The day after Jane walks in the rain, Miss Bingley dies unexpectedly. When Mr. Bennet goes to Netherfield to bring his daughters home, he discovers a distressing situation and is thankful for Mr. Darcy's help. Regrettably, a malevolent and vengeful spirit👻 threatens his daughters. One shot-
A/N- expect a twist. 😉 This is the month to be scared, a little
A true Nightmare
Jane Bennet was sick after walking in the rain and had to stay in Netherfield. A day later, a footman came to Longbourn to announce that Miss Bingley had missed a step and fallen to her death in the middle of the night.
Mr. Bennet dressed quickly after deciding to pick Jane up, no matter how sick she was. He was not talking to his wife, blaming her for Jane catching a nasty cold while walking with wet clothes on the chilly day. When his wife saw him getting ready to leave, she tried to stop him, but he ignored her. He brought blankets and a charcoal heater. When he arrived, he could hear a wail worth of a Banshee, the cries of Mrs. Louisa Hurst. Lizzie heard her father and ran to the door. "I am so glad you are here," she lowered her voice and bit her lip.
He noticed the nasty scratches and bruises around Lizzie's neck, "What is that?" He pointed at her neck, asking concerned.
Lizzie put her finger to her lips, "Let's go, not here." He nodded.
They went up the stairs and to Jane's room. Mr. Bennet reached out for Lizzie's hand; it was freezing cold. What could be going on?
They went into the room. Jane reclined on the bed, looking awful. "Father, I don't care if I am sick," she told her father. She was feverish, scared, and coughing. "I want to go home right now, please."
Mr. Bennet carried a blanket, a woolen dress, a wool jumper, a shawl, and woolen socks for Jane. She put the dress over her gown with Lizzie's help. Mr. Bennet heard someone knocking on the door. He went to open it. At the door, he found a tall, dark-haired gentleman looking tired. "I am Mr. Darcy; may I?"
Mr. Bennet nodded, moving aside to let him in, thinking the man looked like his nasty and proud father. However, he forgot looks are deceiving and would soon change his mind.
"Miss Elizabeth, I wanted to know how you were. I have been worried," he said as he walked towards Elizabeth and then turned to talk to Mr. Bennet.
"Sir, please use my carriage. I have already ordered heaters. I wanted to bring them home. Please allow me to carry her down if you need help with Miss Bennet. I am bigger," he lowered his voice. "Take them away. It is best."
Jane's eyes were red from crying and looked haunted. After Mr. Bennet felt a malignant presence, he narrowed his eyes and saw a ginger-haired ghostly figure holding a butcher knife. She hovered over Jane, moving over Lizzie, and then disappeared.
Mr. Bennet decided to ask questions later and accepted Mr. Darcy's offer, who carefully wrapped the blanket around Jane, picked her up, and carried her to the carriage. At the carriage, Mr. Darcy whispered, "Afterwards, I stayed up all night to guard your daughters' room. It is a miracle I came on time; she was a madwoman, trying to strangle." Charles came out, running, and he could not say anymore.
"Miss Bennet, you do not have to leave. You are ill; please stay." Charles looked awful. His hair was messy, and his eyes were puffy. Mr. Darcy went by his friend and held his arm.
"Charles, it is best; we will have much to do. Let us go in. We need to arrange for her burial," Charles tried to stay, but Mr. Darcy held Charles's arm and took him into the house.
"William, I want her buried here, in the family cemetery. I will buy Netherfield." Charles told Mr. Darcy.
"No, we will talk. I have a plot near our home in London. Miss Bennet will be here later. After we take care of everything, we can return. I will come with you."
Mr. Darcy wanted Charles out there. He could feel a vengeful dead.
Lizzie did not want to say anything in the carriage, not wanting anyone else to hear. Jane was feverish and looked haunted, still crying. Her father wrapped his arms around his daughters, worrying. They did not see the extra passenger, an angry Miss Bingley, a malevolent ghostly presence riding with them. Though she sunk the ghostly knife on Jane and Lizzie, and nothing happened, Mr. Bennet could feel something in their carriage. So, he closed his eyes and prayed.
At Longbourn, the footman helped with Miss Bennet; he was Mr. Hill's nephew. He told Mr. Bennet, "Something came back with you; tell my aunt." Mr. Bennet nodded.
He carried Jane to her room, and Mrs. Hill, whose mother had been a wise woman, prepared poultices, and a steaming pot with sage leaves for her to inhale.
Mrs. Hill saw the angry ginger-haired Miss in Jane's room and said nothing. She knew someone, her cousin, who could send the troubled Miss to her rest.
Mrs. Bennet was making a big fuss; Mr. Bennet, fed up, ended the conversation: "Mrs. Bennet out, I must speak to my daughters."
She threatened to faint, but he knew her well. "Go to faint in our room."
As soon as he locked the door, he asked, "Lizzie, tell me what happened?" He sat on Jane's bed and held Lizzie's hand.
"I slept in the next room, but since Jane was so sick last night, I slept with her. A few hours later, I woke up when I heard someone enter the room. It was Miss Bingley who held a candle and a large knife. At first, I could swear she was asleep.
She was nearing Jane, saying no country maiden was marrying her brother and other nonsense. I stood up quickly and jumped over her when she tried to stab Jane, so she only managed to make a couple of scratches on Jane's neck. While pushing her away, I told her, "Leave this room; you are mad." But she tried to stab me," Lizzie stopped for a few seconds, looking haunted. Her father kept shaking his head.
"My dear, please continue. You are safe." Her father patted her hand. He had noticed Lizzie was hoarse and wondered why. He would ask; he hoped not from the choking.
Lizzie continued, "While I struggled with her, the knife fell on the floor, but she picked it up before I could. While I was bending, she pushed me onto the floor and kept me pinned with her body. At once, she wrapped her hands around my neck. I could not move with her on top of me, and I thought I would die. She told me she would kill me for flirting with Mr. Darcy, which was a lie." Lizzie dried tears with the back of her hand; her father gave her a handkerchief, not knowing what to say. If the woman were alive, he would take care of her.
"Where was I at? Ah yes, Mr. Darcy must have heard the noise; he ran into the room. He was on his nightshirt and barefoot; obviously, he had just woken up. He pulled her away from me, telling her she was mad. I thanked God; she was strong and would have killed me. Jane was too sick even to move. Miss Bingley must have been horrified that Mr. Darcy had seen her trying to kill me. She pushed him and ran out of the room with Mr. Darcy and me after her. Miss Bingley had the knife once again. I need water." Lizzie asked, went to the jar, served water, and drank half of the glass.
"The hall was dark, and she went the wrong way towards the steps; we heard her falling. It was not the fall that killed her. While falling, she accidentally stabbed herself with the knife and must have died instantly. Mr. Darcy, knowing what happened, told me to run to the room and lock the door. I heard him talking. Mr. Bingley said that Miss Bingley had sleepwalked. I do not know what else happened. The story is that she was sleepwalking to the kitchen."
Lizzie moved closer to her father, who held his daughters' hands. The next second, Mr. Bennet saw the avenging ghost, solid, hovering over Jane with a knife that also looked solid, and he screamed, "Nooo!"
A nightmare
Mrs Bennet shook him. "Thomas, wake up, wake up. You are dreaming."
He opened his eyes; thank goodness, he had fallen asleep on the couch. "What time is it?" he asked, standing up.
"The clock just chimed; it is 3:30. Why?" Mrs. Bennet asked.
"Never mind, just get me a blanket, a Spencer, a warm dress, and woolen socks for Jane. Hurry up, I will get Jane and Lizzie right now." He answered, putting on his shoes. Thankful it was a nightmare, but he knew to listen.
"No, she is there with the Bingley, and this is a good chance for her to get closer to Mr. Bingley, a rich man. Besides, she is sick." Mrs. Bennet raised her voice.
"No more nonsense, be quiet. I had a dream, and my family has prevented many tragedies by listening to our dreams. I had enough of your foolishness; my mother was right. You were pretty and had a decent dowry; I am glad I hid it from you, otherwise it would be all gone. From now on, be quiet, if all you have to say is nonsense." He ran out of the room and went to get Mrs. Hill and told her his dream. After listening, Mrs. Hill got things ready for him while his wife screamed and cried, but he ignored her.
Some minutes later, they arrived at Netherfield. Lizzie ran to meet him, "Lizzie, no questions. Let us get your sister."
Lizzie nodded, "Yes, I fell asleep and had a nightmare with Miss Bingley, maybe around 3:30." Lizzie looked scared.
"Yes, did the lady have a knife? "Her father asked. He had always listened to his daughter's nightmares.
She nodded, "She was choking me when I woke up."
Mr. Bingley came to meet him. He wanted them to stay, but Mr. Bennet was insistent. On the way to the room, they saw Mr. Darcy, who introduced himself and offered to help carry Jane since he was taller. He lowered his voice, "I think they cannot stay here. I fear Miss Bingley well, ahem." He tightened his lips and exhaled.
"Did you have a dream about a knife and Lizzie being strangled?" Mr. Bennet saw the fear reflected on Mr. Darcy's face.
"How do you know?" Mr. Darcy asked, interested.
"Never mind." Mr. Bennet answered.
Jane was too sick to oppose her father.
Mr. Darcy knocked, and Mr. Bennet opened the door. Mr. Darcy asked, "May I offer my carriage? It is warmer; I can get it ready quickly."
Mr. Bennet nodded. Meanwhile, Lizzie helped Jane dress, and Mrs. Hill packed whatever they had. Mr. Darcy came back and helped them wrap Jane well in the blanket. Though Lizzy didn't recognize the proud man, she was thankful for his help.
On their way out, Mr. Bennet saw Miss Bingley. He noticed her malicious eyes. Miss Bingley held a fan and fanned herself, angry that Mr. Darcy was helping because she had seen him staring at Lizzie. Mrs. Hill blinked, and the fan looked like a butcher knife for a few seconds, long enough for Mr. Bennet to see it. She nodded to Mr. Bennet, who had a dark sense of humor.
"Ah, Madam, sorry for staring, but for a second, I thought you had a butcher knife, silly me." He smiled.
She harrumphed, and turned around, muttering about country folk.
Mr. Darcy heard the comment and knew it was not a joke. What an interesting family. I will find out more. He looked at them, and kept his eyes on Miss Elizabeth, thinking, why lie, she is more than tolerable. She was afraid, and I heard why; she had a dream, the same I had. The thought that Miss Bingley could have killed her was unbearable; it still is.
Mr. Darcy told Mr. Bennet, "Whatever you need. Please send me a message. I do not trust Miss Bingley, be watchful."
Mr. Bennet nodded; the dream had also scared him since it had been so real. It made him aware he had let his affairs get out of hand. He had invested wisely, even if everyone thought he was a sleeping fool. Yes, he had let his life go, married the pretty Fanny Bennet who had a decent dowry, thinking it would take the pain away, and let his dreams die. Not die, he invested on Edward's warehouse, and other business, and they were more than well off. He would say they were rich since he had way over 70,000 sterling in the bank, and his part of the inventory at the warehouse. Edward advised him to keep it from Fanny or it be all gone. He agreed because he wanted to secure his daughters and his wife's lives. He had a solicitor investigating a document inside a book; the solicitor found valuable information. Edward now had a copy of important documents.
At the carriage Mr. Darcy whispered to Mr. Bennet, "Mr. Bennet, keep Mr. Wickham away from your daughters. He is a hungry wolf who likes to eat tender lambs. I would like to recommend that your young daughters should not be in society. With the militia near here, full of hungry wolves, it is dangerous. I will be over, alone. Let me get my horse ready, and we can talk some more."
"I know, I know. Before I forget, give Richard Fitzwilliam, your uncle, my regards. Tell him it has been too long." Mr. Bennet smiled wistfully, remembering his love forced to marry, his eyes were watery for a second. He guessed Mr. Darcy had inhereted his mother's kindness, and her beautiful eyes.
In the way, home he held shivering Jane next to him. The footman, as in his dream, helped him with Jane; a tragedy avoided for the meantime. Nevertheless, Miss Bingley hated his daughters, and he was aware.
He went into his office followed by Mrs. Hill. He sat, while she stood by him, and said, "The Miss wished she had what you saw. I wanted you to see it. I recommend we need to be watchful."
"I know. I know." He answered, looking at the ghostly figure sitting across him, his mother; she looked proud of him. Mrs. Hill turned to check what he was looking at. He smiled at his mother, and Mrs. Hill sighed happily, bending her head in greeting. She had been Mrs. Bennet's lady's maid long ago; Mr. Bennet was the youngest most favorite child, and her lady sent her with him. They all had gifts from the dreamworld, and his mother and her family could sense and see the dead.
Longbourn was from his mother's family, who were also Bennet, but from a different branch, so Mr. Collins was partially wrong. True his only brother was sick and had no sons, and his father was old, but several land parcels made up Longbourn, but the entailed property, was only one parcel, an old handsome cottage with a large garden. Let Collins think as he wished. Mr. Bennet knew better than that, and might tell Collin's next time he came, and even take him to look at the empty cottage. He guessed he would also tell Fanny, so she would quit risking his daughters and more.
He would also write his older father and quit fighting with him. He blamed him for losing the one he loved, but his father had little choice. He looked at his daughters; he was happy they were safe, for now. Once he talked to Mr. Darcy he would decide what he needed to do. He trusted his love's son would give him good advice.
"Lizzie, love, what do you think about Mr. Darcy?" Mr. Bennet asked, smiling.
The end?