"No, he will not," Lady Catherine said, a sharp, shrewish and calculating look in her eye. "As much as I dislike tradesmen, and their ilk. The 'Empty' and the half-bloods I despise even more. He's a snivelling bacon-brain who'll do anything I tell him to do, so we shall see how far the nincompoop's loyalties to me will run. I cannot have my niece's family displaced by a snivelling half blood."
"May I ask ma'am how it is that you know he is half-blood?" Mrs Bennet asked.
"Madam that is one of my gifts! When I look at a person, I can see the colour of their light. The 'Empty' have black, the absence of light. The half-blood is interesting; it is as if their body is cut in half and their light is half black and half the colour of the Blessed. The more they give in to the 'Empty' side of their nature, which unfortunately they do with frequency, the more polluted the Blessed light becomes, until eventually there is nothing left but pure black.
The light of the full blooded male Blessed is entirely white, fully balanced and only changes colour if they have been impure before meeting their soulmate. The colour of the Blessed female has four colours. The first is the pure white, balanced innocence. The second is the red of having joined with their soulmate fully. The third is the blue of expectant motherhood. The fourth is a horrible green colour, that reminds a person of bile. This fourth is the colour of the impure whore." Lady Catherine looked at Mr and Mrs Bennet and saw only the white of pure innocence. She was surprised that Mrs Bennet did not have the red of joining with her soulmate but glad that they were indeed full blood as they claimed. She let out a breath that she had been holding. The Darcy holdings were safe. Lady Catherine had been anxious lest Darcy had been taken in by a fortune hunting halfblood.
It was at that moment that the newly minted Mr and Mrs Darcy walked into the room laughing and looking incredibly happy. Lady Catherine had not yet switched away from studying the colours of Mr and Mrs Bennet so when she looked at Darcy and Elizabeth she saw that his white had joined totally with her blue light, the blue was tinged with the red. Lady Catherine could see that they were true soul-mates that had joined and blushed that Elizabeth was an expectant mother so quickly.
"Darcy! Where have you been?" Lady Catherine asked brusquely. She was not about to allow her nephew to have a smooth ride.
Blushing to the roots of their hair, they both attempted to demure saying that they had been detained in another part of the house. Nobody was fooled but all were wise enough to know not to push the issue any further.
"Yes, well! I came here to dispute your marriage! You were intended for my daughter Anne, and I had been informed that your 'bride' was half-blood, how could you throw Anne over for a half-blood trollop?" Lady Catherine continued.
"Sorry to inform you madam, but my wife is NOT a half-blood!" Darcy said, "as for Ann, I'm glad I waited as Elizabeth, and I are truly ..."
"Soul-mates" Lady Catherine stated. Sounding slightly deflated. "I should not be surprised. Your parents were soul-mates, but De Bourgh and I were not. We did what was expected of us. We were an arranged marriage, that should never have been. I am thankful for Anne, though. Somehow my parents got it right for Anne…” sadness tinged her voice as she said that. "Whatever possessed you to have such a quick wedding?"
"We did not even know we were going to a wedding" Laughed Elizabeth "Let alone our own. Two days ago my friends at Lucas Lodge threw a dinner party, to which we were all invited, and although I had met Will the day before we had not introduced ourselves and so only truly became acquainted at Lucas Lodge. It was strange as we performed the obligatory curtsy and bow a light seemed to glow around each of us until the lights around us had merged into one. The same thing happened to my sister and her husband that night."
"Elizabeth's friend approached us later on in the evening and requested that we meet her and her mother at Lucas Lodge the next day, yesterday, for an explanation of what had happened as neither of us knew about what had happened," Darcy said.
"That's the powers that be telling us that two souls have found their perfect match" Answered Lady Catherine, "a match that if embraced none can break. Nephew I need to ask, what colour was your wife's light at Lucas Lodge?"
"Blue Madam" Darcy replied, not realising why his Aunt had asked the question. Lady Catherine shot Darcy a dark look, she was very unimpressed with his behaviour.
"Indeed ma'am" Mrs Bennet chimed in "After what happened to my husband and myself I wanted to make sure the girls did not find out about their lineage, but Lady Lucas pointed out that to separate soul-mates would be beyond cruel. It would be almost impossible. She said that Lizzy had compelling reasons that her marriage should be quick and though I desired Jane to marry Mr Collins, in the end, her soulmate had also found her. I did not know that the colour of Lizzy's light was significant."
"Madam I would have thought that the misery your husband and yourself went through because you were not soul-mates, would have made you more amenable to the fact that soul-mates should always be together. I do understand where you are coming from, My husband and I were not happy together. He died without meeting his Soulmate. I have yet to meet mine." Lady Catherine said There was more sadness in that one statement than anyone had heard from Lady Catherine in many years. It was as if the years of anger and jealousy had somehow melted away at that moment only leaving a deep-rooted sadness and melancholy.
Nothing more could be said or discussed for the moment as Mr Collins arrived with Miss B. The feeling of evil that they brought with them, as two of the dastardly trio, was enough that all that except Collins and Miss B felt as if the room was on fire...
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Danger Lurking
Lady Catherine was the first to recover. "Mr Collins! I hope you have a good excuse for your ungentlemanly interruption to a private counsel, without an invitation" she started "I suggest you remove yourself and dine elsewhere this evening, and take that Lady-bird with you. She is an unmarried mother."
The surprise that showed on Mr Collins face was such as he could not hide. "As you wish Lady Catherine," he said in his most oily, greasy manner.
"No, wait! Miss Bingley, are you truly a mother?" Asked Darcy
Her face blushing crimson Miss Bingley answered: "In seven months I will be."
"Is your brother aware of your predicament?"
"No! You cannot tell him!" Miss Bingley proclaimed, panicking she did not how Bingley would react; she only knew that it would not be good.
"Too late Caroline!" Said Bingley tightly, as he stood on the threshold to the parlour. "Time you and I had an overdue discussion about your behaviour. Mr Bennet, may I have use of your study please?"
"Of course, Bingley" Mr Bennet replied. Bingley practically dragged his sister into the study and slammed the door.
"That man is a pureblood, but she is only half blood. He'll have trouble with her, she has given in to the dark side of her personality." Lady Catherine stated almost to herself. Mr Collins meanwhile had left the parlour, afraid to cross his patroness and show his hand too soon.
As soon as the two members of the dastardly trio left the room, the atmosphere returned to an even temperature. "Now that the trash has been removed from the room, let's get back to business" declared Mrs Bennet
Although all who heard, agreed with the sentiments they all shivered at Mrs Bennet's ill-bred turn of phrase. "Indeed Mrs Bennet" replied Darcy. "I think we've got a much bigger problem on our hands, I've felt on a much smaller scale the same atmosphere around Mr Wickham as I felt when those two walked in."
"They are intent on some evil!" Stated Lady Catherine. “However the feeling of the room being on fire is simply that we have a physical reaction to half-bloods. We are very sensitive to energy, and somehow they cause such a disruption in the energy field that we sense it as a fire and the Empty seem to sense it as an icy atmosphere”. Just then Jane, who had entered the room after her husband had removed his sister, gasped.
"What is it, Jane?" Asked Mrs Bennet, the question that was on t
he minds of all, however, Jane remained immobile and unseeing to the world around her.
Longbourne's parlour sat devoid of all except for one occupant. Jane Bingley had remained downstairs debating in her mind everything she had learned in the last week. Everything she had thought she knew about herself and her family had been turned upside down. A disturbance in the servants quarters caught Jane's attention, and she quickly doused the sole remaining candle in the room while clutching the tinder box in her hand so she could relight it later on. She then silently moved to the open doorway that leads into the vestibule. Not sure exactly what to do, she hovered just inside the parlour and listened. Three shadowy figures quietly slunk out of the servants quarters and started up the stairs to the family bedrooms. Jane quickly sent a loud distress signal telepathically, hoping that it would alert the family in time.
The dastardly trio had chosen to make their move. They suspected, although they were not sure that both sides were aware of their movements, and making any move was becoming more difficult and dangerous. They were without restraint. As they neared the top of the stairs, unknown to them, they encountered Mrs Hill. Their progress was now impeded, but they advanced as fast as they could. Mr C slowly and quietly opened the door to Darcy's room.
The light that shone in that room was blinding to Mr C, but slowly he came to realise where the light was emanating from and moved towards the two people surrounded by the light. To Mr C it was brighter than a thousand candles and the closer he came to them, the weaker he felt, but he persisted. He fumbled for the knife he carried thinking that he would strike while they were so distracted, but each time he came close the knife would drop from his hands. Nothing that he tried was successful. He figured if he could not hold a knife he would strangle them both, but as soon as he put his hands close to Elizabeth or Darcy his hands trembled and then went completely limp. Eventually, he gave up.
Mr W and Miss B had moved on to the room that belonged to the Bingleys. However, upon opening the door, they were shocked to find that the room was empty. Confused they searched the room, but could not find any sign of occupants there, so they moved onto the master chambers. Entering the master suite they had a choice to go left or to go right. Right led into the master's bedchamber and left into the mistresses (They had entered the shared sitting room). Miss B slipped the knife from her belt and advanced into the left chamber. The sight there astounded Miss B. Quietly she stood observing the master and mistress of the house engaged in the most intimate of acts, though she was no stranger to the act itself, she found herself to be quite envious of the power contained in what she saw.
Her jealous heart though urged her forward. The light in this chamber was not so bright as in Darcy's chamber, but Miss B felt the effects of it just as Mr Collins had, and found that her hands had become clumsy, and her knife completely blunt. She could not complete her act of vengeance. Slipping out of the mistresses chamber, she stood in the shared sitting room of the master suite and screamed!
Jane came out of what to the rest of the room seemed like trance, smiled and said: "Next week they'll make their move."
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Relatives, accidents and Danger
Jane had no more time to explain. Several things happened all at once. The first an accident` outside the gates of Longbourne that had Elizabeth, on her feet and urgently summoning the servants to organise a rescue mission for the carriage occupants. Second was that Miss Darcy walked through the door with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mrs Annesley. The third a servant from the inn arrived to announce a fire had started in Darcy's room during the early hours of the morning. Last Mr Phillips arrived with the paperwork for Netherfield, Bingley could move in immediately.
Chaos ensued, until a strange unnatural calm settled. Things took a natural order. For now, the accident would take precedence. Elizabeth quickly divided the whole house into three distinct groups, led by those best suited to the tasks. Her mother was given the job of organising those that would stay in the house and make sure the house ran smoothly. Lady Catherine was in charge of those who would work on the scene to bring order to the chaos raging at Longbourne's gates. Elizabeth with her gift of knowing how best to help the ones injured led the team that would help the wounded and the dying. Everybody had their part to play. Miss Darcy joined Elizabeth's team, Mrs Annesley joined Mrs Bennet's team, and Colonel Fitzwilliam joined Lady Catherine's team.
Lady Catherine and Elizabeth's teams arrived at the site together. The scene of utter carnage that met their eyes was worthy of the battlefield. The dastardly trio had met up once again outside Longbourne and set off in a hired carriage that would take all of them away from Hertfordshire for the next three days. They had however forced their way out trough the gate and caused three carriages that were approaching Longbourne to crash into each other. Horses screamed and were maimed, axles on the carriages had broken causing the carriages to roll and one to entirely splinter apart. The Dastardly trio laughed and raced away from the scene. Much to their hired drivers disgust. Fortunately for all involved, there was no loss of life.
Both teams set to work. No injuries were life threatening, however there were a couple of broken legs, and small cuts and bruises. With Elizabeth’s guidance her team quickly organised the wounded and aided all of the wounded into Longbourne. Care was given where it was needed, leaving only the allocation of refreshments and introductions to be had. It had not occurred to anyone that Lady Catherine had not yet been formally introduced to the Bennet’s, and with the new amount of people that had arrived at Longbourne all agreed that introductions should be kept until not only those working to clear the scene arrived, but that they were all ready to sit down to a cold supper later on.
Lady Catherine's team worked tirelessly until light faded and then returned to the scene the next day to remove the wreckage. The priority was the horses, strong animals that needed care and attention. Fortunately only one horse seemed to be suffering. The healthy horses were led by Longbourne’s head stableman to clean stalls and given a lot of hay to eat. This meant that the horses were away from the scene when the one lame horse had to be shot. This service Colonel FItzwilliam performed quickly as soon as possible so the horse would not suffer any longer than necessary.
Next Lady Catherine’s group split into two. The Ladies of the group collected the personal effects of the ladies that had spilt out of the broken trunks, and the gentlemen collected the mens personal effects. As it was not entirely possible to know whose personal effects were spread on the ground they were collected into a large linen bag that each person carried and then each member of the group would have to identify their missing belongings. Light faded just as they completed this task.
Longbourne, being the second most preeminent house and family in the neighbourhood, did not have enough guest rooms in which to host all those involved in the accident. Bingley, having now sorted the Netherfield documents, immediately offered Netherfield to house the newcomers, and it was agreed that those who were uninjured or just slightly dazed would join the Bingley's and the Darcy's at Netherfield. A cart transported the identified luggage where it needed to be.
Night was drawing on when they all arrived back in the parlour for the evening meal, this would be when proper introductions were made and questions were again asked and answered.
Elizabeth and Darcy were the first to arrive in the parlour ready for dinner. "Are you all right, my love?" Asked Darcy concerned. The scene of the accident had shaken him to the core, and he was unsure as to whether or not he would manage to eat his meal. He was more worried that Elizabeth would be upset by it.
"I'm fine Will," his wife said not quite containing her mirth at her husband's concern "This is not the first carriage accident that I have helped with." Darcy squeezed her hand and was about to kiss her when his sister walked in with Mrs Annesley.
"Fitz!" Cried Georgie, throwing herself into her brother's arms, "Congratulations, we saw your wedding. It was beautiful" She then turned to her si
ster-in-law and hugged Elizabeth.
"Georgie, Allow me to introduce my wife, Elizabeth Darcy" Darcy laughed, "Elizabeth, please allow me to introduce you to Mrs Annesley, Georgie's companion."
Elizabeth looked over Georgiana's shoulder and said, "Pleased to meet you Mrs Annesley. Please forgive my not being able to perform the necessary niceties at this moment."
"Nothing to apologise for, I'm sure." At this Mrs, Annesley turned to her charge and cleared her throat rather loudly. However, it wasn't until Mrs Annesley said, "Miss Georgiana I believe you are likely to overwhelm Mrs Darcy" that Georgiana released Elizabeth blushing to the roots of her hair.
"I'm sorry Mrs Darcy, I've so longed for a sister." Georgiana apologised.
"It's alright, Miss Darcy. Please call me Lizzy, we are sisters now." Elizabeth replied, "I have four sisters, and we greet each other similarly".
The family drifted in at this point, Mr and Mrs Bennet, Mr and Mrs Bingley, Misses Mary, Kitty and Lydia Bennet were all introduced to Miss Darcy and her companion. Colonel Fitzwilliam drifted in next and was introduced to the family. Then followed the first of the guests. However, they asked not to be introduced until all had arrived.
The carriages were as follows:
Lord and Lady Matlock, Darcy's Aunt and uncle on his mother's side. Since they were at the wedding itself, they had made the journey in order to become acquainted with the Bennet’s and to once more openly reunite the Elders of the Blessed.
Judge Oscar Darcy, George Darcy’s younger brother, Judge Darcy had come to congratulate the young couple on their marriage.
Mr and Mrs Wakefield, were close family friends of both the Darcy's and the Bennet’s. It transpired that the Wakefield’s had taken the place of the Devereaux family as Elder’s when George Bennet had married Rebecca Devereaux, John Devereaux’s only Daughter and sole child.
The Meryton War Page 10
