Chapter 3

May 1811

After being master of his family's estate for five years, Darcy was confident he was upholding the high standards his father taught him. He continued to use many of the same farming techniques he had learned while keeping current of the newest methods. Georgiana returned to live at Pemberley House one year after her father's death and the two siblings grew closer as the years went by. They spent much of their time in Derbyshire but ventured to town every few months; Darcy to meet with his solicitors and men of business; Georgiana to visit the modistes with their Aunt Matlock and study with the finest music masters available. He seldom encountered his betrothed while in London and if, by chance, they happened to be in the same room, they barely acknowledged each other's presence and did not speak.

Darcy was inspecting the progress of the recently planted crops and decided to take a short detour on his way back to the stables. He slowly approached the small house his father had spoken about many years ago. The cottage where his parents and many generations before them spent the first days of their marriage. The thought of spending any time with Lady Beatrice in the honeymoon cottage makes me feel sick to my stomach however I will have to see to the building's repair. Lord Markham will not wait one day past my next birthday for me to marry his daughter; besides Pemberley Park needs an heir. Because I love and respect the memory of my father, I will marry her and avoid the scandal and financial repercussions it might bring to the Darcy name if I attempted to end the betrothal. I pray I will be able to control the scandal my wife's behaviour may create after she bears an heir.

May 1811

Markham House, London

Darcy,

I will be traveling north next week and will stop to visit you on my journey to Holland Park. My father apprised me of the terms of the betrothal contract he and your father signed, stipulating we marry before your birthday this December. You have postponed it long enough. I was planning to travel to a house party in Staffordshire, but my father insisted I visit you and finalize plans for the wedding. As we have already discussed, I plan to marry, give you an heir, and move on with my life.

Beatrice

Darcy was seated behind his large mahogany desk and noticed a letter from his cousin amongst his correspondence. He was always eager to hear from him but more so since he was recovering from the serious injury he suffered fighting on the Peninsula. Richard wrote of the latest family news and several amusing anecdotes about the new recruits he was training in London. The last paragraph was news that did not surprise him but saddened him, nonetheless.

Cousin, there is one more thing you need to know. It is a well-known fact that your betrothed is openly having an affair with Lord Bertram and several others.

He knew Richard would never lie to him and sat with his head in his hands wondering how he should react to such news. Ours will be a marriage of convenience and we will only come together until we produce an heir and go our separate ways. I am despondent about my betrothal to someone I cannot abide but I will obey the wishes of my father and the document he signed. I am resigned to living a lonely life in Derbyshire while my 'wife' cavorts all over London. She will be here soon; I can only pray her behaviour has improved.

As much as Darcy dreaded her visit and the stated purpose of her being there, when the appointed day arrived, he and Georgiana stood outside to greet her. "Welcome, Lady Beatrice, allow me to introduce you to my sister, Georgiana." He noted two more carriages heading toward the stables laden with her ladyship's trunks. I hope my family's coffers are deep enough to keep her in the style to which she is accustomed. Another woman was helped down from the carriage but was not introduced; Darcy was hard put to explain her presence, as a maid would not normally ride with her mistress given there were two other carriages.

"Welcome to Pemberley House, my lady," Georgiana spoke softly as she curtsied.

Lady Beatrice barely looked her way and snickered, "charmed, I am sure."

The Darcys led her into the house whereupon she immediately looked up at the magnificent fresco which adorned the ceiling of the great hall. "This is Harrison, my private secretary. She will take notes on all the changes I wish to make before we return here after the wedding." She pointed upward. "The first order of business is that must be painted over; frescoes are so passe." Georgiana was aghast and looked at her brother to gauge his reaction to his betrothed's plans. She was delighted when she saw him shake his head at the idea.

As the tour continued, Lady Beatrice pointed out the numerous changes that were to be made to every room in the manor house as quickly as possible; her secretary wrote all she was told. She claimed the mistress's suite was much too small and insisted a wall be removed to enlarge her dressing room. "Everything must be finished by our wedding day if we are going to host a ball in the fall before returning to town for the Yuletide and the Season; then of course we will host large house parties all summer." Darcy remained silent as she described the furniture and décor his mother chose as tasteless and so long out of fashion in the ton. "If we marry in the early autumn, the south of France will be just the place for our wedding trip!"

"Madam, it is presently inadvisable to travel to the Continent; you may have heard we are at war with France. Besides that, for the past 200 years the Darcys have traditionally honeymooned at Pembrook Cottage, which is a short distance from here. It needs repair, but I would be happy to show it to you now if you are not too fatigued from your trip."

"I assure you I am quite able to continue the tour. I am known for my stamina."

He refused to reply to her last remark, understanding her comment did not refer to her ability to walk long distances but her endurance in the bedroom. "I will ask my housekeeper, to accompany us and she can also hear any suggestions you may have." As they walked there, he told her, "I will have it made ready for our stay when we set the date for the wedding."

He described the cottage as they entered, "this level has a drawing room with a pianoforte, a small dining room, a

library as well as the kitchen and servants' quarters. Upstairs there are two large bed chambers with a connecting sitting room. It was originally built as the Dower House but has not been used for that purpose since the new quarters for the dowager were built more than a hundred years ago."

Mrs Reynolds pointed to a large wooden cabinet, "here are the silver goblets which the newlyweds use for their first toast after the ceremony."

As Beatrice looked around, she was revolted by how old and outdated everything was. Her face reflected her displeasure as she lifted one of the silver goblets and blew a thick cloud of dust off them. She turned and gave her betrothed a withering look.

"Fitzwilliam, it is so charming," Georgiana observed, and she saw her brother and Mrs Reynolds smile.

Lady Beatrice could not restrain herself. "Really, Mr Darcy, my father is the eighth earl of Markham and my mother was a direct descendent of the Empress of Russia; how do you expect me to spend another moment in this filthy shack? The Markham townhouse is said to be the finest and largest in London! I am accustomed to staying in only the best homes in the world; my father will never approve of your plan. Harrison, you need not write anything about this hovel; I will never consider spending my wedding night here."

It was time to put his foot down and Darcy declared forcefully, "this cottage is where six generations of my family have spent their wedding night including my parents! You will spend your wedding night here and as many subsequent nights as I see fit!" He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself while his housekeeper showed Lady Beatrice the leaded glass windows. She explained that soon after the couples are married, they etch their names into the glass.

Beatrice removed her glove before taking off her betrothal ring and moving toward the windows.

"The names are etched only after the marriage takes place, my lady. Everyone who honeymoons here has been happy; they all believe the cottage is enchanted."

"Enchanted? What drivel! Are you also going to tell me there are pixies in the garden!" She raised her hand and began to scratch her name.

"Pray wait until after you and Mr Darcy are wed." His betrothed gave the older woman a scathing look and did not heed her advice. When she began to scratch her name with the large ruby in her ring, the stone fell to the floor and everyone in the room felt a strange sense of foreboding.

"I will have your ring taken to Lambton for repair while you are here."

"Nonsense, I only allow the Prince Regent's jewellery maker to touch my jewels! Besides, I will not be here that long."

"As you wish madam," Darcy replied as he placed the ring and the dislodged ruby in her outstretched hand.

"My lady, I should have mentioned there is an etching tool hanging beside the window."

"It is of no importance now, Mrs Reynolds." Darcy offered coldly as he glowered as his fiancée.

When they returned to the manor house, Lady Beatrice asked to be shown to her room. Later, while Darcy and Georgiana impatiently awaited their guest's arrival for dinner, a maid brought a note stating her ladyship would take her meal in her room.

After Darcy and his sister finished their breakfast the following day, he found Beatrice waiting for him in the hall. "I am planning to leave soon, so we must discuss our wedding date."

"Join me in my study and we can have some privacy." Several minutes later, a wedding date was not so much chosen as announced by the future bride; they would marry at St. George's in London on September 23rd with the wedding breakfast to be held at Lord Markham's home. Lady Beatrice rose from her chair and announced that she had seen enough of her future home and left the room. Her maid awaited her with her bonnet and gloves; Darcy followed her as she walked out the front door. Before her carriage began to move, she tried to smile at her future husband and said, "I am relying on you changing your mind about our honeymoon. You can certainly find somewhere more civilized than that old, dilapidated cottage in the middle of nowhere. You are not only marrying into British nobility but one of the most powerful families in Europe! Harrison will return in a month to check on the changes I have ordered for the manor house. Farewell, Fitzwilliam."

He silently bowed his head and closed the carriage door a bit too firmly. He did not bother to tell her that regardless of her plans, they would be married in the Pemberley chapel to limit the number of people who could witness the sham of their marriage. He would never expose himself or his sister to the inappropriate comments or knowing looks from any of the many men who had preceded him to the bride's bed. Richard's letter was only one of many he received from various friends who reported on Lady Beatrice's lack of discretion as she consorted with her many paramours.

When the carriage began to move, Beatrice looked at her secretary and said, "he will come around to my way of thinking, have no worries. I can persuade any man to do anything I wish him to. I will transform Pemberley Park into the grandest country estate in England; you can depend on that."

As the Markham carriage drove out of sight, Darcy joined his sister in the music room. She turned to her brother with tears in her eyes. "Must you marry her? In the short time she was here, she insulted my clothes and my taste in music. I hoped when you married, I would finally have the sister I have always wanted. Instead, she will probably have me kidnapped and shipped to Canada after the wedding."

"Shhh, little one. You will live with me and my wife as long as you like. I am going to visit Bingley sometime in August to help him evaluate an estate in Hertfordshire he may let before purchasing. I will be there for a few weeks before my marriage. Perhaps you should stay with Lord and Lady Matlock for now and avoid seeing Lady Beatrice until the wedding. I am certain everything will work out as it should."

London

Elizabeth was sorry to leave Hertfordshire; she would keenly miss being close to Jane. She had no regrets not living in her Aunt Philips' cramped house where she had no choice but to listen to the constant insignificant chatter of her youngest sisters, her aunt, and her mother.

She was warmly welcomed by the Gardiner family when she safely arrived in London. Their niece was appreciative of their kindness and did everything she could to help her aunt with her household responsibilities and spend time with her three young cousins. The Gardiners frequently entertained and were kind enough to hold several small dinner parties to introduce their niece to some eligible young men with whom her uncle did business. Despite their best efforts, they were unsuccessful in their quest to find a match for her. Most of the men took one look at Elizabeth's birthmark and never returned; a few called on her once after their initial meeting, but nothing came of it. One gentleman, a Mr Haverstock, called several times and on what turned out to be his final visit asked Elizabeth to walk with him in the nearby park. Mrs Gardiner asked one of their footmen to escort them and follow at a discreet distance. Shortly after they set out, Mr Haverstock asked, "do you like children, Miss Bennet?"

"Yes, I do. My older sister and I helped raise our three younger sisters."

"In that case, I have another question to ask you."

What? He cannot possibly be asking for my hand after such a short acquaintance. Just how desperate does he think I am?

"Pray ask me whatever you wish, Mr Haverstock."

"I do not wish to be too forward, but would you tell me how you received that terrible burn on your face and how long do you think it will take to heal? I believe if you met my children now, they would be terribly frightened by your appearance."

"Your children? You never mentioned you had any children."

"Why yes, my dear Martha has been gone for more than a year; my three young children need a mother and I must have someone to manage the house. How did you receive that burn?"

She was close to losing her temper but took a deep breath and calmly responded. "This mark on my face is not a burn, it is a birthmark which I will have for the rest of my life." She looked at her companion and saw the look of disgust and continued, "sir, we have nothing more to say to each other. The footman will escort me home."

When Elizabeth entered the drawing room, Mrs Gardiner asked about her walk in the park. "Aunt, he asked me how I burned my face and when did I think it would be healed."

"I cannot believe it. Mr Haverstock seemed genuinely interested in courting you."

"Well, he may have asked for my hand after my 'burn' healed but right now he feels the sight of it would frighten his three children too much." Her aunt was puzzled by her niece's report. "He had never before mentioned he is a widower, hoping to find a woman willing to assume responsibility for his children's care and keeping his house. Even without my birthmark, he was only interested in a wife who would be little more than an unpaid servant."

Mrs Gardiner rose and sat beside her niece. "My dear Lizzy, he is obviously not the man for you." She took her niece's hand, "my father always said when one window closes, another one opens."

The two women embraced, and Elizabeth went to her chambers to be alone with her thoughts. I never imagined my face would frighten children. Perhaps the people of Meryton and my childhood friends simply got used to seeing it. If Papa were still alive, I could always find solace at Longbourn, but Mr Collins has undoubtedly poisoned the minds of everyone in Hertfordshire with stories of my supposed wickedness.

Haverstock was the last gentleman the Gardiners invited to dinner and Elizabeth believed it was because of her unfortunate experience with him. She soon realized there were fewer food choices at every meal and the children were outgrowing their clothes. Several maids and footmen were no longer in the house and her relatives were having frequent conversations behind the doors of her uncle's study. Her aunt had dark rings under her eyes from lack of sleep and Elizabeth saw her wringing her hands when she thought no one was looking. The changes in the Gardiner home were in the forefront of Elizabeth's mind as she considered what, if anything, she could do to help them.

After the children were abed one night, the adults were all seated in the drawing room, and she calmly stated, "I know I will never marry because of my birthmark; it is time I learned how to earn my own way in the world. I am educated enough to be a companion or a governess. I will even take a job as a maid; I am not afraid of hard work. I prefer to live in the country, but you know why I can never return to Hertfordshire."

"Lizzy dear, are you saying this because of the changes we have had to make here?"

"Well, yes, uncle, but that is not all. It is time I go out in the world and make a life for myself. I cannot remain here and expect you to support me for the rest of my life."

Her uncle rose and sat beside her. "I did not wish to burden you with this problem so soon but let me explain what happened. You know my business is called Gardiner and Palmer. Joseph Palmer is the son of the recently deceased Oliver Palmer the honourable man I originally partnered with and trusted completely. Unfortunately, the younger Palmer turned out to be a thief and recently absconded with all the money in the company account. We have some money put away for the children but not enough to make a real difference in our lifestyle. At least he was not interested in stealing any of the goods housed in our three warehouses, so the sale of those items is what continues to feed and clothe us but obviously not as well as before I was ruined."

"Oh, uncle I am so terribly sorry; I wish you would have told me earlier. Is there no way to get any of the stolen money back?"

"I hired a private investigator to help locate Joseph Palmer; unfortunately, he was last seen in Plymouth boarding a ship for the West Indies. My money is undoubtedly in a strongbox stashed securely under his bed."

"Lizzy, let your uncle and I discuss some possibilities and we shall talk about it again in a few days."

"Thank you both. You took me in when I had no place to go; I adore my cousins and will miss you all when I leave for whatever awaits me."

"You are so dear to us and when you arrives in London, we were happy for you to live here for as long as you like and you may still do so. If you go into service, you will never marry someone equal to you being a gentleman's daughter. Are you certain you wish to take this step?"

"I am a gentleman's daughter who has no choice; I either go into service or….no, there is no other solution to my problem."

Elizabeth and her aunt were chatting as they sat in the drawing room mending some of the children's clothes. "Because you prefer to live in the country, what do you think about relocating to Lambton in Derbyshire. I grew up there and still correspond with several old friends who may be able to help you find a position. Lambton is a small village but there are many estates close by and you never know where you may be needed. There is an exceptionally large property called Pemberley Park not far from the village which must employ at least one hundred people. I will write to Alice Hopkins, my childhood friend, who is a widow and lives in the village. She is older than me and married very young; her children are already grown and moved away."

"I remember you and uncle travelled to Lambton for a special occasion."

"Yes, we attended her son Robert's wedding. Would you be interested in living so far north? The winters there are much colder than you are accustomed to."

"Thank you, aunt, that sounds like the perfect solution. Do you think Mrs Hopkins can help me find work?"

"I am certain she will do her best; she knows so many people in the community, she is bound to hear of something for you. My dear, it is time you stopped wearing black and transitioned to lilac or other appropriate colours. I will ask Edward if he has any fabrics in one of the warehouses that might be right for you."

"I cannot take goods from you that might be sold and bring in some income."

"Let us worry about that. Consider it a bribe to write us often."

The following day, Edward Gardiner came home with several bolts of cloth and despite her objections, a neighbourhood seamstress made Elizabeth five simple day dresses. Mrs Hopkins responded to her friend's letter and heartily agreed to have her dearest friend's niece live with her until she could find a position. Elizabeth looked forward to going to Lambton and hoped to begin a new life for herself