Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (89 page)

Both remembered her father’s axiom,
‘unhappiness has comic aspects one should never underestimate.’
It was uppermost in their minds as they weathered life’s toils and troubles. However, some events defied their ability to find the comedy. Mr Bennet’s death ten years after their marriage was something Lizzy did not find humorous. However, after a time of some significant grief, she chose to remember that which gave her pleasure, and many of those memories of her father made her laugh.

Another maxim this couple lived by came from Lady Catherine. Though it was far from her intent to inspire such behaviour on the part of her son-in-law and his new wife, inspire it she did. They determined that in love making, practice makes perfect. Still, they also resolved that their practice should never be a duty the way Lady Catherine had implied, and both embraced spontaneity.

Elizabeth’s favourite spontaneous act of ardent love happened after the first Midsummer picnic she attended as Mistress of Pemberley. Being quite fatigued, she fell asleep on top of the coverlet and was awakened some time later by kisses and licks to her toes. Confusion followed, but the finesse of the ministrations persuaded her that the perpetrator was not a dog who had found its way to the forbidden territory of the family bedchambers—besides, there was that smell of horse, sweat, leather and Mr Darcy. Anticipation had overtaken her as his expert lips had travelled up her body.

Through the years, they often contemplated who bore the most credit for bringing them together. Both rejected the idea that the honour went to Edmund, although they realized without his cruelty, they might never have remembered each other. Darcy was convinced Charles inviting him to Hertfordshire was crucial. Elizabeth agreed, but felt Mary’s insisting she come to Kent more important, because that was where she first understood the meaning of her longings. The crucial role of the world-weary Richard and the forward and boisterous Lydia was acknowledged. However, in the end, they always agreed it was Bethany who had been the catalyst… both would laugh, as they pondered the possibility that she might know something about how the universe worked, with all her talk of signs.

Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy, and their extended family and friends, were much like others living in privilege in this great new age. The major difference was that their group cared little for gossip, gambling or philandering as diversions. Their mundane concerns were keeping their families financially sound, enjoying each other’s company, and ensuring their children were prepared to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Though they had their share of heartaches; none had to worry about starvation, malnutrition or many of the diseases that were rampant because of crowded and unsanitary conditions or lack of heat. All were aware of the dislocation and sudden loss of income that many in their society experienced, but they were protected from the vagaries of the times by wealth and prudence.

Catherine and John Reynolds lived well. He did, indeed, become one of the wealthiest men in all of Hertfordshire, as Mr Bennet had predicted. Kitty’s designs for children’s dishes based on the Perrault fairy tales were used by the Wedgewood pottery works. The Reynolds, Wedgwood and intertwined Darwin families became friends through this business relationship. John contributed money for Charles Darwin’s voyage to Tierra del Fuego. Of the Reynolds’s seven children, five boys and two girls, the youngest male was inspired by this friendship with Darwin to become a botanist. One of his sisters, who had abilities as an artist, like her mother, collaborated with her brother; and the resulting book on the plants of Hertfordshire was both beautiful and well received by the scientific community for its scholarship.

Jane and Charles Bingley purchased Netherfield from Sir Walter, and within five years, put the estate back on a firm financial footing. Charles’ roots in trade became instrumental in their success. It was decided to develop Jane’s business. In the beginning, the revenues were seen as a way to enhance the estate’s income, but soon the emphasis shifted, and they began seriously making and selling her scented waters and sachets. After the war with France ended, they did, indeed, visit Grasse as Charles had promised, but decided that rather than develop the exotic and complex fragrances that came from that region, they wanted their products to remain reminiscent of simple English scents.

Their firm, Bingley of Bath, began by developing four wonderful essences of lavender, rose, jasmine and lilac. They grew the plants needed on the estate. The name of the firm was chosen because of its alliterative quality; and Bath was the first place they chose to seriously acquaint customers with their wares. Soon they began developing other beauty items. Their skin lotion became even more popular than Gowland, and Sir Walter was the most effective advocate for its powers. He swore by it to all his acquaintances in Bath and London. He loved to point to Jane when in company, and declare that all the ladies would look like her if they used Bingley of Bath’s lotion. The couple’s four children, two boys and two girls, were as angelic looking as their parents, and all grew to be excellent ambassadors for their family’s business.

Lydia and Ronald Bledsoe returned to England after four years in Canada. His best friends, who knew of the events in Brighton, persuaded him that all curiosity about the former Lord Wolfbridge’s demise had been eclipsed by other scandals. Few could even remember the particulars of the Viscount’s murder. Sally did not return with them. She had married a young lieutenant and the couple decided to remain in Canada. Bledsoe, a highly decorated officer, weary from war, craved a more tranquil life. He sold his commission and settled in Hertfordshire to be near his dear wife’s family. The Gouldings had recently quit Haye Park, and Mr Bledsoe bought that property. It was fortuitous it was such a large house, for Lydia and Ronald eventually had thirteen children—this was either a testament to their enjoyment of each other, or perhaps it was a tribute to her tenaciousness that allowed her to carry so many babies to the end of her confinement.

Their home became the centre of social life in Meryton. Lydia’s table was known far and wide as the best in the county. The Bledsoe daughters were always beautifully dressed, though it was not because Lydia spent to excess on their finery. Their elegant appearances were due mainly to their mother’s creativity. She had learned to live frugally on her husband’s army pay. They came back to England ready to embrace the industrial revolution taking the country by storm. Their considerable savings were invested in railroads at a most advantageous moment. Ronald Bledsoe rivalled his brother-in-laws, William, John, Charles and Fitzwilliam, for the esteem of his wife’s father.

Just before Darcy and Elizabeth were to leave for London in the spring of 1813 so Georgiana could make her debut, Dr Wilder visited Pemberley. He had been invited for dinner but came early to practice the duet he and Georgiana had been readying as a present for the newlyweds’ six-month anniversary party. They were just about to rehearse the piece a second time, when suddenly, just as she had envisioned in her dreams; he pulled her hands from the keys, kissed her palms and wrists fervently and expressed his desire to marry her. Darcy accepted the passionate Irishman to be his brother immediately, and thus was spared spending the Season in London.

Richard Fitzwilliam and Eleanor finally wed in 1817. He had first distinguished himself in the Battle of Vitorio, and then followed Wellington into France. Once again, he was cited for his accomplishments at Orthez and Toulouse. Just before Waterloo, he was promoted to major general. He was one of the lucky scions of Britain’s ancient titled families. Though he lost an arm, he came back alive. The couple waited a year after he returned to marry. They preferred to give the appearance that their love developed after he returned to Elderton.

Mr Harding died in 1818, followed a year later by the Earl of Elderton. After the death of their fathers, the couple moved with Eric and their new baby daughter, Cassandra, to Manchester. Richard Fitzwilliam managed the textile business that had been inherited from his father-in-law. He was a good motivator of his workers, much as he had been a good commander to his troops.

Seven-year-old Eric became the Earl of Elderton on the passing of his grandfather. Richard had requested of Dr Wilder, that he and Georgiana live on the estate and attempt to improve it financially for the boy. It was a difficult task, since the Fitzwilliam family had mismanaged the property for several generations. One other provision of this arrangement made for the benefit of the young earl involved the property known as Wolfbridge that abutted Elderton, and was the seat for the viscountancy of the same name. Richard Fitzwilliam and his mother had cajoled his father into having some land on that property set aside to be used for the improvement of the citizens of Derbyshire. A building was to be built there to house the New Hope Wolfbridge hospital. They had shamelessly convinced the Earl of Elderton that it would be a fitting monument to his murdered son.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh died three years after the passing of Lord Elderton. Her sister-in-law saw the death of the sister and brother as an opportunity to redouble her efforts to change the image of the Fitzwilliam family name for her grandson. Lady Elderton believed she was infusing the Darcy tradition of honour, family love and respectability into his legacy. By the time Eric had a son, who could become the next Viscount Wolfbridge, the association with that title would be transformed from cruelty to charity.

Many from the numerous estates as well as those involved in trade in the county donated funds for the hospital. Mr and Mrs Darcy were some of the most tireless crusaders for providing medical care to the people of Derbyshire. Each summer they hosted an extravagant benefit that drew hundreds to Pemberley for a Midsummer picnic.

Sir Walter gave up a permanent residence in Bath, and for the remainder of his life, lived by the kindness of family and friends. He spent Christmas every year in Derbyshire with Sir Gareth and Lady Hughes and their children. He often stayed with Lord and Lady Hastings during the Season, and used his time wisely promoting Bingley of Bath scents and lotions. He returned to Hertfordshire during the autumn, and was always welcomed by the numerous grandchildren of his childhood friend, Thomas Bennet. As their almost grandpapa, Jane and Charles set aside an apartment in the family wing at Netherfield for him.

Sir Walter asked Mrs Bennet whether she wanted to marry and accompany him on his annual circuit. She declined, and told him they could spend time with each other when he was in Hertfordshire, or perhaps she would see him when she visited her grandchildren in Derbyshire, but in truth, she was content being a widow.

The ten years after the marriage of her last daughter were some of the happiest of Mrs Bennet’s life. Reading to her husband, writing correspondence for him and keeping the books, as Lizzy and Mary had done before her, became her daily routine. She rarely had time for gossip but did not miss the diversion. Frances Bennet felt profoundly sad upon the death of Thomas Bennet, but her grief was less devastating because of the many pleasant memories of their time together.

Soon after becoming Mistress of Pemberley, Elizabeth hoped to persuade Mrs Reynolds to move into the family quarters as a relative. Retiring was also uppermost in the housekeeper’s mind now that her master was most agreeably settled. However, she preferred to move in with her brother and sister-in-law. One request she made was that she be allowed to attend any births. She was, indeed, there with Bronwyn Hinton when Lizzy gave birth to the first babies born to her as Mrs Darcy.

Twins satisfied both their existing little one’s desires—their new mother gave them a boy and a girl. Bethany immediately started planning for things she and her new sister could do when she was older. Lewis also thought about what activities he could indulge in with his new siblings, but his main wish was that his mother would get her strength back quickly, and once again be able to tell him stories, tuck him in and cuddle with him during their morning family meetings. He believed he loved his new brother and sister, but he was certain he loved his mama even more.

They were given the names Richard and Lydia. Their personalities were opposite to their namesakes… Lydia was most like Cousin Richard, and Richard was most like his Aunt Lydia.

Lydia became aware of the power she held over her father at an early age. Once she realized he responded to her ability to make him laugh, she was relentless. A sort of disrespect even greater than her sister Bethany’s was tolerated by her father. Lydia, from the time she was very young, felt no hesitancy in calling him ‘silly’… a sort of childish version of naive and witless… when his behaviour deserved the epithet. At first, he thought she was skilled at her grandfather Bennet’s barbs, but later, after years of observing her, he decided the trait was more like his cousin’s. No one, except Richard Fitzwilliam, was as adept at manipulating Darcy into achieving his potential.

The Darcy’s son, Richard, developed a reputation for being forward with the young ladies. His parents feared they might have a rake in the making, but soon determined that he simply preferred the company of females. The youthful Richard was definitely not like his brother Lewis, but instead, early on, decided he wanted all the fun he could muster before life forced him to settle down. His notion of enjoyment meant pleasing numerous young women. At assemblies and balls, he danced every dance. Seeing young women sitting down without a partner was the cause for much anguish to him.