The Trials: A Pride and Prejudice Story

by Timothy Underwood

  “Lord! What are you speaking of?”

  “You and Mr. Darcy talked about you refusing him — Lizzy, tell me about it.”

  “My marital duties?”

  “Lizzy, if there is something that hurts or that you feel too embarrassed to do, there is no shame in telling me. I have been married many years and…I know a great deal about ways that men and women can…please each other. You can tell me what you don’t wish Mr. Darcy to do.”

  Elizabeth had not expected the most embarrassing conversation today to be one with only her aunt. She shook her head wildly from side to side. “No! No! We have no problems with that. It is good. Exceptionally good. Truly good. Remarkably good.”

  Elizabeth’s face burned far hotter as Mrs. Gardiner looked at her with an open smirk. She had protested a little too strongly to appear demure and ladylike now.

  Mama and the children had run far enough ahead of them so that Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner could talk in privacy. Elizabeth had given her mother a half crown to buy treats for all of the children at a stand in the park, and she immediately walked off guiding them, proud at being temporarily once again the one who could dispense favors to the children.

  Her mother was capable with other people’s children. She would never be one to instill moral precepts, but she could provide an amiable supervision. Mama had many good features, but she was still…difficult. The natural action would be to invite her to live at Pemberley, but Elizabeth did not think Darcy would like her there. She felt pain at the thought of forcing him to support a crowd of relations he would despise, however well he hid it.

  Elizabeth also didn’t want her mother to live too close.

  Mrs. Gardiner jostled her arm. “I had worried about your marriage. Despite the kind things you said about him in your letters, and the way that he supported you fiercely during the trial…all we knew about Mr. Darcy before was the poor stories we had heard — I admit our source was Wickham, but it is a shock that your view of such a man could be changed so suddenly.”

  “No. You do not understand at all.”

  “Lizzy, you spent two weeks with him between when you met again and this marriage. It is fast. Did you…did you really consider it, or were you desperate for help when in prison, and you liked the idea of finding a wealthy man to rescue you from the dependency you’d fallen into. I would hate to see you married to a man who you do not truly love. Or worse an impetuous man who made the offer without consideration and who will come to regret it.”

  Elizabeth looked thoughtfully at her aunt.

  Mrs. Gardiner shook her head and looked away. “I apologize. I should say nothing — misfortune has made me a pessimist, and I do not like it. The decision cannot be undone. You should not even consider the possibility you made a mistake. I do not want to make you worry.”

  “No, no.” Elizabeth grabbed her aunt’s arm. “I am glad you told me your worry — but only so I can relieve it. There is nothing sudden about our feelings. I thought fondly on his memory for many years and he — before we saw Pemberley, during the spring of the year my father died, I had met Mr. Darcy that spring. It was when I visited Mrs. Collins when she lived next to Rosings. Mr. Darcy asked me to marry him at that time, and I refused him then.”

  “Oh!” After her exclamation Mrs. Gardiner considered the matter. Then the fine boned features of her face shaped into an open smirk. “Given how you spoke about him at that time, it is rather a surprise he liked you at all.”

  “I had never been so shocked in my life.”

  There was a call from the children. They were playing, and the younger ones stayed close enough for Mrs. Bennet to supervise while they ate through the treats she’d bought for them. Emma stood near Mrs. Bennet helping her order around the youngest children with a broad smile on her face. Emma picked up Lydia’s daughter and staggered under the weight, but managed to keep her in her arms.

  “The reversal of feelings is not a sudden matter?”

  Elizabeth looked back at her aunt. “No. It was… He was so kind when we met. He treated me in a way that made it feel as though…as though I was still completely the same person, even though he knew about Lydia, and the bankruptcy, and he… I think I had been ready to fall in love with him since I saw Pemberley. I accused him of many things when he offered for me, and he wrote a letter explaining himself. When I saw him now… I knew he was in fact an honorable and good man. And he has changed. He told me how he strove to become a better man due to what I said to him, even though he did not ever expect to see me again. And… I love him desperately and truly. It was not such a strange thing that it could happen so quickly when the conditions were right.”

  The warm sun beat on them. The trees and bushes were full of green, and birds flew from perch to perch. A cat with black and white spots ran across the pathway, and then rubbed itself up against Mrs. Gardiner’s leg, hoping to be petted. The youngest of Mrs. Gardiner’s children ran towards them, shouting, “Kitten!” In response the cat took off in the other direction.

  Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner laughed at the disappointed expression on the boy’s face when he arrived next to them and looked around for where the poor animal had hidden. Mrs. Gardiner picked him up and said, “The poor kitty doesn’t want to be found. Maybe next time.”

  He nodded his head. Then he looked at Elizabeth and said in a shy, formal tone, “Aunt Bennet told me to thank you, Cousin Lizzy, for the treat. It was very good.”

  Lizzy laughed. “Oh! You like it! You did not eat too quickly?”

  “No! No! I took small bites! Like Aunt Bennet told me.”

  “Are you sure you took small enough bites?”

  “I did! I did!”

  They joined Mrs. Bennet and gathered the children together.

  Elizabeth picked up Fanny again, who squealed and wrapped her little hands around Elizabeth’s neck.

  Emma trotted along between Elizabeth and Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, “And his sister will marry an Earl! Your brother will be an earl. Oh! I never imagined I might live to see such a good day. I always thought Jane would be the one who to make a brilliant match! But she is nothing next to you! Oh my dearest daughter!”

  “Yes, Mama. Georgie, that is Miss Darcy, will marry in just four days. We will go out to Chancey tomorrow, and from there to Pemberley.”

  “You call her Georgie! A countess! I have heard so much about Pemberley! How I long to see it.”

  Elizabeth bit the inside of her cheek to keep from making an annoyed response. It was odd how her mother’s praise bothered her more than her usual complaints. Fortunately they then reached the building, and Mama took Fanny from Elizabeth and the children rushed up the stairs.

  Elizabeth looked up and down the wooden structure, and she looked around the street. It was a little dirty, and the paint was peeling, some of the people who lived here dressed as workmen instead of gentlemen, and the streets were not kept perfectly clean. But now that she was Darcy’s wife, and she would never need to live in such circumstances again, she was filled with a sort of nostalgic liking for the past.

  Despite how crowded they were, and the way her mother still sniped at her because she had not married Mr. Collins, it had been a happy place and time.

  Elizabeth looked at the window. Mr. Gardiner sat next to the window, looking down at them. How had he and Mr. Darcy gotten along together?

  She put her hand on Mrs. Gardiner’s arm to stop her once they entered the vestibule. She didn’t look at her aunt, but quickly said, “Mr. Darcy has given me so much money — I have no idea what to do with it all, though I did let Miss Darcy buy me a ridiculous number of dresses — expensive ones — so do not think I am not spending money upon myself. I am. But here is something to help. I gave you part of my wages, this is no different.”

  Elizabeth pushed the money into Mrs. Gardiner’s hand without looking to see how she took it and then started up the stairs.

  Mr. Darcy sat in the worn armchair while Emma eagerly introduced Lydia’s little g
irl to him. He accepted the introduction with a soft smile on his face. Mr. Gardiner sat with what Elizabeth recognized as his discontented air. It was the way he looked out the window during the months when his business slowly failed.

  When the visit ended, Emma chattered excitedly the entire way home. Darcy was unusually quiet.

  As soon as they were home, Emma went off to read a book. Elizabeth took Darcy’s arm and pulled him into the garden courtyard that the three story house was built around. “How did you…enjoy your visit?”

  Darcy made an annoyed face.

  Elizabeth hurriedly said, “I am glad you came. You were polite. My mother was happy to see you. She told me again and again about how polite you were — and you were, even though you could not have enjoyed speaking to her.”

  “Would she like to live at Pemberley? Would you wish to ask her?”

  Elizabeth made a face.

  Darcy had that firm face he showed when he’d made a resolution. She pulled him to sit with her next to the blooming rose bushes in the courtyard. “I suppose we must.”

  There was a quirk of a smile on Darcy’s face, and they both smiled at each other. He raised his eyebrows and said, “You could not possibly wish anything else: She is your mother.”

  “I would never be an undutiful daughter — I am so glad you know that about me.”

  “Yes. Any man who she wished you to marry…”

  “I would. Without any thought to my own preferences.”

  “The most dutiful daughter ever — one who is very clever though at landing rich men.”

  “Yes. You know I could never refuse someone as wealthy as you anything.”

  “I did not know that. But I am glad to hear it.”

  Elizabeth laughed. They smiled at each other and then they pressed their lips together and kissed.

  She asked, “My uncle. You were together for some minutes. How did you two get along?”

  Darcy shook his head with a frown. “He is the most exasperatingly stubborn man. The most bullheaded, and…I admire him. I do, but…”

  This description of her uncle made Elizabeth laugh. “What happened?”

  “I offered him a position, and he absolutely refused anything from me that could possibly be charity.”

  “Oh.” Elizabeth giggled. “We both have run into this today. My aunt was not pleased when I gave her a substantial sum either. But I did not give her an opportunity to refuse me. We are proud. You must be delicate in such a case. I should have given the money just to my mother, but then it would be frittered away on trivialities.”

  “I offered him a genuine position — a man such as your uncle is a valuable man. If I paid him more than another with similar skills, he would still earn for me what I paid him. How much did you give Mrs. Gardiner?”

  “No! You already gave me a huge sum, and then Georgiana spent much of it on my new dresses. I shall need at least a few months before such sums do not make my eyes pop from their sockets.”

  Darcy kissed her, and she felt the warmth from his soft lips on hers travel down her stomach and gather in a heat in her belly. He pulled away and grinned boyishly. “Do you recall what we were speaking of?”

  Elizabeth looked up at him and blinked lazily. “No — my uncle.” She pulled herself up into a more upright seat. “We must find some way to help them. One which keeps my mother at a pleasant visiting distance, by which I mean a distance where she only visits for yule and Easter.”

  “I should give her the money, on the condition she continues to live with her brother.”

  “No, last time she had money she used it quite poorly—”

  “An annuity then. She can only waste one quarter’s portion at a time.”

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Then she grinned. “My sister’s daughter. You liked little Fanny did you not?”

  “She was as charming as every three year old — she charmed me.”

  “Endow my niece with some money. She shall have a harder life as an illegitimate child, so it is reasonable for her to be the one you give such money to. Make Mr. Gardiner and my mother joint trustees of the money, with the requirement that the girl spends a great deal of time near London so that she can take advantage of the local art and music masters.”

  “If a minor heiress stays with the Gardiners, there would be enough money to move into a considerably more comfortable space. Of course your uncle may still be uncomfortable with that, but—”

  “We wish the child to have an excellent father figure, and Mr. Gardiner already fills that role. He would not be able to refuse if we mandate in the gift of the dowry that my niece lives with both my mother and Mr. Gardiner for much of the year. And then Mama will not be able to spend too much time at Pemberley.”

  Darcy looked enormously happier now. “But will Mr. Gardiner make a problem?”

  “I think… He looked unsure this afternoon. I recognize that in him. His pride demanded he refuse the money, but the benefits to the children are such that he could not be happy about it.”

  “Well, if you outsmarted him, that is something to boast of. Will Jane’s husband refuse if I offer him the next good living to open within my patronage?”

  “I hope not, I wish Jane to be near me!”

  “I would be delighted with her presence too.”

  Elizabeth kissed Darcy. It was wonderful how he was caring for her and those attached to her.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  The fine band Chancey had hired played a pretty dancing tune for the second dance of the open air ball after Georgiana’s wedding.

  Darcy easily led his sister through the steps. She delightedly grinned at everything. “Now, brother, we are both married! And so soon in time together.”

  The twist of the dance took Darcy and Georgiana apart then brought them back together.

  Georgiana said, “Elizabeth is perfect! I only wish I could dress as well as she does. I thought I would need to help her when we shopped, but her taste is perfect. Look at that dress!”

  Most of Darcy’s idle thoughts today had gone to that dress. Most of his conscious ones had been about his sister’s marriage. “Elizabeth is perfect. But you are a perfect sister.”

  Georgiana rolled her eyes. “You are only glad that I am leaving so soon after your own marriage. I can tell you want some privacy.”

  “I would never say such a thing.”

  “And while I was not worried about after the marriage, since Mrs. Annesley told me what I need to know, Elizabeth’s advice—”

  “Georgie!”

  His sister grinned at him. “Elizabeth said you would like me to mention how thankful I was for her advice about what to do after the wedding, you know when Chancey and I—”

  “So I am being teased by both of you now.”

  “I am not a child, you know.”

  “It still is strange for me. I shall depend on Chancey to take the best care of you.”

  Georgiana rolled her eyes. “It shall be me who takes care of Andrew! But he is the sweetest, most wonderful, dearest man in the world.”

  After Darcy’s dance with his sister finished, he looked about for Elizabeth.

  She wasn’t anywhere on the large shaded platform that Chancey had set up for the celebration, taking advantage of the perfect mild weather of late summer. There were more than a hundred guests and during the three days of parties before the wedding Elizabeth had been introduced to all of them, and her combination of elegance and vivacity created an excellent impression.

  Darcy walked to a footman stationed in the nearest corner of the pavilion. He stood in the brilliant scarlet and blue livery of the earldom, with a large crest for the house’s coat of arms on his chest. “Do you know where Mrs. Darcy has gone?”

  “A young gentlewoman asked to speak with her privately. They are sitting in that tent.”

  “A young gentlewoman? What was her name?”

  “A Miss Smith.”

  Darcy felt an undertone of anxiety that he knew was unreasonable as he hu
rried to the tent he’d been pointed to. He opened the flap of the tent.

  Elizabeth sat on a chair facing him tapping her hand against her leg in an annoyed manner.

  Across from Elizabeth, and with her back to Darcy, sat a beautiful young woman who wore a flamboyant hat with ostrich feathers. Her hands were covered with rings that had large but cheap stones. The woman stomped her foot and did not realize Darcy had entered the room because she was intent on yelling at Elizabeth.

  Darcy recognized her as Elizabeth’s youngest sister Lydia.

  “I swear I will! I’ll tell all your rich friends about everything I’ve done. They won’t like you much once they see you next to me! They won’t! You had best give me something. If you are going to help everyone, you should help me the most! How dare you give my daughter something and then completely cut me out.”

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes and looked at Darcy. “Dearest, you have met my sister before, but it has been some years.”

  Lydia jumped and turned around in shock.

  “Delighted to see you again.” Darcy spoke in the coldest voice he could manage.

  “You! Mr. Darcy! It is all your fault that everyone’s life has gone so terribly! You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”

  Elizabeth snorted.

  “If he hadn’t denied Mr. Wickham the living, he would have married me — he loved me then.”

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “If he’d given Mr. Wickham the living, you never would have met Mr. Wickham, and you would have run off with some other adventurer who then abandoned you.”

  Darcy walked next to his wife, and placed his hand on her shoulder. He looked at her face carefully. She was not unhappy or worried.

  “Lord! I will! I’ll destroy your reputation! I’ll tell everyone how Lizzy worked as a prostitute! Even I didn’t do that! How could you! My sister!”

  “I am shocked as well to learn about my past behavior. I had no idea.”

  There was a sly smirk on Lydia’s face. “It doesn’t matter that it is a lie. Someone will believe me. They will always wonder if you were a prostitute, and all of Mr. Darcy’s friends will ask how much it costs them to get a favor.”