Chapter 13

"Cinder-Liza, you hardly have time to prepare for the assembly, mayhap you should stay home, after all you were rude to the dear Duke so I am sure he will not want to see you tonight," Caroline sneered.

"Remind me again Caro, who was it the Duke cut, me or you?" Elizabeth asked innocently.

"Why you," Caroline took a step towards Elizabeth but stopped as she saw the look of challenge being directed at her.

"What did I say that upset you Caro? I merely repeated the truth did I not?" Elizabeth asked.

"Caroline, ignore that nobody who looks more like a man than a woman. When the Duke sees you, he will not want to dance with someone like that," Martha Bennet hissed. "Remember we have a plan," the mother whispered to the daughter.

Martha Bennet had found one man that was susceptible to her charms—he new Bennet coachman. He was a man who had never worked for the Bennets before and who had been hired when his predecessor retired a month earlier. Martha had seen her chance to have an ally among the servants and had taken it.

A sennight after he began his new duties, Martha seemingly asked if he was happy with his salary. Luckily for her, being new he had not made friends among the rest of the servants yet. He had told her he was happy with his three pounds a month in addition to his full board and lodging.

She had tutted and when he asked her what was wrong, as she hoped he would, she began to pour poison in his ear about her stepdaughter. She told him how she, the mistress, had advocated for the same as the previous man, more than double what the coachman was earning and how Miss High and Mighty Elizabeth had said he was too much of a fool to know she was paying him less than was fair.

Martha played on his male ego to make him hate her stepdaughter. Her trump card was her body as she seduced him and told him if he helped her rid her of the uppity Miss Elizabeth, she would make sure he was paid twenty pounds per month.

Caroline Bingley had rejoiced over her mother's plan to get their revenge on Cinder-Liza for all of the humiliation and degradation they suffered under the Bennets. The three conspirators scouted Longbourn and found an abandoned hunting cabin near the border with Netherfield. Tonight after the assembly, the uppity witch would finally pay.

Having never been accused at being a mental giant, Martha planned to offer Louisa the chance of returning to the family fold when they departed the assembly, or she would meet the same fate as Elizabeth Bennet.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

The residents of Longbourn rode to the assembly together and arrived on time. It was one occasion when Caroline Bingley did not want to be late. Once there, they split into two groups. As Elizabeth entered the assembly room, she thought that the new coachman was decidedly surly, had been for some time now, and she could not fix the reason for it. She would talk to him on the morrow.

Elizabeth and Louisa stood with the Lucas family and talked happily to Charlotte when a quiet fell over the assembly with the arrival of the Netherfield Party. Given there were more young ladies than men in the area, the arrival of four men was most welcome, especially since of one of them was a duke.

Mr. Hurst led the party over to Sir William Lucas and his family and made introductions at the Duke's request. As had been agreed, no sign of prior acquaintance was shown between Elizabeth and the party from Netherfield. While the other three were making small talk with the Lucases and Miss Bennet, Mr. Hurst approached Miss Bingley.

"It is good to see you again Miss Bingley," Hurst bowed to her curtsy.

"And you sir," Louisa returned.

"If I may be so bold, I request the opening set if you are not otherwise engaged for the set," Hurst requested.

"It will be my pleasure to dance the first with you," Louisa responded, and Hurst did not miss the heightened colour of her cheeks.

"May I request the final set as well Miss Bingley?" Hurst hoped she was not engaged for that set either.

"It is yours sir," Louisa was blushing with pleasure now. The man—a man—wanted to dance two sets with her; a man she was starting to admire greatly.

Across the room, Mrs. Bennet and Caroline Bingley were seething with anger. As usual, no one would stand and talk to them and even worse, the Duke and his party were talking to the Lucas party that included Cinder-Liza! Inexplicably, the Duke bowed over the chit's hand. If they were not worried about another cut, they would have attempted to insinuate themselves into the group opposite.

"Why is that Cinder-Liza talking to my Duke?" Caroline hissed to her mother.

"It is no matter Caroline, after she is ruined by the coachman tonight, she will do anything we desire to keep her secret!" Martha Bannet cackled in anticipation.

They watched as Sir William accompanied the Duke's party and introduced them to the prominent families of the area. They watched with envy as the dancers for the first set lined up. Even Louisa had a partner, and as happened at every dance, neither Martha or Caroline were asked to dance.

Elizabeth danced the first set with the Lucas heir, Frederick. The Duke and Wickham continued their rounds of the room while Richard found a spot to sit and rest his leg. The fact that the Duke passed by them without so much as a look added to the anger the two outcasts were feeling.

When the first set ended, and Martha and Caroline saw the Duke approach Cinder-Liza and lead her to the dancefloor, the two almost had an apoplexy. "Why is my duke dancing with Cinder-Liza? Did you not say she was nothing to me in looks Mama?" Caroline asked.

Mrs. Long and Mrs. Goulding had been passing by the two when the ugly daughter made the comment about her looks and Miss Elizabeth's. Both giggled behind their hands. Martha was sure that she and her daughter were the subject of the women's mirth, but she was not sure if or for what reason.

They watched in horror as the Duke seemed to be enjoying his dance with her. How could this be after she had been so rude to the man? The list of the offences to be laid at Cinder-Liza's door was mounting. When the set was over, both Elizabeth and Louisa were returned to the Lucas family. Louisa had just danced with the handsome Major.

The set after she danced with Major Wickham and then Mr. Hurst, Elizabeth sat out her planned sets that she would not dance. It was something she and others did at each assembly to allow as many ladies a turn to dance as possible. She would sit out two before the final set as well.

"You know Lizzy, if looks could kill, you would be dead. Have you seen the looks those two have been spearing at you?" Richard asked his cousin as he leaned toward her.

"It is nothing I am not used to Richard. They do not scare me as they know what will happen should they harm me at all. I cannot wait until Tommy, or I are able to get rid of those two!" Elizabeth stated with steel in her voice.

"Be careful with them Lizzy; you know that sometimes angry people are unwise people," Richard warned.

"I am aware of that Richard." The two continued to talk until Elizabeth was collected by her next partner.

"Did you see that wanton hussy flirting with the crippled colonel after her disgusting display with my duke?" Caroline asked her mother softly, well as softly as she was capable of.

"Caroline, soon our problems will be over, have patience my dear daughter," Martha soothed.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

While his family was at the assembly, Charles Bingley was sitting in his room at the Golden Bull Inn at Steveton thinking about his life choices and reaffirming his epiphany that he, and he alone, was responsible for the direction of his life.

In a few short days he would meet with Louisa and hopefully she would help him contact one close to the Duke to give a message to him. It was not only the right thing to do, but Bingley feared Lady Catherine was so obsessed with her aim of marrying her daughter to the Duke that next she would send Dryden and it would not be to compromise Lady Georgiana.

When he thought about Jane Bennet, Miss Bennet, he was sad she was lost for two reasons. Firstly, it was plain human compassion—something new for Charles Bingley. Second, was he was sad he would never be able to beg her forgiveness. That night he made a pledge to himself. Once he had helped as he wanted to, he would become a clergyman who was worthy of being one.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

While Elizabeth was sitting out the second set she had elected not to dance, her cousin, the Duke, sat down next to her after gaining her permission to do so. "It is admirable of you and the other ladies of the area to voluntarily sit out dances so others may have their turn," the Duke stated.

"It is good you know the reason why we sit out. It is not that we are not tolerable enough to tempt anyone, nor have we been slighted by other men," Elizabeth teased.

"You know I was only referring to your stepsister," he inclined his head towards Caroline Bingley. "You I find are one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance!" The Duke made the declaration before his head overruled his heart. He had never met a woman Elizabeth Bennet's equal.

She did not simper or fawn, and she most certainly did not agree with everything he uttered. In fact, quite the opposite. Between Netherfield and here at the assembly she had shown a willingness to debate and defend her point of view, his rank be damned. He reasoned all he had done was declare she was pretty, and she was—not made a proposal of marriage! Although, his head whispered she would be his perfect mate.

His heart's whisperings were not wholly unwelcome, but it was far to early in their acquaintance for any step close to the one his heart was pushing him towards. As he sat talking to her, he admitted to himself he was starting to develop tender regard for Miss Elizabeth Bennet. If he were completely honest, he would see his feelings had begun the day the fiery woman had launched her apples at him.

If not for her mother's restraining hand holding one of Caroline's spider-leg like arms, she would have charged across the dance floor to pull the chit away from her duke, as she watched him laugh and smile at Cinder-Liza

"If it is not taken, will you grant your much older cousin the pleasure of the last set?" Again the Duke's heart spoke before his head could.

"Well Cousin Methuselah, if I had an open set, I would grant it with pleasure, but I have none others open tonight," Elizabeth told her cousin with a tease. She had a sense of loss at not being able to dance a second set with him.

She had called her handsome, but there was no denying he was by far the most handsome man of her acquaintance. She could not imagine her cousin would be interested in her beyond cousinly affection, but she found that if he ever were, she would not object in the least.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

At the end of the night, Martha pulled Louisa aside as they were waiting for the carriage. "We are going to make sure that Cinder-Liza gets her due for all the problems she had caused us. You are either with us or against us. If against, you will get the same just deserts as she!"

Louisa made a snap decision; she would have to play along and find out what her mother and sister had planned and then seek help. "Mother, I have always been with you. I got close to Cinder-Liza, so she would buy things for me. Did you not tell me once you attract more bees with honey than vinegar?" Louisa knew her mother had never said such a thing, but she also knew that her mother would want to claim credit for her daughter's deviousness.

"I knew how it would be Louisa; you could not be so clever for no reason. Keep her distracted in the carriage so she does not see where we are going," Martha instructed.

"Yes Mama, I will start now," Louisa stated. She stood next to Elizabeth as the carriage approached and only had time to say: "My mother and Caroline have planned something and I may have to act like I am on their side. Please forgive me." Elizabeth nodded.

In the carriage, Louisa was the dutiful daughter talking to Elizabeth and distracting her. Elizbeth knew well they were not headed for the house. She understood why the coachman had the attitude he did; her stepmother had somehow co-opted him to her side. She felt disgust as she knew the only thing the woman had to give was her body.

The carriage stopped. "Get out!" Caroline ordered.

"Where are we?" Elizabeth acted surprised they were not home. "I will not get out, take me home now!" Caroline slapped her before she saw the hand in the dark with which Elizabeth punched her with all she had, catching the shrew's mouth, and loosening some teeth.

Martha Bennet saw red and struck Elizabeth from the side, snapping her head back, so it hit the wooden brace of the carriage wall. Elizabeth slumped unconscious. The coachman opened the door and was shocked to see one lady within bleeding from her mouth and another unconscious. He had not signed up for murder.

"She lives you halfwit!" Martha spat at him; all pretence of friendliness gone. "Carry her into the lodge. Now!" When the man hesitated Martha threatened him. "You will do what we agreed, or all of this will be laid at your door, and you will swing! Who will believe a servant over a gentlelady?"

The hapless coachman who realised he had been played the fool, did as he was ordered. As soon as she was placed on the dirty floor, Caroline Bingley began to kick Elizabeth's prone and unconscious body. Martha joined in. "Mama, she will be useless to you dead! If she is gone, we will be kicked out as the heir will be notified! What did you want this man to do?" Louisa asked.

"He is to ruin her so we may hold it over her head," Martha shared her disgusting plan.

"Mama you and Caroline must be seen at Longbourn. Tell Mrs. Hill that I am with her at Lucas Lodge, they will believe you. If they ask why poor Caroline is bleeding, tell them she fell when getting into the carriage at the assembly. Then send your patsy back and I will make sure he does the deed. I have pretended to be her friend for so long, it is time for me to see her suffer." Louisa did not know how she was able to deliver the speech with her friend in pain on the floor.

"Yes Louisa; very smart. It will be as you say," Martha pointed at the coachman, "You will return us to the house and then return to do what you need to do!" With that Martha and her injured daughter walked out to the carriage.

Louisa whispered to the coachman, "You will return but you will not lay a finger on my friend. I am going for help. Wait here with her. Before you leave the lodge, bring me blankets. If my mother asks why, tell her I am cold. When the time comes, I will be your witness you did nothing except follow my mother's orders so you will not swing, but they may!" The coachman nodded and soon returned with two thick carriage blankets and was gone.

Elizabeth started to moan. "Oh Lizzy, I am so sorry they hurt you. I am going for help! What direction is Netherfield?" It was painful, but Elizabeth pointed with her right hand as it was too painful to move the left arm. After making sure her friend was well covered, Louisa headed for the fence between the estates and then ran for her life in the direction the sister of her heart indicated.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

When the carriage arrived at Longbourn Mrs. Hill was worried that her dear girl or her friend were not within. Also, they were later than expected. Seeing the housekeeper's questioning look, Martha decided to use her clever daughter's suggestion.

"Elizabeth and Louisa were invited to Lucas Lodge and my poor Caroline fell as she was entering the carriage, there is blood within that needs to be cleaned," Martha told Mrs. Hill as she sailed into the house helping Caroline in with her.

The story seemed plausible, but when Mrs. Hill looked at the coachman, he looked everywhere except at her. The housekeeper had a footman wipe the interior of the carriage, and then the coachman moved the conveyance, not to the stables, but back to the hunting lodge.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

The ship the Bennets were on was almost three weeks out of Nassau when the Captain announced they were now out of the area where the sorts of storms like the one which caused them to be shipwrecked and spend so much time on their island. With that information, the Bennets all felt the tension that had descended when they had first set sail lift. Given their experience, it had been a worry for all of the Bennets—no one less that the new Viscountess.

"I was so worried Jamie! The thought of something happening to stop us seeing my Papa and Lizzy again, not to mention Marie and Andrew! We may be aunts and uncles and your parents might be grandparents and none of us would know it. As much as I want to see our home at Glenmeade, I cannot wait for the moment that I see Papa and Lizzy again," Jane stated as she lay in her husband's arms that night.

"We were all concerned until the Captain's announcement my love, myself included. The only islands I want to see ever again are the ones that comprise the kingdom! Your feelings of wanting to see your dear sister and father again are completely just and natural. Can you imagine how happy they will be when they receive our letters? We should be a sennight to a fortnight behind the post." Jamie kissed his wife and not long after family and England were forgotten temporarily.