I have changed Chapter 18, so here's the new version which should make the parson's actions more believable.

NEW Chapter 18

The next day Elizabeth woke with a smile upon her face. Jane was in good spirits again now that Mr. Bingley had renewed his attentions to her, her mother had behaved at Pemberley, and she was to wed a most agreeable man. Nothing could spoil this day, not even rain and from her view of the window from the bed, it looked like a beautiful day.

She got ready for the day and met Jane in the hallway heading downstairs to break her fast. Elizabeth put her arm through Jane's, "How are you this morning?"

Jane gave a placid smile then turned to the staircase, "I know what you are thinking, Lizzy, but I do not expect any address from Mr. Bingley."

Elizabeth jauntily tilted her head. "You might not expect any but that does not mean the gentleman in question is not predisposed to deliver them."

Jane glanced at her sister with an admonishing look. "Lizzy, I know you are happy that I have renewed my acquaintance with Mr Bingley, but I have learned to guard my heart around him."

Her happy mood dimmed at those words. "Guard your heart? Jane, you have never stopped thinking about him. You have not been yourself but since he quit Netherfield for London."

Now having descended the steps Jane removed her arm from Elizabeth's. "He is the most amiable man I have ever met, but now that he has renewed his acquaintance will he travel back to London? No Lizzy, it will be nice to converse with such an amiable man but I will go back to Hertfordshire."

Elizabeth had not expected this reaction from her sister. How could Jane not see how sad she had been since Bingley had quit the area? She entered their private sitting room intent on informing Jane of those facts but changed her mind when she saw their parents were already present.

###

Lady Catherine de Bourgh narrowed her eyes as she stared out the carriage window. That obstinate, headstrong girl would not get the better of her. No, she would see to that upstart. No one would take what was her daughter's.

The well appointed carriage rolled smoothly to a stop in front of the Lambton Parsonage. The door was swiftly opened and steps pulled out for her ladyship to descend to the gravel drive. With her cane tapping along the gravel, Lady Catherine walked to the front door where one of her tiger's was knocking at the door.

An older woman opened the door, straightening up after seeing the elegantly dressed woman of means in front of her.

"The housekeeper, I presume? Inform the parson that Lady Catherine de Bourgh, aunt of Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, is calling."

After curtsying, the housekeeper quickly backed out of the doorway wringing her hands as the great woman entered the small cottage, glanced around, then turned towards the housekeeper.

"Where is he? I have serious matters to address."

The housekeeper swallowed. "I shall —"

"I am the parson, your ladyship, Mr. Woodforde." A serious looking, slight older man with wispy black hair not entirely covering his head, entered the main room. "You say you have serious matters to discuss? Come into my study." He turned to the housekeeper. "Mrs. Giles, please bring us tea."

Then he turned heading back down a short hallway to his cramped study where he had been preparing a sermon. After a pause, in which Lady Catherine lips pursed at the lack of deference, she pounded her cane on the wooden floor as she followed the man but stopped at the threshold of his study. There was barely room for the parson to squeeze past the overflowing bookshelves to sit behind his desk covered with paper. Two plain wood chairs were in front of the desk, nearly at the very edge of the room.

"These chairs look decidedly uncomfortable. I shall stand."

The parson blinked.

"I have received word that the Banns of Matrimony have been read for my nephew, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and a Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

The person gave a short nod, a frown beginning to form.

"This woman cannot be allowed to marry my nephew for you see he is already engaged to my daughter, Anne de Bourgh."

Now the parson frowned in earnest. "I have known the Darcy family since the late Mrs. Darcy was alive, rest her soul. Before now I had never heard of this engagement. I also presume Mr. Darcy would know who he was engaged to marry."

Lady Catherine pulled herself upright and leveled her gaze upon him. "Would you think I would make spurless accusations without any evidence? From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favorite wish of his mother, as well as mine. While she was in her cradle, we planned the union; and now to be prevented by the upstart pretensions of a young woman without family connections or fortune!"

Mr. Woodforde leaned forward. "May I inspect the marriage contract?" He raised a hand to halt Lady Catherine's imminent blustering. "Mr. Darcy is my patron. I would not do anything without evidence, you must understand."

"You doubt my word as a noblewoman, as Mr. Darcy's aunt?" Outrage plain in her voice. "Do you know that gel's family? Her youngest sister, Lydia Bennet, recently eloped with an officer that you must have heard of as he is from this area and turned out quite wild, a Mr. George Wickham."

The person stilled. "Wickham? George Wickham? I just married a George Wickham and Lydia Bennet, sister of Elizabeth Bennet, in my church."

Lady Catherine's stiff stance loosened as her head flinched back. "That can not be so! I received word of it myself that Lydia Bennet had run off from Brighton with George Wickham in the middle of the night. They were headed to Derbyshire, where he was raised." She narrowed her gaze on the parson once again. "Be it no matter, even if they are married now, she ran away with Wickham. Are you going to allow a sister of that woman, to marry into the Darcy family?"

Mr. Woodforde had been shuffling through the many papers covering his desk, when he pulled one sheet and held it up. "Here it is, the marriage certificate for Mr. George Wickham of Lambton, Derbyshire and Miss Lydia Bennet of Meryton, Hertfordshire."

Lady Catherine took the paper from his hands studying it. "They did not elope? It must have been a se'ennight at the very least since they fled Brighton together!" She flicked the paper back onto the desk, missing the parson's outstretched hand. "And this is the kind of family that would be forever more associated with the Darcy name? Do you see why this must not be so? Her family concealed this from you, a most grave omission that Lydia Bennet had run away with Wickham yet were not wed!"

The Parson's lips were so compressed they were white. Slowly he stood. "I have been used abominably. Mr. Bennet gave no indication that was the case. I cannot condone this. Mr. Bennet, the entire family including Elizabeth Bennet, concealed that the girl had not only been compromised but had been living with the man!" He slammed his hands on the desk, then closed his eyes, took a deep breath before opening them again. "Thank you for bringing this to my notice. I will rectify this immediately."

Lady Catherine de Bourgh nodded then turned departing the cramped study before allowing smugness to infiltrate features. She passed the housekeeper carrying the tea tray, who stopped in the small sitting room and turned her head to watch the noblewoman quit the small parsonage.

Her ladyship stepped in her carriage and settled back on the bench with relief and a strong sense of satisfaction. Her nephew was safe and her daughter would we him soon.

She would make sure of it.

###

"Oh Jane, my dearest child, come sit by me," said Mrs. Bennet in the private sitting room at the Labmton Inn. "We must discuss what you will wear today. I am sure Mr. Bingley will call upon you and you must look good for I am sure he is falling in love with you again!"

Elizabeth sighed as she sat at the next table with the Gardiners.

"Now you must wear your best dress, the rose one. It brings out your complexion. I will have the maid pay special attention to your hair. Oh, if only she knew the latest styles from London but I am not sure she knows any better. We will have to make do —"

"Sister," said Mr. Gardiner. "Let the girl eat."

Miss Bennet looked askance at the other table. "You do not have four daughters to marry off. Your children are still young. You do not know how my nerves have suffered over the years worrying about my daughter's futures."

Elizabeth sipped her tea, her appetite nearly vanished at the display from her mother. She looked to her father for help but he was reading *The Sun*folded on the table next to his plate.

"Mama," said Jane, "all of my dresses look nice. I will not choose to wear one specifically for Mr. Bingley."

"Oh, do not say such things, Jane! Of course you will dress your best for Mr Bingley. I find the rose one goes well with your eyes but what is his favorite color? Perhaps the green would be best?"

Elizabeth thoughts darted as she tried to grasp onto another topic she could broach to stop this ridiculous conversation, but Kitty broached a new topic first. "Are you going to have an engagement ball, Lizzy?"

Mrs. Bennet's head turned towards Elizabeth's table, her face alight with excitement. "A ball! Yes, yes, you must have an engagement ball and then Jane will dance with Mr. Bingley and he will ask for her hand!"

Elizabeth groaned and looked up at the ceiling.

"We must have new dresses, you cannot go to a ball at Pemberley in the worn dresses you have. Why I believe Mr Bingley has seen you in every dress you have brought to Derbyshire. We will go to the modiste…does Lambton have a modiste?" Mrs Bennet leaned over the table to address Mrs. Gardiner.

She had to do something, her mother was quickly getting out of control. Elizabeth did not dare look at her aunt, who grew up in Lambton and loved the little town dearly. "Mama, there is not a ball scheduled. We cannot order new dresses for a ball we do not know is even going to occur."

Mrs. Bennet waved a hand in the air. "Oh Lizzy, stop your naysaying, of course Mr. Darcy will have a ball. He can well afford it with £10,000 pounds a year!"

Elizabeth closed her eyes and raised a hand to her forehead. Her mother was going to be more insufferable than she already was. She would be very lucky indeed if Mr. Darcy did not decide to call off the wedding with her mother's ill behavior. The very same ill behavior that Mr. Darcy mentioned during his first terrible proposal in Hunsford.

She tried to focus on her breakfast Mr. Gardiner pleaded with his sister to see reason, when a serving maid knocked on the door of their private sitting room. "Pardon me, the parson is here to see you, Mr. Bennet."

Mr. Bennet quizzically looked at the maid over his spectacles. "Well, send him in."

The rest of the room's inhabitants shared inquisitive and puzzled glances at the visit from the parson. They had just seen him at Lydia and Wickham's wedding.

The elderly man robed in his parson's cloak and hat looked quite serious and did not return Mr. Bennet's greeting. "Good morning, Mr. Woodforde. Come join us and —"

"I am here on a matter of serious business, I am sad to inform you. I must speak with you, Mr. Bennet."

Elizabeth grabbed Jane's hand and had the short lived worry that Mr. Darcy was calling off their wedding. But that was ridiculous as he was very much in love with her. But why else would the parson be visiting with serious news?

Mr. Bennet stood after wiping his mouth with the serviette. He motioned to the corner of the room, the only area not occupied.

"I dare say we must go somewhere private, Mr. Bennet."

That statement further heightened the misgivings Elizabeth was feeling into something resembling alarm.

"Is something the matter with my youngest, Lydia? Surely if there had been an accident they would have—"

"Oh, my dearest Lydia! And she just got married too!" Mrs. Bennet's cry nearly drowned out Mr. Woodforde's response.

"This matter is not directly related to the youngest daughter *I just wed*." The parson's emphasis deepened Elizabeth's misgivings. "But your actions regarding that matter have influenced me now."

"Against Lizzy?" Mr. Bennet stared at his favorite daughter, then looked back at the parson. "She has always been a model of propriety. No accusation has merit. What is this accusation and who brought it to you?"

"This needs must be a private conversation, Mr. Bennet." The parson looked more severe.

All eyes were still on Elizabeth, who could scarcely believe what she was hearing.

Mr. Bennet waved his hand. "There is nothing that could possibly have any truth to it." Then he paused and raised his eyebrows. "Do not tell me you heard of this accusation from a Lady Catherine de Bourgh?"

Elizabeth's eyes darted to the parson who nodded.

"Indeed, you deceived me most horribly regarding the nature of the relationship between your daughter Lydia and Mr. Wickham. They both ran away together from Brighton, he deserting his commission, and they were not married! You concealed from me and the good people of Lambton that your daughter had been living with a man, unwed!"

Elizabeth's mouth dropped open and gasps filled the deafening silence. Their attempt to contain Lydia's damaging actions were all for naught. With the parson this angered, there was no telling who he would tell and her family's reputation would be ruined.

If the outcry was loud enough, would Mr. Darcy have no choice but to end their engagement?

"If there was deception involving one daughter then it stands to reason there would be deception with another." He motioned to the table where Elizabeth sat, her jaw agape.

Mr. Gardiner stood, his chair scraping against the bare wood of the floor. "Come now, there was no need to speak of my niece in that fashion. That was uncalled for. She has always been a model of propriety. Your accusation has no merit whatsoever."

Mr. Woodforde's serious gaze settled again on Mr. Bennet. "Then you deny that you have deceived me regarding your youngest daughter? That she had run away with a man, yet never married until I performed the service for whom I thought were good, God fearing people?"

"Would the outcome have changed in any manner if you had known that detail?" asked Mr Bennet. "Wickham procured a special license from the Bishop. Is that not sufficient?"

The parson continued as if Mr. Bennet had not even uttered a word. "I will not be deceived again. What trouble does this other daughter of yours bring? No, I cannot condone this wedding in my church. I have served the parish of Lambton and am well acquainted with the Darcy family. On her deathbed, I promised the late Mrs. Darcy I would watch over her son."

In the gaping silence of the poleaxed assemblage, the parson stormed out of the private sitting room, slamming the door behind him.

Elizabeth thought it sounded greatly like the doors of church slamming closed in front of her, not allowing her entrance. Suddenly the room erupted in the sudden cacophony of people speaking at once, Mrs. Bennet wailing and chairs scraping against the wooden floor.

Jane wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Mrs. Gardiner grasped one of her hands. "This will not stand, Lizzy. I am sure of it. I know how much that young man is in love with you and I doubt that this will stop anything. Do not worry, you will see. All will be right."

But she could not speak, could not even seem to turn her head. Jane squeezed her other hand. "Lizzy, our aunt is correct, this is a desperate last ditch effort by Lady Catherine de Bourgh to prevent the wedding. Mr. Darcy will not allow that to happen, I have no doubt at all in the matter."

Elizabeth gulped air, and pulled her hands out of their holds. "I cannot breathe. I need to get some air."

"Jane, can you accompany her? I need to help calm down your mother."

She did not quite recall how she ended up outside with her jacket, bonnet and walking boots. It had been a blur of wiping tears. Jane had taken care of her like she was a young child. But now, out of the small town on a road she felt more herself. Most likely because no one was staring at her.

But she could not shake the completely sincerity the parson had uttering the damning words. As if a wealthy noblewoman could have informed the man of the cloth of nothing but the absolute truth, when she well knew it was nothing but the farthest from it.

Thank you everyone that sent well wishes and tips on how to get through covid! It was far better than covid classic. It was like a persistent bad cold, but then turned into a sinus infection. So the last week I've been primarily dealing with a sinus infection.

I'm going to update Chapters 19 and 20 with the changes to make the story better, then I'll rewrite chapter 21 and 22.