The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux
Lizzie's sorrow-
Early, the next morning, Darcy went to talk to Mr. Bennett who recognized his name. Darcy's father was one of the wealthier students, as arrogant as the one in front of him. His twin brother, as he remembered, was barely better. They pretended to want to help, ha, they were best friends with the Fitzwilliam.
Once again, Darcy's family was tearing his family apart. Thomas Bennet also remembered Mr. Darcy's Fitzwilliam great uncle, who couldn't leave them alone, all because his mother chose love. Anger boiled inside of him at the injustice. Let us not forget what his uncle had done to his sister. When will this end? Mr. Bennet thought bitterly. His unjust life was again in front of him. Maybe if he had fought this wouldn't be happening,
He did not want to give his precious daughter to Darcy, this was so wrong; Lizzie had explained the incident to him. Unfortunately, his wife had made such a ruckus there was nothing he could do. He decided to say yes, though he would send Lizzie to his cousin by morrow's nightfall.
"Sir, I had my solicitors draw a quick settlement, you will find it most generous. I have pressing business at home. I would prefer to obtain a special license through my cousin. We should be getting married this Thursday." William Darcy said, more like commanded
Mr. Bennet was aghast, he would lose his only friend, his precious Lizzie because of his wife's loudmouth. No, he could not abide by this outcome.
"But sir, Thursday? My daughter needs time; I don't understand the rush." He could try to get her away, he hoped there was enough time.
Darcy raised his hand to stop him, "I'll buy her whatever she needs. The winters are cold, and she will need warm clothes. She will need a proper wardrobe made. I must go back home that is the hurry."
Mr. Bennet knew it something was not right; but he was powerless to stop it. Mrs. Bennet finally got rid of Eugenia's child. His beloved sister had trusted him, and now this, what a betrayal. This sounded too staged; he did not trust Darcy, not whatsoever. His family was behind it; he could feel it, when would this end? This was Fanny's fault, Fanny his biggest mistake.
His wife had frivolously spent his niece's upkeep; she used the funds dressing the girls in expensive frippery, best suited for the Ton, no lessons, no education, nothing, dance masters and nonsense. And there was the small matter of the stolen gold. Heaven forbids that Eugenia's husband should ever return. Mr. Bennet thought, and all at once, he had a premonition, his brother-in-law would return this year. And when he did, it would be a great reckoning. He had said right before Lizzie turned 21, and that would happen soon.
"Sir, maybe there is something you should know, Elizabeth is my adopted child." Mr. Bennet tried one last attempt to dissuade Mr. Darcy.
Darcy hesitated, "Whose child?" Damn this might have been all for nothing, he worried.
"My sister and her husband's of course." Mr. Bennet shrugged.
"Who was her husband?" Darcy asked.
Hmm, what to say, Mr. Bennet realized how important local pedigree was to Darcy. "Her husband was a very important foreign dignitary, titled, from the far north, they were lost at sea." There, that was truthful enough.
"Ah, I see." Darcy was relieved. Even better that she was not related to that horrible woman. What could be worse?
"Have you noticed that this Thursday is Samhain, maybe not a good day, you know, superstitions and such?" Mr. Bennet smiled knowingly, hoping.
"Bah, country nonsense, I'll be back Wednesday." They finished talking.
"Do you wish to see my daughter?" Mr. Bennet asked.
He looked annoyed, "I'll see her soon enough. Here is the first part of her settlement, make sure that she has the proper attire. Give her the money directly." He left him a stack of notes.
"Get her flowers and organize a decent breakfast; my family will be here. Give your daughter this money as well, not to your wife." He gave him another stack of bills.
After Darcy left, Mr. Bennet worried, hoping against hope that all would be well. This was arranged to get a wife, and Darcy caught Lizzie. The man did not want to see Lizzie, making it clear this was a business transaction.
Mrs. Bennet came in, "Mrs. Bennet, I think that you have made a mistake. If Lizzie's father does return, you deal with him. This time you exceeded your bounds. You will tell him that you never spent a pence on his daughter's lessons or her upkeep, one fitting her exalted station. You'll tell him what you did with the funds; how you stole from her; and how you treated her. You will also tell him who took the gold from the vault."
He pointed at the excessive jewelry she always wore. She changed it daily; all her baubles were bought all at once. Many believed that her overstated-gaudy pieces were made out of paste. They weren't, they were worth tens of thousands.
"He won't be gentle. You must remember he talked to you personally. Not only you did not listen, but you and your sister cleaned the safe. You knew that I couldn't bring charges against you because your actions would have ruined the girls. You and your sister will pay; I know you will." He said it with assurance, knowing he was right.
Like she cared. She didn't because she was not a sensible woman, and she believed that Mr. Bennet was delusional; his in-law was just too rich and eccentric. Mrs. Bennet believed Lizzie's father was a fool, ready for the plucking, and that was all. And she was a smart woman that learned from her father to see money making opportunities.
Lizzie was desolate, she had wished to marry for love and wanted her sisters' happiness; and, instead, a man forced her to marry him, a stranger. People shunned her sisters were because of her error in judgment and and her mother's foolishness. She sat outside, looking desolate, mad there were no choices available to her.
"Father?" She looked up.
''Lizzie, we must talk. May I sit down." Mr. Bennet said.
"Of course," she patted the bench. Mr. Bennet sat and held her listless hand, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"My dear, dear girl, you should know that I have always loved you as my own, but you are my sister's daughter." What he told her made her hurt more.
That night Elizabeth cried herself to sleep. She was tainted, now her life made sense. Mrs. Bennet's actions became crystal clear; she remembered the years of rejection and hand-me-downs; it all fit.
No Escape -
"Lizzie, come, you have a visitor," Jane was mad at her, everyone was.
Lizzie's eyes were red and puffy. She didn't know the large man in the room, taller than Mr. Darcy. Her father sat with the man, looking upset.
The man bowed respectfully; his accent made him a Scott.
"Miss Elizabeth, Mr. Fergus, at your service. As I told your father, I work for Mr. Darcy. He has asked that I stay here at your service. Since you are his promised, he is concerned for your safety. I'm to accompany you everywhere." The accent was Scottish; his manner was all business.
"Father, I don't need this. I don't need a guard," Lizzie addressed her father.
"I explained that to him, but Mr. Darcy is afraid someone might harm you," Mr. Bennet stood up, "Sir, please allow me a moment."
Mr. Fergus nodded his head and left the room, reluctantly.
"Lizzie, as I see it, Darcy fears that I will do what I was thinking about, to make arrangements to send you away. I don't trust him. It all seems planned, staged, like he needed a wife and chose you; and now he wants to make sure you don't run. This is my fault for letting that foolish woman run amok." Her father sat by her, holding her hand.
"You mean that I am a prisoner? Maybe you can help me escape," Lizzie was aghast, what is happening? She wondered.
"I wish, but I don't think that he came alone, just look outside by his carriage. His family is ruthless; I had dealings with them before, past history. He knew that you were my daughter that much is obvious." Her father was angry, a first.
Mr. Fergus returned to the room with a tall woman, very pretty; Lizzie guessed she was in her thirties. "This is Miss Reynolds, she just arrived. She will also be staying here as your companion; she is a lady's maid and more. She will go with you to buy whatever you need; she will also assist you with the wedding preparations."
Mr. Bennet understood, he wasn't trusted to do anything right, but maybe it would be good, Mrs. Bennet was going to be angry when she realized she couldn't touch the money. Albeit Lizzie held it, the newcomer would manage it, good.
Jane knocked. "I heard from mother that you," her tone was brusque, she was angry. Lizzie's finger touched her lips, and Jane noticed the woman sitting by the window.
"Jane, Miss Reynolds." Lizzie called Jane's attention.
Jane nodded and left.
The next days went by in a flurry. Lizzie was under supervision every second. Her mother surprised them; Mrs. Bennet was filled with self-importance, Lizzie had two people serving her. Miss Reynolds was clever, she used her mother by praising her, the only thing that Mrs. Bennet disliked was not having a pence to spend on her own. Yet, the entire family was coiffed and dressed as if they were members of the Haut Ton; that much, she liked.
Until her wedding day, Lizzie wasn't allowed to receive visitors; moreover, when shopping, Mr. Fergus and Miss Reynolds were between her and anyone else. Only minimum pleasantries were exchanged. Lizzie understood, she had lost her freedom. She couldn't even see her father alone. At night, when she looked outside, trying to see if she could get away, she saw several tall men standing on guard; it was hopeless.