Welcome to our Pride & Prejudice prequel! P&P: Prelude to Pemberley tells the story of the time leading up to the events of Pride & Prejudice, including what Darcy and Elizabeth were doing and thinking, Georgiana Darcy’s story, the events of Ramsgate, how Mr. Bingley came to lease Netherfield, and much more! Join us on our journey as the Austen Variations authors post the events of 1811 in real time on the date they happened – 214 years in the future.
At Lucas Lodge
October 22, 1811
The gathering at the embarrassingly gaudy Lucas Lodge was too crowded, too noisy, and in all ways not to Darcy’s taste. It would have been improper to refuse the invitation when the rest of the Bingley party wished to attend, but he had been tempted to plead a headache.
Except that he knew Miss Elizabeth Bennet was going to be there.
Why did he get such enjoyment from being merely being near her? No woman had ever tempted to lurk near her, to locate himself close to her so he could overhear her conversations and enjoy her wit.
Since that was all he would ever have of Miss Elizabeth, he would enjoy it while he could. Because there was no possibility of anything else, not after Georgiana’s near-elopement and disastrous experience at school. Now he had no choice but to make a brilliant match of his own to counter the fact that she could not.
He had not been lying when he told Georgiana she was not ruined. At least not yet. But if she became engaged to a nobleman, Wickham would come out of whatever hole he had scuttled into at the mere hint of a chance to extort money or influence from her. If by some miracle Wickham said nothing, the girls she had gone to school would get their revenge with whispers about her. Georgiana could find herself the subject of unpleasant gossip, and there was no guarantee her husband would not blame her for it. She had to marry outside of the ton, where the other girls would not notice or care, and it would not be worth Wickham’s efforts. Darcy, with deeper pockets, would be his target then, and that would protect Georgiana.
Bingley was the perfect choice for her. Rich enough to give her every comfort, but not high enough to draw attention. And should her near-elopement ever come to light, Bingley would not be unkind about it.
But keeping Georgiana safe had a price for Darcy. He had always expected to find a well-born and well-dowered bride, but now he had no choice. If Georgiana married down, he could not afford to do the same. The Darcy family name, not to mention the estate, would never recover from it. His children would pay the price.
It had not particularly troubled him until he met Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She would never have been considered a suitable bride for him, but before Georgiana’s disasters, it would not have been utterly impossible. His family would have disapproved, and everyone in the ton would have laughed at him, but it would be survivable. At least in his dreams.
Now it was out of the question. And he was beginning to suspect that the suitable young ladies would suffer by the comparison to her vibrant presence. Even if he never saw her again, any other lady risked being a disappointment. He owed his future wife better than to always compare her to another woman.
That was a problem for the future, though. Today he would drink in the pleasure of her presence, her lilting voice making witty comments, and the brightness she brought to the room. He could hover on the edges of her conversation, delighting in simply listening to her. It did not even trouble him when she caught him in the act of eavesdropping.
She was unlike any other lady. He had never heard her make a cutting remark or a set-down, unlike Bingley’s sisters or any of the fine ladies he had danced with in London on those rare occasions when he could not avoid a ball. She seemed to have a kind word for everyone, the opposite of the girls who had tormented Georgiana at school. Why, she seemed to spend much of her time with the spinster Miss Lucas, who was not her match in beauty, wit, or birth. She was wasted in this dull country gathering.
Why did she have to be so far out of his reach?
He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he failed to notice that upstart Sir William Lucas approaching him. Now the tradesman was making fatuous remarks about dancing, Darcy’s least favorite subject. Darcy tried to cut him off several times, but the man seemed impervious to his hints and cutting remarks. Not only was he dull, but Darcy could not even have the enjoyment of watching Miss Elizabeth when he was forced to converse with this jumped-up tradesman.
But then Sir William looked past him, where light footsteps were approaching.
“My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you.” Then he took her hand and held it out to Darcy.
He could put up even with Sir William’s nonsense if this was his reward! A half-hour of Miss Elizabeth’s attention and the chance to touch her hand. It would be a privilege. How foolish he had been not to dance with her at the Meryton assembly!
To his surprise, she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William, “Indeed, Sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.”
She truly was not a fortune hunter, or she would have jumped at the opportunity.
He would not give up so easily. “I pray you, Miss Elizabeth, to allow me the honour of your hand for this dance.”
There was fire in her eyes. “I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am not dancing tonight.”
Sir William said, “You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half hour.”
“Mr. Darcy is all politeness.” But her smile was not the warm one he had seen her direct at her friends.
“He is indeed, but considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance; for who would object to such a partner?”
She must have known that Sir William would persist until she agreed, for she gave a teasing glance and turned away without another word.
Regretfully, he watched her walk off, enjoying the sway of her light and pleasing body. Why had she refused to dance with him? He was an eligible partner, and gentlemen were few. She ought to have welcomed his attention.
Except that it was clear Sir William had pushed him into making the offer. Not that he had been unwilling, as it happened, but Elizabeth knew he had declined to dance with her before. Could she have refused now because she thought he was reluctant? That he should not be forced to dance with her?
Was she being considerate of his feelings?
If so, that only proved she was a gem among women. He wished Georgiana could meet her somehow, so his sister could see that young ladies existed who were kind and thoughtful. Perhaps she could even have a friend for once. But he could hardly make such an introduction without raising impossible expectations.
“I can guess the subject of your reverie.” Miss Bingley had sidled up beside him.
“I should imagine not.”
“You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner—in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity and yet the noise; the nothingness and yet the self-importance of all these people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!”
How different she was from Elizabeth! Like Georgiana’s schoolmates, Miss Bingley thought to diminish others, rather than to do the right thing. Darcy wanted her to leave him alone to appreciate watching Elizabeth, so he said, “Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.”
Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face. “Pray tell me what lady has the credit of inspiring such reflections? In her vanity, he had turned his comment into a compliment to herself.
He would not play that game, not now. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” That should chase her away, if nothing else did.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet!” repeated Miss Bingley. “I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite? And pray when am I to wish you joy?”
There was no way to rid himself of her. She was his hostess at Netherfield, and that meant he must engage with her whenever she wished. Especially if Georgiana married Bingley, and Miss Bingley became her sister. “That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy.”
“Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed, and of course she will be always at Pemberley with you.”
He kept his expression firmly indifferent, lest she suspect too much. He had no desire to be needled about Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Not when he was going to have enough trouble forgetting her as it was.
2 comments
Georgiana knocked out a bully’s front tooth, but the girl won’t tell people she’s a tooth missing. Mrs Young says the tooth was false as a result of a riding accident and the bully moved schools afterwards. Why move schools after an accident? I expect she bullied girls at her last school. Did a victim hit her there? Lady Matlock talked the girl’s father into silence. Her schoolteachers won’t say there’s bullying at the school. Georgiana wasn’t expelled, she left. She didn’t elope. A childhood friend, her father’s godson visited her before she was out but Mrs Young chaperoned her on walks. If Wickham uses her letters Darcy can say they’re forgeries and it isn’t her handwriting. Georgiana’s a popular name thanks to King George. She will have been taught penmanship so she writes like every schoolgirl in a trained hand. As Wickham wants to marry an heiress like Miss King he can’t tell people he’s recently courted another heiress; he must pretend to be in love with Miss King to marry her. Bingley is a bad match for Georgiana. He’s no estate and half her brother’s income. When he buys an estate his income will fall as land doesn’t give as high a return as funds. Colonel Fitzwilliam knows about the bullying and her near elopement and blames Wickham not Georgiana, he hasn’t as much money as Bingley but is an Earl’s son. As a Colonel he’ll in time become a General automatically, probably fast as a result of the war. If Anne doesn’t marry Rosings may be left to Darcy or the Colonel. The Colonel’s elder brother is married but we don’t know how many sons, if any, he has. In those days so many children died young that a second son always had some hope of inheriting. Why doesn’t Darcy think of Colonel Fitzwilliam as a husband for Georgiana? A great insight into Darcy’s thoughts.
Author
You have many good points here. In this story, we’ve tried hard not to contradict anything that Jane Austen said in Pride & Prejudice – the book, that is. And she says that Darcy wanted Bingley to marry Georgiana. As you’ve said, Bingley is a bad match for an earl’s niece with a large dowry. Darcy must have his reasons, though, or Jane Austen wouldn’t have said that. Our theory was that Darcy believed there would be scandal if she tried to make a better match, and Wickham could ruin Georgiana with words even if he has no proof. All it takes is a few whispers in the right place. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!