Thank you for the kind support and warm welcome for my first time story.
The year is 1808 (I added this detail to the prologue) Young Darcy is 24 yo and Elizabeth is 17, just about to turn 18. Jane married at 19.
I never understood why Jane wasn't sent to the Gardiners for the season to try and meet young men that way. In this version, the Gardiners have a larger acquaintance from all the society levels and the Bennets manage to secure small dowries of 5,000 for Jane and Elizabeth and still working on the younger girls. However, that isn't the point of this variation.
Chapter 1
Gardiner residence
Elizabeth woke up feeling relaxed, for the first time in a while. Looking around the spacious room and admiring the soft colors, she thought back over the past few weeks.
Longbourn had become a trying place to live, once Jane and her husband departed after the wedding. Eliabeth was very happy for her, but having more of her mother's attention focused on her, never bode well for either's patience, or temper.
They did not see eye to eye on many subjects, and Mrs. Franny Bennet rarely took the time to understand her most exasperating daughter.
Jane's husband was a good and kind man, perfect for Jane in temperament. He was heir to a small, but flourishing estate in Bedfordshire.
They had been introduced during Jane's stay with the Gardiners for the season. After a whirlwind courtship, they married, and have now settled on his family estate. Arrangements for them to reside in the dower house were agreed on by all involved. Every new couple deserves privacy at the beginning of their marriage, especially those who marry for love and affection.
Which now left Elizabeth as the main focus of her mother's attention. With the militia moved on to Brighton, there was no one else for Mrs. Bennet to flutter her handkerchief at. Thank goodness her sisters were too young and not yet out. Letting them loose among a camp full of officers would have been a disaster. And potential ruination in the making.
Even better, following a conversation between Mr. Bennet, his new son and uncle Gardiner, a governess was hired for the two youngest girls, Kitty and Lydia. She would also provide piano lessons for Elizabeth's next youngest sister, Mary.
All three were in dire need of comportment lessons, and Elizabeth encouraged her father to 'compliment' Mrs. Bennet into joining those lessons as well.
Even with all these new and positive changes, the haranguing would not cease. Elizabeth wrote to her Aunt Gardiner to beg for an invitation to stay with them.
"Papa, please let me go to London. I get no peace from Mama day or night. It would be of some relief, if there was a change in the society of Meryton, but no one new has moved in since the Howards purchased Netherfield Park."
Mr. Bennet chuckled, "That was a challenging week. Your poor mother was beside herself over a family with young children taking the place."
"Well," Elizabeth continued, ignoring her father's humor, "if you ever wish for peace and quiet again, it is in your best interest to let me go."
"Is that so, my dear? How do you suppose?"
"It is simple. I shall tell Mama I wish to go and seek a husband, just as Jane did."
Her father looked at her over his spectacles, "And do you?"
"That is neither here, nor there. What is relevant is Mama thinking such is the case." Her eyes glittered her own humor back to him.
"Very well, very well. You have convinced me. Write to your aunt and uncle and see if they will have you."
"I already have, Papa. They will be delighted to host me, at my earliest convenience." She smiled at him with glee.
"Impertinent child! Just for that you get to tell your mother and explain why and when you shall travel."
Elizabeth jumped up from the chair she had been sitting in and moved around his desk, throwing her arms around his shoulders. "Oh, thank you, Papa!" She kissed his cheek and practically skipped out of the room.
Her conversation with her mother went a little less smoothly, but once Mrs. Bennet got it into her mind the reason for her daughter's travels, she was more than happy to send her off as soon as possible.
"You are very fortunate my brother and sister agreed to take you till the end of the season. They have been very busy since the move to their new home."
"I know, Mama. I promised my Aunt I would assist in any way I could be of use to them. She in turn assured me they would accept invitations to various social events. Perhaps, I will be fortunate enough to meet a young man I admire as much as Jane did."
"Your sister did very well for herself. I knew she would be successful in London. She is so beautiful, there was no one for her here in Meryton. Now, you must not be picky. You have not Jane's good looks, so do not seek her good fortune. Even a tradesman would be good enough-"
"Mrs. Bennet! You will cease your babbling at once!" Mr. Bennet was standing at the door to his library. "Come, wife. I would speak with you."
It was a quieter Mrs. Bennet who bade Elizabeth good night, and wished her a safe journey to London the following morning.
Early the next morning Elizabeth and her father shared tea and toast before her carriage ride. The Bennet coach would take her to town, accompanied by a maid and a footman.
"I am sorry you bore the brunt of your mother's frustrations over the last several weeks. I see I should have paid more attention to her. You must know she loves you, in her own way. More importantly, you are a beautiful and intelligent young woman. Any man will be fortunate to win your heart. Pray, feel no pressure to agree to an unequal match. Neither I, nor your uncle and aunt Gardiner wish that for you. I trust they will see to your well being in every way that matters during your foray into London society. I wish for you to find your happiness, my little Lizzy."
"You have not called me that in a while Papa." Elizabeth blinked to clear away some moisture.
"Well well, run along now. Time to be on your way."
Elizabeth heard the maid in the hall, bringing her out of her reverie. With a contented sigh, she got out of bed to face the new day.
-hbr-
Darcy House, a few days after the ball
"Master Fitzwilliam," Leeson, the Darcy house butler said, "your parents wish you to join them in the library when you have finished breaking your fast."
"Thank you. I shall go to them directly."
George and Lady Anne stopped talking when he walked into the library.
"Father, Mother, you wished to see me?"
George motioned for him to sit across from them. "Yes, son, your Mother and I want to have a word with you about the season."
"What about it?"
Lady Anne leaned forward a little in her chair. "William, we thought it might be time for you to start seriously looking around for a wife."
"Pardon?"
"Not that you should marry right away, or any time soon. However, there are some lovely young ladies just come out and you might wish to try and get to know them a little better."
"You are tossing me into the marriage mart? Shall I even have a say on who my bride will be?"
"Fitzwilliam Darcy!" George admonished. "Mind your tone with your mother."
"Forgive me, Mama."
"What distresses you so about our request?" Lady Anne shot a quick glance at her husband. They were hoping to get William to open up about his negative outlook.
"I - I am not distressed." William was shifting in his seat. "It is merely," he hesitated, then spoke rapidly "I do not enjoy the social scene, all the ladies are dull and insipid and I do not wish to be stuck with one of them for the rest of my days."
George cleared his throat loudly, while Lady Anne bit down on the insides of her lips. Both were trying very hard not to laugh.
When she finally felt she had herself under good regulation, Lady Anne spoke. "My dear William, your father and I would never push a match on you we believed could not make you happy. Of course we have only your best interests at heart. However, finding the one you will wish to 'spend the rest of your days with' requires being out in society and meeting many, if not all, of the ladies available."
George took over, looking stern, "It does not mean standing on the outskirts, looking down your nose at all of them and calling ladies unworthy of your attention."
William's mouth dropped, but he quickly closed it again. "You do not understand."
"Yes, we most certainly do. There has been talk, gossip. You are developing a reputation we are not pleased with."
"What do you mean?"
Lady Anne placed a calming hand over her husband's. "In society, you have developed certain, shall we say, habits, which do not reflect well on you, or on any of us."
"Habits! I do not drink, nor do I gamble and I am no… rake." His skin flushed a light shade of pink.
"No, you are none of those things, thank goodness. What you are is haughty, disdainful and dismissive."
William barked out a laugh. "Is society so bored, such is what they can find to tittle- tattle about?"
"Fitzwilliam." At his father's tone, William settled back into his seat. "We did not raise you to think yourself so far above everyone. Yes, the Darcy's are a good and prosperous family, and we are fortunate with what we have and with our position in society, but the Darcy's know to remain grateful and conscientious of our blessings. To put it frankly, son, you are a snob."
"Practically every member of the Ton is a snob," William muttered under his breath, but not quietly enough, as his parents still heard him.
"Perhaps, but it becomes a problem when one's reputation is only about being too high in the instep."
"And impossible to please." Inserted Lady Anne.
"Yes, thank you, my dear - and impossible to please. At some point the good families will steer their daughters away from you."
"Ha! I should be so lucky. I could snap my fingers and they would be right back shoving their daughters under my nose again. Everyone from Viscounts to Dukes seem to chase me the moment I step outside."
Both of his parents remained silent and just looked at him.
When the silence finally became too uncomfortable for him, William sighed. "Well, you have no idea. Father, you and mother arrived on your social scene with an agreement already made public. The Ton left you alone. I cannot move two steps without being bombarded by fathers, brothers, mothers and aunts, tossing some insipid young lady or another at me."
He saw his parents share another look and he discreetly rolled his eyes.
George began to speak softly, "It was still not easy, there had been compromise attempts." He shook his head and his voice grew harder, "Yet, that does not excuse your complete lack of civility. If nothing else, think of your sister."
"Georgiana - what has she to do with this?"
"William…" his mother admonished. "If you develop a reputation for being impossible to please and therefore unmarriageable, think what society will say when your sister has her come out, albeit several years from now. They might very well tar her with the same brush."
At this William quieted.
George and Lady Anne stood and his father placed his hand on Willam's shoulder. "We will speak of this again, but please think on what we have discussed here."
William sat and seethed a while, then got up, grabbed his hat and outerwear and left.
He went to his club, Whites, hoping to find someone willing to spar with him that morning at Angelos. Luckily, he found his cousin, a captain in His Majesty's army.
"Richard, how are you? Are you coming or going?"
"I was about to go in and enjoy a drink by the fire, perhaps read the paper. Why? Is aught amiss?"
"All is well. I have some energy to burn off. Do you feel like joining me at Angelo's, instead?"
"Of course. Lead the way." Richard could tell his cousin was troubled. He would have to loosen him up first, before getting him to spill what ailed him.
And so, many hours later, tired, but more relaxed and back at Whites, the two sat down for dinner.
Richard, satiated from good exercise, good food and with a drink in his hand, leaned back in his chair and faced his cousin. "Tell me."
"My parents think I have got too big for my breaches."
Richard roared with laughter, "You wish!"
"Fine, then. They think my head has swelled and I have become too disdainful."
"Well…"
William glared at him "What?"
"You must admit you have reached a point where you think you are God's gift. Sometimes I fear you will not be able to fit through the doors."
"Not you, as well. I am not at fault. I do not even have to try and all the women come at me in droves. And they are horrendous. Boring, agree with everything I say and the giggling, egads! It is all too tedious."
"Yes, it must be so difficult being you." Richard replied dryly, grimacing. "They cannot all be such. You must simply make an effort and try to find the gem amongst them."
"Barlow said the same thing."
Richard chaffed him on the shoulder. "We cannot both be wrong. Mayhap there is some truth to it?"