Page 56 of To Go Against Her Heart (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Madam,

It grieves me to withhold my name as I write this letter, yet I fear that my very life would be threatened should the disclosure I am about to make reach the ears of those implicated. In this world filled with deceit and vengeance, I write to you only as a well-wisher of your family.

Being aware of your nephew’s recent engagement with a woman from Hertfordshire, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, I am compelled to expose her character and past. To betray your nephew and to have no fear in tainting the reputation of the Darcy family is a courage the lady in question possesses.

To be honest, she has vilely deceived everyone including Mr. Darcy and yourself.

You shall be alarmed to learn the particulars of this woman, who has so convincingly trapped your nephew with her falsehoods, for her past contains nothing but disgrace.

It pains me to inform you that this past yet clings to her in the form of an ongoing affair with the very man to whom she was once attached.

I daresay I can picture your shock in discovering the truth.

The woman you have declared as the future Mrs. Darcy is utterly without character and even now maintains her liaison with her former attachment.

Just a year before, Mr. Harrington, who has now married into the Kingston family, was attached to Miss Elizabeth Bennet and had courted her for more than two months.

However, suspicious as to why he did not marry her, it is evident now, during her recent stay in town, Miss Elizabeth has been having an affair with him.

The couple has shamelessly progressed with their behavior, artfully deceiving everyone, including you.

You must understand that, at a recent ball, she was introduced to Mr. Harrington by none other than Mr. Darcy himself, and both of them conducted themselves as though they had never been acquainted before.

This alone is proof enough of the accusations I now lay before you.

I do not presume Mr. Darcy to be aware of her true character, but if a woman is willing to conceal her past and is quite unashamed to accept your nephew’s offer of marriage without the slightest remorse for her fallen character, one can only conclude that it is prompted by greed for wealth and the desire for status.

Please do not doubt the details I now share with you, for if confronted, Miss Elizabeth will have no means of concealing her misconduct.

I beg you, Madam, to trust that my sole intention in writing this letter is to preserve your family and nephew from falling into the hands of a woman whose character is not only questionable but devious.

I trust you will do what is needful to prevent a marriage that would forever tarnish your family name; for the truth about Miss Elizabeth Bennet will, in time, come to light, and society will not hesitate to shun all who are associated with her.

If you act now and break their engagement, you may spare Mr. Darcy a lifetime of misery and shame.

Your humble servant the slander is purely the product of imagination”.

“I am certain it is someone from the ball who knew about them,” Richard said.

“I am almost certain as to who it is, although I do not know how she became privy to Elizabeth’s past or her meeting with Mr. Harrington at the ball.”

“She?” Richard asked in surprise.

“Miss Bingley!” he said with disgust to even utter her name.

“I did not know how she accomplished this, but I do not doubt that it is her. Her only intention is to stop our marriage, and I am not willing to allow her to walk free this time. The very fact that she had the nerve to write something like this about Elizabeth will not go without consequences,” he cried, clenching his fists.

“What do you plan to do, Darcy?” Richard asked.

“We travel to Hertfordshire just as planned; I am looking forward to my engagement party.”

***

A day later, as the carriage approached Netherfield, Georgiana was beside herself with excitement.

“When do we see her, Fitzwilliam?”

“If you wish, we can leave after breaking our fast,” he said, deep in thought.

Every passing moment without seeing Elizabeth was a torment to him, and as much as he longed to be honest with her, he resolved to keep her in the dark until he had uncovered the whole truth.

All that she had feared—her past clinging to them and threatening their happiness—weighed upon him, and he knew she would be utterly devastated to learn of the letters.

As the carriages arrived in Netherfield, Lady Matlock looked at her husband and nodded reassuringly.

Except Georgiana, the rest of them had traveled with their hearts filled with uncertainty.

But Lady Matlock was resolved that whoever was responsible for the letters and dared to endanger her nephew’s happiness should pay the price.

Darcy trusted his aunt, and however difficult it might be, he resolved to conceal everything from Elizabeth.

Mr. Bingley welcomed the guests with incredible joy, and Darcy had to compose himself from reacting upon seeing Miss Bingley. The instant he met her eyes; he could not mistake the confusion and worry in her countenance.

“It is wonderful to see you at last, Miss Darcy. The subsequent distance between us indeed pained me in the past months, and I am glad to see you as our guest today,” Miss Bingley said as she greeted everyone, particularly directing her attention towards Georgiana.

And, Georgiana merely nodded.

“We are most delighted and honored to have you remain as our guests until the wedding,” Mr. Bingley said to Lord Matlock.

They were directed to the breakfast parlor, where the party settled to break their fast. Lady Matlock quietly observed Miss Bingley, and there was unmistakable tension on her face, and it almost seemed that she was surprised to see them at Netherfield.

Georgiana expressed her wish to see Elizabeth, and as promised, Darcy took her sister to Longbourn later.

The Bennet family welcomed them warmly, and Elizabeth embraced Georgiana the moment she saw her. Darcy stood beside them with a stiffness that betrayed his longing for something similar.

“I hope you are well, Mr. Darcy,” she said to him sarcastically, and he could not help but smile, understanding how much she loved taunting him.

Sensing the family was busy, Darcy and Georgiana took leave after spending close to an hour.

“Lizzy! I wish I could stay with you, and Mary mentioned that I could share her room. Fitzwilliam, would you please allow me to?” Georgiana asked, not willing to leave.

“We would be delighted to have you stay in Longbourn, but I do not think it would be respectful to Mr. Bingley, as you are guests there. However, you can plan to stay with us before the wedding and witness the chaos of our family,” she replied with a smile, convincing Georgiana.

Darcy handed his sister into the carriage, then turned and looked at Elizabeth; somehow, she sensed that he was not his usual self.

“What is it, Fitzwilliam, you look troubled?” she asked with a look of worry.

“It is not easy being separated from you, and I cannot wait to see you walk down the aisle. It is a vision that helps me sleep at night,” he said, making her blush.

He held her hand and kissed it gently.