Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (83 page)

That night at bedtime, Elizabeth had her talk with Sarah. The young woman seemed very appreciative of an ear to confess her guilt. Elizabeth had begun by telling her the story of her encounter with the Viscount. She could not understand why Elizabeth would feel guilt since she had been trapped. Lizzy praised Sally for screaming and told of her regret because she had not struggled. Sally hugged her and thanked her profusely for the opportunity to share her feelings. Just before Lizzy went to her own room, her face became filled with the pleasure of remembering the words a goodly creature had once said to her. She shared them with Miss Bledsoe in parting. “Enough of your guilt!”

The trip to Southampton was without incident, and the goodbyes were bittersweet. In the carriage returning to Longbourn, Elizabeth told her mother both about her rape, and that Bethany was the result of that encounter. Her mother surprised her by telling her that Mr Bennet had told her the whole story shortly after the ball at Netherfield. She was amazed that her mother had shown such restraint and had never once even hinted that she knew her secret.

Mrs Bennet smiled at her daughter as she said, “My granddaughter is lovely. I would have seen the resemblance and told you of it, had I not already known. She has your eyes and hair, but she is much taller and her nose is exquisite. You can tell she has blood from the highest echelons of society.”

Elizabeth and her father laughed, and Mr Bennet quipped, “Fanny, I am happy to know I can always count on you remaining the lovely, silly girl I married. But, remember my love, you can never reveal to the married ladies in Meryton that you have a granddaughter whose aristocratic nose is due to her father being a viscount.”

“Oh, Thomas, of course not. You, of all people, know I am not really that silly. Besides, it would not be very enjoyable speaking of the depravity of that gentleman, and then being forced to reveal how my daughter, who has gone to America, revenged her sister by murdering him.”

Mr Bennet’s face was very stern as he said, “Fanny, Lizzy does not know about that.”

“Oh, yes she does. Lydia told me she planned to disobey all those men, and tell Lizzy before she left. I encouraged her, because I would want to know if my sister had done that for me.”

Mr Bennet looked at Lizzy, and she nodded in agreement with Mrs Bennet just before mother and child hugged each other.

Once she was out of her daughter’s embrace, Mrs Bennet looked at her only unmarried daughter candidly and said, “Lizzy, I think it high time you accept Mr Darcy. That way I can claim my granddaughter as my own without having to reveal our secret. I like that little Lewis as well. His birth bodes well for Mr Darcy giving you sons, and of course it would be a constant source of gratification for me to describe to my friends the beauty of Pemberley.”

Lizzy did not dwell on the thought of Mr Darcy giving her sons, and instead answered the intent of her mother’s statement. “Mama, I think it will be very soon, but I am not certain how to communicate my feelings to him.”

Mr Bennet raised an eyebrow and said, “Elizabeth, do you think I was born yesterday? I know you and Mr Darcy have been writing to one another, just as you and Dr Wilder have been corresponding for years. You can either include a letter inside one to Miss Darcy as usual, or I could have you write one to him for me; and when I am not looking, you can include a second missive from yourself.”

Elizabeth laughed at both her parents. “This has certainly been a journey of truth. Are there any secrets the two of you would like to confess to me?”

Mr and Mrs Bennet just smiled at each other.

Lizzy waited a fortnight for Mr Darcy to communicate. His failure to write pushed forward the realization that she would have to set them back on the path to marriage. Her mission was delayed when Jane and Kitty came back from Bath and Derbyshire, and she was obligated to hear all their news. A week after they returned, she once again took up the task of writing him a letter. Another few days were wasted looking for just the right words to convey her feelings. She did her best thinking on Oakham Mount, but it was an unusually cold November that precluded her walks. Would she be able to come up with words that did not offend? She was in her room with pen in hand when she spied an express rider through her window.

Curiosity caused her to once again to delay her letter. She arrived downstairs and took the express from Mrs Hill with the intention of reading it to her father. However, she noticed that it was addressed to her and was from Georgiana. She tore the letter open and read with increasing panic.

Pemberley, Derbyshire
15 November, 1812
Dear Lizzy,

You must come, as I do not know what to do. Bethany and Lewis have come down with the measles. Will is beside himself with fear and refuses to talk to me. He just sits by their beds, holds their hands and wipes their brows. Jamie says that Bethany has a mild case, but Lewis has gotten a cold in his lungs along with the measles. Please help us. We need you.

Love,
Georgiana

Lizzy screamed for her parents in a most unladylike way. “Papa, Mama, come here at once. I must leave for Derbyshire immediately.”

Her parents were by her side in seconds. She read the letter out loud to them with tears stinging her eyes. Her mother pulled her daughter into an embrace and started stroking her back, all the while whispering, “They will get well, do not worry, they will be all right. You had the measles, and you survived; and look how healthy you are today.” Once she ran out of words to say, she crooned lovingly to her daughter, just as she had when she was a baby.”

Her father had used those seconds when his wife was comforting her daughter to put a plan in place. “Sir Walter is in London preparing to travel to Derbyshire for Christmas. He is having some new clothes made. I believe his excuse for the expense is due to the colder winters in Derbyshire.”

Mr Bennet saw that his daughter was not amused by his humour so he quickly returned to the topic at hand. “I will send an express to him in London, and inform him you will be joining him on his journey. You must go today. As I remember, he wrote me he was planning to leave on the 18th. That is tomorrow. Get yourself ready, and I will order the carriage to take you to London. He is staying with Lord and Lady Hastings. I will have your mother write out the address for the coachman.”

“Papa, that is an excellent plan, and I appreciate your support. Both of you must understand something. I am going to Derbyshire, but I am not coming home. If Mr Darcy will still have me, we will marry.” The tears started to flow again. “I fear he might have given up on me. How will I ever forgive myself if my indecisiveness causes me to be too late? I thought I could always count on all of them being there for me when I was ready. What if I was wrong?”

Mrs Bennet wrote the note to Sir Walter at her husband’s dictation, and Mr Reynolds was called to arrange for its rapid delivery. Once the messenger was on his way, John sent a note to Netherfield requesting Jane and Charles come quickly. He then went to collect Kitty from their home, and all gathered to see Elizabeth off. Her family hugged her, shed tears of both sadness and joy, promised to write often, and visit whenever possible. Mrs Bennet assured her daughter, she would enjoy reading to Mr Bennet. All did their best to convince Lizzy that the children would recover. Within two hours of receiving Georgiana’s letter, she left Longbourn to a chorus of loved ones wishing her happiness.

Elizabeth arrived at Lord and Lady Hastings’ house by four in the afternoon. Lady Hastings embraced Elizabeth, and the first words out of her mouth were, “I remember when you had measles. All of Hertfordshire feared you would die. Your little ones will survive, just as you did. A meal and a good night’s rest will prepare you for your journey. I will make sure Walter does not dawdle tomorrow morning. As his older sister, I have had much practice lighting a fire under him over the years.”

Lizzy was struck by the fact that Lady Hastings had called Bethany and Lewis “your little ones.” Maybe she had heard rumours of Mr Darcy offering for her. Elizabeth hoped she knew nothing more but was too focused on travelling to Derbyshire to really care.

Sir Walter’s sister was good to her word. She made sure they were on the road early. Luckily, Lizzy had brought so little, because Sir Walter had loaded the huge leased carriage down with boxes. He assured her much of his luggage contained presents for Christmas, but she suspected most contained his clothes. One present for Sian, sat in the carriage as if another passenger. It was a huge French doll… almost as tall as Sian. She was exquisitely dressed in pink silk, and had beautiful blond curls and blue eyes. Elizabeth smiled when she realized the doll looked like her older sister when she was a little girl. Jane had always been Sir Walter’s idea of physical perfection. Poor Sian, would she realize her new grandpapa preferred angelic blond girls to lively redheads. Elizabeth hoped she would not lose confidence in her appearance. Her next thought brought tears to her eyes. Sian and Lewis had promised themselves to each other, practically in their cradles, and she remembered he thought her the most beautiful little girl.