Page 51 of The Fire at Longbourn (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Brighton

Sussex

The brightly-colored canvas flapped gently above Mr. Bennet in the brisk ocean breezes.

The warm winds caressed his face and teased his hair, wending about the posts of his shelter as though they were not even there.

The bright sun, dazzling across the beach, did not touch him, as he sat beneath his shelter.

He watched the sunlight dance across the waves, the sea stretching on forever in a glorious wash of blues and greens and aquas. Bathing machines rattled up and down the sand, in and out of the water. Fluffy clouds floated in graceful counterpoint above the wooden contraptions.

The shrieks of joyful children drew his ear.

A horde of people – many of them related to him – frolicked on the sand before him.

He felt himself smiling, lips curling up ever so slightly, and found himself eminently grateful for the feeling.

It had been a long and sad year for him, and it both soothed his soul and lifted his heart to hear the happy voices of his grandchildren.

“Father?”

“Lizzy,” Mr. Bennet replied, and he patted the open chair next to him. “Can you sit and talk for a while, or do you need to chase your multitude of offspring?”

She chuckled and took the seat next to her father. “Fitzwilliam and several of the servants are keeping close track of them, especially little Josiah.”

Mr. Bennet squinted and looked around, and within a minute he had spied the figure of his small grandson, who was toddling parallel to the waves, leaping up and down every time the ripples of water touched his tiny bare feet.

“He is a lively one, Josiah,” Bennet said in amusement.

“They all were at that age,” Elizabeth replied with a dramatic groan. “There is such vitality and curiosity mixed with a total lack of fear.”

“They all come by that honestly, my Lizzy,” her father pointed out. “Do you not remember when you climbed the oak tree next to the wilderness at Longbourn?”

“I do,” his daughter said. “Poor Mamma! I was but four years old, I think, and climbed so high that none of the servants dared climb after me for fear the branches would break. I believe I had to be enticed down by the promise of my favorite apple tart for dinner!”

“That is exactly right,” Mr. Bennet agreed with a laugh.

Silence fell between them, a comfortable one, while the master of Longbourn looked over the beach.

Jane and her Charles were closest, surrounded by their children.

Fourteen-year-old Fitzroy was holding little Pearl, only just turned four, while Alexander and Rose had caught their mother’s hands and were whirling her gleefully about.

Bennet smiled affectionately. It had been such a blessing to watch Jane’s children grow up at nearby Netherfield and Mary’s at Lucas Lodge.

A shrieking eight-year-old Darcy ran by, followed by a quick footed nurse.

Her cackling younger brother ran behind, chasing the long-suffering nurse and kicking up sand.

The twins were walking down to the shoreline to each offer a hand to Josiah.

Arabella crouched in the sand with Hugh, indulging the little boy’s love of shells.

Mary Lucas sailed by, her infant son in her arms squinting balefully at the sun and the wind.

His plainest daughter was made lovely now by joy and cheer; Samuel Lucas loved her dearly, and all of Meryton admired her.

Motherhood agreed with her, and the halls of Lucas Lodge were filled with the sound of happy young ones every time Bennet visited.

A part of him longed deeply for his other two daughters, unable to be present though they were – Kitty, across the channel in Paris with her ambassador husband, and Lady Lydia Winterford, confined at home in Gloucestershire until she delivered their fourth child, expected some two months hence.

But for all that he wished to see them and his other grandchildren, he knew well that his daughters were pleased and contented, and he derived a great deal of happiness from that.

Mrs. Georgiana Raddon was gliding smoothly across the sand to join her brother at the water’s edge.

Bennet did not know her husband, Mr. Raddon, well – he was a wealthy landowner in Derbyshire – but the man had brought a violin to Brighton, and Georgiana had mentioned duets in passing.

Their two young sons, both as angelically blond as their mother, raced around on the beach kicking up spurts of sand.

A soft sigh at his side caused him to look at Elizabeth, who was staring out into the distant sky, her expression peaceful. As if sensing his scrutiny, she turned and said, “It is so delightfully cool, is it not? As much as we enjoyed our visit to Rosings, it was very hot.”

Bennet lifted a lazy eyebrow and inquired, “How are the Collinses? Is Mr. Collins frustrated at how long I am taking to leave this world?”

Elizabeth laughed and said, “Perhaps a little, though he certainly never mentions it. Charlotte is entirely at peace. She loves Hunsford, her children, and now that Anne is mistress of Rosings, I believe finds even the frequent trips to the mansion for dinner more a pleasure than not.”

“How is Lady Rockwell?” her father inquired.

“She is well. Indeed, she is far healthier than she was when her mother ruled over her. I think that much of Anne’s problem was a lack of exercise and far too much sitting about.

Lord Rockwell is both a devoted husband and an enthusiastic agriculturist. Anne chose well, though her mother would have been enraged. ”

“Would she? Her daughter is a noble now.”

“Yes, but the Rockwells are poor as church mice thanks to the spending habits of Lord Rockwell’s grandfather, and Lady Catherine would have been horrified to have the wealth of Rosings pass to another noble family entirely.

It matters not. Anne is now mother to a healthy little son, and her husband has the temperament and strength to manage the estate. ”

He gazed blankly out into the ocean even as his heart clenched with sadness. “I am glad she is doing well.”

A few quiet moments passed before Elizabeth asked, “How are you doing, Father?”

Bennet shook himself from his reverie and turned to look at his daughter, who was staring at him with sympathy in her brown eyes.

He opened his mouth intending to say something noncommittal, only to blurt out, “I am lonely.”

He shook his head in embarrassment and added, “But do not worry about me, Lizzy…”

“I do worry about you,” his second daughter replied, reaching out to take his aged hand in her own. “With Mamma gone, and all of us daughters married, it must be strange at Longbourn.”

Bennet’s hand tightened on hers, and he turned again to face out at the ocean, his eyes glassy with tears.

“I never thought I would outlive your mother, you know,” he croaked, and swallowed hard. “She was seven years younger, and I always assumed that I would die first. We did not have an easy marriage, certainly, but yes, I confess to missing her more than I thought possible this past year.”

Elizabeth leaned over to kiss her father’s wrinkled cheek. “I know, Father. I think that you and Mamma were more at ease with one another after the fire.”

“Oh, without a doubt,” Mr. Bennet agreed, leaning back and surreptitiously wiping his eyes with his right hand.

“I know that I was a poor husband and father before the fire, Lizzy. I hid in my library and ignored the needs of my wife and children. The fire, for all its horror, woke me up from my sleep. As painful as it was, losing the library was likely the best thing for the family.”

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose,” Elizabeth quoted softly.

“Yes, precisely,” Bennet agreed solemnly. “The fire was not a good thing, but it served to wake me up to my responsibilities as father, husband, and master of the estate, and that was a good thing.”

“It was,” his daughter said. “Now, I know you did not wish to travel far during your period of mourning, but that is over now. Therefore, I insist that you come to Pemberley in the autumn. You will not be lonely there.”

“That is kind of you, my dear. I daresay I will.”

Silence fell again for a few minutes between them, and finally Bennet said, “I am very happy for you, Lizzy. I am happy for all of you girls, of course, but you were the one I thought would struggle the most in finding a good husband. You are so bright and so intelligent that there are few men who can keep up with your quickness. But Darcy … Darcy is your perfect match.”

Elizabeth turned to look at her husband, who was carrying their little Josiah across the sand, and her face lit up with a glowing smile. Even after fifteen years of marriage, he still made her heart beat fast.

“Yes, he is absolutely wonderful,” she agreed.

/

Hired House

Brighton

Midnight

Elizabeth carefully opened the door to her bedchamber, already prepared to apologize to her personal maid. It had been a long and tiring day, and Molly was doubtless exhausted after helping chase the young Darcys around the beach and keeping them from harm.

To her surprise, the room’s only occupant was not her maid, but her husband, garbed in a dressing gown, seated on a comfortable chair near the cold fireplace, with two wax candles burning by his side and an open book in his hands.

“Fitzwilliam!” she said. “Where is Molly?”

“I sent her to bed,” her husband responded, setting the book aside and walking over to pull her into his arms. “Were you with Josiah?”

“Yes,” she said, leaning her head against Darcy’s strong chest. “The poor child really does not do well sleeping in a strange bed, and it took me more than an hour to calm him down. He is asleep now, and I am hopeful tomorrow night will be far easier.”

“You should be asleep too,” Darcy murmured.

“I quite agree,” she replied, yawning. “It was a wonderful day, but I am tired…”

“Then please, my lady, allow me,” Darcy said. She laughed and turned around, allowing him to help her out of her dress and into her nightgown.

Within minutes, they crawled into the great four poster together, and Elizabeth nestled herself, as she had so many times before, up against his larger bulk.

She felt her body relax, her mind ease, joyful to be with her beloved husband, with her children safely asleep, with the sound of the waves breaking on the shore not far away from the house.

“I love you, darling,” she said drowsily.

“I love you too, my precious Elizabeth.”

The End

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