Mr darcys return a pride.., p.1
Mr. Darcy's Return: A Pride and Prejudice Variation, page 1
Mr. Darcy’s Return
Jann Rowland
By Jann Rowland
Published by One Good Sonnet Publishing:
Pride and Prejudice Adaptations
Mr. Darcy’s Return
Bingley’s Indignation
Only Exceedingly Shy
No Indignity So Abhorrent
A Devoted Sister
Fate’s Intervention
Something More Substantial
Every Possible Amends
A Most Attentive Mother
An Agreeable Compromise
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
MR. DARCY’S RETURN
Copyright © 2024 Jann Rowland
Cover Design by Getcovers.com
Published by One Good Sonnet Publishing
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1-990856-50-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-990856-50-1
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
To my family who have, as always, shown
their unconditional love and encouragement.
Table of Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Thank you for reading Mr. Darcy’s Return
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About the Author
Chapter I
N ovember the twenty-seventh was not a good day for Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. The previous night, the neighborhood had gathered at Netherfield for Mr. Bingley’s ball, and in many ways it had been a disaster, not only for Elizabeth herself but for her entire family. From her mother’s slightly tipsy crowing about Jane’s destiny as Mr. Bingley’s wife, to Kitty and Lydia’s improper flirting and laughing, to Mary’s display on the pianoforte, Elizabeth did not think the evening could have gone worse had they all made a pact to expose themselves as a ridiculous family lacking in sense.
For Elizabeth personally, the night had begun with Mr. Wickham’s failure to attend the ball, proceeded to Mr. Collins’s inept dancing and her objectionable dance with Mr. Darcy, and finally Mr. Collins’s resolute interference in the rest of her evening, preventing Elizabeth from enjoying the dancing. Then, the silly man had the utter temerity and poor judgment to propose to Elizabeth the very next morning! How he could have thought she was eager to receive his addresses rather than horrified he might lose what little sense he possessed and offer his hand was beyond her comprehension.
“No, Mrs. Bennet,” said her father after he had supported Elizabeth’s refusal in his own way, calculated to provide him the greatest enjoyment, “I shall not make your daughter marry my cousin. I have spoken to Lizzy, and she has given me her reasons for refusing him, reasons I consider valid. You may nurse your disappointment as best you can, but I will not change my mind.”
“But what shall become of us?” Mrs. Bennet’s demand was nearly a shriek. “When you are cold in your grave, Mr. Collins will have no compunction at all about turning us out of our home at the earliest opportunity!”
“Perhaps he will,” retorted Mr. Bennet. “If you had been sensible, you would have directed him to Mary, for if he pursued her, I judge he might have had some hope of success. Regardless, I shall not make Lizzy marry him; you are wasting your breath.”
Mr. Bennet soon punctuated his refusal by evicting his wife and her piercing voice from his study. This did not prevent Mrs. Bennet from attempting to work on Elizabeth again, but Elizabeth was determined to remain impervious to all her mother’s demands.
How this might have continued Elizabeth could not know, but in time other events distracted her. A reprieve came when Mrs. Bennet wished for a private conference with Mr. Collins—no doubt trying to plot some means by which she could carry her point—allowing Elizabeth to focus on other matters. Chief among those concerns was the perception of her dearest sister’s distress, her unhappy state only one boasting an intimate acquaintance could detect. The moment the door closed behind her odious mother and the even more loathsome parson, Elizabeth turned her attention to Jane, eager to learn why she was out of sorts.
“Jane, is something amiss?” asked Elizabeth.
With a sigh of unqualified regret, Jane turned her attention to Elizabeth. “It has, Lizzy, though I hesitate to burden you after this morning’s events.”
“Think nothing of that, Jane,” replied Elizabeth, shaking off the lingering memory of Mr. Collins’s absurd proposal. “Come, let me condole with you, if condolence you require.”
Jane regarded her for a long moment before she sighed again. “I received a letter from Caroline Bingley this morning.” The ghost of a smile crossed her beautiful features. “It was about the time you were emphatically rejecting Mr. Collins for about the fourth or fifth time.”
Though Jane’s manner did not invite mirth, Elizabeth summoned a smile for her sister. “If I am honest, I am surprised you could keep count.”
The smile proved a fleeting phenomenon, for Jane immediately grew morose again. “In her letter, Caroline informed me that her family had departed for London, and confided they were not likely to return.”
Her breath caught in her throat, Elizabeth regarded her sister, alarm rising in her breast. “Did Mr. Bingley inform you of his intention to depart?”
“Mr. Bingley said nothing of it,” said Jane, appearing miserable. “The way he spoke to me suggested he expected to continue in my company.”
The plaintive note in Jane’s voice provoked a wave of sympathy in Elizabeth’s heart. “Then you have only his sister’s word that he will not return.”
“There is more, Elizabeth,” said Jane, appearing quite miserable. “Miss Bingley wrote of her assurance that her brother will recognize the benefits of remaining in town; she claims he will be in no hurry to return. He also . . .”
Jane broke off and looked away, leaving Elizabeth’s feelings in an awful state of suspense. When she spoke again, Elizabeth had to strain to hear her sister’s nearly inaudible words.
“Miss Bingley invoked Mr. Darcy’s sister, claiming a longstanding attachment between them.”
“That must be nonsense!” exclaimed Elizabeth.
“How can you say that?” asked Jane, though Elizabeth glimpsed a dash of hope in her eyes.
“Why, because Miss Darcy is naught but sixteen, Jane. Whatever else Mr. Darcy is—and you know I have no warm opinion of the gentleman—I cannot imagine he would allow a man to pay attention to his sister when she is yet of such tender years.”
After considering this for a moment, Jane nodded her head slowly. “Yes, I suppose you must be correct, Lizzy. Then perhaps Mr. Bingley admires Miss Darcy and is waiting for her to mature?”
“That is not sound, Jane,” said Elizabeth. “Require his friend to wait or not, I am convinced Mr. Darcy would act to remove his sister from his friend’s influence if he had even a hope of such an attraction. I have a different interpretation of this business—will you not hear it?”
“Please, Lizzy,” said Jane, “for I wish to understand.”
“I know you consider Miss Bingley a friend, Jane, and I shall not oppose your right to do so.” Elizabeth smiled at her sister. “However, you know that my opinion of Miss Bingley is no higher than my estimation of Mr. Darcy. I must suppose that Miss Bingley has seen the regard in which Mr. Bingley holds you and she wishes to keep him away. Thus, she attempts to take away your hope and travel to London to keep her brother there.”
Jane considered Elizabeth’s assertion. “If she intends to prevent him, do you suppose she will be successful?”
“Given Mr. Bingley’s obvious affection for you, I cannot suppose she will. Mark my words, Jane—I expect Mr. Bingley will return long before Miss Bingley might wish he would.”
“Then I shall hope for Mr. Bingley’s return to prove your conjecture true,” said Jane. She smiled and said: “It is hard to think that Caroline would attempt such a maneuver to keep her brother from his happiness, but I trust your judgment, Lizzy.”
“Good, Jane,” said Elizabeth, bussing her sister’s cheek. “Let us both hope it will all turn out well.”
Whether all would turn out well was something Elizabeth could not know, despite the confidence she had projected to Jane. If Mr. Bingley’s feelings for Jane were the only variable, Elizabeth was assured he would return at once, his behavior toward her ever more ardent until he finally fulfilled all Jane’s wishes for happiness. It was the sad truth that there were other factors, ranging from Mr. Darcy’s obvious disapproval of Elizabeth’s family to Miss Bingley’s conniving ways. Elizabeth had no doubt the woman would do anything to prevent her brother from offering for Jane, and while she could not know what stratagem Miss Bingley would employ
With Jane resigned to the only option available to her, that of waiting for Mr. Bingley’s return, her attention turned to her mother, for Jane could not keep the news of Mr. Bingley’s departure from Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth wished she could avoid it, but she knew Jane’s sense of honesty would not allow her to demur, to say nothing of how Mrs. Bennet might react when she learned the truth, as she inevitably must. Knowing how her mother would respond, Elizabeth made herself scarce, returning to her room until dinner, hoping it would all blow over before then. The sounds of her mother’s loud lamentations soon penetrated the walls and floor of Elizabeth’s room, evidence that Mrs. Bennet’s reaction had been much as she had predicted. No doubt Mrs. Bennet would blame Mr. Bingley’s departure on Elizabeth.
When the time came for Elizabeth to descend to partake of dinner with her family, she did so most reluctantly, for it may be better for her to remain in her room and request a tray. The knowledge that her mother would not allow it provided the incentive for Elizabeth to brave all the slings and arrows that would come her way, even as she wondered if perhaps remaining hungry that evening would be preferable to enduring her mother’s displeasure. It was not Elizabeth’s habit to allow others to intimidate her, so she gathered her courage about her like a cloak and marched out to meet her doom.
What awaited her was not as she might have expected, for her mother said little to her, though Elizabeth could feel the weight of her gaze. The odious Mr. Collins, who was still present, appeared little inclined to speak to her at all, seating himself at Mrs. Bennet’s side and droning on in his usual ponderous nothings. If that was all Elizabeth needed to endure, she would have been well pleased.
The change came about after dinner when the family retired to the sitting-room after dinner. Lydia and Kitty sat together and giggled, as was their custom. Mary sat with her book, while Jane appeared lost in her thoughts. Mrs. Bennet occupied her usual chair, and while Mr. Bennet stayed with them, which he rarely did, his typical appearance of sardonic amusement was absent in favor of an attitude near watchful, the book in his hands neglected. It appeared he was right to suspect something untoward, for the moment Elizabeth found her seat, Mr. Collins approached, appearing as pompous and silly as was his wont.
“Cousin Elizabeth,” said he in his usual grave tone, “it occurs to me it would be advisable to renew the offer that I made you this morning. As such, I humbly offer my hand to you again, trusting you to see the wisdom in our union and make the choice to join your life with mine under the condescension and patronage of my wise patroness, thereby serving your family as you ought.”
Caught off guard, Elizabeth stared at the parson. What sort of man would sue so assiduously for a woman’s hand when she had acted to leave him in no doubt of her sentiments? A senseless man such as Mr. Collins.
“You have my apologies, Mr. Collins, but my answer is the same as it was this morning. We would not suit, and I have no desire to have you for a husband.”
The flaring of Mrs. Bennet’s nostrils alerted Elizabeth to an impending outburst, but Mr. Collins responded first.
“Surely you see that the situation from this morning is altered beyond repair.”
“How is it that?” asked Elizabeth, confused by his meaning. “Can you suppose I would change my mind after only a few scant hours?”
“Why, in that your sister has failed to attract Mr. Bingley,” replied the parson. “With the gentleman departed to London, there are no suitors for your hands, for regardless of your manifold attractions, it seems the deficiency of fortune has kept you all from making conquests of men of means. With no other support or ability to find life partners, your only hope is to accept my suit, and allow me to care for all your family when your father inevitably goes to his eternal reward.”
“I apologize, Cousin,” said Mr. Bennet, his tone near unfriendly, “but I must disabuse you of the notion of my imminent demise. The reaper shall not strike me soon, I think.”
“Of course, I wish you a long and fruitful life, Cousin,” said Mr. Collins, ineffectually pushing Mr. Bennet’s arguments away. “Yet the fact remains that your daughters will have little support when that unhappy event is upon you. Since, Cousin Elizabeth, you have no other prospects and must face of life of hardship and poverty, I am certain you must wish to recant your previous position.”
“Your certainty is misplaced,” said Elizabeth shortly, not wishing to trade words with this dullard. “I will not marry you, Mr. Collins.”
“I am assured you will see sense,” said Mr. Collins with a lazy wave of his hand. “After all, without marriages, you must all inevitably leave this house when I come into my inheritance. You must see that this is best.”
“Listen to Mr. Collins, Lizzy,” snapped Mrs. Bennet, finally unable to hold her tongue.
All at once it became clear to Elizabeth. Mr. Collins, hearing of Jane’s misfortune, had stoked her mother’s fears, hoping to browbeat her into accepting his suit. Not that her mother needed any encouragement, of course. At once a hard feeling of contempt for this man before her swept over Elizabeth, and she fixed him with a glare.
“You already have my refusal, Mr. Collins, many times over, as I recall. If I must refuse once again, so be it—perhaps you will believe me now. I will not marry you. It would be best if you turned your attention to some other more willing female, for I am not that woman.”
“Lizzy!” screeched Mrs. Bennet. “I insist upon you accepting Mr. Collins right now!”
“This appears to be my cue to interrupt again,” said Mr. Bennet, glaring at Mrs. Bennet to silence her. When assured of her grudging obedience, he turned a critical eye on Mr. Collins. “It appears you both have forgotten my support for Lizzy’s right to refuse your proposal, sir. Given her repeated refusals, what do you mean by imposing yourself upon her yet again?”
“Mrs. Bennet—”
“Mrs. Bennet has not the authority to dictate anything to Elizabeth regarding such matters as these,” interrupted Mr. Bennet. “As her father, that burden falls to me. I believe I made my feelings on the subject quite clear earlier today when you both appealed to me. Thus, I require you to renounce this matter with alacrity, and never return to it again.”
“Mr. Bennet,” said Mr. Collins, “can you not see this is for the best?”
“I cannot,” was Mr. Bennet’s succinct and unfriendly reply. “What I can see is my daughter refusing you more times than any woman should be required to reject an unwanted suitor. Your coming, sir, has introduced upheaval in my house, and I am not prepared to endure it any longer. If you cannot be silent on this subject, I must ask you to return to your parsonage.”
Mr. Collins regarded Mr. Bennet as if attempting to decipher the extent of his resolve. His eyes darted to Mrs. Bennet, who was looking at her husband with obvious reproach, clearly wishing to gainsay him, though equally aware he would not allow it. Whether Mr. Collins came to the correct conclusion, Elizabeth could not say, but a moment later he bowed.
“Very well, Mr. Bennet. I shall not belabor the point. On that note, perhaps I should return to Kent at once, for I would not wish to cause strife in your home.”
“Yes, I suspect that is for the best. Trust me, Cousin—when you have had time to consider the matter, you will thank me for insisting.” Mr. Bennet shot a grin at Elizabeth. “I am well aware of my daughter’s disposition—she would make miserable the life of any man she did not choose for herself.”
“You will forgive me if I cannot think of your daughter as anything other than lovely and amiable.”
“Then you see matters as I do,” replied Bennet. “So long as you admire her from a distance, I believe we shall all be satisfied.”
Mr. Collins bowed to Mr. Bennet then turned back to Elizabeth, and in his gaze, she found something she did not like, though she could not exactly put her finger on it. “I shall take my leave of you, Cousin Elizabeth, for I must prepare for my departure.”
Then he swept from the room to the relief of more than one of those remaining. With any luck, she would be rid of the pernicious parson forever, though she knew her mother would not let the matter rest without a fight. On that point, Elizabeth noted her father speaking with her mother quietly, punctuating the force of his statements with hand gestures. Mrs. Bennet listened and nodded with ill grace, clearly unhappy, her gaze darkening when she darted a glance at Elizabeth.
