The Message in the Dress
Jane Bennet is helping her Aunt Gardiner with a charity event in London, repairing dresses from the rich to help the poor, when she notices an odd piece of fabric sewn into a dress. Her examination reveals a note hastily written on a ripped piece of fabric and sewn into the dress with a "Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Urgent" address.
AN: This is for the request pairing Darcy with Jane and Elizabeth the his cousin the viscount. If you are a die-hard Darcy/Elizabeth fan, this might send you into apoplexy, so please don't read it.
Darcy House, London, January 1811
Fitzwilliam Darcy forgot all decorum and ran the very first time he caught a glimpse of Miss Jane Bennet stepping out of a carriage in front of his huge townhouse.
Heart racing, eyes wide with excitement, he ran right past several of his staff, including his butler who tried to call out to him, "Sir..."
He ran through the drawing room and to the doors leading to the entry, which he threw open... only to have his world come crashing down around him.
Jane Bennet, standing beside her uncle, Edward Gardiner, saw the entire interplay on the man's handsome face, from ethereal joy, to confusion, then realization, and finally abject despair, all in that few moments. Jane had never been fearless like her sister Lizzy, or bold like her sister Lydia. But right at that moment all that she wanted to do was ignore propriety, hold this man, and take away whatever had caused such terrible pain.
Jarvis, the butler, had now backtracked to rejoin his master, "Mr. Darcy, I was coming to announce that you have visitors." He looked at the cards again, "Edward Gardiner and his niece, Miss Jane Bennet."
Darcy found the energy to speak, "I am sorry if I startled you. We are not presently welcoming visitors..."
Mr. Gardiner was about to speak, but Jane superseded him by stepping forward with a small folded piece of fabric in her hands. "We have no intention of intruding, Mr. Darcy. But when I found this note hidden in a dress. I felt that we must get it to you as quickly as possible."
"A note?" Darcy asked listlessly.
"Written with a lead on this piece of fabric, Sir. It is from someone named Georgiana..." Jane almost jumped back when Darcy surged forward to take the note. Mr. Gardiner looked ready to roar in protest when he saw the man seize his niece's hand with both of his own, but Darcy stepped back as soon as the note was in his hands.
Jane was flushed at the man's precipitant actions, but the joy on his face dispelled any alarm. This was reinforced by the equal and unexpected joy on the butler's face as he asked, "Is it from Miss Darcy, Sir?"
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Darcy House, Mayfair, Urgent!
Held at 5 Hartford Court. Hurry. Georgiana
Darcy read the hastily scrawled note three times over before saying, "It gives an address, Jarvis. Not the one I expected, but one I know entirely too well." He handed the cloth to his butler. "I must go there now."
This time Mr. Gardiner did interject, "I did not know what this was about when Jane found the note, but she felt that it was urgent enough to rush to my place of business. After reading it, I took the liberty of sending some of my men, all former sailors or soldiers, to investigate and quietly surround the house. If someone is there, then they will not be able to leave without our knowledge and intervention."
Darcy quickly snapped orders for Jarvis to have his coach prepared and to have a footman run down the street to Matlock House to summon his cousin. Then he turned back to his two visitors, "Pardon me, but I have been searching for my dear sister, who is but five and ten, for nigh a month. We have somehow been able to keep the matter quiet, though I fear that it is too late to save her reputation. I will save her if I possibly can, though, regardless of the scandal.
"You have done me an immeasurable service so you deserve an explanation. Two months ago I consented for my sister to remove from her school. She was ill for months, so when she recovered I rewarded her with a trip to Ramsgate. My cousin and I had hired a companion for her. She came to us with good references but proved to be other than what she seemed. She colluded with someone well known to the Darcy family to persuade my sister to elope... only when they disappeared, I could find no sign of them anywhere and the man never requested her dowry."
"And no ransom note either, I assume?" Edward Gardiner asked.
"None. There has been no contact of any kind until this."
"Which means that the pair who took your sister did so on the behest of Franklin Darcy."
"So you know my distant cousin?"
"As a merchant of a large business who deals regularly with members of the Ton, it behooves me to keep an eye on who pays their bills and who defaults. Franklin Darcy is of the latter category. This also explains why you have received no contact yet. He is currently in Ireland, most likely dodging creditors. If he hired the other two to abduct your sister for his bride, then they must have instructions to hide in his house and await his return. That may be very soon, based on what I know of the man's movements."
"You are very well informed," Darcy remarked with surprise even as he led them to the waiting carriages.
Jane could see that Mr. Darcy intended to send them off in their own carriage, but she felt the need to object, "Uncle, Mr. Darcy, I realize that this is no longer our affair, but I truly feel that we should accompany you to this address."
Darcy blinked in surprise, "I see no... For what reason, Miss Bennet?"
"Because even if your sister is safe from the attentions of her abductor..." she blushed, but made herself continue, "She will still be traumatized. She may need a woman's touch to help her. Besides, that will free you to dispense with the villains."
While Mr. Darcy prepared an argument against the ides, Mr. Gardiner rubbed his chin, "You have a point, Jane. Besides, the house is currently surrounded by my men. If you require their assistance, Mr. Darcy, then you may need my presence."
Darcy looked back and forth, then nodded. Just then his cousin, Lord Ashbourn arrived at a fast walk. The viscount blinked when Darcy handed the beautiful blond up into the carriage and asked, "Darcy?"
By way of explanation Darcy handed the cloth strip to his cousin. Ashbourn read it, cursed and then nodded in apology to the young lady. "Forgive me." He climbed in next to Darcy and saw the other, older man sitting beside the beauty. "So it wasn't Wickham after all?"
"It was Wickham, but now we know that he did not take Georgiana to marry her himself. He took her on Franklin's orders."
"Those two were always the worst of the lot at King's College. We should have considered the connection. And why has no wedding taken place?"
"Because, according to Mr. Gardiner here, the man has to return from Ireland first."
Darcy apologized then and made introductions. When Miss Bennet failed to flirt with his cousin after his title was made known, Darcy felt oddly relieved. But then he noted how his cousin reacted to the name Gardiner, and the set to Mr. Gardiner's jaw. "You're pardon, but have the two of you met before?"
Instead of replying directly, Lord Ashbourn spoke directly to Mr. Gardiner, "It seems that you know of our shared family history?" He asked. Mr. Gardiner nodded, "but does anyone else in your family?"
Edward Gardiner rubbed his hands on his trousers as if to clear the moisture from his palms. It was a gesture Darcy had seen before when someone fought the need to do violence. He watched in alarm and then relief as the man relaxed, "Jane, I am sorry that you have to learn your family history like this. Mr. Darcy, I saw your first reaction to my niece. I have not met your sister, but I can only assume that they look much alike?"
"Yes, from a distance I thought it was her." Jane blushed under Darcy's minute and admiring examination of her face. Up close there are obvious differences. Georgiana is still growing into her features and I fear she has the Darcy nose." Without intending to Darcy was now talking exclusively to Jane, "And her eyes are not the same blue... but you could easily be sisters."
Andrew interjected, "Or second cousins, in fact."
That got the attentions of both Darcy and Jane as they looked back and forth between the two other passengers in the coach. Mr. Gardiner furnished, "Jane, your mother is the daughter of my father's first wife, Jane Marie Gardiner, nee Osgood. She lived in Kympton on her father's estate. She was a dark-haired beauty like your sister Elizabeth, though Lizzy also has many of the Bennet features. When she was only four and ten, Captain Arthur Fitzwilliam, third son of the then Earl of Matlock, saw her walking from their estate to another to visit a friend... whereupon he imposed himself on her in a most violent manner..."
Jane, who always wished to believe the best of everyone, was shocked at this. Darcy wanted to hold the poor young woman and comfort her. Where did that thought come from. Get yourself together, man! Mr. Gardiner continued, "The then Lord Matlock, when told of this, was willing to force his son to marry poor Jane, but our Grandfather Osgood would not see his dear child wed to such a man. Instead he found a man he deeply respected by the name of Elton Gardiner to wed her to. Sadly, she died giving birth to your mother. Eloise and I are the children of his second wife."
Lord Ashbourn added, "There are no excuses for such a crime, but father did tell me that his younger brother was deeply troubled from his battlefield experiences... He shot himself two years later. Though my grandfather tried to maintain contact with the Osgoods and Gardiners, neither wished the association. I apologize for forcing my presence on you now, Mr. Gardiner, Miss Bennet."
Jane shook her head, "You cannot be blamed for your uncle's crime any more than your father can... Does my mother know any of this?"
Edward Gardiner replied, "She does not and she never shall. You know that my eldest sister has never had an ounce of discretion." All three men could see that the young woman wanted to protest, then she nodded instead. "You are right, of course. That there could be such evil... and now poor Miss Darcy is in equal danger."
Darcy's opinion of this remarkably beautiful young woman had been slowly growing. To have her now learn of such a horrific crime against her own family, only to focus instead on the danger to a stranger... She is as stunning within as she is without! Jane Bennet is nothing like the greedy, grasping women of the Ton!
Andrew interrupted his admiration by asking, "It just occurred to me: how did you happen to come upon this note anyway?"
Jane answered, "My Aunt Gardiner is in charge of a charity which collects garments that the wealthy discard and rework them. The highest quality ones are resold and the profits used to feed the poor. The rest are remade into garments for the poor to wear."
Darcy grinned widely, "Altford House! My mother, Lady Anne Darcy, founded the charity! That would make your wife the former Madeline Pembroke, daughter to the parson of Lambton!"
While Mr. Gardiner was happily confirming the connection, Jane was trying to catch her breath. Mr. Darcy needs to stop smiling like that. My heart can't take it. What a handsome man! And he is just what a gentleman ought to be.
Jane continued speaking just so that she could catch her equilibrium, "Whenever my sister and I visit the Gardiners, we help with repairing and altering the donations. I was doing just that this morning when I came upon this message sewn inside of a dress."
Andrew slapped his thigh, "Georgie couldn't get a message out any other way, but she knows about the charity that her mother founded. Clever girl!"
The coach pulled to a stop and everyone focused on the here and now. "We are here." Darcy said, taking charge, "Mr. Gardiner, could you please check with your men for any changes while Andrew and I organize my people?"
Edward returned with the report, "There are only five people inside that we know of. The only servants are the butler and the housekeeper, an old married couple named the Milford's. The house was closed up until another couple and a young lady arrived. Since they entered the structure, only the first four have left at various times. Never the young lady... who must be Miss Darcy."
In the end it turned out to be rather simple for them to enter the house. Edward's spies had learned that the younger man liked to slip out in the evening to visit the local gambling hell. They simply waited until the door opened, knock George Wickham out, and walked into the building. Mrs. Younge, the foresworn companion, fought like a cat but a pistol pointed at her face made her see reason. The elderly couple did not even try to resist. They seemed bewildered by the entire drama.
Georgiana Darcy had remained brave throughout her ordeal, yet when she saw her brother, she threw herself into his arms and collapsed in tears. No time was wasted in spiriting her away to the carriage. Georgiana did not know who the beautiful young woman in the carriage was, but she gave off such a feeling of peace and goodness that the younger girl liked her instantly. She was soon clinging to her like the mother she never knew. Jane, who was born to be a mother and who often played that role with her younger sisters, knew just how to comfort the girl.
Mr. Gardiner was a very good judge of men, so he felt safe allowing his niece to ride back to Darcy House with the brother and sister while he and the viscount wrapped up matters at Franklin Darcy's house. George Wickham and Millicent Younge were remanded to the care of the constable pending a quiet trial. The other couple, who seemed terrified and confused by everything, were left to mind the house but warned that they might still be arrested.
Lord Ashbourn sent several of his own men to accost Franklin Darcy on his journey home with a clear message: "If you step foot on English soil... ever again... your life is forfeit." After the war the family would learn that Franklin Darcy boarded a ship for the continent, landing in Holland. There he managed to run afoul of of a wealthy local dignitary by importuning the man's daughter. Nothing more was heard on the matter and Franklin Darcy was never heard of again.
Jane spent that night in Georgiana Darcy's room, holding the girl while she writhed in nightmares, singing softly to her and stroking her hair. In the wee hours she woke and the two talked for hours before Georgiana slept again. A bond of sisterhood was formed that would only grow over a lifetime. Darcy, who woke twice, peeked in on the scene and found himself entranced. He returned to his rooms safe in the knowledge that Georgiana was well taken care of... and that he had found the woman he wanted as his wife.
The next morning Jane sat to breakfast with Mr. Darcy and reassured him, "This Mr. Wickham threatened your poor sister regularly with what he should do to 'revenge himself' against you, Mr. Darcy, but he never did anything because Mrs. Younge intervened and reminded him of the pay that the other Mr. Darcy promised. Mrs. Younge caught your sister trying to throw a note on paper out of the window. She dragged her away from the window and slapped her, but that was the worst of it.
"When Georgiana complained that a dress was ripped, Mrs. Younge gave her a sewing basket and told her to fix it herself. Mr. Wickham was out at the time and Mrs. Younge was sleeping, when Georgiana saw the familiar red and white striped box-wagon from Altford House moving from house to house. She used the marking lead from the sewing basket to write the note, then did a quick-stitch to attach it to the inside. From there she just had to give the dress to Mrs. Milford for the collection. The old man and woman were more frightened of their master than complicit, and she saw no harm in passing the dress on to the collection man."
Mr. Darcy sipped his coffee, his preferred morning drink, and regarded the beautiful Miss Bennet with admiration, "And then the dress came into your hands. I could not be prouder of my sister for her ingenuity. And I cannot thank you enough for your part."
His admiring gaze made Jane blush, so she hurried on, "I tried to make her understands that she saved herself through her swift and clever ploy. That might help to restore her confidence. She felt helpless, but she found her own way to affect her rescue."
"You are absolutely right. Thank you for helping her to understand that. I shall work to reinforce that idea when I speak with her. But I can also never forget your part in her rescue and her recovery. You are a wonder, Miss Bennet."
The two got lost in each other's eyes until Lord Ashbourn cleared his throat. Jane blushed and soon excused herself to rejoin Georgiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had talked the matter of Jane's continued presence at Darcy House. Few knew that Jane could be just as stubborn as any of her sisters when there was good to be done for another. Yet it was not proper or feasible for them to leave Jane there alone with the brother and sister. Jane was too beautiful for anyone to believe that a single man like Mr. Darcy could remain unaffected. Edward Gardiner had seen the man's admiring gaze more than once, so he knew this to be true. If matters were allowed to continue as they stood, then Jane's reputation would be ruined.
The first resolution was to send for Elizabeth Bennet, Jane's next eldest sister and her best friend. If Lizzy was with Jane, it would take a cavalry unit to harm her. The next resolution would require a conversation with Mr. Darcy. This turned out to be easier than expected: "I share your same concerns, Mr. Gardiner. Miss Bennet's presence right seems to be necessary for my sister's continued improvement. So if I remove to Matlock House, I can be nearby for my sister without compromising your niece's reputation. I will not lie to you. When this is all over, when Georgiana is better, I will be asking to court Miss Bennet. She is everything that I have looked for in a wife and have not found among the Ton. She is mature, intelligent, kind, and quite beautiful as well."
The fact that her beauty was listed last told Edward all that he needed to know, "When the time comes, I will support your suit to my brother. Jane just turned one and twenty, so she will make her own decisions, but she remains respectful to her parents. I should warn you that she and her sister Elizabeth are the best of the lot. The rest, including their parents, leave much to be desired."
"You have not met my aunt, Lady Catherine. It will be asking much for any woman to accept me with my aunt thrown into the bargain."
-oOo-
Elizabeth Bennet arrived the next day as requested and was immediately installed at Darcy House. Just as with Jane, Georgiana's lonely heart soon cleaved to Elizabeth as well. Never before in her life had she known such companionship as she received from these two sisters. So much did she enjoy her time with them that she soon forgot to be affected by the events of the past month.
As he promised, Mr. Darcy slept at Matlock House, but he and his cousin spent many an hour at Darcy House and in the presence of the two remarkable Bennet sisters. Whereas Jane was all that was genteel and kind, her sister enjoyed a good debate, even if the "debate" sounded like an argument in anyone else's ears. Darcy enjoyed this second sister as well and thought to himself that he would quite enjoy having her as his sister.
Andrew, on the other hand, thought that this more fiery sister with her fine eyes and quick wit might just have what it took to be a viscountess. As the days wore on, he became more and more enchanted with this spitfire. Of course there was the matter of the sin of his great uncle toward her family to contend with. He resolved to make an excursion to Gracechurch Street to discuss the matter with Edward Gardiner. He found the man to be at-peace on the matter, "You are not your great-uncle, Lord Ashbourn. His sins do not belong to you. I observed you at dinner yesterday evening, so your visit is no surprise to me.
"What you do need to consider is this: Jane and Elizabeth are both intelligent. Jane's intelligence seeks ways to make life better for those around her. Elizabeth's intelligence is the type that does not have much tolerance for fools. She can be judgmental and stubborn, but she shares her sister's goodness. She does not use her wit to harm... but pity the fool who tries to attack her verbally. If you married her, you would have to respect the fact of who she is, not expect her to fit into another's mold. A life with our dear Elizabeth would not be without contention."
"I am three and thirty, Mr. Gardiner. The reason I have never married is because I despise 'the mold' that the Ton uses. And she and I have already crossed swords twice. She reminds me of my own mother in her fiery nature. I can live with that. With your permission, I would like to court your niece... after she and her sister remove from Darcy House, of course."
Mr. Gardiner had already written to the girl's father, Mr. Bennet, but he knew the answer, "If Elizabeth is willing, then you have my blessing."
So while Darcy spent many daytime hours talking with Jane, with or without Georgiana present, and coming to know each other better, the other pair debated. While the latter pair seemed to quite enjoy their fracases, the trio often moved to another room. Georgiana liked both sisters but it was Jane, with her peaceful air, her kind nature, and her gentle smiles which she favored for her brother. Fitzwilliam Darcy felt the same. He quickly adopted the spitfire as a friend and potential sister, but found that Jane's spirit soothed him. It was clear to Georgiana that both couples were falling in love in their own way.
The best of intentions do not always work out. In this case Lord Ashbourn's promise to wait to declare himself was directly impacted by the sudden and unwelcome appearance of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Darcy had long known that she had a spy either in his house or close-by, so it should have been no surprise that she learned of a beautiful and single young woman living at Darcy House. Since the woman wanted Darcy to marry her own sickly daughter, it was also no surprise that she rushed to London to fix the matter.
Unfortunately or fortunately, neither Darcy nor Lord Ashbourn were there when the grand lady arrived. As it happened, that morning Georgiana had been speaking to the sisters about her dollhouse from childhood which was stored in the attic. Jane was wild to see it, but Elizabeth, who had never much cared for dolls, saw this as an opportunity to find a new treasure in the Darcy's marvelous library. So it was Elizabeth, not Jane, who was downstairs when Lady Catherine came to call.
"I demand to see my nephew, this minute!" a very superior voice cried, pushing past poor Jarvis."
Elizabeth suppressed a sigh, closed the illustrated copy of "Much Ado About Nothing" which she was enjoying, and rose to greet this termagant, "It is all right, Jarvis. I will speak with this lady." Jarvis, understanding the subtle look in the young woman's eyes, removed himself but soon had both a maid and a footman standing at the edge of the room. Their first duty was to listen so that they could provide an accurate account for the master later. Their second duty was to intervene if the older woman became violent. It was not uncommon in her younger years.
While this scene went on, Jarvis also sent a runner to Matlock House.
"Who are YOU order the Darcy servants about?!"
"I might ask you the same question. Usually when a person enters a home without permission while pushing past servants and entering unannounced, that is considered 'house breaking.' As I have no idea who you are, I wonder, should I send for the constable and magistrate?"
"You... You... I will have you know that I am Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Darcy's aunt and his closest relative. So once again I demand to know: who are you? No, wait, I know exactly who you are Miss Bennet. You are the interloper who has had the indecency to install yourself in the house of a single man without any respect for what is right and proper!"
"You are wrong in this. Mr. Darcy is not in-residence at this time because there are only single women in the house. I am here for Georgiana..."
"You upstart, pretentious harlot! You dare to address my niece, the granddaughter of an earl and great-granddaughter of a duke by her given name?!"
"I do only because that is what Miss Darcy asked me to do, Lady Catherine. Her brother knows of this and has no objection, so why should you?"
"Do you have any idea who I am, young woman?!"
"I believe that we have already established that."
"Miss Bennet, I will come directly to the point. It has been reported to me that not only have you, the niece of a tradesman and daughter of an insignificant land owner imposed yourself upon this family, but now my nephew is considering wedding his name to yours. Impossible!"
"If you believe it to be so, then why come here?"
"At once to have this rumor proven wrong."
"Your coming here will do more to promote the rumor than to dispel it." Elizabeth saw Darcy and the Viscount enter the library behind the elder lady, but she stopped them from coming any further by the slightest movement of her hand. Darcy looked around for his sister and Jane, so Elizabeth, keeping her hands down, pointed one finger upward.
Lady Catherine was oblivious to any of this and spent the next several minutes haranguing Elizabeth and demanding answers. Finally she asked the most important question, "Are you engaged to my nephew?!"
Elizabeth had grown tired of playing cat and mouse with this self-important woman, so she relented and answered, "I am not engaged to Mr. Darcy."
"And will you promise never to engage yourself to him?"
"Although I am tempted to refuse your request for the sole reason that I find your officiousness to be inexcusable, I will instead answer fully: I promise to never engage myself to your nephew, Fitzwilliam Darcy. Not because you ask it of me, but because he and I have no romantic interest in each other. I am here for Miss Darcy until such time as she no longer needs me."
Lady Catherine wanted to have the chit removed, but she had to satisfy herself with the answer she received. "Know this, young woman. I shall remember your promise. You shall know my wrath should you set yourself against me." And with that she stormed out.
Earlier, Andrew Fitzwilliam, Lord Ashbourn had rushed over with Darcy to help the young ladies. Instead he found the woman who had captured his attention standing up to Lady Catherine effortlessly. After her gesture telling them not to interfere, Darcy rushed up the stairs to check on his sister and his love interest. Andrew took a seat in the darkest corner of the library and watched the scene. What a woman! The Ton will have no chance against her!
Elizabeth shook her head in disgust at the woman who had just departed and then turned her head to regard Lord Ashbourn. "Do you have any more relatives like that one, my Lord?"
Still on his private train of thought, he answered carelessly, "My father can be headstrong at times, but he is a sensible man. He may take an hour or two to convince. The rest of my family will love you as soon as the meet you. You were marvelous!"
Elizabeth colored brightly, fully cognizant of the meaning behind Andrew's words. From the moment she met Andrew Fitzwilliam she was drawn to his handsome face and form. Over time she also learned to appreciate his intelligence, his easy wit, and... most of all... the way he listened and spoke to her as an equal. She knew that she was in danger of falling in love with the man. Now she knew that it was too late. She was wholly and irrevocably in love with a man far above her station.
Andrew had suddenly become aware of what he had said. Now he watched her reaction. Her blush and that secretive smile was all that he needed to go on with, "Miss Elizabeth, I told your uncle I would wait until you were no longer in this house, but now I cannot wait." He stood and asked, "Will you allow me to court you... with the very clear understanding that I only wish to do so in order to convince you that I would make a suitable husband for a woman of your strength, intelligence, and character?"
Elizabeth smiled widely, but it quickly fell into a concerned frown, "This would be much easier if you were not a viscount and the heir to an earldom, Lord Ashbourn. I would gladly tie myself to you this very day if our only concern was spending our lives together. But am I truly suited to take on the roles and responsibilities that come with being your wife?"
Andrew walked toward Elizabeth, taking unfair advantage by imposing his height and manliness on her, "The very fact that you ask such a question is a demonstration of your worthiness. Most ladies of the Ton would only care about my title, the wealth, and the prestige. Your concern is suitability and responsibility." He used one of his large hands to take one of hers. He lifted his other hand to caress her soft cheek, "Say yes, my darling Elizabeth."
"What am I saying yes to, courtship or betrothal?" Elizabeth teased.
"Yes."
He pressed his advantage by moving even closer.
Elizabeth gulped, then nodded slightly, her eyes never leaving Andrew's face, "Then yes."
"Yes to courtship or yes to an betrothal?"
"Yes."
She stood on her tip-toes and raised her lips in the most inviting way. Andrew understood and complied quite happily.
From behind them there was a gasp, a giggle and then Darcy's voice saying, "I thought we agreed that we would hold our requests until after the ladies returned to their uncle?"
Jane colored bright, but could not hide her smile at the clear implication. Georgiana squealed and hugged Jane with joy, then rushed over to do the same with Elizabeth.
Meanwhile Darcy turned to Jane. He started to speak and then took her hand and pulled her into the next room for privacy, "I did not mean to do that in this way, but there it is: Jane Bennet, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. Your determination to do what is right, your intelligence, your maturity, your sweet, giving nature, and your beauty have captivated me from the moment we met and have only increased my admiration each day I come to know you better. I intended to ask for a courtship, but the truth is that I do not need one to make my decision. The answer is up to you. Will you make me the happiest of men and consent to become my wife?"
Jane smiled often, but the smile that she gave Fitzwilliam Darcy at that time could have launched a thousand ships, "Yes, Mr. Darcy, I love you and will happily marry you."
Epilogue
Happy was the day, for most at least, when the Matlocks married off two of their three most confirmed bachelors to the two sisters who had stolen their hearts. Lady Catherine was livid when she discovered that she had confronted the wrong sister and she would always feel that she was ill-used. Lord and Lady Matlock had been looking for a reason to return to England, and judging the worthiness of the next viscountess was a sound reason indeed.
As Andrew promised, the countess loved her new daughter right away, but the earl took an hour and a half, not two hours, to convince. They were so busy judging Elizabeth that they forgot to do the same for Darcy and Jane... which suited them quite well.
The weddings were held at St. Paul's, naturally, so even Mrs. Bennet set aside her boisterous nature to appreciate the solemnity of the event. To appease the brides' mother, Lady Matlock involved Mrs. Bennet heavily in planning the wedding breakfast, but the setting and the consequence of her future in-laws served to quiet her there as well. She even scolded Lydia into good behavior on more than one occasion.
Jane Darcy was not made to live in conflict and Darcy had little or no interest in events of the Ton. As soon as they returned from their wedding trip they installed themselves happily at Pemberley and seldom left. They had a brood of beautiful children who were all peacemakers. Over the years many outsiders from the highest circles visited Pemberley and expected nothing good upon meeting the "country nobody" who had "entrapped" Mr. Darcy. Instead they found a remarkably beautiful and genteel young woman who made her home into a sanctuary of peace for all who stepped in.
Everyone noticed the changes in Mr. Darcy as well. He was more relaxed. He was more kind. He was more welcoming. If there was any complaint from among his set, it was that "He smiled too much!"
The home that Jane made suited Georgiana as well. Though she recovered from the trauma of her abduction, she remained wary of people in general. She remained safe, secure, and happy at Pemberley until the third son of a Duke, a gifted musician, finally lured her out of her place of safety at the age of eight and twenty.
Elizabeth Fitzwilliam, Lady Ashbourn, was not one to seek a confrontation and seldom one to back down from one. It only took two such public set-downs for her to be labeled as "formidable" and better left alone. From that point on all that she usually had to do was raise that eyebrow and her adversary would flee the field of battle. With the help and guidance of her husband and mother-in-law, she learned all of the written and unwritten duties of the wife of a peer. When the sad day came for the Earl to pass and for Andrew to take over, Elizabeth carried the role of a countess like it was a second skin.
They had four children, two boys and two girls, who were all raised to be just as honorable and formidable as their parents.
A judge heard the case of George Wickham and Mrs. Younge in a private session. He gave them the choice of quite transportation to Australia or a public charge of kidnapping, which would most certainly result in hangings. They chose Australia. Like their employer, they were never heard of again.
After the marriages: The Earl sat down with Jane and Elizabeth and their respective husbands. "I asked you to come to my office today to discuss a matter that is long overdue. Ladies, you are both now aware of the sin that my uncle committed against your grandmother. At the time my grandfather attempted to contribute to the care of Jane Osgood and was rejected. Mr. Osgood did not hold the rest of the family responsible, but he was also unwilling to receive anything from us. Nevertheless, Grandfather Matlock set aside the sum of twenty-thousand and placed it into an interest-bearing fund. When my uncle ended his life, Grandfather also took what was in Captain Fitzwilliam's accounts and added it to the other.
"Those monies have remained untouched and accruing interest since around the time of your mother's birth. He slid a paper across to the two former Bennet girls and let them read the figure. They looked more than a little faint at the amount. "It is and had always been your family's money. I now propose to leave it to the pair of you to decide how it might best be put to use. I know that your mother is terrified of what will happen when your father passes, so you might start there. I will leave you to speak with your husbands on the matter."
In the end it was agreed by all that a small estate be purchased for Mrs. Bennet to house her and guarantee and income in her waning years. The estate boasted a good sized, but not grand manor house for her to decorate as she wished. The remaining monies were split to provide dowries for the three remaining daughters. By agreement between the sisters, she was never told the true source of her sinecure. As much as it grated, the two sons-in-law had to take the credit and listen to her worshipful praise whenever they were in company.
With their dowries and the help of two prominent brothers... and without the interference of Mrs. Bennet... the last three daughters married well to men who suited them.
Because the new estate was only fifteen miles from the Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet spent much of her time there and less and less time at Longbourn. Given the nature of their marriage, neither wife nor husband found that situation unpleasant. Mr. Bennet, having finally secured the peace he had longed for, soon found the silence cloying. He often took trips to see one or the other of his eldest daughters at their estates... where he installed himself in their libraries. The noises of a growing family suited the man just fine as he continued in his reading.
AN: I hope that this will satisfy the request for this particular pairing. Truthfully it was as hard for me to write because I wanted Jane to remain Jane while she won Darcy's heart. Soon after I began, however, I allowed the characters to run the story and they took care of it for me. This has been revamped because I left out or smudged certain details. Hopefully they have been addressed now.