by Suzan Lauder
By the time Jane was four, Mrs. Akuete was teaching letters and numbers to her. Elizabeth and Mary soon joined them. The Bennet children were very intelligent and quickly outstripped children of their age group. Their classmates, the Akuete children, were equally gifted.
As the Bennet daughters grew older, their interests and talents surpassed Mrs. Akuete’s knowledge. She became the housekeeper, and masters were hired to further the girls’ gifts. Self-study was also encouraged, and there were no limitations placed on subject matter. Their father assisted as well as he could, purchasing books on any topic of interest. They were avid readers of The Ladies’ Diary for its discussions on science, philosophy, and mathematics.
Although Mrs. Bennet was not in possession of such an intelligent mind as the rest of her family, she was a loving and protective mother who would do anything to improve the happiness of her family. Having benefited from a good upbringing, she, in turn, had taught her own children all things proper and important for a young gentlewoman. Fanny Bennet ensured her daughters’ education included the knowledge and practice of proper etiquette and conversation, setting a fine table, household management, dancing and graceful manners. They also were encouraged in sewing and artistic achievements appropriate for a gentlewoman.
The Bennet girls were as gracious and accomplished as most young ladies of the ton, but much more knowledgeable on matters of literature and politics, and interesting but unaffected conversationalists. The girls had a music master, and all learned to play the pianoforte quite well, though Mary’s skill was superior due to her dedication to long hours of daily practice. The Bennet house was constantly full of music—that is, when they were not preparing for a social function. Then they gathered with Mrs. Bennet to modify gowns, trim bonnets, and try new hair styles.
Mrs. Bennet was not exaggerating when she claimed her daughters the most beautiful and most accomplished. And she, herself, was still a very handsome woman.
***
April 1792
Gloucestershire
Fanny Gardiner smoothed her skirt for the fifth time since dressing and inspected her form in the looking glass. Admiring herself, she proudly thought her ensemble made her look remarkably mature for her seventeen years. She had taken extraordinary care with her appearance for this ball, wearing a pale pink silk gown with a cream lace overlay trimmed with small, embroidered roses. Pink ribbon roses were in her hair, which was done in the most complicated arrangement of plaits and bun she had ever known. Her slippers were the finest kid, and she wore her mother’s pearls.
She heard irregular footsteps plodding slowly down the corridor. They stopped outside her sitting room, and there was a scratch on the door. She smiled broadly and immediately felt more confident. Her visitor could only be one person—her dear cousin Thomas Bennet. She bade him enter the small parlour. He leaned on his cane as an awed expression overcame his face, and she blushed deeply.
“Fanny, I cannot find words to do justice to your beauty!” he said in a hoarse voice. “You have always been lovely, but tonight you are the most beautiful girl in town. You will surely steal all the suitors from the other girls!”
“I thank you for your compliments, Thomas. I hope you are correct. I would be mortified to be seen sitting at my own coming-out ball!” She felt proud to have him admiring her and excited for this momentous evening. She was so happy she thought she would burst.
“My dear Fanny, you will have more suitors than you have spaces on your dance card. Mama and Papa would have been so proud.” His eyes became wet; it was cruel they had to miss this important event in her life. The memory of the fire was fresh in his mind—he still bore the physical pain and scars—and they were barely out of mourning clothes for the death of his parents.
“It is unfair that I must dance the first with my father. He is a stranger to me. I wish you could stand up with me, Thomas. You are my only family now that your parents are gone, and you are the one who sponsored this ball!” She had been brought up by her father’s cousins, Thomas’s parents, since the age of seven when her mother perished in a carriage accident. When her father, Mr. Gardiner, had remarried, his new wife did not want young Fanny, so she stayed with the Bennets and thus was not well acquainted with her father, stepmother and their two young children, a boy and a girl.
Thomas took her hands, laying a brief kiss on each one, and said tenderly, “I also wish it could be so, my dear.” He looked into the girl’s eyes for a moment then recollected himself and stepped back.
“I am surprised you are so calm!”
“As am I, but you did not see me as I was preparing! I behaved as if angry at the maid and could not sit still for an instant. It is a wonder I am here; she should have murdered me the way I was speaking to her! But truly, Thomas, it is your presence that calmed me.”
“Well, then! We must not waste your good humour! If I cannot have the first dance, let me at least escort you into the ball.”
“I thank you, sir!” She smiled as she took his arm.
She was much admired at the ball. Most would agree she was the most beautiful girl in attendance that season, even if her gown was not quite as fine as were those of the young ladies from families of greater affluence. She was fortunate to have the Bennet connection. As the ward of a gentleman, she was held in higher esteem than as the daughter of a solicitor, her father’s occupation.
Thomas was correct in his prediction; his cousin’s dance card was full soon after they entered the ballroom. She shared a lively conversation with him between dances as he stood by the side of the room leaning on his cane, helping her feel comforted in this exciting yet daunting situation. Thomas enjoyed watching the people around the room posturing and parading about. The men were like peacocks and the mothers like wildcats ready to pounce. The girls, including Fanny, tittered about like chattering monkeys, mindlessly talking of gowns and balls, with curls bouncing and skirts swishing and their eyes darting about to gain intelligence on the next bit of gossip.
The supper dance had been claimed by a friend of Thomas from Cambridge. The three of them sat together during supper, and the gentlemen teased her about the number of young men who would call on her the following morning. When Thomas expressed an interest in cards, Fanny encouraged him to take a seat in one of the card rooms as he was looking fatigued from standing all evening. Thomas’s friend escorted Fanny back to the ballroom, and they parted when her next partner claimed her. At the close of the set, Fanny’s partner escorted her towards the refreshment table, but then he was called away. Fanny smiled in assurance as he took his leave, but in reality, she was feeling a bit awkward without Thomas. A gentleman unknown to her approached and passed her a glass of punch.
“I do not believe we have been introduced, Miss . . . ” He smiled at her, and she noticed he was well favoured and expensively dressed. She smiled in her confusion then averted her eyes and did not respond, aware of the impropriety of his introducing himself to her.
“I am sorry, Miss; I would ask for an introduction, but you do not appear to have any companions.” He smirked as if amused by a child. She thought it not proper to speak to him and kept her eyes turned away, hoping someone she knew would engage her in conversation.
The unknown gentleman startled her when he quickly moved towards her, put her hand on his arm, covered it with his other hand, and strode away from the crowd with his head high as if he were well-acquainted with her—as an uncle or a brother. She was so surprised and confused that she followed along as they moved away from the others.
He leaned over and spoke into her ear. “You have not yet told me your name, Miss . . . ” She was overwhelmed by his impudence and unable to think what to do in the face of such impropriety. She blushed and looked around like a scared rabbit.
“Gardiner,” she squeaked, blushing deeply.
“Miss Gardiner. What, pray, is your Christian name, Miss Gardiner?”
“Fanny,” she whispered.
“Well, Fanny! I am Lord Malc
olm, at your service. You seem to be flushed; you must be ill.”
She nodded, regarding him with wide eyes, then quickly looked away.
“I will accompany you to a balcony to get some air,” he said evenly with an air of confidence that further disconcerted her. Without missing a step, he boldly led her out of the ballroom, around the corner, and out of sight before she was able to protest. She was flustered; her throat felt tight, and she was blushing deeply. She tried to think of a proper response to his improper addresses but could not find a way to think or talk. Lord Malcolm released her hand and stood to face her, much closer than was comfortable.
“Well, Fanny, you are undoubtedly the most handsome girl at this ball. I am much honoured by your attentions towards me. I am very pleased you offered to accompany me to the balcony for my entertainment, and it is a compliment to you that I have condescended to acquiesce.” He spoke in a low voice and moved even closer until he was nearly touching her. She could feel his panting breath against her cheek. She moved back, only to collide with the outside wall of the house, and he leaned into her, taking her upper arms in his hands.
“I . . . I . . . must . . . I . . . have promised . . . a dance . . . I . . . must go inside . . . ”
“Do not tease. I know what girls like you want, and it is not a dance with a boy.”
He leered as he tightened his grip on her arms and pressed his body into hers, trapping her against the wall, and pressed his lips upon hers in a startlingly rough manner.
She did not know what to do and tried to move away, staring wide-eyed at him while he forced his passionate kisses on her and held her body in a most inappropriate manner. He reacted by grasping her cruelly by the upper arms and slamming her body against the wall of the house, biting and kissing her mouth brutally. She froze momentarily at the shock of the forcefulness of his actions. He responded to her hesitation by rubbing his body against hers, growling deep in his throat like some kind of animal. She started to cry quietly under his fierce kisses and bites of her lips.
“Feel my desire for you, bad girl. You are lucky to have my attention.” She felt a hard ridge grinding against her stomach as he tore at her gown and roughly grasped at her breasts, pinching and squeezing. She tried to move her head away, but he responded by grasping her hair and pulling up with one hand. She cried out under his mouth.
He put his hand over her mouth and muttered, “Keep quiet, else you will be disgraced for seducing a peer.” He bit her breast while grasping at the skirt of her gown with his free hand, all the while trapping her between his body and the house. The sensation of cold air on her thighs brought her attention to the location of her skirts, now bunched up at her waist.
“My lovely maiden, you have waited just for me,” she heard him say as she felt his hand roughly rubbing her in her most private of places. She was mortified and shocked beyond any reasoning. Her mind started to escape from what was happening into a state of numbness. He pulled her hair upward painfully; she was on her toes to lessen the pain. She barely noticed him pressing his knee then his pelvis between her thighs. Her body was frozen, her mind shocked, and she felt pain ripping through her again and again and again as she stared with blind eyes at his red and puffing face.
Then he grunted and stilled. He released her hair and backed away, buttoning the fall of his breeches as he looked at her with no expression on his face.
“Very pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Fanny,” he mumbled as he smoothed his hair and walked back into the ballroom.
Chapter 2:
Fresh blood at the Meryton assembly, and Darcy is an ass.
October 1811
Meryton assembly hall, Hertfordshire
The entrance of the Bingley party created a disruption in the assembly ball as everyone slowed or stopped what they were doing to take stock of the newcomers. Few had been successful in securing an opportunity to meet Mr. Bingley thus far, and his guests had just arrived that afternoon. Mr. Bennet was one of the few who had made the acquaintance of Mr. Bingley and had some intelligence of the composition of his party. Contrary to earlier rumours of dozens of young men and ladies, Bennet learned four others were staying with Bingley. Of most interest to Bennet was Mr. Darcy of Pemberley.
Elizabeth was somewhat amused by the whole of Meryton and the surrounding countryside being in such awe of the party from Netherfield Park. Although she was of an amiable nature, she could not see anything more remarkable about the group than an opportunity to make new acquaintances. Her neighbours and friends were ready to proffer the utmost deference, and even if the gentlemen were of higher standing than those in the area, Elizabeth did not think they deserved the attention and distraction the Meryton matrons demonstrated. Elizabeth was not pleased to hear Aunt Philips gossiping with Mrs. Long and Mrs. Goulding about the incomes and properties held by the gentlemen and their desirability as husbands for the young ladies of Meryton. It was embarrassing to see her neighbours show such ill breeding and create such an unfavourable first impression of the families of the area.
The Netherfield residents were not long in the hall when they approached Mr. Bennet to seek an introduction to the ladies of his family in attendance. Bingley immediately requested the next available set from Jane, who was pleased to accept. This surprised Elizabeth since Jane often had many dances, especially the important ones, promised prior to the start of a ball. Elizabeth previously agreed to the first set with John Goulding and Mary with Henry Lucas.
Mr. Bingley seemed an affable fellow. However, the rest of his party were somewhat reserved and did not much participate in conversation when introduced. Elizabeth could not but suspect the rest of the Netherfield party unwilling to mingle with mere country gentlemen and their families.
Although the ladies’ finery was the latest in London fashion, they were quite overdressed for a country assembly and even for the London balls that Mr. Bennet had permitted Elizabeth to attend with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner during the Season. She mused that, although the Bingley ladies’ behaviour was more in tune with the manners expected of the ton, they acted with a great deal more self-importance than their social class deserved, particularly in such relaxed society. She was therefore not unhappy to see their party move on to introductions with other families until the first tones indicated the opening dance. Mr. Bennet took his wife to the line, and the young gentlemen came to collect the three Bennet girls.
Elizabeth acknowledged that both Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy were handsome gentlemen. In fact, she found herself quite taken with the agreeable face and elegant figure of the tall and noble master of Pemberley. She noticed he did not dance the first but took to the floor on the second with Miss Bingley, the third with Mrs. Hurst, and then did not dance again. Mr. Darcy seemed to keep to the outskirts of the room, gazing distractedly at those enjoying the fête. A few times, she thought she saw him looking intently at her or Jane, but he looked away when he realized he had been caught. Elizabeth wished the gentleman would request a set from her as she hoped to know him better.
Darcy had indeed been looking at Jane and Elizabeth, as well as Mr. Bennet. He was distracted by a feeling that they looked familiar but could not place where he might have met them. He was sure he had not made the acquaintance of a Bennet family from Hertfordshire before that evening. He also noticed Elizabeth looking at him and was wary that she could be just one more predatory female looking to wed the master of Pemberley.
The Longbourn and Netherfield parties were once again drawn into conversation between sets, though Jane, Elizabeth and Mary were quickly called away to dance and spent little time in discussion with their new neighbours. Mrs. Bennet enquired about the ladies’ liking of Netherfield and Meryton and received brief, polite answers that showed good breeding but little interest in the conversation. Although Bennet’s good judgement would suggest he should be circumspect, his impulsive and curious nature, as well as his responsibility as a leader in the neighbourhood, insisted he be welcoming and solicitous to the new visito
rs. Thus, he approached Darcy and started a conversation.
“Mr. Darcy, I was fortunate enough to have made the acquaintance of your father when a student at Cambridge.”
“My father passed away five years ago, leaving me the care of my younger sister and the estate. Did you know him well?”
“Yes, I believe I can safely say I did. We were in the same year and in many of the same clubs. He was a good man.”
“Have you ever been to Pemberley?” Darcy asked.
“No, I have not had that pleasure,” Bennet dissembled.
“Have you spent any time in Derbyshire?”
“I had family in the north, so I had occasion to pass through Derbyshire once or twice.” Bennet did not look directly at Darcy, hoping his countenance would not reveal this was not the whole truth.
“Forgive my impertinence, sir, it is just that you look quite familiar to me.”
“I doubt we have met recently, Mr. Darcy, though I am pleased to know you now.”
Darcy was perplexed. He was certain he had met Mr. Bennet before but could not place the situation. “Do you spend much time in Town?”
“I prefer to live the quiet life of a country gentleman, sir,” Bennet replied. Attempting to leave the awkward subject, he continued, “It allows me to concentrate on my chess game.”
“You play often?”
“Mostly with my daughters, although I am trying to teach a neighbour’s boy to become a worthy opponent. Do you play Mr. Darcy? Your father was a formidable adversary.”
“I am known to be a champion. My name is on the books at White’s, and I have not been bested in some time,” Mr. Darcy said quite seriously.
“Well, perhaps we should test that theory. Would you care to call at Longbourn tomorrow and answer my challenge?” Bennet asked with a smile.
“Indeed I would, Mr. Bennet,” Darcy replied with a nod of his head.
The gentlemen continued talking of gentlemen’s interests until Mr. Bennet was reminded by his wife that he had promised her the next set, at which time Darcy continued to move about the perimeter of the hall, observing the participants in the dancing and not endearing himself to the residents of Meryton, especially Elizabeth.