Dearest, Loveliest Elizabeth

by Marley Fulton

  “We are never going to be family,” Anne remarked with a short huff as she glanced away from Caroline.

  “Pity, I had hoped we could become great friends, Anne. It saddens me to learn that will not be the case, but it shall still not prevent me from marrying the man I love,” she stated firmly.

  “Miss Bingley, I think it is time for Mrs Hendrickson to show you out. I do hope you enjoyed your dinner. I have heard enough for the evening,” Lady Catherine ordered, lifting her cane slightly as she slammed it into the floor below. “Mrs. Hendrickson!” she called out.

  Caroline’s mouth fell agape as she looked back at her with a shocked expression. “You would have me thrown out?” she asked in surprise.

  Lady Catherine perked her eyebrow and tilted her head as she nodded. “Indeed, leave now, please, Miss Bingley,” Lady Catherine insisted.

  Caroline arose and scowled. “Has Darcy already departed?” she asked with a seething tone as Mrs Hendrickson opened the door and stepped within.

  “Yes, Miss Bingley, Mr Darcy has just taken his leave just a moment ago,” Mrs Hendrickson stated. “Shall I call for your coach?” Mrs Hendrickson asked.

  “Yes, please do,” Caroline huffed, striding out of the parlor toward the foyer. As she passed through the hall, her eyes darted out, spotting Elizabeth who stood in the shadows with a stunned look in her eyes.

  Caroline tilted her head and pursed her lips, “Careful upon whom you eavesdrop, Miss Bennet, it may come back to haunt you some day,” she hissed, storming toward the door with her arms folded across her stomach.

  Elizabeth’s eyes widened as she moved out of the shadows and quickly scurried up the staircase. The last thing she needed was for Lady Catherine to see her after what she had just overheard. In fact, the knowledge Elizabeth had just obtained was enough to make her desire nothing more than to return home, back to Longbourn, and be far, far away from the place she knew she did not belong, Lady Catherine’s estate. As she came to the landing at the top of the stairs, she quickly moved toward her room, flinging the door open with a perplexed look upon her face.

  Jane tilted her head, her eyebrows quivering as she watched her sister. “Lizzy, is something the matter?” she asked.

  Elizabeth sighed, closing her eyes tightly as she considered what Jane had asked. “I do not know, Jane,” she stated, as she began pulling her belongings from the wardrobe in haste. “I do know that I cannot stand one more moment under the roof of this house,” she proclaimed, forcing various things into a leather satchel as she huffed in frustration.

  “Oh no, Lizzy! Please, you cannot leave me here alone,” Jane said.

  Elizabeth shook her head. “No, Jane, I just overheard Caroline Bingley state the most horrid things about you, about me, about our entire family.” Elizabeth explained, “Worse yet, I overheard Lady Catherine and Anne state that Mr Darcy has been betrothed to Anne ever since he was a boy! I feel utterly deceived, Jane, and I simply will not continue to stay here,” Elizabeth insisted.

  Jane tilted her head and sighed as she peered back at her sister. “Lizzy, how could you go eavesdropping on the Lady of this house?” Jane asked with a shocked look.

  Elizabeth’s eyes widened as she looked upon her. “You cannot be serious, Jane! Are you reprimanding me for my lack of propriety after what I just told you?” Elizabeth scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief as she turned back toward the wardrobe, pulling the last of her belongings free of it.

  “Mother is going to be so disappointed!” Jane exclaimed.

  “Yes, I am certain you are correct about that, but,” Elizabeth chuckled slightly, “I do not care.”

  “If you leave, I will be expected to go also, and I have been enjoying my visit! I do not want to go, Lizzy!” Jane stated.

  “Then you should not, Jane. You do not have to do anything on account of me,” Elizabeth retorted. “Mr. Bingley will certainly be calling upon you soon if what Mr Darcy said to you bodes true. That is what you wanted from this visit, is it not?” Elizabeth asked.

  Jane’s mouth fell open widely, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked back at her sister. “You do not mean what you are saying,” Jane stated, shaking her head.

  “No, I do mean it, Jane. Go ahead. Stay here, and see what truth you uncover for yourself. I only hope that you do not suffer a crushing heartbreak when you discover that these people view you entirely different than how they receive you. Of course, you will dismiss my advice, though, just as mother always does, and just as Kitty does as well!” Elizabeth seethed.

  “Very well! Please,” Jane stood up suddenly and walked over to the door, “Leave!” she finished, glancing past her sister as her tears rolled down her cheeks.

  Elizabeth momentarily glanced back at her as she shook her head, clutching the satchel in her hands while she stood at the door. “Of course, Jane! I would not dare cost you the chance of an engagement to Mr Bingley!” she replied in anger, storming out into the hall, and quickly beginning her descent of the staircase. She could not; would not; withhold her true thoughts any longer no matter what her sisters or mother thought of it. As she came to the bottom of the staircase, Mrs Hendrickson tilted her head and approached her with a concerned expression.

  “Miss Bennet, is there something the matter?” she asked curiously.

  Elizabeth shook her head, and peered back up the staircase. “No, I,” struggling to formulate words, Elizabeth sighed as her emotions began to swirl, “Please, will you call for a coach?” she asked.

  Mrs. Hendrickson nodded; her eyebrows furrowing as she looked over Elizabeth. “Yes, of course, Miss Bennet,” she sighed. “What of your sister?

  Will she be leaving as well?” she asked.

  Elizabeth immediately shook her head. “No, no,” she muttered, her mind drifting as she silenced. Oh, please, please, just call the carriage! I cannot bear another moment of this torture.

  “Very well, Miss Bennet, please wait here and I will call for a carriage straightaway,” Mrs Hendrickson muttered.

  Elizabeth nodded. She still did not fully understand the reason for her instantaneous frustration, but it was simply unbelievable what she had heard. It was frankly scandalous, and, to think, that Lady Catherine, Mr Darcy, Anne, and Caroline had all been a part of such a travesty was beyond anything she could fathom. He lied to me and so did his aunt, Lady Catherine! Another wave of anger surged into a boil within Elizabeth’s veins the more she pondered on the matter. Why did she invite us here? Simply to ridicule and make a fool of me, and my sister? All of it was simply unbearable, but what was worse, Elizabeth knew, was how she had just broken her elder sister’s heart for no good reason at all. Humiliated, and feeling guilty, Elizabeth’s outburst had accomplished precisely the thing she had hoped to avoid; breaking her beloved sister’s heart. She knew she could not bear to face Jane again after what had transpired between the two of them, and a knot began to form within the pit of her belly as she waited anxiously. Oh, please do hurry, Mrs Hendrickson! She thought with urgency. Escape from the wretched place she had found herself in could not come swift enough.

  Chapter Eight

  Elizabeth’s eyes flickered across the countryside, the bumpiness of the road jostling her only slightly as she sat quietly within the coach. It was a grey evening; fitting because of the strong sense of sadness that had taken root within her chest. Why she had ever agreed to visit Lady Catherine was something she, herself, could still not fully understand. Feeling torn between a myriad of emotions, Elizabeth recognized that deep down inside she was not at all sure what she wanted, not in the least. And, yet, with her mother’s every action she had become swept up with the wants and needs of her family, rather than learning what she wanted for herself. She had often stated she had no wishes to marry simply for convenience. Marriage, as Elizabeth saw it, was a lifelong contract that she did not want to take lightly, but after seeing the look in Jane’s eyes back in that room, Elizabeth realized that perhaps everything she had ever thought was entirely wrong.
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  Worse yet, she did not fully understand why the news of Mr Darcy’s existing engagement to Anne de Bourgh had even upset her at all. From the moment she and Mr Darcy had met the two of them had been strongly repelled by one another. In fact, it shocked her even more so to learn of Caroline Bingley’s betrothal to Mr Darcy because of how insistent her brother had been regarding how very similar she and Mr Darcy were to one another. There were a number of things swirling within Elizabeth’s worrisome mind, and yet as the carriage drew further from Lady Catherine’s estate, the more apprehensive Elizabeth became. Mother would be cross over it, and Elizabeth knew this. However, Elizabeth was not so sure if she cared more about what her mother might say, or whether she was worried about hearing her reprimanding after learning of how Elizabeth had treated Jane. What on God’s green earth came over me? She thought in agitation. It was true that Elizabeth had always been outspoken, but she had never been one to cause pain to those she cared for. She sighed sorrowfully, and glanced away from the landscape, yawning briefly as she rested her head against the seat. Soon enough, she would be back at Longbourn, forced to explain her behavior yet again. Perhaps, I should just accept the first gentleman who deems me worthy enough to propose to?

  ***

  The dreariness of the day became obvious the moment Elizabeth’s carriage finally came to a full halt in the front of Longbourn drive. The carriage door opened slowly, and Elizabeth slipped her hand into the footman’s as he assisted her to the ground. “Welcome home, Miss Bennet,” the footman announced.

  Elizabeth nodded and smiled briefly, stepping to the ground as she began to walk toward the door. Long before she ever stepped foot on the first step, the door flung open widely, and the flushed face of Mrs Bennet appeared with a quizzical expression.

  “Lizzy? I was not expecting you home so suddenly!” Mrs Bennet exclaimed with surprise. “Where is your sister?” she asked.

  Elizabeth sighed. The moment she had been dreading had finally arrived, and with it a round of questions she was certain would not end in her favor.

  “Good evening, Mother. I did not expect to be returning so early; however, Jane chose not to accompany me,” Elizabeth muttered as she strode toward the door.

  Mrs. Bennet’s eyebrow rose, and behind her, Elizabeth was positive Kitty was standing eavesdropping; particularly from the surprised look that had overtaken her face.

  “Oh, here, let me take your coat, Lizzy,” Mrs Bennet muttered, as Elizabeth stepped inside the house.

  She shrugged the jacket off and held it out to her mother, turning to her younger sister as she forced a smile. “Good evening, Kitty,” Elizabeth muttered. “I trust you have done an excellent job caring for mother and father while I was gone?” she asked.

  Kitty smiled, and nodded slightly. “Good evening, Lizzy. Yes, of course, Mother and I were just about to take evening tea. Will you join us?” Kitty asked.

  Elizabeth smiled, even though she did not feel up to it. “Of course. Shall we go sit in the parlor?” Elizabeth asked. Where you and mother will both ask me as many questions as possible.

  “Have you heard that the regiment is nearby?” Kitty asked as they began walking toward the parlor.

  Elizabeth tilted her head slightly. “The regiment? Here? What for?” she asked curiously.

  “Oh, I do not know anything about that, Lizzy! I do know that we met one soldier, Mr Wickham, when they were coming through. He is such a handsome man, Lizzy! I simply could not believe how handsome,” Kitty exclaimed.

  “Kitty, please stop discussing Mr Wickham endlessly! We have only just met the gentleman,” Mrs Bennet warned as she followed behind her daughters. Elizabeth stepped into the parlor and immediately moved to sit on the couch. Kitty followed suit – sitting down alongside her sister as she watched their mother sit across from them both.

  “I am just so excited, Mother! I apologize,” Kitty remarked.

  “I am happy to see that you are so filled with joy, Kitty. Certainly, one of my sister’s deserves to be,” Elizabeth grumbled.

  Mrs Bennet arched her brow once more. “Why is it that Jane refused to accompany you back home, Lizzy?” Mrs Bennet asked.

  Elizabeth sighed with angst, averting her gaze slightly as she considered her words. “I should not have gone to Lady Catherine’s estate,” Elizabeth eventually replied.

  “Why ever not?” Mrs Bennet asked in frustration.

  “While we were visiting, Mr Bingley’s sister, Caroline Bingley, came to call upon Lady Catherine and her daughter. Much to my misfortune, I discovered that being at Lady Catherine’s was not a place I belong,” Elizabeth remarked.

  “Oh, Lizzy! Please, just be honest. What happened?” Mrs Bennet pressed.

  “I heard something that I could not repeat to Jane, Mother,” Elizabeth explained. “And with hearing such things about all of us I did not want to spend another moment under Lady Catherine’s roof. Jane did not feel the same,” Elizabeth added.

  “What did you hear?” Kitty interjected curiously.

  Mrs. Bennet turned to look at her, daggers nearly darting from her irises as she peered at her younger daughter.

  “Kitty, that is not what is important,” Mrs Bennet remarked, looking back to Elizabeth. “Lizzy, it is quite late. I am sure that the drive back has made you exhausted. Perhaps, it would be best if we continue this discussion later on when you are rested?” Mrs Bennet asked.

  “Yes, I am indeed quite tired, Mother,” Elizabeth wearily remarked, “And, yet I would still love to learn more about the regiment being nearby.”

  “There is not much to tell about them. I do not understand matters of war, but it is true that they are stationed here for a time, and that Mr Wickham did pay a visit to us while you and Jane were away,” Mrs Bennet stated.

  “He should be coming to pay another visit in the morning. He seems to enjoy walking with me in the garden,” Kitty happily remarked.

  Elizabeth perked a brow curiously. “He has went walking with you?” she asked.

  “Oh, yes! Exactly twice now. He asked about the lake,” Kitty replied.

  Elizabeth perked a brow. “Where I like to walk?” she asked.

  “Yes, exactly, though I did not tell him much about that. He seemed intrigued by the silver glint of the water,” Kitty explained.

  “What does Father think of him?” Elizabeth queried.

  “Oh, they have spoken a few times when Mr Wickham has paid visits, but I am not sure if Father is simply being polite, or if he truly enjoys his conversations with Mr Wickham,” Kitty stated matter-of-factly.

  “From what I have heard, Mr Wickham has paid a visit to many of the families in the area. My understanding is that he wishes for everyone to feel assured even with the regiment in the area,” Mrs Bennet stated.

  “I see. I hope to make his acquaintance soon then,” Elizabeth remarked. Perhaps, if Kitty is right, this Mr Wickham may be the solution to my many ailments.

  ***

  The dew of the morning sparkled upon the tips of the grass as Elizabeth’s eyes looked out across the landscape. She stood in the window in silence, simply observing the outside as she recalled the events of the past few days. Kitty had told her that Mr Wickham would be likely to call upon Longbourn this morning, and so, Elizabeth had chosen to take her time getting ready, while watching to see if anyone came over the horizon. Her eyes flickered curiously as she continued watching, and the sudden spark of red caught her attention as she stared out the windowpane.

  Kitty had been correct about Mr Wickham being handsome; at least if the man riding a black steed up the drive happened to be him. Dressed in traditional British red and white, Elizabeth had no doubt that he was a part of the regiment, if not Mr Wickham himself. In the distance, Elizabeth was certain that he had dark, almost raven black hair, but she could not be sure. A gasp slid from her lips, unexpectedly, as she slipped from the window, “Kitty! Kitty, come quickly!” she exclaimed.

  Kitty turned from her bed, where she was seated wit
h a book open across her lap, tilting her head she perked up slightly. “What is it, Lizzy?” she asked, arising from the mattress and striding over to her sister.

  Elizabeth glanced back out the window, and nodded toward the visitor. “Is that him?” she asked, looking back to her sister for a reaction. “Is it Mr Wickham?” she asked curiously.

  Kitty’s lips instantly began widening as Mr Wickham’s horse now drew closer to the top of the drive, and she began nodding swiftly. “Yes! Is he not handsome?” Kitty exclaimed in excitement.

  Elizabeth sighed, as her own lips twitched slightly. “Yes, he does appear to be quite handsome; although, it is hard to say from so far away,” Elizabeth reminded her.

  Kitty chuckled slightly. “Indeed, it is, sister. Hurry, we should go downstairs so you can see him properly,” Kitty remarked, moving away from her sister and quickly disappearing out the door.

  Elizabeth sighed, the time to meet yet another eligible bachelor had come.

  This time, Elizabeth would do her very best to put on a good impression. After all, Jane appeared to be convinced she would be marrying Mr Bingley, and that meant that Elizabeth needed to find someone with whom she could depart to live her life with. It did not seem as if she had any other choice, as that was what her mother wanted most for each of her daughters, and now Elizabeth imagined that being a soldier’s wife might be more tolerable than being married to someone like Fitzwilliam Darcy!

  “Indeed, sister, I would hate to leave Mr Wickham waiting,” Elizabeth murmured to herself, lifting her hand to brush away a loose strand of hair that had fallen into her face.

  ***

  Mrs. Bennet rushed to the front door, the sound of knocking nearly shocking her to her feet as she arose from her seat. She opened the door in haste, and with a bright and cheery expression began to speak, “Oh, Mr Wickham! I was not expecting you to call upon us so early!” she admitted.