The Adventures of Lizzy Bennet - Book 3: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Kate Speck

  Mrs. Bennet frowned, “But could we not have double the breakfast courses and a great more number of flowers since two couples are being wed? And the other groom is the son of an earl! Could we not have the grandest ceremony that Hertfordshire has ever seen?”

  “Mama, I am marrying the man of my dreams because I cannot live without him. I honestly do not have any concerns about the wedding breakfast but I do wish to keep everything simple.” Lizzy leaned on her mother’s arm and laid her head on her shoulder. “Jane is in courtship and I know she will wish for a grand celebration, but I am your hoyden daughter and Richard is the second son. We would not wish to appear too grasping before the countess, would we?”

  “Of course not, Lizzy!” Mrs. Bennet nodded and patted Lizzy’s shoulder. “You are absolutely correct. If the countess has already made plans, we cannot overstep her wishes. She is a generous lady but I must remember my place. As much as I adore Lady Anne, her ladyship cannot be treated like our close family friends, even if we had seen them for every Eastertime for the past several years.”

  Lizzy smiled, “I know Mrs. Anne will wish to plan several tasks with you and whatever you and she agree on, I will agree. I will leave the decisions to the best ladies of my acquaintance while Will and I will be fencing and climbing our tree.” She laughed.

  Mrs. Bennet burst into giggles, “I know you will, dear Lizzy. You make him deliriously happy and he has changed your mind about marriage! Oh, what blessedness!” She lowered her voice, “Lizzy, tell me more about the settlement papers that your papa signed this morning. Do you know how much he will settle on you? I had heard that his father has 10,000 a year but what will you and William live on? I worry that if you should have only daughters like myself, if you will be protected enough in your future.”

  “I will be protected, mama. Will has ensured it and everything is in the settlement papers.” Lizzy explained. “He shared the document with me as if he would a partner of his businesses and he has already given me the Ramsgate cottage. We plan on using it for summer holidays but his father will be giving him Netherfield and we will never lack for income. You must not share with anyone else, mama,” Lizzy gently cautioned her, “but Pemberley alone brings in £10,000 a year and Mr. Darcy has many investments with Uncle Edward. My betrothed will have Netherfield and his grandmother’s inheritance and he also invests with Gardiner Enterprises. He will have at least £5,000 a year and has settled £20,000 on me. I also received word from Uncle Edward this morning that my trust, which Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Anne have begun for me when I was but ten years old, has more than £29,000, nearly £30,000, and I am independently wealthy, mama. Will had completely forgotten about it and was shocked when he learned of the amount, but I am glad I will come to him something. I have not shared this with even Jane but I plan on adding to my sisters’ dowries and will care for my family, and you will never need to worry for your future.”

  Mrs. Bennet embraced her daughter heartily and cried tears of joy, “Your secret is safe with me. I knew you could not be so witty for nothing, Lizzy! You were always a favourite of the Darcys and your papa saw something special in you and I adored you for your independence. I am happy for you, child. What laces and grand houses; such jewels and carriages you will receive!”

  Lizzy laughed, “I do not care for houses, lace, or jewels or even carriages, mama. I am happy to be bringing our family comfort and security but most of all, I am glad to be marrying my best friend whom I love with all of my heart. I never believed I would marry but he loves me and I love him in return. I wish to do all I can to be a good wife to him but I know I will need you and Mrs. Anne to help me where I am deficient. Not that I wish for my mother and future mother to become mistresses of my homes, but if I do not know how to do something, if I am lacking where I do not have the answers, will you help me, mama? Will you share your wisdom with your tomboy of a daughter who will be far too engulfed in archery and attending lectures on astronomy?”

  “Of course, dear Lizzy.” Mrs. Bennet stroked her daughter’s cheek. “Your only duty will be to keep your husband happy and he is all smiles when he is debating with you or fencing or reading those thick volumes of books together. I will do all I can and I will certainly not be overbearing within your own household. I know you will tell me off and send me away if I annoy you and all you need is a good housekeeper. I would not be able to get anything done without dear Mrs. Hill.”

  “Thank you, mama. Now,” Lizzy changed the topic, “what have you heard about Mr. Bingley and his family’s imminent arrival? I hope Charles Bingley is able to court my sister properly and propose by next year. I have heard Mr. Jones has already been contacted to look over the elder Mr. Bingley but he may not have long to live. Do you think they could become engaged before Charles returns to school for the Michaelmas term?”

  The ladies sat and conversed regarding their new neighbours who were expected later that week, and looked forward to dining with the Darcys who had returned earlier that afternoon.

  The Fitzwilliams and the Grantleys were expected in another week for the wedding preparations and the date was set for the first of June, the earliest day of June that William wished to be wed.

  ~*~

  “I have been thinking of an outdoor wedding, Lizzy. If I am able to obtain a special license, should we marry right under our tree here?” William asked, as they sat at Oakham Mount and shared many kisses while watching the sun rise.

  Lizzy giggled as her betrothed grazed his face against her neck as he kissed her ear and temple. “Your stubbles tickle, Will! I have seen you early mornings before but not so early for the sunrise and you have not yet shaved. I do find the rugged look very handsome but it tickles against my skin.”

  William chuckled, “I had never been so motivated to awaken in the morning to meet you here, my love. I arise and run out of my rooms after getting dressed and I have my valet shave me after I return home after our time together, only to run back to you to break my fast at Longbourn. Your parents have been kind to feed me every meal of the day since I refuse to leave you.”

  “But I enjoy having you with me and I cannot wait until we are married so we do not have to separate. Only three more weeks to go, Will, but it feels like eternity, I am so eager.” Lizzy smiled. “I am glad Richard and Laura are to arrive soon. We have been engaged all of one week and are as blissfully happy as they. I like our tree to be our own place, where we enjoy our privacy here together without anyone else to bother us, even if we have an occasional trespasser, to whom you might think I am betrothed!” She teased.

  “And I will never run away again but fight the man to the death for your affections!” He laughed as he kissed her temple. “I have a surprise for you, Lizzy,” William sat up with a glint in his eye. “I read your completed book and it is good. I know I must sound biased, but The Odyssey of Will & Liam was humorous and exciting and I could not put it down. I truly enjoyed it and I have already written to a friend of mine from Cambridge to see about getting it published. You would finally become an authoress, my love. Does that please you? Will you still mention me on the dedication page?” He smiled.

  Lizzy nodded, “Of course! I cannot believe it, Will! I will have my book published? Are you certain it is good enough? What if no one else likes it?” She began to fret.

  William laughed as he kissed her forehead. “It is good and your father likes it and I have asked my father and mother to read it as well. I am proud of you, Lizzy. You have done a wonderful job and there will always be critics who will look for faults but do not worry about them and enjoy your success. I will stand by you no matter what and I promise to be as candid as possible, even if I might be blinded by love and dare not anger you. Look at you, Elizabeth Bennet, authoress and the most accomplished woman of my acquaintance.”

  Lizzy shook her head. “No, Will.”

  William raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean, Lizzy?”

  Lizzy laughed, “Not Elizabeth Bennet, but Elizabeth Darcy, Mrs. Darcy first then
authoress second. I finally understand what your mama said about her enjoying being a wife and mother above her status as a daughter of an earl. I am excited to have my book published but I am infinitely more eager to be married to you.”

  William kissed her lips affectionately and smiled. “And I am infinitely eager to marry you as well.” He beamed broadly, “Would your name be printed as ‘Elizabeth Bennet Darcy’ or ‘Elizabeth A. Darcy’?” He laughed to see her surprised face. “Your mother let it slip that your middle name began with ‘A’ but that was all I could get out of her.”

  Lizzy laughed, “And your papa told me that your middle name began with ‘P’ but that was all I could get out of him! What ridiculousness that we had to sneak around to learn the other’s middle names. Since we are getting married, perhaps we should tell each other our deepest secret now.”

  “But what if you find my name awful and refuse to marry me?” William challenged in jest. “If you do not marry me because of my middle name, I will jump into the pond and refuse to come out. I will live there in shame and become a hideous creature who will never set foot on dry land again.”

  Lizzy reached up and kissed his lips as tenderly as possible. “I fear the same but I fear my life without you even more, Will. I will love you until the end of my days. Pray, do not laugh at my name or else I will go into the pond first. It is Andromeda. Elizabeth Andromeda Bennet. Is that not the most ridiculous name you have ever heard?”

  William wrapped his arms around her and kissed her ardently. “It is the most beautiful name in the world, my love. I believe it is fate, love. Do you know the Greek mythology? Did your father name you Andromeda because of her beauty and eternal life in the stars as a constellation?”

  She nodded. “As soon as I learned that I was named after a weak woman who got herself helplessly tied to a rock to be forced into marriage, I hated the name and wished to never marry and become a boy so I could be the rescuer and fight off the evil gods.”

  William smiled and stroked her cheek softly with his hand, “I am understanding your childhood much better now, Lizzy. It makes sense that you wish to be the hero but I hope you will give me this one allowance, my love. I say we are fated to be together because my middle name is Perseus.” She gasped and he laughed. “I thought it a ridiculous name but father had been reading too many books on Greek mythology at the time and my mother said she lost a bet so she had to honour it. You do realise that we are fated to have seven sons and two daughters together, do you not?” He paused for a moment, “Do you wish to have children, Lizzy? If you do not, it is acceptable to me. I would never ask you to do anything you do not wish. I would be content to have you as my wife, even if you do not want to have children.”

  “Of course, I wish for children, Will! I would give you everything within my power and I adore babies. It would be a precious thing to create something, you and I, together.” Lizzy laughed loudly, “But knowing how I do things differently, we might have seven daughters and two sons!”

  “I shall be happy to have seven daughters, Lizzy. I would love to have daughters in your likeness and grow a whole new patch of grey hairs for each and every one of them.” They laughed together. “Whether none or nine children, every moment with you is a blessing and you will always be my heroine.”

  “I love you, Will. I love you with all of my heart.” Lizzy pecked his lips.

  William softly whispered, “I love you, Elizabeth Andromeda Bennet, soon to be Darcy. I love you with every fibre of my being.” He smiled, “Since you will be my wife, I will tell you Georgiana’s middle name and you can tease her about it. Father was going through a particularly interesting set of books before she was born. She hates it more than I hate ‘Perseus’ but she will not mind that you know it since you will be her sister.”

  He revealed to his beloved of Georgiana’s secret and they shared other amusements together to spend the rest of the morning, as they leaned back against their tree and watched the birds in the sky and the sun shine brighter. Unbeknown to them was that a particular woman was readying for departure from London to cause trouble for the newly betrothed pair.

  Chapter 17

  Caroline Bingley looked at the quaint village from the carriage and scoffed with her nose high in the air. “I know that you were delighted with this countryside when you visited with papa last month, Charles, but it is certainly a backwater county and I cannot find a single lady with a decent yard of fabric on her.” She began to titter, “Everyone pales in comparison, with the exception to Lady Anne, and no one else will match my exquisite tastes and I will be able to capture Mr. Darcy in no time.”

  Charles Bingley scowled, “But I thought you were being truthful about wishing to accept the Bennets and you had said you respected my dear Jane and was eager to become her sister. You said you were supportive of my future connections and I thought you had changed, Caroline!”

  “Oh, you stupid boy,” Caroline spat out, “Since Mr. Darcy approves of your courtship with her, I like your Jane just fine but I cannot stand the rest of the Bennets. Such a father and mother! They are nobodies and they were only fortunate that the noble Darcys happened to have moved three miles from their home. My maid heard that Mr. Bennet has only £2,000 a year and their daughters only £1,000, and only at their mother’s passing, Charles! If only you had been patient and waited a few more years; I would have been able to promote you to Georgiana Darcy, my being her dear sister-in-law, and we would have kept all of our magnificent wealth within the family.” She jeered, “The Bennets are nothing, especially that Eliza chit. I hope she is gone someplace far while Mr. Darcy courts me so she does not interfere.”

  Charles sighed, “Fitzwilliam Darcy is a good man and I hope to become a better friend to him while we live in closer proximity. I am much younger than he but he is generous and has been a very good friend for years. I know he called on you several times but I doubt he will continue the acquaintance if he knew your true character, Caroline. I am ashamed of you and if he asks me about you, I am of mind to tell him all!”

  “Do not dare, Charles!” Caroline angrily retorted. “Stay out of my way or else you will regret it. I will ruin your chances with your precious Jane and she will never wish to see you again.” She huffed, “I wish Louisa were here with me instead of you. She would say all the right things to Mr. Darcy and he would fall madly in love with me even sooner. I cannot wait to see him again. I know he is looking for a wife and I am the only woman he called on more than once.”

  “I am only glad papa is not here to listen to you,” Charles crossed his arms in vexation. “He arrived last week to meet with Mr. Jones the apothecary and he will be disappointed that you are as you have always been; selfish and rotten to the core!”

  Caroline smirked, “But I will be rich and married to a handsome gentleman and that is all that matters. I will say, Charles, that meeting Jane Bennet those years ago did provide one advantage. I learned to behave like her and found that men like a simpering, soft-spoken woman like that. Mr. Darcy found me much more delightful when I acted like Jane and I will be able to continue my charade until we are married. There is no such a thing as true love, Charles. Your wife will disappoint you and you will drown yourself in your work when you grow older, and your wife will die, just like mama died and left us all alone.”

  “Mama died in an accident and papa did the best he could with us,” Charles replied gloomily. “He loved her but he did not show his grief because he thought he was protecting us. He did not want to appear weak but I know he misses her and even now, he speaks of how he will reunite with her soon.” He pinched the bridge of his nose in resignation, “I feel sorry for you, Caroline. You will not find love and you deceive yourself if you think obtaining a husband by entrapment will bring you contentment.”

  They soon arrived at Purvis Lodge and greeted their father in the front. It was a large house, half the size of Rosings Park but a very pleasant manor, even if the attics were rumoured to be dreadful.

  ~*~


  “Who is that young lady with the handsome officer?” Caroline Bingley asked Jane Bennet while they walked together in Meryton the next day. Jane was introducing Miss Bingley to the merchants in the little town and they had seen Captain Wickham strolling.

  Jane smiled and answered, “That is Miss Mary King with Captain Wickham. Her uncle resides about two miles from here and they are wonderful neighbours. They are engaged and will be married in July.”

  Caroline huffed, “She is a freckly little thing but I suppose she is pretty enough. Pray tell, she must not have a significant dowry, Jane. I cannot imagine any of the ladies in this bac... lovely town to have large fortunes.”

  “She received an inheritance only a few days ago, Caroline, and has £10,000 now.” Jane innocently replied. “But as far as I am aware, no one has a large fortune here since we live peacefully, without too many concerns about wealth or connections.”

  “Good, good.” Caroline changed the subject. “I am desperately hoping to find a good seamstress here who can help me with my dresses. I do not understand it but my modiste seems to have made an error with several of my dresses and they are not fitting as snug as they should.” Caroline smiled as she relaxed. “I have heard that Lord and Lady Matlock are to arrive next week for their son’s wedding here. How marvellous! It is commonly believed that one wedding leads to another.”

  Jane smiled brightly, “Well, in fact, my sister Lizzy will be ma...”

  Caroline turned and yelled loudly, interrupting Jane’s sentence. “MR. DARCY! CHARLES! How wonderful to see you in Meryton, sir!” She abandoned her dear friend’s side quickly to approach the gentlemen who were dismounting.

  Charles smiled and walked rapidly to the lovely woman he was courting to converse with her, while William rolled his eyes discreetly at the overdressed woman approaching him with a false smile on her face.