A darker twist to the well-loved classic. Rejecting a man of such standing is not something to be taken lightly, and Mr Darcy has no qualms in using his resources to suit his needs. Miss Elizabeth Bennet's family is ruined, Longbourn now lost to them. She chose not to be his wife, but to keep her family together, she will have little choice but to be his mistress.
Distorted Affection
Elizabeth Jayne Creations
Story Premise
Jane Austin painted a beautiful vision of a gentleman witnessing his reflection in the eyes of the one he desires. After a firm and justified rejection, he strives to change and improve himself. As much as I love this story, historically, a gentleman of Mr Darcy society standing being rejected from someone of a lower social standing would be a rarity. His desire to prove himself worthy of Elizabeth always struck me as a little unrealistic, if very romantic. With so little time actually spent together, I challenge that what Mr Darcy felt for Elisabeth would be simply… Desire? Lust? The novelty of her dismissive attitude? A far cry from true love.
In most cases I'd argue, a gentleman with such standing would have moved past the rejection, chalked it up to a fleeting mistake, a few months of heartache before moving on. However when a man is raised to believe that he should be respected, desired, a creature full of pride and conceit, emotions like hurt and rejection can have a powerful effect on a person's actions. Austin led Mr Darcy on a route of redemption; I unfortunately will not be so kind.
This was the 1800's, when social status was everything and the world was cruel, even deadly, to those who fell or were born at the bottom of society. What choice would you make to save your family from such a fate? Will our characters learn that money can fundamentally mean nothing and everything.
Dear Readers, if our Pride and Prejudice characters are untouchable to you, then sadly I don't think this story is for you. However, if a darker, possibly more realistic, journey of revenge, life and love takes your interest, then settle in.
Setting the Scene
This story leaves Pride and Prejudice at the point of the failed proposal. Both Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy left immediately after and have not seen each other since. There has been no letter from Mr Darcy, no tour of Derbyshire for Elisabeth and no ruining of the Bennet family from the nefarious Mr Wickham, and no reparations reuniting Jane and Mr Bingley.
CHAPTER ONE
MR DARCY RETURNS
Darcy House, London
August 1813
"Sir, Mr. Porter is here to see you," announced the footman.
"Ah yes," said Mr. Darcy looking up from his pressed broadsheet, "send him in."
A tall man with a decade or so on the master of the house entered the room. Dressed as fashionably as any established lawyer, Mr. Porter entered the parlour, a tightly bound leather folder tucked under his arm.
"Porter, I didn't expect you back so soon," Mr. Darcy said as he rose to meet his adviser.
"I'm here with good news." Mr. Porter removed the bound folder from beneath his arm and held it out to Mr. Darcy. "Congratulations are in order. Last of it came through this morning."
"So quickly?" Mr. Darcy took the item with surprise.
"Aye, turns out the holder wasn't an associate as we feared, so there were no qualms on their end. A few suspicions about your reasoning," Mr. Porter paused, "As expected - but nothing strong enough to delay sale. Very few wouldn't mind passing on such a debt. "
"Everything is in place?" asked Mr. Darcy as he gestured for his visitor to take one of the armchairs across the room.
"As instructed." Mr. Porter took a seat. "Whatever your plans are, nothing stopping you now. Acquired holdings and financials: you're all set to go. Certainly not the finest estate in the Darcy holdings, but an addition all the same. My advice remains unchanged. While a few years and some care would turn a small profit, financially – this," he gestured to the folder in Mr. Darcy's hands, "is ill-advised."
"The financial potential, while a benefit, isn't the draw. The Longbourn estate holds a certain commodity that is attractive to me." Mr. Darcy swapped the folder for two tumbler glasses. "Drink?"
"Please. Well, whatever it is it belongs to you now. Still, goes against the grain to buy a debt like this. And in all my years working with you, I've never known you to invest in such an ill-balanced venture."
"It's not always about money," Mr. Darcy quipped.
"No, that's true," his lawyer acknowledged, "Sometimes it's about a woman."
Mr. Porter had joked, but his patron froze before pouring his own beverage. The quick-eyed attorney observed his host. "A woman? Really? I'll admit my surprise Darcy, I had assumed some sort of extensive revenge plot rather than matters of the heart."
"Why not both?" Mr. Darcy answered. His companion raised a brow.
"Here's some free advice, that I wish someone had told me back in the day. There is nothing wrong with a quiet life, nothing at all. And mixing love and war? That is not a path to it." cautioned Mr. Porter.
"For the moment Porter," said Mr. Darcy, "peace is that last thing I'm after."
"To love and war then," Mr. Porter raised his glass.
Meryton Hall, Hertfordshire
October 1813
She was laughing. Mr. Darcy would recognise the sound in a ballroom four times its stature and merriment of its inhabitants. That was the curse he aimed to be rid of. It was almost exactly two years ago that he had attended his first Meryton ball. Two years since he first met Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Elizabeth Bennet's eyes were alight with the enjoyment of her current dance and conversation of the evening. Her dance partner was certainly enjoying her company, if his own laughs and lingering hands were anything to judge by.
She had yet to notice him. Observing her unnoticed and lively was – he reluctantly admitted – a bitter pleasure. Her smiles, he was certain, would soon have little cause to appear.
The rest of the ball's attendees were just starting to notice him. Arriving without a party he had, thankfully, managed to avoid a repeat of his last entrance to a Meryton ball, but he was certain he would be recognised – and swiftly. It was something he was used to, feeling a room change in frequency like a pebble hitting still water: its effect rippling across the tongues of the ball's attendants.
Two years since his first ball, but just only a year since his rejection. The humiliation had quickly given way to a
nger. He abandoned Rosings Park that very next day and buried himself away at Darcy House, snapping at the household staff. Making even his ever-loyal housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, reconsider her placement at the grand house.
In a disguise of duty, he had walked his younger sister through her first season in the months following. Ball after ball, sitting through every opera and theatre production on the London schedule. All suitable pastimes for a family of his distinguished level. A far cry from the event he currently attended.
Despite the distractions, including those of a more immoral flavour, nothing worked.
Her refusal still reverberated, his embarrassment moulded and tempered into a calculating fury that had festered in his soul. Elizabeth Bennet. The simple country nobody who thought she could capture his heart, bring him to his knee, only to reject all he had offered.
She was laughing again, her happiness flowing through her every step, her every glide, every look. The lively creature he had met two years ago – still gliding across the world, unaffected by the event that had turned his world upside down. Unaffected by him.
He turned away. He would allow this happiness, these sweet smiles to her supposed paramour. They would not last, he had already made sure of that.
He searched the edges of the ball for the man who had made his plans possible. While the mother was displaying her usual distasteful behaviour, Mr. Bennet stood braced against an eave appearing, if described generously, unwell. An empty glass was clasped in his hand, with his eyes focused on the last dregs of the drink, or else something far beyond the bottom of the glass, most likely the many problems the drink had failed to solve. After Mr. Darcy's appearance, it certainly would not be his last of the evening.
Mr. Bennet had yet to notice Mr. Darcy's attendance. Whether it was the constant gaze of the stern figure, or – possibly – the rising whispers in the ballroom, something caused the elderly man to look up from his worries. If Mr. Bennet had looked ill before, he certainly looked worse now as recognition overcame his countenance. Mr. Darcy nodded in his direction and held his gaze, before venturing out of the hall. Mr. Bennet soon followed.
A chance turn in the dance meant Elizabeth was in the preface position to witness Mr. Darcy leaving the hall. Her step faltered.
"What is he doing here?" She spoke aloud.
"Miss Elizabeth?" Her partner asked, the dance bringing them to the centre.
"Oh my apologies, Mr. Henton, I was just…" She watched with further surprise as her own father seemed to follow Mr. Darcy out of the hall. The dance brought her around, back to the confused Mr. Henton, obscuring her view. She collected herself to address her partner, "An…old acquaintance seems to be in attendance, forgive my surprise." She gave a soft, though slightly, forced smile, "No matter Mr. Henton, we were discussing your niece and nephew and your unfortunate inability to resist their requests for small trinkets. Are you determined to single-handedly lavish them with sweet treats?"
Happy to have her attention once again on a familiar and fond subject, Mr. Henton responded with enthusiasm.
While Miss Elizabeth Bennet admirably performed her steps and necessary verbal responses for the rest of the dance, her eyes would search out that particular exit on each of her turns. Whatever could Mr. Darcy mean, being back in Hertfordshire?
Thank you for reading.
Shout out to Dr-Lizzie for being such an amazing beta x