Chapter 5:
In continuation of Miss Austen's implacable resentment...
"You know, for all the novels I ever wrote, not once I tell you did I have to write an author's note or preface to defend my stories," Miss Austen shared with the Bingleys and Darcys as she flipped through the pages of the volume most dearest to her. "I wrote and I let the story speak for itself."
She shut the book with a slight thud. Her anger and consternation barely held in check. "Do you know what I find so despicable, is how my work has been reduced to a tale of perversed imagination with no understanding of the context, nor the history. Do people no longer read? Do they just watch an adaptation and think it sufficiently reflects the story - my story!"
"Apparently so - and Miss Brady is most eager to prove the point," Darcy replied. "Should you like that I read - one would think given all the response she received about the utter inadequacy of her tale, she wanted to finesse her excuse instead of improve her writing. Or character for that matter," he chimed quietly to himself, though from Elizabeth's smile and slight glance, she had heard him.
"Read on, Darcy," Miss Austen instructed. "We need no further proof than this debacle." She pointed to the waster papers within the printed story.
Darcy began: "Elizabeth decides to share the content of her letter from Darcy with Jane while still in London. Jane, after her reflections during the winter months, does not want Darcy to suffer unnecessarily."
"Suffer?" Miss Austen asked in consternation. "Despite your angelic goodness, Jane - how does a man who scorned your family, your affections for Bingley, and insulted your sister - suffer unnecessarily? I would be interested to know how Miss Brady explains her reasoning. One would think that your kindness would first extend to your sister rather than a complete stranger."
"One would think," Jane Bingley concurred.
Darcy continued to read: "Impulsively, she decides to write him a letter to tell him that he was not wrong in his estimation of her feelings toward his friend."
She looked up to her friends. "Do you hear that?" She asked after Darcy paused.
"The utter ignorance." Bingley shook his head in disgust.
"I believe Miss Brady forgot that I am almost three and twenty - well past the extravagance of youth to act in such an ill-repute manner," Jane shared.
"Oh" Elizabeth scoffed, "there is a great deal more than that. Pray, continue husband."
"Elizabeth is surprised when Jane tells her that Mr. Darcy was right and that she did not love Mr. Bingley. Yes, she welcomed him as a suitor, but he proved to have a lack of resolve. In her compassion, and because she thought of Mr. Darcy as someone worthy of admiration, Jane writes an impulsive letter to him and that is how this story starts."
"Compassion?" Miss Austen cried. "One would think - one would know that charity begins at home. Not at the other side of London with an arrogant and aloof gentleman.
"What makes this attempt so utterly despicable is that it begins right in the middle of my story. By now any informed reader is well acquainted with your characters. One must ask when did Jane find the time to admire you, Darcy? Was it when you insulted Elizabeth at the Meryton Assembly? Or refused to dance with anyone who was not in your party. Was it when you called Mrs. Bennet a "wit?"
"Clearly Miss Brady never once read my book - can she pinpoint exactly where you had a consistent moment to observe Darcy, Jane? None. Because it does not exist. Darcy was aloof condescending. You could only trust on the account of his character based on what Bingley shared with you and because of your nature to generally believe in the goodness of all. So the fundamental question is - what does Miss Brady define as admirable in Darcy at that moment?"
"My wealth and consequence," Darcy muttered in abject disgust.
Miss Austen turned to him. "Exactly so! And she is setting up the premise to reduce your character to that of a greedy, thieving woman, Jane."
Bingley turned to Darcy: "Do you suppose that the same admiration Miss Brady mentions my wife has for you has remained consistent now that she has published this rubbish?"
"If there is one thing Miss Brady has perfected, Charles, is in her adeptness at delivering a spectacular disappointment. Thus far, the start is up to par with her mettle - or lack thereof I should say."
Darcy went on reading: "I realize the letter may be a shock to readers."
"The understatement of the century," Miss Austen stated with a collective eye roll from the present occupants.
"However, if you can allow that there was more to Jane than the reader of Pride and Prejudice could see of her in the original, and if you allow that although she welcomed a suitor in Bingley, she was not in love with him, then this story may offer a possible entertaining alternative path. Look at the beginning of the story through the lenses of this premise, that Jane did not love Bingley – you will see that all instances with Jane can be interpreted from this point of view as well."
"Miss Brady is most certainly unaware of the strength of my character," cried Jane Bingley.
"No," said Miss Austen in a strained tone, "that she is. Utterly blind is a more appropriate characterisation"
"And willfully deaf." Darcy added.
"She knows not of your goodness and generous nature," Elizabeth said.
"Nor of your consistency and the generosity of your forgiveness." Bingley held her hand in comfort.
"She also knows I am not one to abandon my family so easily; I am not in the habit of being a traitor."
"No, that is the least of what you are - despite Miss Brady's attempts to defame your character as so." Miss Austen confirmed.
"She clearly thinks I went to London solely to pursue the entertainment of Town," Jane said. "How utterly foolish! Why else would I go to London?"
"I hardly would want to hear her feeble defense as to why you called Caroline Bingley so soon after your arrival to town," Elizabeth replied. "Or why you waited for three weeks her call. Or tried valiantly to put on an air of cheerfulness when you were so rightly affected."
"Or why would you accept my suit when I returned to Netherfield. There was more strength to your affections and that woman is determined to erase or lie about the truth of your character," Bingley defended passionately.
"I would also like to add that, as it states here - this story is edited by Dolores Church."
"Ah - she must be referring to Circa1910, a most woefully, inept editor if there was ever one to be found," Miss Austen said.
They read the preface - an ill-fitting extract from a chapter well into the story.
"Pitiful as ever," Miss Austen noted, "Miss Brady must return to the classroom, clearly she did not study the importance of a preface for the function of the story."
"Nor ever performed a thorough analysis on the development of the story and its characters," Darcy observed to the quiet amusement of the party.
"Do not think she will start now, Fitzwilliam, your disappointment in the lady will only further increase."
"I would hardly gainsay you at this juncture. Pray, let me continue."
"You are not about to read that awful, awful letter?"
"Do you wish it of me?"
"Do not, I abhor it," Miss Austen said with a look of detest etched on her face.
"Are you not eager to learn how she has sullied Jane's character even more?" Elizabeth teased.
Miss Austen held out her hand for the book, not willing to disregard a challenge and Darcy gave it to her. She perused the letter silently as she stepped back and forth across the length of the carpet beneath the table and chair.
"It still reads the same," said she. "It begins with the obsequious apology that much reflects anything I would expect Mr. Collins to write or say. Then continues in this manner: My sister shared the events between you and shared the contents of betraying your letter. Do not be alarmed. She needed to confide in someone she trusted. I promise you that nothing of it will be shared by me."
Miss Austen looked up as Darcy spoke, "Clearly the irony of the situation is entirely lost to Miss Brady."
"I write a letter to a man still unrelated to me or my family telling him I will keep his confidence when I have just betrayed my sister's confidence to him," Jane pointed out. "It still reads the same. I am still betraying Lizzy by sharing her confidence."
"Again, proof Miss Brady did not learn from her critics."
"She is unable to learn, that one," Bingley pointed out, "Her lot are no different than Wickham, education is wasted on them. Unless she proves otherwise."
"I am afraid not, Charles," Miss Austen said. "She continues to write that you apologise to Darcy as to what happened in Hunsford, Jane, though I hardly see why you should have to take on such a task. Goes on further to write that Lizzy heard her looks compared often -"
"But fails to mention that our parents had favourites, Lizzy had Papa praise her mind and Mama also defended her when Mr. Darcy insulted her at the Assembly."
"Exactly so, but Miss Brady must be suffering from severe heedlessness to overlook such details as I accounted for them on more than one occasion.
"Oh here is another insult to injury: My sister had been under the impression that he and I were deeply attached. We were not. I never said I was in love with him."
"Miss Brady forgets your modesty, Jane."
"On more than one occasion I did express my delight in Charles, and how I was flattered and gratified and that he is as a young man ought to be. I was on my way to being in love with him. I felt his loss keenly as I expressed myself thus to Lizzy."
"Miss Brady thinks she knows you better than I do, Jane, though she hardly had the pleasure of sisterhood to speak of. She knows not the bond we share."
"She is no better than I when I deigned to determine your character over one night, Jane." Darcy recollected. "Miss Brady only wanted to see what she wanted without thought or consequence to those who know your true nature. Her failure is spectacular indeed."
"On that I cannot disagree with you, Brother." Jane said quietly.
"Neither can I," said Miss Austen, "but I do think one person did just, succinctly putting their thoughts of the tale in simple yet ample terms."
"Oh do share!" Elizabeth cried, "I would dearly like to hear it."
Miss Austen went back to stand next to the table where the others were sitting and picked up a paper inked in yellow and black.
"I do like this description - "The book is poorly written, it contains grammatical errors and stilted dialogue."
"On that score we are in agreement," Charles said.
However," Miss Austen continued: "The author took a big risk pairing Darcy and Jane, I admire her willingness to do so. Sadly her execution is lacking."
She dropped the paper back to the table, a smile etched on her face as Elizabeth's happy laughter rang across the room followed by Jane's calm and pleasant and their husbands' amusement in chorus.
"A back-handed compliment if there ever was one, is it not?" Miss Austen smiled with a proud grin.
Elizabeth spoke, "I daresay, that reviewer is well versed in your writing compared to the other foolish commenters who are more akin to Collins."
"Indeed, there is no doubt - he or she truly appreciates my works."
"So, not all hope is lost," summarised Darcy, "there are a few who remain true to the narrative and are versed in the history of our time."
"Yes, and those few, I am most indebted to their loyalty," Miss Austen expressed with great sincerity.
Underlined are quotes in Gykinga's book which serves as proof of her arrogance and utter ignorance. I can only thank you for giving us eternal evidence of the true nature of your character.