Page 24 of Aunt Felicity

A s he had not received a reply to his letter to Richard, William had been beset by worries he had been too honest in his missive. Honesty was his north star so lying to Richard was not an option; however, he need not have told him everything in the letter. And after writing all that he did, why on earth did he not ask Richard to keep it only to himself?

On the one hand, he believed that he was a proper gentleman, but he was acutely aware that many—most—in his family would see his decision not to apologise, and the reasons he used to justify it, as most ungentlemanlike.

If he were honest with himself, he would admit that his mother would have been most disappointed in him. The question was why did he think the way he did? William knew he could not claim the mantle of honesty while justifying his attitudes by claiming it was his reaction to being hunted.

He was not the first, nor would he be the last, man to be made to feel like a fox at the hunt. Andrew had suffered much of the same while never using hauteur, rudeness, or arrogance to extricate himself from the many traps which had been set for him. Neither his older cousin, nor any other he knew, had ever insulted a lady as part of his protection. Then again, Miss Elizabeth had never tried to hunt him, and other than some teasing remarks, she hardly looked at him and certainly never sought his attention.

His anger should have been directed at Bingley, not the lady he had put forward as a possible dance partner. Added to that, when William factored in the shortage of younger men in the area thanks to the war, he should have asked ladies to dance, his own discomfort at dancing with unknown partners be damned.

He realised that he could not claim the title of gentleman and refuse to apologise for his disgusting behaviour at the same time. He had thought her not good enough for him, but mayhap it was the other way around. The question was whether he was good enough for Miss Elizabeth.

As was his wont when he considered weighty issues, he was dressed at dawn without ringing for Carstens. His valet deserved his rest. William made his way to the stables and waved the groom off; he tacked Zeus himself. As soon as he cleared the paddock close to the stables, William gave his stallion its head as man and beast thundered over the fields as one.

He jumped the fence between Netherfield Park and Longbourn. As he landed he recalled the vision of the girl he had judged to be a tenant’s daughter that day he and Bingley had inspected the estate. As he thought of her stature and her raven tresses, he began to think that could very likely have been Miss Elizabeth taking an early morning stroll. He had heard her described as a great walker, very much like Aunt Felicity. As soon as he compared his aunt’s looks to that of Miss Elizabeth’s, without the filter of his improper pride, he realised they looked like they could be…family?

He rode towards the hill the locals had dubbed Oakham Mount. As he did, William knew what he needed to do. Later this very day, he must ride to Longbourn and deliver his long overdue apology.

Arriving at the base of the hill, he saw not another person about, but he did not think there were too many who were up at the crack of dawn like himself. Knowing that Zeus would not run off, William left the reins draped over the saddle, and began the walk up the hill.

As he approached the summit, he heard the sweetest sounds. Had he not recognised the perfect contralto voice, he would have thought that a celestial being from one of the choirs of angels was singing atop the hill. He debated turning around and leaving Miss Elizabeth to her solitude, but this was not a time to be timid. He needed to grab the bull by the horns. He had delayed making his apology for far too long already. There was no time like the present.

On reaching the flattened top, he saw her sitting on a boulder, looking to the east. She was framed by the riot of colours produced as the sun approached the horizon, and she had never looked more beautiful to him. Not handsome enough to tempt him indeed. Of all of the times he had prevaricated to himself, that one was the greatest of all.

He did not notice the twig until the crack broke the peace of the morning causing birds to take wing from the branches of the oak trees. Miss Elizabeth must have heard the noise too, as the sweet sound of her singing ceased, and she swung around to face him. Her perfect eyes got bigger when she noted who it was.

“Please excuse my interrupting your solitude, but there are things I must say to you, if you will allow me to do so,” William told her as he bowed to the beauty seated on the rock.

Elizabeth had a quick internal debate. She decided that to refuse to allow him to say his piece was churlish, especially on top of the surprise he was going to receive later that morning. “Unless you intend to insult me again, I will hear what you have to say,” Elizabeth allowed.

“Miss Elizabeth, I am ashamed I did not speak right after my offence at the assembly. I should never have uttered those untrue words. All I needed to do was tell Bingley to cease importuning me to dance. Instead I slighted you, which I will forever regret. I am not sure I deserve it, but please, Miss Elizabeth, can you see it in that generous spirit of yours to pardon this poor excuse for a gentleman,” William begged.

Mr Darcy apologising to her without the dressing down he was to receive later that morning was the last thing Elizabeth had expected to hear from him. Aunt Felicity had intended to join her, and would have been with her now when the Darcy heir came upon her, but she had sent a message that she would do that on the morrow as she was tired from the travelling and emotions of the previous day.

In all fairness, his words had been completely sincere. Had she not told Anna that she would accept such an apology? “Before I say anything about your apology, was it prompted by someone who told you it was needed?”

“No. I knew when I said them, that I should never have uttered the words, but having done so, I realised I owed you an apology, which as I stated, should have been proffered to you immediately. I will be honest and tell you that over the last days I have been shamed with the realisation that my family, from my father on down, would be rather disgusted by my behaviour. “May I accompany you when you return to Longbourn? It was my intention to arrive at your home during calling hours as I need to make my amends to your family as well.”

Elizabeth gave a cryptic smile. “You are welcome to join us when we break our fasts, but I warn you we have some family with us at the moment, in case that makes a difference to you. And Mr Darcy, you have my full and unreserved pardon.”

He bowed to her in thanks. “Unless you think I would be disturbing your family, for myself, I see no problem in meeting your relatives,” William could not fathom the smile, but she did look very pretty when she did so. “I have another confession to make to you.” Elizabeth inclined her head for him to proceed. “From the time I truly looked at you and since, I have considered you one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.” He was not unhappy that he caused her to blush.

“So, I am handsome enough to tempt you?” Elizabeth joked to cover her embarrassment.

“Indeed.” As he looked at her from close up, the similarities between her and Aunt Felicity were even easier to see. And the mesmerising eyes were the same as Richard’s. Very particular. “I wonder if your family was related to mine at some point in history,” William commented.

It was everything Elizabeth could do not to burst into laughter as she fought to school her features. “W-what do you mean,” she managed without giggling.

“There is an uncanny resemblance between you and my aunt, the Countess of Matlock,” William declared. “I will have to write to her and ask her if she knows of a connection in her history to the Bennets of Longbourn.”

The sun was breaking above the horizon now, so rather than look at her cousin, Elizabeth watched as it rose, until there was a gap between it and the land, while she gathered her thoughts and schooled her features. Once she had mastered herself, she turned to Cousin William. “You never know,” Elizabeth responded as she coughed into her hand. “It is time for me to begin my return walk, so shall we depart?”

She was in good spirits until they reached the base of Oakham Mount. It was then Elizabeth saw the great black beast waiting off the path as he chewed on some grass. She froze.

William did not miss her reaction to Zeus. “He is very gentle and will not hurt you,” he said gently.

“That may be so, but ever since my father’s stallion bit me when I was seven, I have kept my distance from horses,” Elizabeth revealed. “I know it is illogical to impute the actions of one horse to all, but I have been afraid of the beasts ever since.”

“If you like, walk on my other side, so I will be between you and him until we pass him. He will stay where he is until I give him the signal to follow us,” William promised.

“I see he is not secured with a tether, how is it he remained here and did not wander off?” Elizabeth asked as she eyed the stallion warily as they passed him.

He did not move. He did watch them though, his big eyes following the two as they walked. “I have had him since he was a foal, and I trained him to do many things that most horses do not do. For Instance, I never have to tie him up, and he will still be where I left him when I return. Also, if another tries to ride him, unless I give him a signal, he will not move.” Once there was about fifteen yards between them, William gave Zeus the signal to follow. The horse walked after them obediently, maintaining the same distance as they walked. “You see, he is a good boy and would never bite you or any other.”

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Never having set foot inside of Longbourn before, William knew not what to expect. It was a pleasant, well maintained manor house. It was not Pemberley, but then the Darcy estate was incomparable. He froze when he saw the painting in the hallway.

“H-how can this b-be? That is m-my Aunt Felicity?” William stammered.

“That is my late Grandmama Beth,” Elizabeth reported. “We lost Grandmama when I was a babe.”

William stared at the painting and then exclaimed, “Aunt Beth!”

Those in the breakfast parlour heard William’s voice. They were certain that Lizzy had a good reason to bring him to Longbourn earlier, before the big surprise at Netherfield Park. On hearing her nephew react to the painting of her mother, Felicity stood and stepped into the hallway unseen by her nephew just as he used the name he used to call her late mother.

“Yes William, you are correct, that is the lady you knew as Aunt Beth, my mother, whose full name was Elizabeth Rose Bennet,” Felicity revealed as she stepped next to her bewildered nephew.

“How is it you are here? Wait if your mother was Miss Elizabeth’s grandmother then you are…?” William puzzled.

“Her aunt, just like I am yours. Yes, Andrew, Richard, and Bethie are first cousins to the Bennet girls, and that makes you and Anna cousins by marriage. As to why we are here, perhaps we should enter the breakfast parlour. Then we may talk, and Lizzy can tell us why you are here now,” Felicity commanded.

When he entered the parlour seeing his father, sister, uncle, and cousins was not as much of a shock as it would have been before seeing Aunt Felicity.

“Cousin William apologised, sincerely and unreservedly this morning when he discovered me on Oakham Mount,” Elizabeth revealed.

“They all read your letter, William,” Richard revealed. “Mother and Father were planning to contact the Bennets, but your letter accelerated the meeting. I am pleased you apologised to my cousin, otherwise I would have had to thrash you.”

The story of the schism in the Bennet and Fitzwilliam families was told for William. He was not sad he had never met his Grandfather Dryden or his Uncle Jefferson.

“If I may, I would like to beg the forgiveness of all of the Bennets for my bad behaviour since I have been in Hertfordshire. Especially to you, Miss Bennet…”

“Jane or Cousin Jane, if you please,” Jane interjected.

“Especially to you, Cousin Jane, I am the last person in the world who should attempt to judge another’s feelings,” William stated contritely.

“I know that I look serene all the time, and true, it was not for you to judge. However, I do forgive you. If you had told Mr Bingley what you thought and because of that he had abandoned me, the fault would lie squarely on the shoulders of an irresolute man,” Jane granted.

Mentioning Bingley made William think of the shrew. “Miss Bingley will have an apoplexy. Whenever she can, she derides the Bennets and their connections in my presence, and yes, this is after Bingley told her I will never offer for her even if she attempts to entrap me. I swear that she is as delusional as our aunt in Kent. I do not know what she hopes to achieve with her barbs regarding the Bennets…” William stopped as he thought of his comment to the harpy at Lucas Lodge. “I must own that it is due to me that she had formed a hatred of the Bennets, and especially of Cousin Elizabeth.”

“Did you say something complimentary to Lizzy in her hearing?” Richard guessed.

“Something like that,” William replied without looking at Elizabeth.

“We will take care of Miss Bingley and her delusions at eleven when we call on Netherfield Park,” Felicity informed her nephew. “That is when you would have discovered we are here, and that I am Thomas Bennet’s sister.”

“Although you should never have slighted Lizzy, and you should have apologised immediately, I am pleased that you did so before you were commanded to make amends,” Darcy told his son. “It was far more gentlemanly to decide to do so without any prompting from others.”

“Thank you, Father. I am sorry I let you down,” William inclined his head to his sire.

“Now you are much more like the brother I know and love,” Georgiana added.

“You seem to have recovered well, Sweetling,” William grinned at his sister. Seeing the questioning looks from all of the Bennets he looked at his father apologetically. He had not thought they did not know.

“All is well, William.” Darcy turned to his daughter, “it is your story to tell if you choose.”

“I am among family. In early summer…” Georgiana told of her holiday in Ramsgate and how Mrs Younge and George Wickham manipulated her. “Now that you know how badly I behaved, I will understand if you want nothing more to do with me,” she said sadly as a few tears escaped her eyes.

“Anna, do not even dare to think that we would abandon anyone, especially not family, who was worked on by two miscreants. Besides, you realised the elopement was not right, and withdrew your permission,” Elizabeth stated emphatically, her sisters and parents nodding in agreement. “We are very proud of your bravery.”

Anna glowed with happiness and pride because her new cousins did not hold anything against her and called her brave.

“I think I should send a note to Netherfield Park to tell them I am breaking my fast here, so they will not wait for me,” William announced. “It will ensure that a certain shrew is in a rather bad mood when we arrive.”

“That is good thinking, William,” Felicity agreed, “In fact; you may want to mention that you will return with the Bennets and family members.”

“Where may I scribe a note?” William enquired.

Bennet rang for Hill and instructed him to show the young man to his study. Like his father had on entering the study, William was impressed by the collection of books—not so much the quantity, but definitely the quality. He wrote his note and handed it to the butler who would send a groom to Netherfield Park.

“As you know, none of us have ever wanted to meet Miss Caroline Bingley, and we still do not,” Reggie stated when his nephew returned to the breakfast parlour. “After she had the temerity to write this fiction to your aunt,” Reggie held up the offending letter, “we felt the time to excise her from society had finally arrived. She is a cancer on society.”

“Bingley and the Hursts have done everything they can to try and redirect her. As long as what is done does not redound on them, I will agree with your plans,” William responded.

“I will make sure my friends know that,” Felicity assured her nephew.

William took the letter from his uncle. It was written on overly expensive pink pressed paper. The unmistakable smell of the shrew’s perfume lingered on the paper. He unfolded it and began to read.

10 October 1811

Netherfield Park

Near the backwater of Meryton in Hertfordshire

Lady Matlock,

Please excuse the liberty I take in writing to you without our having been introduced. I know you desired the introduction, but my brother did not allow it.

William could not help but shake his head. How many times had the delusional shrew been told that the Fitzwilliams refused to be known to her? His eyes dropped back to the page.

I must inform you that your esteemed nephew, Mr William Darcy, has fallen under the spell of a temptress who has used her feminine wiles on him. What poor man can resist when an unscrupulous woman allows him to lie with her without the protections of matrimony?

I am afraid that the jezebel will entrap your nephew. I can understand why she is desperate. She is from an inconsequential estate which is entailed to the male line. She is one of five daughters, so they must compromise a rich man to save them from the hedgerows. She needs to acquire connections desperately as her own connections are all to men in trade. Who is this woman without morals? Her name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

There is no doubt in my mind that you will act to save your nephew from this lightskirt.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Caroline Bingley

By the time he finished the vitriolic pack of lies, William was fuming.

“Now you understand why she must be ruined, do you not?” Felicity verified.

William nodded his confirmation. The time to depart for Netherfield Park could not come soon enough.