Chapter Text
Prologue
Meryton, Hertfordshire
Saturday, April 1, 1786
“Mr. Attwood paid me a visit today,” Mr. Gerald Bennet said from his seat at the head of the dinner table.
That man’s daughter, Jane, looked up at the odd tone of her father’s voice.
“That is not uncommon, father,” her brother Thomas said with a quick glance at her.
“He wanted to discuss Jane,” her father said.
Jane was now certain the suspicion she shared with her brother was correct.
“Does he want Jane to sing a special song tomorrow?” Tommy asked sounding hopeful while shooting her a worried look.
“I would be happy to sing any song Mr. Attwood prefers,” she said quickly, and to her ear a little desperately.
“No Jane, Mr. Attwood asked for your hand in marriage,” Mr. Bennet said to the shock of the room.
“Father, you cannot be serious,” Jane said desperately.
“Jane is not even sixteen, father, she is not out yet,” Tommy said.
“I told him that, but he is still interested,” her father said. “Mr. Attwood proposed a year-long engagement.”
“Is this an April Fool’s joke?” Jane asked.
“You cannot be considering this, father,” stated Tommy.
“I cannot?” Mr. Bennet asked quietly.
Jane caught her brother’s panicked look before turning pleading eyes to her mother.
“That is enough, Gerald,” that man’s wife, Mary Bennet, said sternly. “Mr. Attwood is older than you and asked to court me when I was but fifteen years old and also not yet out.”
“Mr. Attwood is the vicar here and has an adequate income. Why should I not promise him Jane’s hand?” Mr. Bennet asked stubbornly.
Knowing how her father reacted to being told what he could not do, Jane tried to diffuse the situation. “Father, you know how I wish to marry for love. I am only fifteen. Why can I not be given the opportunity to meet men? I could attend a few house parties with mother’s family. Who knows what could happen? Maybe I will meet a titled gentleman?”
“I think this discussion is over for the moment. Come Jane, let us leave the men to their port and cigars. I need to write my cousin a letter. I think he would be interested to know a vicar at one of his churches is preying on his young cousin. Again!” her mother said with a dark look at her father. “You know how My Lord, the Bishop of Landal, dotes on his young cousins.”
“Oh mother, thank you,” Jane sobbed when they were in the drawing room.
“My child, that will hold your father off for a while, but you know how he gets when he feels he was defied. I had better come up with a plan to implement if he attempts to force the issue. I will ask Basil if I may send you to him. It might dissuade Mr. Attwood if he knew you were under his Bishop’s protection and Basil would never allow them to force you into marriage at the pulpit.”
Chapter 1
Darcy House, London
Monday, November 26, 1810
“She believed that the answer to everything was in a good cup of tea, Mr. Darcy. I am sorry, but I would rather have coffee,” Mr. Reginald Hurst responded to his host’s offer of tea.
“Of course, Mr. Hurst,” Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy replied as he pulled the bell. “Such a tragedy, I wish my staff could have done more.”
“Do not blame yourself Mr. Darcy, my coachman and footmen told me what happened. Somehow Miss Bingley found out that you and Miss Darcy were in residence. Be careful there by the way, I think she has a spy in your household,” Hurst warned as there was a knock on the door.
“Enter,” Mr. Darcy called out.
“Pardon sir,” a maid said as she entered the room, “Mrs. Smythe asked me to deliver some tea and coffee.”
“Thank you, Maggie. How is my sister?” Mr. Darcy asked.
Hurst saw the maid hesitate before answering.
“Forgive the liberty sir...” she paused, “I had Lily pack Miss Darcy’s trunks when your note was dispatched to Lady Matlock. When the response arrived, I asked Angus to escort Miss Darcy and Lily to Matlock House. I apologize sir, I know it is my place as Miss Darcy’s maid to attend her... but Mrs. Smythe and I were doing everything we could to help the doctor and... Lily looked like she would be ill...” she stammered.
“Maggie, please calm yourself. I appreciate, and approve of, the actions you took. I would have done the same thing. Truly,” Mr. Darcy said gently.
“Thank you, sir,” Maggie responded gratefully before turning to him. “Mr. Hurst, I am sorry for your loss,” she said before curtsying to both gentlemen and leaving the study.
“Mr. Hurst, I am sorry for asking about my sister before...”
“Stop, Mr. Darcy, please do not apologize,” he interrupted then put his head in his hands. “You were naturally concerned over your sister’s well-being. Mrs. Hurst and I were fond of each other, it might have even been a thin inclination of love at one point, and I will mourn her loss, but you must know my father arranged the marriage to save our estate after two poor harvests and a significant investment failed.”
With a deep sigh he looked up, “I do not know what I am going to do, where I will go. I am thoroughly disgusted with Miss Bingley’s actions so I cannot stay at my townhouse with the brother and sister and I cannot go to my parents’ home. In the four years Mrs. Hurst and I were engaged and married, Mother has not forgiven father for approaching a family whose wealth came from trade. I had hoped mother would become accustomed to the idea while the Bingley siblings mourned their father. As much as I love my mother, she will be impossible and try to arrange a match with one of her friends’ daughters immediately.”
“Mr. Hurst, I know our acquaintance has been brief to this point, but please call me Darcy.”
“And you must call me Hurst.”
“What would you say to joining me at Pemberley? I will be there until after the spring planting when I make my annual visit to my aunts’ estate in Kent. Georgiana will be returning to school after the holiday season,” Darcy asked.
“Are you... That is to say... I have heard what a diligent master you are and would embrace the opportunity to learn from you. Will it not be an imposition to have a houseguest for five months? What about your sister, would she mind a guest during her school break?”
“Those are valid points. Pemberley is rather isolated and to be honest it can be lonely during the winter months. I will make it clear to Georgiana that as you are in full mourning, we are not expected to entertain you. You will not offend either of us if you choose to take meals in your room. Would that ease your mind?” Darcy offered.
“Partially. My other concern is Miss Bingley. If she finds out I will be at Pemberley...”
“I understand perfectly,” Darcy interrupted. “You could be truthful and yet reveal nothing. After all, it is true that a friend invited you to their estate for your mourning period. You could route all your post through your butler in London. I am assuming you will let Bingley and Miss Bingley stay at your townhouse?”
He nodded thoughtfully, “Bingley has been looking for an estate to lease, but he will be in full mourning for three months. I will strongly encourage him to find other living arrangements before his half mourning begins. I will suggest he lease a townhouse in London to build up to the responsibilities of an estate.”
“That is a very good idea,” Darcy said. “Enter.”
“Pardon me, sir,” Jeffries, the butler, said, “Mr. Bingley is here.”
“Show him in Jeffries,” Darcy replied. “Bingley, thank you for responding to my note promptly.”
“Darcy, I did not know you were going to be in town. What can I do for you?” Mr. Charles Bingley asked Darcy before noticing who was in the room. “Hurst! What are you doing here? I was not aware you were on friendly terms with Darcy.”
“Bingley, please take a seat so Hurst may explain to both of us what happened,” Darcy said.
“Bingley... I do not even know where to start,” he said.
“How about at the beginning? You said the sisters came here to call on Georgiana?” Darcy prompted.
“Yes, the spy. Is it possible someone from your household is being bribed Darcy? Do you have any newer staff?”
“Bribed? No, that is not possible. The newest staff member at Darcy House came from Pemberley, everyone else has been with us for years,” Darcy responded. “Jeffries has expressed similar worries and has a theory. I had discounted it, but now I am not so sure.”
“What are you talking about? Spies?” Bingley asked, looking confused.
“Bingley, are you aware that Georgiana and I arrived at dusk yesterday and did not put the knocker up because we expected to leave for Kent first thing tomorrow?”
“No, I told you I had no idea you were going to be in town,” Bingley said.
“Somehow your sister found out.”
“Are you suggesting she placed spies in your household?” Bingley asked affronted.
“I suggested it Bingley, not Darcy. Although I am curious to hear Jeffries’ theory.”
“I am not. How dare either of you accuse Caroline of such underhanded deeds.”
“We are getting off topic, Hurst. Bingley you must listen, this is a serious matter.”
“As I said, the ladies came to Darcy House in my carriage to call on Miss Darcy. My butler, driver, and footmen all said my wife did not want to go out in this unseasonable weather but her sister insisted they had to visit dear Miss Darcy since she was in town.” He paused and caught Bingley’s eye. “Bingley, this next part is difficult for me to say, I cannot imagine how it will affect you.”
“Hurst, whatever is the matter with you today? I fear you are going to accuse my dear sister of something more. It is obvious you have never liked her and I have never understood why. She is everything that a proper young lady ought to be and so kind.”
Hurst shared a brief incredulous look with Darcy before continuing.
“I am not accusing her, I am stating fact as witnessed by my staff, Jeffries, the doctor and butler from next door, and the footman who was manning the front door of Darcy House. Louisa was handed down first but was walking slowly because the rain had started to ice over. When Miss Bingley exited the carriage, she swept past my wife too closely and knocked Louisa down. Bingley I am so sorry to have to tell you this,” he paused. “When Louisa fell backwards, she hit her head on the carriage step.”
“You mentioned a doctor, I am sure Darcy’s staff was efficient as usual. Do you want Caroline and I to move in to help care for Louisa?”
Hurst thought Bingley asked a little too quickly, and eagerly. “Bingley, Miss Bingley is not here,” he said.
“I know that, Caroline is at your townhouse. She was angry your staff refused to take her shopping. Although she was very excited when Darcy’s note arrived. Caroline was certain he was finally coming to the point and about time I might add,” Bingley added with a grin.
“Bingley, what on earth are you talking about!” he yelled while absently noting Darcy’s narrow-eyed glare at Bingley. “Angry at my staff? How dare she! Bingley, Louisa had been knocked down, was bleeding, and your sister did not care. When Miss Bingley was told Miss Darcy was not available for callers she stepped OVER Louisa and demanded MY staff leave without their mistress. She threatened their jobs, abused them, and finally convinced them to bring her to my townhouse. She has been gone for six hours, Bingley. SIX HOURS!”
“Bleeding? Caroline did not mention there was blood. She said Louisa fell.”
“I was told Georgiana and I pulled up seconds after the Hurst coach left and Mrs. Hurst was most certainly in distress. I cannot believe any decent human being would leave a sister in that condition. I made Georgiana exit the carriage in the stables, asked Angus to carry Mrs. Hurst inside with the doctor following, and made sure Jeffries had requested supplies. Mrs. Smythe and Georgie’s maid directed Angus to a suitable room and did everything possible to assist the doctor.”
He stared at his brother in law sadly. “Bingley, I am afraid Louisa did not survive her injuries. The doctor told us she passed away an hour ago.”
“What? Caroline said it was a bump on the head, how on earth could she die from such a wound? No, I refuse to believe it. What are you not telling me?” Bingley asked desperately.
“Bingley, we are telling you everything,” Darcy responded calmly. “If you do not believe the two of us and my servants, there were other witnesses. The nephew of my neighbor in the white house was just arriving and his aunt’s butler saw what happened. The nephew rushed to help, he is the doctor who tried to save her life. I swear to you on my honor, we are telling you the complete truth.”
“But... Caroline said... I cannot believe... She would never lie to me. Maybe she did not know Louisa was hurt. That must be it,” Bingley tried to rationalize what he was hearing.
He opened his mouth to respond but stopped at Darcy’s headshake.
“Bingley, I know this came as a shock to you. Did you ride over on your horse or come in a carriage?” Darcy asked.
“I rode my horse so Caroline could join us after I agreed to your request,” Bingley responded woodenly.
Darcy’s request? He worried Bingley was talking about what he thought he was. Pigs would take to the sky like birds before Darcy married Miss Bingley.
“I will ask Jeffries to ready my carriage and for one of the stable lads to ride your horse. You must inform Miss Bingley,” Darcy said gently before opening the door. “Jeffries, I see you have anticipated me. Please ready my carriage for Mr. Bingley and have one of the lads ride his horse home.”
“Very well sir,” Jeffries responded. “Mr. Hurst, the coroner arrived and is inspecting Mrs. Hurst.”
Hurst nodded his thanks while Bingley started.
“Coroner? Surely that was not necessary,” Bingley stated nervously.
“Bingley,” Darcy said, “of course it was necessary. All accidental deaths must have a coroner’s inquest, you know that.”
“I think we may finally be getting through to him how serious this is, Darcy,” he interjected.
“But Louisa fell on a slippery walkway, there is nothing suspicious about that,” Bingley said desperately.
“William,” Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam said loudly as he entered the room unannounced. “I heard Miss Bingley murdered Mrs. Hurst in front of your house while you were out shopping with Georgiana.”
“Murdered?” Bingley squeaked.
“Richard!” Darcy admonished, “Where did you hear that?”
“At White’s, everyone is talking about it. Rogers was visiting his grandmother, she lives across the street a few houses down you know. He was leaving as the Hurst carriage pulled up. Rogers said Mrs. Hurst was being careful when Miss Bingley pushed her down and tried to enter your house. When Miss Bingley was not admitted, Rogers said she stepped over her sister, who was lying on the ground bleeding, and had a row with the servants before the carriage left.”
“How dare he malign my sister so!” Bingley roared. “I will sue him for slander!”
“Bingley, calm down. I have never seen you act this way,” Darcy said.
“I would say he is in denial,” Colonel Fitzwilliam muttered.
“Bingley, does that story not match exactly what Darcy and I explained? Yet you still think we are keeping something from you? I know how close you and Miss Bingley are and that you are upset, but seriously man open your eyes!”
“No Hurst, you are both trying to avoid a lawsuit, Darcy for his staff failing to maintain the sidewalk and you for my sister dying because of your carriage step. My sister would not lie to me,” Bingley responded desperately.
“Bingley, Louisa was my wife. You have no right to threaten to sue anyone because of her death.”
“Besides, Bingley,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said mockingly, “do you think anyone will believe your sister over Viscount Dover and Marquess Brundel?”
“What?” Bingley asked paling.
“Bingley,” Darcy said, “when Richard said Rogers saw what happened, he was referring to Matthew Rogers, Viscount Dover, eldest son of the Earl of Warfolk. I am assuming his cousin the Marquess was also visiting their grandmother.”
“Oh no. Nobody will believe Caroline now,” Bingley said.
Hurst saw Colonel Fitzwilliam look at his cousin who shook his head and mouthed ‘later.’
“All of the staff members and the doctor, who were closer mind you, will be honest at the inquest. To say Miss Bingley pushed her sister down or murdered her is an exaggeration.”
“I tend to agree, Darcy,” said an older gentleman standing in the doorway.
“Barnes, thank you for arriving so quickly.”
“I was summoned by my mother, if you recall she lives in the brown house next door. She was playing her pianoforte and looked up to find new sheet music when the Bingley carriage arrived. She witnessed Miss Bingley brushing past her sister causing her to fall. I must hold an official inquest, but given the number of eyewitnesses I have talked to, I will most likely be proceeding with a result of accidental death,” Barnes explained.
“Thank the Lord,” Bingley prayed.
“Mr. Hurst, Mrs. Smythe asked me to let you know they are preparing the body. Would you like my assistant to transport Mrs. Hurst to your townhouse?” Barnes offered.
“What? Who is preparing the body?” Bingley asked.
“I asked Mrs. Smythe and Maggie to prepare Louisa.”
“Caroline should be preparing the body. That is her right as a sister!”
“Mr. Barnes, yes, please proceed and thank you,” he answered the coroner who bowed and left. “Bingley, I beg to differ. My wife was in distress on the ground and her sister stepped over her to leave. It was Mrs. Smythe and Maggie who worked alongside the doctor to save her life. No, you are wrong.”
“Caroline will be devastated, Hurst. How am I to tell her that not only is Louisa gone but her body has already been prepared? It will be impossible to live with her until she calms down,” Bingley stated. “How will this look to others?”
“That does bring up another point I wanted to discuss, Bingley,” he said.
“Hurst, maybe it would be better to bring this up later,” Darcy interrupted.
“I would wager this is about the living arrangements of the Bingley family,” Colonel Fitzwilliam added with a wicked gleam in his eye, clearly enjoying the scene playing out in front of him.
“Our living arrangements? Why would that be a discussion?” Bingley asked.
“Do you really expect me to allow Miss Bingley to live in my house after her actions today?” he asked incredulously.
“I do not see why that should affect anything. Louisa is the eldest, it is her responsibility to care for us,” Bingley defended.
“Her responsibility?” he gasped. “Correct me if I am wrong Bingley, but are you not the head of your family?”
“Not according to the actions I have witnessed since arriving,” Colonel Fitzwilliam offered gleefully.
“Of course I am the head of my family. You know my father’s will was very clear Hurst.”
“Then why do you feel it was my wife’s responsibility to care for you?” he asked, genuinely interested in the answer.
“Because she is the eldest,” Bingley answered automatically.
“She was the eldest Bingley. I refuse to allow you to transfer your responsibility onto me. I will be accepting a friend’s offer to visit his estate for the next five months,” he informed his brother-in-law.
Hurst saw the cousins sharing a look and Darcy nodding.
“I hate to do this today Charles, but you need to start looking for a home of your own. It is a good idea to lease a townhouse before an estate to figure out if you enjoy the many duties involved. You will inform Miss Bingley she will not be mistress of my townhouse during my absence. My housekeeper and butler will have strict instructions that the knocker is not to be up unless I am in residence. I encourage you to move when your deep mourning ends but demand you do so before I return in April,” Hurst stated emphatically.
Bingley looked at him wide eyed and he heard Colonel Fitzwilliam snicker.
Darcy jumped in, “That is a very sensible suggestion, Hurst. Bingley has never truly been the master of a house. When not in school, he went from his parents leased house, to his aunts in Scarborough for mourning, then directly to your townhouse. Learning on a smaller scale should help him get used to being the master of an estate faster.”
“But I thought that between you and Hurst, the estate I leased would be well looked after,” Bingley said.
Hurst, Darcy, and Colonel Fitzwilliam all stared at Bingley with incredulous looks on their faces.
“Darcy, you told me you would teach me and Hurst dislikes visiting his parent’s estate,” Bingley defended himself.
“I said I would help Bingley, as in temporarily,” Darcy said slowly. “If you have leased an estate next year, I will visit after the fall harvest at Pemberley but I could not stay more than two months, three at the most. I have a sister to raise and an estate to run. Not to mention I could never leave Georgiana alone on the anniversary of Christ’s birth.”
“Hurst, I thought none of your friends had inherited yet. Who invited you? If you and Louisa were to visit, why did they not include me and Caroline?”
“Pardon me sir, your carriage is out front,” Jeffries said from the doorway.
“I will see Bingley out and be right back,” Darcy said.
“Mr. Hurst, I am sorry for your loss,” Colonel Fitzwilliam offered.
“Thank you, Colonel Fitzwilliam,” he responded while staring into the fire.
What on earth just happened? It sounded like Bingley expected Darcy to offer for Miss Bingley. He wondered if Bingley was really that naive and easily manipulated by his sister. The few times they had been in company with the Darcy’s, it was clear they barely tolerated Miss Bingley’s fawning. Perhaps he should have been paying more attention to his surroundings instead of drowning himself in liquor just to make it through the day. What else had he missed?
Louisa was such a different woman away from that sister of hers. He had been mourning their happiness since the younger siblings moved in shortly after their honeymoon. He was certain they were beginning to fall in love. He had such high hopes for their life together and now was left to be disgusted with what he had become.
“Darcy,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said as his cousin returned, “that little boy has no idea the storm that is headed his way.”
“I agree,” he added. “He seems to find nothing lacking in Miss Bingley’s actions.”
“What did the little boy mean when he said nobody would believe Miss Bingley now,” Colonel Fitzwilliam wondered.
After he and Darcy explained what happened, Colonel Fitzwilliam looked confused.
“I do not understand. How can he be so completely under her influence? Is he off his rocker?” Colonel Fitzwilliam asked.
“The Bingley family is very small. Their parents were both only children and my in-laws wanted a large family but it was not to be. I was told there were numerous disappointments during their marriage. Louisa was born shortly after the tenth anniversary of their wedding. She was five years old when Miss Bingley was born and the parents were thrilled by the second successful lay in. When Charles was born healthy, not eleven months later, their parents were so happy. The younger siblings spent their childhood being doted on by the household. My wife grew up hearing repeatedly that as the eldest child, it was her responsibility to take care of her siblings and make sure nothing happened to them.”
“Good lord,” Darcy exclaimed, “she was only five years their senior. That is a heavy responsibility to give a young child.”
“Yes,” Hurst agreed, “and unfortunately it created habits that were unbreakable. Mrs. Bingley passed away from smallpox when Louisa was thirteen. The siblings were looked after by servants while their father threw himself into the business, but really for the next four years she was responsible for the care of the younger two.”
“I bet the family dynamics added more than a few inches to your waistline,” Colonel Fitzwilliam chimed in while grinning.
“Richard!” Darcy admonished, “That is highly improper. Hurst just lost his wife!”
“All is well,” he chucked deprecatingly. “Colonel Fitzwilliam is right. My wife let Miss Bingley take over our lives which in turn made me hide in my study or drink myself into a stupor. I actually had an appointment with my tailor today, I need to order a new wardrobe. As you can see, I feel like the clothes I am wearing will burst at the seams.”
“Do not worry, you are bound to lose a few stones while staying with us at Pemberley, Darcy and I are both very active. I would not reschedule your appointment, your clothes will fit better soon. And please call me Colonel or Richard. My cousins first name is my surname so it is confusing to use Fitzwilliam when we are together,” the Colonel explained.
“Us?” Darcy queried. “I was unaware you were invited to Pemberley and with the manners you are displaying today you will not be.”
“Really Darcy, do you honestly think I cannot wheedle an invitation? All I would have to do is let slip to Georgiana that my general is taking a month off to visit with family and gave his staff leave too.”
Darcy rolled his eyes while he chuckled. “Hiding behind a girl still in the school room, eh Colonel?”
“I am a brilliant military strategist Hurst. I use whatever means I have to accomplish my goal,” Richard said while raising his eyebrows twice. “I will be spending a week with my family at Matlock, but there is something about Pemberley that soothes the weary soul,” he finished quietly.
“Now you have done it, how can I argue when I agree with your reasoning?” Darcy said. “He is right though, Hurst. I would not reschedule your appointment and if your valet has not disposed of your old clothes, I would suggest he pack a variety of sizes.”
“I will teach you some tricks the army uses to keep our men in shape,” the Colonel offered.
“Thank you, Colonel.”
“Now to discuss our travel plans,” Darcy tactfully changed the subject.