The Canadian

While Elizabeth is a Bennett, she is not a daughter of Longbourn. Her father is a distant Bennett, while her mother was of related to the Longbourn Bennets. When relations between the U.S. And Great Britain began to disintegrate for a second time, her father decided it would be best to send her back to home shores for safety.

At Amberley Hall, 1811

Elizabeth Bennett (yes, two t's) heard the patter of the two spaniels running towards her from behind a full minute before the two warm bodies bumped into her legs. The portrait hall was long and gave them a good running start. She laughed at the mischievous pair, but then warned, "If you make me spill this tray, you scamps, then I will not be pleased." The squirming, happy mutts ran past her down the hall and through the next door.

A worried maid approached and gently scolded, "I should be carrying that, Miss. It is my job and you should not lower yourself like this."

Not wishing to get the maid in trouble, Elizabeth surrendered the tea serving, "I do apologize, Bridget. Blame it on my colonial upbringing, but I shall never adjust to being waited on hand and foot. You should be thankful that I am not strapping on a rifle and running off to shoot a venison for our supper." She waggled her eyebrows and the young maid giggled, "You jest, Miss Beth. I know from your stories that Halifax is well-settled."

"True, but all of the ladies here in Northhampshire prefer to see me as a savage, just this side of the natives. I wonder what they would think if I were to attend a morning visit in my buckskins?"

Lady and servant walked giggling into the sitting room, where Lord Albert Bennett, Baron Amberley, looked up and regarded the pair with mock scorn. "Are you scandalizing my poor staff with your wild ways again, my dear niece?" His two spaniels seemed to mimic his expression in their adorable fashion.

Bridget adjusted her face to its properly solemn expression, but Elizabeth merely widened her smile, "Of course, Uncle. We savage frontier types must do all we can to save you poor English stay-at-homes from all of that 'stiff upper lip' tripe. Imagine if we did not intervene? Your faces might very well freeze that way and then where would you be?"

The baron laughed. Bridget, stifling a giggle, curtsied and quickly left the room. Elizabeth poured tea for her uncle and for herself. The elderly man gestured to the two letters peaking out of his niece's dress pocket, "Any news of importance, Dear?"

Elizabeth tapped the side of her cup, considering, "Father writes that the Americans are becoming increasingly angry both about the continuing impressment by the Royal Navy and the arming of the Iraquois. You know Father's own feelings about that, given what happened to mother. He also writes that there are American's moving among the populace trying to foment a revolution against British control. He fears that war in inevitable even if Parliament finally ceases their trade sanctions as they are discussing."

Baron Amberley huffed, "Well, we knew this would happen from the time that your father sent you to me for safe-keeping. Having lost so many over the years ago in an attack by natives armed by the French... I am astonished that he has not sold off his holdings and returned to our shores himself."

"He never will, Uncle. Father was born in Nova Scotia. The Bennetts have held lands in that area since the colony was first established. And when this has all settled again, then he shall send for me."

"Unless, of course, a young Englishman manages to snatch you up first and make you his bride?"

Elizabeth scoffed, "Ah yes, then he could trot out the savage colonist at every ball and dinner party. No, Uncle, I am convinced that I will only ever marry a man who will respect me for who I am and who I wish to be. And therefore I shall never marry but rather return to the Canadas and will live as a trapper, blazing new trails into the interior of that savage continent I call home."

The Baron chuckled and shook his head. Whether by Providence or by dint of exercise, his beautiful niece had a light and pleasing figure, as well as a natural athletic grace which had attracted many a male eye. Though most in England chose to regard the Canadas as a savage backwater, he knew that men like Henry Bennett were making fortunes in fur, logging, and trade. In fact, Elizabeth was an heiress whose true fiduciary worth was a rival to the daughters of peers.

"And what of your second letter?"

Elizabeth set down her cup and allowed herself a fond smile, "Dear Jane! I am so pleased that I was able to meet a branch of Mother's family, even if, as Father often teased, Mother's family tragically lost a "T" somewhere in their history." Her father, Henry Bennett, had met and married a young woman by the name of Margaret Bennet. The family traced their roots to the county of Hertfordshire, England. So when Elizabeth arrived on England's shores, she had made inquiries. "I am invited to pay a visit, for as long as I may wish, to the estate of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. Do you think that you might spare me for a month or two? I will rejoin you in London in time for the festive season."

The Baron considered, "I have been invited to a hunting party in Nottingham, where I thought to introduce you to several promising young men..." He saw his niece's expression and returned a mock-scowl, "... but I am afraid that the poor fools must be disappointed. If you can be ready, I will send you with my best carriage to the dangerous wilds of Hertfordshire a full week before Michaelmas."

Elizabeth rose and kissed her uncle's cheek, "I shall take the second-best carriage, Uncle. You will need the cushions of the best for your own travels."

"Are you suggesting that I am old and frail, you impertinent child?" he jested back with bluster.

Her eyes twinkled and she laughed as she skipped out of the room.

Eight days later, Elizabeth overheard the most arrogant, insulting, and amusing words she had ever heard up until that point in her life. She was sitting, taking a break from dancing, when a very handsome man came to a stop near her. She had noticed him, of course, and observed him moving about the room, mostly in the shadows, for the past two hours or more. He seemed to be avoiding the self-important young woman... Elizabeth could not make herself call her a lady... who had tried to attach herself to his person throughout the evening. She would have felt sorry for the man, but his very clear disdain for all and sundry prevented any such sympathy on her part.

"She is tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me!" He might have said more, but Elizabeth could not contain a burst of laughter. The arrogant man's face turned red as he realized tha he had been overheard... and found amusing. Elizabeth stood and walked by in her most dignified manner, her eyes twinkling in mirth. Perhaps the Americans have it right after all.

Fitzwilliam Darcy, for his part, was torn between shame at being overheard, anger that the girl was eavesdropping, and a sudden fascination with a pair of fine, flashing eyes. She was speaking to another woman now and still laughing. It was an alarmingly attractive sound, despite his shame. His friend, Charles Bingley, recalled his attention, "Darcy, I would not be as fastidious as you for the world. And that was very poorly done. Very poorly indeed."

As his friend walked away and reclaimed the attention of the blond who he had fixated on since entering the room, Darcy could only agree. I will need to make this right. Charles needs to establish a good reputation among the gentry of the area, such as they are.

But when he attempted to approach the young woman in order to apologize, she somehow managed to elude him over and over again.

Just as she had at Amberley, Elizabeth spent much of her private time exploring the roads and paths around Longbourn. On the day after the assembly ball this was especially easy, since everyone else remained abed for longer than usual. Hertfordshire had nothing on the wild coastlines and hills of Nova Scotia, but it was still beautiful in a pastoral sort of way. She especially liked the nearest hill on the northern edge of Longbourn's property, Oakham Mount.

On this particular morning she was watching the sunrise when another person intruded on her privacy... the last person she wished to see. "Your pardon, Miss, but I suppose that it is fortuitous that I found you here this morning."

"And why would that be, Mr. Darcy? Have you spent the remainder of your evening fashioning new and better insults?"

Darcy had indeed experienced difficulty sleeping that night. He had gone on this early morning ride in the hopes of clearing his head and finding a way to speak to the very person who he now found at the top of this hill. "No... actually, I was attempting to fashion an appropriate apology?"

"Perhaps you might try: 'I am English, and therefore I must be better than you, but I shall apologize nonetheless'."

"I...?" Darcy removed his top hat and ran one hand through his hair in frustration. It gave him a disheveled appearance which actually appealed to Elizabeth... which only further served to irritate her. She did not want to find this man attractive. He found his voice, "I must admit to being confused. What does being English have anything to do with this? Are you not English. The last time that I looked on a map, Hertfordshire was just north of London."

Elizabeth realized his confusion and laughed. "Oh dear, I understand your confusion now. Sir, I am not a Bennet... or at least a Longbourn Bennet. Or rather I suppose that I was... or am... through my mother. But as my father used to tease, 'We have all of our T's, thank you very much."

Mr. Darcy looked just as confused as before, an expression which Elizabeth found irritatingly adorable, so she explained further. "Sir, I am only visiting my dear friend and second-cousin, Jane Bennet. I name the colony of Halifax as my home, in the Canadas, but I am currently residing with my uncle, Baron Amberley. Like the baron, we spell our surname with two T's. My father met my mother, who was a cousin to Mr. Bennet of Longbourn, in a western settlement bordering on the unclaimed lands." She stood and smoothed her skirts, "Now then, Sir, though I am accounted a savage by most Englishmen and women, I am nevertheless aware that it is inappropriate for the two of us to be alone on this fine little hill. So if you will excuse me?"

"Will you not hear my apology?" Darcy asked, finding himself even more fascinated by this interesting creature.

She tilted her head, "You said that you were attempting to fashion an apology. Why not save it for when it is fully fashioned. Your off-the-cuff insult needed a little polishing to reach its full potential." Without giving the man another glance, she walked briskly down the hill towards Longbourn.

Darcy remained in place, stunned, bewildered, and utterly fascinated.

It was just under two months later when the pair happened to meet on the same hill again... Well, it would not be entirely truthful to say that this meeting, or any of the others leading up to it, were by accident. Experience had taught both that they were likely to find the other on the crest, and that it was just as likely that they would discover the other alone. They knew this, but both maintained the polite fiction that they were not expecting... perhaps even hoping to find the other there.

Much had passed during the time leading up to this day. Elizabeth had spent a week at Netherfield Park taking care of her second-cousin and dear friend Jane. Elizabeth had shared many debates with Mr. Darcy and traded barbs with Miss Bingley.

When Bennett and Bennet had returned to Longbourn, they were shortly thereafter assaulted by the presence of another odd cousin, Mr. Collins. The man had been sent there to find a wife. He had first fixed his sights on Jane, then had to be pointed most pointedly away from Elizabeth, and had finally decided on Miss Mary Bennet. Since Mary was willing, the couple were now married and gone to live in a southern county of Kent.

Next Elizabeth and the Longbourn Bennets were introduced to a handsome but questionable militia officer by the name of George Wickham. He attempted to spin a web of lies about Mr. Darcy, but since Elizabeth had gotten to know Mr. Darcy better she chose not to believe the man. There had been great speculation about Elizabeth's fortune, so Wickham fixated on her for a while, but when he could gain no traction with her, he moved on.

And finally there was a ball at Netherfield where Mr. Darcy danced two sets with Elizabeth Bennett. Even though the Longbourn guests were among the last to leave, Elizabeth still found herself up on Oakham Mount with her Mr. Darcy that next morning. "You must allow me to tell you..."

"Oh please, Mr. Darcy! You are not trying to apologize again? I forgive you!"

"Teasing woman! Please do me the courtesy of allowing me to speak!" Darcy rebutted playfully. He had learn to be teased and to tease back in his time with this challenging young woman.

Elizabeth sighed dramatically and then said, "If you must. Please proceed."

Darcy scowled at her, but could not maintain the scowl under that sparkling gaze. "Now, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted..."

"I would hardly call accepting an apology 'rude.'" Then, when the tall man glared at her meaningfully, she contritely said, "My apologies. Please do continue."

"Elizabeth, Bennett, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. Since almost the very first moment of our acquaintance I have been captivated by your beauty, your intelligence, and everything about you. I might even admit that I would happily endure your teasing for the rest of our lives together... If you would kindly consent to being my wife?"

Elizabeth had both wished for and feared this moment. Her life was back with her father in Halifax, but here was a man... the only man... who challenged and fascinated her in every way. Did she want to throw away her life back home... or did she want to fashion a new life with this exceptional man here in England?

"Elizabeth?"

"You do know that many of your friends and relatives will never accept me?"

"I think that you might be surprised. As soon as they come to know the Elizabeth that I know, they cannot help but love you."

"But what of my father... and my home?"

"I am... we will be very wealthy, dearest. It will be no hardship to make the occasional journey to visit your father. I love you, Elizabeth. Please tell me that you feel the same?"

Elizabeth looked into those worried eyes and knew at that moment that she was lost. The mere idea of going anyplace where Mr. Darcy was not was too much to bear, "I do love you, Fitzwilliam Darcy. You are the only man I could ever be prevailed upon to marry."

Fanny Bennet would always feel ill-used when a distant relative of the Bennets came for a visit and stole the wealthiest bachelor to ever visit this area in years. But she could see that her Jane was quite pleased with her Mr. Bingley, so she tried to let the feeling pass.

It was no difficulty for Darcy to obtain permission from Baron Amberley to marry his niece. When the amount of her dowry was revealed, Darcy was shocked... which pleased the Baron. He knew then that the man had truly chosen Elizabeth for her person, not her wealth.

Theirs was a very happy marriage, but it was another four years before the couple deemed it safe enough to sail across the Atlantic with their first two children, a son and a daughter, to pay an extended visit to Henry Bennett. Although Elizabeth had implied as much, Darcy was still shocked to learn that his father-in-law's properties were actually larger than Darcy's own estate. The two men got along well and Henry was overjoyed to meet his grandchildren. Over the following decades the trips back and forth across the Atlantic happened with remarkable frequency.

The first Darcy son, Henry, was so enamored with the new country that he chose to relocate and inherit from his grandfather rather than become Master of Pemberley. That role fell to their second son, Albert, named after the Baron who was a frequent guest and the godfather to several Darcy children.

One secret about Elizabeth would always give Mr. Darcy amusement. She had often jested about hunting with the men. One day, while visiting in Canada, she proved that it was actually no jest. Though nobody in England, outside of the immediate family, ever knew the truth, she was a better shot than her husband. Henry Bennett had decided early on that his daughter would know how to defend herself should the need ever arise.

Charles and Jane Bingley never made a trip across the water, but two of their sons joined their friend and cousin in Halifax. Eventually they would be a part of the group pushing west across the vast Canadian wilderness.

For her part, Caroline Bingley would always maintain a deep and abiding hatred for all things Canadian.