Author's note : First of all I am French so English is not my native language. I want to post stories in English as a lot of people here speak this language. I hope you will forgive my grammar mistakes. It is the first time I write fanfiction in English. This story is some sort of "crossover" between Pride and Prejudice and the Duchess... An inspiration I had a few years ago. The first chapter is a reminder of the Duchess movie which I adapted for my needs for the rest of the story. It might not be the most interesting I think. Our Darcy and Elizabeth will appear later on! Let me know what you think!
Chapter 1 : Birth of Eliza
When she was 17 years old, Lady Georgiana Spencer married the Duke of Devonshire William Cavendish who was 30 years her senior. Oh, how happy was she! She had only met the Duke two or three times at balls and did not know he was even interested by her… She wanted to Love and to be Loved! After all what was life for if it was not to love? She was promised to a bright future by marrying the Duke. Georgiana was beautiful sort of girl. She had blond curly hair and bright brown eyes which seemed to light up when she felt strong feelings such as anger, pleasure, amusement,…
Her enchantment in the wedding began to decrease from the wedding night. She did not know what to expect, what her husband could be wanting from her…
"oh, it cannot be Love; Love cannot hurt physically so much ! Love cannot make a bride cry because of pain inflicted by her husband…" she cried herself to sleep.
Later that year, she learnt her husband had an affair with a servant and a child was born three years ago. Her name was Charlotte. Her poor mother died in childbirth. People in the castle murmured that the Duke was really in love with this girl and was very saddened when she died. The Duke asked or rather forced his wife to take care of this child to as he said "have some experience which can serve the day you will give me a son !". First Georgiana was not happy about it but the child was not responsible for her parents' misalliance and her mother's death. She took pity on her and did as she was her own daughter ! She was glad to finally have someone to Love and someone who Loved her in return !
When she got pregnant, it was the first time she saw her husband happy ! His happiness was none when she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. She was named after her mother and was called "Little G". She was indeed a "little Georgiana" as she looked her mother a lot ! Then she gave birth to an other baby girl named Harriet with the nickname "Harryo" which angered the Duke who wanted a son !
The long desired son was born in 1790. This boy was conceived in a way the Duchess would want to forget… He was naturally named after his father : William but was called "Hart".
The Duke seemed to be the only one not in love with Georgiana Cavendish. He found another lady : an Elizabeth Forster. He took her as his mistress and Georgiana was forced to accept the sort of triad… Luckily for her, Elizabeth called Beth was her best friend. She could confide in her. She was like the sister she never had and was not even jealous of her. She had to accept the two children Beth had with the Duke. These children lived with them with her own children !
If Georgiana did not care about Beth and her husband it is mainly because she had a lover. She was in love with a young man named Lord Charles Grey (the future Prime Minister of England in the years 1830). In this way she discovered what Love was really like ! From their Love was conceived a child. When the Duke learnt it, he took disposition so once the bastard child would be born it would be send away to some family who would be gracious enough to take it in. Georgiana would not be allowed to see it, to contact it in anyway ! She would have to give up her romance with Lord Grey as it was enticing his reputation. Everyone in the ton knew the Duchess was carrying a child who was not her husband's !
She gave birth to a healthy baby girl on February 1792 at Chatsworth in Derbyshire; a magnificent house her husband bought few years back. When the time had come to give her up to Charles Grey's father who had to find her a good home, thank goodness Beth was here to be with her. She would not have been able to do it herself… How much had she endured ! She raised a girl who was not hers, accept her husband and her friend's children, but she; she was not allowed to keep her precious baby girl ! Her only child made from Love ! No words can describe her pain when she kissed a last time her baby's forehead whispering her "all will be well my dear… Listen to me my baby : if one day you marry; make sure it is for Love; I will miss you so much"
As they parted away; she cried :
"General Grey ! Her name is Eliza !"
Little did they know that a Derbyshire gentleman called George Darcy with his seven-year-old son were riding on this way and witnessed everything…
To be continued…
A few dates to follow the story :
1774 : wedding Miss Georgiana Spencer and William Cavendish
1783 : birth of Georgiana "Little G" Cavendish
1785 : birth of Fitzwilliam Darcy and of Harriet "Harryo" Cavendish
1790 : birth of William 'Hart' Cavendish
1792 : birth of Eliza and Elizabeth Bennet
1807 : death of the Duchess Georgiana
1808 : Death of George Darcy
1809 : wedding of the Duke and Beth
1811 : death of the Duke
1812 : first meeting between Elizabeth and Darcy.