Longbourn's Son Chapter 28, a pride and prejudice fanfic

Chapter 28

December 15th, 1811

Colonel Forster,

Two days ago, I was in my club and overheard a fellow officer recounting news about your regiment in Meryton. According to the major in question, you disregarded a warning from the local justice of the peace that two of your militia officers were fleecing the local youth and fellow militia officers by cheating at cards. Your men were also threatening to ruin local women. Subsequent to those warnings, one of the men in question attacked a local gentleman without provocation.

Naturally, I was concerned and sought out Colonel Fitzwilliam, second son of the earl of Matlock, who was involved in the stirring events in Meryton. He confirmed that you did foolishly disregard the warnings about Captain Williamson and Lieutenant Wickham, which resulted in a near catastrophe that could have robbed a local, prominent family of its son and heir.

Based on this knowledge, I am revoking my blessing regarding your potential marriage to my daughter, Miss Banfield. I had hoped, as a mature man, you could be trusted to make wise decisions; it is obvious that your own pride and stupidity led you to casually set aside the concerns of the local gentry in Meryton.

Do not approach my daughter, Colonel Forster.

Sincerely,

Major Timothy Banfield (retired)

December 31st, 1811

Dear Miss Darcy,

I hope this letter finds you well, and that you reached Pemberley without incident. Here in Hertfordshire it is cold, but there has not yet been snow, which is a disappointment. However, our butler, who has a nose for such things, declares we will have snow by evening. We will see if he is right!

My aunt and uncle Gardiner and their four children spent a pleasant two weeks here at Longbourn. The children are growing so very quickly; it is quite incredible. They are a delightful, noisy, energetic crew, and Lydia thoroughly relished going outside with them every clear day to run and hop and jump and climb trees. I believe my aunt and the children's nursemaids were grateful to my youngest sister; the children all slept very well, no doubt from being quite worn out by Lydia.

(Since you are a friend, I will confess that I too ran and hopped with the children, but not with quite as much verve as Lydia.)

The Gardiners left today with Jane and Mary, who will spend the next two months in London. Jane is looking forward to devoting more time to our cousins – she absolutely adores children – and Mary will be spending time with a music master. I believe both will also benefit from some relief in caring for the estate. It is time for Kitty and Lydia to start serving the tenants as needed, and I will be acting mistress.

My brother is entirely recovered from his injuries, to the great relief of us all. He is currently out in the barn with my two youngest sisters inspecting the pregnant ewes. Please tell Mr. Darcy that I am most grateful for his advice concerning goats. Luke plans to purchase at least one buck and several does for next year. He is quite excited at the prospect.

I must finish this as I need to speak to Cook about the meals for tomorrow. She has more cooking competence in her little finger than I have in my whole body, but she wishes to observe the appropriate forms.

Please do give my regards to Mr. Darcy.

Many blessings,

Elizabeth Bennet

January 5th, 1812

Rosings

Darcy,

It is most irritating that you chose to return to Pemberley before visiting us at Rosings. It was only some thirty miles on good roads, and it would have been an easy matter to ride out to see me, and more importantly, Anne. You know that neither of us cares to travel in winter, which is why we did not take part in the family festivities – that, and I do not care for the bedchambers at Matlock House. It is quite absurd that Lady Matlock has insisted on such simple furnishings. She has visited us at Rosings twice, and thus knows how to appropriately furnish and decorate a mansion. I have sent her many letters with suggestions, but she ignores me. She has always been an extremely proud, haughty woman, and not inclined to take my advice.

In any case, I will expect you here at Rosings around Easter. You have had plenty of time to sow your wild oats, Darcy. It is time for you to marry Anne and be done with it.

Your affectionate aunt,

Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

January 10th, 1812

Dearest Lizzy,

Yes, Mary and I are having a wonderful time. The children continue to delight me, though I confess that I am extremely thankful for the nursemaids. Little Ezra is at what is appropriately called a 'challenging' stage – he can be sugar and spice one moment, and screaming in indignant outrage the next.

The music master is a pleasant young man of some thirty years. He and Mary seem to get along well, and she says her playing is already improved.

I do have rather a surprise for you; Colonel Fitzwilliam has come to call on us several times. He is currently stationed in London, though he says he may be sent to Brighton in the late spring to work with the troops there. He has invited us all to the theater next Thursday, and we are looking forward to it; they will be showing one of the Shakespearean comedies, which I enjoy so much more than the tragedies.

Is there any additional news concerning the militia?

With much love,

Your Jane

Blackburn Manor

Wiltshire

January 13th, 1812

Dear Louisa,

It is rather a pity that you are still in half mourning, dear sister, and thus cannot enjoy the superior society at Blackburn Manor. Lord Sedgewick arrived yesterday with his sister, making our party complete. Miss Priscilla Cranston, whom you no doubt remember from our seminary days, is an accomplished player on the pianoforte though not as good as I am. However, we have played several duets which, without a doubt, have impressed several of the gentlemen. There are at least three eligible men among our number, and I hope that one will prove a good match.

I am thankful indeed that I realized Mr. Darcy and I would not suit. Now that I am away from Hertfordshire, I can tell how oppressive Netherfield Hall was to one of my sensitive temperament. I truly do not know how you can bear to be there but am grateful to you since you are able to act as hostess to our brother.

Is he still pursuing Miss Jane Bennet with vigor? I hope you will discourage her, Louisa. She is poor with regrettable connections.

Your loving sister,

Caroline

January 27th, 1812

Longbourn

Dear Jane,

I am delighted that Colonel Fitzwilliam escorted you to the theater. But come, my dear, you did not tell me which comedy you were going to see! I expect a careful description of the experience the next time you write.

Mr. Bingley does not seem to be pining over your absence. He and Mrs. Hurst visit often, but I believe that is largely because Father and Mrs. Hurst wish to spend time together. He is also at Lucas Lodge quite often. Lady Lucas sets a very good table and Charlotte, in particular, is pleasant company.

You asked about the militia; most of the shopkeepers have stopped providing credit to the officers and are calling in all their debts because both Wickham and Williamson ran up quite a few bills and left without paying. Wickham, of course, was sent to Marshalsea. Captain Williamson has disappeared, and while I believe some attempt has been made to find him, it will no doubt prove difficult. Based on the conversation that Luke overheard, the man is a master of manipulating others, and no doubt also knows how to lie low when the occasion calls for it.

The remaining officers are still welcome at parties and events, but everyone is watching their sons and daughters more carefully.

I find myself quite busy overseeing Longbourn, which shows me how much you look to our comfort when you are mistress. I will confess to missing you and Mary a great deal, though if you rush back to keep my company, I will put you on the first carriage back to London. You need time away.

I also miss Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy. It is amusing that when we first 'met' Mr. Darcy, he insulted me. Now I consider him a valued acquaintance; he is very intelligent, and it is a joy to converse with him. The militia officers are not very well informed. As for Miss Darcy, you know what a delight she is. Ah well, I must not repine; the Darcys have their own lives in Derbyshire, and it is unlikely we will see them anytime soon, though ... well, as I said, I must not repine.

With much love,

your Lizzy

January 28th, 1812

Pemberley

Dear Miss Elizabeth,

Firstly, I would be grateful if you would call me Georgiana. I am thankful that you wished to correspond with me and consider you a good friend.

I told my brother, Fitzwilliam, about the goats, and he was glad your brother intends to form a herd. He is studying goats as well and says that if your brother is interested, he will send any useful information to Longbourn on the topic.

I am playing the pianoforte a good deal these days. One of Mozart's symphonies is proving very challenging indeed, but I am making good progress.

So far the weather is cold and we have had snow, but the ice on the ponds are not yet safe for ice skating. The end of January is usually the coldest time of the year, so I hope we will be able to go skating soon. We have gone on sleigh rides, which is great fun.

Our beloved housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, has taken ill and is confined to her bedroom. Our local doctor is tending to her and says she will recover, but in the meantime, Pemberley does not have a housekeeper with the reins in her hands. I am helping a little bit by meeting with Cook and some of the servants. I realize that these are very important lessons for me as someday I will be mistress of my own home. I feel like I am failing, though Fitzwilliam says that I am doing well.

I hope that you and your family are healthy and happy.

Your friend,

Georgiana Darcy

February 2nd, 1812

Matlock House

Darcy,

I am sorry to hear that Mrs. Reynolds is ill, but thankful that she is expected to recover. I am not as attached to her as you are, but of course I remember her with great fondness.

I visited Wickham two days ago at Marshalsea, just to make sure that the rogue has not been getting into any mischief. He looks very altered; his nose, which was broken by the blacksmith, healed incorrectly and is now crooked, thus changing him from handsome to merely commonplace in his appearance. He is missing a couple of teeth as well, and his clothing is no longer fine and tidy. The governor of Marshalsea is paying him a small amount to assist with his paperwork; Wickham is, as you know, intelligent enough and could have been successful as a solicitor if he had been willing to work. We saw one another, and he was quite servile in his manner toward me. Marshalsea is a grim place, but he is at least earning a little money, which keeps him out of the dingier side of the prison.

There is no sign of Wickham's cohort, Williamson. I asked Wickham about him, and according to our least favorite rogue, Williamson approached him with the plan to bilk the youth of Meryton of their money. I am inclined to believe him; Wickham has never been able to look more than a few weeks into the future as he was always focused on his current pleasures. Williamson left the militia in time of war and thus could be brought in on charges for desertion, but one man is hardly a priority to the military officials. I doubt we will ever find him.

I am, for now, settled in London though I may journey to Brighton in the late spring to train some of the regiments there. That is not yet set in stone.

I have been seeing quite a bit of Miss Bennet and Miss Mary Bennet. The two Bennet ladies are staying here in London with their uncle and aunt; the former is a tradesman with a particular interest in textiles. The Gardiners are a very genteel pair; courteous, well read, and pleasant. Mrs. Gardiner spent many years before her marriage in Lambton in Derbyshire.

I confess to being strongly drawn to Miss Bennet. She is very beautiful, of course, but she is also serene, kind, and patient. She is absolutely wonderful with her cousins, the young Gardiner children.

I have always thought I must marry for money, but when I spend time with Miss Bennet, I wonder if perhaps I could be happy on a few hundred pounds a year...

Do you ever think of Miss Elizabeth?

God bless you,

Richard

February 7th, 1812

Netherfield Park

Caroline,

One of your most irritating character traits is your back handed insults. As you know, I am well on my way to marrying Mr. Bennet; thus, if Miss Bennet is unworthy of Charles, presumably Mr. Bennet is unworthy of me. You could not be more wrong. One of the blessings of having married once before is that I know no man is perfect, nor is any woman perfect. Mr. Bennet is not a flawless man, but he is intelligent and kind and very sweet with Christopher. His children, too, are quite amazing young persons.

I am not yet out of mourning, and Mr. Bennet and I have not committed to marrying one another; if we do, I do not intend to invite you to the ceremony. I have no desire for your long face and snide speech to disturb the festivities.

Louisa

February 10th, 1812

Richard,

Think of Miss Elizabeth? Yes, I find myself thinking of her every day. I felt very drawn to her back in Hertfordshire, but as you know, I wondered if my attraction for her lay in my recent 'escape' from offering for Anne and would pass as quickly as it appeared.

But no, that was not it at all. I am, I realize, quite in love with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I imagine her sitting side by side with Georgiana at the pianoforte, playing a duet together. When Mrs. Reynolds was confined to her bed, I thought often about how well Miss Elizabeth would manage the household. She has a charming demeanor, but there is steel in her that would make her a wonderful mistress of Pemberley.

I am quite determined to pursue her, Richard. I have never felt like this about a woman. I am aware that I am not a particularly congenial man and would not be compatible with most ladies. I realize she may refuse me; that in itself, I hope, indicates that I have changed since you scolded me for my arrogance.

I have spoken to Georgiana, by the way, about my preference for Miss Elizabeth. She is extremely enthused at the prospect of gaining such a sister. The two ladies have been corresponding, and while of course I am not permitted to read the letters, it is clear that my sister relishes the friendship; Georgie is even kind enough to read snippets from the letters on occasion. Thankfully, there is no intimation that another gentleman is pursuing Miss Elizabeth.

As for Miss Bennet, I repeat my offer to you from a few months ago; you know that the Darcy estate of Scarsdale in Lancashire would benefit from having a reliable family living in the manor house. The estate has been sadly neglected for some years as I simply have been unable to find a faithful steward to serve a small estate. If you wish to marry and leave the Regulars, I will pay you well to care for Scarsdale.

Sincerely,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

February 25th, 1812

Netherfield

Darcy,

I was glad to receive your note that you and Miss Darcy returned safely to Pemberley. The roads are usually well enough in early January, but not always.

I daresay you will shake your head in dismay, but I confess that I have fallen out of love with Miss Bennet and believe myself in love to another lady. This time, however, I am determined to take my time and be certain of my own mind before saying anything definitive.

No doubt you are wondering the identity of the woman in question. It is Miss Charlotte Lucas, the eldest daughter of Sir William.

How did this come to pass, you may wonder? As you know, I have always been drawn to lovely blonde ladies. Miss Lucas is relatively plain with dark hair and her figure, while good enough, does not hold a candle to any of the Bennet girls.

And all that is why this time, I believe I am truly in love. Miss Lucas is not particularly beautiful (though every time I see her, she seems more attractive to my eyes) but she is kind, intelligent, and diligent. Perhaps you remember that I danced the supper set with her at the Netherfield Ball; our conversation after dinner was truly enjoyable. She was genuinely interested in me, not distracted by those around her. She did not flatter me or flutter her eyelashes. She treated me courteously, kindly, and attentively, but also modestly.

Miss Bennet left for London to stay with relatives at the end of December, and since then, I have been much in company with the Lucases. My admiration for Miss Lucas grows daily.

She is, if anything, even more 'poorly connected' than Miss Bennet, and her portion is small, but I care not. She has proven a very pleasant friend to Louisa, and she is acting as mistress of Lucas Lodge as much as her own mother is.

At any rate, I believe I will make an offer in the next month or so unless something happens to convince me that we are not compatible. Our courtship has been greatly blessed by Caroline's absence; she decided to accept an invitation from a school friend and is currently in Wiltshire. I hope she does not return any time soon.

My sister Louisa shows every signs of shortly renouncing the name of Hurst in favor of Bennet. She and Mr. Bennet seem very happy together, and once Louisa's mourning ends in the next weeks, they may well tie the knot. They have not shared details of their plans with me, but I see the way they look at one another, and it quite warms my heart.

If you would care to stop by Netherfield on your way to London for the season, we would be delighted to see you and Miss Darcy.

Your friend,

Charles Bingley

February 26th, 1812

Longbourn

Dear Mr. Lamper,

Yes, that price is quite acceptable for the two does. I will send one of my servants to collect them next week, and they will pay for the animals then.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Mr. Luke Bennet

February 28th, 1812

Longbourn

Dear Georgiana,

I am sorry I did not return your letter sooner; we have had a great deal of excitement; my father has proposed to Mrs. Hurst, and she has accepted! The wind seemed to be blowing that way, of course, but it is still a delight. I like Louisa very much and adore her little son. My father confessed to me one evening over tea that he has been longing for a compatible wife for many months, and he is overjoyed.

They plan to marry at the end of March here in Meryton. Jane and I have been sending messages back and forth, and we have decided that Jane and Mary will return to Meryton for the wedding, and then Jane and I will turn around and go back to London. Mrs. Hurst is a very capable lady and will oversee Longbourn well, but if Jane and I stay, we will be sorely tempted to give orders and the like. It is better for the servants if Louisa does not have to compete with us for their attention. Mary has always been more concerned with the needs of the tenants, and will guide Louisa in that area. Luke, Kitty, and Lydia are also fond of Louisa, and my youngest sisters are ecstatic about Christopher.

I will stay in London for at least two months, and look forward to it. Is there any chance that you and Mr. Darcy will be spending part of the Season in Town?

With much love,

Elizabeth

March 8th, 1812

Pemberley

Lady Catherine,

After serious contemplation and prayer, I have concluded that Anne and I do not suit. I will not be making her an offer of marriage. You can rail and fuss about this, but I will not change my mind.

Please give my regards to Anne, and I wish you both the greatest health and happiness.

Fitzwilliam Darcy

March 9th, 1812

Pemberley

Bingley,

Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley and I would be delighted to accept your invitation to stay at Netherfield for a few days in late February. Many congratulations on Mrs. Hurst's engagement to Mr. Bennet.

Sincerely,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

March 10th, 1812

Pemberley

Richard,

Georgiana and I will be in Meryton for Mrs. Hurst's marriage to Mr. Bennet, and we will then travel to Darcy House. I understand from Georgie that Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth will spend the next two months, at least, in London. I hope you will still be in Town at the time.

Pray for me, that I can capture the most wonderful woman in the world.

Sincerely,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

March 18th, 1812

Matlock House

Darcy,

I will see you in Meryton as I have also been invited to Mrs. Hurst's wedding to Mr. Bennet.

I will certainly pray for you if you will pray for me. I am quite enraptured with Miss Bennet.

I believe if she accepts my hand that I will gratefully oversee Scarsdale.

Now, one last piece of advice from your older cousin – I would advise that you not propose immediately to Miss Elizabeth. Miss Bennet has spoken of you a number of times, and I see no sign at all that she is aware of your interest in the second Miss Bennet. I find it quite likely that the lady you love is unaware of your passion for her. You would not care to frighten her off.

You will do as you wish, of course!

Richard

Author Note: I hope you've enjoyed having two super long chapters in a row! :-) I plan to have this story published on Amazon by mid-December. It will include various edits, additions and my longest epilogue to date. I hope you read the final version of my story. If you sign up for my regency romance newsletter, you will get a note when the book is published - and you get a free story for joining. Here is a link to sign up: