Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (50 page)

Necessity forced Elizabeth to tell her father of her plan for the ball. She needed his help to ensure she arrived at the ball after all sets were over, but before the last dance. He decided the time had come for a serious talk with his daughter. Ever since Mr Darcy had arrived in Hertfordshire, she had been acting quite out of character… or at least the character she had established since her return from Derbyshire. Mr Bennet walked to his study door and locked it. He did not want anyone, even Mary, interrupting their discussion.

Elizabeth’s father stood before her as she sat on the sofa. He put on his most stern countenance to deliver the speech he had been practicing ever since Mary had told him of Elizabeth’s plan for the Netherfield Ball. “Lizzy, for five years, I have accepted your answer that nothing untoward happened to you when you were away from home; but I have never believed you. A more diligent man would have pressed for the truth. You and your uncle told me you had inherited
‘a certain
sum around twenty thousand’
but did not have the courtesy to include me in the details—I felt humiliated by your deceit and disrespect.”

Mr Bennet had felt certain Lizzy would be forthcoming after his admission, but she sat stone-faced before him. Obviously, he must push even harder if he was to prompt her to break. “I chose to do nothing, to be honest, because I had established a pattern of being a negligent parent; but also because I saw that you came back a changed person. You, my most happy daughter, returned filled with a kind of sadness. My choices seemed to be to either lock you up for not honouring me, or believe in your essential goodness, and hope you would confide in me when you felt able. I am now asserting my right as your parent. It is one of God’s commandments to honour your father.”

“Papa, I told you… I was just sad because of the widow Thomas’ death and…”

“Lizzy, I am not a fool. An elderly woman with whom you spent less than six months… You expect me to believe her death has caused you to be despondent all these years.” He leaned toward her and increased the menacing quality of his countenance. “No more lies! You live under my roof, and as your father, I could deprive you of all rights. You are going to tell me the truth, and you are going to tell me now.”

Mr Bennet watched as Lizzy’s determination to continue her deception crumbled in front of him, but he was not expecting her to put her head in her hands and sob. This defeated young woman was neither his joyful lost Lizzy nor the strong but unhappy one who had returned in her place. Mr Bennet sat down beside her on the sofa and enfolded her in his arms.

When her tears were finally spent, she pulled away from him, and after a few hiccupping starts, began speaking. “Papa I have wanted to tell you, but my confession is scandalous, and will ruin my sisters’ lives. No one will want to marry them with a sister such as me.”

Mr Bennet realized the words he was about to hear were the ones he had been dreading since his interview of Mr Darcy. He could think of nothing but to ease her pain. “Even though there has been much speculation in the neighbourhood rumour mill over the years; nothing has ever been confirmed about you being disgraced. Do you think I have no feelings for you or your sisters, and will rush out and spread your confession to all the gossips in Meryton?”

Elizabeth, who knew even her mother would not be so thoughtless, gave her father a slight smile and replied, “No.”

“Tell me what happened to you. Did Mr Darcy convince you to have an affair, and you became with child? Is he raising your daughter?”

Elizabeth looked startled. How did he know about Bethany? “No, Papa. I did not have an affair with Mr Darcy, but he is raising my daughter. His cousin, the Viscount Wolfbridge, violated me.” With a sigh she began to tell him the details of her dishonour. “Mrs Darcy allowed him to be alone with me when I was at Darcy House. Aunt Gardiner was not with us because Cousin Susan was sick. When Lord Wolfbridge came into the room where I was waiting for Mrs Darcy; I knew it was wrong. I tried to leave, Papa, please believe me—but he had locked the door—and he was so very large.”

Mr Bennet once again wrapped his daughter in his arms. She felt almost no revulsion, and the warmth of his embrace even brought on a sense of security reminiscent of simpler times. Inside that cocoon, she felt safe enough to tell him all, except for the most humiliating of Lord Wolfbridge’s words and actions. Those were the things she could never disclose to anyone about what had happened that day, and then there were others that only came to her in nightmares.

As the story unfolded, Mr Bennet could not believe the depravity of the Viscount, the careless cruelty of Mrs Darcy, and the amazing audacity of his daughter to demand six thousand pounds.

When she finished her melancholy tale, he let her go, and appeared thoughtful for a few minutes. Next, he gave her a look of confidence and determination. “We need to talk about controlling any potential damage. Now that I know what happened, I can work to keep anyone else from ever finding out the truth. No one has ever gossiped about a child. Do you think Mr Darcy will ever reveal the true situation?”

“No, Papa, I believe he loves her very much. He will protect her at any cost.”

Mr Bennet smiled. “Yes, I got that impression when he described her to me. She sounded so much like you, that it did not take much to jump to the conclusion I did.”

Elizabeth again gave her father a very slight smile. “He used Perrault to teach her French. He thought your method ingenious.”

Her father chuckled and said, “I hear she is a ferocious chess player.” Soon he turned serious again. “What about Lord Wolfbridge? Will he ever reveal the truth?”

“I do not know. For years, I have worried about just that possibility. If the Viscount had been going to discredit me, surely, he would have done it when I first demanded money. By saying something now, he would expose Mr Darcy as well as himself.” Elizabeth donned her own thoughtful expression as she explored the possibilities. “Their family seems to think it important to hide their indiscretions. They bought an heir, and even though Mr Darcy now has a son, I think the Earl of Elderton would find those facts humiliating, and would definitely not want the story circulating within the House of Lords. Mr Darcy does not know all the details of what happened to me, but he knows some. I am convinced he disapproves of his cousin’s behaviour, and would retaliate if he disclosed our conspiracy.”

Lizzy tried to keep the pain she felt at her next admission from her face, but she was only partly successful. “I have never been able to persuade Mr Darcy that I am not mercenary. However, my biggest fear is that Lord Wolfbridge is a braggart, and may not have always been able to curb his tongue. I am currently very concerned about his friend, Mr Wickham, who has recently joined the militia.”

“Was that what you talked with the lieutenant about at your aunt and uncle’s?”

“No, I was only trying to determine what he knew. He mainly wanted to disclose how cruel his childhood friend had been to him. There were some things he said that were suspicious but nothing of substance. It is inconvenient that he and Mr Darcy are both here in Hertfordshire, and I wish he would not be attending the ball.”

“I will make some discreet inquiries and see what the man is about. Colonel Forster should be able to help with his history.” With a renewal of mirth he added, “I agree that Mr Wickham’s main mission seems to be discrediting Mr Darcy. All of Meryton has heard his story.” Mr Bennet observed apprehension on his daughter’s face. “Lizzy, I love you… I am your protector. We will conquer this.”

“But Papa, I did not remain chaste, and I was very silly. I was just like Mama. I could not wait to come home and tell all of Meryton, that I had met a viscount, and he thought me pretty and clever.”

“Lizzy, you were barely fifteen.” For the third time he took her in his arms, and this time she relished the security. “A man of enormous consequence charmed a child, and then brutally violated her. Lizzy you did not even agree to be alone with him.”

Lizzy put her head on her father’s chest. His knowing lightened her burden. They remained that way for a few moments. When she pulled away, her eyes found her father’s and she said, “I still want to waltz with Mr Darcy.”

“Why, child? I thought you were afraid of him.”

“I feared my secret would be revealed. Now that you know, I feel much better having confessed… and knowing you will help me protect my sisters.”

Mr Bennet scowled at his daughter. “Lizzy, it is
my
duty to protect your sisters. Why do you want to take such a risk with your reputation and waltz with him?”

“That day at Darcy House denied me the right to much I had come to expect in life. I cannot marry, Papa.” She whispered her next words. “I could never honour all of my vows, and I fear what would befall me if my husband were to find out why.” Suddenly her eyes became filled with fierce determination. “Dancing has always been out of the question. Oh, but just once, I want to go to a ball… and dance with a man. Lydia has taken an old dress of mine to the dressmaker and told her how to make it over. It is going to be quite lovely. Kitty is going to fix my hair. Papa, I would like to feel beautiful for a few moments.” Now, she squared her shoulders and raised her head in a defiant gesture. “And, is not it fitting that if I am to allow myself to attend this once—the dance should be revolutionary.”

Mr Bennet noticed that light shone from the gold flecks in her eyes. Her face was filled with a hint of that excitement he remembered from when she beat him at chess as a child.

Elizabeth took her father’s hands in solicitation. “Papa, I am brave enough to risk disapproval. Mr Darcy showed me how to waltz. You whirl around and it feels like I imagine flying might be.”

“What are Mr Darcy’s intentions toward you?”

“This is not about intentions. Both of us have an odd attraction for each other. I think he likes my appearance, particularly my hair, but I also know he thinks me greedy. He sometimes enjoys my wit, and I have even made him laugh on occasion.” She giggled at those memories. “You have met him, and know what an accomplishment that is. We enjoy verbal jousts, discussing books and politics. During my confinement, I had many discussions with him that reminded me of our conversations. I think he is very handsome when he smiles.” With a squeeze to her father’s hands she added, “Oh, and he smells delightful. He will not be making an offer of marriage, and if he did, I would not accept.”

Mr Bennet agreed to allow Lizzy her one waltz. She would continue to be gossiped about, as she had for years, regardless of this risqué dance.

Being considered handsome by their acquaintances was the only characteristic Rebecca Trent shared with her father. However, she was handsome in a way that bore no resemblance to her father’s appearance. Sir Walter, for his part, loved his only living child, but in truth, he thought her looks only tolerable. She had taken after her mother in both temperament and countenance.

Lady Trent had been an excellent woman… sensible and good-natured. Her marriage to Sir Walter had been the result of a youthful infatuation. The former Mary Osborne was the daughter of a gentleman from Shropshire. Her dowry of twenty thousand pounds and her status of gentleman’s daughter could have made her desirable among men of the highest circles had she waited to be presented and attend the Season. Instead she met Sir Walter while visiting an aunt in Hertfordshire, and they were married six months later.

Once married, she was perhaps not the happiest being in the world, but she found enough in her duties, her friends, and especially her children, that she could claim at least some degree of domestic felicity.

Lady Trent was not at all indifferent to the idea of leaving her children at the ages of ten and thirteen. She wept for days when she knew what was to be her fate… not for herself but for her children. When she could weep no more, she drew Tom and Becky to her and spent her last days preparing them for what was to come. She encouraged them, particularly her son Tom, to help their father with the estate, and to seek counsel from her father, Squire Osborne. Her most difficult endeavour was to find a way to perpetuate her husband’s dignity, but at the same time make sure her children realized at least some of his failings. She had spent many years trying to ensure Sir Walter did not ruin the family financially.

Her deathbed advice to Becky was to marry a sensible man. She feared her daughter’s dowry might have to be diverted in favour of paying creditors, and would not be sufficient to give her a wide choice of partners. She encouraged her daughter to wait until she was at least twenty before she seriously began looking for a husband.

After Tom’s death, the lot of protecting her father from himself fell to Becky. As her mother had done before her, she humoured her father, and often concealed his failings from the general population. In private, she counselled him to retrench, and finally five years earlier, with the help of her grandfather, Becky had persuaded him to lease Netherfield and move to Bath. He could be the very height of a fashionable gentleman for considerably less money in Bath. Becky, at sixteen, took on the responsibility of working with Mr Richards to attempt to increase the revenues of the estate, and force her father to live off the rent received from the lessees. She relied on her dearest friend, Jane Bennet, to be her eyes and ears at Netherfield while she resided in Bath. She trusted Mr Richards, but she knew Jane loved Netherfield as much as she.