Jest Chapter 15, a pride and prejudice fanfic

Thanks for your comments.

While LC is innocent of poisoning Anne, she had an ulterior motive for getting her well. That is why she is being sent away.

~~J~~

Rest of Chapter 14

Some people might be amazed what can be accomplished in a remarkably short period of time. But when an Earl is determined to achieve a goal, he brooks no opposition or delay.

By noon Lady Catherine's and Mrs Jenkinson' belongings were packed and loaded onto a cart. After an early luncheon, the two women boarded the third-best de Bourgh coach, the one Lady Catherine had customarily assigned to convey Mr and Mrs Collins back to the parsonage, and set off for London. They were accompanied by the Earl's footmen.

As they were leaving, Anne de Bourgh came to see them off.

Lady Catherine addressed her now healthy looking daughter. 'Anne, you must believe me, I only wanted what was best for you,' Lady Catherine almost pleaded with her daughter, extending a hand in supplication.

'Lady Catherine, I believe that you wished me healthy…' Anne said and her mother brightened, until she continued, 'and gone from Rosings, so that you might steal my birthright. I wish you a long and healthy life in your new accommodation.'

Anne de Bourgh turned her back and walked back into the house, which prevented her from seeing the shock and despair on the countenance of Lady Catherine

~~J~~ ~~J~~ ~~J~~ ~~J~~ ~~J~~

Chapter 15

Dinner

Anne de Bourgh spent much of the afternoon with her uncle, her cousins and the solicitor, to transfer Rosings Park into her name and control.

Most of the staff heaved a sigh of relief, when informed of the change in management.

By the time the party from the parsonage arrived for dinner, in response to an invitation sent by Anne earlier in the day, the atmosphere at the house had lightened considerably.

After the initial greetings, there was some awkwardness as Mr Collins became flustered. 'My most gracious Miss de Bourgh, I am so very pleased that you have taken over the reins at Rosings Park; and I am most grateful to you for indicating to my wife that you wish to ratify my appointment to Hunsford. I can assure you of my complete loyalty, as to your dear departed mother… I mean to say, the former Mistress of Rosings… ah…'

Before he could dig the hole any deeper, Anne came to his rescue. 'Mr Collins, I count your wife as a dear friend, and I am happy for you to stay on at Hunsford, since I have no wish to be parted from one of the few friends I have.'

During this conversation, Darcy took the opportunity to have a quiet word with Elizabeth. 'Since my cousin is new to running an estate, I have offered Anne my help for the next few weeks.'

'That is very good of you, Mr Darcy. I am certain that Anne is most appreciative of your assistance. I believe you have experienced the stress of suddenly taking on the responsibility for an estate. This experience is certain to be of aid to her.'

'Perhaps not as much as you think. I discovered this afternoon that my cousin has quite the head for business, and has read many of the books on the subject from her father's library.'

Elizabeth gave a quiet chuckle. 'I am sure that Lady Catherine would be pleased to her that her daughter is proficient at a subject which she had the opportunity to learn.'

'Indeed,' Darcy replied with a straight face, although there was a suspicious twinkle in his eyes. 'But nonetheless, I will remain here for the immediate future. I was hoping that since there is no one to object, perhaps you would be willing to utilise some of that time on the project we had discussed.'

'Project, Mr Darcy?'

'You had agreed to allow me the opportunity to change your mind.'

'About what do you need to change Miss Bennet's mind?' asked the Earl who had come closer to speak to the lovely lady who seemed to completely absorb his nephew's attention. He became even more curious as both Darcy and Elizabeth coloured.

'Ah… I… ah…,' Darcy floundered under his uncle's penetrating gaze, which turned into a smirk. 'Miss Bennet and I met in Hertfordshire and I managed to blunder badly, causing her to think ill of me. But Miss Bennet has graciously consented to give me a second chance, and allowed that I prove to her that I am not a complete imbecile.'

'I never called you an imbecile…' Elizabeth hotly defended her opinion. 'I believe that I called you proud, arrogant, insulting and interfering, but I most certainly did not call you an imbecile.'

The Earl looked from one to the other in stunned amazement, until he could not help himself. He started to laugh. 'Miss Bennet, did you truly call my nephew all those things?'

Elizabeth blushed even more as she realised that her tongue had run away with her… again. There was nothing for it, she had to own to her words. 'Yes, My Lord, I did. But I must apologise for repeating this…'

'Miss Bennet, there is no need to apologise. If my nephew was all of those things, then he had the right of it. He must have acted the complete imbecile to give you that impression of him.'

Darcy was torn between embarrassment and laughter at his uncle's words. He shrugged his shoulders and raised his hands as if in supplication. 'What can I say? But I have learned my lesson, and I am trying to improve.'

'Do not try, do,' the Earl advised, having overcome his humour, with an almost straight face. He turned to Elizabeth. 'I recommend that you give him the opportunity. Darcy is not too bad, once you get to know him. At least once you can get him to talk.'

'Very well, My Lord, I shall heed your advice.'

~~J~~

Soon after, dinner was announced. The Earl escorted Charlotte, leaving the Colonel to offer his arm to Anne. Darcy was pleased that this arrangement gave him the opportunity to offer his own arm to Elizabeth, while Collins did the honours for his sister-in-law, who was quite overawed to be in the presence of an Earl. The solicitor and the doctor brought up the rear.

Elizabeth ended up seated between the Earl, who sat at the foot of the table opposite his niece, and Mr Darcy to her left. Even though Charlotte sat opposite Elizabeth, the presence of the gentlemen prevented her from having a private conversation with her friend.

She therefore resigned herself to another conversation with Mr Darcy. Before she could think of a subject, appropriate for the dinner table, he asked, 'Miss Bennet, do I remember correctly that you are planning to remain at Hunsford for another fortnight?'

'Yes, Mr Darcy. Maria and I had planned to leave two weeks from tomorrow. Maria is meant to spend a day in London, before returning home, while I remain for another sennight with my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner.'

'In that case, I thought I might send for my sister to join us here at Rosings. Now that Lady Catherine is no longer in residence, I believe that Georgiana would like to spend some time with her cousin. It would also give her an opportunity to meet you.'

The Earl had divided his attention between Charlotte and the conversation between Darcy and Elizabeth. He had started to think that there might be a good reason why Darcy was courting Miss Bennet's good opinion. The suggestion that Darcy wanted Miss Bennet to meet Georgiana, seemed to confirm his suspicion. His nephew had never before wanted to introduce a young lady to any member of his family.

Darcy's uncle determined to find out more about Miss Bennet. While his first impression of her was excellent, he wanted to know more. 'I think it an excellent idea to have Georgiana visit. This house could use some cheer and some music,' he suggested.

'During Miss Bennet's visits we have not lacked for enjoyable music,' Darcy informed his uncle.

'Do you play the pianoforte, Miss Bennet?'

'I do, My Lord, but Mr Darcy gives me too much credit. Since I have not the patience to practice as much as I should, my playing is far from perfect.'

'If you have not the patience for music, how do you prefer to occupy your time?'

This question was followed by several others, which Elizabeth answered with her usual impertinence. Although the Earl asked his questions in a much more pleasant manner, it reminded Elizabeth of the interrogation she had endured on her first visit to Rosings.

The similarity of questions struck Elizabeth as exceedingly funny, and she could not prevent a small giggle to escape her lips. 'My apologies, My Lord. I was not laughing at you, but only the other week, Lady Catherine asked very similar questions.'

The Earl took on a playfully mournful mien. 'Oh dear, do I truly sound like my sister?'

'Not at all, but you appear to have a similar turn of mind.'

'You can blame the company I keep in London. They are inveterate gossips, and try to discover even the slightest details about a person,' the Earl admitted with an exaggerated sigh.

'And then try to use it to their own advantage,' added Darcy, who had listened with interest. The fact that the Earl was relaxed enough to tease Elizabeth, proved to Darcy that he enjoyed her conversation.

'You are much too young to be so very cynical,' chided the Earl, and added, 'although that does not mean that you are wrong.'

~~J~~

During the separation of the sexes after dinner, the Earl drew Darcy aside and asked, 'well? Is there something you want to tell me about?'

Darcy had been expecting a question sooner or later, since his interest in Elizabeth had been obvious to everyone, but the lady.

'I tried to propose to Miss Bennet and she laughed at me,' he stated bluntly.

'You mean that she rejected you?'

'She thought my proposal was made in jest, since I must have known that she would never accept me.'

'Why would she not be interested in marrying you. Just about every other woman in London would give her right arm to become Mrs Darcy.'

'As I said earlier. I behaved badly, and she had a most decided dislike for me.'

'So that is why you are trying to change her mind.' The Earl chuckled. 'I never thought I would see the day when I would meet a woman who was more interested in a man's character than his wealth. It must have been a blow to discover that you could not buy her.'

Darcy bristled at how his uncle phrased that comment.

'There is no need to get all hot under the collar. You were simply to used to your wealth giving you everything you ever wanted. It is good to see that you have to work for something for a change.' The Earl smiled fondly. 'While her reaction might have hurt your vanity, your Miss Bennet has just risen in my estimation.'

'You do not have an issue with her lack of wealth and connections?'

'She is the daughter of a gentleman, that puts her ahead of many of the women who are trying to climb the social ladder. She has excellent manners, when she chooses to use them, she seems intelligent and sensible, and she is not easily intimidated. They are all point in her favour. Her lack of wealth will be easily compensated by her disinterest in ostentatious display.'

Darcy thought of Miss Bingley, who had a dowry of twenty thousand pounds, but overspent her allowance to a significant degree. 'You make an excellent point, Uncle.'

'I know. I have seen too many men who bankrupt themselves trying to pay for their wives excesses… as well as their own.'

'So, you approve of my choice.'

'It is not my place to approve, after all, you are your own man. But I like what I have seen of the young woman. You could do much worse. At least, if you can change her mind, you will know that she married you for yourself, not for Pemberley.'

'Now I just have to try to change her mind.'

~~J~~