“What do you mean?” Miss Elizabeth finally questioned, when she realised that Louisa was not going to blather on, until she had received some type of a response. “I mean no offence Mrs. Hurst, but I cannot imagine a situation where your sister would willingly spread a rumour that would lead to the gentleman she is interested in, engaged to another woman. It does not make sense.”
Louisa regarded Miss Elizabeth with some embarrassment. “Caroline did not take your stay at Netherfield very well. When she gets upset, she forgets herself and begins to screech whatever foolhardy idea comes into her head, no matter who is in the room or not. She had been in the middle of suggesting that you and Mr. Darcy--” Louisa broke off, as she did not even wish to insinuate what Caroline had said, “A maid walked into the room, while she was finishing her insinuations loud enough for the entire hallway to hear. I believe that is how it spread.”
This time, Louisa noted a small reaction. With each word she spoke, Miss Elizabeth had begun to twist the simple gold bracelet she wore around her wrist. It was a piece of jewellry Louisa had never seen her wear before, and she surmised it must have come from Mr. Darcy.
“As Caroline has insinuated on more than one occasion, Miss Elizabeth, I am no stranger to your circumstance.” Miss Elizabeth did not look shocked, but Miss Bennet certainly did. “A few years ago,” Louisa recalled ruefully, “I had been quite similar to Caroline, even more so than I am now. I did not realize it at the time, but it would eventually land me into trouble, that only marriage could get me out of.” Here, Louisa paused, hoping that she could comport herself enough to carry on. Even now, after all these years, she still could not help but become embarrassed over her behaviour, and the knowledge that after all she had gone through, she still was much the same. Still just as proud and aloof.
To her surprise, Miss Elizabeth reached out and grasped her hand in comfort.
It was only then that Louisa realised that she had begun to cry. Miss Bennet procured a handkerchief, which Louisa took gratefully. After wiping her eyes, and allowing herself a few minutes, she continued with her story. “In short, I had made a very nasty enemy, several nasty enemies in fact, as I had repeated certain rumours in conjunction with their friend. They were, of course, all members of a social class that was above me, and I took pleasure in repeating gossip that would hurt that status, most of all, their marriage prospects. In return, they invited myself, Charles, and Caroline to a house party, and I foolishly believed that they had decided to make a friend of me, instead of an enemy. Suffice it to say, by the end of the first night, I ended up inebriated, and was helped back into what was supposed to be my bedroom. Only it was not; it was Mr. Hurst’s. We were, quite literally, caught coming out of bed by the maid, who screamed loud enough to summon the group of friends, who had been waiting outside the door. They then summoned the rest of the household.”
“How terrible!” Miss Bennet replied. Miss Elizabeth said nothing, but regarded Louisa with a speculative gaze. Louisa supposed that Miss Elizabeth did not know which question she wished to ask first, but Louisa would oblige.
“I am telling you my story, Miss Elizabeth, not to gain any sort of sympathy, as I have made my bed,” Louisa had indeed, and she did not want any pity for it, nor any scorn, “but you and Mr. Darcy still have a chance to make correct your beginning. Marriage is a lifetime, as well as what you make of it. I fear I did not make a good start on mine, and that has tainted the rest of it.”
“Thank you, for your advice, Mrs. Hurst.” Miss Elizabeth finally replied after a few moments. “I have had some of the same thoughts, but did not know if I had the strength to do so. I do not want to end up a miserable caricature of my parents, yet there were certain decisions that I could not accept.” Miss Elizabeth confessed to her, her dark eyes earnest. “Mr. Darcy seems to have taken this in stride, but I fear I cannot trust it. Trust him. He has undergone so many changes before me, and it is almost as though I do not know my own mind.”
Louisa could understand, having gone through the same process herself. “You will, Miss Elizabeth,” Louisa replied, answering Miss Elizabeth’s first observance about her own mental state, “for you have to. All women must. But I am glad you have reached that realization. It took me quite a while to do so.”
“Surely you do not believe it is too late for you and Mr. Hurst?” Miss Bennet inquired gently, looking visibly distressed at the idea. Louisa wished to laugh, but she did not. Instead, she changed the subject.
“Do not worry about me, Miss Bennet. Anyways, I shall have happier thoughts to contend with. My brother has made his wishes quite clear, and I am happy for him. I apologise that my sister and I gave you a different impression.”
At her words, Miss Bennet flushed a bright red, as Louisa had hoped, and her small joke seemed to lighten the mood. The rest of their visited passed in the same manner, and Louisa found herself enjoying their company much more than she’d originally planned.
***
Shortly after her sisters had left to return Mrs. Hurst’s call, Mary had found herself entertaining Miss Georgiana Darcy, and her cousin, the Viscount of Abbington, heir to the Earl of Matlock and all that entailed. Not for the first time, Mary wished she had been able to claim ill shortly before a visit took place, so that the butler could inform the present company that she was out of sorts, and unable to entertain. It was especially terrible for her, as not only were Lizzie and Jane away, but her aunt and uncle had taken her little cousins on a visit to a friend of theirs who had children around the same age, so she was left alone. It would not have been quite so bad if it had only been Georgiana, but her cousin!
Edward Fitzwilliam, the Viscount of Abbington, was very similar in looks to his cousin. Both were rather large, tall men with broad shoulders that were quite the opposite in fashion, regarding men’s looks. But Mary had never abided by such standards, knowing she would be found wanting as well. In addition to being rather tall, both men possessed the same dark hair and eyes that Mr. Darcy had, so she supposed that they carried their looks from the Earl. Whereas his brother and mother were both very open and charming people, he was not. Neither was herself or Georgiana, so it made for a very awkward visit until Mary had thought to ask Georgiana if she wanted to practice the pianoforte. On one of her earlier visits, Georgiana had brought over some music, and Mary had practised very diligently, as she was slightly put out that a girl who was a whole three years younger than her played the pianoforte with more technical skill.
Once she had suggested that, their visit went much smoother. She had soon forgotten all about the Viscount’s presence, remembering only at the end, when her aunt and uncle had arrived, and had to be introduced to the strange, quiet man, who had been sitting quietly, watching the two young ladies practice the pianoforte, with apparent interest.
At Georgiana’s introduction, the man had bowed and introduced himself, and then bowed again to Mary, even as he stated that it was late, and that he and his cousin needed to return home.
Mary scowled. Horrible man.
***
It was near dinner time, and Louisa had silently spent the last few minutes contemplating whether or not she should eat first, and then take her bath, or tell her maid that she wanted a tray in her room, so she could eat while she relaxed in the tub.
How monotonous her life had become.
Now that she did not have Caroline to monopolise her time, she needed to find something to occupy herself, especially as it was not likely she would spend much time with her sister in the future. Not only would Caroline throw another temper tantrum at hearing Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth had visited her home, she would also use that time to disparage Louisa and her marriage, her husband. Louisa already did that to herself on a daily basis, and she was tired of hearing it aloud. It was a strange fact that the engagement of Mr. Darcy to a poor country miss had been the catalyst for Louisa to lay firm boundaries with her sister. Until Caroline learned to control herself, she would have to learn to go without her c
ompany. She only hoped that Caroline learned to be careful, as she had no wish to see her sister ostracized by society because she could not accept the object of her affection was marrying elsewhere.
Hmm, perhaps she would take up embroidery. Louisa had never been one for it, having refused to learn any more of it, after her Grandmother Caroline had relentlessly criticised her latest efforts, while lambasting praise upon Caroline’s childish sampler. But she needed to do something. She was aware that there was a girl’s home near their estate out in Suffolk, and while there was enough money raised for the necessities--clothing, food, schooling, and housing--other niceties had been not furnished. It had been on Louisa’s mind often in the past few years, more and more, and she was ashamed to say that it had taken her this long to consider doing something about it.
Of course, she would have to make a list of materials and pass it along to Mr. Hurst’s main accountant, to have the expense added to the household bills, but hopefully, it would be approved, and would not take a long time.
A loud knock at her door startled her out of her thoughts. She knew it was not Sheridan, her maid’s knock, for it was too loud.
“You may enter.” she called out, wondering if a footman had come to bring her a message.
To her surprise, her husband stepped through the threshold, and shut the door behind him.
Louisa stood.
“Mr. Hurst.” she greeted, thoroughly confused. “Would you like to sit down?” she offered. She did not know what to say. The past few months in the company of her brother had been the most time she had spent with her husband, for Mr. Hurst took care not to avoid her as much while with her brother. Early in their marriage, Charles had questioned her on the state of her marriage, and she had asked him to leave it alone. She was taken care of financially, and that was all that Mr. Hurst had promised. And so he did. She knew he was not happy for her, but hid his true feelings well.
“No.” Mr. Hurst stated brusquely. Louisa did not know what to say, so she said nothing at all. It was better to remain silent and thought a fool in his eyes, an unfortunate situation she had found herself in already. “I have something to say to you, and I would rather just say it, and be done with it.”
Louisa waited. She did not have to wait long.
“When we first married, I thought you a silly little twit who would throw a tantrum once she learned that my fortune was in appearance only,” he started, referencing the fact that by the time he’d inherited, his father had bankrupted his estate, and he had only been able to save it by the skin of his teeth, “and that I would need every penny of your dowry to stay afloat. You did not, and your reaction surprised me. I should have acknowledged that my first impression of you was not correct, but I did not because I was angry.” he stated honestly. A short paused followed his next words. “I have not been the husband that I should have been, and if you are willing, I would like to try.”
“Why?” Louisa hated that her voice sounded so small.
“Because it has been too many miserable years.” he admitted honestly. “I wish I could say that my change of heart began purely with the knowledge that I was hurting you with every rejection of goodwill you proffered. But I cannot. I had already begun contemplating how to address you about the subject of our duties in the bedroom and children. We need heirs for Seville. But then,” he paused and swallowed lowly, “I saw you contradict your sister. You contradicted Caroline with the visit from the Bennets earlier today. You are not the ill-mannered, gossiping debutante that I married, Louisa. If you will have me, I want to try to make this marriage into something.”
“Or else what?” Louisa was surprised at the strength of her own voice, for she felt close to collapsing.
He did not seem surprised at her question. He gave a half-hearted shrug. “If you do not wish to live with me any longer, then I will stay at the estate in Seville, and you can stay here. I will approve a generous allowance, and you will be able to mind your own comings and goings.”
Louisa tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace. “I don’t want that.” she murmured in reply.
He stepped closer to her.
“I did not hear you, Louisa.”
She repeated it louder, unable to keep her shoulders from shaking in nervousness, nor able to keep her gaze from the fixed point on the carpet. Tears threatened to escape.
Mr. Hurst hesitantly drew her to him, and it was then that Louisa allowed herself to cry.
Chapter Eighteen
Louisa had been quite surprised, when she had returned from a call to find her sister standing in her parlour. Her butler had been very apologetic when she had arrived home, and had informed her that Caroline had insisted that she wait for Louisa in the parlour, and not refresh herself in her room. Louisa was not surprised. The gossip of Miss Elizabeth and the Countess of Matlock, with their mutual relations, must have just reached Caroline’s ears. Of course, Caroline was entirely and utterly unable to admit to her acquaintances that she was not privy to the gossip that they were repeating, so she happily pretended to know all, and then rushed over to Louisa for the details.
“How do you do, Caroline?” Louisa reproached her sister primly for failing to greet her properly, or indeed, at all.
Caroline pulled a face. “You know I am not well, Louisa! I do not even know why you pretend to be unaware! How could you not have told me?”
Louisa decided to play dumb.
“Tell you what, Sister Dear?” she asked, settling herself comfortably. She would call for tea, but as she knew Caroline was about to get into one of her moods, she decided to wait as it was not fair that the servants witness her behaviour as well. Things had been awkward enough between them in the past few years, without adding Caroline’s tantrums to the mix.
Caroline regarded her almost wildly. She was furious. “You know perfectly well what, Louisa! How could you not tell me before we arrived that the Countess of Matlock and dearest Georgiana traveled to Cheapside! It should never have been borne! It was bad enough that we had to call on them.”
“I do not understand what you wished me to do about, Caroline. I am not a relation of Mr. Darcy or the Fitzwilliams, as such, I am not a party to any of their decisions, no matter how close a friendship our brother may have with Mr. Darcy.”
“Please cease with the condescension, dear sister.” Caroline demanded angrily.
Louisa smiled thinly. “Perhaps if you would cease behaving like a small child, and used the manners that Father paid several hundreds worth of pounds for you to obtain, I would not have to condescend, Caroline.”
Caroline ignored her response, as always. “I feel as though I should write a note not only to dearest Georgiana, but also to the Countess. What horrors both must have suffered!” Caroline sighed dramatically. “I could barely keep my countenance when you and Charles forced me to call with you. The only mercy I had been granted was that luckily none of our acquaintances live anywhere close to Cheapside, and thus did not see the Bingley carriage turn in that direction, thank Heavens.” Caroline collapsed into a chaise across from Louisa, almost fluidly. She was about as relaxed as a cat, fussiness and all. She regarded Louisa with a cool gaze. “I do not understand your change, Louisa.”
“As I advised you before in Netherfield, Caroline,” Louisa explained patiently, again, “what has the matter to do with us? Although our brother is friends with Mr. Darcy, friendships can be overturned.” Louisa doubted that it would, especially as the two would soon become brothers, much to Caroline’s obvious displeasure, however, the point remained. “It would not due to interfere with something that does not affect our family, and is none of our business. Does Mr. Darcy strike you as a man who wishes for you to interfere in his affairs?” she questioned her sister directly, knowing her sister would brush off Louisa’s warnings.
Caroline did not answer. Hmm. Perhaps Louisa was getting through to her.
“If you do not want to ruin your connection to Mr. Darcy, then I suggest you leave well enough
alone, Caroline. What’s done is done.” Louisa was firm.
Caroline’s mouth twisted into an ugly sneer. “You may be able to accept that Mr. Darcy has been most grievously treated by those Bennet harlots, but I am not able, Louisa! I cannot bear to see Mr. Darcy lower himself to marry that backwards, country nobody, based on a disgusting rumour that was no doubt spread by Miss Eliza or any one of her siblings or mother! I had not thought you this weak, Louisa!”
Caroline turned up her nose at her sister, instead focusing on the wallpaper behind her. Merciful heavens, if Caroline had been the mistress of this house, the old fashioned wall paper would have been the first change that she would have made. All of the furniture and carpets too, would need to be updated to the current, modern era that they lived. Of course, Louisa allowed Hurst to walk all over her, so it was not surprising that Louisa had not made a single change to the townhouse since they had been married. It should have been easy to get money out of a useless drunk, but manipulation had never been Louisa’s forte. Otherwise, she would never have been married to Hurst in the first place.
Consequence of Jealousy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 20
