Ooops or Consequence & Consequences Chapter 15, a pride and prejudice fanfic

I'm still stuck on that chapter, which is dinner with the Carltons.

Mrs Darrow will be acting as governess to Lydia until the family can find the right one. Kitty and Mary remain at Barrington to keep Lydia company, and learn some accomplishments.

I will eventually flesh this out, but since I have the next chapter ready, I will continue with the story.

I hope you enjoy.

~~~o0o~~~

The London season was in full swing when Darcy arrived in town in late February with his sister, who wanted to visit with the Fitzwilliams'. He planned to spend a few weeks in London, before his annual visit to his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. This would give him time to take care of necessary estate business for Pemberley, while he too visited with his Fitzwilliam family.

He also expected to catch up with Bingley. Darcy hoped that his friend had overcome his infatuation with Miss Bennet, and was back to being his cheerful self, especially as he himself was not feeling particularly cheerful.

Ever since he had left Hertfordshire, or run away as he admitted to himself in his more honest moments, Darcy had been unable to get Miss Elizabeth Bennet out of his mind. He acknowledged that he had done the right thing for his family by tearing himself away from the charming and witty lady.

But it hurt him to think that she would have been able to make him happy, if only the inferiority—the degradation—of her family had not opposed his inclination. But in his weaker moments he stilled pined for what might have been, and wondered if society might overlook her lack of connection and fortune.

~~~o0o~~~

At about the same time, the Duke of Barrington, his wife and two eldest daughters arrived in London without fanfare. They moved into the relatively small townhouse the old Duke had preferred, while the finishing touches were added to the main residence of the Barringtons.

It suited the Duke's sense of humour to remain incognito until the ball he had planned to give after his appointment at court.

Although in the last three months rumours abounded about the identity of the Bennets, a miscommunication led the curious to believe that the family hailed from Herefordshire.

An omission of detail in reporting in the paper, had readers assume that the Duke had a son, when it was reported that the Duke and his heir had attended St James' Palace.

~~~o0o~~~

The Duke had a brief audience with the Prince Regent, before he and his ladies were escorted to the Queen's drawing room.

It had been touch and go whether Elizabeth would be able to attend, since she had taken one look at the designs for court dresses, a fashion decreed by Queen Charlotte, when Lizzy utterly refused to wear such a ridiculous outfit, which would make her look like an extravagantly decorated apple. After much discussion, Madame Bujold produced a design which was three years out of date, but had the advantage that the massive skirt did not start immediately under the wearer's breasts.

Once they reduced the hooped skirt to the absolute minimum width she could get away with and still follow the Queen's dictates, Elizabeth accepted the compromise. The dress was still unwieldy, but was rather more sensible and flattering than current court fashions.

'Your Grace, it is a pleasure to meet you at last. Your predecessor was a charming man, whose his friendship I was pleased to enjoy for so many years.'

'Thank you, Your Majesty. You have the advantage over me. Alas the former Duke chose to be a recluse, and I never had the pleasure of meeting him.'

'I understand that it is difficult to outlive so many members of your family. But now I would know the ladies.'

'May I present my wife, Lady Frances Bennet, the Duchess of Barrington, and my heir, Lady Elizabeth Bennet, Marchioness Southwell.'

Both ladies curtsied gracefully, as they were named. 'Your Majesty.'

'It is a pleasure to meet you both. I can see the source of Lady Elizabeth's beauty.' The Queen smiled and invited them to sit. While they enjoyed their tea, she questioned them about their plans. 'I look forward to having you present your other daughters,' she commented on learning of the other four sisters.

Even though nervous, throughout the conversation the Duchess managed to answer politely, albeit briefly, leaving the Elizabeth and her husband to carry the bulk of the conversation.

At the end of the audience, the Queen turned to the Duke. 'You had better hire a squad of body guards, to keep Lady Elizabeth from being importuned by fortune hunters. With such a title, wealth and beauty, she will be irresistible, despite being strong willed.' The last comment being made with an amused glance at Elizabeth's dress.

She had a final piece of advice for Elizabeth. 'Take your time to choose wisely.'

Two days later, Jane Bennet's name was added to the list of ladies being officially presented at court. As the highest ranked lady, she was grateful to have the shortest wait in the freezing corridor.

When Jane made her curtsy, the Queen's comment, 'your father had better hire two squads of bodyguards,' was misinterpreted by the bystanders as an endorsement of Lady Jane's beauty. It set the ton abuzz.

~~~o0o~~~

While Jane was busy at St James' Palace, Lady Sophia took pity on Elizabeth and took her shopping, the same office as she had performed for Jane, two days prior. Unlike her sister, Elizabeth insisted on visiting Hatchards.

She was perusing some books of poetry, at the end of an aisle, when a young lady came around the corner. Instead of looking where she was going, her gaze was directed over her shoulder, as she was addressing a companion. 'I will only be five minutes, Aunt. I promise,' she was saying as she ran into Elizabeth who had become engrossed in the poem she was reading.

Being unprepared for the collision, Elizabeth stumbled and would have fallen, if the young lady's reflexes had not prevented such an accident by grabbing her wrist. The only one who suffered a fall, was the book which Elizabeth had been holding.

The thud of the book hitting the floor, and the involuntary cry of alarm by both ladies, brought their companions rushing to the scene.

'Please forgive me, I should have looked where I was going,' exclaimed the young lady, blushing furiously. She appeared to be about sixteen years of age, and exceedingly flustered. There was something about her blue eyes which struck a chord with Elizabeth.

'Think nothing of it, the only harm done was to the book, and I believe it too survived unscathed.' Elizabeth smiled as she picked up said victim. 'Yes, indeed. Not a scratch.' She held up the volume.

Their companions, reassured that there was no true cause for alarm, took note of each other. 'Lady Sophia,' exclaimed the young lady's companion. 'What a pleasure to see you after such a long absence. I trust you are well? You do look wonderful.'

'Lady Susan, this is indeed a delightful surprise. I am quite well. You too look in the pink of health,' Lady Sophia responded. 'I gather this young lady is with you?'

'This is my niece, Miss Georgiana Darcy. Georgiana, I would like you to meet Lady Sophia Parker, Baroness Halford.' Lady Susan introduced the ladies, who acknowledged the introductions.

The time the other ladies were took with their introduction gave Elizabeth a chance to regain her composure at hearing the name Darcy. She should have realised when she noticed the eyes. But while the shape and colour was the same, the look in those eyes was different. One was young and vulnerable, while her brother's were much more guarded.

Then it was Lady Sophia's turn. 'Lady Elizabeth would you permit me to introduce to you Lady Susan Fitzwilliam, the Countess of Matlock and her niece, Miss Georgiana Darcy. Ladies, my friend is Lady Elizabeth Bennet, daughter of the Duke of Barrington.'

'Lady Elizabeth?' exclaimed Lady Matlock with a delighted smile. 'I, like all of the ton, have been all anticipation to get a chance to meet you. Your family has been rather elusive.'

'We are not at all elusive, Lady Susan. We only just arrived in town, and have not yet had a chance to become settled in. Even our house is not quite ready for occupation.'

'If accommodation is an issue for you, I would be happy to…'

'Oh no, Lady Susan. Please do not concern yourself. The late Duke had a delightful pied-à-terre which is quite comfortable until our house is ready. It is simply not suited for extensive entertaining. Therefore, the Duke decided not to entertain at all for the moment, so as not to give precedence which could be misconstrued.'

'You may not be ready to entertain, but we would be delighted if you could join us for tea, any day that you are available. Perhaps next Monday?'

Elizabeth glanced at Lady Sophia, who gave an almost imperceptible nod. 'I will need to enquire with my mother and sister if they require my presence that the day…'

'If the ladies are available, I would be honoured to have your mother and sister join us. I will send you an invitation, if I may?'

Georgiana, remembering her brother speaking about a Miss Elizabeth Bennet, could not resist asking. 'I heard my brother mention a Miss Elizabeth Bennet from Hertfordshire. Are you related?'

'The Bennets of Hertfordshire were distantly related to the Barrington branch of the family,' Elizabeth replied evasively, as she did not wish to give Mr Darcy any advance warning of her change in status. While her statement was true, it was not completely accurate.

Georgiana was pleased with the response. If Miss Elizabeth was related to Lady Elizabeth, albeit distantly, she had better connections than her brother had given her credit for, and there was hope for him yet.

While Georgiana was wool-gathering, Lady Sophia handed one of her own cards, to which she added their temporary address, to Lady Matlock. Soon afterwards they parted.

Elizabeth restrained herself and only bought six books.

~~~o0o~~~

An excited Lady Matlock had a conversation with her husband later that day.

'I achieved quite a coup today,' she told the Earl.

'Did you manage to get the last bolt of quality silk in town?' he teased.

'Much better than that…' she paused to increase the suspense. 'I ran into an old friend. Do you remember Lady Sophia Parker?'

'Yes, I do remember her. While she is a charming woman and pleasant company, you have never been so excited to see her.'

'It was not so much Lady Sophia who has me excited, but her companion. Lady Elizabeth Bennet,' she claimed triumphantly.

'Any relation to the Duke of Barrington?'

'His daughter.'

Lord Matlock was intrigued. 'What is she like?

'Quite lovely and unassuming, although I think she has a wicked sense of humour.'

'How so?'

'Apparently the Duke's residence is not ready for occupation just yet…'

'I know. I have been waiting on a report that the family has moved in, to call on the Duke.'

'As I was saying before you interrupted me, since the residence is not ready, Lady Elizabeth informed me that they are staying at the late Duke's pied-à-terre. She did not mention that it was Southwell House.'

'She called Southwell House a pied-à-terre? That is rich, although I suppose compared to Barrington House it is relatively small.' Lord Matlock chuckled. 'But how did you find out where they are staying?'

'When I invited the ladies for tea on Monday, Lady Sophia gave me the address so that I could send the formal invitation.'

'Congratulations, my dear, that was indeed quite a coup.'

~~~o0o~~~

Tea at Matlock House was a success. The ladies arrived, and after introductions, it did not take long for the group to split into two groups. The matrons enjoyed their discussion, while Elizabeth and Jane gently encouraged Georgiana, who had also been invited, since it was due to her encounter with Elizabeth that this gathering had occurred.

The older ladies chatted pleasantly, with Lady Sophia introducing subjects which the Duchess was comfortable discussing, until Lady Matlock commented to the Duchess. 'The ladies of the ton will be most displeased with you, bringing two such lovely daughters to town, since it will significantly reduce the number of potential suitors for their own daughters.'

The Duchess looked pleased at the compliment to her daughters, but she confounded Lady Matlock. 'Oh, no. Those ladies have nothing to worry about. There is no rush for my girls to find husbands. I wish for them to take their time to find the right partner. After all, marriage is for life, and I wish my girls to be happy.'

'You wish your daughter to marry for love?' asked the incredulous Countess. 'Virtually everyone in the ton marries for wealth and status.'

'Yes, I wish my daughters to marry for love. We have enough wealth and status, but one can never have too much happiness. Since I love all my daughters, I wish for them to be happy.'

Lady Matlock laughed delightedly. 'You will certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons with this attitude. It is not only unfashionable, but the young men will not know how to approach your daughters, since most of them rely on their wealth and position to capture the interest of young ladies.'

'If they wish to marry any of my daughters, they will have to learn about character instead. It will do them good, I am certain,' the Duchess declared firmly, but with a slight smirk. She was exceptionally pleased that at last the shoe was on the other foot. Instead of her girls trying to attract husbands, it was now the men who would be trying to attract her daughters.

Meanwhile Elizabeth and Jane, who had been warned not to mention their acquaintance with Mr Darcy, managed to get Georgiana to discuss music.

Elizabeth enthused. 'I hope that while we are in town, I will get a chance to go to the opera, as well as the theatre. I would love to see The Marriage of Figaro. While it is not my favourite opera from Mozart, it is rather lovely.'

'I admit, I prefer The Magic Flute,' Georgiana countered. 'The melodies are such fun.'

'I quite agree, but then I have always loved to laugh. Which is why I prefer Shakespeare's comedies to his tragedies.'

Gradually Georgiana relaxed. She wondered if the kindness, wit and amiability ran in the family, since these ladies were very similar to the lady her brother had described. She determined to encourage her brother to ignore status and wealth, and follow his heart.

~~~o0o~~~