Chapter 6

Twenty years ago…

Young Captain Marcus Wagner rode his horse into a small town called Meryton. His father was a rich and important man, but Marcus was only a second son, and from a very young age, he knew that he must carve out his own future. He was grateful in a way because his older brother, David, had always been under his father's tutelage. He constantly told him that he must be an exceptional man worthy of the Earldom of Rockwell. The young Marcus, since childhood, had been free, and that had made him an independent man. He developed to the maximum his intelligence and desire to know and explore the world. At twenty-four, he was already a prominent officer, and he knew that he could be promoted to Colonel very soon.

After a few days in Meryton, Marcus decided to go to the bookstore to buy a book to read in his spare time. As he walked through town, many women looked at him and commented on how handsome was the young officer. Captain Wagner was a tall man with dark hair and dark green eyes that in the sunlight turned emerald. Also, he was a man of impeccable morals, so he never paid too much attention to women who sought his company with dishonest intentions. He was a man who could confidently speak to people of all walks of life. Always around him, the conversation was exciting and fun, thanks to his witty comments and informed opinions. Many said that Marcus was simply charming.

Eleanor Bennet was a woman of medium height, with dark blond hair and honey-colored eyes. She was a pretty woman, but what made her special was her intelligence. She was pretty shy around strangers; her father had never allowed her to socialize much. When she was fifteen, her mother died, so she had to take over the household. When her father's health began to decline, she had to take care of much of the things related to the estate. She worked all day, and she hardly had time to have fun like other girls her age did. Also, her father did not allow her to spend money on clothes or accessories, so she dressed quite simply.

"My dear Miss Bennet, I have the two books that you commissioned me. The book on new agricultural techniques, and the latest novel by your favorite author," said the bookstore owner to Ella. Mr. Fleming had always liked Eleanor. Since she was little, she had been an excellent reader, and she always had a smile for everyone, very different than her conceited brother.

"Thank you, Mr. Fleming. I'm going to have a lot to read in the days ahead," Ella said as she flipped through some pages of one of the books.

Captain Wagner had seen Eleanor enter. He was going through some books on a shelf without deciding which one he would finally buy. The young lady was pretty but simply dressed. At first, he thought that she maybe was a servant. But upon hearing her speak, he realized that she was probably the daughter of some local gentleman.

"I think I'll buy this book," Marcus said to Mr. Fleming as he looked at Eleanor with interest. She was so focused on looking at a design in the agriculture book that she was practically unaware of the officer's presence.

"Excuse me, miss, but are you interested in crop rotation?" Marcus asked in surprise.

"It's an interesting topic, isn't it?" She said, thinking that the person who talked to her was someone she knew. When she looked up, she saw the handsome young officer and couldn't help but blush and immediately look towards the door as if wanting to flee.

Marcus, seeing that he had made the young woman uncomfortable, said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be impertinent. Please, let me introduce myself. I'm captain Marcus Wagner." He was puzzled, the woman in front of him had gone speechless, and she was looking at him like he was some kind of demon who wanted to hurt her.

She felt trapped; her father had always told her not to talk to strangers and less to young men. But she didn't want to look like a fool in front of the officer either. So, she answered quickly and briefly, "Nice to meet you, Captain. I have to go, good day. Goodbye, Mr. Fleming." She took the two books and left.

Marcus paid for his book quickly and went looking for the young woman to apologize. But when he left the bookstore, he saw that she was running. It seemed that she wanted to get away from him as soon as possible. He was very intrigued with the young woman and made some inquiries about her. He learned that she was the daughter of the most important landowner in the area. Her name was Eleanor Bennet, and her father was very protective. Apparently, Miss Bennet had many obligations that left her little free time, and she did not often participate in Meryton's social life.

The following days Marcus tried to go to the bookstore whenever he could, hoping to see Eleanor again. He had become friends with Mr. Fleming, and he told him that Ella liked to stop by the store to see what new books were available. Marcus had only seen her from afar a few occasions, and every time she saw him, she would cross the street or pretend she didn't see him. So when he saw her enter the bookstore, he knew that he had to act carefully not to scare her. He really wanted to talk to her and apologize for having spoken to her without been formally introduced. Although he was sincere, the truth was that he could not resist the urge to meet her and be able to talk to her.

Eleanor entered the store and began to talk to Mr. Fleming. At that moment, Marcus came over, and Mr. Fleming said to Ella, "My dear Miss Bennet, you already know Captain Wagner, don't you? This young officer has literary tastes very similar to yours."

Marcus realized that it was the opportunity to meet the young woman and immediately spoke, "The truth is that I do not have a definite literary taste. I like to read everything Miss Bennet," And speaking formally added. "If you allow me, I would like to offer my sincere apologies for having interrupted your reading the last time we met in this place."

She smiled, and Marcus thought that he had never seen a woman more beautiful than her. "I think that is precisely what Mr. Fleming was referring to. I also like to read a little of everything. And do not worry about the other day. I was just in a hurry, and I had to go home".

Without realizing it, Marcus and Ella chatted animatedly for almost an hour until she said she had to go home. Marcus offered to accompany her. Before they reached Longbourn, he told her, "Miss Bennet, would you allow me to visit you one of these days?" He was so delighted with Eleanor that he could not suppress the urge to want to see her. He wanted to do it at her home to show her father that he was an honorable man and had serious intentions.

Eleanor knew that she couldn't invite him to her house because that would make her father and her brother interfere in her life. Especially her father, who since Thomas married Fanny had promised that he would choose Eleanor's husband to prevent her from being carried away by her impulses and making the same mistake as her brother. She knew that if she wanted to get to know the young officer better, she had to do it behind her family's back. "In the morning, before my family gets up for breakfast, I like to walk. I often go up to the top of Oakham Mount. If tomorrow ..."

Eleanor didn't get to finish speaking because Marcus told her, "I'll be there."

The secret meetings continued for almost two months. One day Eleanor told him the real reasons why she had never invited him to her house. "If my father knows that I have a friend, he will not let me continue our friendship."

Marcus wasn't surprised. Mr. Fleming had told him more about the Bennet family, and he knew that Ella played a vital role in running the house and Longbourn in general. But he didn't want to go on like this. One week ago, he had gone to talk with his brother, who after the death of his father had become Lord Rockwell. Marcus had told David that he was in love and he wanted to get married. His brother sincerely supported him. David had been forced to marry Lady Emma, a cold woman he hardly tolerated. Knowing that he had the support of his brother, he decided to speak. "Miss Bennet, I do not want to be your friend. From the first moment I saw you, I could not stop thinking about you. My regiment will soon leave the area and... I want to know if there is at least some possibility that you... I just want to be with you forever," and with a voice full of emotion added, "I love you with all my soul. I would like to know if you would do me the honor to be my wife."

Eleanor could not believe what she was hearing, and without weighing or measuring her words, she replied, "I love you too, Marcus ..." He immediately took her in his arms and began to kiss her. Eleanor asked him for some time to prepare her father before he talked to him. So the secrets meetings continued for a few more weeks. Every time they were together, they spoke, they kissed passionately, and both thought that there could be no one happier than them.

Finally, Eleanor spoke to her father and told him that the young Captain wanted to talk to him. Marcus was an educated man with impeccable connections, but he did not yet have a consolidated financial situation to support a family. "Young man, I'm not going to deny you permission. But I'll only authorize the marriage when you can offer my daughter a stable financial situation," said Eustace Bennet. He planned to buy time to separate the couple.

"This is all your fault, Thomas. If you behaved like Longbourn's heir and assumed your responsibilities, your sister could marry and make her life. But besides being useless, you married that silly and vulgar woman. I don't even want to imagine how the new Longbourn heir will be with a stupid mother and a lazy father. The Bennet legacy depends on Ella. She will have to take care of the estate and raise the future Longbourn heir to make sure he is a good man". Eustace would preserve the Bennets' status at all costs.

Thomas pretended he was listening, but the truth was that he didn't care what his father said. Within three months of having married Fanny, he was already sorry for having done so.

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At the top of Oakham Mount, Marcus tightly hugged Eleanor while she was crying in his arms. "My love, don't cry. You'll see how these three months go by very quickly."

"I don't know what I'm going to do without you, my dear Marcus," Eleanor said as Marcus kissed her on the cheek.

They were so focused on kissing and caressing each other that they didn't realize a storm was coming. When the first drops began to fall, they both began to run. Eleanor told him that they could take refuge in a small hunting cabin not far away from where they were. When they finally got there, they were both soaking wet. Looking at each other, they both started laughing and then kissing. The kisses became more and more passionate, and without realizing it, they made love tenderly and passionately. For both of them, it was their first time and the last time.

"I want you to know my love that I consider you my wife. That you are mine and I am yours and that nothing and no one can ever separate us. I love you, and I will love you until the day I die," said Marcus while he cried with emotion.

"I love you, Marcus. My loving husband," She replied, just as excited as she snuggled into the arms of her lover.

Two hours later, Eleanor and Marcus were kissing behind the old willow tree and saying goodbye, not knowing that it would be the last time they would see each other. "Very soon, I will return, my love. Remember that I will always love you" was the last thing Marcus said. Then, he walked away, and Eleanor entered through the back of the house so that no one would notice her presence.

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Months passed without Ella receiving any letter from Marcus. She felt hurt and disappointed, thinking that he had played with her feelings. But nothing could compare with the fear and pain that she felt for his abandonment when she found out that that rainy afternoon had had consequences and that she was carrying Marcus's child in her womb.

When she told her father and her brother, they both reacted very surprisedly. After a few days of not speaking to her, they decided to accept the situation and support Ella. She had thought that her father would send her to some distant relative. But her father insisted that she stay at Longbourn and hide as best she could the consequence of her irresponsibility. Once it was not possible to hide it, she could not leave the house anymore.

She didn't know was her father planned to do. Fanny was also pregnant. If she had another girl and Ella a boy, they would say they were twins, and Ella's son would be Longbourn's heir. If they both had girls, Ella's daughter would be raised by some tenant family. Eleanor thought that her brother would adopt her child regardless of gender. And she had promised to stay in Longbourn forever to help raise the children and run the estate. She would watch her child grow up, and she would always be there to make sure nothing was missing.

Marcus finally returned to England after almost six months, the situation in the continent did not allow him to come back earlier. He was desperate to hear from Eleanor. She hadn't written a single letter to him, and he thought the worst. He was afraid that she had fallen in love with another man, that her father had married her to another, that she was ill. He couldn't take any more without knowing about her. As soon as he stepped on English soil, he sent an express letter to his beloved, hoping that this time she would answer.

Unfortunately, that same night they were notified that there were problems in some of the islets in the English Channel. His regiment left for the area and was intercepted by a band of smugglers. The young captain fought fiercely, saving the lives of a large part of his regiment. After the that conflict, he was missing for several months, and the family was informed that he had died. No one knew at the time that he had been taken prisoner by a French patrol that found him in French territory and accused him of espionage. He was imprisoned for more than six months until finally, the family managed to negotiate his rescue.

When Ella received Marcus' letter, she finally learned that her father and brother had intercepted his letters. She decided to write to Marcus and ask him to come as soon as possible. They could leave Longbourn and start a life together with their child. But she did not receive any more letters. As her pregnancy progressed, she practically did not leave the house. At night, when everything was dark, she would go to the back of the garden and hide behind the old willow tree to cry.

When there were a few days left to complete her pregnancy, she received a letter from Lord Rockwell. He informed her of Marcus's death and offered her help. At that moment, she went to confront her father and brother for all the damage they had done to her by hiding Marcus's letters. Eustace told her if she said one more word, he would throw her out on the street. She didn't know what to do; she just ran off, trying to forget her pain. She did not remember anything about the accident; she only knew that her little girl had died when she woke up three weeks later. The doctor had said that due to the infection that caused her premature birth, it was most likely that she would never be able to conceive again. Three days after she regained consciousness, she fled Longbourn and began a new life away from her father and brother.

Fanny had had many problems with her second pregnancy, and she had practically spent the last two months in bed. Her daughter was born the day after Ella left and died within minutes. Fanny was devastated by the death of her newborn. She knew that her sister-in-law had had an accident and that her child had also died. But she was stunned when Thomas told her the truth. "Ella's daughter did not die; my father gave her to a family of tenants to raise her." Mr. Bennet explained the situation as visibly uncomfortable.

"Thomas, we can't let your niece suffer that fate. Your father doesn't know our daughter was stillborn. Bring Ella's baby; we can raise her as our daughter." Mrs. Bennet was a silly and capricious woman, but she could not allow that her sister-in-law's baby to be abandoned like that.

"Fanny, I think that for the first time, I totally agree with you on something." Thomas took his horse and went in search of the little girl. Hours later she would be presented as the second daughter of the Bennet couple. Fanny named her Elizabeth because that was her mother's name.

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When young Marcus finally returned to London, it had been more than a year since he had left. He was awarded several medals for his bravery. Thanks to his actions, the lives of more than a hundred people, both civil and military, had been saved. But he wasn't interested in any of that; he just wanted to see Ella.

"Marcus, I sent her a letter informing your death and another when they finally told us that you were alive. Then, I sent her another where I told her about the plans for your rescue. But I never received a response from her or her family. The only thing I have is this letter that she sent you about six months after you left. This is all I have from her."

"Thanks, David. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to my room to read it." Marcus was afraid to open the letter. After nearly a year in battle and prison, even an optimistic and friendly man like him had lost his joy. But if Ella told him that she no longer loved him in that letter, he didn't know what he would do. Thinking about her and that afternoon they spent together had kept him alive in the worst moments. He opened the letter and learned that father and brother had hidden his letters to force her to believe that he had forgotten her. But when he read that she was begging him to come back because she was with child, he felt joy and panic at the same time.

The next day, he left at dawn for Longbourn. He rode like possessed, praying that everything was alright. The next day, he would buy a license to marry and bring Ella and their child to live with him. To avoid the scandal, he would ask his superior officer to transfer him to the north of the country, where no one would know them. If she still loved him, everything would be fine.

When he dismounted and headed for the house, he was intercepted by Eustace. "You are not welcome in this house. Leave immediately"

"Where are Eleanor and my child? Tomorrow we will be married," Marcus replied firmly.

"Ella died from childbirth complications, and her daughter was stillborn. I already answered your question, now get out of here."

"That's not true," said Marcus praying that it was all just another lie from Ella's father. He immediately went to Meryton to speak with Mr. Fleming. He confirmed that Eleanor had suffered a severe accident, and after three weeks of fighting, she had died. Or course, Mr. Fleming did not know anything about her pregnancy.

Marcus returned to London and fell into a deep depression. His superior officers and his family knew that he had been tortured to obtain information while in prison. They all attributed his mood to that. His brother David took him to live in his house to take care of him. It was not uncommon to find him drunk for days. He felt guilty; in his mind, he had killed his wife and his little daughter. By his selfishness, by being carried away by the desperate passion he felt for the woman he loved, he had destroyed them both, and incidentally his poor, innocent little daughter.

He lived like this for almost six months until his nearly four-year-old niece Claire began to get close to him. The girl was not considered by a father who only thought about working and making money and a mother who had no time for her. That little girl's love revived him. But Marcus was never the same again. He was transformed into a serious and lonely man who lived with the minimum and was devoted to his career. The day he came back to life, he did so only in body; his heart and soul were buried next to Eleanor and his daughter. From that day on, he only waited for the day of his death to reunite with his family. Perhaps in the afterlife, the three of them could finally be together.

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The truth is that, as I told you a few days ago, I had lost inspiration and regained it wanting to tell the full story of Eleanor and Marcus. I know you are here to read Jane Austen's characters. But I wanted to tell the full story of Lady Campbell. As you know, I do not read or edit until the story is complete. Maybe I will shorten it a bit; I think I wrote many details that may not be necessary. We'll see.

Our favorite characters will appear again in the next chapter, and there will be some uncomfortable encounters.

See you in two or three days!

Gracias a todos los que dejan comentarios en español. Espero les haya gustado este capítulo. No estaba segura si escribir la historia de Eleanor en unos cuantos párrofos o explicar con detalles. Bueno, tomé la opción menos popular y dediqué todo el capítulo para ella y su amado Marcus. No Caroline Bingley mirando en menos a otros, ni Darcy despreciando a los menos afortunados que él jajaja. En fin, en el próximo capítulo vuelven los personajes que tanto adoramos.

¡Nos vemos en dos o tres días!

Merci a tous ceux qui ont laissé des commentaires en français. Parfois, ils me font regarder mon dictionnaire (google) parce que je ne comprends pas certains mots, mais cela me fait pratiquer. Ma fille etudie le français depuis près de cinq ans et maintenant elle le parle presque couramment. J'espere suivre son exemple et perfectionner le mien.

Rendez-vous dans deux ou trois jours

Se alguém que fala português me le, pode deixar comentários em portugues. Parte da minha família e brasileira, então falo e leio muito bem, mas não escrevo muito bem porque nunca estudei. Mas eu gosto de ler seus comentários!

Saludos,

Yo