Estranged, page 6
“And then, would you believe it, the magistrate nearly fell off his chair!” Mr. Phillips exclaimed, pounding the arm of his chair for emphasis. “I tell you, there is never a dull moment in court!”
The room erupted in laughter, but Darcy’s smile was strained, his polite applause a hollow gesture.
Mrs. Phillips was no better. Her appearance was as bold as her commentary, her excessive jewelry clashing with her brightly colored gown. Her laugh, louder and more piercing than her husband’s, grated on Darcy’s nerves. Her conversation was brazenly vulgar, filled with innuendos and off-color jokes that made Darcy shift uncomfortably in his seat.
“I always say, there is nothing like a good scandal to liven up the neighborhood!” Mrs. Phillips declared, winking at her captive audience. “Why, just the other day, I heard the most delicious gossip about the new shopkeeper. You would not believe...”
“I tell you, ladies and gentlemen,” Mr. Phillips exclaimed, gesticulating with a wine glass, cutting off his wife, “the magistrate’s face when I presented my evidence was one of pure shock! Never before has he presided over such a well-argued case! I am sure of it.”
Abandoning her prior line of speech and attending to her husband’s, Mrs. Phillips’s laugh was a brassy cackle that cut through the room like a knife. “Oh, but my dear husband, do tell them about the scoundrel you represented last month! The scandal of the town, it was!”
Darcy’s discomfort was palpable, his jaw set and his eyes narrow as he tried to contemplate the conversation that so blatantly disregarded the bounds of propriety. He glanced at Elizabeth, a silent plea in his eyes, only to find her engaged in laughter at her uncle’s stories. His heart ached, a keen sense of regret washing over him. Not for marrying Elizabeth but for not having braced himself for the profound deficits in her familial connections.
Sir William Lucas and his family from Lucas Lodge, a neighboring estate, were a brief reprieve from the relentless tide of the Phillipses’ energy. Sir William’s recent knighthood had lent an air of pretentiousness to his demeanor, but he was less intrusive and overbearing than the others. His wife, Lady Lucas, exuded a calm grace, her movements deliberate and her speech measured.
“It is a fine evening, Mr. Darcy,” Sir William said, his voice dripping with self-importance. “I trust you are finding Hertfordshire to your liking?”
“It is a change from what I am used to, Sir William,” Darcy replied diplomatically, his tone purposely neutral.
Sir William gave a smug smile. “Indeed, indeed. Change can be a good thing, you know.”
Their talk soon turned to estate management and such. Sir William said, “Indeed, Mr. Darcy, the responsibilities of a landowner are weighty. Although, I must admit to finding myself less involved in my own estate’s management since my elevation to knighthood. It is my ardent desire to rededicate myself to its proper stewardship.”
Darcy’s response was polite, his voice filled with gratitude for the more genteel subject matter. “Yes, Sir William, the stewardship of one’s lands is a matter of utmost concern.”
The conversation flowed more easily for a time, the Lucases providing a much-needed buffer from the wild exuberance of the Phillipses and Bennets. Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s intimate friend, offered thoughtful insights, her presence a soothing balm to Darcy’s frazzled nerves.
But the respite was short-lived, and soon the unrestrained energy of the room swept Darcy back into its maelstrom. Mrs. Phillips’s laughter rang in his ears, and Mr. Phillips’s tales grew ever more sensational. The room seemed to close in around him as the dinner wore on, a seemingly endless parade of courses and conversation, and Darcy had never been so miserable in his life as he was that night.
Chapter 11
SIGNS OF A RIFT
The remaining days at Longbourn were fraught with tension. The continuous strain of Mrs. Bennet’s unrefined behavior, coupled with the unchecked energy of Elizabeth’s younger sisters, proved to be a great source of frustration for Darcy.
The differences between Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s families were stark, leading to moments of discord. Darcy found himself walking through the gardens, the open space offering a temporary escape from the chaotic energy within Longbourn.
Elizabeth found him there. The air was heavy with unsaid words, the tension almost palpable. When Darcy finally broke the silence, his words were far from comforting. “Your family is utterly impossible! They are woefully lacking in proper decorum, and they exhibit no sense of rank or manners. You did not prepare me for this, Elizabeth.”
The words were out before he had a chance to consider their impact. Not that he would take them back. Elizabeth’s lack of transparency constituted a serious injustice against him.
Elizabeth was stunned by the harshness of his words. The Mr. Darcy standing before her was not the same man she had come to care for. His mean-spirited judgment of her family struck a painful chord, and she was compelled to defend her relations.
“I see no reason to be ashamed of those I love, whatever their station!” Her temper rising, she said, “What is more, I will not have you disparage them!”
“Did you even once give consideration to how such an indecorous connection would affect me?”
“Poor Mr. Darcy. How trying it must be for you, a man nestled all his life in the lap of wealth and privilege, to find yourself surrounded by those whom you believe to be beneath you in consequence. Well, I shall not apologize for failing to consider your lofty opinion of yourself in comparison to others. This is my family. They have their peculiarities, but they are good and decent people,” Elizabeth said.
They stood in uneasy silence before Mr. Darcy replied coldly that he expected her to conduct herself publicly in a manner befitting her elevated status despite the influence of such embarrassing kin.
“I shall never pretend to be anything but who I am,” Elizabeth declared staunchly.
Mr. Darcy’s eyes flashed with anger at her defiance. “Be that as it may, I do not intend to remain here a moment longer than is necessary. We are leaving Longbourn immediately,” he declared, his voice filled with a haughty edge that was certain to make Elizabeth’s blood boil. “Make whatever excuse you deem fit to explain our imminent departure.”
She crossed one arm over the other. “I am not inclined to leave just yet. Despite whatever discomfort you may be suffering, I see no reason for me to leave. I would much rather remain here at Longbourn and enjoy a longer visit with my dearest sister, Jane.”
Darcy’s lips thinned, and his eyes narrowed. “I grow weary of being around such disagreeable company. They may be your family, Elizabeth, but they are not of our sphere. You are my wife, and I expect you to behave accordingly.”
Elizabeth’s heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to control her emotions. How could he say such things about her family? How could he expect her to abandon them without a second thought?
“I am your wife, sir,” she said through gritted teeth, “but I am also a Bennet. I will not turn my back on my family simply because you command it.”
Their first major disagreement had brought on a storm of hurt and misunderstandings. Mr. Darcy’s cold, superior demeanor clashed with Elizabeth’s spirited defense of her family’s behavior. The wedded bliss they had found in each other’s arms seemed to be replaced by a tide of differences and a wall of anger and resentment.
After escaping her husband, Elizabeth came across Jane and Charlotte in the parlor, enjoying a pleasant visit. Her heart was heavy with uncertainty, and she needed the counsel of two of the women she trusted most.
“Lizzy, you look troubled,” Jane said, looking up from her embroidery with concern. “Is something the matter?”
Elizabeth’s eyes welled with tears as she took a seat beside her sister. “Oh, Jane, Charlotte, I find myself in quite a predicament.”
“What is it, dear friend?” Charlotte inquired, her wise eyes fixed on Elizabeth. Charlotte Lucas, a young lady of sound judgment and practical disposition, had always been a reliable and understanding friend to Elizabeth. Her manner was not as sparkling as Elizabeth’s, nor was her appearance remarkable, but her steady nature had earned her the esteem of those who knew her well. Her keen understanding of the world around her often led her to offer guidance that was both sensible and compassionate.
“It is Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth began, her voice quivering. “He wishes to leave Longbourn immediately. I was adamant in my objection to the scheme, but he insists it is my duty to travel to London with him. He expects me to abandon my family with little regard for my own feelings on the matter.”
Jane’s eyes widened, and she reached for her sister’s hand. “Surely he cannot be serious, Lizzy. He knows how much our family means to you.”
“He is serious, Jane,” Elizabeth replied, her voice breaking. “He spoke with such coldness, such officiousness. I have never seen him like this before.”
Charlotte’s gaze was thoughtful as she said, “Perhaps, Eliza, this is a matter of perspective. Mr. Darcy is not accustomed to our ways, and it might be prudent to consider his position.”
“But how can I abandon my family, Charlotte?” Elizabeth protested. “How can I obey him without betraying my own sensibilities?”
“Marriage,” Charlotte said sagely, leaning back in her chair, “requires sacrifice and understanding. It is a journey, Lizzy. Not a destination.”
Jane nodded. Her gentle expression was filled with empathy. “I know it is painful, Lizzy, but Charlotte is right. You must consider your duties as a wife.”
Jane’s mention of duties as a wife filled Elizabeth with sympathy. In Jane’s marriage to Mr. Collins, Elizabeth knew all too well that her elder sister practiced what she preached. Jane had not only married Longbourn’s heir as a means to protect her family in the event of Mr. Bennet’s demise—sacrificing her youthful ambition to marry for love—but she had also done so knowing that if she did not give birth to a male child, the next in line to inherit Longbourn, then all her sacrifices would have been in vain.
If only she had half of Jane’s goodness, Elizabeth was sure she would not be facing her current predicament.
Elizabeth’s eyes filled with doubt as she looked from Jane to Charlotte. “But at what cost? Must I sacrifice everything I hold dear for a man who likens me to a mere possession?”
“No, Eliza,” Charlotte said firmly. “But you must find a balance. You are now Mrs. Darcy, and you must navigate your new role with care. Being a good and obedient wife is the only way to manage your marriage... for now.”
“I do not know, Charlotte,” Elizabeth whispered, her voice filled with hesitation. “I fear I will lose myself if I give in to his every demand.”
“You will not lose yourself, Lizzy,” Jane assured her, squeezing her hand. “You will find a way to be both true to yourself and to your husband. It will take time, patience, and wisdom, but you will find the path that is right for you. Think of this as a challenge, if you will. Have you not always held firm in your stance that your courage rises at any attempt to intimidate you?”
Elizabeth’s eyes brightened as she looked at her sister and friend. Their words had given her hope, a glimmer of understanding in the maze of emotions she was navigating.
“You are right,” she said, her voice filled with resolve. “I will go with him to London. I will be the wife he expects, but I will not lose sight of who I am.”
“Bravo, dearest Eliza,” Charlotte said, smiling. “Remember, this is but one step on a long journey. Approach it with poise and fortitude, and you will find your way.”
With a newfound determination, Elizabeth rose from her seat, her heart lighter. “Thank you, both of you. Your wisdom and support mean more to me than words can express.”
“You are always welcome, Lizzy,” Jane said, embracing her sister. “We are here for you, always.”
As Elizabeth left the parlor, she knew she had made the right decision. The road ahead was uncertain, but she had the strength, the courage, and the guidance to face it.
The remainder of their stay at Longbourn was marked by a silent tension. Their growing resentment cast a shadow on the once familiar and comforting halls of her childhood home. However, Elizabeth knew she had to balance her loyalties.
As they left Longbourn, Elizabeth could not help but feel a sense of sadness. She was fully aware that the bliss of their initial time together as husband and wife was fading under the stark light of reality,
Feeling the weight of her decision, Elizabeth decided that her journey with Darcy was only just beginning—this was but the first test. There would be more to come—perhaps those far more consequential.
It is far better to pick my battles. Either I will have a marriage of equals, or I shall have no marriage at all.
Chapter 12
HIS CENSURE
DARCY HOUSE - LONDON, ENGLAND
The journey to London passed in awkward silence between the newlyweds, unlike their journey from Pemberley days earlier when it was all they could do not to succumb to their desire for each other. Stolen glances were replaced by diverted eyes out the window. Incidental touches were replaced by cold, calculated movements. Elizabeth could not help but feel a sense of dread gnawing at her insides as she watched the countryside fly by outside the carriage window. What had happened to the man she had married just a few weeks ago?
As she pondered the circumstances that had led them to this point, Elizabeth once again found herself ruminating on her family. She had feared all along that Mr. Darcy could never understand them—their lack of refinement, their boisterousness, their unbridled enthusiasm—but she had still hoped that with enough time and effort, he would be able to accept them for who they were.
His insistence that we flee Longbourn does not bode very well at all toward that end.
Elizabeth began piecing together memories of their abbreviated stay at Longbourn, images and conversations flashing before her like a flurry of chaos. She remembered Mr. Darcy’s scathing comments about her family’s lack of manners, their lack of formal education, and their lack of everything that he deemed important. She recalled Mr. Darcy’s disdainful looks and thinly disguised disdain toward her father, her mother, and her younger sisters, with Jane alone being the one who escaped his censure.
She had felt embarrassed, ashamed even, of her family’s lack of decorum and refinement. But now, as she mulled over his behavior, she could not help but feel a mounting sense of anger at his arrogance.
Who is he to judge my family, to look down upon them as if they are inferior beings?
As the carriage rolled to a stop in front of Mr. Darcy’s London townhouse, Elizabeth’s heart sank even further. The coming days and weeks were going to be fraught with tension and discord as they struggled to find their footing in this new life they had been thrust into. Would Mr. Darcy ever be able to see her family as she saw them, loving and loyal and full of life? Or would they always be a source of shame and embarrassment for him?
She sighed. Only time will tell.
Elizabeth’s spirits suffered an immediate reprieve upon entering the fashionable Darcy townhome, where they were warmly greeted by an angelic creature whom her husband introduced as his younger sister, Georgiana. Although having her own establishment in town, which was presided over by her companion, Mrs. Annesley, Miss Darcy had made a concerted effort to be present at Darcy House when her brother and new sister-in-law arrived. Miss Georgiana Darcy, though only a little past sixteen, carried herself with a grace and poise that belied her tender age. Tall and elegant, she possessed a womanly figure that contrasted sharply with Elizabeth’s more diminutive stature. While she lacked the striking handsomeness of her older brother, her face was imbued with a gentle intelligence and good humor that made her equally captivating in her own right.
Elizabeth had half-feared her sister-in-law was exceedingly proud, but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy. Elizabeth’s mood brightened as she observed her husband’s kindhearted admiration of his timid sister.
What a stark contrast between the warmth in his eyes toward his sister compared to his thinly disguised contempt for my younger sisters by the time we departed Longbourn, she could not help but consider.
Why, even the affection he showed for his servants when presenting Elizabeth as his bride exceeded his regard for Elizabeth’s family.
After refreshing herself from their travels, Elizabeth joined Georgiana in the music room. Seated at the pianoforte, Georgiana tentatively asked about Elizabeth’s family after expressing her delight at gaining a sister.
Knowing Darcy’s dislike for them, Elizabeth simply said, “They are country folk, quite different from London society. Their ways are foreign to your brother, I am afraid.”
Georgiana looked thoughtful. “I am certain Fitzwilliam shall come to appreciate their merits with time, as he has yours.”
Elizabeth managed a faint smile, wishing she shared the young lady’s optimism. For now, she turned the subject to lighter matters until Mr. Darcy entered and perched himself directly before the pianoforte in such a manner to secure an advantageous view of Elizabeth and watched attentively as the two ladies exhibited.
No doubt he is judging my performance in comparison to his sister’s and finding my skills severely wanting.
The Bennet family was insufferable, and Darcy could not fathom how Elizabeth, a woman he respected and admired, could be related to them. He had stewed in his carriage as they traveled to London, his mind consumed with thoughts, for the first time since he had met her, of how she would comport herself among London society.
