Beginning, Section II
Jump to new as of September 5, 2000
Chapter 14 Posted on Monday, 20 March 2000
Darcy, Jane and Maria trundled into the inn. They were bowled over by Lydia and Kitty, both anxious to inform Jane and Darcy of the events that occurred over the last few weeks. The moment Darcy stepped in the door, Lydia shoved a bonnet in his face.
"What do you think, Lizzy?" Lydia cried as Darcy examined the hideous thing in his hand. He would not have wished the bonnet on his worst enemy and decided to be straight with Lydia. After all she WAS his sister.
"It's horrible!" admitted Darcy and Jane nodded in agreement. "What were you thinking when you bought it?"
"Well there were more far worse then this and I intend to see if I could make it into something better as soon as I get home. Besides it doesn't matter what I wear for the militia are leaving in a fortnight!" Lydia exclaimed with a stamp of her foot.
"Are they really?" Darcy asked, hiding a grin behind his hand. They sat down at the table where Lydia and Kitty had arranged a meal for them.
"Why yes, they are encamped at Brighton for the summer. Mama, Kitty and I should dearly like to go but papa has refused to take us."
"Well I daresay that's very wise decision, Lydia. Honestly, you don't want to go to Brighton, it's far too over crowded," said Darcy as he bit into a piece of cucumber. Lydia and Kitty stared at Darcy in shock and displeasure.
"How would you know Lizzy? It's not like you have ever been to Brighton," Lydia sulked, "I don't want you to influence papa either. If there's still a chance we could go I don't want you meddling."
Darcy just raised his eyebrows in amusement. Jane blushed for the man who was standing by the door's sake and dismissed him. Maria was used to Lydia's outbursts and was thinking of another subject that would cause her to blow.
"What other news do you have from Meryton?" Maria asked. Lydia racked her brains then jumped up.
"Oh, I have left out the best news of all. Though I don't know if you deserve to hear it Lizzy. Anyway its about Wickham and Mary King!" Lydia replied.
Mary King? Thought Darcy. Never in his life had he heard about a Mary King but if she was somehow connected with Wickham he couldn't help but pity the poor girl.
"Who is Mary King?" Darcy asked. Lydia, Kitty and Maria shrieked with laughter.
"Oh what a good joke Lizzy! Who is Mary King, indeed. I should wish to forget her as soon as possible and you may. For she is not to marry Wickham after all!" Darcy fumed inside. So Wickham had plans to marry again, he thought bitterly. "Mary King has gone to her uncle at Liverpool and Wickham is safe!"
"Or should we say Mary King is safe," remarked Darcy. "There is something you should know. Wickham is not the sort of man to be trusted, so it would be better if you forget about him as soon as he leaves for Brighton."
Lydia laughed her high pitched laugh. "I think you are just jealous that Wickham went after Mary King when you wanted him all to yourself." Lydia took the drop in Darcy's face as a confirmation. In reality, though, Darcy was still distressed that Wickham had sucked Lizzy in and everyone knew it.
Jane wisely changed the subject. She could sense that Darcy was not revealing something to them and she didn't want to pressure him too much. The rest of the meal went by smoothly enough, although Lydia and Kitty controlled most of the conversation by gossiping about Chamberlayne's cross-dressing habits.
Not far away, travelling in a fine carriage were Lizzy, Bingley and Georgiana. Lizzy could not help smiling as she watched Georgiana gasp over how beautiful Hertfordshire was. She couldn't agree more.
"So, Darcy Old Chap, do you fancy a ride when we get to Hertfordshire? I thought it might be amusing to give Mrs. Bennet a start when we show up at her door." Bingley sat forward on his chair in anticipation. Lizzy chuckled.
"Honestly Bingley, you are forgetting that Miss Bennet won't be ready for you to see until tomorrow at least. It would be quite rude for you to turn up before she has a chance to empty her trunk and pick out her best clothes," she said with a wink at Georgiana, who giggled.
Bingley sighed. " I suppose you are right. But first thing tomorrow morning I expect you to be ready to go visiting," he said with a grin. Lizzy nodded her head enthusiastically. What a fine joke it would be to see Darcy with her mother!
"Oh my dear Jane! Lizzy!" cried Mrs. Bennet. She trotted out the front door and greeted Darcy and Jane with a kiss. "My dear girls, how are you? Oh Jane you look positively radiant! But you always were a beauty. Lizzy? Are you all right? You seem very pale, I hope you haven't brought influenza with you!"
Darcy frowned at this absurd suggestion but was saved by Mr. Bennet. "Mrs. Bennet leave poor Lizzy alone. How are you my dears? I'm very glad you've come back for there has not been two sensible words said in the same sentence since you left!" Darcy grinned. He could believe that very easily.
"Oh come inside!" Mrs. Bennet gushed, "You must tell me all your news. Now Jane, did you go to many parties while you were in London?" Darcy let Mrs. Bennet words fade as they entered the house. He was surprised when he felt Mr. Bennet put his arm through his.
"Now Lizzy, I simply must hear all about the chimneys at Rosings," Mr. Bennet said with a wink.
Darcy managed to dodge Mrs. Bennet's conversation that night. Luckily Jane was more than willing to tell Mrs. Bennet all about her stay in London. Darcy viewed everyone very intently. He wasn't surprised to find that Mr. Bennet ducked into his study as soon as dinner was over.
It felt strange to Darcy but he was starting to admire the Bennets. They were a real family, a father, mother and five daughters. With just Georgiana and himself, it was easy to feel alone and unloved but one would never feel this way here. Never again would he abuse the Bennets as a whole. He wasn't about to say the same thing about Mrs. Bennet though.
That night Darcy sat in front of the mirror staring at Lizzy's face. He lifted his hand and touched his face, something he had always wanted to do since the party at the Lucas'. It had lost its meaning though. It wasn't the same as having the real Lizzy staring back at him with her smiling eyes and teasing smile.
Only three miles away Lizzy stood at the window of her bedroom and stared across the dark fields. She longed to be at home and couldn't wait to visit with Bingley tomorrow. She wondered how Darcy was getting on and she envisioned him gossiping about the regiment with Kitty and Lydia, discussing religion with Mary and talking about the Longs latest gathering. Then she saw Jane sitting sweetly in her chair and her father teasing her mother and she frowned.
Lizzy lay down on her bed and sobbed quietly. Her knees buckled up and she buried her face in the pillow. She stayed in this position until morning.
Chapter 15 Posted on Wednesday, 19 April 2000
Mr. Darcy woke up with a start in the unfamiliar surroundings of Elizabeth Bennet's bedroom. He groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose as Mrs. Bennet waddled into his room and stood at the end of his bed. What a sight to wake up to, he grimaced.
"Lizzy! Get up! You'll never guess who has arrived at Netherfield!" Mrs. Bennet shrieked as she excitedly grabbed Darcy's foot and waggled it.
"Who?" Darcy asked, as he widened his eyes mock surprise.
"Why Mr. Bingley of course! Lord knows why he's here but he has a great nerve to show his face in my opinion. For he has brought with him that horrible Mr. Darcy and his sister Miss Darcy. One would think he would be ashamed to shove Miss Darcy in dear Jane's face."
Darcy sighed and swung his legs over the sighed of the bed. "I am sure you misunderstand him Mother. I have it under good authority that Mr. Bingley only thinks of Miss Darcy as his sister."
Of those two sentences Mrs. Bennet only picked up on one word. "Lizzy! What do you think you are doing, calling me Mother! You know that I dislike that word for it makes me feel old. Oh you do not know how much I suffer!" And with that she ran from the room in tears.
Well, mused Darcy, If that wasn't half over-reacting. He got dressed easily for he had now no reason to bind his eyes since his discovery of the female form. It was his opinion that since he was no longer in a male form he no longer had to be a gentleman. And what Lizzy didn't know certainly wouldn't hurt her.
He waltzed into the drawing room and found Lizzy and Georgiana. His first instinct was to give them both a big hug but that was smothered regretfully. He greeted Lizzy and Georgiana and sat down at the table. Lydia, Kitty and Mary had all walked into town early that morning. Georgiana and Jane looked anxiously between Darcy and Lizzy, still believing them to be pining for each other after their broken engagement.
Mrs. Bennet, who was still smarting from her run in with Darcy that morning, purposefully ignored his entrance. Instead she turned to Jane and with a wink and a loud voice remarked, "I wonder why Mr. Bingley has gone to see Mr. Bennet?"
"Love the subtlety," Darcy remarked under his breath as he attempted to embroider a cushion. Lizzy who had been watching Darcy curiously saw the words spill off his lips. The niggling feeling in her head that just wanted her to yell "Bad Man!" came back and she bit her lip and crinkled her nose in disgust.
Mrs. Bennet could fell the enthusiasm in the room dropping. "It is a fine day! When Mr. Bingley has finished talking to Mr. Bennet about, well whatever, I suggest you should all take a trip in his carriage."
Lizzy and Jane were greatly embarrassed at their mother's assumption but when Lizzy rose her eyes to see Mr. Darcy's reaction she was surprised to find intent with his needlework. Even through her own face she could see the resemblance to the day at Netherfield when he was concentrating on his letter to Georgiana. It couldn't help but send shivers down her spine.
After having two such different but intense thoughts about Mr. Darcy in a period of only a few moments Lizzy felt a strong urge to stand by the window. She stood up and strode over to the great delight of Mr. Darcy.
Before the electricity projected between Darcy and Lizzy could invent a light bulb Mr. Bingley burst into the room with a huge smile on his face. "It is a fine day!" he remarked rather loudly, although everyone excused him as a man in love. "Shall we not all take a ride in my carriage."
A feeling of déjà vu spread between the room's occupants but they all ignored it because it wasn't invented yet. They wholeheartedly agreed except Georgiana who felt like a spare wheel and decided to be dropped back at Netherfield.
Once this was done they drove of through the countryside until they spotted a picturesque meadow and decided to stop and go for a stroll. Bingley and Jane headed in one direction while Lizzy and Darcy went the other.
Deafening silence surrounded them as they walked. Lizzy bit her lip and stared into space. Then gathering up courage she turned to Mr. Darcy. "I realise, sir, that you have had some influence over my sister's happiness. But I must admit you have done your best to fix some of the damage and I thank you."
Darcy smiled at Lizzy warmly. Lizzy continued. "While we are in this present situation Mr. Darcy I think it would be best to set our differences aside and try to be friends," And then with a humorous glint in her eye she stopped "Do you think you can manage that, sir?"
"Well," Darcy sighed rolling his eyes, "We'll see." Lizzy grinned. She bent down and picked some of the wild flowers that were at her feet and offered them to Darcy as a symbol of friendship. He took them and laughed.
It was at that moment that Bingley happened to turn around and happened to see the person he took as Darcy hand flowers to the person he took as Lizzy. "My dear Jane, what do you think of the possibility of a double wedding?" he said with a grin.
No words could describe the elation she felt over Jane and Bingley's engagement. Not an hour had gone since Bingley had come back form seeing Mr. Bennet when she was already planning the guest list. The whole family was overjoyed with the match.
"Ah Lizzy," remarked Mrs. Bennet to Darcy one evening not soon after Bingley and Jane's engagement was announced. "What do you think of this happy business of Jane's. They must have seen a great deal of each other in London."
Darcy nodded in agreement. He was un-picking his embroidery as his arrangement of fruits were somewhat resembling a billiards table.
"I suppose you are envying their happiness Lizzy. Well you could have had it to if you hadn't turned down Mr. Collins. I'm only glad that we have Mr. Bingley now to make sure that we will not be on the streets once your father dies."
"What?!" Darcy cried. He marched out the door he needed fresh air to think. Mr. Collins had proposed to Lizzy. His Lizzy! The sheer thought made him feel violently ill. Without any sense of direction he walked onwards.
Somehow we managed to find his way to Netherfield. He emerged from a group of trees and stumbled upon Lizzy.
"Mr. Darcy!" she cried in astonishment.
"Miss Bennet!" he replied. Feeling mischievous he said, "I have come to inquire after my sister."
"On foot?" Lizzy asked with a grin as she remembered their conversation.
"As you see. Would you be so kind as to take me to her?" Lizzy led the way. She inquired after everyone's health at home.
"They are all fine. Miss Bennet, I hope you don't find me rude but I must ask you something." Darcy said nervously.
"Yes?" Lizzy urged.
"Did Mr. Collins actually ask you to marry him?" he asked with dread on his face.
Lizzy laughed "He did indeed but I flat out refused him and now you see he his married to Charlotte and we are all happy." Darcy breathed out a sigh of release.
"It seems you have not had much luck with proposals Miss Bennet." Remarked Darcy.
"Yes I must admit it does," replied Lizzy remembering the circumstances that landed her in this position.
"Perhaps that will change soon," Darcy said with a mysterious smile and walked on ahead of her into the house. Lizzy looked after him, her very curious brain running overtime.
Posted on Saturday, 2 September 2000
The days were long and the nights all too short in the weeks following the announcement of Bingley and Jane's wedding. An elated Mrs. Bennet quickly got on Darcy's nerves and Lizzy began to see that she would never be able to marry anyone with quite as good a disposition as Charles when she started to hum the songs he was whistling at night in bed.
In order to escape the merriment, Darcy and Lizzy went on long walks with no real destination. They would bicker and banter and whine and generally keep each other sane. There was a silent agreement that when the time came for them to marry they wouldn't dare be as sappy as Jane or Bingley.
The only member of the household who was feeling melancholy was Lydia. She had been denied the pleasure of going to Brighton with the militia and had moaned and groaned her way through the days, driving Darcy and Mr Bennet up the wall.
Then one day and out of the blue, Lydia came bounding into the house, hair wild, skirts flying and bosom busting, scaring the wits out of poor Darcy, causing him to fumble his piano scales. "AAGH!" Lydia screamed and she then ran out the room. Darcy tilted to the side, watched her leave and then went back to his scales. "CDEFGABCBAGFEDC. Yay!"
Darcy didn't hear anything else from Lydia until she came back in with Mr and Mrs. Bennet, a grin from ear to ear of her evil face.
"Oh Lizzy I get to go to Brighton with Mrs. Forster as her particular friend. Isn't that simply wonderful!
Darcy reddened "What?!" His high pitched voice didn't quite have the effect he was looking for and so he began shaking his fists in anger.
"What's the matter Lizzy?" asked Lydia, innocently. "I think you are jealous because you don't get to spend your summer with a person whose name begins with W and ends in M, and I do!"
"Lizzy, don't be so childish! Can't you at least be pleased for your sister when she has such a fine stroke of luck?" sighed Mrs. Bennet, holding her youngest daughter protectively.
Darcy's eyes darkened considerably. "Sir may I see you in person," he said to Mr Bennet and he flounced out the door leaving the others with the image of bouncing curls and long strides.
Darcy entered Mr Bennet's study and sat down on the chair with a slump. He crossed his arms and stared at the row of books in front of him. Mr Bennet entered quietly behind him and sat down at his desk.
"Now Lizzy, are you going to explain to me why you behaved in such a spectacle just now?" he asked with an amused expression.
Darcy sighed. "Surely you're not actually letting Lydia go on this trip to Brighton?"
"Of course I am. Lizzy, you know as well as I that if I did not let Lydia go she would poison our tea in spite. It is much better for the safety of all of us if she went and got it over with."
"Again sir, I must speak against it. Lydia is such a flirt that she may end up in a situation that will be a source of pain to our family. She would not be under our guidance and could find herself in great danger!"
"Lizzy calm down!" laughed Mr Bennet. "You have become far to paranoid my dear. Lydia may not be the smartest of young girls but we must credit her with enough sense to keep out of trouble" Darcy snorted and turned away. Well no one could say I didn't try, he thought.
He shared the details of his conversation with Lizzy the next time he saw her. She was distressed but knew their was no way she would be able to convince her father as Mr Darcy, who he disliked so.
Two days before the militia and Lydia were set to leave Mrs. Bennet organized a tea party at Longbourn and the officers, Lucases and Netherfield party were invited to attend. Georgiana declined but the rest were there ready to kick their heels amongst the crockery. Darcy was standing at one side of the room, drinking his tea while Lizzy stood at the other making suggestive glances, trying to ruffle Darcy's feathers. Maria Lucas was in between them thinking that Mr Darcy was starting to lose his marbles slightly.
"Miss Bennet," Darcy turned round and stared at the person standing before her. It was Wickham. Darcy's eyes narrowed considerably.
"It is very good to see you again Miss Bennet. I trust you enjoyed your stay at Hunsford?"
"I did. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy were there also so we had a pleasant time," Darcy said, lying only moderately. "Do you know the Colonel?" Wickham turned slightly pale and Darcy grinned in triumph.
"Yes," replied Wickham, "He is a good man, very different to his cousin."
"You are quite mistaken about Mr Darcy. He is one of the kindest, gentlest creatures alive," said Darcy.
Lizzy, who was speaking with Sir William, and had overheard every word of the conversation, snorted loudly. Sir William stopped halfway through his sentence stared at Lizzy and then resumed speaking.
Wickham looked at Lizzy then leaned in close to Darcy.
"I don't know how you came to that conclusion," he said quietly, "But you can be sure anyone who brings up a sister as Georgiana Darcy is not as virtuous as you think."
Darcy saw red. He lunged at Wickham grabbing him by the shoulders and lifting his knees, kicking him in the nether regions. Wickham fell to the floor with a gasp.
This sparked off a set of reactions from the members of the room. Mrs. Bennet screamed, Lydia cried, Mrs. Lucas covered her eyes, Maria stared with her mouth open, Mr Bennet laughed, Mary resumed playing the piano, Sir William fainted, Darcy ran out the room and Lizzy slipped out after him.