Lizzy Bennet Ghost Hunter

by Jemma Thorne

  There she is. My darling girl, Lady Anne sighed inside my mind.

  I saw Georgiana with new eyes; I saw interposed the sweet baby girl and the doe-eyed young woman. Lady Anne’s love for Georgiana filled every cell of my being…

  I blinked. I had to divorce my feelings from Lady Anne’s. How was I supposed to do this without letting on to the others at the table?

  You give me such peace, sweet girl. You have no idea how I have longed for this. Just this.

  Tears threatened at the gratitude I felt from Lady Anne. I had to steady myself and try to recall what the live people here in this room were speaking about.

  And then Darcy walked in.

  Georgiana gave a true smile for the first time since we’d arrived.

  Caroline watched him steadily as he crossed the room.

  Inside my mind, Lady Anne gasped and I felt a strong desire to stand and greet Darcy, which I did not obey.

  He took the seat that stood empty between Georgiana and Mrs. Gardiner. He touched his sister’s arm briefly in greeting but his eyes were for me alone. “Good morning, Elizabeth. I had the pleasure of seeing your uncle earlier – he is still out with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Hurst. They’ve likely caught enough trout to feed the village by now, from how we were faring earlier.”

  His smile was sincere.

  His mother’s joy nearly overwhelmed me.

  I knew he would be a fine man. And you, Lizzy, you will be his wife. I can see it now. I knew there was a reason we met.

  A reason? I was a seer who had visited Pemberley. It wasn’t a mystery that I’d met Lady Anne; I met my share of spirits everywhere I went. As to Lady Anne’s presumption, I silently conveyed my true – if muddled – feelings on that matter and felt a slight quaking, as Lady Anne understood.

  Ah. Reasons upon reasons. Too much reason, in all. Lizzy, I can see plain as day that he loves you.

  And I love him, I admitted. I could only do so to a ghost. As soon as I’d thought it I wanted to forget. It was true. And all it could cause me was pain.

  Then do not let your mind sway you when your heart has made its decision.

  He proposed a time ago. He has surely forgotten it.

  I felt the ghost’s laughter. He has not! Lizzy…you must promise. And then my staying here for so long, my passing finally from this place, will have done some good. You must promise that if Darcy proposes again, you will accept.

  I thought about that. I can only promise that I will never again so completely underestimate your son.

  Lady Anne did not respond. She had moved beyond words. She was utterly focused on her children, soaking in the view of them through my human sight.

  “Miss Elizabeth, I heard that the regiment once stationed in Meryton has moved on. Your family must have been quite upset by this.” Caroline said, twisting her lips in an unfriendly smile.

  With Lady Anne observing her final moments tied to the earthly realm, even Caroline’s goading could not stir me. I said easily, “It did not upset us much.”

  Then I realized the look of discomfort on Darcy’s face, and Georgiana staring at her lap. I remembered Wickham and all that had transpired with Georgiana. Had Caroline known she ventured close to humiliating her dear friend?

  I kept my cool, but inside I was laughing as I realized that Caroline didn’t know. She had thought to cause me distress by bringing Wickham into the conversation; a man with much history here at Pemberley, who Caroline believed I favored. It happened that Darcy had told me something he’d never even told Bingley – for surely if her brother had known of Georgiana’s near-disgrace with Wickham, Caroline would know it as well. Bingley had no head for hiding his thoughts, which was why Darcy had urged him from Hertfordshire to begin with, so that he didn’t make the worst of mistakes and marry a Bennet.

  I changed the subject with an easy humor, asking of news of their recent travels.

  Caroline set her mouth firmly and just barely clung to the pretense of calm. Adding to her distress, Darcy’s focus had returned to me. I could feel my aunt’s eyes on me as well, watching the entire while.

  A few minutes later, Mrs. Gardiner cleared her throat. “Thank you for receiving us today, Miss Georgiana.”

  I felt Lady Anne’s spirit stir at the words.

  And so, I too must depart. Funny, I do not fear it now.

  I could feel that she didn’t. A bittersweet calm had settled over the both of us. What would be would be.

  Thank you, Lizzy. You have given me a great gift.

  Seeing was a gift, wasn’t it? In this case, at least, there had been no fear and no hurt in the use of my unusual talents.

  I felt a slight, wispy tearing as Lady Anne’s spirit departed, as if a net of spider webs had just been removed from inside my skin.

  I reached out with all of my considerable senses.

  Lady Anne was gone.

  We parted with the usual niceties. Darcy held my gaze unflinchingly, and for longer than was necessary.

  I could feel him watching as I left with my aunt. It should have pleased me, and there was a part of me that was pleased. Another part was altogether terrified – of what would happen when we saw each other again and even worse, what would happen if we never again met.

  Outside in the carriage, the melancholy that settled over me was mine alone. Mrs. Gardiner had no knowledge of what I’d just been through. I had made a friend of sorts these last days and now I had helped her and lost her. I had come full circle in more ways than that.

  Love had shown in Darcy’s eyes today – even his mother had seen it. I had admitted to my true feelings, if only to myself and to a now-departed ghost.

  I could feel a fork in the path ahead and I did not know which way I would turn, or whether the choice would turn out to be a mirage.

  The carriage clattered along, emerging from Pemberley Woods just as the sun broke out from behind dark gray clouds. The pastoral scene stole my breath and I could no longer dwell on my dreary thoughts. Surely brighter days lay just beyond the next turn in the road.

  I looked up to find my aunt watching me again, a flush in her cheeks. Mrs. Gardiner broke into a mirthful grin and began to laugh. “I didn’t know you had it in you to hide such a thing from me, Lizzy. Oh, I am so happy for you! I do believe you’ll soon be the lady of that house.”

  I smiled at her cheerful optimism, but I couldn’t join in her mirth. Not today. I clasped my aunt’s hand and watched the countryside drift by, caught between hope and a hollow despair at the fragility of life. If I could find happiness here in my too-short existence, as Lady Anne had, I would choose that over hunting ghosts any day.

  The End

  * * *

  Shades of Prejudice Past

  Chapter 1

  On a fine summer morning some four days into our stay at Lambton, I was happily surprised by two letters in the post. Truth be told, I had been frustrated with Jane for not writing me sooner. There was much that I could share with her, yet I hesitated to write after seeing Darcy at Pemberley. In such a situation it was possible to say too much. So the arrival of two letters this morning was a welcome change in plans from the walk I’d planned with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner.

  I could instantly see why I had not received a letter from Jane prior to these. The first had been sent to a wrong address and had been written five days ago. The second was marked a day after that.

  “We shall leave you to read your letters in peace, my dear,” Mrs. Gardiner said with an easy air. She threaded her arm through her husband’s and off they went. I settled myself in a chair to find out what my family had been about since we began our journey north.

  The first letter started with an account of all of the happenings at Longbourn and abroad in Meryton. But my eyes were immediately drawn halfway down the page to where Jane’s handwriting changed from her usual neat script to a scribble. Normally I would have forced myself to back up and read her letter in its entirety as written. Yet two names stuck out at me in Jane’s scrawl.

/>   Lydia. Wickham.

  So I began to read in earnest where her handwriting changed.

  Lizzy,

  I have news that must be conveyed as quickly as possible. I do not want to alarm you – we are all well.

  This concerns Lydia. We received an urgent dispatch late last night after we were all retired in our beds. Lydia has gone off with one of Colonel Forster’s officers. Lizzy, it is Wickham. Colonel Forster thinks it likely they’ve gone to Scotland.

  Mother is beside herself. Father is angrier than I’ve ever seen him, yet remains stoic and nearly wordless on the matter. This news must be conveyed to our uncle Mr. Gardiner as soon as you know of it.

  Lizzy, we must forget what we know of Wickham. We must assume the best. It is good that we did not relate what we know about his past to the rest of the family, or it would surely color their view of him.

  Color their view of him? And shouldn’t it? I shook my head at Jane’s insertion of such a worry just after her introduction of vital news.

  That first letter ended there, and I tore open the other without missing a beat.

  Dearest sister,

  I am afraid that the news I must convey today is even more startling than what I wrote you before. Lydia is gone with Wickham, that is sure. We had another missive from Colonel Forster today. But what he writes… Lizzy, it is beyond strange.

  On this turn, it does not appear the wayward two are off for Scotland at all. They changed rides just outside of London and from what Colonel Forster was able to find, they settled their journey there. We cannot know what it means, but that they have eloped, surely as the sun may rise. Now they must be found.

  Lizzy, have you told our uncle? Mother will feel far more settled when she hears from him. And I will too, in all honesty. We don’t know how long we can keep this news from spreading, or how long it will take to find the pair of them. Mother is beside herself at losing Lydia, and Father at the rest of our reputation. Oh, what will we do, Lizzy?

  Praying to see you soon,

  Jane

  I was in the middle of scanning over the second letter once more when a knock sounded at the apartment door. I answered and found Darcy standing there, hat in hand. He wore that slight smile of his, but I could not return it and he started at the sight of me.

  “Lizzy, what is the matter? It is obvious something is wrong. The Bennets?”

  I nodded, and then shook my head. “Everyone is well. It is just…” I drew a great gasp, which turned into a sob and I clutched my hand to my mouth, mortified. Eyes wide, I stared at him.

  “You can tell me what it is,” he said gravely. “You have my confidence.”

  He had not moved from outside the door, and I gestured him in. I paced. I could not sit.

  I did not know where to begin. My breath shuddered as I drew it in and began anyway. “My family is well. Everyone lives. Yet the youngest of my sisters has done something so harmful to every one of us that it is barely to be spoken of. And Darcy… You will understand this better than nearly anyone in the world. My sister Lydia eloped with Wickham not a week past. They are being searched out in London, where it is believed they are staying. So little has been heard that we don’t know what is going on.”

  I clutched my hands in front of my belly in a futile attempt to hold myself together. But the dam broke and I cried, startling myself and Darcy even more so.

  He turned his hat in his hands restlessly. He averted his eyes from me and another layer of harm became evident. How could he be anything other than distant with me now, when my sister had gone and done this? I should never have told him…

  “Maybe it is not as bad as it seems,” Darcy said softly. “Upon further examination, many seemingly dire circumstances turn out to be not so dire at all. Now… Can I fetch you something? I can obtain a glass of wine from the housekeeper if it suits you – you could use it.”

  I waved him off, though his kind sentiments acted as a balm on my shaky nerves.

  “I gather Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner know of this developing situation?” Darcy asked.

  “No. I just finished reading…just learned of it myself. They are walking. I will tell them first thing when they arrive and I hope to be gone south not long after that.”

  “I assume this means my sister will miss you at Pemberley later today?”

  He still hadn’t met my eyes and I could feel him ready to take his leave. His expression was grim, almost gray. And still he fidgeted with his hat. He must see me differently. How could he not?

  An unearthly clamor rose in my ears, as if a brass band were playing a few rooms off.

  No, no, no… But I was too upset. I could not hold Clarice at bay. The spirit of my great-great-grandmother appeared behind Mr. Darcy, smirking.

  “What a shocking, unlucky turn for the Bennet daughters. Lydia should be ashamed. And here you are spreading the family’s disgraceful news to this proud fellow. What are you thinking, Lizzy? If he fancied you at all it was fleeting. It only took Lydia being what she is. All this you’ve been feeling about love. It is an illusion.”

  I made no sound or move that showed I heard her. I would not give her the satisfaction, or Darcy reason to question my wits. He was already looking at me as though trying to reason something out, when the door opened and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner walked in, Mrs. Gardiner merrily chiding her husband over some small thing.

  Mrs. Gardiner’s eyes went first to Darcy, standing there with hat in hand, and then quickly to me. What she saw evidently wasn’t what she expected, for her eyes widened and the smile that had been growing on her lips died away. “Lizzy, what has happened?” Mrs. Gardiner rushed forward and took my hands. “You look positively unwell.”

  Oh, she had no idea.

  Mr. Gardiner greeted Mr. Darcy and then waited for me to explain.

  When I had given them a quick summary, they were just as stunned and bewildered by this turn of news as I was.

  Mr. Gardiner began to pace the width of the room. “Perhaps there is a more reasonable explanation than we can see at the present time,” he said gently. “But I can’t find it. What could she be thinking?” He strode about the room with his hand stroking his chin.

  “Jane has asked that we write straight away – she wants to ensure you know of the situation. Our mother is gone to distraction over it,” I conveyed to my uncle.

  “Yes, we must.”

  Darcy made for the door. “I am sorry to disturb you at this strange time. I pray we meet again under better circumstances.”

  I could not let hope rise in my heart. There was no hope to be found for us. It had been a far-fetched, ridiculous notion and I had best let it go.

  The next hour flew by as we made our arrangements to leave. We canceled our remaining social engagements, sending notes of thanks where they were due and others of brief explanation to those we’d not yet seen.

  Within the hour it was done. Uncle called the coach and we were on our way through the countryside without delay.

  Chapter 2

  We traveled southward much more quickly than we had traveled north. With a short night at an inn along the road, we were back at Longbourn the next evening afternoon. We found a household turned upside-down. My mother had not left her bed since receiving the news about Lydia and my sisters were weary with attending her.

  As I was upstairs unpacking, Clarice said, “What a pitiful day you’ve returned to witness. This is the trouble with notions of love. No woman should depend on it. I fear your sister has brought about the ruin of your entire family.”

  “My family?” I shot back at her. “I believe this house had your fingerprints on it long before my mother’s.”

  This elicited a shocked shout of rage from the ghost. We had not had a peaceful exchange in many, many days. At my most vulnerable, my friend Lady Leticia’s banishment to keep my great-grandmother’s spirit at bay did not function. It was unsuccessful at the worst of times. I dared not think about it further right now. Deep down I knew that the next time
I saw Lady Leticia, I would ask her to help me with a final solution for the spirit who had left Longbourn more than half a year ago and attached herself to me.

  The very next morning Mr. Gardiner left for London with my father. Mrs. Gardiner and the children stayed. Mrs. Gardiner could see how it wore on all of Mrs. Bennet’s daughters to endlessly wait on her. She thought she could be of some service to our household by staying.

  But we continued to wait without news. Each day grew more frustrating. On the third day in the afternoon we finally received a letter. Father and Mr. Gardiner had made inquiries where Lydia and Wickham had changed horse but had found nothing that hadn’t been revealed to Colonel Forster.

  All signs seemed to point to their being in London. If they had gone to Scotland, we would have heard something by now. What were we to do but wait? Each day it grew more difficult to keep this intimate family secret from the servants and from our friends.

  Mother did not come down from her room. She had become convinced that Father would die in a duel fighting for his daughter Lydia’s honor. I could not picture my father doing any such thing, so it did not concern me a bit.

  What did concern me was Jane’s drawn expression as she came to fully understand what I had long suspected. There was no virtue to be found in this action. Our sister had truly caused us harm. There was no undoing it. She had eloped with a vile man who would now be our brother. That would be the best outcome. If not, Lydia must be cast out and with her all of our hopes of marriage.

  At this, Clarice railed. “And days ago you were concerned with flirting with a man beyond your station, Lizzy. Do you see where it gets us, this concern for men? Why must your reputation be staked on your sisters? Why does the question of reputation fall on a daughter and so little on a son? There’s nothing for it, no changing it. You shouldn’t wed at all. Do not concern yourself with it.”