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

by April Karber

  Chapter 24 When they, for the second time that day, pulled up to the great house, Mr. and Miss Darcy were waiting outside to greet them with warm and eager smiles.

  “We have another joining us for supper,” Darcy began, but was interrupted by that very person to which he was referring.

  “Miss Elizabeth!” Colonel Fitzwilliam shouted as he bounded down the front steps to greet her. He kissed her hand delicately, aware that Darcy was watching his every movement. Once the introductions were made, the Colonel escorted Elizabeth inside, patting her arm to emphasize something he was saying and to further infuriate his cousin.

  Supper was more pleasant than Elizabeth had anticipated as the presence of the Colonel made everyone at ease and filled any gaps in conversation.

  “Miss Elizabeth,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, “I understand that congratulations must be extended to you and your family upon your sister’s betrothal to my cousin’s friend, Mr. Bingley.”

  She smiled and thanked him, wondering if he had learned that it had been her family that Darcy had been so desperate to separate Bingley from, but his next reply made it plain that he indeed was aware.

  “If I had known the particulars, the congratulations would have been extended earlier. I knew Bingley was to be married, I just wasn’t aware that I had an acquaintance within the lady’s family.”

  “That is kind of you, sir. We are all very delighted at the prospect of Mr. Bingley joining our family, I have never seen my sister so happy. Will you be attending the wedding, by any chance?”

  She saw the Colonel exchange glances with Darcy.

  “Nothing would make me happier, and I am sure I would be granted leave for such an event.”

  “I think,” Mr. Darcy said, “that it would be the first leave in your military history which was not spent trespassing upon my generosity.” He shot the Colonel a playful look.

  ! '&! “Brother!” Georgiana exclaimed, shooting worried glances at their guests, lest they not understand the joke, “that is not the case.”

  “I agree with Georgiana, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth threw a little smile at Georgiana before fixing him with an intimidating expression and raising an eyebrow, “I myself have witnessed the Colonel taking his leave at Rosings.”

  “I should know better than to begin an argument whilst in your company, Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy fixed her with a smug expression, and she could swear she saw a hint of a smile playing across his lips. Is he flirting with me? No. Not after all that had occurred. She could not guess his motive for his kindness. She drained most of her wine in one nervous gulp.

  “You’d think you had the advantage here, Darcy,” mocked the Colonel as he motioned around the room, reminding him that they were in his home.

  Elizabeth cut in, “I am not so formidable. I have been known to be very mistaken in the past.” She hoped Darcy would catch her meaning, and wondered if it would make any difference if he did. Not wanting to dwell on it any longer she asked, “Miss Darcy, will you be attending the wedding?”

  Elizabeth was almost sorry she had asked, it caused the girl so much trouble to answer. She, at first, looked to her brother, who did not indicate an answer, and so settled for voicing her opinion instead of giving a definite reply.

  “I would very much like to go, Miss Elizabeth.” Pleased with her answer, she nodded her head then stopped, and looked to her brother again, “very much,” she added, “in fact, I’m sure I will go.” She smiled pleasantly and continued eating as Darcy stared on at her in astonishment. Elizabeth, seeing this change in her, was altogether pleased she had asked after all.

  “Do you play duets, Miss Elizabeth?” Georgiana asked excitedly as they retired after supper to the drawing room.

  “Not if my playing will be so decidedly bad in comparison with my partner, Miss Darcy. I am afraid you are far more accomplished than I.”

  “But my brother says you play very well!” she said, looking to her brother in confusion.

  “I believe I said quite well, Georgiana,” Darcy teased.

  Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him, “Quite well is not exactly very well, I’m satisfied enough to play. As long as everyone has had a fair warning.” Elizabeth was pleased with the mood of the evening and chanced another a look at Darcy. He had fixed her with such a meaningful expression, however, that her hands shook before the neared the piano.

  As they made their way to the pianoforte, the Colonel made himself comfortable on a sofa nearby the Gardiners.

  “Miss Elizabeth,” he called, “I’m afraid I will not be able to assist you as I did at Rosings with turning the pages. My cousin, however, is very proficient in the act so you will not be disappointed.”

  Darcy threw his cousin a warning look before resuming his post and Elizabeth became even more nervous.

  ! ''! Halfway through the song, they were interrupted by a servant claiming an urgent post for a Miss Bennet. Elizabeth was too astonished to mount any real worry as she excused herself to the hallway to read. It was from her sister, she was sure that the address had been written in Jane’s hand, but the writing was done in a most peculiar manner, as if she had written it under great stress. Elizabeth began to panic, and ripped open the seal. In seconds, she, knowing the contents of the letter, began to wonder at her sister being able to write at all. She backed against a wall in an effort to remain upright, but her legs shook so terribly and her head was so light so feared she would faint at any moment. Her sister, Lydia, had run away with an officer. Mr. Wickham!

  Just as she began to lose consciousness and began sliding down the wall towards the ground, Darcy appeared and took her in his arms. He led her down the hall a few doors and gently propped her up in a large armchair of a quaint sitting room next to a crackling fire.

  “Miss Elizabeth,” he stated clearly, taking her hand in his and rubbing it softly. She stirred, but only enough to gather where she had been moved, she could make no answer but to open her eyes.

  “May I read the letter? It is of no business to me, but I should like to understand what has been the cause of your distress so that I can be of some assistance to you. I am afraid it is become a matter of health, and I would never forgive myself if I did not take the chance to help you, especially when it is under my own roof.”

  She nodded her head once and he gently removed the letter from her weak grasp. It did not take long before his flushed white and then immediately red. He grabbed her hand tightly.

  “This is grave indeed, Elizabeth.” He fixed her with an expression of pain and determination, and if she were not feeling so weak, she was sure that this look would have made her cry. She felt as though it was the last look she would ever see from him. She was sure he could never bring himself to align his family name with hers. It was all over between them, and she couldn’t even form the words to say goodbye.

  He placed both of her hands in his and kissed the top of each before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead and whispering, “but all will be well.”

  She hardly saw him go, hardly noticed the entrance of her aunt and uncle. In a shocked stupor, she was led out of the house, to the inn, and immediately boarded a carriage for Longbourn to see what could be done for her fallen sister.

  Chapter 25 Sleep offered no comfort, as dreams brought visions of Darcy. Remaining awake, however, meant being subjected to her mother’s ramblings, the frenzy over the morning post, and the ever-increasing realization of their situation. Their only solace was that Mr. Bingley kept the engagement, and so Jane would be exempt from much of the ridicule, though the wedding date itself was forgotten.

  Caroline had left Netherfield immediately when the news became public and when she could not convince her brother to sever ties to the Bennet family. Whoever acknowledged them now was a true friend, though they had very few.

  It was three weeks before they had word of them, so the news was a relief indeed when the impending wedding was announced. ! '(! “My youngest! Married!” Mrs. Bennet’s elation could be heard throughou
t the neighborhood. “And my eldest two! Two weddings, two daughters! How will I bear the loss of them? What is a mother to do?”

  Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief, though her heart still ached with pain and torment. They were saved, but not enough for her sake. All her time spent alone, while her sister kept company with Mr. Bingley, had caused her few happy moments. In truth, she did not fully understand what had transpired between herself and Mr. Darcy, so she was not entirely sure that Lydia’s situation had torn them apart. In her darkest hour, she began to realize that he had never intended to align himself with her after his disastrous proposal at Rosings, and that he was never hers to lose in the first place. So she did not know which part of the saying, “tis' far better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all” applied to her, all she knew was the pain.

  Lydia’s homecoming on the arm of Wickham was an uncomfortable affair for nearly everyone in the Bennet household. On the last evening of their visit, it occurred to Lydia that she and Wickham would miss Jane’s wedding.

  “I must report to Captain Frost in less than a fortnight, dearest,” Wickham firmly told her, as if they’d had this discussion before.

  “We might as well ask Mr. Darcy. As he saw to your appointment, he could very well change it. I think, too, he would be delighted to see us at another wedding.”

  “What do you mean, Lydia?” snapped Elizabeth, having found an interest in her sister’s ramblings after all.

  “But of course I should not have said a word,” Lydia blushed and covered her mouth playfully, “Mr. Darcy said I should say nothing of the matter.” She paused to down the rest of her wine, “Seeing as how you already know, I don’t see why I shouldn’t relate the particulars. Mr. Darcy was at our wedding. He stood up with Wickham. I daresay he cast a great shadow on the affair with his frown, but he has been very generous to us. He’s responsible for Wickham’s commission, everything, but he must realize that the date would be too soon now that Jane’s wedding has been set. He would not want us to miss it.”

  Elizabeth could think of nothing to say.

  “Dearest, we are not to be delayed. We really cannot stay or I risk losing my commission,” Wickham quietly weighed in.

  “But, I…” Lydia started, and was interrupted.

  “No. And you will speak no more on the subject.” Wickham turned away decidedly, finally having shown something of his true character. Lydia remained momentarily disappointed, but rallied herself when she recalled the variety of shopping there was to be had in the north.

  Before Mr. and Mrs. Wickham departed the next morning, Mr. Wickham approached Elizabeth alone in the garden.

  “Is the carriage ready?” Elizabeth asked, caught off guard by his sudden presence. She had managed to avoid him the entirety of his stay, fearing what subject might arise between them if they were left alone. She was not ready to discuss Darcy and she was not yet willing to put her differences with Wickham aside. In fact, she was conflicted as to how to interact with him at all after learning of his exploits.

  ! ')! “The carriage is ready, but Lydia is not.” Wickham flashed her that bright expressive smile that Elizabeth had liked so much. “I was glad to find you so close to the house, I know you are fond of walking and I would have been sorry to have missed you.”

  “Well of course I will remain close until your departure. I must see Lydia off, for who knows when I shall see her again.”

  “I hope we shall both see you again soon. We were always good friends, you and I. And now we are better.”

  Elizabeth did not appreciate his tone. Being unaware of his motives was equally as distressing.

  “Friends, Mr. Wickham? Is truth not the essence of friendship?”

  “It is, Miss Elizabeth. And the truth is, I’ve missed you.” Wickham cocked his head to one side, appearing alarmingly attractive to anyone that didn’t know better.

  “That sounds remarkably like another lie, or at least it is what I wish for it to be. The carriage is ready, Mr. Wickham, go wait for your wife to join you in it.”

  She hurried inside before anything else could be said, not wishing to know what Wickham had intended to say. She could not bear to think of the pain that Darcy would have suffered dealing with him again. She could never repay him, so how could she face him knowing that she would forever be in his debt?

  Chapter 26 The rigorous wedding plans had not deterred Mr. Bingley’s visits, and so one morning he came bearing the news of the Darcy’s imminent arrival.

  “Mr. Darcy is to arrive in a few days time with his sister and cousin, both of whom I believe you are acquainted with, Miss Bennet,” Mr. Bingley said politely to the Bennet ladies in the first minutes of his visit.

  “I am glad to hear it, it will be a pleasure to see them again,” replied Elizabeth, surprised at Darcy’s determination. She, of course, meant that it would be a pleasure to see Miss Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam again. Seeing Mr. Darcy could by no means be deemed a pleasure, not for either of them.

  “What of Miss Bingley?” Elizabeth asked. She was aware that Mr. Bingley and his sister had not corresponded in weeks due to Lydia’s scandal, but she did not think Caroline’s resolve strong enough to withstand missing the Darcys.

  “Yes, she is shortening the length of her stay at the seaside and will be here in time.”

  Elizabeth smiled to herself as Jane and Bingley fell into conversation. She wondered what Caroline would make of the Colonel if they had not met before.

  Elizabeth did not have to wonder for long, for as soon as Caroline and the Darcys arrived at Netherfield, the eldest Miss Bennets were invited to dine amongst them.

  A queer feeling in the pit of her stomach rendered Elizabeth unable to enjoy the affectation the supper brought before them at Netherfield, nor the jovial company of Colonel Fitzwilliam. Not even the redness in Caroline’s cheeks as it was made obvious that the second eldest Bennet needed no introduction to either the Colonel nor Miss Darcy was enough to restore her spirits.

  ! '*! It was useless to fight it, Elizabeth realized. She was nervous. She was unsure of how to behave towards Darcy and she was equally nervous to see how he would behave towards her. He seemed to keep his distance also, letting his cousin and his sister favor her with conversation, occasionally shooting the Colonel a look or two of warning. Elizabeth could not know what these looks meant, other than a reminder to keep her at a distance. She was somewhat pleased, however, that Georgiana received none of these silent scoldings, and was therefore allowed freedom with Elizabeth. Caroline, however, was threatened by the fall into easy conversation between them, and therefore abandoned her plan to impress Darcy and his relatives with supper and instead sought to humiliate the Bennet family as best she could.

  “Miss Elizabeth, I am surprised at your previous acquaintance to the Colonel and Miss Darcy,” she chirped coolly from her seat besides Mr. Darcy.

  “I am not surprised, it has been a short acquaintance, but in every way a pleasant

  one,” she met the appreciative gaze of Colonel Fitzwilliam and they smiled at one

  another, which prompted Caroline further.

  “And how, might I ask, did this fortuitous meeting come about in the short length

  of time since I quit the neighborhood?” she asked Elizabeth pointedly.

  Before Elizabeth could reply, the Colonel jumped in, “If I might answer, it gives

  me the greatest pleasure to recall when I first met Miss Elizabeth, Miss Bingley. You see,

  I was visiting, along with our cousin, our Aunt Lady Catherine to whom Mr. Collins has

  been appointed rectory of her estate. Mr. Collins is blessed to be related to Miss

  Elizabeth, and she was a guest in his home visiting with his new wife, recently known as

  Charlotte Lucas, of this neighborhood, I believe.” The Colonel fixed Elizabeth with a sly

  expression and Elizabeth silently thanked him for his intervention.

  Miss Darcy, quite unaware that Elizabeth was
a target for Miss Bingley, spoke up

  next to explain how she had become acquainted with the lady.

  “My brother and I had the pleasure of entertaining Miss Elizabeth and her Aunt

  and Uncle while they were visiting Lambton, Miss Bingley. They were only in the

  neighborhood for a few days, but we were able to enjoy their company a few times.” “I was a guest at the Darcy home at that time as well,” added the Colonel. “What impeccable timing the Bennets have!” Caroline exclaimed, nearly losing

  her resolve, “and here I did not even know you left the neighborhood, Miss Eliza. But

  you timed it well, and you no doubt made the best of your travels. How lucky you are.” “It was I, who thought myself lucky, Miss Bingley,” Mr. Darcy spoke up

  suddenly. Besides his polite greeting, it was the first time he had spoken all evening. “You are too kind, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said and held his gaze. She felt her

  stomach quiver and she dropped her eyes suddenly to her soup. At nearly every turn

  Darcy comes to my defense! My debt is increasing!

  Now that Mr. Darcy had allowed himself one look at Elizabeth, he could not tear

  his eyes away from her form. The stress, no doubt from her sister’s precarious situation,

  had made an impression on her. She looked more tired than he had ever seen her, more

  pale. He was certain that this was temporary, but he was no less worried for her. She

  carried herself too in a different manner than he had witnessed before, almost as if she

  were nervous or uncomfortable. It could very well be Caroline Bingley who caused her

  discomfort, but he had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind, a cool and dark thought

  that swept over him, what if it was his presence that made her nervous?

  ! (+! They made eye contact several more times over the meal and her pallid complexion made it easy to discern that she blushed becomingly each time. Perhaps, Darcy began to hope, it was nerves and not discomfort.