OUT OF THE BLUE CLEAR SKY: (A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION)

by SANDRA P. HIGGINS

  “You have not told me that Mr. Darcy but I have to believe that someone wants us together and it appears that someone was in the bookstore in town and also he has been up here on Oakham Mount.”

  Without words they both knew their relationship had changed.

  “Miss Bennet, would you agree to address me as William and allow me to call you Elizabeth when we are in private?”

  “Yes, William, it will be our secret but in the future I will require more kisses from you.”

  “And I need your kisses as well but we must be on guard so as not to be seen kissing.”

  “Elizabeth, I do want to court you and if you agree I will speak with your father to ask for his approval.”

  He next felt Elizabeth hug him as tears ran down her cheeks but this time he let her stay against him.

  “Oh! It just hit me. After the courtship comes the engagement. Yes, William, please speak with my father.”

  “You seem surprised, Elizabeth, but I do believe this is the way these things go.”

  “Yes, but suddenly I am so happy that I have you as my friend. You even like me when I look like a wild thing.”

  “Look, Elizabeth, we do need this time together to make sure we are right for one another, but I already know what my heart wants and that is you. I do wish to introduce you and your sister to my aunt and uncle when you next visit to do your shopping.”

  “Are you talking about Colonel Fitzwilliam’s parents?”

  “Yes, my Uncle John Fitzwilliam is the Earl of Matlock and Richard is the second son.”

  “I like your cousin and of course I will meet the others, but perhaps the rest of your family will not like me?”

  Darcy was careful not to mention his Aunt Catherine. She certainly was opposed to Miss Elizabeth but Darcy would talk about her later.

  “That is not true Elizabeth and you are the woman I love and I do not see that changing.”

  “And neither will my feelings for you be changed.”

  Elizabeth did her best to manage her curls in her bonnet and soon returned home as happy as she had ever been and went to her room to fix her hair.

  * *

  Not long after that she and Jane and her parents left for Netherfield.

  Once the arrived at Netherfield Georgiana and the men greeted the visitors. Mr. Bingley mentioned the improvements he would soon add outside but as it had just started to rain everyone hurried inside.

  This time Georgiana began the tour as Darcy and Elizabeth gave them room to see the house at their own pace.

  When they entered the library Mr. Bennet became excited. As much as the rest of the house had new furnishings of fine quality, Mr. Bingley’s library excited the older man the most.

  Immediately Mr. Bingley mentioned the books were given to him by Mr. Darcy.

  “These books are of the finest quality, Mr. Bingley. I should say they are an excellent start for your library. Do you enjoy reading?”

  “Mr. Bennet, I do not particularly enjoy reading whilst the weather is good and I can be active, but my friend Darcy is a great reader. He was number one in his class at Cambridge. He reads everything he gets his hands on.”

  “But that is not true, Bingley. I have only read three books since I arrived.”

  Mr. Bennet laughed. “That is a good number Mr. Darcy, especially with such diversions as my daughters and Mr. Wickham.”

  “Yes, but I do not regret the time I spend amongst friends, though I do not include Mr. Wickham among them.”

  “I believe Lizzy might turn you into a great walker, is that not so?”

  “That certainly would be true if I lived nearby and I do prefer walking with your daughter over reading. She is a library of knowledge.”

  “Well, well,” Mrs. Bennet said, “there is still more to see, Thomas. I believe they wish to show us the rooms upstairs.”

  Mrs. Bennet was all smiles as Georgiana and Mr. Bingley continued their tour and showed them the rest of the house. After that was done they returned to the parlor and enjoyed tea and scones and other pastries. During the conversation Mrs. Bennet asked Mr. Darcy if he and his sister would return to town for Christmas but he said he was not sure.

  “I understand your daughters come to town to shop before Christmas,” he said. “If that is so then I wish to introduce them to my aunt and uncle whilst they are in town.”

  “They usually go before Christmas and shop with their Aunt Gardiner and sometimes with her husband, Edward. He is my younger brother.”

  “Then once the dates are finalized, Georgiana and I will be pleased to transport your daughters to Mr. Gardiner’s home and return them to Longbourn later, and perhaps they can meet my relatives at that time. I would also host a dinner for everyone, including the Gardiners.”

  “That is a very generous offer, Mr. Darcy, but I will defer to my husband, but first our daughters must decide.”

  “Mother, of course Lizzy and I wish to ride with Mr. Darcy and his sister, but I would hope Mr. Bingley would also travel with us.”

  Darcy then left to speak with his friend who was in the next room and the two men returned. “Yes, Miss Bennet, I am certain that I have some business in town and it will be wise to take care of it before winter. We can then return with the sisters when they are ready.”

  Bingley’s face glowed with the prospects of being in Jane’s company even longer and said he was pleased with those arrangements.

  “Is this acceptable to you, Mr. Bennet?”

  “Yes, I have no problem with that plan but how will I ever have any peace with my two eldest daughters away?”

  “We will manage, Thomas.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam had been visiting with Colonel Forster and arrived just as the visitors were leaving. He said he would leave in the morning for town but would return to stay over Christmas. Mr. Bennet slapped the man on his back and wished him a good trip and Darcy heard the two men talking quietly as they whispered away from the ears of others.

  Later that night the three gentlemen again talked about their day and Richard said Colonel Forster was pleased the people of Meryton had treated the regiment well and they had only worried about Lieutenant Wickham and none of the others. Colonel Foster also said that Wickham had already approached one young woman but her mother was quick to pull her daughter away.

  “Good Richard, and thank you for helping us, but what were you talking about so secretly with Mr. Bennet?”

  “You really are bothered by seeing us talking but it is a secret between your future father-in-law and myself.”

  “Of course, I am, but it concerns Miss Elizabeth.”

  “It is of no use, Darcy. It should be of no concern to you and you need not worry. I will say no more.”

  Later, after dinner and after Georgiana had left for bed, Bingley poured his friends a glass of brandy as they sat near the fire.

  Darcy had thought to press his cousin about his little secret but he decided against it. He had his own secret and he and Elizabeth were essentially in a courtship and it would be finalized on the morrow.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam asked Mr. Bingley if the Bennets enjoyed their tour and both he and Darcy said they enjoyed it and they were quite pleased with the way Georgiana treated them as their hostess.

  “Darcy, I suppose I need to read a lot more. You know, I felt out of place talking with Mr. Bennet and hearing about all these books.”

  “You must live your own life. I thought your answer along those lines was well stated. All of us are a story but you live your story by being active and when you find a young woman you care for, you do not shy away. Miss Bennet certainly seems to care for you, and why not? You both are very similar and have the same interests.”

  “Yes, Darcy, you are correct. I will read some of those books when the weather turns colder. I saw one on English History and so will read that first.”

  “I will leave you gentlemen to have your dreams of your angels and will get a good rest tonight.”

  “Charles, I hope yo
ur earlier invitation is still on for my visiting at Christmas.”

  “Of course, Richard. You must come. Who knows, you may find your own angel.”

  * *

  That night in Longbourn Mrs. Bennet spoke with her husband about the visit.

  “The gentlemen certainly seem to care for Jane and Lizzy. I am quite excited about Jane and Lizzy’s prospects.”

  “And you should be, Fanny. These are two of the most eligible bachelors in all the land and they are handsome and wealthy and they and our daughters seem to get along very well together. Do you have a favourite?”

  “No, the answer is I like both of them, but Mr. Darcy is more complex than his friend and thinks things through and is good under pressure.”

  “Again, Fanny, I agree with you. He resolved the business with Mr. Wickham in record time. Did you know that he asked Lizzy her thoughts and she suggested he turn all of Meryton against the man to drive him away and Mr. Darcy did just that.”

  “Lizzy told me of this. She is so proud that he thinks so highly of her. I think she is in love with him, but does the man feel the same about her?”

  “I believe he does, and I feel that both Jane and Mr. Bingley are on the brink. Just think, we may soon have two weddings to plan for but I shall say nothing more. Our household is better since these men have arrived and I also know our other girls care for Miss Darcy and that they are good for each other. Georgiana treats me like I am her mother.”

  “Do not cry, Fanny. I know she never had a mother but you are the motherly type and she feels comfortable around you.”

  That night for the first time in months, the Bennets shared a bed.

  Lizzy and Jane did not stay up late that evening but were content with their day. Elizabeth may have spoken of her walk to Oakham Mount but she and Darcy had promised not to tell anyone about their courtship and so she awaited his visit.

  CHAPTER 9

  At breakfast Mr. Bennet announced he had received a letter from a distant cousin and the man would arrive later that afternoon.

  “And who is this cousin, asked his wife and why is he coming here on such short notice?”

  “The man is Mr. Collins and furthermore, he stands to inherit Longbourn after I pass. I do owe all of you an explanation as to why he is coming so soon and that is I had received his letter days earlier and put it aside to read later and I forgot it. Just this morning I found it under some papers. I suppose it is true that a person gets quite forgetful as they age and I hope this is not a sign that I am nearing my end. Perhaps the visit from my distant cousin will make me think differently”.

  “Did he say why he wishes to come here? One must assume he intends to inspect the property to inventory all that will be his once you pass?”

  “I am certain that he intends to do so but his letter speaks to other things, the principal reason being he wants to meet all of us. He will be here a week and then return to Hunsford where he is a clergyman. Hunsford is in Kent.”

  “So he is a man of the cloth but tell me if he is married?”

  “That is a good question but I do not know but he will arrive later this day.”

  “Thomas, I think it is awkward that he will show up after never have met you and he will gloat looking at all he will inherit even as you are alive?”

  “Perhaps we are a little ahead of ourselves and so we should just wait until we meet the man. He did mention in his letter that he was aware of the friction between myself and his family and that he hoped to patch up all the differences that kept us apart all of those years.”

  “But Thomas, he is a distant relative and you have not spoken with your own family for at least twenty years.”

  “Yes, I thought I had seen the last of my relatives. Anyway, I suppose we will all survive his visit.”

  After breakfast Mrs. Bennet asked Mrs. Hill to prepare for receiving Mr. Collins and she said that he would stay about a week before returning to Kent.

  Later Mr. Bennet noticed from the window of his library that Mr. Darcy had just rode up and he wondered if Lizzy was close by. He next heard a slight knock on his door as Mrs. Hill came in and announced that Mr. Darcy would like to speak with him.

  “Well, Mr. Darcy, I just saw you arrive. Please have a seat and tell me what I can do for you?”

  “I hope this day finds you well Mr. Bennet, but the reason that I have come is that I have already spoken with Miss Elizabeth and she has agreed to enter a courtship with myself upon your approval.”

  “This certainly is a surprise although I suspect it should not be as you and Lizzy have spent much time together. I should have known this day was coming and I am no different from any other man when he sees another man is interested in his daughter.”

  “But Mr. Darcy, there is a question I need to ask you, and that is how will your family react to the news of your courtship with my daughter?”

  “That is a fair question. My sister and I are the last of the Darcy family. My mother died shortly after my sister was born and my father died four years ago. No other person from my father’s side is still living but on my mother’s side is an older brother, John Fitzgerald, The Earl of Matlock, and his family. My cousin Richard is his second son. My mother’s younger sister is Lady Catherine de Bourgh and she would not approve of this courtship. She resides at Rosings, a large estate in Kent and for all practical purposes she runs the place.”

  “My aunt insists that I marry her daughter, Anne, but that will never be. Neither Anne nor I wish to marry but her mother insists that we marry saying it was an engagement made once Anne was born. She also said it was a promise my mother made when Anne was an infant, but of course I care only for your daughter.”

  “Why is your aunt pushing for that marriage?”

  “She wishes to combine the two estates and once that is done it would be one of the largest estates in the country. By law, Rosings now belongs to my cousin Anne but her mother manages it as though it is entirely her own. Her daughter is sickly and is easily dominated by her mother who treats her as though she is a child. I suspect my aunt eventually wants to get her hands on Pemberley, my estate in Derbyshire.”

  “That is a lot to turn down.”

  “No, it is not so. She has not properly managed Rosings and her fiancees are a problem. I am certain that she would draw money from Pemberley to apply to Rosings if I married her daughter. But this is not about money. A woman such as your Lizzy is rare indeed. I cannot imagine life without your daughter and she means more to me than money.”

  “Thank you for your answer. I can see that you and Lizzy have feelings for one another. But I shall not keep you waiting for my reply and I am frankly pleased that you both seem to get along well. That being the case, I approve of your courtship and now you may visit Lizzy, but I will ask that you not tell the others, for I will do that before you leave.”

  Mr. Darcy began to walk to the door when Mr. Bennet stopped him. “You do realize that though you are courting my daughter you will be scrutinized even more, so maintaining propriety is critical in these affairs.” The man nodded and then left the room.

  As Mr. Darcy left the man’s library, Mr. Bennet wondered how his wife would take the news for she had expected that Mr. Bingley would be the first to ask for a courtship, but his friend had been first. Twenty minutes later another single rider appeared and this time it was Mr. Bingley who asked the man to approve his own courtship with Jane.

  Mr. Bennet did grant his approval to Mr. Bingley but did not tell the man that his friend had been there just minutes earlier. Since he knew that they would soon meet he was eager to hear what the exchange between the two men would be. The man was also concerned to hear his wife’s exclamations as well as those of his daughters after he made the announcement. He took great delight in observing both men and it was apparent that neither man had told the other of their intentions that morning and Bingley had probably thought that Darcy had just gone out for a ride.

  When Mr. Bennet entered the drawing room he saw
the two couples sitting near each other as Mrs. Bennet put down her sewing. Apparently neither of his daughters nor the men had told the other that they were now in a courtship so both sisters and their gentlemen would be surprised. Mr. Bennet watched as the remaining daughters came into the drawing room.

  It was then that he announced the courtships and his two eldest daughters smiled broadly, but their male friends were still confused in the manner in which the announcement was made. Mrs. Bennet, hugged both gentlemen as well as her daughters and was very pleased at the news and told them so but for the most part she maintained her countenance as she invited the gentleman and Georgiana to join them the following evening for dinner and they accepted.

  There was some spirited talk about Darcy asking for a courtship before his friend but nothing more was made of it. Later the men next took a walk in the garden with their ladies and after that they returned to Netherfield to tell Georgiana.

  “That is wonderful news, brother and for you too, Mr. Bingley. You mean neither of you knew the reason the other had come to Longbourn?”

  “No, Georgie, Mr. Bennet certainly did not know that Mr. Bingley would follow me and when he announced the courtships all of us learned of it at that time.”

  “But it does not matter who got there first. Instead, what matters to me is that I shall soon have five sisters, and the Bennet family are all kind and thoughtful and my brother and you will be brothers.”

  * *

  Later that day Mr. Collins arrived and all the Bennets came out to greet him. Mr. Bennet had never met the man but almost instantly he observed the man looking at all he would inherit even as the host family were welcoming him to Longbourn.

  The two eldest sisters noticed right away that the man was full of himself and of course he could not remove his eyes from Jane.

  “Mr. Collins, you must be tired from your travels? Let us go inside and Mrs. Hill will show you to your room. You may wish to freshen a bit?”

  “Thank you, sir. I will not be long.”

  Elizabeth watched as her sisters did not know what to make of the man but she and Mr. Bennet thought the same on the matter and rolled their eyes as if to say their cousin was absurd.