Chapter 1: A Tiresome Evening
"None are so blind that those who REFUSE to see. - John Heywood, 1546
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." ― Albert Einstein
"No," his voice carried with the full effect of his authority which had been ingrained into him since he was a lad.
"Come, come," Lady Maembe said, with a lurid, goading smile easily fetched across her features. "It is but a play, Mr. Darcy," she sauntered closer to him, as if trying to cast Darcy under her spell. "A little thing I have worked on for the past several weeks to entertain our friends and family on such occasions as this evening."
"Pray, tell me, why my wife cannot stand in the stead of your lady lead?"
"As much I consider myself fond of dear Eliza," she said and glanced to Mrs. Darcy's direction, "I do not think her character in much alignment with Miss Barnett. I dare say, your sister Mrs. Bingley resembles her more in beauty, and I in character."
"But yet, you wish me play to your leading gentleman. Did you have me in mind as you wrote this as well."
"I choose to neither confirm or deny, Mr. Darcy." She fluttered her eyes coquettishly much to Darcy's repulsion. "After all, ladies must have their secrets."
"Then I in good faith cannot undertake such a role, though I believe, your husband can fulfil this part with greater adequacy no doubt." He held his hand up, and returned the scripts of pages he had been given minutes earlier to its owner.
He returned to his seat, next to Elizabeth as there was a lull that hung about the room.
Lady Maembe stood center and cast a glance to where her husband, Sir Harold sat, next to Mr. Hurst. One would think they were from the same family with their decadence and habits. Yet it was not to be, for it was the ladies who had married into those respective names. They were only brothers in habits.
Lady Maembe was the former Camilla Bingley, cousin to the Bingleys and particularly attached (to the hip one might conclude) to her cousin Miss Caroline Bingley. Mr. Bingley the elder and long passed on. But his younger brother remained, still overseeing the family business in the north country. Yet his daughter, like her cousins had received the benefits of a gentle lady's education. A governess early on finessed with latter years spent at a finishing school. They had even tried to hold some coming out for the lady and she had settled well-enough for her background and standing.
Sir Harold had come from a titled family from out west, in the county of Worcestershire, a seat his own father had inherited from an old uncle decades prior. Suffice to say they were not rich enough to mingle in high society nor poor to be discarded but their situation, if rumor was to be believed was that their state of affairs had been meager, they could only farm and mine the land so much. Hence Miss Camilla Bingley. A fresh face and barely into her second season when the lady's husband had caught sight of her - or her fortune, is a more adequate description. Sir Harold had courted the lady, and within four weeks had charmed her well enough to seek the father's blessing. The wedding followed the next month.
Whether the match was a happy one, it is up to the reader's discretion. But it would be foolish to overlook the benefit that Lady Maembe received from the match, from a daughter of a mere tradesman to the wife of a baronet. Indeed she took pleasure in having married so quickly and outstripping her elder cousin, Miss Bingley, who still remained, unfortunately, unattached. Suffice to say the union had proved well enough and had produced three children thus far, the eldest had joined the family seven months later, exactly to the day of the marriage. The other two, it was rumored came at eight months, but supposing it to be two instead of one there little grumblings to be had. However, if one had had a glimpse of Sir Harold's children, it was not difficult to come to the conclusion that they hardly look like him. Indeed, the mother's likeness on their features could not be doubted - the strong amber coloring of hair was a Bingley trait, as for the father's, no such conclusion could be made.
And it was so that Darcy found himself seated next to Elizabeth in Sir Harold and Lady Maembe's house that he found his resolve and good breeding barely withstanding the trifling company - from the preening of his hostess to the absent-mindedness of his host. There were other married couples who also had come - there was one Mr and Mrs Brady (the wife was from somewhere out east, from Bohemia if his recollection served him right) and their empty-headedness along with lack of manners had hardly endeared them to the Darcys. But the hosts like them well enough, Mrs Brady and Lady Maembe had a similar, though perverted turn of minds and countenance which Darcy could hardly stomach. And there were others who formed the familiar company of his hosts.
Thus, by association, he found himself here as well, with Elizabeth for they too received an invitation. It would have been rude to reject - and it had crossed his mind, that is, to find a way to avoid this company on this particularly evening - and any other if he was ever to be granted such a wish. However, given of the familial ties - and more importantly because Bingley and Jane were his guests at Darcy House for the Season - for they had come to support Elizabeth - he had been left with few options at his disposal. So they had come hither, to a night of merry making, and gossip, and a foul play to entertain the company and quickly he had tire of it all.
A Few Questions to Bear in Mind:
Can you guess the plot for the play which Lady Maembe has written?
Can you imagine Darcy marrying Jane - Jane, who is an older version of his sister, Georgiana?! - let alone f**king her? The thought is utterly disgusting! In pairing Darcy with Jane for her play, one can conclude that Lady Camilla Maembe entertains incestuous thoughts and that her three children are the result of such actions and behaviour. Someone should tell the poor lady to try and keep up! Times are a-changing! One can look at the British crown for an an example in that regard, at least when it comes to matters concerning the issues relating to the Habsburg jaw.
Things to note: In light of the recent coronation, Lady Maembe, nee Miss Camilla Bingley was born out of my utter dislike of Camilla Parker Bowles. (Princess Diana was right when she called the old hag a dog.) In the above, Lady Camilla Maembe's quick union is nothing short of a miserable marriage. And to find satisfaction in her own life, wishes to interfere in others. I can only suppose that is the type of spouse she is and so, I dressed her character appropriately as befitting this first chapter and will do so in other chapters to come.