A Father's Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by J Dawn King

  “How can I make this right?” Darcy wondered aloud. At hearing snickers from both of his cousins, Henry and Richard, he shook his head in frustration. “Good heavens, why am I asking you two. You have both only ever used a woman for sport. Neither of you have any clue what to do with a reputable lady. I am going to have Parker start packing and pray solemnly that something comes to me before the night is through. Good day to you both.” With that, he stood and exited the room, leaving the other two men speechless.

  Mr. Bennet noted the activity, the comings and goings from one room to another, but paid it no heed. He impatiently awaited Elizabeth.

  When Miss Bingley heard her brother’s instructions to pack for London and ordered the house closed indefinitely, she was at first delighted, happy to leave these country bumpkins. Then reality set in and she realized that her time to coerce Mr. Darcy into proposing was drawing to an end. Desperate times called for desperate measures. She determined that tonight was the night. She would put him in a position where it would appear that he had compromised her and she would be an engaged woman by the morning. Rubbing her hands together, she hid her feelings of pleasure at the outcome by an expression of boredom and busied herself with the tasks at hand. By tomorrow it would be done.

  Elizabeth was unaware of the downstairs activities and plans. She had asked Sarah to allow no one entrance when she first came into the room. She then dismissed the maid after first begging her not to disturb her until morning. She truly felt unwell and wished to be alone.

  She had endured much in her lifetime: joys, pain, rejection, kindness, generosity and love. This pushing and pulling between her father and Mr. Darcy was untenable; evoking new feelings that unsettled her, making her stomach flutter and her heartbeat increase. Never had she felt so confused. Yes, she had developed deep feelings for Mr. Darcy, but she had never considered that he might have feelings for her in return. Elizabeth knew that he had been pleasant, congenial, and friendly to her during this stay and seemed to trust her. However, the timing of his statement that they would marry raised too many questions in her mind. And her father’s demands were unpalatable and unacceptable. She needed to get away to think; to decide what she really wanted for her future. Elizabeth suddenly knew exactly what she needed to do.

  Walking across the room to her desk, she penned a short note to Mr. Bingley.

  Dear Mr. Bingley,

  Please accept my deepest, most sincere apologies for my abrupt departure and for not taking proper leave of you and your family. You have been a wonderful host. I feel that my need for freedom to determine the most advantageous decision for my future has necessitated my leaving right away. I have long desired to travel to the Americas. This would provide ample time to plot my course and allow these unresolved issues to be decided by the courts, should that be the means my father pursues.

  Please accept my best wishes for a pleasant future for you, your family, and your friends.

  With sincere regards,

  Miss Elizabeth Bennet

  Taking another sheet of paper, she worried about what to write to her newest friend. Putting the end of the quill to her chin, she realized that she wanted to convey how privileged she felt that Georgiana had reached out to her and how proud she was of the young girl’s actions. It was but a moment before the words came to mind and she began to write.

  She folded the notes, sealed them, addressed them, and left the letters on the table next to her bed. Quickly, she packed her valise and apothecary case. Locking the bedroom door, Elizabeth went through the sitting room to the door that provided access to the servants. She had decided to go down the back stairs that the servants used so that she would be unobserved by her father and Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth was startled when Sarah came through the door just as she was reaching to open it.

  “Miss, are you leaving?” Sarah blurted out, stunned to see Elizabeth dressed in her traveling clothes.

  “Sarah, please do not be alarmed. I leave to avoid my father.” She thought it best not to explain about Mr. Darcy. “I would ask you a special favor, Sarah. It would be much safer for me if I were to travel as a maid. Please, would you be willing to trade clothing and provide me with your cloak and bonnet?”

  “Miss Elizabeth, my clothing is nothing compared to yours. Yours is much finer. However, if it will make it easier for you, then certainly, I will.”

  It took a short period of time for Sarah to retrieve her outer clothes. Sarah handed them to Elizabeth and they each helped the other to change. Elizabeth tucked her luggage under the billowing cloak, gave the maid a quick hug, instructed her to keep her absence hidden as long as was possible, said goodbye, and left down the stairs to the kitchen. None of the servants paid attention to the maid that left the premises.

  Elizabeth went to the stables and, after telling the groom that she had an errand for the family in town, requested a cart and driver to take her into Meryton. She had to be cautious, as Mr. Darcy’s coachman, John, would recognize her. Taking on the countenance of a young woman in service, she kept her head bowed and spoke with deference. It took but a brief few minutes and she was on her way. As they went down the lane, away from Netherfield Park, she refused to look back, knowing it would be the last time she would ever likely be in Hertfordshire.

  At the Inn in Meryton, she found two coaches. The post coach was headed southeast to Dover. It was several days journey with few stops for comfort and was more expensive to travel by that means. The post coach was much quicker and cleaner than the stagecoach, which was heading south to London. The stagecoach was often over-crowded but stopped much more often and for longer periods of time. Trans-Atlantic crossings could be accessed from several ports in England, but Elizabeth had longed to see the white cliffs at Dover. They may be her last sight of her homeland; not knowing when, or if, she would ever return. Elizabeth could not, at this point, begin to imagine when she might have opportunity to see them again. London or Dover; it was an easy decision to make.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire

  Mr. Bennet had been waiting and pacing and his patience was at an end. He knew from the valise and case that Elizabeth had brought to Longbourn, on the brief occasion that she was on the property, that her luggage was limited and it would take little time to pack to make only a three mile journey home. Finally, unable and unwilling to wait any longer for his recalcitrant daughter, he demanded that the footman standing just outside the drawing room door go upstairs and get Elizabeth.

  The footman, though he could sense the anger of Mr. Bennet, did as asked. However, out of respect for Miss Elizabeth, he lingered in fulfilling that assignment. Tapping on her door, he received no answer. He tapped again a bit louder this time; still no response. He wondered what he should do. Observing Miss Bingley coming down the hallway, accompanied by her sister, he asked their assistance. Miss Bingley immediately and boldly tried the door handle, which failed to budge. “The silly chit has locked herself inside.” To the footman she ordered, “Go tell Mr. Bennet that his daughter has hidden herself away in her room. When she comes out, we shall send her to Longbourn.” She turned to chuckle to her sister, rubbing her hands together as if she were brushing off unwanted crumbs. “There, that should take care of that problem.” Miss Caroline Bingley could not have been more delighted.

  Mr. Philips had to calm his brother-in-law when the footman returned with Miss Bingley’s message. While at first Mr. Bennet’s anger did not allow him to listen to reason, it eventually sank in that he did not need Elizabeth’s presence in London. The two men would go to the Gardiner home, retrieve the letter and destroy it, travel to Mr. Haggerston’s office for directions to the bank, and transfer whatever monies were in the account to Mr. Thomas Bennet. The deed would be done. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Philips left Netherfield Park for their separate homes to pack and ready for their journey at first light.

  Meryton, Hertfordshire

  The groomsman waited for the maid to finish her business at the Inn. I
t was not for him to wonder at what might have brought her to such a place in behalf of the master. When she came out of the building, she carried a ticket stub in her hand as well as the case and valise that she had removed from under her cloak. The young miss looked up at him to direct him to return to Netherfield Park without her and he recognized her as the lady that had been in the Darcy carriage. He did not question her. He merely went on his way. After arriving at the stables and caring for the cart and horse, he pondered on what the lady was up to. However, it truly was not his place to question his betters, so he said nothing and thought on it no more.

  Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire

  Georgiana could not help but be concerned for her friend. Several times over the afternoon she tapped lightly on Elizabeth’s door. Once, Miss Bingley happened upon her and informed her that she had tried the door and found it locked. Miss Elizabeth apparently did not want to be disturbed by anyone. Georgiana returned to her room, dissatisfied. Late in the afternoon, Georgiana finally sought out Sarah in the kitchen, taking tea with the rest of the upstairs servants.

  “Sarah, I am concerned about Miss Elizabeth. Have you been to her room to check on her welfare recently?”

  Sarah knew that she could not be dishonest with the young girl, or to anyone for that matter. She also knew that there was a note upstairs for Miss Darcy that most likely would explain Miss Elizabeth’s decision to leave Netherfield Park. Sarah, in her service to Elizabeth while Elizabeth tended her sister and then Mr. Darcy, had grown to respect her deeply. But, she had also grown to respect the tender care that this young girl had given to her brother, stepping outside her role as a gently-bred female to perform tasks that assisted Sarah with her routine duties. Sarah clearly observed Miss Darcy’s distress over Miss Elizabeth’s condition.

  “Miss, I believe that Miss Elizabeth has a note for you alongside her bed. If you would wait but a moment, I will return with it.” She gave a short curtsey and turned to leave.

  “No, Sarah, I will accompany you.” They both quickly moved up the servants stairs to the sitting room. Georgiana was shocked to find that Elizabeth was not in her bed chamber. After reading the note, she knew exactly what to do. “Thank you, Sarah. That will be all.” Picking up the missive for Mr. Bingley from the bedside table, she turned the key in the lock and ran to her brother’s room, pounding urgently on the door.

  Mr. Darcy had heard the light footsteps running in the hallway. He never would have imagined it was his sister. He did not wait for Parker to open the door. When he heard the pounding, he pulled it open rapidly and his sister almost fell inside.

  “William,” her speech was rushed and breathless. “Elizabeth is gone.”

  “What?” Nothing she could have said would have stunned him more. Without thought, he pushed passed her and rushed to Elizabeth’s room. He opened the door to emptiness; there was no evidence that Elizabeth had ever been in the room. Hurrying back to his room, he grabbed both of his sister’s arms, seeing for the first time her tears and the letters she was holding in her hands. “You have a note?”

  She thrust the note into her brother’s hands. He quickly read it, and grasping her hand, pulled her out into the hallway, down the stairs, and into the billiard room where Richard, Henry and Bingley were occupied. “Bingley, Elizabeth is gone. She left a note for you. I beg that you share the information that it contains.”

  Charles Bingley was astonished at the news and the lack of composure his friend was showing. Earlier, during the confrontation with Mr. Bennet, he was amazed at Darcy’s stern countenance as he endeavored to reason with Elizabeth’s irate father. Now, he was seeing a man undone. He broke the seal and read, handing off the letter to Darcy.

  Fitzwilliam Darcy collapsed into the closest chair. Seconds later he jumped back up, his face filled with determination. “Gentlemen, we need to ride.” Before he could get a response from the men or even his sister, he was in the hallway getting his greatcoat, hat, and gloves. Within moments, they heard the front door slam as Darcy made his way to the stables.

  Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Viscount Stanley hurried behind him, leaving Georgiana and Mr. Hurst standing alone in the room. Mr. Hurst was not much of a horseman and Georgiana did not want to slow them down by going upstairs to change. She decided to seek out her Aunt Elaine to advise her as to the current situation as she knew it. Mr. Hurst just grabbed his cue stick, determined to get as much practice in as possible before the men returned.

  The stable was bustling with activity. Darcy was frustrated that his wounded arm did not allow him to saddle his own horse. His cousin, Henry, questioned whether he should even ride at all. Darcy chose not to respond with words, however, the glare he gave the Viscount told him all he needed to know. As Darcy waited, he was approached by one of the groomsmen.

  “Beggin’ your pardon, sir,” the man grasped his worn hat in his hands, head bowed, and voice quiet. “Be you looking for the young miss that came with you when you was wounded?”

  Darcy yelled for quiet. “I am.” He longed for any news of Elizabeth, more than he longed for his next breath. He desperately wanted to make the situation right with her and needed her presence to do so.

  “The lady, who was dressed in servant’s clothes, had me take her to the Inn in Meryton. There she returned to me with a ticket in her hand, telling me to come back to Netherfield Park. There be two coaches taking on passengers, the post coach to Dover and the stage to London. Forgive me, sir, I did not wait to see which one she boarded.” His head hung even lower with the telling.

  “Do not be concerned. We shall find the lady. Thank you for the information.” By then, his horse was equipped and he mounted. The others were already in the saddle, so at his command, they galloped to Meryton, pushing their horses hard. Hooves pounded and kicked up mud from the recent rains, but went unnoticed by the riders. They had a mission and it was to find Elizabeth Bennet.

  The coaching Inn was empty except for the innkeeper serving ale to a lone patron. They both looked up as Darcy, the Colonel, the Viscount, and Mr. Bingley entered. The four men were an impressive sight; wearing their wealth and influence like most men wore their clothing.

  Darcy approached the man behind the bar. “We understand that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, formerly of Longbourn, purchased a ticket on a coach that left but a few hours past. Would you, please, tell us which coach she boarded?” The innkeeper had lost one of his sons in the smallpox epidemic of 1806. He knew the struggles that Elizabeth had had with her own family. Fortunately, the innkeeper was blessed with a hard-working, loving wife who sacrificed herself to care for their children. Elizabeth had been on her own in the tending of her family. He had known Elizabeth since her birth, and, since Mrs. Bennet and her sister, Mrs. Philips, were the town’s most prolific gossips, the events that took Elizabeth away from the area were known as well.

  “And what do ye be wanting with Miss Lizzy?” The innkeeper inquired. He was aware that the girl had had to pay consequences that were not of her own making five years before. She had been kind and attentive to the needs of the tenants and of the residents in and around Meryton, helping out where a young girl could, and sometimes where she should not.

  Darcy walked towards the innkeeper while the three remaining men stood just inside the door, poised for action. He understood from the innkeeper’s address of Elizabeth that this man not only knew her; he valued her. Bowing slightly, giving the man honor that typically was not shown him, Darcy spoke. “Miss Elizabeth had a bitter confrontation with her father earlier and made the decision to leave the area, undoubtedly in the pursuit of peace. I owe her my life, sir. I will not rest thinking that she might be unprotected and come to harm. My cousins, my friend, and I would pursue her to the ends of the earth to make sure that she arrives safely to her destination.” Darcy, paused, anguish at not knowing where Elizabeth might be. Pain squeezed at his chest. Unaware, he placed his right hand over his heart and started rubbing.

  The innkeeper had been owner of
the rest stop for decades. His father had owned it before him and he had grown up seeing travelers of all classes, shapes, and sizes come and go. He recognized sincerity in the man in front of him who had humbled himself to acquire the desired information. He, too, had been concerned about Elizabeth traveling unaccompanied, even with her servant’s garb. It was providential that an elderly woman of his acquaintance was headed in the same direction and could serve as a proper chaperone. The woman was in company with her youngest son, who was a grown man, able to protect both women, if needed.

  “Thank ye, sir, for reassuring me.” He looked Darcy in the eye. “Ye are correct, sir. There be two coaches here when Miss Lizzy came in; one for Dover and the other to London. I could see in Miss Lizzy’s eyes that she longed for Dover, as she spoke about traveling the ocean to America. But, our sweet girl could not be leaving without a goodbye to the family what took her in. She procured a ticket on the London stage. Most likely, they have already stopped at the half point to change horses and refresh themselves and are back on the road. They be in London just at dark, but the lights of the city will show them the way. Aren’t no danger in that.”

  The relief that Darcy felt was staggering. After giving the innkeeper his sincere thanks, he turned to his companions and charged, “Let’s head out!”