A Father's Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by J Dawn King

  1) 30,000£ to Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam as a reward for saving my life and the lives of my loved ones on the condition that he resign his commission - today!

  2) 4,000£ to Mr. and Mrs. Hill, the house servants at Longbourn, who offered me affection and protection when I direly needed it. They are, on this day only, without master or mistress at Longbourn and, if you should so desire, could pack and be gone before they had to make difficult explanations to their former employers

  3) 6,000£ to Jane Bennet, to use as she sees fit

  My husband, this is the first time in our marriage that we have been apart and I do not know that I like it. Please, dearest man, hurry home.

  Your adoring wife,

  Mrs. Elizabeth A. Darcy

  At Darcy’s chuckle, the three men wondered what the missive contained. They had all observed him as his smile broadened as he read. Darcy carefully folded the note and put it in the breast pocket of his vest, close to his heart. “Gentlemen, we have business to take care of. To the bank!”

  When the gentlemen returned from their errands, Mrs. Darcy, as hostess of her new home, welcomed them with a warm fire, hot tea, and a variety of cakes. None of the men were hungry and Mr. Haggerston and Judge Pierce quickly left after taking leave of the Darcys. As they walked out the door, Mr. Haggerston took Darcy aside to remind him of his responsibility for this night. Even though Darcy’s ears turned red, he responded in all seriousness that he was fully prepared to follow through. The two gentlemen entered the carriage that awaited them and left.

  Now that it was just the four of them, Darcy asked Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner to accompany him and Elizabeth into his library. He invited them to call him Darcy, as his family did, and Mr. Gardiner asked him to refer to him as Gardiner, Edward, or Uncle, as Lizzy did.

  “Gardiner,” Mr. Darcy’s manner became serious. “I am aware of what faces you when you return to Gracechurch Street, and I was wondering if there was anything that is within my power to aid you in whatever actions you are to be confronted with. I cannot imagine that Mr. or Mrs. Bennet will be satisfied that the wedding has taken place and that any access to the shares that they may have felt they deserved is now gone. You have been a source of wisdom, strength, and loyalty to my wife and I feel such support should not go unrewarded.”

  “No, no, Darcy.” Elizabeth’s uncle was quick to reassure his new nephew. “For five years, my wife and I have remained silent with regards to Bennet casting off our Lizzy. We maintained that silence because we did not want Lizzy harmed further, in any way. Now, it is my opportunity to have my say. As instructed by Mr. Haggerston, I will wait until there is no question that the marriage cannot be annulled, and until the funds have been delivered to the Hills and they can leave Longbourn. After that, I am certain that there will be a breach between the families that will, likely, never mend. It is justice, Darcy. Sparks will be flying on Gracechurch Street on the morrow.”

  By his comments, Elizabeth learned that Darcy had followed through with her requests. “I suppose that by the morrow sparks of delight will explode in the Matlock household when they realize that their son will not be traveling with his troops to France. Their joy at having their son at home will be complete.”

  “Yes, dear, you are undoubtedly correct.” Then he added. “When the announcement of our wedding appears in tomorrow’s newspapers, I do imagine that sparks will fly at Rosings Park as well. My Aunt Catherine will be furious, both for hearing the news of our marriage, and for having not been invited.”

  “I believe that you are correct, husband.” Elizabeth chuckled quietly. “It is a devious part of my mind that has conjured up the thought that sparks will fly as well in the Bingley household when Miss Caroline Bingley reads that you, her greatest desire, are no longer able to make her Mistress of Pemberley.” The four agreed.

  It was later that evening, after the Darcys retired to their private rooms, that sparks flew at Darcy House as well.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Gardiner House, Gracechurch Street, London

  “A moment of your time, please, Bennet.” Mr. Edward Gardiner had waited until the evening meal had concluded and the ladies had withdrawn to the music room to speak with his brothers-in-law. Mr. Harrison, the butler, had seen to the pouring of the port wine after dinner, withdrew, and closed the door behind him, leaving the gentlemen in privacy.

  Thomas Bennet and Albert Philips both waited for Mr. Gardiner to speak. Before a word was uttered, Mr. Gardiner took a well-read letter out of his pocket and moved it across the table in front of Mr. Philips. At the expression of curiosity, Mr. Gardiner asked him to read the letter, silently. Mr. Philips read the letter, refolded it, dropped his eyes to the table with his head shaking back and forth, and slid it over to his other brother-in-law, Bennet. Still, not a word was spoken.

  Thomas Bennet had been disappointed with his afternoon travels across London. Mr. Haggerston had been missing from his office. He had waited more than an hour, but the attorney did not return. He was anxious to get matters settled with the shares from the Honorable East India Company, and longed to return home to Hertfordshire. London, with its many businesses and entertainments had never appealed to him. Thomas Bennet preferred the life of a country gentleman. His displeasure now extended to his brother, Gardiner.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Mr. Bennet demanded.

  “If you would, please, read the letter, Bennet?” Mr. Gardiner asked with a kindly voice. He suspected that the actual contents had been a shock to Philips. Gardiner had no idea how Bennet would respond, but he had hopes that the information that it contained would pull his brother-in-law back to reality.

  Thomas Bennet immediately recognized his own handwriting. The contents were brief and to the point. Each word tore into his heart. His mind refused to accept that he had done something so terrible. Rarely was he inclined to look at the man he truly was, what others saw when they contemplated the character that was Thomas Bennet. This short note, however, was like looking in a large mirror in full light. It was painful to see his flaws. Like his brother-in-law, Philips, before him, he folded the letter and put it back on the table, sliding it to Mr. Gardiner.

  “Bennet,” Mr. Gardiner was unsurprised that the man refused to make eye contact. “I have just one question for you, and I do expect an answer.” He waited until he saw Bennet nod his head, still with his head bowed. “Where were you and what were you doing when you were the age of five and ten years?”

  It was not the question that he had been expecting. “I was at Eton, studying.” Bennet wondered where Gardiner was headed with this question.

  “Had your father and older brother died at that time, how qualified would you have been to run Longbourn? How capable would you have been to make life or death decisions for your loved ones?”

  “At fifteen years I was ill qualified for anything other than what I was doing at that time, Gardiner.” He still didn’t raise his eyes from the table.

  Mr. Gardiner continued. “Then, for the love of all that is holy, why did you expect your own precious child, our Lizzy, to be responsible for the lives of Mary, Kitty, Lydia, and young Thomas? Why did you expect her to act in a manner that you were unwilling to do?” His voice became firm. Knowing that the banks and law offices were closed for the day, he stated clearly, “Lizzy married Mr. Darcy this morning and all assets were transferred to him this afternoon. Unless you adjust your thinking, that sweet girl will be lost to you forever. Mr. Darcy is not the type of man to allow anyone, and I do mean anyone to interfere with her happiness.” He paused, sliding the letter back in front of his brother-in-law. “The next move is yours, Bennet. Think it through clearly before you decide. If you chose to continue in the course you have followed the past five years and Jane marries, you will be alone with my sister. You will never hold Lizzy’s children on your lap or teach them from your favorite books. You will never know the joy that family ties can bring. Think hard on this.”

  The reading of his letter
disowning his daughter, in his own handwriting, with his own pen, and the poignancy of these questions, finally broke the man. Putting his hands to each side of his face, he wept. Thomas Bennet, feeling the pain of his actions for the first time in years, was unaware that Gardiner and Philips had left the dining room. He sat alone at the table, with the letter in front of him, until Jane came searching for him an hour later.

  “Father, are you well?” she whispered. Jane had never seen her father like this. He was a broken man.

  Looking up at his eldest daughter, the last five years of bitterness finally left him. Bennet took the letter and slid it into his coat pocket. His voice, cracking from emotion, his cheeks wet with tears, he directed, “Please see to the packing for the three of us. We are leaving for Longbourn at daylight. Jane, we are going home.”

  EPILOGUE – ONE YEAR LATER

  November 11, 1812, Pemberley, Derbyshire

  All of the expectations that Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy had of their marriage came true. It was not a perfect marriage, but it was perfect for them. Like all couples, they had their share of disagreements and disappointments. However, they had many joys as well. For their wedding trip, they traveled to the east coast of America, visiting such cities as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. It was the first of many journeys that they took over their life together. Darcy delighted to show her parts of England, such as the Peak District and the Lakes. Just one year after their meeting in Hertfordshire at Netherfield Park, their first child arrived, a son. He was a handsome boy with his father’s dark eyes, dark curly hair, and quiet disposition. They named him John Richard Charles Darcy. He was born on the 11th of November in the year 1812.

  Georgiana, aunt to this young boy, was delighted to play with and sing to him. Her court presentation and first season would not be until the following year. Observing the felicitous union of her brother and sister-in-law, she determined in her heart to be patient, waiting for the perfect match. Still inclined to timidity, under the influence of Elizabeth, she was far more apt to express her strongly held opinions than hold them close to her as before.

  Mr. Charles Bingley eventually purchased an estate not ten miles from Pemberley. It was a large property that would have pleased his unmarried sister, Caroline. After the rooms and grounds were updated, he held a ball as a housewarming, attended by friends and neighbors. Miss Caroline Bingley was not in attendance, but her absence was not commented on. Just after she found out about Darcy’s marriage, she learned of the windfall that Colonel Fitzwilliam received and zeroed in on him as the next husband apparent. What followed involved a scandal that still is being spoken of among the ton. Miss Bingley quietly was banished by her brother and brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, to an obscure family holding somewhere in the highlands of Scotland, where she lived, unwed on the interest from her sizeable dowry. She would not be welcomed into English society again.

  Jane Bennet, too, had not married. In the year following the Darcy wedding, she had several opportunities from gentlemen who heard of her gentle beauty and arrived in Hertfordshire to court her, yet, she never felt comfortable with the thought of leaving her parents alone. What she did with her gift from her sister was uncertain. It was commented on by Lady Lucas, Longbourn’s closest neighbor, to her daughter, Charlotte Collins, Elizabeth’s longtime friend, that repairs and improvements had been made to the estate.

  By then, Charlotte Collins, who had indeed married Mr. Bennet’s cousin, the vicar, William Collins, had a daughter, which would do nothing to satisfy the entail once Longbourn passed to them. She was contented with her lot in life and doted on her child. Lady Catherine de Bourgh regularly condescended to offer parenting advice along with advice on every aspect of a woman’s life to Charlotte, which was accepted with a patient tolerance and then ignored.

  Neither of Lord and Lady Matlock’s sons had yet married, which was a source of great frustration to their parents. Henry, their eldest, was taking more and more interest in his father’s position in the House of Lords, and Richard had purchased an estate located between the Matlock country estate and Pemberley and was consumed with running it properly and productively. Being a property owner was much different than a Colonel in the military, so he required much help from Darcy. Both brothers spent as much time with the Darcys as possible, with their increased responsibilities. They both longed to have a wife with as much intelligence, wit, joy, and beauty as Mrs. Darcy, but had yet to find her. Richard especially looked forward to spoiling Darcy’s son, bringing him a pony before he had passed his first week.

  The Gardiners were regular visitors to Derbyshire, spending as much of the summer there as possible. Madeline Gardiner was there for Lizzy’s confinement. It was with pleasure that she wrote to her husband the details of the Darcy heir. Mr. Gardiner was pleased that Lizzy was so happily settled with such a good man.

  Darcy’s son had not been named for either George Darcy or Thomas Bennet. The oversight was intentional. The sins of the fathers had affected Darcy and Elizabeth, but would not touch the generations that came after them. Months after the marriage, Thomas Bennet had written to his daughter with an apology. It was cautiously accepted and forgiveness was extended. Mrs. Bennet, at the news of Elizabeth’s wedding Darcy and the number of those with titles who had been in attendance, immediately declared Elizabeth as her favorite daughter, repeating imagined details to all her neighbors in Meryton and proclaiming how she always knew that Lizzy would marry before Jane.

  Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy adored their son to distraction. He would grow knowing that he was wanted, loved, and cherished; which is as it should be, is it not?

  The End

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  First time author Joy Dawn King fell in love with Jane Austen's writings two years ago and discovered the world of fan fiction shortly after. Intrigued with the many possibilities, she began developing her own story for Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

  Living high in the Andes Mountains of South America, Joy loves to take an occasional break from the Latin culture and bury herself in reading English literature about her favorite English characters.

  Joy, and her husband of 34 years, live next door to their only child, Jennifer, her husband, and twin grandchildren and is a native Oregonian.

  The author is currently writing about Mr. Bingley's and Jane Bennet's struggles with happily ever after and will follow with the tale of what happens when Colonel Fitzwilliam immediately falls in love with Constance Wickham, who hates him bitterly.