Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation Read online

  Anne could not really complain about their marriage. She had desperately needed to escape from under her mother’s thumb. Pemberley was an enjoyable place to live, and Georgiana was a pleasant little girl. Her father-in-law had not said much about their marriage, but Anne had always suspected he had not approved. George Darcy had married her mother’s sister, Lady Anne, because he had fallen in love with her and relentlessly pursued her until she agreed to wed. The new Mrs Darcy had concluded that the elder Mr Darcy thought his son should not have married for convenience.

  Anne handled her responsibilities as mistress adequately, but was beginning to have doubts about her ability to bear children. Everyone in the highest circles deemed an heir an absolute necessity, and her demanding mother was no exception. How many times had she heard Lady Catherine say, ‘It is your duty to provide for the future of Pemberley and Rosings.’ Anne did not enjoy her marital obligations; even though Fitzwilliam was gentle. What had ceased being a completely unpleasant undertaking now saw her consumed with fear over giving birth. She refused her husband more than she should, if she were truly serious about her obligations. To her relief, Darcy did not pressure her. So much of his energy went into running the estates and into serving as guardian to Georgiana. More than a year and a half after his father had become ill, her husband still struggled to keep current with his responsibilities. She also knew the grief he felt for his father weighed heavily upon him.

  Both of Darcy’s parents had instilled a love of literature in their children. She often found the brother and sister in the library; Fitzwilliam reading one of Shakespeare’s plays to Georgiana. He was an excellent reader, and would, at times, act out the different characters. Anne enjoyed hearing his performance as well and found remarkable his ability to make each one of the witches from Macbeth different and more frightening than the last. She surreptitiously watched him observing the young woman mouthing Shakespeare’s dialogue. Awakened nostalgia for his youth had probably been sparked by this enthusiastic young woman. Anne admitted to herself that they obviously shared a similar love for the bard.

  Anne felt Darcy’s hand steal towards hers. She tilted her head to question the meaning of his act. His reply was a smile—not one of his glorious ones showing those dimples, but enough of a compliment to cause her to return the gesture. Next, he picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. Her aloof husband had kissed her hand in a location where numerous representatives of the ton could easily observe. If his willingness to express affection in public had anything to do with the emotions the young woman in Sir Gareth’s box unleashed in him, Anne could not help but be pleased.

  All in all, she was most gratified that her persistent persuasion to remove to Town had been successful. Fitzwilliam had finally agreed to come to London as soon as they were out of full mourning. They would remain through the Season with only a brief sojourn to Rosings for Easter. With even greater pleasure, she enjoyed Lord Wolfbridge’s residence at Darcy House. Edmund’s company provided a delightful diversion. He knew all the delicious on dits circulating among their set. The handsome viscount always graciously accompanied her for visits to and from acquaintances. As Anne had very little experience in making or accepting morning calls, and Darcy often refused to participate in the social niceties; she greatly appreciated his squiring her about. She even began to believe herself tolerably popular. Now that Edmund had agreed to help her become a notable whip, she eagerly anticipated the commencement of the Season.

  Her mind drifted to her favourite topic. She now believed her cousin should seek out and purchase a sleek, high-stepping black pair for her. They would look delightful with the yellow and black stripes of her tiger’s uniform.

  2 THE FIRST TIME EVER

  During the break between acts, the Darcy party went for some refreshment. They encountered Sir Gareth and Lady Hughes, the unknown couple from their box and Shakespeare’s ardent fan. Lord Wolfbridge was pleased when his cousin spoke to his neighbours. “Sir Gareth, Lady Hughes, are you avoiding the end of our Derbyshire winter as Mrs Darcy and I are?”

  Sir Gareth gestured to the couple and said, “May I introduce Mr and Mrs Edward Gardiner and their niece Miss Elizabeth Bennet. We are not avoiding the winter, but have travelled to town because Lady Hughes is Godmother to the Gardiners’ new baby girl… the baptism was two days ago. Mrs Gardiner is another from Derbyshire and went to school with Lady Hughes. Mr and Mrs Gardiner, these are our nearest neighbours in Derbyshire, Mr and Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley.”

  Everyone bowed and curtseyed appropriately, and Darcy said “It is a pleasure meeting you Mr and Mrs Gardiner, Miss Elizabeth. I would like to introduce you to my cousin, the Viscount Wolfbridge.”

  Edmund stepped forward and bowed, then gave all a spectacular smile. Elizabeth had never seen anyone as handsome as the Viscount. He was tall with an athletic build, laughing brown eyes and the straightest, whitest teeth she had ever seen. She immediately blushed. Mr Darcy looked a great deal like his cousin, but he seemed more severe, and his eyes were positively penetrating. His looks were also not enhanced by that brilliant smile.

  Edmund was pleased he had been rewarded by the hoped-for blush; but felt he should not be too obvious in his admiration in front of the young woman’s aunt and uncle.

  Darcy began the conversation by asking Mrs Gardiner where she was from in Derbyshire.

  “I am from Lambton. My father owns several shops—a haberdashery, a gun shop and he buys wool from the estates in Derbyshire. He does the washing, carding and spinning and sells the yarn to knitting workshops in Manchester and several places in Scotland. She gave Mr Darcy a sweet smile as she added, “I was privileged to meet your mother once when she came into the haberdashery. She was a beautiful and elegant woman.”

  “Thank you for your kind words. Lambton is not five miles from Pemberley. Is your father Mr Davies?”

  “Yes, he is. Do you know him?”

  “Not well, but I do sell wool to him occasionally; and your cousin, Dr Wilder, has recently become our family physician.”

  Mrs Gardiner was unable to discern whether Mr Darcy was cognizant of her Cousin Jamie and Aunt Sarah’s history, so she said very little. “That is right; I do remember my father saying my cousin had become the physician for the Darcy family. I believe it was Sir Gareth who recommended him. I also remember him mentioning that your father passed away recently. Please let me offer my condolences.”

  “Thank you again for your kindness. Mr Gardiner, are you also from Derbyshire?”

  “No, I am from Hertfordshire, but now have my business here in London.”

  “What is your business?”

  I also supply yarn to those weaving textiles. I import linen, silk and cotton. I have just recently expanded my business, and have begun importing indigo from the Americas and spices from Asia.

  Mr Darcy continued making conversation with the Gardiners, and was impressed by their intelligence, taste and good manners. He finally turned his attention to the young woman who had captured his notice during the performance.

  “Miss Bennet, is this the first time you have seen Shakespeare performed by a professional troupe?”

  Elizabeth’s face lit up and her eyes sparkled at his question. She breathlessly replied, “I am only the second eldest. Please call me, Miss Elizabeth. And yes, Mr Darcy this is my first time. The evening has so far been one of the most extraordinary experiences I have ever had.” Her mouth broke into a lopsided grin as she gushed, “Of course, I have been in Hertfordshire my entire life, and have not done much; but I do so love Shakespeare, and The Tempest is one of my particular favourites. I was ecstatic when I heard that Sir Gareth and Lady Hughes had extended an invitation to my aunt and uncle and me to join them in their box.”

  Darcy was amused by her exuberance and candour, and he was unable to help himself. He smiled at her, and his dimples were evident to all.

  Elizabeth now thought he was as handsome as his cousin. She blushed again and looked down at her
feet for a few seconds, but then brashly decided to continue the discussion to see if she could persuade him to show her those playful indentations in his cheeks again. “I hope to see more of Shakespeare performed in the future, but my most fervent dream is to see Moliere’s Le Misanthrope performed at the Comédie Française in Paris. However, with the situation between France and England, I doubt I will get my wish anytime soon.”

  Darcy fulfilled her hopes as he smiled again and said, “What does one so young know about misanthropy and hypocrisy?”

  Her infectious grin made another appearance. “My father is a great studier of the human character, and enjoys mocking other’s failings. I have enjoyed his barbs over the years, and was struck when I first read Le Misanthrope with the similarity between his and Moliere’s humour. The irony is that my father is a bit of a misanthrope, and now and then I have even seen some of the trait in myself. That is what I like about the theatre. It helps us all to become more aware while indulging in an entertaining evening with friends—and not to slight my mother’s legacy—it gives us an excuse to wear our finest clothes.”

  It had been such a long time since Darcy had engaged in such stimulating and refreshing conversation. He felt the need to challenge this young woman and see her intellect in action. In an almost conspiratorial voice he asked, “Do you feel comfortable with Moliere’s satirizing the hypocrisies of the French aristocracy, considering the results of the French revolution?”

  Without hesitation, Elizabeth responded in kind. She moved quite close to Darcy and spoke directly to him as the others conversed around them, “In truth, he poked fun at both the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy. You are unfair to blame him for the Jacobins.” She glanced surreptitiously toward the Viscount as she said with a giggle, “I have no family members who are part of the aristocracy, so I am free to be much more egalitarian in my outlook, and hopefully still keep my head about me.” When she observed that Mr Darcy seemed pleased with her humour, she continued. “Besides, the corruptness of the society created critics, even within the Ancien Régime; or how do we explain Laclos or the duc d’Orléans?”

  Darcy’s mouth dropped in amazement, “You have read Les Liaisons Dangereuses? How old are you?”

  Elizabeth’s eyes danced mischievously as she whispered, “I just turned fifteen, and please be discreet. I would not like my aunt and uncle overhearing that I read one of the forbidden books my father keeps on the top shelf of his library. Besides the threat to my morals from the risqué contents, I almost broke my neck climbing. How delightful that would have been for the gossips in my village. Can you not hear them chattering on about the young woman who died in pursuit of improper and lascivious reading material?”

  Darcy threw back his head and laughed at this young woman’s delightful impertinence.

  Edmund and Anne looked at each other, and neither could believe that the dour Darcy had not only treated a stranger to two of his rare dimpled smiles, but then proceeded to laugh out loud.

  The time had come for the two parties to return to their boxes.

  Elizabeth Bennet was flushed with excitement as they made their way back to their seats. Pride filled her as she considered how easily she had conversed with such important personages. While watching Lord Wolfbridge and Mr Darcy walk away, a sigh had escaped her throat. Both men were so very elegant. Upon hearing the sound, her aunt had directed a teasing smile her way. Lizzy had momentarily been mortified that she had acted so silly, but then thought better of her spontaneous reaction and grinned at her aunt in return. Once she was again in the box, she leaned forward and propped her face on her hand and stared dreamily at the stage. The Viscount and Mr Darcy were two of the most handsome men she had ever met. Perhaps, her Ferdinand could look like them. She definitely could fall in love with someone tall… and oh, those broad shoulders… compared to her, they were so very overpowering… they were… A shiver shot through her. Suddenly, she hoped everyone’s attention was focussed on the stage; because she was certain she had turned bright red at the thought of their bodies. Oh my, she should not be thinking about this; it was highly improper. To calm herself, Elizabeth concentrated instead on Lord Wolfbridge’s laughing eyes and brilliant teeth and Mr Darcy’s dimples. These great men made her feel special and different than she ever had before. Some of the emotions that had been unleashed were pleasant, but she was unsure what to make of other of the feelings that had erupted within her.

  Lord Wolfbridge smiled lasciviously. What an innocent. She admitted she had been nowhere beyond Hertfordshire. He liked her impertinence and could enjoy matching wits with this one. He wondered whether she was knowledgeable enough to pick up on any innuendos he might throw into the conversation. If she did, he would be allowed to see her blush; but he needed to be careful in order not to frighten her away. Who was this Laclos fellow she and Darcy were laughing about? He would have to find out. He was not totally fluent in French, but was fairly certain the title translated to Dangerous Liaisons. That sounded like something he would enjoy. And he probably should brush up on his knowledge of Shakespeare in order to lure her into a feeling of his sincerity. Ah, there she was leaning out of the box again. What delightful sport she could offer.

  Fitzwilliam Darcy was confused and concerned about what had just happened. He had never been so drawn to a total stranger. Her eyes were beautiful—green with flecks of gold, and they seemed to reflect an inner light. He had an impression of glorious hair competing with the shimmering candlelight. A quote from Shakespeare pushed aside his anxiety. “O! She doth teach the torches to burn bright.” Why was he fixated on her? She was just a little girl—a very intelligent, literate and witty one, but a child none-the-less. Suddenly, he remembered her lopsided grin when she admitted she had climbed to the top shelf of her father’s library to retrieve Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Though a disturbing admission, it was part of her charm. She was so refreshing… with no disguise of any sort. However, it was altogether wrong that she stirred some forgotten longing in him. He was married and much older. Besides, it was entirely too forward for a young woman to speak of such a topic with a stranger… not to mention a man. He sighed as he looked in her direction and saw she was, once again, mesmerized by the stage. The prudent thing to do was to forget her immediately after tonight. But, what harm would it do to indulge himself here in watching her reactions for the duration of the performance? Maybe vicariously he could gain just a bit of her unspoiled joy. He silently laughed once again at her impertinent words. She did not seem to know herself well as she was the exact opposite of a misanthrope in his estimation.

  Anne Darcy was intrigued by this young woman who had enthralled both her husband and her cousin. She seemed so at ease in conversation for one so young. Maybe they could become friends. The only females she related to with any intimacy were her mother, her aunt and Georgiana. Her companion when she was growing up, Mrs Jenkinson, had been a very quiet sort of woman, and not lively like Miss Elizabeth. Perhaps if she pursued an acquaintance, some of this young woman’s ease in social situations would rub off on Anne. Miss Elizabeth seemed to have almost no connections except for Sir Gareth and Lady Hughes; but Anne would still like to understand how to gain some of her assurance and élan. As Mrs Darcy, she garnered respect among the highest circles, but always there was an anxious feeling that everyone knew that hers was a marriage of convenience… and even worse they could observe Fitzwilliam’s indifference. Tonight he had been moved to kiss her hand in public. If she projected a more assured image, perhaps she could quash such gossip and gain esteem in her own right.

  3 GREAT EXPECTATIONS

  Within days of meeting at the theatre, Lady Hughes, Mrs Gardiner and Elizabeth had been invited to Darcy House. Lady Hughes picked up her friends at Gracechurch Street and they arrived at Grosvenor Square a short time later.

  The house was an imposing structure. Elizabeth was in awe the minute they walked into the entrance hall. It was larger than the drawing room at Longbourn and had a beautiful hexagonal
table in the centre with the most unusual arrangement of flowers. Lizzy had never seen such flowers…they looked tropical, exotic and more than a bit unreal to her.

  Once the entrance hall table ceased to be her main focus, Lizzy noted a grand staircase with two guilt framed paintings on the first landing. At that juncture the staircase split ascending both sides to the floor above. Elizabeth would have loved to view what she could tell were landscapes more closely.

  Above her head was the most beautiful chandelier she had ever seen. She was sure it held at least a hundred candles, and thought it must be amazing to behold the light reflecting off the lead crystal tear drops. Her impression, despite the grandeur, was of an understated elegance highlighting the few extraordinary elements of the room.

  The footman took the women’s outerwear, and the three were shown into what Mrs Darcy called a solarium. Three of its walls were made almost entirely of glass, and the pale winter sun was harnessed to sparkling brilliance. The front of the room had furniture arranged around a hearth as in a drawing room while the rear was filled with all sorts of trees and flowers. The fragrance wafting from the plants was intoxicating and inspired envy in Elizabeth for this most spectacular space.