On the Road to Longbourn
Hertfordshire
The Next Morning
The smell inside the post chaise was not entirely fresh, and the upholstery was not precisely clean, but the view out of the grimy windows very nearly made up for it. A fine green mist had settled across the gently rolling hills of the passing landscape ; trees dressed in delicate green buds and grass stretching blades up towards the sun. Patches of color dotted the landscape here and there, pink and purple and yellow and white, like leftover drifts of snow – the first wildflowers of the season, emerging ahead of their fellows. The sun beamed down upon the world, turning the air mild and driving away any lingering chill.
The two ladies alone inside the carriage sat gazing each out her own window. Both were pretty and were dressed alike in sober gray traveling dresses. A casual observer might be forgiven for mistaking them, at first, for the same person; the only difference between them was their hats – one green and one blue. From their auburn hair, styled alike, to their light hazel eyes, all the way down to the toes of their shoes peeking from under their frocks, they were identical.
"Well," Miss Sophia Adler remarked, breaking a long silence, "at least we will be together."
"For that, I am very grateful," Miss Phoebe Adler replied, and sighed. "It does not sound so very terrible, though the youngest Miss Bennet is likely a termagant."
"We will have trouble with Mrs. Bennet as well," Sophia remarked gloomily. "Lady Appleby tells me that she is a daughter of a solicitor and will be very conscious of her own position."
"At least we will be together," Phoebe said, echoing her sister's words from a moment earlier. "Moreover, I doubt that Longbourn can possibly be as terrible as Ravenswood was."
Sophia turned anxious eyes on her sister and leaned over to grasp her twin's hand in her own. "Was it so very awful?"
"It was, rather," Phoebe said. "The three children were horribly spoiled, of course, which made it difficult to teach them. Worse was the children's brother, who was eighteen. He was, of course, absurdly too young for me, but that did not keep him from eying me in a way which I found repugnant."
"My poor sister," Sophia returned, grimacing expressively, "I am so very sorry. Did he…?"
"No, no, he kept his hands to himself. Indeed, his mother would have turned me out instantly if he had actually done anything – naturally, it is not the fault of the boy in such a situation, but the woman!" she finished in exaggerated tones. "I have never been so thankful to receive the letter from Lady Appleby telling me of these positions at Longbourn."
Sophia nodded, and could not help but sigh to herself. She and Phoebe ought not to be working for their daily bread, but their father's idiocy and a small extended family had jettisoned them into the position of governesses, in spite of their birth and accomplishments.
Added to that, the twins were attractive women, which caused matriarchs to worry that their sons would offer for them. Sophia's previous position had been a relatively pleasant one, with only two young girls under her charge, but then an elder son had returned home from Cambridge for the summer, and his mother had made up an excuse to get rid of her.
At least she and her sister would be together for a time now, and that was enough to make her smile. "Longbourn is inhabited by Mr. Bennet, who is over fifty years of age, his wife, and their three younger daughters," she said. "There are no young men to harass either of us."
"Not in the house, anyway," Phoebe remarked. "Oh, is this Longbourn?"
The two ladies shifted in their seats to better look out the windows. The carriage way they were currently traveling up was clearly well-maintained, and the house itself was charming red brick with dark green ivy climbed all over one wall. The chaise rolled into the stable yard around back of the house. Servants and stable boys moved hither and thither – maids carrying buckets and baskets up to the house, men taking care of animals and boys scrambling around carrying pails of water and armfuls of hay.
The carriage driver pulled the horses to a stop in front of the stables. The stable door opened immediately, and a grizzled older man exited, moving swiftly across to the post chaise to hand the ladies carefully out.
"Misses Adler?" the man asked and, upon their nodding, continued, "I am Coachman Jack. Young Thomas here will guide you to the front door, and we will arrange to have your trunks delivered to your rooms."
"Thank you," Phoebe said with a smile, even as she noted the awestruck looks on the various servants' faces. It was not an uncommon reaction to the appearance of two young ladies who were identical in form and feature. Indeed, when they were but children, they had often traded places with no one the wiser.
Back when they had been young, before their father's idiocy had ruined them, before both parents had succumbed to disease.
"Will you come this way?" Thomas, a young man of some sixteen years, asked nervously, and Phoebe took her twin's arm in her own and said, "Lead on, please."
/
Library
Longbourn
The sound of the carriage captured Mr. Bennet's attention, and he set down his copy of King Lear and stared out as two young women descended from the vehicle drawn up near the stables.
He heaved a sigh of relief and set the folio aside, stood up, and made his leisurely way out of the library to welcome the two governesses. It had taken longer than he hoped for the Adler twins to arrive at Longbourn, but they were here at last and would shortly be in charge of teaching his younger daughters to behave as true ladies.
The last few weeks had been eye opening in an unnerving sort of way. Now that he was truly paying attention, he realized that Lydia, and to some degree Kitty, were well on their way to ruining the family. They were heedless, vulgar, vain, and spent far too much time running around in Meryton flirting and pursuing officers.
At least Mary had proven a surprisingly pleasant companion. He had taught her to play chess and backgammon, and Mary had proven adept at both. The girl was still prone to moralizing in an annoying way, but a quick change of subject generally turned his daughter's thoughts away from Fordyce and onto whatever topic he found more interesting. Yes, Mary was, at times anyway, an agreeable companion.
The problems with his younger girls would end now. The Adler twins would provide both oversight and guidance, and with Elizabeth now a very wealthy heiress, it was quite possible that his younger daughters would make good marriages. Even if they did not, they would, at least, be prevented from plunging the family into scandal.
Yes, life was actually quite good now. Mrs. Bennet, now freed from terror of the hedgerows, was far calmer than she had been before Elizabeth's inheritance. She was no more sensible, but there was a peaceful aura in the house which had been sadly lacking before.
He arrived in the vestibule of Longbourn just as the butler opened the door and two young ladies stepped in, with young Tom at their heels.
Bennet blinked in astonishment at the sight before him, of two ladies as alike as two pence. He had been aware that the two were twins, but had never met identical twins before. It was extraordinary!
"Miss Adler and … Miss Adler," he said with a smile. "Welcome to Longbourn. I am Mr. Bennet."
"Mr. Bennet," the girl in the blue cap said, "I am Miss Sophia Adler, and this is my younger twin, Miss Phoebe Adler."
"Miss Adler, Miss Phoebe, please accompany me to the drawing room, and I will introduce you to my wife and daughters. Do not fear if they are rather distressed at your arrival; my daughters have never had a governess before, and will likely protest, as will my wife."
"Surely Mrs. Bennet agrees that given Miss Elizabeth Bennet's recent inheritance, it would be wise for all her daughters to gain some accomplishments," Phoebe suggested. While she was the younger twin, she was also the bolder one.
"I think it unlikely that she will think so," Bennet said cynically. "We will see; I chose not to inform any of my womenfolk here of my decision to hire governesses. It will be quite an exciting discussion, I am certain, but fear not; I will give you free rein over my younger two girls, who are silly, heedless, and feckless."
The twins exchanged startled glances, and Phoebe said bravely, "Do lead on, sir."
/
The House on Half Moon Street
London
The carriage came to a gentle halt, and Darcy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He had not slept well the previous night. When he had fallen into fitful slumber, his dreams had been haunted by the disapproving faces of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet.
He was still in shock at idea that Miss Elizabeth did not like him, when he liked her very well. Indeed, he realized that he was on the verge of loving her. It was horrible to contemplate that she harbored disgust in her heart toward him. Truthfully, it seemed so unlikely. Had they not cheerfully debated with one another? Had she not flirted with him?
But on the other hand, she had overheard his rude words at the assembly when they had first met. That was not a propitious way to begin a relationship!
He had to know the truth, and in any case, he was acquainted with Lady Appleby, and Bingley was not, and thus he had managed to talk his friend into allowing him to come along on this vital visit to Half Moon Street.
"Are you certain you wish to do this, Darcy?" Bingley asked, his usually cheerful face dark with worry.
"Of course," Darcy replied, pulling himself together and, when the door was opened by a servant, stepped out, with his friend following a moment later.
Darcy took a moment to look around at Half Moon Street. It was lined with elegant houses of brick and stone, with well painted shutters and graceful trees and neat flowerbeds out front. It had all the pleasing appearance one would expect from a quiet upper-class neighborhood in Town.
The stairs of the house in which the eldest Bennet daughters now dwelt were swept clean, trimmed bushes on either side of the pavement. Neat curtains and glimpses of charming rooms were just visible through the windows.
He quickly touched his neckcloth to ensure that it was still well arranged and then turned to inspect Bingley, who was carefully dressed in a dark green coat, pale pantaloons, and polished boots. They both looked very well, he knew. They also both felt as if they were marching into a potential firing line.
"Shall we?" Bingley asked softly and began climbing the steps without waiting for an answer. Darcy hurried to catch up, and at the top of the steps, the pair exchanged uneasy glances before Bingley reached forward to knock on the door.
It was opened with commendable speed by a butler, who gestured them inside and took their cards. The entry room was not large, but it was pleasantly appointed with two tables, both of which held a single vase of hothouse flowers. Darcy furrowed a brow at this; it was rather extravagant to purchase such flowers, but then again, Miss Elizabeth was now very wealthy and could afford to spend extra money on frivolities.
The butler, who had walked off with the cards, returned and said politely, "This way, please."
Bingley and Darcy both released relieved sighs. It appeared that they would not be turned away at the door. They followed the butler, who opened the door into the drawing room, and Darcy stepped in with Bingley a pace behind.
The room seemed rather full of people. Elizabeth Bennet, dressed simply and charmingly in green muslin, and Lady Appleby, dressed in a blue woolen gown, were holding court near the fire, with Lord Talbot and two unknown gentlemen clustered in chairs drawn as near to the ladies as was at all proper. Two tables in the room, as well as the mantel, were adorned with expensive and showy bouquets, and the vase of the one set closest by was still bedewed by water spilled from filling it.
Darcy realized with a jolt that almost certainly the flowers were gifts from gentleman callers. It still boggled his mind that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, second daughter of a country gentleman whose estate was entailed away from his own family, was now not only an eligible, but desirable, parti. She had always been pretty and clever, but she had no connections and no wealth to recommend her. Now she was wealthy enough to have her pick of gentle husbands and even some lesser nobility, and her beauty was but an added attractant.
Currently those fine brown eyes were cutting him a fiery glare, before turning warmly polite again as she faced the gentleman whose chair was closest to her own.
"Thank you for the flowers, Lord Talbot," Elizabeth said, standing up in a way which unquestionably was a dismissal.
"It was my honor," the nobleman said, also rising to his feet a second ahead of his companions. "I do hope that you will attend my mother's ball next week."
"I believe we will," Lady Appleby said graciously, though she did not rise.
The threesome bowed again and, after Talbot had bowed to Darcy and Bingley, and they had bowed in return, he and his two companions departed. Darcy could not keep his rapt gaze from Elizabeth and was rather startled when Lady Appleby said, "Mr. Darcy, will you please introduce your friend?"
"Of course," he responded, and felt himself flush. Where were his manners?
"Lady Appleby, my friend, Mr. Bingley. Bingley, Lady Appleby."
Bingley bowed while Lady Appleby looked startled. "Mr. Bingley? Mr. Charles Bingley? Of Netherfield Hall?"
Bingley coughed and flushed. "Erm, yes, I am leasing Netherfield Hall in Hertfordshire, my lady."
Lady Appleby turned a curious look on Elizabeth but merely said, "Please, do sit down, gentlemen. It is a moderately pleasant day outside, is it not?"
"Indeed. Cool but not stormy," Darcy replied automatically, his gaze shifting to Bingley. The younger man was staring at Miss Elizabeth with a woebegone expression, and thus Darcy was not surprised when Bingley said suddenly, "How is your family, Miss Elizabeth? Your whole family?"
"Oh, they are well enough, I suppose, though my sister Jane is upstairs with a serious headache."
"I am sorry," Bingley said, looking crestfallen. "I … well, a headache is most unpleasant."
"It was rather a sudden headache," Elizabeth replied in the arch tone which Darcy remembered so well. "Oddly, it coincided with the butler bringing in your cards!"
Darcy felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. He remembered that tone and had always assumed that Miss Elizabeth used it only to flirt with him, but the words themselves told another story. Bingley stared in bewilderment at the young lady and then turned completely pale as the words penetrated his consciousness.
Darcy hesitated for a moment and then decided that it behooved him to be more direct than was considered proper.
"Lady Appleby, Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Bingley and I were playing piquet in a club yesterday when Lord Talbot and several of his companions entered the card room. It was during the ensuing conversation that my friend discovered Miss Bennet's presence here in London; he had not been previously aware that she left Hertfordshire for Town after the New Year."
Elizabeth turned to face him, her eyes were smoldering with indignation. "But you knew that Jane was in London, sir?"
"I did, as did Bingley's sisters," Darcy admitted. "I confess that we deliberately chose to keep Mr. Bingley in the dark on that matter."
"I see," the girl replied and lifted her chin. "But now that I am a great heiress, I am more worthy of your friend's attention? It is my fortune, you know; not Jane's."
Bingley choked at these words before gasping out, "No, no! I am … I assure you that I am entirely indifferent to Miss Bennet's fortune. No, I was told … I was assured that Miss Bennet…"
He trailed off, looking miserable, and Darcy, though he knew it would only sink his standing in Miss Elizabeth's eyes more, continued, "I am largely responsible for my friend's decision to depart Netherfield suddenly, as I worried that he was preparing to offer for a woman who did not love him in return. I studied Miss Bennet very carefully during the ball at Netherfield, and while her look and manner were open, cheerful, and engaging, I saw no symptom of peculiar regard, and that while she received Bingley's attentions with pleasure, she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment. I informed my friend of my conclusions and urged him to stay in London after following him there."
As anticipated, the young woman glared at him with such fury that he felt a strange sensation of being scorched, along with a definite feeling of shame.
"Mr. Bingley," Lady Appleby said quietly, "It seems obvious to me that there has been both deceit and confusion regarding your relationship with Miss Bennet. What is your purpose in calling here today?"
"I wish to speak to her," Bingley choked out. "I am very much at fault in leaving last autumn, in abandoning her…"
"Yes, you are at fault," Elizabeth snapped. "You paid such particular attention to my sister that she was humiliated by your sudden departure, not to mention heartbroken."
Bingley hunched down a little, his face a picture of misery, and said, "I have no excuse, Miss Elizabeth. All I can do is apologize and … well, I do have hopes that perhaps, in time, she can forgive me, and more. I have never stopped loving your sister, and these last months I have been miserable. I stayed away only because, with the entail on Longbourn, I feared that Miss Bennet would be forced to accept my offer even if she did not care for me. I did not wish for her to be pressured into such a marriage."
The glare continued for another ten seconds, and then Miss Elizabeth relaxed and her shoulders slumped a little. "Jane is very loyal to our family," she admitted.
"I suggest that you depart, gentlemen," Lady Appleby said, "and Elizabeth will speak to Jane. If she wishes to speak to you, Mr. Bingley, I will send word."
"Thank you, my lady," Bingley said and stood up, with Darcy following his lead. Bingley frowned and said slowly, "Regardless of Miss Bennet's decisions, I do intend to take my sisters to task, especially Caroline. I understand that she was very rude to Miss Bennet."
"And to my Aunt Gardiner," Elizabeth said coldly.
Bingley nodded, his expression disconsolate, and said, "I do apologize on her behalf. It is my fault; I have been far too lenient with my sisters."
Elizabeth inclined her head but did not speak, and the two men bowed and departed.
/
/
Author Note: Thank you for reading and commenting. It is an endless stream of encouragement to me. Thank you!