Pirates and Prejudice

by Louise, Kara

  M. Gardiner

  Elizabeth took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I am disappointed, but I know if it were at all possible, they would have made the effort.”

  “Oh, Elizabeth,” Jane said as she reached out and touched her sister’s hand. “I know you were so looking forward to it! I feel terrible that I have talked so much lately about my trip with them two years ago. Pray, forgive me.”

  Elizabeth put her other hand on top of Jane’s. “Dearest Jane, please do not fret. There will be another opportunity for me to go with them.”

  Mrs. Bennet waved a handkerchief through the air. “Upon my word! Something else will come up if you make other plans, and they shall likely all come to nothing!”

  Elizabeth let out a long sigh and looked at her father. “And the other letter? Does it contain bad news as well?”

  “Yes, but I have something to ask of you two after you have read it, especially in light of the Gardiners’ letter.” He handed it to Elizabeth with a sombre look.

  Elizabeth began reading the letter.

  My dearest brother,

  I do hope this finds you and your family well. I am not quite sure how to tell you this other than to just come out and say it. I am very ill and become weaker by the day. The doctor is not certain how much longer I have and has given no hope for a cure. I long to see you again and would make the journey to Hertfordshire in a heartbeat, if I could, but that is not possible.

  Elizabeth looked up at her father. “I am so sorry to hear this, Father.”

  “I cannot bear to even think about this!” Mrs. Bennet uttered. “Poor Viola, and then it will be your father’s time to go, and then those Collinses will have us out of our home!”

  Elizabeth turned to her mother. “Please, Mama, have some consideration for Father.”

  “This whole dreadful affair has me…”

  “I see no occasion for this type of prattle, Mrs. Bennet!” her husband declared impatiently.

  Jane paled and her eyes glistened with tears. “Oh, Papa, how sad it would be to never see her again. I remember when they last visited us. Their daughter Melanie was about eleven. She was the same age as Elizabeth.”

  Her father nodded. “She mentions the two of you. Read on, Lizzy.”

  I know the family was never pleased when I took that sea bathing excursion to the Isles and ended up meeting and marrying Henry, but trust me, I have truly been happy here. Brother, I do not know if this is asking too much, but would there be a possibility for you to make a journey to see us before I am too feeble to enjoy the visit? You are certainly welcome to come alone or with any or all of your family. Our daughter, Melanie, has the fondest memories of both Elizabeth and Jane, and she has asked particularly if they might be able to come, as well. While she is bearing up tolerably, it would do her good to have her cousins here to cheer her up. Please consider this, my dear brother, for otherwise, I know I shall never see you again.

  I promise you that I will not allow this to be a sombre visit. St. Mary’s, our island, is a beautiful place with rocky outcroppings, sandy beaches, and rolling hills that are laden with heather. I trust that you will find pleasant weather (apart from an occasional storm) and a nice secluded place to sit and read. The ladies in your family would all find it much to their liking.

  If you choose to come, we have found the most economical way to travel is to book passage on any of the merchant ships that carry passengers, either out of London or more southern ports. Please respond with your answer as soon as possible.

  All my love, Viola

  Elizabeth lowered her hand slowly. “What are you thinking of doing, Papa”

  “He is going to get himself killed; that is what he is going to do!” cried Mrs. Bennet.

  Mr. Bennet slowly shook his head. “Now, now, Mrs. Bennet, I am going to do no such thing! Lizzy, Jane, I am very much inclined to visit her. She is my only sister, and I now regret never having taken the time to travel to the Isles. Your mother and I were just discussing the possibility of the two of you joining me. With the Phillipses living nearby and the younger girls to help your mother, I think a few weeks without us would not be too burdensome.”

  “Not too burdensome!” Mrs. Bennet cried. “I can well imagine what calamities might befall us while you are all away!” She waved a handkerchief nervously. “And I dare not think what might happen to Mr. Bennet and you two girls on a voyage across the sea!”

  Elizabeth gently placed her hand over her mother’s and turned to her father. “Oh, Father! How I would love to make the journey with you.” She looked at Jane, hoping she would eagerly accept, as well, despite her proclivity for becoming sick on a boat. She was certain doing something like this would be a diverting way to help Jane take her mind off Mr. Bingley.

  Jane began shaking her head. “Oh, I cannot fathom it. When the Gardiners took me sailing on Windermere Lake for merely an hour, I was dreadfully ill. And it was calm waters!”

  “But, Jane, perhaps you would not get sick this time.”

  “I would not wish to take such a chance. But certainly you two must go, especially since the Gardiners had to cancel their trip with you.”

  “Yes, but… oh Papa, can we afford something like this?”

  “We had bountiful crops this year, and I think it is very feasible. I intend to inquire about the merchant ships to find out what the fares would be. I cannot bear to think I may not see my sister again.”

  Elizabeth brought the letter to her heart and let out a sigh. “As difficult as it will be to see Aunt Viola so ill, I think I would enjoy it very much. Earlier you said I was adventurous. You knew I would agree to go, did you not?”

  Mr. Bennet nodded. “I did indeed!”

  Elizabeth turned to her mother and squeezed her hand. “And do you truly mind if we go, Mama?”

  Mrs. Bennet shook her head. “I suppose there is nothing to say to convince him to do otherwise. If he wants to risk his life and that of his daughter at the hands of marauding pirates or becoming shipwrecked during a storm, what am I to say about it?”

  Elizabeth smiled and patted her mother’s hand. “I am so pleased you understand!”

  Later that very day, an invitation arrived that created a stir amongst the ladies, specifically Lydia, Kitty, and Mrs. Bennet. Lydia was ecstatic that she was invited to join Mrs. Forster and her husband’s regiment when they departed for Brighton. Mrs. Forster had singled Lydia out as her particular friend, and Lydia would not rest until her parents agreed to let her go. Kitty felt it extremely unfair that she was not invited, while Mrs. Bennet envied her youngest daughter for the honour of such an invitation.

  Elizabeth was not happy with the idea and decidedly expressed her opinion to her father.

  It was finally agreed upon, however, that she should be allowed to go under certain conditions. She would travel to Brighton with the Forsters, but Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth would send for her when they stopped in London on their return trip. It shortened Lydia’s anticipated stay, which vexed her exceedingly, but at least she was able to go.

  The house was much calmer when Lydia departed with the Forsters two days later.

  *~*~*

  Mr. Bennet quickly made the arrangements for them to sail out of London. Elizabeth would share a cabin with a single woman who was travelling to the Isles of Scilly with her brother and his wife. They would be in the cabin next to theirs, while Mr. Bennet would be travelling in a cabin down the hall with two other men.

  Two days before they were to leave, Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth bade farewell to their family and took a carriage to London. They spent the night at the home of the Gardiners, enjoying the company of Mrs. Bennet’s brother, his wife, and their four children.

  Early the next morning, the household awakened to a rather bleak day. Clouds hung low in the sky, and a light mist chilled the air. They ate a quick breakfast and then gathered their belongings before leaving with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, who decided to accompany Mr. Bennet and his daughter, to the wharf.
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  When Elizabeth stepped out of the Gardiners’ home, she hugged her pelisse tightly about her, bringing the hood up over her head. She and Mrs. Gardiner stepped carefully, but quickly, over the muddied cobblestone path that took them to the waiting carriage.

  Once everyone was seated and the carriage was making its way down the narrow road, Elizabeth suddenly felt her heart begin to pound.

  “Oh!” she said as she put her hand over her heart. “As much as it grieves me that Aunt Viola is not well, and that is the main reason we are making this journey, I cannot help but feel a good deal of excitement!” She reached out to grasp her aunt’s hand. “Are we really doing this?”

  Her father looked over at her. “There is still time for you to change your mind, Elizabeth. You may remain with the Gardiners if you prefer. But once you are on that ship, they will not turn around if you suddenly decide you do not want to go!”

  Elizabeth let out a laugh. “Father, you know me too well to suggest that I would ever consider that.”

  “I do not doubt that at all!” he said with a laugh.

  As they drew near the river, the cry of seagulls rang in their ears and the smell of salty seawater filled their nostrils with every breath. When their eyes first beheld the tall masts of the sailing ships, Elizabeth reached out and again took her aunt’s hand. “I hope you know how much I truly wanted to go with you to the Lake District, dearest Aunt, but I think I shall enjoy this immensely.”

  Aunt Gardiner covered Elizabeth’s hand with hers. “Trust me, Elizabeth. I know you shall. I can readily see you skipping across the sandy beaches in your bare feet, letting the waves lap up above your ankles, and exploring every inch of that island. An opportunity like this does not come along often. I know that you will have a life-changing adventure!”

  Chapter 4

  Darcy awoke the next morning feeling, for the first time in a long time, a semblance of being his old self again and was eager to depart this appalling place! He felt grimy both inside and out, and wanted nothing more than to have his valet give him a shave and a good scrubbing from head to toe in a nice, hot bath. But he knew that was not possible.

  He ate a barely tolerable meal and then sat down to wait, wondering what the day would bring.

  Shortly thereafter, Edward Foster walked in and began talking with the warden. He then followed him to Darcy’s cell. The warden opened the door and told his prisoner he was to go with Foster.

  Darcy shot a look of surprise to Foster, who gave him a slight nod.

  “Come,” Foster said with a wave of his hand. “I have a carriage waiting for us outside.”

  Foster led Darcy out to the carriage parked directly in front. The door was open, and two men were sitting inside. Darcy stepped in and sat across from the men. Foster spoke to the driver and then joined them, taking the seat next to Darcy.

  Darcy gave Foster a questioning glance. “Did you tell the warden I am not Lockerly? Does this mean I am no longer expected to portray him? Is the scheme at an end?”

  “Far from it. I shall explain, but first, Darcy, may I introduce you to the first two recruits who shall crew your ship? This is Evans and Lindel.”

  Darcy looked at the two men and nodded, wondering where Foster had found them. Their clothes were tattered, torn, and embedded with stains. Both the men and their clothes most likely had not been washed in at least a month. They were unshaven, and each sported hair that was long and curled at the napes of their necks. The putrid smell that emanated from the two of them assaulted Darcy’s nostrils.

  “You certainly look a lot like Lockerly,” the one named Evans said in a fairly respectable manner, which actually surprised Darcy.

  “I suppose if you look closely, you can see the difference,” Lindel replied.

  “I can assure you that I am not he,” Darcy replied. “I am Fitzwilliam Darcy.”

  When he noticed the men scrutinize him from head to toe, he realized he should be grateful Foster believed him.

  “Well now, let us get down to the particulars of what is going to happen,” Foster said, as if they were going to discuss a business transaction. “As I began to plot out our little scheme, I realized I had best inform at least some of the authorities what we were going to do, so no one would come and arrest you again. I told the warden you were not Archibald Lockerly, but advised him not to speak of it to anyone. As far as everyone else knows, Lockerly was arrested last night and is in my custody.”

  “That still leaves me with a great deal of concern that my sister and other family will find out it was me.”

  “No need to worry,” Foster said, casually leaning back in the seat. “I told them you were Benjamin Smith.”

  Darcy started. “Who is Benjamin Smith?”

  Foster smiled. “I have no idea, but I thought the name suited you.”

  Darcy folded his arms about his chest and let out a huff. “So I am now Fitzwilliam Darcy portraying an unknown Benjamin Smith, who in turn is portraying the pirate Archibald Lockerly?”

  Foster paused for a moment and then smiled. “I believe that is correct!”

  “If you only knew how much I abhor disguise of any sort!”

  “Now,” Foster continued as if he had not heard Darcy’s last words, “since there is always the possibility that someone still might come to arrest you, thinking you are Lockerly, I am advising the authorities that in order to prevent another case of mistaken identity, they must make sure it is Lockerly by checking for his scar. If anyone seeks to arrest you again, you will have to bare your chest.”

  Darcy sat back in the seat, his arms rigidly crossed in front of him. “I would hazard a guess there are worse things one might be required to do, but I hope I shall not have to!” He absently ran his fingers up towards his shoulder.

  “It is only to ensure the mistake is not made again.”

  Darcy shook his head. “I thank you for that. I wonder what he may have done to receive such a scar!”

  Foster nodded. “We can only imagine, can we not? A sword fight, perhaps?”

  Darcy laughed, but there was no humour in it. “I suppose it is fortunate that I enjoy fencing and even excel at it, but mainly in the defensive manoeuvres. Offensively, I might not be such a proficient opponent if I was called upon to take up the sword!”

  “Remember, Darcy, you will have my two men with you at all times! I will be in the vicinity, keeping my eyes and ears open for any sign of Lockerly or trouble with the men who come to you. You will be safe.”

  Darcy let out a huff and combed his fingers through his hair. “I am glad you feel so confident. I only wish I could be as certain as you seem to be!”

  Evans spoke. “Whilst we cannot completely guarantee anyone’s safety, we can certainly do everything in our power to protect you. We will be watching out for anything out of the ordinary – anything that may indicate that some sort of trouble might be brewing.”

  Darcy let out a sigh. “I shall portray this Lockerly for just a week, correct?”

  Foster nodded. “We first must work with you for several days, however, to prepare you for your role.”

  “But then, if after seven days Lockerly does not show up, I am free to go?”

  Again Foster nodded. “Of course. Are you willing to do this?”

  This time it was Darcy who gave a single, reluctant nod of his head. He folded his hands and placed them firmly in his lap.

  Foster slapped Darcy’s shoulder. “Good! I am glad you agree. From now on, you are no longer Darcy. This is the last time any of us will refer to you as such. From now on, we shall call you Lockerly.”

  “I only hope I remember to respond to that name.”

  “Oh, that will be the easy part. The next order of business, and likely to be more difficult, is to teach you to lose your gentleman-like behaviour – your manners and speech, for instance.”

  Darcy turned abruptly at the words. “You expect me to begin exhibiting those mannerisms that I find so repulsive? I fear I… I cannot do that!” Darcy
exclaimed, shaking his head. He wondered how years of formal training could suddenly be erased, but his heart began to beat fiercely as he recollected Miss Bennet’s accusation that he was severely wanting in that area.

  “Lockerly claims to have some education, so he does have a little polish, but not to the extent you do. When you speak, you must slur some of your words, shorten them, and use some common slang.”

  “I fear I am ill-qualified for this,” he said, turning his head to glance out the window. “I have not the talent to change a lifetime of formal training.”

  “But ye ken do it,” Evans said with a smile. “’Tis not too hard.”

  “Jest thinks of people whose tongue ’as offended yer ears an’ talk like ’em.” Lindel said. “You’ll be talkin’ like a commoner in no time.”

  Darcy shook his head, recollecting many people in London who would come up to him begging… beggin’ for money.

  “I do not… I don’t know…” Darcy said with a slight grimace.

  “There you go! I dunno is better,” Foster laughed.

  They continued to work with Darcy as they drove through London. After they had been on the road for close to an hour, Darcy asked, “Where are we going?” Darcy cleared his throat and tried again. “Where’re we goin’?”

  Foster smiled. “We’re almost there. We’ll be at a secluded place where we ken git ye out an’ spend some time wi’ ye workin’ more on yer speech an’ on a few other things. Yer posture, for one. Although from what I ’eard, ye were stumbling about fairly well the night they picked ye up.”

  Darcy groaned. “That is all behind me!” He bit his lip as he wondered whether in truth it really was!