Hey everyone! I really appreciate you reading and hope you enjoy it! this is a roughish draft but please do not hesitate to let me know what you think! I am planning a much larger work, maybe 20 plus chapters? :)
Elizabeth Bennet laid still as a stone in her room at the Collins' cottage. She had been in bed now half a day, indulging in serious meditations. Charlotte Collins had come to see her when she missed breakfast. Elizabeth convinced her hostess she did not need to worry, she just had some head pains…pains in the form of a letter from Mr. Darcy!
She could not comprehend his motives when he first approached her a week ago for marriage. She would have thought he was jesting except she knows he is incapable. He had told her how he had labored over his feelings for her, tormented by the inferiority of her family. She was not moved.
Mr. Darcy, she decided, was the most prideful man that ever walked this side of London. He is the sort that could never let a word of criticism pass without answer. Was it not enough that she was made to lay before him how grievously he had wounded her and her family, but now he writes her to defend his actions? He had engineered the separation of her favorite sister, Jane, from a future with a man she matched perfectly! How could Mr. Darcy, who had everything, inheritance, freedom, education, dependable relations, feel threatened enough about her rejection of his ridiculous marriage proposal to write her a response?
Elizabeth reached under her pillow and pulled out several pages that were neatly folded. She read the letter again-
"Be not alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter, by the apprehension of its containing any repetition of those sentiments or renewal of those offers which were so disgusting to you.."
According to the letter, he was completely justified in splitting up Jane and Mr. Charles Bingley, and that Wickham, the man she made acquaintance with this year, was a villain. Every time she read the letter she changed her mind from seriously considering it all as truth and considering it all a farce. How could she discern the truth?
Wickham refused the living offered to him by Darcy's deceased father to join the clergy. Instead, he requested a stipend to pursue a career in law. When that had not worked out, he wanted the job that was first offered in the clergy. Darcy refused him and then, the worst of it, George Wickam attempted to marry Darcy's younger sister, Georgiana, in secret to take her dowry!
She was sure that parts were true- but her heart was not ready to accept them. The part about Mr. Wickam being exposed as a horrible villain - in her head, the pieces fit but the look of them so unpleasant that it hurt to see. It was not the loss of him as a friend- she had assumed she would never see him again once the regiment left Merryton and he had found a brighter target in Miss King. The part that she had trouble accepting was her own terrible misjudgment.
Elizabeth let out a long sigh. The other part that she did not want to admit, that he had shown character in trusting her with a secret that could ruin his sister's reputation. "Curse this letter! Mr. Darcy, my circumstance is none of your concern and yours is not of mine!" Swinging her feet to the floor, Elizabeth was no longer giving him any more of her time. She would seek a new occupation.
In the parlor, Charlotte was darning a shirt for her husband, Mr. Collins, when Elizabeth found her. It was well after lunch, and although she had not eaten since yesterday, Elizabeth found no interest in food. Instead, she craved sustenance that only her friend could provide- laughter. Putting aside her work, Charlotte greeted her friend in a warm embrace. Having inquired about her well-being Elizabeth assured her that all was well and they fell into an easy conversation.
Elizabeth walked about the room while chatting. She could not help but admire the colors of the room. There was a feeling of spring, lush greens and pale pinks complimented each other well amongst the modest furnishings in the room. All was uniform except for a heavy-looking vase with gilded handles and an onyx glaze. The vase depicted an ancient scene of a long-ago civilization. It stood prominently in the front window, something you could not miss even from the road. The piece clashed with the room, Elizabeth guessed it was a gift from Lady Catherine, their chief patroness.
"Where is your sister? I expected to see her helping you with all this." Elizabeth said fiddling over Charlotte's work.
"Maria just left for a walk. I believe she would like to get as much fresh air as possible before your trip to London. She spoke at great length to Dr. Byron about the dangers of bad air in the city when we were last at Rosings. I am sure your aunt will welcome her company if she intends to stay home while you and Jane go out to enjoy yourselves, her concerns are so severe! You better write me often, I want to hear all about London society."
"You can depend upon it! I will give you a full report of all our comings and goings. Poor Jane, she has said in her last letter she is enjoying her time but I can tell she is disappointed that Mr. Bingley has not sought her out."
"Poor Jane? poor you! You barely ate any dinner and this morning you missed breakfast. I was afraid we would have to call Doctor Byron should your condition not improve." Charlotte said taking the work out of Elizabeth's hands and starting back up.
"Doctor Byron is much too important to be troubled by my simple head pains. He is needed too frequently at Rosings for Lady Anne." Elizabeth said trying hard to conceal the smile on her face. She imagined her cousin Mr. Collins arriving at Byron's home hoping that the good doctor would be away. "I cannot imagine the fretful state of Lady Catherine should she call and he is indisposed, especially over someone like me who is merely visiting."
"Oh, I think that he could spare time enough for you Eliza. He is very kind and handsome. I believe he was quite impressed by your ability to play the piano last we were at Rosings."
"I hope all my future audiences are as ignorant as he must be, has the man ever heard someone play before? Even you must admit I have very little talent." Elizabeth giggled giving her friend a look.
"He is a widower you know… without children. His wife left him for God two years ago and he has a strong practice here. There is also the matter of his residence being an hour walk in good weather- just wishful thinking." Charlotte replied flatly with her eyes fixed on her work.
"You will put me in a sickbed with all your wishful thinking." Elizabeth laughed. "I did find Mr. Byron handsome and of good temperament- you have not missed the mark there! The issue lies not with him but me, I lack the charitable personality required of watching a husband attend to others. I am horrible enough that I could not smile about him leaving in the middle of the night for a stranger's bedroom." Truthfully, she thought that Doctor Byron was handsome, however his closeness to Rosings and therefore closeness to Mr. Darcy was too much. The sooner she left Darcy's world the better.
"Eliza, I quite agree." She said with a long pause, "You are horrible." said Mrs. Collins red from embarrassment. She had not considered the life of a doctor's wife.
"I hope you do not judge me too harshly." Elizabeth walked closer to Charlotte. She found her hands absentmindedly picking up some unused fabric to twist in her hands. "Perhaps another man who lives an hour away in the opposite direction of Rosings? A modestly wealthy landowner who enjoys reading and dancing-handsome of course and kind. I mean no disrespect to your livelihood, but I think that Lady Catherine would not approve of someone like myself residing here. She would visit and instruct me on how to better improve my home furnishings for there is always a better choice, her own." Elizabeth said facetiously, gesturing to the large vase in the window.
Mrs. Collins put down the shirt and turned towards Elizabeth. She patted the vacant seat next to her until her friend came around to sit. Charlotte took Elizabeth's hands into her own- "Elizabeth Bennet, I hope that YOU do not judge me too harshly for I have been found out. My plan all along has been to marry you off locally as clearly you require Lady Catherine's instruction far more than I. With you as a distraction, I shall finally be at peace save for when Mr. Collins needs to practice his sermon."
" I see, " Elizabeth said catching the serious tone, "well my dearest friend may I trouble you for some black pepper? Perhaps you can throw some in my face to cause irritations enough to pass for a cold. Let us heat water and splash it on my limbs to imitate a fever. We shall ensnare the unwitting Doctor Byron yet! I am not one to disappoint a friend after all." The two ladies laughed and continued to come up with possible schemes to lure the doctor.
A knock at the door interrupted their jolly conversation. Looking out the front window, a single horse could be seen tied up to the fence post, "I wonder whoever that could be? I was not expecting anyone." Charlotte said getting up.
Elizabeth excused herself to the kitchen pleading a need for food. She noticed an unexpected fit of nervousness creep up within her chest. 'What if the rider is Mister Darcy?' she thought surprised at the fear. Elizabeth scolded herself for such a feeling, he should be the one to avoid her! She decided that it was her dislike of Mr. Darcy that made her nervous- not because the letter had somehow caused her to reconsider her opinion of him.
Having eaten an apple and a piece of bread Elizabeth felt restored. She could tell from her perch on the kitchen stool that it was a man who was with Charlotte. The gender of the guest was ascertained only by his footfall as he followed Charlotte into the parlor. Who was it? The voice was too muffled to tell, but it was gentle sounding- not agitated. The visit was short, after a few minutes the guest was leaving.
Elizabeth returned to the empty parlor and looked out the window to steal a glance at the rider. It was none other than Col. Fitzwilliam! She felt that the world must be on her side today to have a chance to see the Colonel without his scowling cousin Mr. Darcy by his side. Not wanting to miss her chance, Elizabeth rushed out and stopped right before the front door- sparing time for a few deep breaths she opened the door with a sweet smile planted on her face. Although it was made clear that the Col. could not marry for love, she was certain that he thought fondly of her.
"Col. Fitzwilliam, how sorry I would be to have missed you! How are you?" Elizabeth asked walking past Charlotte towards the Col. She could not help but admire his figure in a blue coat.
"Miss Elizabeth!" the man said holding the reins of the chestnut mare. "I am well, thank you. I was just out and about for a bit of sunshine and fresh air. Mrs. Collins told me you were unwell. I say, there is a rosiness to your cheek. Perhaps I should fetch doctor Byron? Say the word and I shall bring him directly." the Col. said taking a slight bow.
"Oh, no thank you. I appreciate your concern but I am well mended. Mrs. Collins is more than adequate at nursing." Elizabeth said feeling her face redden from embarrassment at the mention of Mr. Byron. She distinctly heard a small cough behind her from Charlotte.
"Well then, if you are feeling much better-"
"-I assure you…" Elizabeth said cutting him off.
"Then..." he continued slowly, "there is no reason for you to be missed at dinner tomorrow night. I came to personally invite the Collins, the delightful Miss Bennet, and the charming Miss Lucas. Mrs. Collins has all but agreed so long as your health is improved and it seems it has! Also, I hear that you and Miss Lucas are to leave soon for London to visit family?" The colonel said in a spirited tone. He was adjusting his collar and attending to the beads of sweat that were forming on his forehead. Elizabeth's face froze in contemplation- what did the colonel know about Darcy's confession of love?
Elizabeth said nothing so Charlotte picked up the drop in conversation "Sir, I would of course need to speak with my husband- he should be back soon if you would like to wait?" Charlotte Collins answered from behind Elizabeth.
"You are too kind madam, but I am expected back for a rematch in cards with Darcy. If I were late he may think it an insult to his honor as a card player."
Elizabeth could not help but notice the colonel's gaze on her as he spoke. Was he looking to see if she would react to his name, did he know about the letter too? What does it mean if he does know about the letter- that Mr. Darcy is humble enough to share his feelings- distraught enough to seek comfort from a friend? No, by his own admission in the letter he said he would not make such repulsive overtures again- he has given her up. The letter was vindication and nothing more. If he did speak of the matter to his cousin, it would no doubt be to the cadence of "she is completely undone and ignorant. A woman who cannot tell a gentleman from a villain." Well, Elizabeth would not disappoint herself- SHE would not let the mention of Mr. Darcy spoil her conversation with the Colonel.
"A rematch? In my previous acquaintance with Mr. Darcy I did not take him as a card player- I hope you are not too abusive." Elizabeth said with a slight smile.
"I am hurt that you would assume I play well at cards- do you think all soldiers are natural players?" he replied, teasingly clutching his chest as though he were wounded.
"Not at all, I merely recall that he was not one to join the table without much coaxing," Elizabeth said between giggles. "I do not think you to be an expert card player but that he may be a poor one. If you were a GOOD player I think he would never agree to a rematch as honest as Mr. Darcy is about his shortcomings. I know him personally to only attend to that which he can do well- adventures with unknown outcomes are not things he regularly seeks out." Elizabeth said to him- this time carefully watching his reaction for any tell. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, Col. Fitzwilliam is indeed an excellent card player- he has no tells.
"Always the clever one," Colonel laughed as he climbed up on the chestnut to leave, "You seem to have the sum of my cousin- He does shy from the decidedly poor ventures. He is slow to vest in anything but when he does, he will not give up easily. The reason for our rematch…" he paused for a moment before continuing with gusto, "So! you see the need for your company tomorrow- without you there I am afraid we shall have to play cards and as both of us barely tolerate the game it will be a sorry evening indeed. I shall send someone tomorrow morning with the details for dinner but I must bid you ladies farewell for now. Please send my regards to Mr. Collins."
Mr. Collins was so delighted to receive the invitation to dinner, he went out just as soon as he got home from visiting a neighbor to accept in person. Maria was also excited as she could enjoy the sweet pastries that were put out at dinner once more. Elizabeth was the only one who was at all distressed. When asked about the obvious reluctance she said it was merely her anxiety at traveling the next day to see her sister. Charlotte only gave her a curious look but accepted her reason.