He wondered.

  “Perhaps only with yours, Mr. Darcy, but I have stopped trying.” Darcy took a deep breath and stepped closer to her, speaking very slowly. He

  clenched his fists tightly, trying to remain calm, and leaned down so that his eyes were even with hers. Elizabeth was unnerved by his proximity. Never had she been so close to a man. When he spoke, she could feel his hot breath on her face.

  “What I wished to have said, Miss Elizabeth, is that it is unfortunate to have such a relative avail himself upon you and your family while he sizes up the prospects of his future inheritance without consideration to its current inhabitants. It must be a very uncomfortable situation, and I’m sorry for you and your family.” He did not move away from her and it was clouding her senses.

  “An apology from you is unnecessary, sir, but thank you,�
�� she could say nothing else. She felt neither pity nor regret for what she had said, but she wondered at his utter inability to express himself. If what he just voiced was in fact, what he originally wished to say, then perhaps he had meant well all along. Why did he not always speak so well?

  His manners, however, had been so haughty, so ungracious, that she could not fully believe his words to be true. His current expression, however, was nothing but kindness, and Elizabeth could not help but trust the integrity of his sentiment. Perhaps it was just the beauty of his dark blue eyes, the look of understanding she thought she glimpsed in them. What does he see when he looks in my eyes? She wondered before selfconsciously looking away.

  “I believe it is. You are not acquainted with my Aunt, Miss Elizabeth, but I have no doubt that this was all her doing.”

  Darcy was surprised at his relief when some of the humor returned to Elizabeth’s eyes and she answered, “I don’t know, Mr. Darcy, having spent a full day with Mr. Collins, I would say I’m well acquainted with your Aunt and I know her to be one of the most remarkable women of all time.” She was, in turn, surprised to see a small smile playing on his lips, but just as quickly as it had appeared, it dissolved into something sad.

  “Then perhaps I may hope that his opinion of me will restore my reputation in the neighborhood within the week.”

  “I don’t know, we may run him out of the house before then,” the small smile returned, and for a moment, Elizabeth was left to wonder why did he did not smile more

  ! "(! often. If she could but forget his offences and saw his smile displayed more frequently, forgiveness would surely be at hand. She was again transfixed by the look in his dark eyes. Yes, she thought back to her and Jane’s exchange, he is most decidedly handsome.

  Chapter 7 Darcy returned to Netherfield from his brief walk drained and irritated. What was he to make of Miss Elizabeth Bennet when at each turn he was bombarded with wit, sarcasm, accusations, and intelligence? He could not compete with her, nor could he converse with her, it seemed. He sought Bingley immediately, determined to hear his account of the assembly. Fortunately, Bingley was not yet in the company of Miss Bingley, so they were allowed momentary privacy.