An Act of Desperation
This story will be like Pride and Prejudice meets Agatha Christie. There will be a murder with suspects ; each with their own motive. Like any good mystery I hope to keep you guessing; but don't worry this is an E & D pairing as well! The opening scene will be from the part in the 2005 movie when Elizabeth, having just learned from Colonel Fitzwilliam of Mr. Darcy's part in separating Mr. Bingley from Jane, runs across a bridge in the rain and comes to rest at a brick building only to have Mr. Darcy appear to make his proposal. That scene will be told from a completely different POV, however. If you have read any of my other stories you know that in the past I have been quick to update, however, the work I get paid to do is keeping me very busy at the moment, so I'm hoping to update once a week, hopefully on Saturdays. If I can eke out a chapter quicker than that I will, but I'm not promising anything.
As always, I'm not Jane Austen!
And one more side note-There will be two new characters that I will introduce, one in the first chapter and another later on; and now without further ado...
Chapter One-Pay Dirt
For all the many long years that Mr. Robert Mason had worked for Catherine DeBourgh, first as a mere assistant groundskeeper and more recently as the eyes and ears of all of Rosings and it's surrounding villages; he had never once saw the type of display that now presented itself to him. For, just a little ways up the lane, in the pouring rain, no less, was the formidable Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy looking quite like a lost puppy, eyes downcast and scowl firmly in place on his countenance. If Mr. Mason had not just personally witnessed the circumstances that lead to the gentleman's present mood, he would have been hard pressed to explain such a display. But witness it he most certainly did; and not only that, heard every word as he had crept along the side of the back of the building where the conversation, or perhaps, argument, as it were; had occurred.
Lady Catherine had made it quite worth his while to know what was going on at all times and to be suspicious of everyone. Certainly, when new folks came to Rosings, he made it his business to know what they were about; Miss Elizabeth Bennett had been no exception. In fact, Lady Catherine had made it a point to him to watch their newest visitor, for not only was she Charlotte Collins good friend, she was also Mr. Collin' cousin. She seemed an amiable woman to Mr. Mason, pretty though not overly so; she smiled often, laughed genuinely, all in all he could find no fault in her. She was an energetic lass, that was certain, he'd noticed her strolling about the grounds at all times of the morning, noon or early evening. Still, Lady Catherine seemed almost threatened by her for some reason, kept on him to continue to watch her. Had Mrs. DeBourgh seen a hint of the attachment that he now knew her nephew to have formed to her, he wondered? Snapping his thoughts back to what led up to this momentous occasion, he remembered watching her that very morning during Mr. Collin's sermon; She had been listening or perhaps, pretending to listen as most people were prone to do when it was Mr. Collins droning on and on; not many minutes passed and she was engaged in a conversation with Colonel Fitzwilliam. He saw her face turn pale at whatever news the Colonel was relaying to her, Mr. Mason wasn't close enough to hear what they were saying, but from the looks of things, Miss Bennett was none too happy. She fairly bolted from the little church at the end of the service, and he managed to keep up with her, out of sight, of course. Even when it had started raining he had no choice but to continue to follow her even as she picked up her pace. He was gladdened to see her find cover under the overhang of a building nearby. He rested a few feet away from her, completely out of her range of vision. When Mr. Darcy materialized, seemingly out of nowhere, Mr. Mason was almost as surprised to hear his side of the conversation as Miss Bennet appeared to be. And what a conversation it was! Mr. Mason marveled at the words that Mr. Darcy spoke to the woman he professed to love!
For a country chit (for that is how Lady Catherine referred to Miss Bennett in her private conversations with Mr. Mason), the girl did not back down from the fiery exchange of words that transpired between she and Mr. Darcy. He knew of no other woman who could stand toe to toe with the man (if not in stature, certainly in courage), save perhaps the great Lady herself! He could only imagine the fury a man like Darcy would have that not only was she not accepting him, but was most certainly rejecting any sort of alliance with him; and, admitted that from the very beginning of their acquaintance, knew she would never accept an offer from him of any kind!
Had the circumstances been different, Mr. Mason might have given her credit for rejecting the man's poorly phrased suit, but it would not benefit him in Lady Catherine's esteem to do so; and he intended to milk this story for all it was worth. If he had to embellish it somewhat to make Miss Bennett look poorly, what was it to him? He cared not one whit what the outcome of such a tale as the one he would tell might be or who it would affect, quite in fact, he would deem that irrelevant, if he even considered such a thing at all. The only concern that Mr. Mason had was raising his worth and earning his compensation. And, as this story was the mother lode of all stories, he could not wait to share it with Lady Catherine.
As it turned out, Mr. Mason did not have to embellish much at all as Lady Catherine seemed predisposed to believe that Miss Bennet had somehow ensnared her nephew with her charms. Once he realized this, he began to tell the story truthfully.
"Your nephew offered his hand to her." was met with the reply of, "She lured him in, I will admit that she is somewhat attractive; if you like that wild look."
It was evident to her employee that Mr. Darcy must have liked the wild look indeed.
"She rejected his suit right away and seemed angry at him for even suggesting it!" he exclaimed.
"Nonsense; she wishes to dig her claws into him even further. It is deceit of the most acute kind! She understands that a man likes to pursue."
"Your nephew seemed to believe her, he was very angry."
"As he should be and as he has been with every woman thus far who has dared to throw themselves at him." Lady Catherine was getting highly agitated with each turn of her supposition to what Miss Bennett's true motives were. "He is engaged to my daughter, as you know, Mr. Mason."
Of course, he had heard this from her before; he saw no sign of regard other than cousinly affection between the two, however.
Lady Catherine rose from the settee on which she sat, and handed Mr. Mason a small satchel, which he knew would hold a handsome sum for the news he had brought to her.
"Please send a boy to the Collin's residence, I must speak to Miss Bennett at once!" She demanded from him as he took his leave.
