Desperate Hearts: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Read online

  “Obstacles? Do you mean to say that she has taken up with another man?” Anne looked at him expectantly.

  “Has some news of this reached Kent already?” Darcy put his cup and saucer down on the table, crossed his legs, and with his hand to his chin, awaited Anne’s reply.

  “In a way. You see, my mother first learned of your attachment from that annoying Collins person. She did not receive the news well. So when Caroline Bingley asked for her help in separating you from the lady …”

  Darcy pitched forward in the chair, interrupting Anne. “What do you mean? How do you know Caroline Bingley? What has she – what has your mother – to do with this?” Darcy regarded her with some trepidation, a small glint of understanding growing in his eyes.

  “Wills, I am so sorry. I should have come here sooner. This Caroline Bingley wrote to my mother more than a week ago asking to meet with her to organize a plan to prevent you from marrying this … Eliza?” Anne wasn’t quite sure she remembered the name correctly.

  “Elizabeth.” Darcy corrected her firmly. “Are you saying that Caroline Bingley and my aunt have done something to Elizabeth? What? Paid her off so she would not marry me? Threatened her or her family?” A look of alarm crossed Darcy’s face.

  “Wills, you know that if this lady loves you she would not be bought off. No, it is worse than that, but at least there have been no threats. They … “ here Anne groped for words, trying to be clear but not wishing to cause pain to her cousin. “They hired an actress to pretend to be Elizabeth to fool you into thinking that she no longer loves you. They determined that if you could see your Elizabeth happily in the arms of another man that you would abandon your pursuit.” Darcy stared at her with eyes wide and mouth agape. Anne pulled a folded sheet of paper from her reticule, smoothed it out, and handed it to Darcy. “This is the express my mother received from Caroline Bingley. She thinks I do not know where she hides her personal papers, but I have known for years that her footstool has a secret compartment.” Anne laughed to herself.

  Darcy read the letter in astonishment. “And your mother agreed to receive Caroline Bingley? What kind of scheme did they devise?” Anger had replaced astonishment on Darcy’s face.

  “Yes. Miss Bingley came to Rosings Park accompanied by a Mr. and Mrs. Moretti. They are members of a troupe of stage players.” Anne then told Darcy of the conversation in the parlour with the three visitors, Mr. Collins being called upon to confirm the lady’s identity, and the details discussed in private with her mother and Caroline Bingley. Of her mother’s agreement to finance the scheme and Caroline’s eagerness to make all the arrangements. And of her own growing disgust while she listened to them.

  “As soon as I could escape to my apartment I went to Mrs. Jenkinson and began to cry. I could not believe my own mother was capable of such malevolence. I knew it would be impossible to get a letter out of Rosings to you, so I determined that I would come here to town to escape her for good and to apprise you of the plot being waged against you. I am sorry it took me so long to get here – as you know, my mother has allowed me very little opportunity to make any kind of plan or arrangement, so it took me longer than I expected to organize the servants I wished to take with me, our means of travel, our belongings, and lodging both in town and along the journey. Mother would not let us take any of the family carriages so we were obliged to travel in the phaeton that my father gave me. As it is an open carriage we traveled more slowly than usual to avoid the winds. On the second day out I was feeling most unwell, so we were obliged to spend an additional night at the coaching inn, further delaying our arrival here in town. Pray tell me, am I too late? Has the hateful scheme already been launched?” Darcy looked away, avoiding her eyes. “Oh I am so sorry I was not here sooner to warn you. Please believe me, whatever you have witnessed is nothing but a sham,” Anne said sadly.

  She continued: “I just heard from my solicitor that his agent has located a house in town – actually only a short walk from here. I will make the purchase and remove there tomorrow from the hotel with my staff. We traveled with only one small bag each, but before we left Rosings I arranged with one of the tenants to bring our trunks and boxes in his wagon once we have secured permanent lodgings in town.” Here Anne grinned. “Away from Rosings. My house. My staff. I like the sound of that!”

  Darcy smiled benevolently at his cousin, proud that she had accomplished all of this by herself, but still rather unnerved by the intelligence she had just imparted to him. “Now that you know that your lady love truly has not been inconstant, that it has all been a cruel trick, what will you do? Will you go to Elizabeth to assure yourself that all is well?” Anne asked him.

  “The first thing …” Darcy began, but stopped when he heard voices in the hallway. He recognized his cousin’s voice, and Charles’ voice, immediately. The third male voice sounded familiar but he could not say for certain who it was. With a questioning look on his face he turned to face the sitting room door, and as his butler knocked he replied, “Come.”

  Doran entered the room and announced “Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Charles Bingley, and Mr. Nathaniel Bennet.” Darcy stood as the party from Hertfordshire entered the room, then bowed to the group.

  Fitzwilliam had already made half his way to the table holding decanters and glasses when he noticed Anne. “Cousin Anne! How delightful to see you! What are you doing here?” he said with a huge smile on his face … which faded as he asked “Is Aunt Catherine here?” He lowered his voice while looking around the room suspiciously.

  “No, Fitzwilliam.” Darcy said to his cousin, with some unintended warmth in his voice. “Annie is here with only her companion. She has just been telling me a fantastical tale of treachery involving her mother.” Darcy walked towards his new guests, holding his hand out to shake first Bingley’s hand and then Mr. Bennet’s. “Mr. Bennet, I am indeed honoured by your presence in my home, although I must say that I cannot account for it. I trust Miss Elizabeth is well? Do please take a seat while I arrange refreshments.”

  As the gentlemen found seats, Darcy poured glasses of port for them, and then settled himself again in the chair nearest Anne. “Please, Annie,” he now addressed his other cousin. “Now that our guests have been seated, tell them what you have told me.”

  Anne continued to sip her tea as she repeated her tale of the visitors to Rosings Park, and then passed the letter to them to peruse. When Charles read it, he emitted an oath – something that, given his amiable nature, he rarely did. “Please excuse my language,” he spoke to Anne. Then he looked at Darcy and shook his head. “This time my sister has gone too far. I sincerely apologize for her, Darcy, and you can be certain that she will be held accountable as soon as I see her.”

  Darcy nodded in response to his friend, then looked quizzically at the Colonel. “Now it is my turn to continue the story.” Fitzwilliam related how he had studied his cousin, as well as the situation, then pieced the clues together, and surmised that the explanation could be found at Longbourn. “And now for the solution to the riddle, which Mr. Bennet must needs deliver. I believe you will all be as astonished as I was.”

  Mr. Bennet took another sip of his brandy and, still holding the glass, launched into the story of his brother and his brother’s daughters. Darcy did not take his eyes off the man, although his expression changed into one of shock. “Do you mean to say that we have been seeing Miss Elizabeth’s twin sister here in town these past weeks?” he asked.

  Recovering his usual sardonic sense of humour, Mr. Bennet sipped again before he replied with a smile. “No wonder why you thought she was my Lizzy, eh Darcy? Good thing that her sister is already married or you might have a difficult choice between the two of them!” He, Bingley, and the Colonel laughed, although Darcy’s face remained set in stone.

  “Does Miss Elizabeth know of this? She never mentioned anything to me about a twin sister.” Darcy asked of Mr. Bennet.

  “She has learned of it just yesterday,” he replied. “She joined us
whilst I related the story to your cousin. She is looking very much forward to meeting her sister. And to seeing you again, of course. She and my Jane are at their Aunt and Uncle Gardiner’s house. We thought it best to meet with you, then with the Morettis, and if they are willing we will all head off to Gracechurch Street for a family reunion.”

  “I am ready. Let us away,” Darcy said, rising from his chair.

  “Now wait a moment, young man” Mr. Bennet stopped him. “I have no wish to frighten my niece by arriving with a posse. I will go alone to their living quarters. And if she is amenable, we will return here to collect you – all of you, if you’d like,” he said, his eyes sweeping across both Bingley and Miss DeBourgh “and then to Gracechurch Street.” Satisfied, he stood and placed his glass on the tray. He turned to the Colonel. “Just across the street you said? I will go right now.”

  The Colonel nodded his head and deposited his own glass on the tray. “Yes, you can just see the house through this window,” he said as he started for the window, when Darcy’s comment stopped him in his tracks.

  “They are no longer at the ambassador’s house, Fitzwilliam. They moved out yesterday, no doubt after being forewarned by either your sister,” he nodded at Bingley “or your mother,” here he caught Anne’s eye.

  Both gentlemen were thunderstruck by this news. “Now what?” Mr. Bennet raised an eyebrow at the Colonel, who turned to Darcy and asked “Do you know where they are? Perhaps they left a forwarding address with the ambassador’s staff?”

  Darcy shook his head. “I do not know about that, but I followed their carriage when they pulled out. I would be pleased to lead you there,” he told them.

  The Colonel, with mock surprise, said “Well done, Darcy! You will make a creditable military intelligence agent yet!” He laughed lightly at his own joke.

  “Mr. Darcy, surely you see the wisdom in remaining behind. Seeing you might frighten them into thinking that there will be a confrontation. According to Miss DeBourgh’s account, I do not believe they were invested in the outcome of this charade other than being paid for their thespian services. But they may have apprehended that there could be other consequences, perhaps even legal consequences, to their actions. My niece knows me. If I show up at their door en groupe it could very well cause them to suspect that there may be trouble. It would not suit our purposes if they refused to receive us. I beg you to allow me to follow my plan. A few more minutes’ delay can have no effect on the ultimate resolution of this situation and your reconciliation with my Lizzy.”

  “Indeed, Darcy,” the Colonel interjected. “If the young lady were to see the scowl on your face she would surely go scampering off, and her husband might just reach for his pistol in order to protect his wife. Now give us the address and while Mr. Bennet is collecting the couple you can arrange for an additional carriage to ferry us all to Gracechurch Street.” He turned to Anne. “You will accompany us, Cousin?”

  With a big smile on her face, Anne replied “Of course, Leo. Having been in on the dreadful beginning I would not miss the joyful ending for the world. And …” here she cast a sideways glance and a grin at Darcy “I wish to meet William’s intended as soon as may be.”

  “Excellent” Mr. Bennet pronounced. “Now let me be off at once, Colonel. Where are they now, Darcy?”

  Somewhat reluctantly – although he knew that Mr. Bennet and the Colonel were correct in their assertions – he wrote on a slip of paper and handed it to his cousin, who replied “Very good, Darcy. I will see Mr. Bennet to the carriage and give this to the driver. When Mr. Bennet returns with Bingley’s carriage and our new acquaintances we can all be off again.” He looked at Mr. Bennet, who was watching him. “New acquaintances for some of us, that is. I imagine you will be very happy to see your niece again, sir.”

  “Indeed yes. It has been far too long” Mr. Bennet replied.

  “No need to ring, Darcy” the Colonel called as he and Mr. Bennet made their way out of the study. “I know this house well enough to see Mr. Bennet safely to the door, and shall return momentarily.”

  The Colonel accompanied Mr. Bennet to the carriage, and asked him if he was sure he didn’t want him to go along. “In case there is trouble. I can wait in the carriage.”

  Mr. Bennet assured him that there would be no trouble with his niece, although if she saw a military man waiting in the carriage it might alarm her and her husband. “No, better to do it my way, son. I shall be back here shortly. If I do not return in an hour’s time you can lead the cavalry to come rescue me!” he grinned as the carriage pulled away.

  The Colonel watched the carriage depart, then went back inside to Darcy’s study to await Mr. Bennet’s return.

  Thirty-one: A short time later, at Greypool lane

  “Uncle Nate! What are you doing in London? I know how much you dislike coming to town.”

  The pretty young woman who looked so much like his own precious Lizzy opened the door and, when she saw who it was, smiled broadly and ushered him into the humble rooms she shared with her husband, who was standing several feet behind his wife.

  “I do not believe you have ever met my husband. Uncle Nathaniel Bennet, this is Gino Moretti.” As Bridget introduced them, Gino walked over and shook Mr. Bennet’s outstretched hand.

  “I am not quite clear about which of us should welcome the other to the family, Mr. Moretti” Mr. Bennet said with a grin. “It is a great pleasure to meet my niece’s husband. I was sorry that I was unable to attend the wedding.”

  “The pleasure is mine, sir, especially when I see how happy your visit has made my wife.” The two men smiled at each other.

  “I am surprised you recognized me, Bridget – it has been almost two years since I last saw you” Mr. Bennet kissed the top of Bridget’s head. “It really is wonderful to see you again.”

  “Gino, sit with my uncle while I go fix a pot of coffee and some biscuits” she instructed her husband. “Can you stay a while, Uncle? We have so much to catch up on!”

  “Indeed we do, my dear, although I suspect there is more to catch up on than you imagine,” Mr. Bennet responded.

  “That sounds very mysterious, Uncle. Whatever do you mean?” Bridget looked at him with her eyebrows raised – just as Lizzy often did.

  Mr. Bennet sat down in what appeared to be the most comfortable chair in the small sitting room. Gino took a seat on the settee opposite him, clearing some papers off the low table between the settee and chair, making room for the soon-to-be delivered refreshments. “My wife tells me that you much prefer the countryside – Hertfordshire, isn’t it? So what brings you to town today?” Gino asked.

  “I came to London to see Bridget. And you” Mr. Bennet nodded towards Gino.

  “If you had written to us to let us know that you intended to visit we would have arranged a better welcome, and we would have invited you to stay for dinner. I do not know if we have the makings of a respectable dinner in the pantry. Perhaps we can do some marketing after we have our coffee, and then be able to offer you a proper meal.”

  Looking at Gino and their lodgings, Mr. Bennet could see that money was probably not very plentiful, so he said “I thank you, but there was not enough time to write – probably not even an express. In any event, I did not have your current address. I was hoping you would be my guests for dinner out. But first let us have our coffee, along with a little talk.”

  By this time, Bridget was setting out cups and saucers, a sugar bowl and milk pitcher, and a plate of biscuits as well as one of bread and butter. Then she went back to the kitchen and returned with a coffeepot. She set it down on the table and then turned to Mr. Bennet. “So, Uncle, to what do we owe the pleasure of your company?”

  Mr. Bennet leaned back in the chair, steepling his fingers in front of him as was his wont when he was about to begin a disquisition. Bridget took a seat next to Gino and the two of them looked at Mr. Bennet expectantly. Mr. Bennet settled in to impart approximately the same history to Bridget and Gino as he had told
to Lizzy and the Colonel.

  “My dear Bridget,” he began directly. “I know that Maureen told you many years ago that you are adopted – the child of her sister and my brother. Has she told you anything else of your childhood?”

  Bridget exchanged a look of trepidation with her husband. “Beyond what I remember myself, only that my parents died when I was quite young.”

  “Did she ever tell you anything about the rest of your family?” he asked cautiously.

  “The rest of my family? I know of no other family but you, Uncle.” Bridget replied.

  “Then what I have to tell you may surprise you.” Gino took his wife’s hand and asked Mr. Bennet to continue.

  “Your parents, Bridget, had not one but two children. You and your sister.” Bridget’s eyes opened wide. “Really? I had a sister? Why did I never meet her, Uncle? Where is she?” She asked hesitantly. What if her sister had also died? She did not want to learn that she had a sister only to lose her again in a moment. And she certainly did not wish to discomfit her uncle by speaking of a painful topic.

  Mr. Bennet smiled benevolently at her. “Let me tell you the whole story in my own way, my dear. Maureen and I had decided that we would tell it to you when you reached your majority at age twenty-one. But circumstances have made it necessary to tell you a few months earlier.” Whereupon he took up the same story as he had explained it to Lizzy.