Feather in the Wind: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Madeline Kennet

  “What are you thinking?” his sister asked.

  “That we should eat our luncheon by the lake,” he said, the idea popping into his head at the moment she posed the question, and providing him with a convenient answer to her question.

  “A picnic! I would like that very much.” She jumped up from her chair. “I shall go find Mrs. Reynolds and ask her to have a basket made up for us.

  She really should have rung the bell and asked for the servant who answered the call to summon Mrs. Reynolds, but her method was quicker, and Mr. Darcy supposed that they need not be so stuffy in their ways when it was just the two of them. Besides, he could imagine that was what Miss Bingley would do, and any difference between Georgiana and Caroline Bingley was highly desirable.

  A while later, having enjoyed an excellent meal and his sister’s company, he leaned back and surveyed the sparkling lake through gaps in the cascading foliage of a large willow. Georgiana had insisted on spreading their blanket beneath this favourite tree, under which she had often sat as a child. It was like sitting in an outdoor room, circular in shape, and surrounded by a leafy curtain, which shone with an emerald green where it was touched by the bright sunlight which lay beyond their shady bower.

  Inside they were protected from the heat and glare which had beaten down on them as they had crossed the lawn. Here they were safe from the outside world and at peace. Things had not been easy between them since Ramsgate, but today they had enjoyed a pleasant conversation over their picnic and he had felt for the first time that their relationship could return to what it once was. Life could be serene again.

  Perhaps next year there would be three of them to sit under this soothing tree and share a delightful picnic together.

  ______

  The sun was glowing bright, its edges blurred by dazzling rays, which shimmered on the tall grass.

  “It is too hot,” Kitty said, stopping to fan herself.

  “We have gone too far,” Lydia complained. “I cannot manage another step.”

  “I wish I had stayed at home,” Mary grumbled.

  Jane and Elizabeth, each carrying a picnic basket, exchanged glances of resignation. They had set out with the idea of enjoying their picnic at the top of Oakham mount, but now realized that a change of plan was necessary. Elizabeth looked about and her gaze settled upon a wide oak tree. Under its generous branches they would find welcome shade from this intense late-summer heat.

  “Just over there,” she said, pointing to her new choice of destination.

  Her drooping sisters straightened up, studied the distance, and then began walking again, Kitty and Lydia leaning on each other and Mary dragging her feet in their wake. Despite their heavy burdens, Jane and Elizabeth reached the tree first and spread the blanket out just in time for the others to collapse upon it, flushed and panting from the exertion of their walk.

  An hour later, they were quite recovered. The protective shade had restored the usual colour to their cheeks, and the meal had put them into excellent spirits.

  “Food always tastes better when it is eaten out of doors,” Kitty said.

  “It is very pleasant here,” Mary said, reaching into one of the baskets for her book. She settled back to read, leaning back against the wide, supportive trunk of the tree.

  “It was a very good idea of yours, Lizzy,” Lydia said. She leaned over and gave her sister a sudden, unexpected hug.

  This sisterly warmth, so rare between them these days, gave Elizabeth a flash of joy. She and Lydia might disagree all too often, but there was still something of a bond between them, and moments like this were to be savoured. She did not expect that they would maintain the strongest connection in the future, but hoped that there would always be a link between them, not to be severed entirely by differences of opinion or incompatibility of character.

  She surveyed her companions. They were sisters, all five of them bound by blood and a shared background. She would be happy if moments like today could be repeated from time to time, even if the future took them in different ways.

  Mellow September

  The room was full of music. Notes lingered in the air. Soothed by the gentle sound, Mr. Darcy leaned back comfortably in his chair. The performance was perfection.

  So was the performer. He looked at her with satisfaction. Her hair and clothing were perfectly arranged. There was a pleasant smile upon her lips. Her manners were excellent and exactly right, neither too cold, nor too warm. She was well-connected and would be credit to him in society. She would make a perfect wife.

  As he had expected, he had no feelings of love, but he admired and respected the lady. He liked her very well and had no doubt that they would get along splendidly. His home would be competently managed, and best of all, he was certain that his choice would suit Georgiana. He could imagine the two of them sitting side by side and playing the pianoforte. Two heads of golden curls bent close together, two pairs of elegant hands picking out the notes, two sisters sharing their love of music.

  His feelings were secondary, but he was satisfied with this choice. Miss Campion was a pleasant lady. He liked her very well. He would probably come to love her in time. She had shown signs of favouring him, and her parents had shown signs of approving the match. It was the right thing to do. An excellent choice for Georgiana’s benefit.

  So it was settled, he told himself. His mind was made up. No more searching. No more disappointment. No more wondering if he would ever find love. And no more standing up for so many dances with ladies whom he barely knew. He looked forward to being able to claim the married man’s privilege of not dancing. That alone was a great incentive to marry.

  He would pay a call upon her father in the morning, and afterwards make the proposal which he was certain would be accepted. He did not have a title to offer, but his family was an ancient and well-respected one, with strong connections to the aristocracy. His estate was prosperous, and his income substantial. His wife would have all that she could want, and would be invited almost anywhere. His was a very eligible offer.

  In the morning, however, he dawdled. He dressed slowly and picked at his breakfast. He flicked through his newspaper without feeling any interest in its contents. His eye fell upon the marriage announcements. In another day or two, his own would be among them.

  Or would it? Perhaps it would be wise to wait a few more weeks and mull over his decision. Mr. Bingley had invited him to view the estate which he had just leased in Hertfordshire. He could go there for a few days after they had settled in. It would be pleasant to walk about the autumn countryside. No doubt he would come back to London certain that he was doing the right thing, but his recent experiences had taught him not to do anything in haste. His proposal could wait a little longer. Instead, he sent a note to some friends, asking them to arrange a meeting with a Mrs. Annesley whom they had recommended as a new companion for Georgiana. The personal recommendation had given him confidence, and she would need a companion if he was to go away for a week or two.

  ______

  The light which fell through the window had a golden haze which heralded the rapidly approaching end of summer. Autumn would soon be upon them, with its rich colours and milder temperatures. Then colder days would set in, and the year would draw to a close. The same old patterns. Nothing new to change their lives.

  “Netherfield Park has been let at last.”

  These words, uttered by her mother, caught Elizabeth’s interest. It would be agreeable to have new company in the neighbourhood. Perhaps a nice family had taken the place.

  “It has been taken by a young man of large fortune.”

  Here was a new disturbance to their peace. Young men came along occasionally, but the neighbourhood had never welcomed one of large fortune. Everybody would be thinking of him and daring to hope. Unless, of course, he should happen to be married already. Really, that might be the best for all of them. They could make friends with the young man and his wife and not have their comfort spoiled for months to come
by pointless pressure to attract the young man’s attention.

  At that moment, her father asked if he were married, and her mother replied that he was not.

  “What a fine thing for our girls,” she added.

  While Mr. Bennet pretended not to comprehend his wife’s meaning, Elizabeth sighed inwardly. Here it begins again, she thought. Another glorious opportunity in her mother’s eyes. More speculation, more hopes that would only be dashed. Naturally, Kitty and Lydia were excited by the news and talked incessantly of the expected arrival for the next few days.

  Elizabeth kept quieter and tried not to think of the gentleman, but against her own instincts, she could not keep him out of her mind. Even as she despised her mother for forming expectations with no reasonable basis, she could not help hoping that his arrival might herald an unexpected and fortuitous turn in her sister’s fate. It went against her nature not to wish such happiness for a beloved sister.

  She said nothing to Jane, not wanting to make too much out of idle thoughts, and nothing to her mother, who needed no encouragement, but hope kept a little place in her heart. A very little hope, in accordance with the dictates of good sense, but its light kept lingering like the summer sunlight which was continuing to brighten their days even though Michaelmas was not far off.

  A Feather Found

  It was a glorious autumn day. Blue skies and orange leaves. Warm sunshine and a slight breeze, which gently ruffled the foliage. Mr. Darcy breathed in the fresh air with great contentment. This walk in the countryside was doing him good. It had been a good idea to get away from London, and seek a fresh perspective.

  The only problem was that the trip had proven to him that Miss Campion was entirely forgettable. It had dawned on him this morning that he had not thought of her for days. He could not propose to a lady who had so little significance to him, not even for Georgiana’s benefit.

  Fortunately, Mrs. Annesley was working out very well. He would forget about all his ideas of settling down. Looking for a wife had done him no good. No doubt there would be more pressure from his aunt and uncle at Christmas, and perhaps he might feel lonely again when the cold days set in and the solitary moments felt especially bleak, but he would not try so hard to find his fate. Richard was right. It must find him.

  Feeling free at heart, he looked up at the lightly fluttering trees. A flash of white caught his eye. A bit of fluff nestled on a high branch. It flapped about, but then a puff of wind dislodged it, and he saw that the object was actually a feather. A pure-white feather, which did not look as though it belonged to any native bird.

  His eyes remained upon the fluffy feather as it floated lightly downward, twirling end to end and wafting back and forth. Beside him, at the edge of the lane, there was a tall hedge and he wondered on which side the plume would fall. It drifted one way and then the other, mesmerizing Mr. Darcy with its slow progress, but in the end, it came directly to him.

  He held his hand out and caught himself a prize.

  A second later, a young lady burst out of the hedge, turned his way, and slammed straight into him. Her hands clutched at his arms, and a pair of very pretty eyes met his in surprise.

  ______

  On the other side of the hedge, Elizabeth had also seen the feather wafting downward and guessed it was the one which Lydia had lost yesterday. She had purchased it to wear for the assembly which was to be held that evening, but on her way home, it had been snatched from her hand by a gust of wind and carried to the top of a tall tree. From that perch, it had taunted her as she stood in wait, hoping that the wind would soon blow it free again. After a time, she had given up but, on returning home, had begged her father to carry a ladder down the lane and rescue her finery. He had declined to risk his neck for such a frivolous purpose, and for once, his wife had concurred with him instead of endorsing Lydia’s proposal.

  “I should think not,” Mrs. Bennet had said. “You cannot expect your father to do anything which might endanger his life, as the climbing of trees certainly would, especially at his age. Indeed, I think it a very good thing that he prefers to spend his time indoors.”

  Lydia had fumed and fretted, but neither parent would relent. She would have borrowed the money off one of her sisters, as she had done in the first place, and purchased a replacement if there were any more feathers to be had, but she and Maria Lucas had bought the last two. Her frustration over the loss had unsettled the whole family for the rest of the day, so in the morning, Elizabeth had gone to the scene of the incident with the hope that the feather had eventually fallen from the tree and might be lying somewhere in the field for her to find.

  She had not been looking long when it became dislodged. Seeing the feather flutter downward, she dashed forward to catch it if she could. As it wafted back and forth, she was not certain if it would land on the field side of the hedge, where she was, or drift into the lane. When it went to the other side with a final flick and change of direction, she rushed through a gap in the hedge with which she was familiar. In her hurry to grab the feather before the wind took it onward, she jumped into the lane, turned toward the place where she had last seen the feather, and immediately crashed into somebody. Startled and jolted by the impact, her hands instinctively grasped at some support.

  She caught her balance and then realized that she was holding onto the arms of a gentleman. She quickly dropped her hands, took a step back, and looked up at his face to see whom she had assaulted by her hasty progress. It was not one of her neighbours. This exceptionally handsome gentleman was a stranger to her. Their eyes met, and she blushed to be caught staring at him.

  Was he angry to be set upon in this disgraceful manner? Did he perhaps think that her actions had been deliberate like Lydia’s had been when she was determined to meet the officers? Mortification deepened the colour in Elizabeth’s cheeks, but the gentleman helped to set her mind at rest by gently placing a hand at her elbow to steady her.

  He did not look angry. There was a hint of a smile about his lips. “Are you alright?” he asked in a kindly tone.

  “Perfectly fine, thank you, except for my dignity. I am sorry to have inconvenienced you. I was in a rush, and did not look where I was going.”

  “Perhaps it was my fault. I was standing directly in your way.”

  That made her laugh. “You are too kind. It was most definitely my fault. I am too impulsive, and it was careless of me to be so heedless. I hope you were not too startled.”

  “I did think for a moment that I was being set upon by thieves, but now I see that is not the case. Were you in a great hurry to get somewhere?”

  “No. It must sound ridiculous, but I was chasing after a feather.”

  He held up the prize he had caught. “This feather?”

  “Oh! You caught it.”

  “It dropped into my hand actually, but I am glad to have been of use in restoring your property to you.” He handed her the feather.

  “My sister’s property, in fact. She lost it yesterday, and I came out this morning in the hope of finding it.”

  “That was kind of you. I too have a sister for whom I would do any favour.”

  “It was not all kindness,” Elizabeth confessed. “I do try to be kind to my sisters, but in this case, I was largely motivated by a desire to put an end to her fretting.”

  “I see you are honest as well as impulsive.”

  Elizabeth could not help grinning. “They are two of my flaws.”

  “Not at all. I think them admirable traits.”

  “You really are too generous.”

  “A good many of my acquaintance would disagree with you. That is one of my flaws. To my sister, who is very dear to me, I make a point of being generous, but I do not always give enough thought to others.”

  “Well, you did today. I was mortified to find myself clutching at you, but your kind understanding has set my mind at ease. I may have a great many flaws, but throwing myself at gentlemen is not one of them.”

  “I am sure it is n
ot. Nor do I believe that you have so many flaws. I am sure that I have more.”

  “I cannot believe it.”

  “It is perfectly true. I am too reserved and too fastidious in my ways. I am aware that people sometimes call me proud.”

  “I can see no evidence of any improper pride.”

  “Now it is you who is being too kind, but I shall accept the compliment gratefully. May I be very bold and ask if you will be attending this evening’s assembly?”

  “I shall be. Indeed, this feather is destined to adorn the arrangement of my sister’s hair.”

  “Ah! I comprehend the urgency of finding it.”

  “You will also be attending the assembly?” Elizabeth was astonished by her own boldness.

  “I certainly shall. Perhaps you would do me the honour of dancing with me.”

  “Perhaps I shall.” She smiled. You might ask me after we have been properly introduced.”

  “Of course. I am being precipitate in asking now, but I shall look forward to that moment. Until tonight, then.”

  He bowed and continued on his way, leaving Elizabeth wondering to whom she had been talking. Could he have been the often-discussed Mr. Bingley, or was he one of the many friends who were reported to be visiting Netherfield?

  Whichever it was, she found herself looking forward to meeting him with great anticipation. In those few moments of conversation, she had felt a surprising attraction, a glimmering of something which she had never felt before. It was quite ridiculous, especially when she thought that she had often admonished Kitty and Lydia for being superficial, but it seemed as though an instant captivation had possessed her. There was a skip in her step as she made her way home, thinking of the pleasures which awaited her later that evening. Would he ask her for the first dance?