Strike that. Reverse it.
Mr. George Darcy and Lady Anne live long and happy lives and provide their children with a loving, happy home. Mrs. Bennet dies shortly after giving birth to her second child. Mr. Bennet dies five years before the beginning of this story.
Note: In addition to the obvious changes, some alterations in timeline have been made. Darcy is twenty-five. Elizabeth is twenty.
AN: For Pablo M. Portillo
Young Mr. Darcy meets the Gardiners
The clerk knocked lightly on the door and then opened without waiting an answer. "A Mr. Darcy to see you, Sir."
"Ah yes, please ask him to come in," Mr. Gardiner smiled, rose from his chair, and stepped around his desk to extend a hand to the tall young man.
"Thank you for making the time to see me, Sir," the young man said politely, shaking the older man's hand.
Hmmm, gracious even though he ranks far above me. This young man is like his father in more than just appearance. "Nonsense. I am pleased that you could make the time to come and see me. Please have a seat."
Once seated, Mr. Darcy came directly to the point, "I understand that my father has already written to you. He has asked that I take charge in overseeing the Darcy investments. As your trading house is our largest investment, I felt that I should meet with you first and hopefully gain a fuller understanding of how your business works. Please note that Father was and still remains eminently pleased with you and the returns we receive. In fact, he suggested that you might be willing to serve as my advisor in looking at some of our other investments which have not been doing so well."
Edward Gardiner smiled, "I would be honored to assist in any way that I can. My success has been in no small part due to your father. He gave me my start when he believed enough in my abilities to sponsor me in my own business. Now, while I will be pleased to talk you through all of the intricacies of the Gardiner Trading House, I fear that my immediate duties will preclude an extensive discussion during the business day. What I would like to propose is that I give you a walk-through of my facilities and then invite you to my house for dinner on whichever day you have available this week. Would that work?"
"Certainly. And thank you for the invitation."
For the next two hours Fitzwilliam Darcy was provided an education in how an import/export company functioned. He walked the decks of a Gardiner ship that was in harbor. He was led through two extensive warehouses chock full of fabric, pottery, crafted items, teas, and coffee beans from around the world. Though he had a general understanding, he never imagined the sheer volume of goods handled by even this one trading house.
Next they returned to the main Gardiner building, where he saw numerous clerks, each designated to oversee the accounts from and correspondence with a trading partner elsewhere in the world. On one wall, stretching from top to bottom and corner to corner was a remarkably detailed map of the world, with colored flags in various locations, pinned notes in others, and miniature cut-outs of ships pinned throughout. There were fifteen ships in total.
"Are all of the ships yours, Mr. Gardiner?" Darcy asked in mild shock. He knew that his father's investment in this man was their most lucrative, but he had not suspected this level of enterprise.
"The six ships in blue belong to my firm, Mr. Darcy. The six ships in green represent those in which we have a share along with at least one other trading company. The other three in yellow belong to one of the great trading houses, such as the EIC or the NorthWest Company."
"And the ship in red?" Darcy asked, though he feared that he already knew the answer.
"The Mary Anne is six months late in reaching her destination and, sadly, presumed lost. Pirates in that arena of the Far East are becoming more and more prevalent. With the bulk of our own Navy focused on the French and this endless conflict, merchant ships are always in danger."
"Then I am sorry for your loss."
Gardiner nodded but then motioned toward their next destination. They entered the next room where a well-dressed and very pretty young woman was standing, sorting through books and making notations. She looked up as they entered and smiled brightly. Darcy was startled by the life in her eyes.
"Uncle! I am glad you stopped by. You will not believe what I found among your latest plunder!"
Mr. Gardiner chuckled just as his niece noticed the tall young man accompanying him. She blushed and made a swift but still elegant curtsy. "Pardon me, Uncle. I did not see your guest."
"Lizzie, please meet Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. His father is my largest investor and has been a good friend. Mr. Darcy, this is my dear niece Elizabeth Bennet. She and her sister came to live with us when her father passed on and his estate went to a distant cousin."
Darcy made a bow and said, "I am pleased to meet you, Miss Bennet. May I assume that you have a fondness for books?"
Gardiner chuckled again and replied for his niece, "Elizabeth is not only a great reader, but she is able to do so in multiple languages. Now what great treasure have you found in the dragon's horde today, Lizzy?"
"Not one great treasure, Uncle, but an entire collection! Look," She held out a small beautifully bound volume, 'Sidereus Nuncius', or 'The Starry Messenger', which from a brief perusal seems to be faithful to the original. And here, a bound collection of Galileo's letters and lectures, including his 'Discourse on floating bodies,' 'History and demonstration concerning sunspots', 'Discourse on Tides', and 'Discourse on comets'! And here, Uncle, is a collection of his mathematical discourses! And with these are a folio of hand-written letters purported to be from the man himself! Papa would have sold his house and estate to get his hands on these... and probably his children as well. They are all in Latin or Italian, so they will be of no interest to the general public, but for a collector, a scholar, of those nobles who actually paid attention in college, these are a treasure... Oh, may I take them home and read them first though?"
Mr. Gardiner only chuckled and agreed. Young Mr. Darcy had never imagined such a pretty girl would have such a sparkle in her eyes for books... and certainly not books on science and math! He smiled at her and asked, "Non lego latine, Benedictus Missa?" (Do you read Latin, Miss Bennet?)
Raising her pretty chin in mock defiance, she replied, "Scilicet. Pater legere docuit me scribite et Latine loquuntur." (Of course. My father taught me.)
The young man and woman began an entire conversation about Latin, science, and their shared love of books. Mr. Gardiner stood by for a few minutes watching in fascinated interest. Oblivious to their surroundings, the young conversants actually seemed to glow as they spoke. He was the last person who would ever play matchmaker, but he could not help but notice that this was the first young man who seemed to accept, even appreciate Lizzie's intelligence. So many others had been drawn to her pretty face and figure, but had run away from her intellect. Others merely tolerated her conversation in order to appreciate her allurements.
We shall see. Yet even if he is interested, would he or his parents overlook Lizzie's lower station or her relatives in trade?
Two evenings later, young Mr. Darcy sat at the Gardiner table. He had not known what to expect. His father was a practical man who believed in diversifying the family money, just as he was taught by his father before him. Unlike most men in his circle or above, he did not look down on trade or tradesmen. In his own words, "Our family is solvent and our annual income is one of the highest in Britain. The Darcy name is one of the most respected not just because of the size and number of our estates, or our ties to the nobility, but also because we always pay our bills and never allow ourselves to owe a farthing. That is because, when we have bad years in farming, our investments tide us over.
"I would rather be solvent and have quiet ties to trade than be a penniless noble who sneers at the tradesman while defaulting on his bills."
Darcy agreed with his father's sentiments, but wondered if the man's open attitude extended to sitting to table with a tradesman... or visiting the man's home. Yet Fitzwilliam Darcy had found Mr. Gardiner to be a man of education, industry, and even fashion. It was certain that his niece, the daughter of a gentleman, was enthusiastic on certain subjects unusual for a female, but there had been nothing offensive in her manner. In fact her own love of books was echoed by his own. He could find no fault there.
He had never been to Gracechurch Street nor felt inclined to venture there. Now he discovered that it was actually a quite well-kept and very respectable neighborhood. Granted, it would never be acknowledged as "fashionable," but there was certainly no reason to look upon the neighborhood with disdain. From what I've seen of his business, Mr. Gardiner could easily afford a home in a more fashionable area. He is at least as well-off as Bingley's father was before his passing.
His knock was answered by an older maid in a clean, pretty uniform. "You are expected, Sir. Please come this way. Darcy entered a pleasant, spacious sitting room where a pleasant family scene was in play. Miss Bennet was sitting and reading to to young children, a boy and a girl. An older, well dressed woman Mr. Darcy assumed was Mrs. Gardiner held an infant. There was also another couple, a strikingly beautiful blond woman holding an infant in her lap and someone that Darcy recognized.
"Sir Owen!" Darcy said in surprise, "How have you been?"
Mr. Gardiner was just stepping in from another room and he smiled with what he heard, "Welcome Mr. Darcy. I see that you know my elder niece's husband. Sir Owen, would you care to make introductions?"
The blond man smiled, "Certainly. Mr. Darcy was my classmate at both Eton and King's College, Cambridge. He had the unsavory habit of always taking top honors, leaving me to fight for second place. Yet despite this, I have chosen to be the better man and forgive him. Mr. Darcy, allow me to introduce my wife, Jane, Lady Brice. She is holding our son and heir, Michael. Mr. Gardiner you know. This is his lovely wife, Mrs. Gardiner and she is holding their youngest, Alice. And I understand you've met my sister in law, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Beside her are young Thomas Gardiner and Beth Gardiner." Bows and curtsies were made by everyone and then the nurse escorted the children to the nursery.
Darcy sat on the settee with Miss Bennet and the four younger adults talked with freedom. He and Owen spoke about their shared memories from school, with the two ladies teasing out embarrassing details. Darcy was usually reticent about sharing personal information, but he so enjoyed the sparkle in Miss Bennet's eyes that he had no desire to hold back that evening. He was saved from the recounting of one particularly embarrassing event by the signal for dinner. Though precedence suggested other pairings, he did not mind at all escorting the young lady into the dining room.
They ended up speaking about Galileo and what Miss Bennet had read thus far. It was intriguing when she spoke knowledgeably about calculations that might have boggled many of his classmates, but which did not daunt her keen mind. Many might label her a bluestocking. Darcy was fascinated rather than put off by her intelligence.
When the men separated afterwards, Darcy learned several facts about the Miss Bennets which both alarmed and intrigued him. Their mother had passed from fever shortly after Miss Elizabeth Bennet's birth. Their father, a highly educated man, had hired an older widowed woman to act as governess, but had personally taught his daughters about literature, history, and mathematics.
Lady Brice, an intelligent and well-spoken woman, had learned the basics, but her interests had tended towards traditionally female pursuits. Miss Bennet had been more fascinated with her father's lessons and had pressed on to attain an education rivaling that of many top university scholars. Even their father's bequests were reflective of their interests: Aside from five-thousand to be split between them, Lady Brice had received the lion's share of her mother's jewelry while Miss Bennet had been given her father's library.
Of course their uncle had persuaded their father to allow him to handle his sister's dowry, which had grown exponentially over twenty years until Miss Bennet's two-thousand and five-hundred was now much closer to twenty-two thousand.
The alarming detail that Mr. Darcy learned was that he was tangentially connected to the Miss Bennet's loss of their home through his own aunt, Lady Catherine DeBourgh. As Mr. Gardiner explained it, "I asked Mr. Collins, the heir, to allow my nieces three months in which to mourn and prepare for their removal. He was instead instructed by his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourg, to hurry to Longbourn immediately and secure his possession. She also told him to take one of my nieces for his wife. Being a 'mere tradesman', Mr. Collins was not quite willing to accept my authority as the young ladies' legal guardian. I had to remove them to London lest he attempt to force the issue. Jane was sixteen, Elizabeth only fourteen. Neither were out yet.
"I also had to get the local magistrate involved before I could remove the family jewelry and Mr. Bennet's books. Mr. Collins could not accept that they were not part and portion of the estate. He continually quoted his 'most noble patroness, Lady Catherine DeBourgh'."
Mr. Darcy guiltily admitted, "Sir, I am afraid that the woman is my aunt. And she is just as ridiculous as you might suppose. For years now she has been trying to insist that I should marry her daughter and combine the two great estates. Of course my mother, and even more my father refuse to encourage such a scheme. In fact, I have been warned that I would forfeit my inheritance if I even considered marrying Cousin Anne."
The men laughed and then Sir Owen said, "Wait! Was that the woman who showed up on campus with her sickly daughter in tow? She actually tried to browbeat one of the professors into telling her where to find you?"
Darcy grimaced, "Yes, that was her."
The men stood to join the ladies shortly after that.
Mr. Darcy became a regular visitor to Gracechurch Street, enough so that his mother noticed and began to ask questions. Though she was no Lady Catherine, Lady Anne was still from an aristocratic family, so she viewed her son's interest with alarm. Determined to investigate this young woman personally, she invited Miss Bennet and her sister, Lady Brice, to tea. Interestingly enough, that first invitation led to more, until Darcy's mother and younger sister were almost as fascinated with the young woman as he was.
Mr. Darcy, Sr., had been away nigh on to two months addressing issues with a property in Scotland. Upon his return he heard much about Miss Elizabeth Bennet, first from his wife and daughter and then from his son, who he had summoned to his study. When it became clear that his son was becoming serious, he determined to make his own visit to the Gardiner household.
Lady Catherine de Bourg, who believed it was her right to know everything about everyone, had kept an informant within the Darcy household for years. Upon hearing about her nephew's interest, she had traveled to her brother's town home and summoned her former parson, Mr. Collins, to attend her. She remembered Mr. Collin's tales of his family's refusal to comply with her edicts upon receiving his inheritance. Under no circumstances would she allow that same family to steal Pemberley from her... from her daughter, Anne!
And so, while Mr. George Darcy, Sr. was in the Gardiner sitting room enjoying his visit with the remarkably interesting Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the household was suddenly accosted by none other than his termagant sister in law. Lady Catherine de Bourg who shoved her way past the startled maid who answered the door, "I demand to see Elizabeth Bennet!" She was followed immediately by the most oddly-proportioned man.
Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Bennet stood, but it was Mr. Darcy who addressed the woman, "Catherine, what in God's name do you think you are doing, barging into someone's private home?!"
"Brother! What are you doing soiling yourself in this den of iniquity? Does my sister know that you are here cavorting with low women. Has one of these fallen women used her arts and allurements to entrap you as well?"
Elizabeth gasped to hear such accusations. Mrs. Gardiner immediately planted herself in front of the red-face woman and coldly said, "Madam, I neither know nor care who you are, but you will leave my home immediately or I will have you removed by force. This is a respectable home and you are not welcome!"
The man, who Elizabeth recognized immediately, stepped forward, "How dare you, the wife of a tradesman, speak so to Lady Catherine de Bourg?! We are here to prevent my cousin from stealing Miss Anne de Bourg's betrothed. I have consented to marry my cousin, despite her poor behavior..."
"Silence, Sir!" Mr. Darcy barked, causing the blustering man to cringe and Lady Catherine to glare. Mr. Darcy continued, "I will say this once more, and then if I ever hear this lie spoken again I will take legal action: My son will never marry your daughter, Catherine. I have stated this. My wife has stated this. My son has stated this. Go elsewhere to find some poor fool to be your son-in-law."
Elizabeth, having overcome her shock, finally spoke up, "Mr. Collins, even before your arrival on my aunt's doorstep uninvited, your unChristian behavior and attempt to steal our possessions at my father's death firmly convinced me that you are the last man on earth that I would ever be prevailed upon to marry."
"Just one minute," Lady Catherine reasserted herself, "Miss Bennet, I will speak with you privately."
Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Gardiner, who had just hurried home at the summons of his wife, all said at once, "YOU WILL NOT!"
Elizabeth looked at the tiresome woman, "You may say what you wish to say in front of these witnesses, Madame."
"You will address her as Lady Catherine de Bourg!" Mr. Collins barked, stepping forward to imposed himself on his cousin before he found his way blocked by two Darcy footmen, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Gardiner. Elizabeth looked at him and then back at Lady Catherine without correcting her address.
"I have heard the most alarming rumor and I came here immediately to have it refuted. Are you engaged to my nephew?"
"Your coming here in such haste and with such a display will serve to support any rumor, not refute it. "
"Do not trifle with me! I see how you are, using your arts and allurements to tempt my nephew away from his proper duty!"
"Catherine!" Mr. Darcy, Sr. barked, but Mrs. Gardiner forestalled him with a light touch on his arm. When he turned to look, neither Mr. nor Mrs. Gardiner seemed worried. The message in their eyes was clear: Let Elizabeth handle this. He was surprised, but turned to watch the young woman as she handled his difficult sister without any display of fear or anger. She actually looked amused... like a cat playing with a mouse.
"I would have to ask young Mr. Darcy exactly what arts and allurements I have used to engage myself to him. Uncle, does a lively discussion of Greek philosophers have this effect on young men? Or was it Italian Renaissance scientists? Perhaps our argument about Mr. Franklin, the American?"
"Do not try and play games with me! You should know that my nephew has been engaged to my Anne from..."
"Catherine! What did I just tell you? Are you a candidate for Bedlam?"
Mr. Collins, his protective spirit aroused, tried to push past the men. At a signal from Mr. Gardiner, the two very large footmen lifted him by the armpits, carried him to the front door, and tossed the man out onto the steps. By the time that the bruised man had stopped rolling and run back to the door, he found it closed and the large brutes blocking his way. He started to bluster, but the cold look on the faces of both men gave him pause. He decided to pace on the street instead.
Elizabeth turned a gentle smile on the elder Mr. Darcy, "Fear not, Sir. Nobody in this house will believe her."
"See here! I will be heard!" The now crimson-faced woman blustered, "Are you or are you not engaged to my nephew?"
Elizabeth answered calmly, "I am not."
Lady Catherine calmed somewhat, "And will you promise never to enter into such an engagement?"
"Never. Fitzwilliam Darcy is one of the finest men I have ever met, at the same level as my father and my Uncle Gardiner. Should he ever express the desire to court me, I will happily consent. And should that courtship show us both that we are well-suited, then I would quite happily give him my hand."
"Why you...!" Lady Catherine's red face returned and she declared, "We shall see about that!" Then she wheeled and stomped out of the house without a goodbye.
Outside Mr. Collins was at the apogee of his orbital pacing, putting him a full ten yards away when Lady Catherine stomped to her carriage, boarded, and demanded the her driver depart. Collins was busy composing suitable compliments to his patroness and insults concerning all others when he looked up to see the coach and six speeding away. The neighbors' last sight of the ridiculous man was him running after his ride, waving his hands and shouting. It was a long trip back to Longbourn.
Elizabeth turned embarrassed eyes on Mr. Darcy, Sr. "Sir, you should know that you son has never made any overtures in any manner towards attaching himself to me. I should not have said what I did at the end, whether or not the lady provoked me."
Mr. Darcy regarded the pretty young woman carefully before asking, "But did you still mean what you said about my son?"
Elizabeth colored, but her eyes never left his, "I hold no expectations, being fully aware of the differences in our ranks. And yes, I do consider him one of the very best men of my acquaintance."
"He is a gentleman and you are the daughter of a gentleman."
"Whose estate and fortune have been entailed away from us and into the hands of that... of Mr. Collins. Your son will inherit a vast estate and fortune."
"From what I understand, you are not penniless. Your dowry is comparable to the majority of the young ladies of the Ton and you will bring a large collection of books to your marriage."
"Well... yes... but..."
"Young lady, do you care for my son enough to accept his suit?"
Elizabeth made herself look up defiantly and declare, "Of course I would, but I would never wish to disgrace..."
"Then it is settled. My son will most likely call on you tonight, but if not he will do so in the morning," he took her slender hand and gave it a kiss.
"But..."
Mr. Darcy shook Mr. Gardiner's hand and kissed that of Mrs. Gardiner, "Thank you for allowing me to visit. I apologize for my difficult relatives."
Elizabeth's mouth was still opening and closing like a fish when the door closed behind the man.
"What just happened," she finally asked.
The Gardiners could only chuckle.
As promised, Fitzwilliam Darcy presented himself at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner later that same afternoon and requested an opportunity to walk with Elizabeth. After apologizing profusely for his aunt, the couple walked for another few minutes in silence. Then the young man finally turned to face his lady and said, "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I love and admire you.
"I know from my father that you are concerned about the differences in our stations and consequence, but I see only what you would bring to our marriage.
"You would bring joy and a love of life. You would bring your intelligence and love of learning. You would bring love and devotion to family which would translate to love and devotion to our family.
"You would bring intelligence and a hunger for learning, something I also share, and you would teach our children to have that same hunger."
He took her soft, slender hands in his, "You would bring your beauty and passion into our marriage... something I must admit calls to me every moment of every day since the day I met you."
When he stopped and waited for her answer, she gave him an impish smile, "There is only one vast and overriding problem which must be considered and addressed, Sir."
Looking worried, Mr. Darcy asked, "And what is that?"
"As far as I can remember, and I promise you that I have already fixed every beautiful word you've said to me into my memory, but as far as I can remember, you have not actually asked me to marry you."
Darcy looked momentarily shocked, then he grinned and went down on one knee, ignoring the dust on the sidwalk, "Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would you make me the very happiest of men and marry me?"
One of her hands left his only to lift and touch his face, "Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, I can think of nothing that would make me happier than to be your wife."
Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne lived a long and happy life. They were pleased to welcome Elizabeth into their family and their home. While Elizabeth loved Pemberley, she and her husband decided that they needed an estate of their own to run until the day when their presence would be required at Pemberley. They found an estate within thirty miles to the home of Sir Owen Brice and Jane.
Mr. Collin's found a woman to accept his troth, but he died in a duel after he caught his betrothed kissing a militia officer. Since dueling was illegal, Lieutenant Wickham, the shooter, was transported to Australia.
With the master of Longbourn deceased without heirs, the property was returned to the Crown and put up for auction. Sir Owen, Fitzwilliam Darcy, and Mr. Gardiner bid together on the property and secured it forever for the family. Mr. Collins had made such a mess of the home that it was razed to the ground and three homes built upon the property around a central courtyard. From that point on, Longbourn functioned as retreat for the families whenever their husbands had to be in London.