A Plethora of Peers

by sysa22

Mr Bennet married the daughter of an Earl with whom he had 3 children – twins James and Elizabeth, as well as Mary. His wife and her only brother die. Soon after, Bennet's older brother marries Fanny Gardiner just before his death. When Fanny delivers twin girls, Kitty and Lydia, Bennet inherits Longbourn. To keep James safe from Collins, Bennet's son is raised by his grandparents.

13. Chapter 13 - Arguments

~~PoP~~

Arguments

Unnoticed by the couple, they, as well as the sun, had risen by the time they recollected themselves to their surroundings.

When Elizabeth noticed that she was standing in full sunlight, she gasped, 'Oh, no. I have to hurry home, or they will be worried about me.'

'May I accompany you and speak to your father?' Darcy asked, reluctant to be parted from Elizabeth.

'I am afraid that this morning is a bad time to speak to him. He has several engagements,' Elizabeth informed him regretfully. 'Perhaps you could call this afternoon for tea?'

'I shall be delighted to see you then.' Darcy bowed and lightly kissed her hands. 'This afternoon cannot come quickly enough.'

'I look forward to seeing you then,' Elizabeth replied as she distractedly took the reins which the attentive John handed to her. Without waiting for assistance, she swung herself into the saddle while John handed the reins of Darcy's horse to the gentleman.

A minute later the top of Oakham Mount was deserted.

~PoP~

Immediately upon her hurried return to Longbourn, Elizabeth washed up and changed her dress before joining her family for breakfast.

Her timing had been impeccable as she encountered her father, grandmother, and sister on the stairs making their way to the dining room.

Mrs Bennet tucked a stray lock behind Elizabeth's ear as she said with an indulgent smile, 'You cut your outing a little fine this morning, you are still rather out of breath.'

As they sat down to eat Elizabeth explained with an ecstatic smile, 'I had planned to be back much sooner, but I encountered Mr Darcy on top of Oakham Mount.'

'I hope you were not alone?' her father queried. 'Although I trust Mr Darcy to be a gentleman, it would not do for anyone to think you had gone on an assignation.'

Elizabeth swallowed a big mouthful of crispy bacon and scrambled eggs. 'No, of course not. John was with me, and I did not expect to see anyone.' Her smile returned. 'But since we had a chance to speak almost privately, Mr Darcy asked to court me.'

None of her family looked surprised at this announcement and her father merely said, 'Based on your expression, I gather that you accepted.'

Elizabeth felt a little miffed at the lack of surprise but answered readily enough, 'I did indeed.' She looked around the table and asked, 'Were we so terribly obvious about our interest?'

The question produced indulgent smiles and nods. Her father answered for all of them, 'I suppose a cannon going off in the Lucas parlour last night would have been a trifle more noticeable. So, when is the young man coming to speak to me? I presume he is planning to ask my permission. Even though you have almost reached your majority I think it would be a matter of courtesy to inform me of his intentions.'

'He wanted to speak to you this morning, but since you mentioned your intention of speaking to Aunt Bennet, I suggested that this afternoon would be a more convenient time.'

'Excellent. I shall look forward to that conversation,' Mr Bennet replied with a smile although he felt a momentary sadness. His little girl was all grown up and would soon fly the nest.

To distract himself from those thoughts he asked, 'Did you tell Mr Darcy about our family?'

The startled expression on Lizzy's face was answer enough as she said, 'I completely forgot about that. It has never come up in conversation and as you know, I am not one to boast about our connections.'

'In that case, I foresee an interesting conversation this afternoon,' was Mr Bennet's bland reply.

~PoP~

It was late morning at Netherfield when a visitor was announced.

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam strode into the study and after greeting the occupants said, 'Bingley, old chap. I have come to throw myself at your mercy and beg sanctuary.'

'Is your mother being frightfully matchmaking again?'

'You have no idea,' exclaimed Colonel Fitzwilliam and despite the early hour accepted a glass with a generous measure of brandy. 'She has just received an invitation to a ball from one of her cronies to celebrate her granddaughters coming of age. Since the lady is an heiress, even though her brother is the one in line for the title, mother has decided that she would be perfect for me.'

Bingley laughed as he said, 'Fitzwilliam, you know that you are always welcome in my home. I will just go and inform Louisa that we have another houseguest.' He suited actions to words and left the cousins to catch up.

'You are lucky that you are out of reach, Darce. Mother is determined to see all of her sons and nephews married. She is already vetting the latest batch of young ladies to push suitable candidates in our direction.'

'You mean another batch of simpering daughters, nieces and granddaughters of various noble families.'

'She would never be that honest about it, but yes. That is her plan. Which is why I decided to rush here to offer my invaluable assistance to keep you safe from her schemes.' Richard grinned at Darcy at his deliberate misrepresentation of his motives.

His cousin's antics caused Darcy to laugh. 'If she is so determined to see us married, I think she can be convinced to accept and sponsor my choice.'

Darcy grinned at the poleaxed expression of his cousin.

Richard's mouth opened and closed several times before he found his voice. 'Are you telling me that the great Fitzwilliam Darcy has succumbed to the wiles of a fortune-hunting country Miss?'

'No. I am saying that I have met an intelligent, well educated, competent, personable and charming daughter of a gentleman.' Darcy kept grinning as he added, 'And unlike Miss Bingley, I do not think that the family is poor.'

'Knowing Miss Bingley, she would declare Miss Catherine Tylney-Long, with her forty thousand pound a year income, to be poor if it suited her purposes. How did she justify her evaluation?'

'According to Miss Bingley, Miss Bennet dresses are home-made copies of Madam Dupont's creations. I have seen enough of Georgiana's and your mother's dresses to recognise her design and workmanship.'

Richard laughed. 'Imagine Miss Bingley's chagrin when she discovers that you have a better eye for fashion than she has. But just because a lady has a few expensive dresses, does not mean that she is well off. I know of enough families who will beggar themselves to dress their daughters well to ensure they capture a wealthy husband.'

'I know those same families. But in this case, you are wrong. Longbourn is an extremely well managed estate and as far as I have seen, the family live very well but not extravagantly. I have also been informed that Miss Bennet is the real manager of Longbourn rather than Thomas Bennet.'

The Colonel's brow furrowed, and his eyes squinted as he tried to remember why the names Darcy mentioned were familiar to him. His cousin misinterpreted the expression and played his trump card. 'When I first arrived, Bingley dragged me to an assembly. I was tired and my usual self. You know… disinclined to be pleased by anything or anyone. During the course of the evening, I heard Miss Bennet say that my manners were not handsome enough to tempt her. This was the first time since becoming an adult that anyone objected to my manners, and it made me reconsider my behaviour. Since then, I have worked hard to overcome that first unfavourable impression which I made.'

'So, you are determined to have this Miss Bennet of Longbourn?'

'I am. And why should I not? She is all that is genteel as are her immediate family. I am a gentleman, and she is the daughter of a gentleman. In that we are peers. With an estate like Longbourn, her wealth cannot equal Pemberley, but I do not believe that she is poor. As for her connections… they may be modest, but I am already connected to everyone I want to know and many whom I would rather not know.

'When you put it like that, I believe that mother could be prevailed upon to sponsor your lady love. At least, as a gentleman's daughter she is a better option than Miss Bingley.'

~PoP~

As Colonel Fitzwilliam was curious about this young lady who had captured his elusive cousin's interest, he accompanied Darcy to Longbourn.

Mr Hill announced Darcy and the Colonel as he showed them into the drawing room where the whole family was assembled.

Darcy greeted the family pleasantly but with a special smile for Elizabeth which she returned, before he introduced his cousin. Since he had not yet spoken to Mr Bennet about courting his daughter, he did not mention that relationship during the introduction. He was astonished when Elizabeth greeted Fitzwilliam.

'Colonel Fitzwilliam, it is wonderful to see you again. Congratulations on your promotion.'

'Thank you, Miss Bennet. It is a most unexpected pleasure to see you again. You look just as lovely as I remember you.'

'And you are still as much a flatterer as always,' Elizabeth replied. 'But tell me, how is the Countess of Matlock. I trust that she is well?'

'She is very well indeed. I would ask how you are, but as you are glowing with health, I believe there is no need.'

'I am indeed exceedingly well, but I had not realised that you and Mr Darcy are related.'

'We are indeed. And I just realised another relationship. My mother has been pest… I mean exhorting me to attend a function for which she was pleased to receive an early invitation. I confess that I had been reluctant as I had forgotten that you are the granddaughter of the Ashcrofts,' Colonel Fitzwilliam replied without giving thought to his cousin.

'Now that you know, I hope that you will change your mind. Elizabeth answered pleasantly, continuing to use all the standard phrases commonly employed in such a situation.

~PoP~

Darcy listened to the friendly greeting of Elizabeth and Richard with growing horror.

What was happening? How did they know each other? It sounded like his Elizabeth was not who he thought she was.

She was not the sweet country nobody with the enchanting eyes. Since she spoke so casually of his aunt, the Countess of Matlock, she must be better connected than he assumed.

Wait, did Richard just say that she was related to the Earl of Ashcroft? Had she been laughing at him for not knowing of that relationship? The more Elizabeth and Richard spoke the more his fury rose.

At last, he could restrain himself no longer and he rounded on Elizabeth. 'Why did you not tell me about your family? Did you think it was funny how you made me think that you were just a country nobody? An inconsequential country Miss of little fortune? Did you enjoy making me the laughingstock of the neighbourhood?'

Elizabeth was taken aback by the vitriol dripping from every word. Becoming angry in return, she threw the accusation back at Darcy. 'I could ask you the same thing. Why did you not mention your connection to the Fitzwilliam's?'

'Everyone knows that I am related to the Earl and his family!' he spat.

'In town, maybe. Perhaps even in Derbyshire, but you are now in Hertfordshire where you were a complete unknown. Or are you having delusions of grandeur that makes you think that everyone in the world knows who you are?'

'Since you are so familiar with my family, you cannot tell me that you were unaware of my existence,' Darcy snarled.

'I have met your cousin exactly once and the Major, being a gentleman, discussed a subject with which I was familiar, such as the war with Napoleon, rather than his family whom I did not know.'

'A likely story.'

'No, I know what your problem is. You felt generous, magnanimous even, to have lowered yourself to disregard family expectations by offering a courtship to, in your words, an inconsequential country Miss of little fortune. Now you are angry at me and blaming me for your folly of having deluded yourself.'

Darcy gritted his teeth as he tried to control his temper and return to the point he had been trying to make. 'That still does not explain why you did not mention your connections.'

'Did you expect me to walk around with a banner which declared, my grandfather is an Earl and my brother a Viscount?' Elizabeth snarled in response to the continuing accusation. 'Did you want me to be the target of every fortune hunter like your aunt?'

'How dare you insult my aunt like that,' growled Darcy in response.

Before Elizabeth had a chance to retaliate further, the Colonel did it for her. 'It is not a slander when it is the truth.' He put a restraining hand on Darcy's shoulder. 'And I distinctly remember you calling mother a fortune hunting matchmaker only two hours ago,' he drawled.

The interruption reminded Darcy that he and Elizabeth were not alone in the room. He whirled to confront the speaker and saw his cousin his crossing his arms with a disgusted expression on his face.

He looked further around the room and saw the stunned expressions of the other occupants. At that sight, the fight went out of Darcy, and he felt mortified at having made such a spectacle of himself.

Unaccustomed to feeling such shame, all he could do was bow at the assembled party and say, 'Please accept my most profound apologies for my unconscionable behaviour. I have no excuse for my offensive words. Please excuse me.'

He turned on his heel and rushed out of the room and out of the house, leaving behind a thoroughly discombobulated audience.

~PoP~

Oops… you did not really think that Darcy had completely reformed. 😊

~~PoP~~

A Plethora of Peers (working title) by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2023