Notes: To answer this comment: "Just so you know : ingenuity means inventiveness, cleverness, intuition etc"
Yes, this is the idea behind the title of this story. If I find a more suitable word, I might change the title.
This story has 54 chapters - 70 - 80 K
Many thanks to my beta reader and co-author Sam H
Warning: Dubious sexual consent (rape)
PPP
June 1805 – July 1805
The Willows visited Longbourn the second day following the party at Lucas Lodge. Mrs. Bennet greeted them warmly and invited Mr. Willow to sit on the sofa next to Jane and sat Miss Willow next to her.
As her other daughters were not yet out, Mrs. Bennet preferred that they remained in their rooms or the garden. It was just Jane in the drawing room receiving visitors.
On the small table next to the sofa was a basket with some handkerchiefs that Jane had been embroidering before the Willows arrival. Mr. Willow looked at them and took the opportunity to compliment Jane, "Miss Bennet, you are so talented with the needle. Those flowers you are embroidering are beautiful! I congratulate you on your accomplishment."
Jane blushed and shyly replied, "Thank you, Mr. Willow. You are very kind."
"And you also have impeccable taste."
Mrs. Bennet interrupted the conversation and added, "As you said, Mr. Willow, my daughter has a discerning eye for style and excellent taste." She looked at Jane and added, "Jane, my dear, why do you not show our guests your garden?" She looked at Mr. Willow pointedly, "There are some beautiful roses in full bloom."
"Mrs. Bennet, I would prefer to stay here and rest because I am quite tired, and it is too warm outside for my taste." Elinor smiled. "But I am sure my brother would be delighted to see the roses. They are his favorite flowers."
"Indeed, Elinor." He smiled warmly at Jane, "Lead the way, Miss Bennet. I am all anticipation to view the roses."
Mr. Willow opened the door for Jane and offered her his arm. Jane took it shyly and did, indeed, show him her garden. Mr. Willow's opinion of the garden was that it was nothing in comparison to the gardens of his wealthy acquaintances and friends, but still he praised her for her dedication and hard work.
"The roses are quite beautiful, but they are nowhere near as beautiful as you, Miss Bennet." Jane blushed, and he added, "At my father's estate, there was a garden full of roses similar to yours. But since my mother's death, it has been quite abandoned, and they have dried up." He sighed dejectedly, "It was a deep shame. I miss my mother very much and the garden was a beautiful reminder of her."
Jane regarded him compassionately, "I am sorry for your loss, Mr. Willow. Has she been gone long?"
"Fifteen years. But you never truly recover from such a devastating loss." He sighed again. He had not had a close relationship with his mother, she had been a shrew, yet he added, "My mother was a warm, loving woman. She was an angel who always had a smile on her face."
Jane's eyes began to overflow with tears as she gently squeezed his arm. Mr. Willow smiled at her and changed the topic, "Well, I do not want to depress you with my tragic story of woe. Let us speak of happier things. At Lucas Lodge, you mentioned you like to ride, but rarely have the opportunity to do so."
Jane nodded, "Yes, I enjoy it very much. We have two mares suitable for my sisters and I to ride, but my sisters do not like riding, and I am not comfortable riding alone."
He looked at her with a warm smile. "Elinor and I wish to invite you to join us on our morning rides. Would that be acceptable to you?"
Jane opened her eyes in surprise and grinned, "Yes, I would be happy to. I shall have to ask my father for permission."
"Do not fear, my sister and I can convince your father. I would like to get to know him better. From the little opportunities I had to speak with him, he seems to be an intelligent and interesting gentleman."
"He is currently in his study. He seldom comes down when there are visitors at Longbourn. But if you like, when we get back to the house, I can accompany you to his study."
On their return to the house, Mr. Willow did not speak to Mr. Bennet. However, Mrs. Bennet promised him that he would give his consent for Jane to go riding with them.
Two days later, the Willows arrived at Longbourn to fetch Jane, but she was still not ready. That day, Elizabeth had the opportunity to meet the Willow siblings for the first time. Her first impression of them was that Mr. Willow was indeed the most handsome gentleman she had ever seen; her sister was very pretty but quieter than her brother, and they seemed to have a close relationship.
For their part, the siblings did not pay much attention to Elizabeth as she was still a child, and Jane came down a few minutes later.
For the next few weeks, Jane went out riding with the Willows regularly. Mr. Willow was extremely attentive, kind, and caring to her, and within a month, Jane had fallen deeply in love with him. He was everything a gentleman ought to be, and her tender heart was his.
With each passing day, Mrs. Bennet became more excited; she was sure that Mr. Willow would propose to her most beautiful daughter, and she did her best to give them opportunities to talk in privacy. She had always been certain that Jane could not be so beautiful for nothing. She knew how it would be, and she had been right. Jane would be a baronet's wife!
6th August 1805
The day was sunny and warm, and the trio went out riding late in the morning. They were less than a quarter mile from Netherfield Park and three miles from Longbourn when Elinor said she was unwell and would like to return to Netherfield to rest.
Jane grew concerned for her friend's health and accompanied them to Netherfield so she could get some rest. Elinor immediately said that she would freshen up and rest for a few minutes before she met them in the library as it was the coolest room in the house, and the sofa and armchairs there were more comfortable as well.
Mr. Willow led Jane to the library, and he surreptitiously closed and locked the door so they would not be interrupted. Perhaps a young woman less naïve than Jane would have realized she was in danger being alone with Mr. Willow, but until that day, he had been so kind and considerate with her. Even her mother claimed that at any moment, Mr. Willow would propose, and it did not occur to her such a perfect gentleman would be interested in her for anything other than an honorable relationship.
Smiling warmly, Mr. Willow invited her to sit on a large sofa and handed her a glass of wine. He then poured himself a glass of brandy and sat down next to her. Jane seldom drank wine, but she accepted the glass with a smile. She had no way of knowing there was laudanum mixed into it.
"I want to toast you, the most beautiful and special woman in Hertfordshire," gallantly, Mr. Willow exclaimed.
Jane blushed deeply, looked down, and took a sip of her drink. She did not like it very much, and there was a strange taste as well, but she drank it all nonetheless. Mr. Willow gently lifted her chin so she was looking into his eyes. Then he kissed her softly on the lips. Jane opened her eyes wide in amazement, blushed even deeper than before, and closed her eyes.
"Jane, please look at me. Have you not realized how special I find you?"
Jane looked at him and beamed. She was elated by his statement, her secret dream coming true.
Seeing the look of adoration on Jane's face, Mr. Willow added, "Jane, I asked Elinor to leave us so we could have some time alone. There is something very important that I have wanted to tell you for several days, and I cannot wait any longer." He tenderly caressed her cheek and gave her another soft kiss.
He got up and poured her another glass of wine, and they toasted again. Jane was nervous and gulped down more of the tainted drink.
Frederick caressed her cheek again, then knelt and took both her hands in his. "Jane, ever since I first laid eyes on you, I have felt a connection to you. Over time, I have come to adore you more dearly than I thought possible. You are precious to me, and I am hoping you feel the same way?"
Jane's face lit up even more with joy, and with a voice broken with so many emotions, she answered she did.
Mr. Willow tenderly kissed her lips again, got up to refill her glass, and sat down next to her again. He toasted Jane again, and after she nearly emptied her glass, he immediately kissed her again. Frederick was a skilled lover and experienced seducer; he started gently, kissing and caressing her softly, as he sensed Jane's body start to become heavy against the sofa, his touches and caresses grew bolder.
Jane had begun to feel lightheaded, but was also overwhelmed by the vortex of sensations zinging through her body. She had never experienced anything like it. Frederick realized Jane was under the influence of laudanum and his kisses. She was laying on the sofa, her eyes half closed and hardly moving. He climbed over her, lowering the neckline of her dress and sampling the delicious soft skin with his lips. When he started lifting her gown and caressing her legs, Jane startled, trying to ineffectually push his hands away. He kept kissing her neck and breasts, grabbing both her hands in one of his, holding them firmly above her head. She vainly tried to pull them away, turning her head from side to side.
Not really understanding what was happening she weakly cried "no… no…", but it was too late. Jane felt a sharp pain between her legs, and a continuing burning sensation there, until Frederick, breathing heavily, collapsed on top of her.
She started to cry inconsolably, from pain, fear and the realization that her virtue had been taken. Then Frederick, the man she had trusted and who she had thought loved her dearly, said "That was wonderful, my dear, I thank you for such a precious gift."
He rose off the sofa, straightening his clothes "I must leave for London tomorrow and will be there for some while as I have several important meetings I cannot cancel."
Still sore and even more dizzy than before, Jane could barely keep track of what he was saying. The sound of his voice buzzed in her ears, as she tried to keep her eyes open.
"Lovely getting to know you… not know when … meet again… my sister…"
Jane fell asleep on the sofa, and an hour or so later, she awoke when Elinor gently shook her shoulder. Half an hour later, Jane, fuzzy headed, still slightly dizzy and sore, returned to Longbourn in the Willow's carriage while Mr. Willow rode alongside Jane's mare. Arriving at Longbourn, he greeted Mrs. Bennet warmly, but made his excuses saying he had a previous engagement. After a charming goodbye to both Jane and Mrs. Bennet Mr. Frederick Willow returned to Netherfield.
That was the last time Jane saw him.