The Dark One
When Mrs. Bennet delivered twin girls instead of the son and heir she wanted, she blamed the second-born. The first already had wispy blond hair and blue eyes. The second was a "dark one," a child with black hair, dark, almost black eyes, and slightly darker skin. Since her husband is still away, she immediately bribed the midwife to make the cursed child disappear. This is the story of how two twins who looked nothing alike found each other again.
The Cursed Child
Longbourn, 1791
Fanny Gardiner had a deep, dark, terrible secret from her past. Truthfully it was not so terrible, but it became such after her mother told the story of the "dark ones." Her mother was half-Irish, the daughter of an Irish maid and an English landholder who somehow managed to catch the eye of Fanny's father, despite her status as an illegitimate child. The story that Gracie Gardiner told her daughters was about the dark ones who popped up every few generations.
One version said that these were from a bloodline of selkies, while another version accused a female ancestor of consorting with the devil himself. More reasonable and intelligent family members believed that they had ancient Druid or dark-Celtic blood in their family line. Regardless of the truth, Fanny had always chosen to believe the worst.
So when she finally screamed her way through the birth of the second twin and the child came out with dark hair, dark eyes, and even slightly darker skin, Fanny was certain that evil had descended upon her home and family. Not only did she refuse to hold the child or even look at it, but she even offered Keziah, the aged midwife, ten pounds to keep her secret and make "that thing" disappear.
Keziah, who was in her sixth decade, had not been well for some time and therefore had also been unable to officiate as many births as in her younger years. She had only been summoned for this birth because Mrs. Bennet had gone into labor four whole weeks early, her husband was away on business, and the local physician was dealing with a case in St. Albans. So the offer of ten pounds was enticing. Besides that, it seemed clear to her that the pretty little babe with intelligent eyes would not fare well under her mother's care. So when she departed from Longbourn it was with a sleeping newborn infant in her large bag of birthing implements.
At first she did not know what to do with the dear child, but then a thought came to her. There was a camp of French refugees not seven miles away. She had helped in a deliver in the camp just the day before. Sadly the babe had perished within the hour.
Keziah's own French was limited, but the father's English was excellent, so he had acted as translator for his wife in her travails. In the exchange she also learned that the refugees were continuing north to join a trio of estates near Kensworth, in Bedfordshire. They had only delayed for the sake of the leader's wife. What struck her was that the couple both had dark hair and deep brown eyes, so perhaps they might welcome the child?
As luck would have it, she managed to catch a ride with a wagoner traveling in the same direction. Instead of hours of walking, she made the journey in half the time and was gratified to find the group still encamped. When she asked for the leader, a Count something or other, and explained her mission, she was quickly led into his presence.
Count Anjou took one look at the little infant with her large, dark, intelligent eyes and fell in love. And when he tentatively introduced the tiny child to his dear wife Angélique she instantly took the hungry girl from his. And even though it was not something done in their circles, she began feeding the dear creature from her own breast.
Keziah was unable to secure another wagon ride that day, so she trudged back home slowly. She was so tired, yet she felt that she had done a good thing. The midwife made it to her home in the dark that night and immediately lay down to sleep. When she was sent for two days later for another birth, the messenger found her lifeless body still on the bed. Somewhere between the parson and undertaker the ten pound note vanished as well.
Different lives, but still connected
Fanny Bennet had been successful in her ploy. Her worried husband returned on the day after she gave birth and was introduced to his firstborn child, a beautiful baby girl they named Jane Margaret Bennet. Although Thomas would have preferred that his firstborn be a boy due to the entail on the estate, he reasoned that a son would come in time. It was easy enough for him to be pleased with the pretty child in his arms.
Thomas Bennet had never wished to be an estate owner and was never trained for it, so he was happy to maintain the estate at its current income of two-thousand per annum. He was advised to begin saving for a dowry for his daughter, but he saw little value in accumulating a sum just to "pay some useless man to take my daughter away."
Fanny Bennet never quite got over the fact that she had delivered a dark one. The very thought made her shudder and increased her natural nervousness. With each successive birth of another female she became more and more convinced that the dark one had laid a curse on her, so she became almost manic.
Eventually her husband found her nerves so unpleasant that he began to withdraw completely, leaving their poor daughters to receive the brunt of her odd and skittish ways.
Jane Margaret Bennet continued to be as beautiful as her newborn appearance had promised. With blond hair and cerulean blue eyes she was noticed wherever she was. Being the most calm and serene of all of her sisters, her father welcomed her often into his book room, where he allowed her to read any book which interested her and even gave her lessons on various subjects. She was never as intelligent as her father might wish, but the father and daughter developed a deep bond which served as a comfort to them both.
Perhaps because of this Thomas taught his eldest how to ride a horse and took her along to visit the various tenants and neighbors. He also agreed to pay for lessons in pianoforte and dancing. The second was enjoyed by all of his daughters over time, but only Jane and her next oldest sister Mary ever took to the pianoforte. Jane enjoyed simple pieces while Mary seemed to gravitate to long and overly challenging compositions. Still the two eldest sisters had a close friendship together.
As Jane grew, she always felt as if some part of her was missing. It was not lost, just far away. There were times she almost felt as if she could talk to that other part of her, and it gave her comfort in the storm that was life with her mother.
~ooOoo~
Claude and Angélique Galard, the former Count and Countess of Anjou, immediately adopted the transplant into their hearts as if she were the babe they lost. In fact only a very few would ever remember that she was not that child. They named her Isabeau, but soon began to call her Isabelle, or just Belle.
Many of Claude's ancestors had been Huguenots, some of whom had fled during the persecutions. They had slowly grown and prospered so that the English branch now owned estates and businesses all throughout Great Britain. The particular group that they now resided with had three estates, one grand estate and two smaller ones situated in something of a triangle.
The English Galards were welcoming and soon the refugees were folded into the little community as if they had always been a part. Claude had paid attention to the dire warnings of friends and had sent most of his wealth across the water during the previous five years. As a result he was able to purchase his own estate only five miles distant from the rest. It yielded five-thousand per annum when he purchased it, but under his careful management and with the aid of the industrious farmers and servants that he had brought along, that amount soon rose to seven-thousand.
Angélique had a full recovery soon after their troop of refugees reached Kensworth. Within a year their newly purchased estate saw the birth of a son they named Louis. Two years later there was another son they named Pascal. Then poor little Belle finally gained a sister who they named Claudette. One last boy came after several years named Pierre. Isobelle was the happy and protective sister for all of the brood and there was never any distinction made between her and her younger siblings.
The promise of Belle's beauty proved itself over time. Her dark, curly hair framed the prettiest pixie face with a button nose, small, pretty lips, and large, dark, eyes surrounded by the longest lashes. Those eyes seemed to sparkle with an intelligence and a life of their own, so much so that some adults believed that she was an "old soul."
And just like another young girl in Hertfordshire, Isabelle always felt as if there was a part of her missing... another half. She loved to walk in the early morning and sometimes, when she stood on a tall hill that was one of her favorite destinations, she imagined that she could feel that other half somewhere south of her.
The Aliens Act of 1793 stifled the heavy flow of French immigrants escaping to English soil, causing some resentment from those who were already there. That did not alter the fact that White Hall sent a representative to the former count, asking him to serve as an advisor in England's arguably tepid attempts to save those that they could. This first cooperation resulted in many more, which became important as Napoleon Bonaparte began to change the political landscape of France and eventually all of Europe.
~ooOoo~
Anjou Fields, 1803
John Galard stood beside his cousin Claude as they watched Claude's son and daughter attack each other with enthusiasm and wide smiles. "I am surprised that you allowed your daughter to learn fencing, Claude. You are so much of a traditionalist." He had been trying to convince his cousin to anglicize his family name and given names for more than a decade, to no avail.
Claude grunted, "One does not 'allow' my Isabelle to do anything, John. She is a force of nature. Were she not so good-natured, one might fear the girl. My Angélique claims that our oldest should have been born a boy. She rides horses as if she was born on one. She understands the soil and the planting seasons better than I do. When I began teaching Louis how to hold a foil, she begged and pleaded until I finally relented. I thought it might be a passing fancy, but as you see, she is as skilled as someone half-again her age."
"And how does your lovely wife feel about it?" John teased.
Claude regarded his cousin with a sad expression, "After watching the mob seize her family and hearing the reports of what was done, she welcomes the idea of our beautiful daughters learning to protect themselves. She still insists that Belle and Claudette learn all of the womanly arts. Claudette is, perhaps more dedicated to learning her instruments, yet she lacks the flair of her older sister. And Belle had the singing voice of an angel. I fear that she will never take a liking to the embroidery that her mother insists upon however."
"Have you heard again from White Hall?" Here was the true reason that John Galard had ridden over to speak with his cousin. "You were willing to aide them before."
Claude turned away from his children to look out of the ballroom window onto his cultivated fields, "Before I was advising them on how to rescue some of my countrymen... men, women, and children fleeing from the mad mobs and the guillotine. Any aide that I render now would be helping the English to kill my countrymen."
"Claude, whether you like it or no, this is your country now. They welcomed you into their arms and helped to save others."
"They selected those of my countrymen whom they thought it might benefit them to save! When I landed with my people they did nothing to feed or settle us. It was my own fortune that kept my people fed! And then, at the same time that I labored with White Hall to save as many as possible, Parliament voted in the Alien Acts, blocking many whose only hope was here!"
"Cousin, they feared that some of those flooding into this country were actually subversives and spies, intent upon spreading the revolution... and this proved to be the case with some. You know this. I hate the politics of that decision as much as you, but I cannot be blind to the realities. And now, with this Napleon rising to prominence and others champing at the bit to spread their power throughout Europe and here, there is a very real danger that that which you fled from will follow you."
The men's voices had risen enough that the twelve and eleven year old combatants had paused to watch in concern. Claude gave his children a cheerful smile and then led his cousin out of the ball room. In a calmer voice he responded, "I do know this, John. It does not rest well with me, but I do know this. If I am asked for assistance, then I will render as much as my conscience will allow, and no more."
John expelled a heavy breath and nodded, "I understand. I pray for the day that France will be peaceful and safe again, but I fear that it will be many years... and by then we may not recognize her."
Netherfield Park, 1811
"Richard! This is surprise! All is well, I hope?" Fitzwilliam Darcy prompted. He was very pleased to see his cousin when he was announced into his friend's study, but somewhat shocked to see him in an out-of-the-way place like Meryton.
Charles Bingley, his friend and the temporary owner of Netherfield Park added his own greeting, "It is good to see you, Colonel. Would you care for something to wash down the dust of the road?"
"Being the stalwart man of action that I am, I shall answer Mr. Bingley's more pertinent and urgent question first: yes, I would be grateful for either a whiskey or a brandy, if you have the latter. Now, Darcy's question: all is well on the homefront but I have been sent to solicit military intelligence from an outside source, there being little intelligence in the headquarters at this time."
"And where might you discover this wealth of intelligence elsewhere?" Bingley asked with a chuckle.
"Bedfordshire, believe it or not."
"I was not aware of any great repository of knowledge there," Darcy quipped.
"That is only because you did not know where to look. Allow me to enlighten you on a little French and English history: As early as the fifteen-hundreds, there existed a staunch sect of Protestantism within Catholic France known as the Huguenots. For a while they were mostly left alone, but some of them made the inexcusable mistake of becoming rich and powerful, therefore inciting jealousy and greed. Under the auspices of the Catholic Church, prosecution began. The worst such early occurrence was St. Bartholemew's Day, where some of the nobility were assassinated while the Queen Mother herself incited the mobs to riot and kill many others. It was at this time that a great many fled, some of these to our shores. The persecutions continued for more than a century until, eventually, Louis XIV issued the Edict of Fontainebleau, which made it entirely illegal to be Protestant.
"Now some might conjecture that this very pointed encouragement of mobs to do their dirty work might just have set the stage for what began two decades ago, but that is another story... mostly."
"I offered you that history lesson because, as I previously stated, many of the persecuted fled to our shores. Those who remained either blended into our society or established small pockets of their own kind. The first often broke all ties with their French cousins. The second often maintained familial contact. One of the latter exists on the outskirts of Kensworth, four large estates owned by Frenchies and farmed by Frenchies. My mother orders that one cheese that you like so much from there, by the way, Darcy.
"Three of these farms were purchased by Huguenots. But one of these was purchased and made very successful... a rival to Pemberley in wealth if not in history... by the former Count of Anjou, a close cousin to the Duke of Anjou, who did not make it out. The count and his family did escape and have made a good life for themselves here. Prior to becoming the count he was a military man, a Colonel of Cavalry the same as myself. When he first landed on our shores White Hall solicited his expertise on the landscape and side-routes in order to save a few prominent individuals. Now they want his aide and advice again."
"And what brought you here? The Great North Road is fifteen miles to our east on questionable roads."
"I had thought, since I was passing by anyway, that I might invite the two of you along for the ride. I hear that the food there is excellent and the maidens quite fair of face and form." Richard waggled his eyebrows, making his cousin shake his head in bemusement.
Bingley sighed, "I am sorry to disappoint you, Colonel, but there is an assembly tonight. I was just in the process of convincing my reluctant house guest and advisor on all estate matters to attend."
Darcy suddenly sprouted a smile, "This mission sounds rather important, cousin. I might even venture to describe it as urgent. It gives me great pain to disappoint you, Charles, but it seems that urgent matters of state call me away."
Richard chuckled at Bingley's defeated expression. Then he laughed harder at Bingley's next words, "And I was just about to threaten him with Caroline."
"How so?"
"Something like: of course you may remain at home with a good book. I feel quite certain that my sister will wish to also remain and see to all of your comforts."
While his cousin and friend were laughing, Darcy looked less amused, "There you have it! You have made my decision for me, Charles. When do we depart, cousin?"
"Are you certain that we should not remain here tonight and attend this assembly?" Richard teased. The expression on Darcy's face was enough of an answer, "Ah yes... I did not ride Prometheus hard in anticipation that I might be away again this day. If we leave in an hour then we shall make St. Albans before dusk. Then if we depart again an hour after dawn then we should make it to my appointment in the early afternoon tomorrow.
Anjou Fields, 1811
The following day, before the noon hour, the colonel with his batman and Darcy with his valet turned off the main road and through an ornate metal gate with intricate designs and flourishes around what appeared to be a French coat of arms. The two cousins shared a look as the man at the gatehouse raised a flag to warn the lord of the manor that guests were on their way.
Richard, ever the military man, noted that the raised embankments on the sides of the road could easily conceal men in ambush. Darcy, himself the owner of a prosperous estate, noted that the farms and fields he could see were all well, tended and in order. Off in the distance to one side were cows, while to the other side of the road on a rolling hill a large herd of sheep could barely be seen.
Due to the nature of the landscape the manor house was still not visible a mile in. Darcy was simply appreciating the scene of a well-managed estate, but Richard was on-edge, since the style of the tenant buildings and the style of farming reminded him eerily of France instead of England. His batman Jarvis had the same feeling and seemed on high alert.
When they heard several horses, shouts in French, and the clang or clashing steel it was no surprise then that both Richard and his fellow soldier spurred forward with hands on weapons!
The clamor had come from the left of the road, so both men rode their mounts up and over the embankment! Darcy and his valet, Richardson, were startled but quickly followed!
When Darcy crested the rise, however, he found both his cousin and his fellow cavalryman halted in bemusement. Darcy turned from them to the clamor and saw a vision of dark-haired beauty in a riding saber battle with two boys, one perhaps four and ten and the other no more than twelve. The beauty, long sable hair unbound, was seated astride a large black stallion, easily managing both her mount and her weapon against the two laughing, grinning boys. It took a moment for Darcy to realize that the young woman of perhaps nineteen or twenty was wearing a split riding skirt. It took just a moment longer for him to accept that the petite vision was actually wielding a saber, not a foil!
Then a strong male voice barked, "Halte!" The young woman and the two boys immediately disengaged. It was a sign of their superior horsemanship that all three horses took two steps back from each other. Then all three wheeled to face the one commanding them to stop.
The four men also turned to find themselves looking at another man seated on an Arabian. He was a man of medium height with dark hair shocked with some white streaks. By his posture, manner, and dress he was a man of wealth and authority. The displaced Count of Anjou regarded the interlopers with a measuring look before speaking, "Gentleman, you are early."
A half hour later, after the visitors had an opportunity to wash the dust of the road off, the two cousins found themselves sharing luncheon with the man, his lovely wife, and the man's older two children. The young woman had been introduced as Lady Isabelle and the other boy at the table as Lord Pascal. It seemed that their hosts, Lord Claude and Lady Angélique Galard, the displaced Count and Countess of Anjou, were kind and welcoming, but there was an edge to their welcome.
Richard had been allowed to explain his overreaction to the sounds of battle. The Count, himself a veteran of another era, understood and accepted without remonstrance. The colonel could not resist asking about the scene he had witnessed. Claude Galard answered simply, "After all that happened in my home country, I resolved that not one of my children would be without the means to defend themselves. Women have been long relegated to the drawing room and the ballroom, but when the mobs attacked they made no distinction between men and women..." Left unsaid was that the women, especially the young and pretty ones, suffered worse indignities before their deaths. The two cousins understood.
Darcy, who usually never looked at a young woman except to find fault, found himself fascinated with the dark beauty of the Count's daughter. Not only was her hair a shiny black, but her large, expressive, intelligent eyes were also dark. It was also obvious that this young lady disdained bonnets, because her skin was too tanned by English standards of beauty... not that he subscribed to that standard at this moment.
As expected, Isabelle... or Belle as her family often addressed her... spoke French to perfection, but when she spoke English is was almost unaccented. Despite the hoydenish display he had witnessed she was now dressed in a becoming day dress which displayed her light and pleasing figure to perfection. And when she engaged in the luncheon conversation she displayed perfect manners while demonstrating that she was well-versed on many modern issues.
The Countess was just explaining that their eldest, Louis, was away at Cambridge. This, naturally, led the two cousins to speak about their own experiences there. Some of the tales prompted laughter around the table, allowing Darcy to bask in the tinkling sound of Lady Isabelle's laughter. He scolded himself for thinking like a lovesick calf, yet his rebellious thoughts and reactions persisted.
When luncheon was over the Count guided the two cousins to his study, where Darcy admired the wide selection of books while Colonel Fitzwilliam and their host got down to the reason for this appointed visit. Darcy could well understand the man's reluctance to provide information that would lead to the deaths of some of his countrymen. He also respected that the man drew certain lines on what he would and would not do. In the end, however, he not only agreed to facilitate contacts with his compatriots who had gone to ground in France.
When their three hour meeting ended the Count and Countess graciously invited the cousins and their servants to stay the night. After supper that night Isabelle and her younger sister Claudette entertained their guests and family by playing pianoforte and singing. Claudette, a very pretty young lady at thirteen, reminded Darcy of his sister in manner and shyness, if not in appearance. Mostly Darcy found himself fixated on the older sister. Isabelle was not technically the most accomplished musician, but the emotion and feeling in her playing was excellent. And there was no doubt that her singing voice was absolutely enchanting.
For her part Belle thought Mr. Darcy to be the most handsome man that she had ever met. She also appreciated the fact that he debated and engaged with her on an intellectual level, never speaking down to her as so many other men had in the past few years.
The two young people seemed to gravitate towards each other for the remainder of the evening while the colonel kept up the conversation with the rest. Claudette was sent away after performing, being still very young, but Pascal was allowed to remain. He loved horses and horsemanship, so he enjoyed asking questions about "English" style cavalry. Richard made certain to praise what he had seen on the field and the easy way that the three children had managed their mounts. Claude explained that he had attended France's finest riding academy, founded by François Robichon de La Guérinière. This, of course, led to a much deeper discussion.
The Countess finally reminded the men that "young people must have their sleep." Darcy felt great regret when Isabelle joined her mother and younger brother in leaving the room. The men spoke for another hour over brandies before also retiring.
Before the cousins and their assistants left the next morning Darcy made certain to request permission from the Count to call on the man's lovely eldest daughter. Since his wife had already spoken to him about what she had seen and their daughter's interest, he consented.
Richard teased his cousin Darcy all of the way back to Netherfield. His amusement only grew when Bingley went off about the "angel" who he had met and danced with at the assembly. The colonel intimated that Darcy and his friend had more in common than he realized. Darcy scowled at the man but it did no good. Thankfully for Darcy none of Richard's teasing took place in front of Caroline Bingley.
The events described above took place at the end of September. For all of October and the first part of November Fitzwilliam Darcy spent three days of each week teaching his friend about estate management and four days at Anjou Fields, where he paid court to the lovely and fascinating Isabelle.
The formalities of "Count and Countess" and "Lord and Lady" were quickly dropped once the parents became comfortable with Darcy. After all, they no longer believed that they would ever be able to return to France and reclaim their heritage, so their titles were questionable. Only the decree of the English Royals kept them valid. This was, perhaps, fortuitous for Fitzwilliam Darcy because his suit might not have been allowed otherwise. As it was he was welcomed by the family and it was soon taken as inevitable that he would form a match with their eldest daughter.
For her part Isabelle's early attraction quickly grew to something much deeper. This was the first and only man who had truly touched both her heart and her mind.
Back in Meryton Bingley welcomed the manner in which he was learning. For three days Darcy taught him with the intensity of a Cambridge professor. Then Bingley had four days on his own to go about his tasks and pay court to the lovely Miss Jane Bennet. During those four days she began visiting the tenants with him and even discussing various methods to improve his leased estate. She was no genius, but she had learned well from her father, despite her mother's protestations. This more practical interaction showed Bingley a side of this beautiful creature that he had not seen before, changing infatuation into true appreciation and then love.
The Netherfield Ball, November 26th, 1811
The events of the Netherfield Ball would not soon be forgotten.
Caroline Bingley did not know or understand what was happening with her Mr. Darcy. All that she knew was that the man was gone from Netherfield more than he was present, and when he was present he was engaged in an intensive course of instruction with her brother on how to manage an estate! It was not to be borne! The only reason that she had agreed to play hostess for her brother was so that she could prove her merit as the next Mistress of Pemberley, but now the man was almost never in the same room, or even the same county as her!
She was so frustrated with this that she barely paid any heed to her brother's pursuit of Miss Jane Bennet. This proved providential because Bingley's courtship of his angel proceeded without interference from that quarter. Additionally, since Mrs. Bennet seemed to suffer quite strongly from "nerves," she was often tucked away in her room and also not able to interfere. She still feared the return of the "dark one." Lately the nightmares had only grown in intensity until Mr. Bennet thought he might need to have his wife committed. Since he had no understanding of what she meant by a "dark one," he simply wrote the matter off as more hysteria.
So when the subject of a ball was raised, Caroline was one of the more vocal supporters of the idea! This was her chance! First, she would prove her merit by planning the best ball possible to rival any London ball! Then, as hostess, she would dance with the man as many times as possible with her Mr. Darcy! Then, if all else failed, she would engineer a compromise right there on the ballroom floor! She would be the next Mistress of Pemberley!
When Darcy learned of the planned event, he asked his friend if the Count and his family could be invited. Bingley was sanguine about the idea and his sister, not understanding the hidden implication, was overjoyed to invite a French count and countess, along with their two eldest children! What a highlight that would be to her ball!
November 26th arrived. Although the Count and his family had been invited to reside at Netherfield before the ball, matters at home kept them from beginning their journey until that morning. When they arrived the Bingleys and Darcy were there to greet them. Caroline was proud as a peacock at first to welcome the family, but began to be concerned when she saw how her Mr. Darcy greeted the young French lady who was introduced as Lady Isabelle Galard. By the time that the ball was ready to begin Caroline was livid.
Mr. Bennet had debated allowing his nervous wife to attend the ball. Of late she had been more and more shrill and difficult. Yet on the morning of the ball her entire focus was on preparing her daughter and that served to calm her greatly. To avoid any great display of nerves he had neglected to inform her that their Jane was now in a formal courtship with Mr. Bingley. He had also kept Mr. Collins from making his self-invited visit by citing illness at Longbourn.
After watching carefully all day, Mr. Bennet finally decided that it would be the lesser of two evils to bring his wife along and watch over her rather than attempt to leave her behind. For all appearances she seemed quite composed... or at least as composed as she ever could be... when it was time to depart.
~ooOoo~
All was well at the Netherfield Ball until the second set of the evening. At least all was well for everyone but Caroline Bingley. She had planned for Mr. Darcy to claim her first set, which she considered her right as the hostess of the ball. Of course she completely ignored the tradition that the hostess did not dance at her own ball. That was neither here nor there.
Mrs. Bennet was not only composed, but smiling like the cat that ate the canary as Mr. Bingley led out the evening and danced the first set with her Jane. As she told those around her who bothered to listen, "My Jane could not be so beautiful for nothing!"
Where the world fell apart was when the first set ended. Darcy requested the hand of Lady Angélique Galard for the second set, both as a courtesy and because he had grown to like the woman he hoped to make his future mother-by-marriage. Captain Denny requested and gained Jane's next dance. The count, in order to do his duty, requested the hand of Caroline Bingley for the second set...
… and Charles Bingley, hoping to know more about the young woman who had finally conquered his recalcitrant friend, solicited the hand of Lady Isabelle for the second set.
Ignored or at least tolerated by the others, Lydia Bennet was behaving in her usual flirtatious and uncontrolled self. There was no denying that she was another beauty in the family, though only fifteen, improper, and obsessed with men in uniform. Her hand was secured by Major Carter for the second set.
All of the pieces were on the board and the play was about to commence.
Mrs. Bennet had remained mostly composed up until this point in the night, but when the music for the second set began, she looked about to determine where her Jane was. She was not best pleased to see her dancing with an officer. She would have much preferred that her beautiful daughter dance every dance with Mr. Bingley, even though what was left of her logical mind knew that was impossible.
She wondered at the distinguished, sharply dressed, and very handsome older man who was dancing with Miss Bingley, feeling slightly envious.
Then it happened... she saw Mr. Bingley, Jane's Mr. Bingley, dancing with a young woman with black hair, tanned skin, and dark, sparkling eyes! It could not be! She could not be real! The very demoness from her nightmares was on the dance floor with her daughter's man! It was the Dark One!
The unearthly shriek that came next would be remembered by everyone as Mrs. Fanny Bennet went from sitting to rushing forward in a flash! The dance was a quadrille, however, and fast moving at that, so before she could attack the dark one and drive her away Mrs. Bennet first encountered the handsome older man and Miss Bingley. Not willing to be stopped, she shoved Miss Bingley out of the way, ripping the lady's dress and sending her careening into another pair!
Fanny's mindless shrieking continued as she tried to claw her way to her enemy, but both the Count and Mr. Darcy were men of action and they managed to intercept and restrain the mindless creature until other men rushed in to lend a hand! Nobody could even understand what had set her off or what she could be babbling! Then, suddenly, the crazed woman seized up, her eyes pinpointed, her mouth working, before she slumped lifelessly!
Mr. Bennet, his face broken but set, instructed the men to haul his wife to another room. Mr. Bingley was about to guide them until he heard more clamor and turned to find that his sister, with most of her upper body exposed for all to see, was laying sprawled on top of Major Carter, himself with a handful of... well, Caroline! With Jane and Lydia rushing to attend to their mother, it was Lady Angélique Galard and her lovely daughter Isabelle who stepped in to help the distraught Caroline and cover her from prying eyes. She also had to be taken to a room, her own suite, followed by her sister Louisa, who had been in another part of the ballroom when all of this took place.
There was some question about ending the ball, but Mr. Bingley insisted that it carry on. He asked Lady Lucas to take over as hostess. Lady Angélique Galard graciously added her help, along with her daughter.
In the guest room where Mrs. Bennet had been carried Mr. Long, the apothecary, shook his head sadly, "It was a heart attack, Mr. Bennet. I am sorry." Arrangements were made for the body to be removed to Longbourn. The family also departed silently, unseen by the bewildered celebrants.
Betrothals, Commiserations, and Departures
Despite the able assistance of the Ladies Luca and Angélique, the ball ended after a very subdued supper and everyone else departed. The ladies remaining in the manor removed to their rooms while the men talked over drinks until they also retired.
At ten of the clock the following morning Major Carter presented himself in Mr. Bingley's study to talk about arrangements for his marriage to Caroline Bingley. The officer surprised Charles when he explained that he was rightfully the Honorable James Carter, first son and heir of Baron Carter, of Lorton. When this information was passed to the very distraught Caroline Bingley she suddenly experienced a recovery. Of course neither her betrothed nor her husband explained that there was no associated estate... that information would only come after the rushed wedding.
At ten of the clock Fitzwilliam Darcy and the Garlards made their goodbyes to Bingley and departed Netherfield. They stopped first at Longbourn where they expressed their condolences. Although Isabelle had not met Jane at the ball, the two formed an instant bond. Before they left the mourning family the two ladies exchanged contact information.
Darcy and the Garlands then left Meryton behind, bound for London. They planned to linger there for a few days, meet the Matlocks, collect Georgiana, and then spend the festive season together at Pemberley. Darcy had already spoken to the Count and wanted to make his proposal at Pemberley. Georgiana was shy at first, but quickly found that she felt comfortable and welcome with the Galards and especially Isabella and Claudia. The Matlocks also liked the family and were pleased with the expected connection.
Isabelle fell in love with Pemberley from the moment that she saw it. Had she not already fallen for the Master of the estate, she might have then and there. As it was the month of December was spent sharing walks, conversations, sleigh rides, and not a few stolen kisses with the man who she had already fallen in love with. Darcy proposed on Christmas Eve and the couple made their vows in late January.
Isabelle could not explain the deep connection that she felt for Jane Bennet, but she felt sad that the young woman would not be there with her at her wedding. They had already begun a correspondence that would enrich the Post for decades to come.
Epilogue
Despite the evidence of madness in the family, Charles Bingley faithfully stuck with Jane throughout her mourning period and proposed the very day that it ended. In order to continue to help the diminished Bennet family, he purchased Netherfield. Using the skills that he had learned from his friend Darcy, Bingley managed both estates until Mr. Bennet felt equal to the task again. Having waited so long they were wed by common license within the week... there might have been some necessity involved in the hastiness of the wedding, but since they hurried off to spend almost a full year in the north nobody was around to do the math.
Louisa and her husband chose to return to London after her sister's hurried wedding. In a twist of fate, Charles needed someone to act as hostess until he was wed. His widowed Aunt Felicia agreed to take up the position. She was intelligent, well-spoken, and still attractive in her mid-thirties. Because of the close bond between Bingley and the Bennets, Thomas Bennet and she were often in company. So it should not have been such a huge surprise to one and all when, after his mourning was over, Thomas proposed to Felicia. She accepted and, as an even greater surprise, gave him the first of two sons one year later.
As to Caroline Carter, she was unhappy at first to learn that her husband was not even remotely wealthy and that his father the baron was quite healthy. Nevertheless Major Carter was quite easy on the eyes and very presentable, so they made a handsome pair in London. He was also an accomplished lover, so Caroline could not repine... much.
Claude Galard, Count Anjou, kept his contribution to the British war effort to a minimum until Napoleon escaped and began to gather his forces for a second attempt at world domination. At that point the reluctant expatriate became an active advisor, helping the Duke of Wellington to put an end to the struggle once and for all. As an unexpected reward the Regent awarded him with an English title to go along with his French one, making him the Earl of Kensworth and awarding additional lands and monies commensurate to the title. His eldest son was awarded the courtesy title of Viscount Anjou.
Louis Galard had gone to Pemberley with his family as soon as university let out for the festive season of 1811. He instantly took a liking to Georgiana. She reciprocated. After he completed his studies and as soon as she came of age, he proposed and was accepted, to the joy of both families.
When Napoleon was defeated and all treaties signed, The Darcys and the Galards made a journey to France. Although Claude Galard could have attempted to reclaim his lands and title, the bitterness that he and his wife felt while there discouraged them. After a visit to several other countries the families returned to England and made their life there instead.
Jane Bingley and Isabelle Darcy became friends who were closer than sisters... almost as close as twins. The suprising discovery that they shared the same birthday only enhanced their bond. The Galards never informed Isabelle that she was adopted because they thought her original circumstances were quite poor. It never occurred to them that what bitterness and superstition had torn apart, fate and love had brought together again.
AN: Thank you to the reviewer MEE for giving my friend a laugh. Allow me to explain. She is very British while her husband was, like me, very American. I mentioned that they met on a mountain. What I did not say is that he was hanging by nothing but a rope and pitons while she, a highly skilled climber, was the one to rescue him. He coined the pun "Springtime in the Fall" to describe their marriage. She promptly informed him, as you did me, that the proper word is "Autumn." He informed her that she rescued him after a "fall" and he therefore refused to change his wording and "if it bothers you, go eat a crumpet." I heard this discussion more than a few times and enjoyed the banter. So while I accept your pet peeve and correction, I'm afraid that the title remains.
