Fault or Virtue: An Imaginative Retelling of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' Read online

  Chapter 1 From what she had glimpsed of the ball the previous night, Elizabeth was sure that Mr. Darcy would not long stay at Netherfield. If he could voice his harsh opinion of her so readily to his friend, she did not dare imagine what cruel thoughts he kept to himself. Elizabeth wondered if all men of good breeding and great wealth were so miserable. She would have endeavored to pity him had he not struck her so deliberately and without good reason.

  All of Meryton had anticipated this particular assembly because it was the first public outing for the current residents of Netherfield. It was widely known that Netherfield currently housed two bachelors by the names of Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, accompanied by Mr. Bingley’s sister. Since the gentleman were unmarried, they were also thought to be handsome, well mannered, and rich. Despite the collective hope of all the mothers and single daughters of Hertfordshire and Meryton, only one bachelor had fit the mold. Mr. Darcy was almost instantly recognized as a proud, haughty sort of individual who would not stoop to pay those below his station any common courtesy. Mr. Bingley’s engaging manner nearly compensated for his friend’s uncivil disposition, while Miss Bingley was found to be of a rather average nature.

  Mr. Darcy, as the neighborhood well knew, had personally slighted Elizabeth. His words, “she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me,” echoed in her head since they’d been voiced, as well as being repeated throughout the neighborhood. She was not as offended as a young lady might be, however, but it was the audacity of the man irritated her.

  How Mr. Bingley stood his company she had no idea. Perhaps it was for the sake of his sister, Miss Bingley, that he maintained the brooding bachelor’s presence. But if Mr. Darcy maintained such a mood contrary to his social friend, she did not think the relationship would endure. But she could not let these negative memories bother her for long, for she was soon consumed by images of her smiling sister, Jane, as she danced with the delightful Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth hoped that something would come of it. Not for the same reasons as her mother, of course, but for Jane’s genuine happiness.

  At Netherfield, the inhabitants relived the events of the country assembly. “I have never seen so many beautiful women in all of my life,” recounted Bingley, lounging comfortably in an armchair.

  “That is a lovely sentiment, but it is simply not true,” Miss Bingley dismissed

  with a wave of a delicate hand. She rarely sat in the presence of gentlemen owing to the

  fact that her figure appeared to the greatest advantage when she stood. Many a man had

  noticed this habit of hers in town, but her brother’s friend, the elusive Mr. Darcy had yet

  to pay it any mind. “This is a simple town full of simple people, perhaps the women were

  just more handsome than you had anticipated.”

  “I am not mistaken,” insisted Bingley, “Miss Bennet is the most beautiful creature

  I have ever laid my eyes upon. I must see her as soon as it is polite.” Bingley could be

  persuaded in or out of anything, but where a pretty lady was concerned, he stood firm. “Mr. Darcy, perhaps you may convince him otherwise,” Caroline said dutifully,

  knowing the gentleman was always in need of some gentle provocation into a

  ! "! conversation. She was determined that he find her most accommodating and supportive this visit, lest he doubted her fit for the position of his wife and Mistress of Pemberley.

  “If he believes that Miss Bennet is the most handsome women he has ever met, then his visit will be the better for it,” said Darcy, peering out the window to the front lawn and away from Caroline’s stately figure. The Hertfordshire countryside was beautiful, there was no denying it, but he still longed for home.

  Bingley could not help cutting in, “I still cannot believe what you said about her sister, Darcy! The Bennet girls are all very handsome, I do not think you were really looking.”

  “Do you mean Miss Elizabeth, Charles?” Miss Bingley interjected, suddenly very interested.

  “Yes, Caroline. I could not persuade Darcy to stand up with her at all last night. Nor any other lady in the room for that matter.” It had been the opposite for Bingley, there was not one lady in the room he had not stood up with.

  Miss Bingley’s chin rose considerably in light of the scorned women as she set about defending Darcy. “I quite understand your reticence, Mr. Darcy. She has a bit of a wild look about her, something in the expression of her eyes. She is nothing like her older sister Miss Jane Bennet, and that is a shame.”

  Not wanting his rejection to feed Caroline’s pursuit of him, Darcy intervened. “I hardly noticed her, Bingley. It was nothing against Miss Elizabeth, I could not have been persuaded to dance with a stranger for the world. I am pleased that you found your partner to be so agreeable, but I do not see that we will be seeing much of her owing that the sole purpose of our country sojourn is hunting.” Hunting, rest, and considerable miles from my worries.

  “Surely you do not mean for us to hunt day and night!” Bingley tittered. “I am eager to socialize with the neighborhood and I am sure Caroline means to entertain a great deal.”

  “I am not entirely certain after what I witnessed last night,” Miss Bingley answered quickly, “I am not sure that many beyond Miss Bennet are worth getting to know here, Charles. Mr. Darcy agrees, I am sure. I have never seen him as unhappy as he was at the assembly.”

  “I was unsettled by the behavior of some of the younger girls present at the assembly,” Darcy explained, thinking of his own sister and how she would behave in society, then remembering how she had behaved when let out in society.

  “I cannot imagine anything more unlike the society of London. Can you, Mr. Darcy?” Miss Bingley prompted.

  “No.” Darcy said, decidedly. Though he did not pine for London as Miss Bingley nor did he wish to return there for the same reasons, Darcy was beginning to think it would be best if he did make his way back to London, and quickly. His cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam was on leave in town and could assist him in finding a new companion for his sister. Netherfield was supposed to allow him rest from recent events, but he was yet to feel at all relaxed, Caroline Bingley had thus far made it impossible to do so. When he had agreed to the scheme, he was made to understand that Mr. Bingley’s married sister, Mrs. Hurst and her husband were to accompany them as well, but had declined the offer in favor of a stay by the sea in its stead. Without Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, he found Miss

  ! #! Bingley’s constant company irksome at the least, bordering on improper. Darcy wished Bingley would speak up against Caroline’s marked attentions towards him.

  When the mail arrived not long after, Darcy received a letter from his cousin that convinced him a return to London was the best option. Colonel Fitzwilliam had lined up three potential companions and had planned to interview them himself. Penning a hasty reply, Darcy sent word to Fitzwilliam to postpone the interviews until his return to London, which would occur in a few days time.

  “I am afraid I have bad news,” Darcy said to the Bingley siblings, “Colonel Fitzwilliam has asked that I return to London as soon as it is convenient to do so, and I intend to do so in a few days time. You know that I appreciate your hospitality and that I am sorry to leave you…” He hoped that though delivered without warmth due to Caroline’s presence that the statement did not seem any less sincere, “…but I’m afraid it’s unavoidable.”

  “Why of course, Mr. Darcy!” Miss Bingley grieved, “We are sorry to see you go, but you must see to the Colonel.” Miss Bingley tailored he
r expression to appear happier than she felt. She had finally cornered Mr. Darcy of Pemberley as well as she could hope for and he was set to leave already! She could not, however, display the depths of her despair on the subject. The Mistress of Pemberley would be required to step back and let its Master run to and fro as business and pleasure demanded.

  Darcy felt guilty using his cousin as an excuse. He abhorred deception of any kind, but had no other way of removing himself from Netherfield without appearing ungrateful.

  “Say that you will return when your business is concluded or we will have to follow you to London,” Miss Bingley insisted, “Or what else will entertain us here in Hertfordshire?” Having Darcy nearly all to herself in Hertfordshire was indeed a welcome pleasure, but the idea of returning to London was only slightly less tempting.

  “If it is a possibility, I will see that I do.” Darcy promised, feeling more guilty by the second.

  Bingley was noticeably affected by the news, hardly able to fix upon a response. “This is terrible news, Darcy! Now we must get an entire summer’s country business done with very quickly: hunting, socializing, riding. Let us ride out immediately, what say you?”

  Darcy knew that any ride would bring them straight to the Bennet’s doorstep and directly into contact with whom and with what had so displeased him the night before. Yet, he could not bring himself to argue against a plan that would remove him from Miss Bingley’s company, especially when Miss Bingley was so desperate to keep him at Netherfield. Seeing the Bennets again will strengthen my resolve to leave, and hopefully, in the light of day, Bingley will see the family as they truly are.

  “Lizzy,” Elizabeth heard her father say as she crossed the doorway to his study. “How do you always know it is me?” she filed inside.

  “You have a lighter step than Mary, a faster step than Jane, and a more quiet way

  of moving about compared with your mother, Lydia, or Kitty. And I have learned from my mistakes, from which I have gathered that largely for those same reasons given, you are the only one I will allow in my study.” Elizabeth laughed. She did not remember anyone entering the study by invitation other than her for years, her father must be telling

  ! $! the truth. He continued, all the while organizing his shelves while he spoke.“I think it wise to warn you that if half of what your mother has been saying this morning is true, that you must be prepared to secure a husband with upwards of five thousand a year in order to also secure the affection of your mother. Jane has set the example, and now each daughter in line must exceed the last. Are you up to the task?”

  Elizabeth thought this might be a way by which her father would learn her opinion of last night’s events, but she would not allow it to be so easy.

  “Father, I hardly think it possible for my mother to think of anything for quite a while in the event of Jane’s marriage, if it should occur. I would be safe for a while.”

  “Ah, you underestimate your mother. I’m afraid your betrothal has already crossed her mind. As has Mary’s, Kitty’s, and Lydia’s. From what I gather, we cannot hope that Mr. Darcy will entertain thoughts of marrying you, but that is just as well, we can hardly have Mary up to the task of finding a gentleman with more than ten thousand a year. It would hardly be fair to your younger sisters.”

  “You amuse yourself far too much with the subject of matrimony. I believe it is something that I am doomed to disappoint my mother in, as it is likely that I will not marry at all.”

  “That is all I needed to hear this morning,” he said, and sat down at his desk with a book. Lizzy smiled widely and as she began to leave the room, he added, “Ah, you best inform Mary, Kitty, and Lydia that they need compensate for your decided spinsterhood in their matches. I am sure the latter will not mind too much.”

  Chapter 2 Jane and Lizzy could hardly get a moment’s peace to discuss Mr. Bingley, so after breakfast Lizzy suggested they should take a walk to get some privacy. Jane was no walker, but she readily consented, too eager for time away from Mrs. Bennet, who had all but planned her wedding breakfast. But just as they began their walk, the very gentleman they wished to discuss came riding up on a fine black horse. But they could neither of them fault Mr. Bingley for his timing! The girls had just enough time to quell their blushes when Elizabeth’s face soon resumed its pink with the appearance of Mr. Darcy, riding up from behind his friend.

  “Good morning, ladies!” Mr. Bingley was all good humor. “I am glad to see you up at this hour. We decided to ride about and thank everyone for last night’s kind welcome.”

  Mr. Darcy’s look made Elizabeth believe that her suspicions were correct and that their trip to the Bennet’s house was the only one planned for the day. She was so happy for Jane and hoped that Jane recognized the great compliment. Jane saw the best in others but was not so gentle upon herself, owing to her shy disposition. She would likely not admit that a gentleman liked her until he proposed.

  “How kind of you, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy” Jane bowed demurely. “Does your sister remain at Netherfield?”

  “She does, but she sends her warmest regards. Once we are more settled I know she is eager to extend an invitation for you to dine with us.”

  “That would be lovely,” Jane bowed.

  ! %! Bingley was finally able to take hold of more of his surroundings than just Jane, and he noticed their bonnets and shawls. “Were you going somewhere?”

  “Just a morning walk,” Elizabeth assured him. She didn’t mind that Bingley barely glanced her way, she rejoiced in the way he looked at Jane.

  “You are more than welcome to join us,” Jane said timidly.

  “That would be lovely!” Bingley said, all too eager, and then added, “wouldn’t it, Darcy?”

  Darcy bowed in response, but his face remained as stoic as ever. A preferable fate to being invited inside, he thought. Elizabeth caught herself before she laughed at him. Such a man would surely detest being laughed at, but what else was she to do?

  It did not occur to Elizabeth until they began that it would be necessary for her to accompany Mr. Darcy so that Jane and Bingley would have some time alone together. Darcy seemed to realize what was to come at about the same time, for his expression soured considerably. This amused Elizabeth, and she was actually glad of the occasion. This gave her the opportunity of observing this horrid man up close, as well as the chance to make him as uncomfortable as he had made her the night before.

  “How are you to spend your stay here, Mr. Bingley?” Jane asked. “I hadn’t thought much past hunting, which I have yet to do,” he responded, laughing.

  “Well, you have only been here a number of days. Settling in takes up quite a bit of time, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Oh, I would.”

  With Elizabeth’s practiced feet and Darcy’s long stride, they were soon well ahead of Bingley and Jane, who continued talking and laughing as they meandered. Elizabeth was thinking of a clever way of introducing the subject of his departure for London, which was to take place in two days, according to Mr. Bingley. He had mentioned this at the beginning of their walk, but the subject was dropped when Darcy had nothing to add to Jane’s kind lamentations at his removal from town. Elizabeth was glad to be rid of him, but she was thankful for the opportunity for conversation that his departure afforded.

  Surprisingly, it was Darcy, who had chosen to occupy himself with either watching the progress of his own feet on the dirt path or of searching for something in the trees, that spoke first. “Miss Elizabeth, it is quite a wonder that you are capable of a walk after all the dancing you did last night. Miss Bingley was barely out of bed when we departed, and she did not participate half as much as you.”

  Elizabeth was completely taken aback. Does he think my mind as plain as my looks if he thought I would not perceive this as an insult? She wondered.

  “It is no wonder you are up and about, Mr. Darcy, as nothing could stir you into the festivities,” she could not help adding, “not even the ladies left to the side beca
use there weren’t enough gentlemen partners.”

  It was his turn to be taken aback. Surely I disapproved of her participating in nearly every dance, it was not very genteel, but I did not think my tone conveyed criticism. Had it? Surely this could not have provoked her into such a rage. For a rage it certainly was. He glanced quickly towards her face and was surprised at what he saw. She was angry, surely, but the mood added color to her face and a sparkle to her eyes he

  ! &! had not perceived last night when he had pronounced her “not pretty enough to tempt him.” He was confused by this change in her looks just as much as he was confused by her response. Could this have been the same country girl I was introduced to only last night? Thoughts flitted back to his knowledge of her family. Her mother was an open gossipmonger. Perhaps Elizabeth was prone to anger just as her mother was prone to outbursts of scandal.

  “Perhaps I misunderstand you, but if you mean to accuse me of being ungracious to my hosts, I must assure you that I did not find dancing to be an appropriate use of my time, especially as I was not acquainted with anyone in the room besides my own party.”

  “I suppose your return to London will rid you of such egregious forms of entertainment as well as the company you do not enjoy. I believe London balls must boast the finest guests in the world if they are enough to tempt you,” she added due emphasis on the last two words.

  Her choice of words made him freeze, and he realized the source of her contempt. Now it was his turn to be amused. It had been his comment! A woman slighted! He should have known. Of course he knew the remark to have been harsh and unnecessary, voiced at the height of his bad mood, but if it had caused all this trouble, he truly wished he could take it back. Now that he knew the source of her anger, however, he could easily see the situation mended. A careful apology and the assurance that he had been wrong, which he now realized would be a true statement, and it would all be forgotten.

  He stopped and fixed her with a solemn expression which she did not find to be much different than his dour one.