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Prologue Posted on Saturday, 22 January 2000
The opinion about immigrants *is not* my own...it was just the public sentiment of the wealthy at the time...
It was the Gilded Age. A time of industrialization, and economical stability of the United States. But underneath the shiny exterior was a time of corruption, monopolies, trusts, and discontent of laborers. The Rich Man controlled the economy. They were ruthless; only making sure that they got their money, while eating up the little businesses.
I never paid attention the economics of things. I was always out relaxing, find the beauty of nature. I was next in line for my father's company, but I didn't care. The Romantic era got to me, while the Gilded Age went on around me.
So how did I end up the person I am, and married to this man? Well, things can change quickly, but not so smoothly.
Before I begin, let me tell you some background of myself.
My name is Elizabeth, and I grew up in a rather big, and well-to-do family. I was the second daughter of five. Jane was the eldest, and the most beautiful and best tempered. Next, after me, came Mary. She was deemed the most accomplished in the town. I hate to be insensitive towards my sister, but it was a small town. Next came Catherine, or Kitty, as we called her. She had a capable mind, but she chose not to use it. Instead, she chose to follow Lydia's example, the youngest out of all my sisters. She was Mother's favorite, and also the most flighty. She didn't mature much in her first 15 years.
Father owned a railroad company, whose principal customer was Darcy Oil Inc., the biggest oil supplier. The Darcy's wealth ranked right up there with Andrew Carnegie, and John D. Rockefeller, and it was his business that kept ours going. But when old George Darcy died in 1889, and his son took over, we weren't sure if we would still have their business. Fitzwilliam Darcy was known to be a cold businessman, taking what he can get, and destroying companies in his wake.
It was also around this time that my father decided to lay a bomb on me. He expected me to take over his company when he was gone. Me? Who never paid attention to the business in my life? And a woman no less? But it seemed I had no choice...
Chapter 1 Posted on Saturday, 22 January 2000
"But Father? How am I supposed to take over the company?" I was in my father's study arguing with him about the future of the rail road.
"You're the only one I trust. Jane is too calm to run a business, and your other sisters...well, maybe it's best not to say anything about them."
"But I'm a woman!"
"That has nothing to do with it. True, it's not usual for a woman to run a business, but it's legal, and you can handle it. Besides, I didn't send you to college for nothing."
"But I don't want to!" Oh! Why did this have to happen? I never asked for it, and now Father was practically ordering me to be the head of the Longbourn Rail Road Company.
"You don't want to? Elizabeth, this is a family company, and I would like to keep it in the family. If you don't take it, I'm going to have to give it to Mr. Collins." Mr. Collins? Him running our railroad? "I believe you've met him, and know what kind of man he is."
I had to give in. There was no way I was going to let Mr. Collins have my railroad. "Very well, Father. I give in."
A triumphant smile spread across my father's face. "Good. Now next week, when Mr. Darcy comes, you are going to meet with him as well."
"Very well." I wasn't in the mood to talk more, so I left Father's study. I couldn't believe he was doing this to me. Why did he think I could run the company? And now, I'm going to have to meet with the cold Mr. Darcy.
I ran outside and found my bicycle lying on the front lawn, where I left it earlier. I got on the bicycle, with much trouble, due to my dress, and started riding down the street. The cool wind blowing against me seemed to calm my nerves.
It was perfect weather. Being the end of September, the sun was strong enough to warm the air, but not uncomfortably so. A light, cool breeze added to the environment's perfection.
We moved out of the city of Chicago to a suburb just last year. The city, in the opinion of my parents, was becoming too dirty and uncivilized with all the immigrant peasants making their home there. When I was just a young girl, a landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, designed a suburb. Forever, my parents wanted to move out of the city, like most middle classes and upper class people were doing. Not until last year, did they make the move.
I enjoy the suburb much better. There is much more free air, without the polluted, unsanitary streets of the city. And it's not very hard for Father to get to work everyday, since the streetcars ran all the way to the suburb.
Anyway, I rode around the winding streets for a while, until I noticed that it was later than I thought by the position the sun was in. Mother was going to strangle me if I was late for dinner, so I pedaled my hardest back home.
When I entered my home, I went straight to a mirror to see what damage was done. My curly, dark brown hair was falling out of it's bun, and I was slightly sweaty, but I didn't have time to clean up before dinner, so I just headed straight to the dining room.
When I entered the room, I found my mother harassing Father about where we lived. Yes, Mother, who was the main family member who wanted to move didn't like where we lived in the suburb.
"...How will our girls ever find a husband living out here?" Oh no. Not the 'husband talk' again. "We need to move to the city again where they can find nice husbands."
"By nice husbands, you mean rich husbands." My father was just sitting at the head of the table calmly.
"Well...it would be nice if they were rich..."
"I thought you wanted to move to the suburb to be around wealthy men!" Father had a full smirk on his face now.
"They're not rich enough here!"
"So, I suppose you want our girls to marry Rockefeller or Morgan."
"Oh, Mr. Bennet! You know they are too old for our girls!" At that moment, Mother finally realized that I was in the room. She glanced at me with a disapproving look, and then she turned back to Father. "What difference does it make anyway? Look at your second daughter over there, coming in from goodness knows where looking like something the cat dragged in. It's bad enough you let her go to college; now you're letting her take over the business. Goodness knows that men don't like educated women!"
Out of all my sisters, I was Mother's least favorite. She claimed I was too independent for my own good. Now where did she ever get that idea?
I was safe from responding to Mother when Father spoke up. "Francis, I hardly doubt all men don't want to marry an educated woman. In fact, I believe that men of sense want a wife that they can have an intelligent conversation with."
My mother just decided not to answer, and so we all sat down to a family dinner. The rest of the meal was relatively calm, with only a few remarks about husbands, or lack thereof, from my mother.
That night, after I got ready for bed, I made my way to Jane's room. I found her sitting in front of the mirror, brushing her long, beautiful, golden hair. When I went to stand behind her, she saw the worried look on my face in the mirror, and she turned to speak to me.
"Lizzy, I'm sorry about what Mother said about you earlier. I'm sure that you will find a man that doesn't matter what you do, and loves you."
I gave her a confused look. I thought she would know that I wasn't worried about that. I had more important things on my mind.
"Oh! Jane! That's not my problem. I'm not worried about finding a husband. It's the railroad business. I supposed you know that Father wants me to take over it."
"Yes...Mother, I think, announced it practically to the whole city. But Lizzy, I thought you might like to run the company."
"I don't know, Jane! It seems interesting, but so...tedious to sit in an office all day, when I could be in the outdoors, in fresh air!"
"I'm sure you'll grow to like it in time."
"I hope so. At least one good thing may come out of it." I gave Jane a sly smile.
"And that is?"
"I'll come in contact with many rich men who will want to marry you."
"Oh, Lizzy! I assure you that I am not in need of a husband yet, either. But when I am, I so much want to marry for love."
"You shall, Jane! But who says that the man you love won't be wealthy?"
"We shall see Lizzy. What about you?"
"Me? I only want to marry for love as well. But what man will love a college educated woman who runs a business?" I gave Jane a mischievous smile, but a huge yawn interrupted that smile. "I can't seem to stay up. Good night, Jane."
I made my way to my bedroom, and collapsed on my bed. I must have fallen right asleep, because I didn't remember anything else.
Chapter 2 Posted on Sunday, 23 January 2000
All through the next week, Father taught me more about the business. How to handle money and customers, and the peculiar things called rebates and kickbacks. Apparently, I had to give both of those to Darcy Oil, to keep their business. The rebates to reduce prices for Mr. Darcy, and the kickbacks to give extra profit to him. The whole idea seems absurd to me. How can one cheat others out of money? But Father says that it's business, and we have to do everything we can to keep our business going.
So, on that fateful Monday morning in which I was going to officially start working for the family company, I found myself sitting next to Father on the streetcar that was to take us into the city. Never did a ride into the city make me so unhappy. All the other times I went to Chicago were because of entertainment; whether it involved seeing a play, or going shopping. Now I was going into the city to sit all day in an office and meet some rich guy who liked to take advantage of transportation companies just so he could make some money.
Finally, the streetcar made it to the corner we were to get off at. Father and I walked a block until we came to a tall building. A skyscraper to be exact, ten stories high. That was made possible five years ago when William Le Baron Jenny first built a ten story high skyscraper for Home Insurance Company right here in Chicago.
We, the Bennets, owned this particular building in which we were entering, but the company only occupied a few stories in itself; the rest of the building was rented out to different businesses. Father thought it a good investment to make extra money. So far it's worked. Too bad I'll probably have to take over the building too, along with the railroad. Great. I can't wait. Just like I can't wait to meet the Mr. Darcy.
Father and I were waiting in my new office for an hour when Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy was announced. A moment later, a handsome man entered the office. He was rather tall, with dark, curly hair. At first, I had trouble believing he was Mr. Darcy by the way he was dressed. Of course, he was dressed very finely, but not as lavishly as I expected a ridiculously rich man would dress like.
The one thing that I didn't approve of him was the expression on his face. It was cold and businesslike. I began to wonder if he even knew how to smile.
As Father and he were greeting each other, I heard my name mentioned. I quickly realized that Father was introducing me to Mr. Darcy. I extended my hand to him, but instead of shaking it like normal business people do, he kissed it gallantly. This caused me to pause. Did Mr. Darcy even know that I was there for business? Or did he just think I liked to go with my Father for the fun of it?
"It's a pleasure meeting you, Miss Bennet." Before I could even respond, he turned to Father. "Mr. Bennet, if you would like to begin negotiating now, maybe we should leave Miss Bennet alone so she won't get bored with all the business talk."
I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks. How dare he assume that I was just a little woman who couldn't understand business. Somehow, I managed to keep my temper in check as Father cleared things up.
"Oh no, Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth is to inherit this business after my death. She is here to start taking over my duties."
The faintest flicker of surprise showed on Mr. Darcy's face, but in a second it was gone. But still, instead of addressing me, he stood facing Father. "A woman?"
That's it. I couldn't hold my temper anymore. I completely forgot that I had the same thought when Father first asked me about this issue. Besides, hearing it from somebody else magnified the insult. I stood up suddenly, almost knocking down the chair, which finally got Mr. Darcy to face me. "A woman, Mr. Darcy? What does that have anything to do with it, pray tell? I'm a college-educated person, who can think rationally. I can handle a business just as well as any man could. Probably even better!" At this point, I heard my father chuckle, and I glared at him. He quickly wiped the smirk off his face.
"Miss Bennet, I fear you misunderstand me..."
"Misunderstand you? No, I understand you perfectly. You think that a woman couldn't run a business."
"That's not what I meant! I just...I never came across a businesswoman before."
"There's a first time for everything."
Mr. Darcy and I just stood glaring at each other, and one could just feel the sparks of tension in the room.
Luckily, my father spoke up before either the arrogant man or myself said another rude word. "Well, it looks like this won't be a very productive day. Let's meet again in a week, same time. Mr. Darcy, do you have a place to stay? If not, I'm sure my wife wouldn't mind letting you stay in our house." At this I glared again at Father, but I knew he was most likely teasing me. Men like Mr. Darcy probably stayed at the most expensive hotels in the city.
"No, there is no need. I'm actually staying with a co-trustee and friend of mine, Charles Bingley. I believe he bought a house near where you live. On Netherfield Street."
"Well, that is just three miles from where we live. Perhaps we'll see each other on occasions other than business meetings."
"Perhaps we will." We were all getting ready to walk out, when Mr. Darcy gallantly held out his arm to me. I supposed he was trying to make amends for his earlier comment, but I was still fuming inside. Instead of taking his arm, I chose to pretend to ignore it and walked ahead of him. When Father and he met up with me, I was waiting outside of the building. Once again, I was reminded of why I didn't like the city. All the carriages, and the dirt, and the noise. It was going to be hard coming there every day.
Father and Mr. Darcy stood talking for a while, but I wasn't listening. I lost interest in that arrogant Mr. Darcy within the first two minutes of knowing him. Finally, the streetcar came to the corner, but instead of Mr. Darcy going away, he came on with us! Didn't he have something else to do? Why did he have to ride with us?
I sat across the aisle on the streetcar, staring out of the window the whole way home. Once in a while, I would glance at Father and Mr. Darcy, and sometimes, I would catch Mr. Darcy looking at me. Try as I might, I could not understand that man. First he insults me because I was a woman, then he tried to offer his arm, and there he was looking at me. I whispered under my breath, "Strange man."
At last we got to the stop where Mr. Darcy was to get off. When he stood up, he turned to me, and held out his hand, which I surprisingly took. Instead of raising my hand to his lips, he shook it. "It has been a pleasure meeting you, Miss Bennet." Despite his politeness by shaking my hand, he still had a cold edge to his voice, and his face was stern. My reply, was just as cold.
"Pleasure meeting you too, Mr. Darcy." After Mr. Darcy left, I moved over to sit next to Father. "Was he always that cold?"
"Not quite. When he came with his father, he was polite, but not as...reserved I should say. People say his father's death changed him."
"It was awfully rude for him to say that about me." I didn't seem to want to let the issue rest.
"What? That you're a woman? I dare say the statement was true!"
"Father!"
"Well, you are a woman!" But seeing that I wasn't smiling, Father turned serious. "I'm sorry. I was only teasing. All that I ask is to give him time. It may have just been his surprise controlling him. I don't know what's wrong with you. You usually wouldn't take anybody's comments this serious."
"I don't know either. Perhaps I'm still trying to get used to my taking over the company. Or maybe I just am nervous about him. He is what keeps our company going, after all."
"And maybe the fact that he is handsome has something to do with it, too?" At this, I just glared at my father, but he only laughed.
As we entered our house, we could sense something of an exciting nature happened. When we entered the parlor, I saw Mother, all my sisters, and my good friend, Charlotte Lucas. Before I could even greet anyone, my mother decided to announce her news.
"Mr. Bennet! You will never guess what happened! A young, rich man by the name of Mr. Bingley has moved in to a house on Netherfield Street!"
"Yes, we know. Mr. Darcy is staying with him."
"Mr. Bennet! You have known, and didn't tell me? We could have welcomed him much sooner, and introduced our girls to him!"
"Calm down, Francis! We only found out today at our meeting with Mr. Darcy."
"Oh. In that case you are forgiven."
"Thank you. I was afraid my wife would never forgive me."
Mother didn't realize that Father was making fun of her, so she just kept on talking about the famous Mr. Bingley. I ignored her, and walked over to sit next to Charlotte and Jane.
"So, Charlotte, are you the one who made my mother so excited?"
"I confess, Lizzy, that it was me. I came to issue an invitation. We are to have a welcome dinner for Mr. Bingley tomorrow. I hear Mr. Darcy is staying with him for a while, too. Father has invited him along with Mr. Bingley's sisters and a brother-in-law. Speaking of Mr. Darcy, how did your meeting go?"
I rolled my eyes at the question. "Don't ask."
"That bad?"
"He practically said right out that I was incapable of running the company because I was a woman. And he was so cold and stern!"
Jane, who was listening quietly to the conversation said, "Oh Lizzy! Maybe you just misunderstood him. He'll probably improve on closer acquaintance. Give him time."
"Yes, Jane. I will give him a fair trial. Tomorrow night we'll find out if that was just his business demeanor, or if he's really like that. I'm praying that that's just his business personality."
And so my wait has begun.
Chapter 3 Posted on Thursday, 27 January 2000
By the time we got to the party, it was already in full swing. I didn't see the tall figure of Mr. Darcy there yet, so I figured the rest of his party wasn't there either. Not that I was looking for Mr. Darcy. Of course I wasn't.
I did spy Charlotte, however, and I left my family to greet my friend.
"Well, Charlotte, I see that the Netherfield party hasn't arrived yet."
"No, I but it's early yet."
"No doubt they want to be fashionably late."
"The sisters, maybe. But I doubt Mr. Bingley."
I didn't know that Charlotte actually met them. I just assumed it were her parents who did the inviting. I asked Charlotte about this.
"I was nervous about going, but my parents decided that it was time that I took some 'position' as they called it, in our neighborhood."
"Position? Of what?"
Charlotte was prevented from answering as the Netherfield part came in and was introduced. I saw Father greet Mr. Darcy, and then I saw Mother sign to Jane, in hurried manner, to come over near her. No doubt to make a spectacle of us. So, as Jane passed by me, I called out to her.
"Jane, don't go! She just wants to make sure you're first in line to meet the eligible gentlemen."
"But Lizzy! I should go."
"Nonsense. You'll undoubtedly get a chance to meet the party..." I then spied Mr. Darcy coming over his friends. "...And it looks like you'll get your chance now."
"Good evening, Miss Bennet. I trust you are well." Mr. Darcy didn't lose any of his coldness from the day before. I guess he's always like that then.
I forced a smile and replied, "Yes, I thank you. And you?"
"Very well, thank you. Would you do me the honor of introducing me to your friends?"
"Certainly. Do you know Miss Lucas?" He replied in the negative. "Mr. Darcy, this if my friend Charlotte Lucas, and my elder sister, Jane."
Mr. Darcy then introduced Mr. Bingley and his sisters to Jane and I, since Charlotte already met them. Mr. Charles Bingley was the complete opposite in looks to Mr. Darcy. He wasn't as tall, and he had blonde hair, and light blue eyes.
Miss Caroline Bingley was almost the same height of her brother, with a darker complexion. Her hair was still light, but more of a dark blonde, and her eyes were dark blue. She acted disgusted to be introduced to us, and she clung to Mr. Darcy like he was the last man on earth. I found it amusing that he looked disgusted every time she addressed him.
Mrs. Louisa Hurst had her brother's coloring. She had the same light blonde hair, and blue eyes. She was shorter than her sister, but she still had the same stuck-up look. Her husband was just a little taller than her, and was already gray. Instantly, he started looking around for the punch.
I shifted my focus to Mr. Bingley and Jane, who were well on their way to getting acquainted. It seemed like Mr. Bingley couldn't take his eyes off of her, and Jane was happy with Mr. Bingley's attentions. I smiled at the thought that Jane may have met the man she deserves.
For the remainder of the time before dinner, I watched the guests. Mr. Bingley and Jane continued to take delight in conversing with each other; Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst stood of to one side, undoubtedly making comments about the lack of sophistication of the party; and Mr. Darcy stood, stone cold, not talking to anyone, except Father. I even heard that Mrs. Long, one of our neighbors, tried to speak to Mr. Darcy, but he answered shortly, or not at all. Figures. Why would he want to converse with us when he's head of Darcy Oil, and one of the richest men in the country?
So, one can imagine my displeasure when Mr. Darcy decided to take his seat next to mine at dinner. To my relief, however, Jane sat down next to me. I believed that she would at least converse with me, but I was wrong. Mr. Bingley decided to sit beside her also, and she spent most of the time talking to him. So I was stuck with him.
The dinner certainly began quiet enough, with neither I nor Mr. Darcy talking. Without any conversation to keep myself busy, I began to think of how happy I was that Jane was so admired. And by such a gentleman! Mr. Bingley was of a cheerful disposition, and he was never impolite to anyone. He seemed to fit Jane perfectly.
I was startled out of my reverie by Mr. Darcy's voice. Was he actually opening his mouth voluntarily to talk?
"So, Miss Bennet, how did you come to be head of your company?" I suspected him of asking that question with a sneer, but when I looked at him, I only saw curiosity showing. His voice wasn't cold, either. I wondered why he was actually being polite. Maybe I was wrong about him in the first place.
"Well, if Father wanted his company to be passed down to a man, a cousin of his would be the next in line. However, Father didn't feel he was the right one to handle the company, and he decided that I had the best disposition out of my sisters to take over."
"How do you like it?"
"I don't really know yet. I haven't been doing it for that long."
"Oh? How long ago did you start?"
"Only last week. Father started teaching me the basics, and the first time I went into the city office was yesterday, when I met you."
"Do you have any other interests?"
"I play piano a little..."
"Indeed? My younger sister, Georgiana, loves to play. It's her passion. Do you read?"
"Yes. My favorite author is Hawthorne..." And so we talked of all our favorite authors and books. I never knew that I could have such a conversation with him. He seemed so different, and that half-hour of talking to him made me confused. That night I lied in bed thinking, trying to figure him out, until finally, early in the morning, I fell asleep.
I woke up late the next morning, due to my lack of sleep. When I was dressed and ready, I made my way downstairs. At the bottom of the stairs, I met Father, and gave him a good morning kiss on the cheek.
"Good morning, Father!"
"More like good afternoon, Lizzy." Father looked curiously at my smiling face. "And why are you so cheerful this morning? It wouldn't have to do with the long conversation you had with the arrogant Mr. Darcy last night, would it?"
I made a grimace. "No, it doesn't! Can't I be cheerful without having a reason?"
"I just thought I could get you to admit that he isn't as bad a person as you thought," Father laughed as he walked towards his library.
I started to head towards the dining room, but Father's comments made me think. I was still confused over Mr. Darcy's behavior the previous night. I still couldn't understand how he could be rude one minute, and extremely polite and amiable the next. However, I had to admit that I was partly cheerful because of relief that Mr. Darcy wasn't all bad. I was afraid that I would have to do business with a stone cold man.
I entered the dining room when Mother was in the throws of a great development, by the rise of her voice and her giggling. Jane was sitting at the table, holding a letter. Oh goodness. I wonder what happened now.
"Ooh! Jane! What a great honor! To be invited over for the day by Miss Bingley!"
I sat down next to Jane and smiled. At least Miss Bingley apparently approved of Jane; she won't have any problem with any relationship that Jane may establish with Mr. Bingley.
"Jane when are you to go?" I asked my elder sister.
"Miss Bingley wrote that I should come as soon as possible. The gentlemen apparently won't be there; they are dining out. I really should get started soon; I have three miles to walk."
"Yes, my dear daughter! You don't want to keep her waiting."
I was going to say some sarcastic remark about keeping "her highness" waiting, but I decided not to make Mother upset when she was in such a good mood. So, I just helped myself to some breakfast and started eating before I could upset my mother.
When Jane set out walking to Netherfield Street, I didn't think anything of it. Both Jane and I walked everywhere we wanted to go in the neighborhood, but I soon started worrying in the next few minutes.
About fifteen minutes after Jane left, Lydia and Kitty entered the dining room noisily, which gained Mother's attention.
"Wherever have you been?"
Lydia stopped giggling and answered her, "Oh! Just in the backyard on the swing talking of the party last night! But it started raining, so we came in."
And on cue, I heard the downpour coming down. This got Mother excited. "Just as I planned! Jane will now have to spend longer at the Bingley's and then she'll have to see Mr. Bingley!"
This got me furious. "You mean, you knew it was going to rain, and you didn't suggest Jane take a carriage?" Mother just smiled, infuriating me more. "I doubt she even made it there by now! She's going to be drenched by time she gets there. How can you be so insensitive towards your daughter?" I didn't give Mother a chance to respond, I ran out of the room, and up to my room, where I continued to sulk until supper.
When I came down to eat, it was still raining, and everybody was pretty sure Jane wasn't coming home that night, and I was still furious at what Mother schemed at. I just prayed that Jane wouldn't get sick.
Unfortunately, my hopes didn't come true, for the next morning brought a letter from Jane, saying that she was sick, and was not to be moved from her bed until she was better. I immediately expressed my desire to go make sure Jane was all right. Nobody expressed any opposition to my plan, so in five minutes, I was on my bicycle headed for Netherfield Street.
I was a half-mile away from Mr. Bingley's house when I heard a thunder clap. "Oh no! This can't happen to me!" I started pedaling harder, but it was not to be. It soon started pouring, but I kept pedaling. At last, I saw the drive to the house, but I tried to turn into it too fast. The bicycle lost its balance, and in a second, I was on the ground, wet, and with my ankle underneath the bicycle.
I was about to try to get the bicycle off, when I saw a hand pick it up and get it off my ankle. I looked up to see Mr. Darcy.
"Are you all right, Miss Bennet?"
I gathered all the pride I had, and answered, "Yes, Mr. Darcy, thank you. Can you please help me up, though?"
"Certainly." As he said this, he reached his hand down, and I took it, disregarding the tingle I felt when I touched him. I was able to get up, but as soon as I tried to put my weight on my hurt ankle, I collapsed. I would have fallen to the ground if it weren't for Mr. Darcy's arm supporting me around my waist. "Miss Bennet, are you hurt?" I looked up to see concern in his eyes, but I wasn't about to admit I was in pain.
"No, I'm perfectly able to walk by myself." But as I tried to take a step, I almost collapsed again, but Mr. Darcy soon picked me up.
"No, Miss Bennet, I believe you aren't able to walk. Will you permit me to carry you?"
"Yes, I guess you have to." I caught the faintest sign of a smile appear on Mr. Darcy's face at my dejected voice.
"Am I really that bad, Miss Bennet?'
"I really don't know, Mr. Darcy. You present so many sides to me, that I can't figure you out." The handsome man that was carrying me was spared from responding as we entered the front hall and were bombarded with questions from the occupants.
Chapter 4 Posted on Sunday, 4 March 2000
The first person to come into the hall was Miss Bingley. The first words out of her mouth weren't to greet me. Oh no! They were meant for Mr. Darcy, who was still holding me.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"Miss Bennet's ankle got injured, and I offered to help her here."
"But did you have to help her that way?"
"Yes. What way would you suggest? Leaving her out on the front lawn until somebody else could get her?" I was surprised that Mr. Darcy was staying remarkably calm during Miss Bingley's interrogation. However, I could detect a suppressed smile on his lips. This caused me to smile, and in turn, caused Miss Bingley to glare at me.
"No! But there must have been some other way to help her." She glared again at me, still in Mr. Darcy's arms, and said, "Well, I better show her to a room and get some dry clothes for her."
Gently, Mr. Darcy put me down. "Good idea. But be sure to support her."
"But she's soaking wet!"
At this point, Mr. Bingley entered the hall, and took a look at me, where I was still leaning against my rescuer. "Miss Bennet! What a pleasant surprise! But what is wrong? You are not injured, are you?"
"I'm afraid so, Mr. Bingley. When it started raining, I fell off my bicycle, and I hurt my ankle."
"Well, you are welcomed to stay here until you have recovered."
"Oh! No, thank you, Mr. Bingley. I'm sure my family can spare a carriage to come get me."
"No! It's no problem, really. Anyway, I'm sure that Ja...er...Miss Bennet would be more comfortable if you were here with her."
I smiled at Mr. Bingley, "Well, I thank you."
Mr. Darcy, who was listening silently to his friend's and my conversation, said, "Yes, Bingley, your sister was just about to help Miss Elizabeth up to a room."
"No, I wasn't!" I was beginning to wonder if Miss Bingley knew the definition of manners. "She'll get me all wet. Why can't she walk by herself to the room?"
"Miss Bingley! Do you think she could walk all by herself up those stairs?"
"Well, isn't there some other way to get her up there without leaning on me and ruining my new dress?" Miss Bingley's nose scrunched up at the thought of getting her new, bright orange, dress wet.
"Of course there is." Miss Bingley's face brightened up at Mr. Darcy's words, but quickly turned into a scowl as Mr. Darcy picked me up again. "Miss Bingley, if you would please show us to an available room..."
When Miss Bingley responded, her voice was cold and angry. "Very well, then. Follow me."
Mr. Darcy and I (well, actually, only Mr. Darcy; I just held on for the ride) followed Miss Bingley through an elegantly decorated hall to a spacious room at the end of the hall. Mr. Darcy set me down on an armchair, and saying good-bye, he left the room.
Miss Bingley remained, looking down her nose at me. "Jane is in the next room, if you would like to go see her. I will send up a maid with a dry dress and I suppose Charles will want to send for a doctor to look at your ankle. If you need anything else, just ring down." With that, Miss Bingley left the room, closing the door behind her.
I took the few minutes alone to walk (hop) around the room and look at the furniture. Everything was made with cherry wood and looked expensively made. So this is the difference between the rich class and the upper middle class.
The room was painted in a light rose color, giving the room a cheerful atmosphere. Lace curtains fluttered near the partially opened picture window that faced the west, where I could already see the sun peaking out of the breaking-up clouds. If there were a prize for having the worst timing, I would definitely have won it. If I just waited ten minutes more, I wouldn't be all wet in the Bingley household with a hurt ankle.
Suddenly, I heard a knock at the door. Since I managed to hop all the way across the room, I didn't feel like hopping back to the door, so I just called for the person to come in. A young maid entered, carrying the ugliest dress I have ever seen. It was orange with a red and green trim.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but I have here a dress Miss Bingley told me to let you borrow. She also told me to ask if you wished for a bath to be drawn for you. I believe Mr. Bingley has just dispatched a note to your house telling your parents of your condition."
"Thank you. I believe a hot bath would do me good. That is, if it would be no trouble."
"Not at all, ma'am. I'll have one drawn up for you right away."
It was an hour later when I was bathed and dressed. Although my hair looked respectable again, I was afraid to step out of the room. The dress that Miss Bingley lent me looked horrible. It was too long, and the neckline went too low to be respectable. Somehow, I had to get from my room to Jane's room without being seen.
I managed to make my way to the door, where I opened it a crack. Seeing that there was no one in the hall, I opened the door and carefully made my way to Jane's room where I knocked quietly on her door. At Jane's quiet "come in," I entered her room. At the sight of her, my heart broke, and I felt fury build up in my chest at my mother. There was my beloved sister, pale and weak, because my mother was a scheming woman.
"Oh, Jane! How are you feeling?"
"Not that bad, really. It's just a cold." Here, Jane paused for a while, and looked at my apparel. "But, Lizzy. Whatever are you wearing?"
I laughed at the funny expression on Jane's face. "This is one of Miss Bingley's dresses. It's horrid, isn't it?"
I could tell by Jane's face that she was trying to think of something good to say. "Well..er...I'm sure it takes a different appearance when it is on her. Why do you have it on anyway?"
At her question, I started to hop towards the empty chair near the bed. "Lizzy! What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
"Patience, my dear Jane, and I'll tell you all."
By time I was finished with my story (complete with sound effects and all), Jane looked ready to fall asleep, so I just sat there for a while until Jane's steady breathing told me she was sleeping.
When I made it to my room (again without being seen), I thankfully saw one of my bags laying on the bed that a servant must have brought over. When I looked in the bag, I was relieved to see plenty of clothing; including several dresses that I could change into.
Once I was changed into a respectable dress, I once again made my way out of the room, except this time, not as carefully. I was not three hops out the door when I nearly ran into Mr. Darcy who was with Dr. Jones.
"Miss Bennet, I hear you've had an injury. And by your method of getting around, I see it's quite serious. Come, let me have a look at it."
So back to my room again I hopped but this time with the support of the doctor's arm. Doctor Jones sat me down in a chair and started moving my ankle painfully around and "Hmm"ing. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the doctor took out a bandage and started wrapping my ankle.
"Miss Bennet, you are going to have to keep your ankle bandaged all the time until the swelling goes down and you're able to walk on it without pain. It's not broken, but it's certainly sprained and it's going to need some time and rest to heal completely. Try to stay off of it as much as you can. If you need to walk, try using a cane. When I come check on your sister a couple of days from now, I would like to take a look at your ankle to see how it's healing. Until then, Miss Bennet."
"Thank you, Doctor Jones."
After the doctor left my room, I once again managed to hop right out of my room only to find Mr. Darcy there with a walking stick in his hand.
"When I told the doctor of your condition, he told me you may need one of these. I also came to escort you down where Mr. Bingley and his sisters are having some tea." Mr. Darcy handed me the walking stick and held out his arm for me. "Allow me?"
I smiled at him and replied, "Thank you, Mr. Darcy." And so, patiently, Mr. Darcy led me down the stairs to the drawing room.
Chapter 5 Posted on Saturday, 8 April 2000
When Mr. Darcy and I entered the drawing room, any conversation that the occupants were having must have stopped short. As Mr. Darcy led me to an empty seat, Miss Bingley's piercing glare followed us. I was not fully settled in the seat when Mr. Bingley, with a face full of concern, questioned me about Jane.
"She is still rather sick, I think," I replied as I took a cup of tea from a maid. "When I left her, she was sleeping."
"Well, we'll do all that we can for her. Tomorrow, I'll send for Doctor Jones to look at her again."
"I believe he intends to, anyway. The doctor told me he wanted to look at my ankle when he came to see Jane tomorrow."
"And how is your ankle? Is it feeling any better?"
I smiled at Mr. Bingley's concern not only for my sister, but for me as well. "I'm afraid it's still rather sore, but I can still get along with a walking stick since it's only a sprain. I just have some trouble getting up and down the stairs."
"Well, if you ever find you need the support of an arm, don't be afraid to ask a servant to come get me. I'll be happy to help you, anytime."
"I doubt I'll need any help once I get used to having a weak ankle, but I thank you all the same."
Before Mr. Bingley could say anything more, his unmarried sister addressed me. "Miss Bennet, I see your own clothes arrived. I dare say you could've kept the dress I lent you on, for I doubt you have ever worn anything ordered from Paris."
I smiled and replied, "No, not ordered from Paris, but I have worn dresses bought in Paris. I, however, never saw such an...er...interesting style of dress." I glanced over in Mr. Darcy's direction, where I thought I heard muffled laugh, but I only saw the man diligently writing a letter with a small smile quivering on his lips.
Miss Bingley's gaze followed in the same direction mine were looking, and for a moment, her catty smile wavered. "Then, you have been in Paris?"
"Yes. I was there just this past Summer. My aunt and uncle decided to take me there for a graduation gift."
Miss Bingley's face looked puzzled at my statement. "Graduation gift? Graduation from what?"
"From college." I almost laughed at the distasteful look that appeared on my hostess's face.
"You went to college? Didn't you find the atmosphere rather masculine?"
"Not at all. Although clearly the student body is made up of mostly men, there were still plenty of women who attended. It was not as if I was the only woman."
"Didn't you find it rather boring?" Mrs. Hurst inquired in a snooty tone.
"Boring? Good heavens, no! I have always enjoyed learning new things, and college just gave me more choices of what I wanted to learn about."
"Hmm," was all that Miss Bingley replied with. Silence reigned in the room, with only the scratching of Mr. Darcy's pen, for a few moments. Suddenly, the silence was broken with Miss Bingley's voice again. "Whatever are you doing over there, Mr. Darcy? It must be some secret."
Without looking up, the gentleman replied, "I'm writing to my sister."
Mr. Darcy's response caused a squeal to come from Miss Bingley's throat that, if it would've been proper, I would have blocked from my ears by covering that organ. "Dear Georgiana! How is she? Will you please mention that I long to see her?"
"I did already. You asked me to convey your wishes in my next letter just this morning, and so I have done it."
"Is she much grown since I last saw her? Has she at last reached my height?"
Mr. Darcy turned in his chair to look at me and then returned to writing his letter. "Actually, I believe Georgiana is around Miss Elizabeth's height, or maybe a little taller."
"Miss Bennet, Miss Darcy is a very accomplished woman. She is so well learned, I think, that she has no need to attend a college." It seemed as if Miss Bingley was still trying to put me down, but Mr. Darcy's next words contradicted the woman's remark.
Turning around to face Miss Bingley, Mr. Darcy said, "Indeed I find that untrue, Miss Bingley. In fact, I have been thinking of sending Georgiana to college, for I find that a university, such as the one Miss Elizabeth attended, can provide much more education for a woman...I mean, lady, than any tutor or book found in a family library can."
"Indeed, Mr. Darcy?" Miss Bingley snickered. "Next thing I know you'll have Georgiana running your oil company."
"No, I believe I would never have Georgiana running any company." I frowned at Mr. Darcy's comment, suspecting that his comment would be followed up with a reason why no woman could run a company. "I don't believe Georgiana would enjoy it. She does not have the right personality for it. A lady who runs a company must have a certain spirit in her; she must be able to keep her company at the top, while knowing what is fair and what is not. A lady like Miss Elizabeth," Mr. Darcy concluded while giving me a small smile.
Returning his smile, I carefully guided myself off of the chair and addressed my host. "Mr. Bingley, I have heard about your vast collection of books in your library. If you don't mind, may I search for a book that I may read to Jane?"
"Certainly," he acquiesced as he stood up and offered me his arm. "Let me escort there myself."
"Thank you, Mr. Bingley," I said as I gently took his arm.
In the library, I looked through all the books without being able to decide on one. There were so many of my favorite books in the collection, but I wanted to find one that Jane has never read and one that I wouldn't fall asleep reading out loud. I was about to just settle on one of Shakespeare's plays, which both Jane and I have read many times, when I noticed a book sitting on a table next to one of the armchairs.
When I got close enough to see what it was, I found a new copy of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I read the book while still in college, and having enjoyed it, I decided on this particular novel to read to Jane. I didn't believe that Jane has read it, and having a satirical eye when she chose to show it (a very rare case), I expected Jane to enjoy the book.
Having chosen the book, I slowly made my way out of the library to the main staircase. When I looked up the many stairs, I suddenly decided that, indeed, I did need help climbing up the stairs. When I turned around to go look for a servant to fetch Mr. Bingley, I almost bumped into a man. When I looked up, I was surprised to find Mr. Hurst up and about, and sober!
"Miss Bennet, do you need some help going up the stairs?"
"I'm afraid I do. I thought I could make it, but I don't think my ankle could support me."
Mr. Hurst extended his arm and said, "Allow me."
I took his arm, and silently we started walking up the stairs. We were half way up the stairs when Mr. Hurst turned to me and said, "I want to apologize to you about how my wife and sister-in-law acted like in the drawing room. They just want to make themselves appear superior than their company. I wouldn't take anything they say to heart."
By this time, we reached Jane's room and were stopped outside her door. I turned to Mr. Hurst with a smile and replied, "Don't worry. I have run across people like them in my time, and I know when and when not to take things to heart. Thank you for being concerned, though. It shows that you are a true gentleman." Mr. Hurst smiled and then turned and went back down the stairs. I knocked on my sister's door, and not receiving an answer, I opened the door a crack and peeked in. Finding her still asleep, I let myself in and sat down in the chair I occupied before.
Pretty soon, I found myself getting tired, and so I pulled a quilt off of another chair and over me, and soon after that, I was fast asleep.
"Lizzy!" A pause. "Lizzy!" Faintly I heard my name being called in my sleep, but I didn't want to wake up out of my slumber. "Lizzy!" The insistent voice soon, however, let me know that I wasn't going to get any more sleep.
I slowly opened one eye, and then the other to find Jane staring at me. "What is it? Can't I get more sleep?"
"I wanted to make sure you had enough time to get ready for supper."
"I don't think I'll go down to supper tonight. I'd rather just stay up here with you. I brought a book that I can read out loud."
"Why don't you want to go downstairs?" Jane asked with a questionable look on her face.
A scowl appeared on my face as I answered, "I think I've had enough of the Bingley sisters for the day. Mr. Hurst even had to apologize for them."
"Were they really that bad?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle. They just seem, or should I say seemed, to think that college was beneath their dignity. I think they changed their minds after Mr. Darcy informed us that he was thinking of sending his sister to college. And you should've seen their faces when I said I never ordered dresses from Paris; that I bought them in Paris." I laughed at the memory, and even Jane smiled a little.
We were interrupted by a knock at the door which was Mr. Bingley asking me if I was to join them at supper. When I politely declined and he left, closing the door, I turned to Jane and said, "He's very anxious for you, you know. He asked about you and was concerned about getting the doctor to see you. I think, very soon, he'll be your Mr. Bingley."
Jane smiled and looked down at her hands to hid the blush, but didn't say anything.
Trying to save Jane some embarrassment, even if it was only in front of me, I started reading the novel. Soon, the servants delivered our suppers and we ate in between reading the story. An hour later, Jane was asleep again, and instead of going back downstairs to sit with the others, I decided to go to sleep myself. So I softly kissed Jane on the forehead and made my way to my room.