Wow! Thank you! All the reviews, the followers and the favourites so far…that's some pressure! Very much appreciated!
There were a few queries on where this story starts, so for clarification…
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. That means no letter was exchanged, Mr Bingley and Jane are not together, Mr Wickham and Lydia haven't eloped etc..
There were a few other points raised, but most should be explained in the story.
Always welcome feedback.
Enjoy!
Merryton Hall, Hertfordshire
October 1813
While Miss Elizabeth Bennet 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.
Mr Darcy followed Mr Bennet into the card room adjacent from the hall. After confirming it was fully abandoned in favour of the dancing and society next door, Mr Darcy had no qualms about closing the door behind them. While not an ideal location for this discussion, now that he was present in Merryton Mr Darcy was impatient for his plans to progress, as unpleasant as it would be.
"This is not the best place to speak." Mr Bennet spoke gruffly. "I should refuse to speak to you in such a public setting. If I wasn't so sure I would have more privacy here than in Longbourn. You, however, should not have assumed." He strode away and headed to the room's refreshments.
"I could put it off no longer Sir," Mr Darcy responded firmly, keeping a few steps from the door.
"Should I express my gratitude that you've waited so long?" asked Mr Bennet, as he poured himself a whiskey, sloshing the liquid in the decanter a bit as he returned it to the table. "You'll forgive me when I say I'm finding the common pleasantries a tad difficult at present. Whiskey?" Mr Bennet gestured to the abandoned decanter flippantly, walking away without waiting for an answer. Forgoing the chairs, he chooses instead to stand against the wooden mantlepiece centralised in the furthest wall from the door, choosing to watch the glowing coals of the fire rather than face the other Gentleman.
"No, I'm not partaking this evening," said Mr Darcy, his disapproval apparent. Mr Bennet was clearly well into his drink and showed no signs of restraint in the proceedings of this conversation.
"Not even to raise a glass to your victory?" Mr Bennet tipped his glass to the other gentleman mockingly before taking a swig, returning his gaze back into the fire.
Unknown to Mr Bennet, the true victory was yet to be won, so while Mr Darcy may indeed raise a glass in the future, that wouldn't take place tonight. "I take no joy in your circumstances, this is simply a business matter that has prospered in my favour, and diminished in yours," stated Mr Darcy.
Mr Bennet scoffed but saw no reason to respond. Annoyed by this dismissive response, Mr Darcy continued, "Although few men would have taken the risks you did with so little in essence that they could afford to part with. Your less than favour-some outcome, sir, is of your own making." This direct affront finally drew Mr Bennet's attention, the normally sedate man to turn coarse eyes on the younger gentleman. Mr Darcy was not deterred, "I repeat, I take no joy in witnessing or taking part in such an event, especially with my brief acquaintance of your family," continued Mr Darcy, "but the outcome remains the same. You have lost your family home. You family is in financial disrepair."
"I would never have risked the land!" Mr Bennet cut back, "The land I believed to be safe until my death, no matter my investments, no matter my follies. The investments were already made when the entail was released. You have no right to disparage me when you clearly know nothing of my state of affairs!"
Mr Darcy gave a firm nod, "Your success with the entail was untimely, I admit." This appeased the elder gentleman slightly, his gaze turning away once again.
"That blasted entail. I am to be applauded Sir," Mr Bennet claimed blithely, "I single-handedly saved my family from the dreaded hedgerows for," he pretended to consider, "a whole fortnight? A week more? Simply to direct them there myself a decade early. Untimely," Mr Bennet scoffed. A dwindling log in the fireplace sparked, a flighting ember landed on the hearth, its glow extinguished by Mr Bennet's sharply placed foot. "Yes, it certainly was untimely," He sneered the word.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to diminish your misfortunes," Mr Darcy spoke bluntly, as politeness required but there was no true sympathy there. So it was no surprise when Mr Bennet ignored his apology.
"And you," Mr Bennet turned to face him fully "you're late to collect your prize, I've been awaiting your express for a near two months now. Most gentlemen would come at a gallop, not a walk, to collect their purchase."
Mr Darcy nodded, "That is true sir, however, I wasn't the original owner of the debt, the transition created a delay. And, on receipt of the full accounts and the Longbourn property, I felt a rush was rather unnecessary given the circumstances. The loss the property would make in the spare months would be inconsequential."
"I expect it would be for you. Makes me wonder at your interest in taking on such a debt in the first place? Was it the guilt of our slight acquaintance that deserved a month or two or an abundance of weighty money that slowed you down? " joked Mr Bennet coldly, taking another swig of his drink.
Deliberately skating over the former question, for Mr Darcy doubted that would be an answer favourably received by Miss Elizabeth's father, Mr Darcy responded to the second. Most gentleman of Mr Darcy's acquaintance would of shown at least some appreciation in his delay in him collecting his property, but no not a Bennet. Like Father, like daughter, no gratitude or respect for what he offered.
"It was a consideration Mr Bennet, that most gentleman would have appreciated, allowing time to provide your family's arrangements," he replied pointedly. With no gratitude or change in attitude forthcoming from Mr Bennet he continued " My reasons are my own, the facts remains Sir that the property now belongs to me. That sir, is the outcome of your …unfortunate investment and mismanagement of your affairs-" said Mr Darcy cuttingly. Mr Bennet span round, his drink glass slamming on top of the mantlepiece.
"-I was trying to secure a better future for my daughters, not throwing money in the gambling rooms of St James." Mr Bennet spat back.
"The outcome remains the same," said Mr Darcy unforgiving. "Your wife, daughters are unaware?"
"Of course they are unaware," answered Mr Bennet laughing bitterly, " Oh you disapprove do you? You need not answer, you would not fair well in the card rooms yourself. You believe I should tell my wife, my wife who is well known for decorum and discretion, who of course would be able to move among our society without damaging our daughters remaining chances in these last few months. Now who is the fool." He shook his head at the thought. "My daughters? The youngest likewise are too foolish and silly to know the damages they would do in the remaining weeks of our gentility, they are but children-"
"-You elder daughters," Interrupted Mr Darcy.
"My elder daughters, I grant you, have no such traits. But my burdens will become theirs soon enough, should I have enforced upon them a pressure, a solution to marry? Neither has a paramour and a pressure to fine one would do no good. And should I wish my daughter to marry any man that should offer, a life of almost certain unhappiness to save our family? While to your standards poor, both Jane and Elizabeth would attract many unsuitable suitors. I have certainly cautioned many away from them over the years, unknown to my dear wife of course."
Taken aback and with evident disapproval, Mr Darcy questioned, "You would not consider it their duty? Their duty to lift the strain on their family by making a match? You would support them in spurning offers, offers that would have brought relief to your family?"
"Duty? You speak of their duty, when I have so clearly failed in my duty to protect and provide. By example, why should they feel any sense of duty at all?", replied Mr Bennet, finally taking one of the available chairs. Mr Darcy remained standing. "I wonder how much duty would mean to you if you had a daughter? Maybe those of your standing are simply lacking emotion towards their offspring. What is happiness after all when you can have fine china at every meal and a new gown for every occasion."
"I would forgive a daughter fine china, but a roof, security, food on the table? A daughter should have some level of care and responsibility for her family." expressed Mr Darcy. It was this particular standpoint he was counting on, so to hear Mr Bennet argue against it was slightly concerning. His whole plan was based on the belief that Elizabeth would not forsake her family, no matter the cost to herself.
"Of course you would." tsked Mr Bennet, "I, however, would rather my children be happy as I live and leave this earth. Alas, I expect my two eldest hold no such sense of inequitable justice and share a view similar to your own. Oh I am sure they will make their sacrifice for the family, though they should not and I certainly shall no encourage it." Mr Bennet looked completely defeated at the thought, "I can only thank the stars that at least the abdominal route of Mr Collins isn't still an option for my Lizzy. I would have her or my Jane in service before a life at that man's side."
Mr Darcy couldn't believe what he was hearing, that creature of a man Mr Collins, had offered for his Elizabeth, even before he himself had done so! Such a different path their lives would have taken, to have been forced to visit his aunt and witness Elizabeth as that particular parson's wife, knowing that a man so below his sense and status in life would be enjoying what he so desired, such an unthinkable path. And yet, he admitted silently to his darker self, by the standards of society it would of been an honourable path for Elizabeth, something he no longer planned to offer himself.
"So, how long?" asked Mr Bennet, drawing Mr Darcy from his own thoughts.
"The end of the week, Sir," Mr Bennet closed his eyes, but gave a firm nod, rising once more and heading to the comforting structure of the fireplace, "though I shall require the deed and further documentation in relation to the debt to be delivered to me tomorrow. You have made some arrangements already I would hope?" questioned Mr Darcy.
"Oh yes, do not concern yourself now Mr Darcy, I have managed to scatter my family like the penniless relatives we are," said Mr Bennet.
"Your daughters, what are your plans - ? " asked Mr Darcy.
"- I believe we can conclude this little exchange now don't you. You'll have your deed and whatnot tomorrow. "
"Yes Sir, I shall expect the documents tomorrow. Goodnight."
The short obligatory inclination of the head from Mr Darcy went unnoticed as Mr Bennet didn't even turn his gaze away from the fire.
Mr Darcy swiftly left the room, it was an unpleasant conversation, but a necessary one. His blood still high from the exchange, he heading back to the ballroom. He had another Bennet he needed to approach this evening. It was time to speak to Miss Elizabeth.
Thank you for reading.