AN
Jane and Bingley are not a match in this story. I quite like it when she is paired with another. Charlotte wont be a part of this story, neither will be Mr Collins.
Caroline's stone turned black, as her "Mr Right" died before they ever met. She can now go about as any widow can and bed widowers and men with clear gems. This chapter shows her having still pursued Darcy, even in this AU.
Yes, Darcy is meant for Elizabeth, but he is fighting against the spell. Lizzy will also be doing her fair share of resisting the spell. More is explained in this chapter (Richard's talk with Darcy. Oh I do love Richard, I like making him a bit of a cad, but a humourous one.)
I have added a foot note to the end of chapter 1. It is a plainer explanation of the rules etc. I realised that the rules as they are in the prologue might be rather confusing with all the fluff added.
May 30th 1811
Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire
Darcy lay awake that night, deliberating on how he should approach this dilemma now prevailing upon him. To think of how he had acted earlier that evening made him quiver beneath his counterpane. He felt disgusted at his own behaviour, which was not honourable at all, and did not reflect the gentleman that he was.
He tried to convince himself that he was just in acting so. The surroundings and its inhabitants were not that of London's high society and he did not wish to be there. Add that to Bingley's insistence that he should enjoy himself had vexed him to the extreme. He had already entered the county, not wishing to be there, so it was inevitable that he would snap at some point.
A gentleman such as he would never flee the scene of something that in all effect, should have been a wonderful experience, but nevertheless he had. He had deprived Elizabeth of that wondrous moment, but to be bound to a Bennet, would be an outcry.
His family would not be happy, but at least their annoyance would not be cast in his direction, but the Elders for their ill judgement on the match. However, he knew that any issues arising from his wife's behaviour would be his responsibility, and his alone. He needed to ensure he would check her at every turn, if she was inclined to misbehave.
I will travel to Hertfordshire in the morning and come clean, he thought. But as he pondered some more, he had clinched to the idea of travelling to London first, in order to 'defuddle' the mess that was in his head. He would also put into motion the drawing up of the settlement, which was paramount to ensure that the lowly family he was binding himself to, did not get their hands on his worth.
He had wondered for many years, as to what sort of woman he would marry. He had hoped she would not be unlike his mistress, whom he had been with for four years. He had taken up with her not long after his father passed away, as he needed to be comforted in his bereavement. She consoled him at his most desperate time, loved him like no other had, and nurtured him back to high spirits. If only she had been the one, was this last thought before he drifted off to sleep.
Longbourn, Hertfordshire
"Oh Jane, what am I to do?" Elizabeth asked, as she peered down to her altered stone in her hands. "What must he think of me? He left without saying a word, he must despise me."
"I doubt he noticed it change himself, if you did not until you returned home. He is surely in the same situation and desperate to discover his own fate. Remember, Mr Darcy will have been introduced to many last night and to not know whom he should approach must be more of an issue for him, than yourself."
"How can he not know? We wear our jewels displayed on a chain, for all to see."
"Yes, but remember that most men wear their jewels under their neck cloths, so it only follows that if he did not see yours, then he would have only been aware of his own state when he undressed for bed."
"I suppose you are right. But it still does not help how I feel at present."
"Oh Lizzy, I wish I could take your pain away. I would not know what to do if I were in your situation."
"There is nothing that can be done by myself, it is not as if I can go to Netherfield and demand to see the man, although I am sorely tempted... Father will just have to go seek him out tomorrow."
Although she seemed sure that Jane was sincere in her views of Mr Darcy, Elizabeth felt a deep rooted sense that the man had fled. The match would have been a horrific shock for him, as he had already shown a very firm opinion of them all. But she also knew that there was no escaping their fate, they were to be wed. When that was, was another matter.
Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire
The occupants of Netherfield Park descended from their bedchambers earlier than usual, considering they had been at a function the night before. One by one, they entered the breakfast room to partake of their usual activity of breaking fast together. "So Darcy, have you managed to remove yourself from that awful place you were in last night?" Bingley jested.
"What‽… Bingley, it is too early and not a good time for your riddles."
"No riddle, Darcy. I just wondered if you had been able to remove your head from out of your arse yet." At this, Caroline spluttered out her tea and Mrs Hurst nearly choked on her buttered scone. Mr Hurst, however, saw the funny side of the gentleman's banter and lifted his gaze from his full plate long enough to view the scene in front of him, before returning his attention to his hearty meal.
"Bingley, my head is where it has always been, firmly on my shoulders, via my neck! Besides it is physically impossible to do what you say, unless you have just been decapitated." At this, Mrs Hurst squirmed in her seat. "I am sorry ladies, I should have not been so vulgar in my words. Please forgive me," he said as he stood to take his leave. He had had just about enough of Bingley's banter and wished to be as far away as possible, in order to think.
"Where are you going?" Caroline purred. She wished to spend some time with him that morning, in an attempt to remove his mood and readdress the proposal she had asked earlier in the year.
"I need to travel to London. I have some business to finish off before I return to Pemberley next month. I had hoped to travel there just before I returned to the north, but I now need to attend to certain matters that cannot wait. I should return in a few days time." With that, Darcy removed himself to his bedchambers in order to instruct his valet to pack a small trunk.
Darcy told Noah, his valet, to pack enough for a week, for he knew he would not be longer than a sennight. He feared he would be traced by the magistrate, as they had powers to force his hand from the seventh day after meeting his betrothed.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, thinking of how he was going to deal with this. He had never felt so much at risk of being called a cad before, for he was acting like a scoundrel of the worst kind by fleeing the area, and abandoning a woman who was to become his wife. He was not only putting himself at risk, but the reputation of Miss Elizabeth, but knew that eventually he would own up to his misdemeanour and all would soon be forgotten. He had no intention of ignoring this unfortunate plight, but desired the time to absorb his predicament and start the process of obtaining the correct paperwork for the marriage.
He had not slept at all during the night, his mind wandering to the woman in the garden. Her skin aglow in the golden light from the sun, and her eyes of such colour and expression of darkness. He was sure they would have eventually pierced his heart and kill him where he stood.
It was so wrong in his opinion. How could he flee from his responsibility? But to have to marry one of the Bennets… of all people! He hoped that his time in town would allow him to see things more clearly, and come to some sort of resolve away from the family he would now have to call his own. The thought made him recoil. Was he to call Mrs Bennet, mother? Then he pondered on the thought of Georgiana becoming sisters to that girl with the fob watch… Lydia? He shuddered at the thought, how could Georgiana benefit from a connection with that family.
By half past nine, the Darcy carriage had left the outskirts of Hertfordshire and was making tracks into London. By afternoon, Darcy had reached his town house in Grosvenor Square. "Sir, I was not expecting you for another two or three weeks," the butler said, concerned that he had got the dates wrong.
"Do not make yourself uneasy, Gladstone, I decided at the last minute to travel into town earlier than anticipated. I did not think it necessary to send word ahead, as I would have arrived around the same time as the messenger."
"Very good, sir. Will you be dining in this evening?" the servant asked, ever hopeful that he would not, for the pantry was only part stocked.
"No, I do not wish to put Mrs Bridges out. I do not want her to get distressed over making a meal without prior warning. I will head off to see if the Colonel is free and we will go to Whites for dinner."
Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire
"Mr Bennet, it is so good to meet you at last. I had hoped you would come visiting, as I missed you at the assembly last night."
"Thank you for seeing me without notice, Mr Bingley. I must admit that this is not so much of a social call, but one of a requirement. Firstly, this bears no relation upon yourself, as I can see from your pin that you are still unchanged." Bingley looked at him in puzzlement. Why was he mentioning such matters? "Mr Bingley… My daughter, Elizabeth, found her life's partner during the dance last evening. However, she is unaware of whom that person, is as she did not notice her necklace had altered until she arrived home last night. The man in question fled without acknowledging this new situation, and it has been left to me to determine who this man is. I believe I may know."
"Oh? You know?" Bingley asked nervously. He realised it was not him, as Mr Bennet had just explained. However, Darcy was not himself that morning and had now left for London. Was it him? He knew he would not say aloud his thoughts, so left Mr Bennet to explain his own conclusions on the matter.
"Yes, I believe I do, but it is not yet confirmed. May I have an audience with any men of your party, whom are not married or widowed?"
"Well, as you can see, I am unchanged. Mr Hurst is upstairs, but he is married to my sister, so cannot be him. The other member you wish to speak with, Mr Darcy, is at present in London."
"When did Mr Darcy leave and for what reason?" Mr Bennet was beginning to get annoyed. His suspicions were correct and the scoundrel had fled. He could see that Mr Bingley was nervous for his friend, and this only added to his assumption.
"He left quite early this morning, it was very sudden. He did say, however, he would only be a few days and would return before the end of the week. Do you think it is him?" Bingley asked, even though his own thoughts had hovered over the idea that Darcy was the culprit. How could his friend behave so?
"The chances are he is. Elizabeth did not state she had been introduced to him, but we both know that introductions are not always needed. Eye contact alone can set the wheels in motion."
"I do not even remember seeing Miss Elizabeth for most of the evening. Where was she?"
"Apparently, she was sitting outside in the gardens. She was not in the mood for social gatherings that particular day and took to her solitude."
"Dear god! I just thought of something… I spoke at length with Darcy right by the window that leads outside. When I left him, he was still by that window, but when I looked back a few moments later he had vanished. He must have gone outside."
"And came into contact with my daughter," Mr Bennet sighed. "I would appreciate the direction to his town house, Mr Bingley."
"Do you not think it wise to wait for his return? It may seem premature to seek him out just yet. He may have not noticed anything until he got home and is oblivious to whom the lady is. His departure to London may be for reasons unbeknownst to us, and he is surely to return as most of his belongings are still here."
Mr Bennet thought about what the gentleman had said. He hated London with a vengeance, and any excuse not to travel to town he would take. He would rather wait for Darcy to return from wherever he was hiding, but would not allow him too much time. "I will wait, but not past the seventh day. At which point, if he is still missing I will instruct the magistrate to assist in tracking him down!"
Whites, St James's Street, London
"You did what‽" Richard exclaimed. "You know you cannot fight this, you idiot!"
"Do not call me an idiot, Richard. I know I cannot fight it… I have no intention to, but I need time to wrap my head around all this. I do not know what I feel, other than entrapment."
"Who's entrapped you? Certainly not this Miss Elizabeth Bennet. It's the Elders' doing and you know that. Do not hold it against the poor woman, Darcy, she may even feel just as begrudged about this as you. I know you, you are too proud and fastidious for your own good, and your recent actions may get you into trouble, if you are not careful.
"I hear that most men would fall for their woman straight away. The spell strikes and you are pulled into such an enraptured state that your feelings can not be repressed. Any man would be spellbound by now. You did not feel this at all?"
"No. We never spoke… plus it was in subdued light, which may have played a part. I just looked at her, saw her gem change and left. It may also have been that I had already formed an opinion of her and her family before we met, but I must admit that I am rather… hungry for company."
"Ha ha! Are you rather randy, cousin? At least you will not have Caroline Bingley at your coat tails any more, wanting to bed you. What was she offering her virtue to you for, earlier in the year?
"Five Thousand… She is still subtly plaguing me to this day, but I would not even pay a hundred, for she does nothing for me in that respect."
"Yes, I doubt I would wish to take her, virtue or not. She is not very attractive, is she," Richard laughed. "Your hunger will increase, as your baser instincts have now kicked in for your mate. You do realise this, don't you? I hear they only get stronger as the days go by and you cannot fight them forever, Darcy.
"Some say the spell increases in intensity the more you fight against it. It will eventually overwhelm you until you give in to it. Then you will be utterly and irrevocably smitten… In the meantime, you will just have to deal with your needs yourself, until you cannot take being without her any longer."
"No, I will see Rosemary in the morning. I have already sent word."
"But you cannot, it is illegal! Darcy you have already turned, you cannot lay with another woman now. Think of the first part of the second law!"
"Damn and blast it! I will not tell her." Darcy knew full well he could not, but would not admit it aloud.
"God, are you that stupid? You both will get caught. You know that the Elders will find out and pull you in for questioning. Then you will disappear like the rest of them… And do not plead ignorance. Where did Wickham go after the trial?Off to sunnier climates, taking a rather well earned sabbatical? And that blackguard did not even complete his mission."
Darcy wanted to see Rosemary, whom had been his mistress for best part of four years. She had married at one and twenty, but was widowed in the first year of marriage. She was warm and sensual, and her flaxen hair would fan out around her head, like the sun's rays. Her blue eyes would sparkle and her moans were appreciative as he dipped his wick into her wetness. God, he wanted her more than ever to rid him of this deep rooted hunger that was building inside of him.
"You need to return to Longbourn and take your wife, then let her ease your urges. That is what she is there for."
"You make her sound like a whore," Darcy exclaimed.
"Well, she is yours to do with what you will. She will be your wife, your chattel to do with as you please and if you wish to treat her as such, you can. You can fornicate with her until your back breaks or your dick falls off, as I hear these country chits are the best… Father has urged me to increase my efforts to seek out my lady. Since James' death, the Earl of Matlock wishes me to find her before he leaves this mortal land of ours. Now that I am heir, he wants me to fortify the Fitzwilliam line with a hoard of scions, urging me to have at least two male sprogs. Any more will be… well, let us just say, I will enjoy the pleasures of my wife without the stress of requiring her to provide issue."
"Let us hope it is not a scullery maid or a vagabond."
"Oh I would not mind a scullery maid, they are of strong constitution. I might even allow her to keep her servant's attire and have my end away with her whilst she cleans out the sooted grates in the master's chambers."
"Good lord, Richard, are you serious‽"
"Oh very. I have always wanted to act the master and take the servant girls when they were least expecting it. Of course I have never done that, but I have even been tempted to employ widows of a certain type for my own household," Richard declared. He was so exhilarated, that he started to rub his hands upon his thighs in anticipation. "Or maybe I should go to the brothel and ask if they do requests? I'm sure one of the widows will oblige in my little fantasy."
Darcy sat there in silence, allowing his cousin to daydream whilst he recollected the woman he had ventured across the night before. Her dark brown eyes, although piercing with what he determined as rage, were twinkling in the glow of the low sun. Her dark tresses, which had been lazily pulled up into a loose bun, had several escaped strands around her pretty face. And her general appearance was pleasing to the eye. He did not realise it at the time, but she was undeniably beautiful. He could feel himself react to his thoughts, but then a voice filled his head. His memories had defied him and all he could think of was Mrs Bennet's cackling and Miss Mary Bennet's attempts at singing. The menagerie of sounds that now filled his head, soon drowned out any salacious thoughts he was having and his ardour dampened instantly, leaving him to listen to his cousin's indecent confessions.
May 31st 1811
Kensington, London
Darcy had concluded that he would visit Rosemary, but only to bid her goodbye.
There he stood, outside the entrance to her small, but magnificent dwelling in Kensington in the starts of a summer storm. He felt as though he was now going to the gallows, instead of waiting for the butler to answer the door and allow him entry.
"Mrs Chadwell is in the parlour, sir, she is expecting you," the butler announced, as he escorted Darcy to his now defunct mistress.
"Fitzwilliam, it is so good to see you again. I had wondered if I would have the pleasure of your company before you left for Derbyshire. That will be all, Edward," she said as the butler took his leave. "I missed you, Fitz, so very much," she continued when they were left alone. Her tone was now seductive, as she came forward and wrapped her arms about Darcy's neck. She kissed him tenderly, but her passion was quick to take over and Darcy could not refuse her forwardness, as he succumb to his desires. He returned her affections, as his hand wandered down her frame, grabbing at the hem of her skirt, so that he could pull it up her body. He wanted to feel her warmth in the palm of his hand.
At that moment, a thunderbolt struck some short distance from the house, which startled the pair apart. Darcy knew it was a warning from the Elders, and was thankful of the reminder they had given him of this now sad affair. He looked into those pure blue orbs of his lover, and tried to utter those dreadful words. "I cannot, I have…" He could not finish what he wanted to say, but Rosemary knew exactly what had occurred.
"You've turned?" Her voice was weak and unsteady. She was holding back her emotions as she came to understand their new situation. He had met his future wife.
"Yes, last night… I'm sorry, Rosemary. I'm sorry that I was coerced into going to that small Hertfordshire town and to their local assembly rooms. I am sorry I went out into that garden and gazed into those dark brown eyes of the stranger I am now forced to wed. I am sorry that it was not you, for I dearly would have welcomed you as my wife." He felt as though his heart would break. How cruel his preordained existence was, the Elders were certainly accountable for his misery.
"So when do you marry?" Rosemary asked, but if she was honest with herself, she did not wish to know.
"I have no idea, she does not know it is me."
"Oh Fitzwilliam, did you run? You need to go back and face her. She must be hurting, even confused. This will not show you in a good light, and she may even despise you for what you are doing."
"I will return… but in a few days. I have no choice as I am sure the family will call on assistance to seek me out, and I do not want that to happen. I need to get things in order if I am to return to Pemberley with a new bride. I need to arrange the paperwork and there have been other matters to attend to whilst I am here," he said, looking at Rosemary with an apologetic gaze.
"I take it you mean me?" she smiled, but the expression did not reach her eyes.
"Yes, I am sorry, Rosemary. You can have the house, I will sign over the deeds to you, and you can continue to live here or sell it if you wish to move away."
"Thank you for the generous gift. I love this house and would not wish to move. It has too many happy memories of us together. I will, however, have to eventually take another lover. Would you object if I were to entertain him here?"
"No, of course not. It will remain your home, in your name. I cannot dictate who will be in your bed, as much as you will not be able to tell me who should be in mine. I must say that Bingley has mentioned how pretty he thinks you are, and was rather jealous of me at one point. If you were to consider him as your next… venture?"
"Bingley? The strawberry blond? Yes, he may do well enough, I like his smiles. He is the friend who moved to Hertfordshire, is he not?"
"That is the man. He has an estate there, so can visit you quite frequently whilst in the country. He is not as affluent as myself, and I doubt your allowance will be to the same level as what you are used to. Would that be an issue?"
"I do not think so. You have been more than generous over the past four years, Fitz. I must admit that I have invested some of the unspent money in the government bonds," she said. She hoped that this did not upset him, or make him think her a scoundrel.
"How much did you manage to invest?"
"Oh dear, please do not be angry. To date, it is three thousand pounds. I only spent about five hundred a year. The remainder is in the five percents and gives me one hundred and fifty pounds a year income. Do you now think ill of me?"
"Of course not, on the contrary, it is very sensible." He knew that widows were not in so much demand when they reached a certain age. It would do well for Rosemary to invest now for when she matured and was past her prime. "The money was yours to do with as you pleased, and I hope that you will continue to invest… So, Bingley?"
"I will think about it. To be honest, I would like a month or two alone. I fear I will need to adapt to my new situation and to come to terms with you not being in my life. Do you think we can remain friends?"
"I am not sure. I believe the urge to be with you will be too great, even with a wife. I fear that I will still want you. If we do cross paths, I will of course acknowledge you if my wife is not present, but I do not wish to spend excess time in your company, for fear of yearning. I can already sense my libido has heightened, and all I want to do is take you to bed and bury myself inside of you." He moved forward and cupped her face in his hands. Rosemary could see the longing in his eyes, but she also knew that there was a possibility that his yearning was no longer for her, but for the dark brown eyed stranger living in Hertfordshire. She had been through this herself and knew the emotions that would build inside the stronger of the sex. It had been two days and by her recollections he would be craving her by now.
"Once I am wed, things will be different. I will spend most of my time at Pemberley and only come to town for the sake of Georgiana's season in a few years, when she reaches her majority. Other than that, it will be as little as possible and only enough to show a presence."
"You always preferred the country. At least you had the thought of taking a small cottage for me in Kympton last year, so you could visit me there and not have me lamenting at your removal from London in previous years."
"The bed creaked," he grinned, remembering the old wooden four-poster. "I am sure Edward could hear every complaint of that monstrosity from the middle ages."
"Ha! Yes, but it did not stop us fulfilling our pleasures. I will miss you, Fitzwilliam."
"Likewise, Rosemary. You have been a delight these past four years."
"I hope Mrs Darcy will be as much as a delight to you, you deserve happiness."
Darcy took his leave and assured Mrs Chadwell that he would transfer the property over into her name in the next day or two.
