Note: This is a one-shot with no connection to the previous stories.
Thanks to SunriseImagination for this suggestion.
Chapter Nine – Stepping out of the shadows
Soames had to step out of the shadows when he saw the sniveling nitwit sidling up to Miss Lucas
Jeremiah Soames was used to the shadows. He even preferred the shadows. After all, had he not chosen this life himself to hide from certain... consequences?
Now then, we are beginning the tale of Jeremiah from the middle, and that will not do. Let us go back, instead, to the incident which began it all and attempt to tell his story in its proper order:
Jeremiah Baker was, naturally, the son of a London baker. His father was not just any baker, however. He baked his bread for the King! This meant that only the best of the best tasted the many delicacies made by Adam Baker. It also meant that he and his sons often walked the gilded halls of royal residences. Of course, they walked in the shadows and were all-but-invisible to those who enjoyed the many and sundry pastries made by the baker.
A lifetime serving the king had been profitable, however, and in the case of the baker's youngest son Jeremiah, it had given the lad the dream of being something more. He watched the royal guests. He learned their mode of walking, of talking, and moving. He paid attention to how they dressed and he listened in on enough conversations to know who their tailors and modistes were. He absorbed everything. Then he thought and schemed and planned on how he might raise his own prospects in the world.
It took almost a year of steady cajoling... which might have sounded suspiciously like pleading to an outsider... for Jeremiah to persuade his father to pay for him to go to university. Adam Baker had certainly amassed the funds to make this possible, but he did not understand his son's ambitions. After all, why couldn't the boy just be content within his station? Had Adam not done very well for his family? Finally, however, he consented.
One day Adam Baker made his king his favorite strudel and managed to secure a private moment with the man. The king had his good days and his bad days. This was one of his better ones, so when his private baker mentioned that his youngest wished to go to university, King George instructed his equerry to see that the boy was admitted to King's College, Cambridge.
This was more than Jeremiah had expected, but he rejoiced at the opportunity. His father paid out an outrageous amount to see his son outfitted as a gentleman, squeezed the boy's shoulder, and wished him the best. Jeremiah began well. He was an intelligent young man who loved his studies and found the lectures to be fascinating. His classmates were another story. He had only been at King's College for two months when he learned that he had not been as invisible as he thought while working for his father. One of his classmates, the second son of a Duke, recognized him as the servant who had delivered trays of eclairs at the Royal Palace. Soon everyone attending knew.
What followed can reasonably be described as hell. No matter where he went or how much he tried to be invisible, his classmates sought him out to harass, bully, and mock. His clothes were soiled, his books stolen and thrown into the pond, and he had to watch for dark corners. Even the teachers at the college began to treat him differently. Jeremiah endured as best as he could until the day he snapped.
Years of kneading bread and carrying heavily laden trays had given him a powerful physique, so one day when he could take no more, he punched back. Unfortunately, it was the son of an Earl who received the first blow. It broke the young man's jaw. Jeremiah barely noticed as he laid into three others who had been his worst tormentors. When his rage had cooled, he saw the carnage he had wrought... and he fled.
How Jeremiah ended up in Meryton, he could never recall. Perhaps it was just as far as the post would carry him with the funds in his pocket. Those funds were certainly expended as he walked the dusty streets of the little hamlet and tried to contemplate his future. Thankfully, his years of listening and watching paid off.
Jeremiah was sitting on a bench outside of the local inn when he heard two men talking. "So then, Sir William. How does it feel to be a knight of the realm?" This was said in a teasing voice, but the tone was kind.
"I just do not know, Thomas," the other answered. "I suppose that my speech was good, but I certainly never thought that His Majesty would like it so much that he would knight me! I'm a merchant, not even a gentleman! Naturally I couldn't turn it down, but I will admit... only to you... that I felt completely lost at St. James. Now my wife wishes me to dress like a noble and act like a noble... and I don't have the slightest idea on how to do that. I have already sold the mercantile and purchased Pruit's Lodge... which my Henrietta now calls Lucas Lodge. But what else do I need to do so that I do not make myself look ridiculous?"
In a conciliatory tone, the other man said, "William, you have always been a gentleman in your conduct. This is a small town and we have little exposure to the elite. Just conduct yourself as a good neighbor, a good landlord, and a good man and that will be enough... although I would recommend that you find yourself a valet. That is the worst cravat I have ever seen."
The two men laughed. The first speaker, whom the other had identified as "Thomas," walked out of the inn and mounted his horse. Sir William remained to sip his drink. Jeremiah took a deep breath and then stepped up to the man's table. "Sir, I am Jeremiah... Soames. I apologize for listening in on your conversation, but I could not help but hear that you are in need of a valet..."
It is unnecessary for this tale to relate all of the conversation which followed. Sir William Lucas hired Jeremiah. Jeremiah, though never a valet, had always dressed himself well and had always paid attention. He was not only able to assist his new master to always be presentable, but he also helped to polish off many of the man's rougher edges.
Jeremiah was pleased to learn that, although Sir William spoke often of his visit to St. James Court, he did not anticipate ever repeating the event. In fact, Sir William was quite content to remain comfortably ensconced in his own little world of Meryton. The valet knew that it was unsafe for him to be seen in London. Despite the fact that he was provoked, the son of a baker had no legal defense in England against the son of an earl. He did keep his ear to the ground so he knew that the man recovered, but he also knew that the man was searching for him. Jeremiah found that the life of an "invisible" servant was his best protection.
Sir William was not the most intelligent or well-read of men, but he was a very good and kind man. His wife was also not the brightest, and she was quite enamored of her new status, but she was also mostly kind. Their eldest daughter Charlotte was a different story. Oh, she was a kind young woman, but she was also very intelligent. In truth, had it not been for her influence, Lucas Lodge would never have become as comfortable, settled, and prosperous as it was. Her father understood business, but not land. She read all of the right books and asked all of the right questions until she could carefully guide her father into doing the right thing with his land. Between Jeremiah and Charlotte, they helped the older couple into a pair worthy of the title they now wore... and in the process Jeremiah found Miss Lucas to be all that he could want in a mate.
It was terrible for Jeremiah to find his perfect match and have her become unreachable at the same time. Had they both been the children of tradesmen, then all would be well. But now he had fallen to the status of servant and she had risen to the status of a gentlewoman. Worse, Lady Lucas would never countenance such a match! She would drive him out of Hertfordshire if she even thought he was admiring her daughter.
And the men of the area were idiots! How could such a woman have reached the age of twenty-four without any man pursuing her? Were they blind!? Yes, perhaps her physical beauty paled while standing beside the two eldest Bennet girls who happened to be her best friends. Certainly there were few anywhere in England who could match that pair. But his Charlotte was kind, intelligent, hardworking, and diligent in caring for her family and others. It pained him to see her so disregarded, and yet he feared the day that some man would finally see her worth.
During the Christmas Season of 1808, soon after joining the Lucas household, Jeremiah met and spoke extensively with Mr. Gardiner, the brother-in-law to Mr. Thomas Bennet. Mr. Gardiner was a very up-and-coming tradesman in London. Jeremiah had relegated himself to a servant's role, but he had never lost his ambitions. After befriending Gardiner, he began saving every farthing of his pay to invest with that worthy man. It was not much, but Gardiner was just as successful as others noted and his money was growing. Still, Jeremiah knew that it would never be enough to offer for Charlotte. He kept up a steady correspondence with Mr. Gardiner about investments and opportunities. He also read every word of every book on trade and investment which the man brought to share with him.
Mr. Gardiner was so impressed with the young man that he offered him a position as his purchasing agent, a lucrative position which would not only offer a salary, but a share of any profits made. The offer had been made during the man's summer visit to Longbourn. It was still on the table in the fall. Jeremiah was torn because of his deep love for Charlotte. If he left, would he lose her forever? Or might she consent to be the bride of a tradesman? He was uncertain.
Everything might have continued in the same manner, with him pining after Charlotte Lucas and Charlotte feeling unwanted in the world of men, but desperation and an unwanted guest changed all of that.
Meryton was a small community and everyone knew everyone else's business, so it was only natural that Jeremiah heard about the reverend Mr. Collins, the heir apparent of Longbourn, long before he actually saw the man. He heard enough though to know that the parson was a less-than-brilliant individual, that he all but worshiped at the feet of his "noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh," and that he had fixed his intentions on marrying Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Jeremiah scoffed at this along with everyone else. Even with the promise of becoming the next mistress of the second largest estate in the area, nobody believed that the brilliant and effervescent Miss Elizabeth would attach herself to Mr. Collins.
It was no surprise to anyone but Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins when a proposal was tendered and rejected. What did bother Jeremiah... in fact it bothered him immensely... was when Miss Lucas brought the fool back to Lucas Lodge for dinner that same night. It did not take a genius for him to see the looks in the eyes of Lady Lucas and Sir William. Nor did Jeremiah fail to see the actions of his Charlotte when she deliberately flattered and engaged the parson's interest.
Jeremiah knew that he had to act, and act quickly. His first action was to send an express to Mr. Gardiner. He would take the position if it was still available. In fact, he would take it even if he couldn't win Charlotte's hand. The thought of remaining to watch that fool make love to her was too horrible to contemplate.
The express was returned on the following morning. After reading it, he immediately sought out Miss Lucas. He found her alone in the still room. She smiled brightly as he entered, "Hello Jeremiah. How are you this fine morning?"
Jeremiah steeled himself, "I cannot answer that yet. First, I need to tell you that I have accepted a position as Mr. Gardiner's purchasing agent. I will be leaving today or tomorrow... depending..."
"Oh... I am sorry to hear that... though I am pleased for you of course... Father will miss you."
Jeremiah felt a moment of hope at the way Charlotte's face had fallen. He stepped a little closer. "Only your father, Miss Lucas?" He saw something in her eyes that gave him the courage to continue, "I will begin with a generous salary, but Mr. Gardiner has also promised me a percentage of all profits that my purchases bring in. He told me that this is how he began, and now his annual income exceeds that of your father and even Mr. Bennet... I would be a tradesman, but I could offer my wife a very comfortable home and security..."
He took another step forward and found the courage to take one of Charlotte's delicate hands. Her eyes widened, but she made no move to take her hand away. "I could also offer my wife love... I must tell you, Charlotte, how deeply I love and cherish you... I have loved you even when any match was impossible. Now I hope that what I can offer would be enough to convince you to consider becoming my wife."
"Oh, Jeremiah! I thought... I had hoped... but you never said a word all of this time... Yes! Oh Lord, Yes! I have loved you almost since the day you came to help my father learn to be a gentleman and I love you more now. To think I almost threw hope away because I didn't think you wanted me!"
"Truly? I thought... My Charlotte, it does not matter what I thought. What does matter is that you have consented to be my wife... but what of your father and mother?"
"Father only wants me to be happy. He likes and respects you and he never cared much about positions. Mother will be very angry... but I am of age and able to make my own choices. I choose you, Jeremiah." The kiss, or rather kisses that followed more than confirmed both of their feelings for each other.
The couple separated after that, with Jeremiah going to speak with Sir William and Charlotte going to speak with her mother. She found her mother looking for her. Before she could speak, Lady Lucas rushed her out of the door and into the garden, where Mr. Collins was waiting to speak with her. Since neither her mother or Mr. Collins would listen, she was made to sit through the most ridiculous proposal she could have imagined... so much different than the one offered by Jeremiah. When the man finally ran out of breath, she gently answered, "I apologize, Mr. Collins, but I cannot accept your proposal. You see, I have only this morning become engaged. I wish you the best, and hope that you will find a woman worthy of you and your patroness... but it will not be me."
Mr. Collins was still opening and closing his mouth like a beached fish when Charlotte walked away. Her mother looked both angry and confused, but she followed her daughter into Lucas Lodge while trying to find her voice.
They were met in the sitting room by Sir William and Jeremiah. As this is a decent tale which might be read by respectable people, I shall not elucidate on the exact wording of Lady Lucas' reaction when her husband made the announcement. It did make Jeremiah wonder about the lady's early upbringing that she even knew such words.
Jeremiah and Charlotte were married under the name "Soames" because it was unsafe for him to move about under his true name. The wedding was held in a smaller chapel near Cheapside where none of Jeremiah's former enemies might recognize him. Maria stood up with her sister. The two eldest Bennet girls were in attendance and as lovely as ever, but in Jeremiah's eyes no woman matched his Charlotte's beauty.
They settled in Liverpool, where most of the ships carrying Mr. Gardiner's cargo made port. Jeremiah made one trip as supernumerary on his own, but after that Charlotte sailed with him. Neither had liked the long separation. They traveled the globe for many years and were blissfully happy. Surprisingly, despite the fact that they demonstrated their ardent feelings for each other as often as they could find privacy, it was six more years before Charlotte became with-child. By that time Mr. Soames' work had been so successful that Mr. Gardiner made him a partner. Gardiner and Soames continued to be a thriving business throughout the reign of Victoria, stretching their influence throughout the globe. Jeremiah and Charlotte's one daughter eventually married on of Mr. Gardiner's sons and the empire continued to grow.
Lady Lucas never completely forgave her daughter for marrying her husband's groom, despite the fact that the couple became enormously wealthy. She did, however, dote on her little granddaughter. Sir William had no such problems. His like and respect for his son-in-law only grew as the years went on.
Mr. Collins did eventually find a bride in Kent, but only after Lady Catherine de Bourgh died. The woman was older, had been married before, and bore many of the characteristics of Mr. Collin's patroness. They never had children. Most of their parishioners doubted that they ever had relations, so it was Jane Bingley's eldest son who inherited Longbourn.
Author's Note: This is a short story, I know. I have always liked Charlotte and wanted better for her. I hope that you enjoyed Jeremiah's tale.
In response to Luci: You are correct that P&P is partially a story of selfishness. Perhaps that is one of the
characteristics about Jane Austen's work which make it timeless: Her characters are not good or evil, only
human. Their behaviors can be found throughout history and still today. That is why we can identify with the
story so well. It is a story about flawed people finding someone who they can love.