The Portrait of Elizabeth

by Jane Angwin

  Darcy had many wealthy gentleman acquaintances that had been the victim of women using this underhanded method of obtaining a wealthy husband, and he was not about to allow it to happen to him. He had to constantly be on his guard when he was out in public, and especially in Town where he had narrowly avoided several mothers and daughters attempting to do just that. They would choose a public place for people nearby to witness the so-called "tryst", when in reality, the mother would attempt to push her daughter into Darcy's path so that he would have to catch her before she bowled him over. That was all it took to claim that he had compromised the girl, and a marriage would be expected.

  The idea of this type of marriage appalled Darcy, and none more so than with Miss Bingley. He only tolerated her presence because of his friendship with Charles, and then he could only stand her company for short periods of time. He gave her little consideration and rarely contributed to conversations with her, but it did not seem to faze her in the slightest. She was blindly determined to prove herself desirable to him, and she never chose to acknowledge his obvious derision. He almost felt sorry for her, knowing that she was nearing the age when she would be considered "on the shelf", the age when a single woman was no longer considered marriageable material. Although she had a sizeable dowry to attract suitors, her connection to trade and her acerbic behavior did not attract gentleman that could give her the lifestyle and prestige that she felt she deserved. Instead, she concentrated on Darcy, as becoming the envied mistress of Pemberley was her ultimate goal. It was considered to be one of the finest estates in all of England, and it was her only aspiration, so Darcy knew that she would go to any lengths to make that happen. He would have to be on his guard.

  Bingley finally joined them, taking a seat across from Darcy, next to his sister. The servant asked if there was anything else he could get for them, and surreptitiously glanced at Darcy, silently asking if he could leave the room now that Bingley had arrived. After receiving a nod from Darcy, he turned and left the room. Darcy was impressed so far with the quality of the staff, and he planned to tell Bingley to try to secure their services if he decided to go forward with the lease.

  "Darcy, old man. I see that you are already dressed for a ride! I was hoping to tour the inside of the house this morning before we rode out." Bingley ignored the palpable grumble from his sister. "I am most anxious to see the rest of the rooms and visit the kitchen and servants' quarters."

  "I'm afraid I have already taken the liberty of riding the grounds this morning, Bingley. I rose before dawn and spent quite awhile inspecting some of the fields and the condition of the fencing. So far, all seems to be in good order, although there are no crops or livestock at present. The fencing looks in good shape, but I did not go around the entire perimeter of the property, so I cannot vouch for it being without need of repair." He did not mention the break in the fence that he had found. He felt that this was there for some special reason, and he did not wish to repair it until he knew its purpose.

  Before Bingley could respond, Mr. Blair entered the room and announced that there was a visitor at the front door wishing to meet with the gentleman of the house. "Who is calling on us so soon, Mr. Blair?"

  "It is a Mr. Bennett, Sir. He is one of your neighbors, and he has come to call on you as is the custom here in the country."

  "Yes, by all means, Mr. Blair. Show him in to the drawing room, and I will meet with him there. Darcy, why don't you join us?" he asked. With that, he and Darcy excused themselves from the table, leaving Miss Bingley alone. She could be heard muttering something about insignificant country bumpkins under her breath.

  Bingley and Darcy entered the drawing room and found an older gentleman waiting for them. He bowed and introduced himself. "Good morning gentleman. My name is Thomas Bennett, and I own Longbourn, the neighboring estate on the West side of Netherfield. I have come to welcome you to the area, and I am quite pleased to make your acquaintance." Bingley bowed and walked to Mr. Bennett, holding out his hand to shake hands with his new neighbor. Darcy froze to his spot, realizing that this was the gentleman who owned the red estate that he had found earlier that morning.

  "I am delighted you have come to call, Mr. Bennett. Please let me introduce you to my friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy." He turned to look back at Darcy who had not made a move toward their guest yet. Bingley looked at him with a puzzled look and said "Darcy, come and meet Mr. Bennett!"

  Darcy quickly recovered and walked to the gentleman, also holding out his hand to shake Mr. Bennett's hand. "Yes, I am pleased to meet you as well, Sir." As the two men shook hands, Darcy had the strong feeling that this meeting could provide some important information for him.

  "It is too early for a brandy, Mr. Bennett, but would you care for some tea, or some coffee perhaps?" He showed him to a seat, and told Mr. Blair to bring a tray of tea and coffee for them. Mr. Bennett laughed and said that he would actually quite enjoy a glass of brandy if it was all the same. Mr. Blair nodded and left to retrieve the requested beverages.

  "I understand that you are here to possibly purchase Netherfield if you approve of it, Mr. Bingley. I wanted to be the first one to welcome you to our neighborhood, and if I can be of any assistance in acquainting you with the surrounding area and introducing you to our kind neighbors, I would be delighted to do so. Our family dines with four and twenty other families, and I can promise you that most are quite pleasant indeed. I have lived here for most of my life, and while it does not compare to some larger towns, our village is quite adequate."

  "Thank you indeed, Mr. Bennett. I am quite happy with what I have seen thus far, although we have only just arrived. My friend, Darcy here is a landowner himself in Derbyshire, and he has accompanied me to assist in determining the viability of owning Netherfield. If all goes well, I believe I will lease it for a period of time, however, before making the purchase." The two gentlemen sat down in two comfortable chairs on either side of Mr. Bennett.

  Mr. Bennett turned to Darcy, tilting his head, seemingly assessing him in some way. "What is the name of your estate, Mr. Darcy? You seem quite young to be a landowner," Mr. Bennett inquired.

  "It is called Pemberley, Sir. It has been in my family for many centuries. I inherited the estate from my father who passed away several years ago when I was only twenty years of age."

  "And your mother?" he asked. "Is she well?"

  "She died some years before my father, Sir. I am quite alone, except for my younger sister." Darcy cleared his throat, adjusting himself in his chair. He was not comfortable talking about himself.

  "That is quite admirable, young man. I apologize for asking such sensitive questions. I too was quite young when I had to assume the duties of running Longbourn. I was in my final year as a student at Cambridge when my father died, and I had to return home to Longbourn to take over the running of his estate. It is not an easy task."

  Darcy was surprised to hear that this gentleman had also attended Cambridge. "I too attended Cambridge, as did Bingley here. It seems we have a great deal in common, Sir. I had just finished my schooling there and was on a Grand Tour when I received word about my father's illness. When I arrived home it was just a matter of weeks before he passed away, and I had to take over the estate."

  "We certainly do have a lot in common, young man. And you, Mr. Bingley," he said as he turned to address him, "also appear to be quite young to be purchasing an estate of this size. I sincerely hope that if you do decide to reside here you will approach me with any questions or concerns you might have about the endeavor."

  Mr. Blair entered the room with the brandy and three glasses. Mrs. Blair followed with a coffee and tea service, but Bingley and Darcy indicated that they would join Mr. Bennett in having a brandy instead. They sat for quite awhile discussing the trials of running an estate and the difficulties encountered in handling the needs and concerns of their tenants. It was obvious to Darcy that this gentleman would be a good man to have nearby Bingley should he run into trouble.

 
As they enjoyed their brandy and became more comfortable with one another, Darcy felt that it was time to ask a few questions of Mr. Bennett. He needed to learn something about Longbourn and the other inhabitants, including the young lady in the red pelisse and bonnet. He felt fairly certain that having a swing hanging from a tree outside his home was a good indication of the presence of children at some point, but he began his questioning in a more general way. "If I may be so bold, Mr. Bennett, tell us a bit about your estate. Do you have a family residing with you at Longbourn?" Never in his wildest imagination did he expect to hear what Mr. Bennett replied.

  "Yes, Mr. Darcy, I most certainly do. You will undoubtedly not envy my circumstances, as I live with six females in my home. I have a wife, and I am the father of five daughters. I even have a female dog and cat. I am totally outnumbered in my own home, and sadly, I have no sons. Not a one." He shook his head. "I gave up long ago hoping for a son, and yes, although I do love my daughters, it has been a challenge hearing about nothing but ribbons and lace from morning to night. I must warn you that when I return home, my family will want a full account of my visit. They will badger me with questions about our new neighbors, and you must know that they will be most eager to make your acquaintance." He looked at Darcy and said "Both of you." He turned back to Bingley and said "My wife will undoubtedly want you to meet our girls for obvious reasons, but please do not take it seriously. Her exuberance is quite exhausting, and I simply wished to leave the house for a morning to have a conversation with another gentleman and a potential new neighbor! While I recognize that it is proper for you to return my visit, Mr. Bingley, you must know that it was not my intention to meet you as a potential son-in-law. However, with five daughters still at home, be forewarned regarding my wife's delight in your bachelor status! So there you have it, gentlemen. You may not wish to return my call after all!" he laughed and took a drink of brandy.

  Bingley seemed overjoyed to hear about the possibility of meeting Mr. Bennett's daughters. "I truly look forward to meeting your daughters, Mr. Bennett! I am sure they are all quite lovely, and I am most anxious to meet all of my new neighbors." He turned to Darcy, saying "Perhaps we can return Mr. Bennett's call sometime this week while we are here."

  Darcy had been distracted by the revelation that Mr. Bennett had five daughters and what that could mean, and he didn't hear Bingley's question. "Darcy, what do you think about visiting Longbourn this week?"

  "Um, yes, of course, Charles. I think it would be the proper thing to do. You and your sisters should definitely visit them."

  "And you must come as well, Mr. Darcy. I am sure that my wife and daughters would be quite bereft if you did not accompany the Bingleys when they visit!" He laughed out loud. "But as I said, you have been warned!" With that, Mr. Bennett stood and said that it was time for him to take his leave. "I have overstayed my visit gentlemen, but it has been most enjoyable. I look forward to your visit unless your fear of the house of ladies will change your minds." He laughed out loud again.

  After they saw Mr. Bennett out, Caroline suddenly appeared in the front hall as if she had been hovering in the corner. "Charles, who was that man. He arrived in a horrid looking carriage that he drove himself, and his horse looked near death. I sincerely hope you haven't promised to return his call.

  "Yes, Caroline, I did promise to return his call. His estate is the nearest one to us, and I intend to meet his family. He is a very kind gentleman, and I trust that you will join me and act as a pleasant new neighbor." He walked past her, and Darcy followed him. "We are going to find Mrs. Blair to have her take us on a tour of the estate. If you and Louisa do not care to join us, we will see you this evening for dinner." With that, they located the housekeeper and toured the house for several hours. They were not surprised that Caroline and her sister did not join them.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Longbourn

  "Where have you been, Mr. Bennett? You did not inform us that you were leaving, and you have been gone all morning." Fanny Bennett wrung her hands and said "The porch step broke again, and you weren't here to assist Mr. Hill. Oh, Mr. Bennett, it was simply horrifying! I nearly toppled over and broke my neck! Oh, my poor nerves!" She stomped away, mumbling to herself "No one knows how I suffer." She could be heard yelling, "Mrs. Hill! I need you now! Mrs. Hill, where are you? Oh, my nerves!" This was a common occurrence at Longbourn, and Bennett knew that Mr. Hill was quite competent at fixing the cracked step. He had heard his wife's complaint about her nerves for so long, he gave it little consideration.

  Fanny Bennett had once been a pretty young woman that had caught his eye, and she had an animated personality that once had filled a void in his life. He had been attracted to her vivaciousness, and he courted her immediately, but he foolishly married her much too quickly. He was an intelligent man who enjoyed books, the opera, and museums. He had loved his time studying at Cambridge, and after his education he intended to go on a Grand Tour of the continent to visit the European countries and cities he had read about. In the middle of his final year, he received the letter that informed him his father had died, and he had to return home immediately to take over the family estate. His mother was never a strong woman, and in her grief over the death of her husband, she left Longbourn to go to Bath to take the waters, but she never returned. She had only been gone a little over a month when she wrote to him that she married a man, but after one fortnight, he received another letter from her saying that he disappeared and took all of her money. Thomas thought that she would return home, but she took a job as a barmaid in a pub in Bath, and he heard that she lived in a room above the bar. this was entirely out of character for his mother, so he traveled to Bath to find her and bring her home with him immediately, but he learned too late that she had apparently consumed a whole bottle of whiskey and a fair amount of laudanum, and she had died alone in her room.

  Thomas returned home with no family left, and in his loneliness, he met and married Fanny Gardner, thinking that she was a bright and happy girl that would help to erase his sadness. She had made it known to everyone in Meryton that she was looking for a dashing officer in the militia, but when Thomas Bennett offered her marriage, she accepted, thinking he was a wealthy landowner. Their marriage was a mistake on many counts, as she was not bright as he had hoped, and he was not wealthy, as she had hoped, but once married they had no choice but to live a disappointed life with their mistaken beliefs.

  Fanny had given birth to five girls, and after each daughter was born, she became more and more ridiculous. Her outlandish behavior was well known in the village, and she lamented out loud to whoever would listen about the condition of her nerves and her poor lot in life. To make matters even worse, there was an entail on Longbourn that meant that due to the lack of a male heir, Longbourn could not pass on to one of their daughters in the case of Thomas's death, and would instead pass to an unknown male relative, the son of a deceased cousin who he had detested. Fanny knew that if her husband died, she would lose Longbourn, and she would be without a home. "I will be thrown into the hedgerows when you die, Mr. Bennett!" she repeatedly exclaimed. "One of my daughters must find a rich man to marry to take care of me when you are gone!" she reminded him daily. "Why must I live with this suffering?" was her favorite refrain, and she frequently took to her bed with her "medicine", which everyone knew was a bottle of cheap port. Mrs. Hill frequently watered it down, but Fanny was convinced that it was a miracle elixir, and Thomas made sure it was always close at hand.

  Her daughters were all used to their mother's outlandish quirks and eccentricities. Her eldest daughter, Jane, was the most compassionate of them all, and she spent a great deal of time consoling her mother. Jane was an incredibly beautiful girl, and Fanny made it clear to Jane that it was her beauty that would save them all. "You could not be so beautiful for nothing, Jane. You will meet and marry a rich Earl or Duke with a large estate and many carriages, and I will come to live with you." Jane greatly felt the pressure of her demands, and
she worried that it could never come to pass since there were no eligible rich men in Meryton, and she had no dowry to offer a husband. She feared disappointing her mother more than never marrying at all, and Jane could only make empty promises to sooth her nerves.

  Their second eldest daughter was named Elizabeth, and she was her mother's least favorite child. When she was born, Fanny was positive it would be a son and the much needed heir, but when it was yet another girl, Fanny seemed to take it out on Elizabeth. She constantly reminded Elizabeth that she was supposed to be a male child, and that she didn't compare in beauty with her older sister, Jane. Jane was mortified when her mother would make those hurtful comments to her sister, and Thomas chastised her for her unfair treatment of Elizabeth, but Fanny persisted, not paying any attention to Jane or Thomas's admonishments. Elizabeth tried to ignore her mother's insensitive remarks, but it hurt her all the same

  The third daughter born was named Mary, and Fanny simply paid little attention to her. She was a quiet child, and rather plain looking without the sweet disposition of Jane or the outgoing personality of Elizabeth. When Jane and Elizabeth would dress for a special occasion, Mary would rebuff their attempts to fix her hair or wear a pretty dress to wear. She preferred to stay in her own room, reading Fordyce's sermons to girls, focusing on the subjugation of women to men, the importance of proper female speech and manners and womanly virtue. Never were there three more different sisters.

  Soon after Mary was born, Fanny once again was with child, and she swore that if she had another daughter she would lose her senses and be sent to Bedlam. Jane and Elizabeth believed her, and they prayed every night for a brother. Nevertheless, the fourth child was another girl, and Fanny did become even more nonsensical. Katherine, or "Kitty", as the girls called her, was a sweet girl who laughed all the time, and she followed Elizabeth everywhere she went, including outside to the garden, where she loved to play in the dirt. This infuriated Fanny, and Kitty was made to stay indoors most days. Since Fanny was frequently in her bed with her nerves, Jane and Elizabeth would play with Mary and Kitty, practically raising them by themselves.