Pride Prejudice and Perjury

Fendalton Park

Chapter 12 ~ Fendalton Park

Fendalton Park was a most agreeable estate. It was considerably larger than Willowbank – on a similar scale to Pemberley. Aside from its beautiful grounds and rose garden, it was renowned for its collection of Grecian vases and statues, and the picture gallery, which contained one of the finest private collections of Renaissance paintings in all of England. Nonetheless, in Elizabeth's estimation at least, neither house nor grounds were quite the equal of Pemberley.

Victoria and Lord Netherby were much relieved to learn that Elizabeth's ostracism at Pemberley, and hence the local society, was ended. However, all she would say by way of explanation was that Mr. Darcy had acknowledged that all his former opinions were entirely wrong, and based upon an iniquitous deception.

“Which, doubtless, was perpetrated with the intention of defaming your character,” said Lord Netherby. “Are you aware of the identity of the perpetrators, and what was their motive? I must tell you that I have my suspicions.”

“I would prefer not to speak further on the subject,” said Elizabeth, looking away and directing her gaze at a beautiful vase.

“No, of course not,” replied Miss Netherby, sympathetically.

“We have just received some most surprising news, Miss Bennet,” said her brother. “It seems that Darcy has broken off his engagement with Miss Caroline Bingley. Although, perhaps under the circumstances, it is not so very surprising? I suspect that Miss Bingley will not be seeking justice through the courts,” he added with the hint of a smile.

Elizabeth remained silent.

“Edward!” admonished his sister, “We will respect Miss Bennet's wishes in the matter.”

“But of course, my dear,” replied Lord Netherby innocently. “The only surprising thing is that Darcy could have wished to marry the lady at all; I had always thought him to have far better taste,” he said, smiling at Elizabeth.

***

Elizabeth greatly enjoyed her stay at Fendalton Park, and in particular the society of her hostess. Victoria Netherby was considered to be somewhat eccentric; a characteristic which, while tolerated in an older gentleman or lady of wealth, was frowned upon in a young lady – particularly if she wished to find a husband. Although she played the pianoforte and sang beautifully, it was only with the greatest difficulty that her mother, Lady Netherby, could prevail upon her daughter to practice seriously, or to exhibit her talents before guests. Victoria was a voracious reader on every subject, and her great ambition was to write a novel.

“I know I am not beautiful,” she confided in Elizabeth one day, “and it may surprise you to learn that it bothers me not in the least.”

“How can you say that?” exclaimed Elizabeth. “You are far from plain – everyone must agree that you are a very handsome lady!”

“I do not care what everyone thinks! I decided long ago that I do not need to marry if I do not wish to. I have a fine fortune to live upon, and my dear brother, Edward, will be very happy to have me live all my life here, at Fendalton Park. I must ensure, of course, that he chooses a wife whose society pleases me,” said Victoria, smiling pointedly at Elizabeth, who could not mistake her meaning.

“I must warn you, Victoria, that I feel much the same way as you, concerning marriage. Of course, I have no fortune, but luckily I shall always have a home at Willowbank.”

“But that is different, Elizabeth. Perhaps you only speak so because you have been disappointed and disillusioned by one gentleman, and thus you have lost faith in the species, generally?”

Elizabeth blushed. Could Lord Netherby have recounted his drunken conversation with Mr Darcy at their London club to his sister? she wondered. Surely not! However, it was evident that he and his sister were very close – and perhaps shared confidences in much the same way as Jane and herself. At the very least, Lord Netherby had probably hinted at his friend's former feelings for herself; and Victoria, being a most astute observer with a penetrating mind, likely suspected that they were returned in some measure.

“You are far too beautiful to hope that you might be left alone, unmarried,” said Victoria. “I think that in time, you will overcome your present feelings, and may indeed find love elsewhere.”

Elizabeth shook her head sadly. “The first part of what you say is true; I have been disappointed and disillusioned. Consequently, I am resolved to never again place my faith in a gentleman, or my happiness in the hands of another. It is safer and wiser to be alone, and in control of one's destiny… even though it be a mediocre and unpromising one.”

“So my brother's hopes are in vain?”

“Do not speak so. Your brother entertains no such hopes; I am certain. He enjoys my company, as I enjoy his; but he is no more in love with me than am I with him.”

“No, perhaps he is not in love – or at least not yet; for he has not known you so very long. But I must tell you, I have never before seen him develop so strong a preference for a lady – and upon so brief an acquaintance. I would not be in the least surprised if, in time, he comes to love you. Indeed, I think he is already well on the way; and I sincerely believe that he could make you a very happy woman.”

Elizabeth felt distressed. “Victoria, I beg you, please discourage your brother from thinking of me in that way. I like him very much, and I do not wish to disappoint him.”

Victoria nodded and sighed in resignation. “I shall do as you request; and if my brother is disheartened, my mother, at least, will be pleased.”

“Oh?”

“Mother, as you may imagine, pays careful attention to my brother's preferences with regard to young ladies. She is well aware of his partiality for you. Please do not mistake my meaning, Elizabeth – my mother has the highest regard for you, and were it not for a particular long-cherished wish, I am certain she would be delighted to have you as a daughter.”

“You are referring to Miss Darcy, I think?”

“Exactly! Although I was not in need of prompting when I recently invited Miss Darcy to stay at Fendalton Park, I must tell you that I did so expressly at the request my mother. Make no mistake about it, I, too, would be delighted at the match, and to have Georgiana for a sister – almost as delighted as I would be if it were you,” said Victoria, smiling affectionately at Elizabeth.

“Lord Netherby, I think, is an independent-minded young man who will marry to please himself,” reflected Elizabeth.

“Oh yes, although he would also, I am certain, take into account the feelings of his mother and sister who must share Fendalton Park with the lady of his choice. But you must not believe that his partiality for you is on my account…”

“No, of course,” exclaimed Elizabeth, alarmed at the turn of the conversation.

“Is there someone else, perhaps?” asked Victoria.

“I cannot think who you might mean,” said Elizabeth blushing and feeling confused.

“I could not fail to notice on the several occasions when we dined at Willowbank that Colonel Fitzwilliam showed a marked attention and gallantry towards you.”

Elizabeth smiled and recounted the colonel's comments to her in Kent, concerning the matrimonial constraints under which he found himself.

“I understand that Colonel Fitzwilliam has received a pretty legacy in the will of his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. It may not be enough to live upon in the style to which he is accustomed, but it is very likely enough to make do with, if he were determined to marry a lady without fortune,” said Victoria meaningfully.

“I was not aware of the legacy; but I must tell you that I have found not the slightest change in his behaviour towards me, which has always been most courteous and amiable. Please believe me when I tell you that my heart is presently unengaged – and I think there is very little likelihood of it ever becoming so.”

Looking penetratingly at her guest, Victoria said, “I suspect that your heart is not yet entirely disengaged; although those former feelings of favour presently lie buried beneath stronger emotions of anger, indignation, and resentment.”

Elizabeth became so visibly discomposed at her remarks that Victoria immediately regretted them, and sought to turn the conversation. “I am pleased that you have no designs on Colonel Fitzwilliam, for it is entirely possible that I may decide to marry him.”

This had the desired effect; Elizabeth was stunned. “Do you expect him to pay you his addresses? Do you love him?”

“No, but I think I very likely could come to love him. He is an intelligent, sensible, well-read man. His opinions all please me, and his character is open, honest, and upright. I have yet to meet a gentleman whom I believe would suit me better. As I told you earlier, I may in all likelihood decide not to marry. However, should I decide in favour of matrimony, Colonel Fitzwilliam would do me very nicely,” said Victoria matter-of-factly.

“Do you believe the colonel wishes to marry you?” asked Elizabeth, perplexed.

“No; on the contrary, it is my belief that he does not wish to marry me that makes him so acceptable! Poor Elizabeth, I see that I am causing you some confusion. What first caused me to question the wisdom of marriage was the fear that I would be deceived by an insincere fortune hunter – and believe me, there are many of them about. If Colonel Fitzwilliam appeared eager to court me, then I would naturally suspect him of being one, and suppose that his primary interest was in my fortune; and so consequently I could not consider him.”

Elizabeth smiled. “I comprehend your difficulty; it is one that my sisters and I have been spared. However, what I do not understand is that if Colonel Fitzwilliam does not wish to marry you, how do you imagine that you might bring it about?”

“Oh, that may not be altogether too difficult a task. He loves music and is also fond of literature. I intend to ask my brother to invite the colonel to remain as his guest for some weeks after the ball. That will provide ample opportunity for me to determine if he might make me a good husband – and to ascertain the degree to which I am able to engage his attentions – should the time come when I decide in favour of matrimony.”

“There is to be a ball?” asked Elizabeth.

“But of course, my dear - did I not promise you one when we were staying in Derbyshire? You must remember! I said it was to make up for – well, let us not speak of him… ah, but I fear we must. You see, I could not avoid inviting Mr. Darcy, since he is such a good friend of my brother. I hope it will not distress you too much.”

“Is Mr. Darcy to stay here, at Fendalton Park?” asked Elizabeth apprehensively.

“Naturally, I have invited all the guests who have some distance to travel to stay with us overnight – and longer if they so desire. In her reply, Miss Darcy accepted my special invitation to her to stay on for some weeks as my guest, but her brother, she said, would remain at Fendalton Park but a day or two.”

“When is the ball to be held?”

“Ten days from now.”

“I imagine I can endure Mr. Darcy's presence at the ball; but I shall leave for Hertfordshire the very next day.”

“Elizabeth, no! I will not hear of it! You must not cut short your visit on his account.”

“By the day of the ball, I will have enjoyed your kind hospitality far longer than had been my original intention. I am anxious to be at Longbourn and see my little niece.”

***

But for the prospect of the approaching ball – or more to the point, of seeing Mr. Darcy – the remainder of Elizabeth's stay at Fendalton Park might have been most pleasant. Lady Netherby, reassured by her daughter that Elizabeth did not stand in the way of her fond hopes for her son, was noticeably warmer towards her. If Elizabeth caught Lord Netherby on occasion looking at her with something almost akin to wistful longing, his behaviour was otherwise perfectly amiable and charming.

In the evenings, Lord Netherby and Victoria sang, and on occasion prevailed upon Elizabeth to join them. Lord Netherby often read poetry. His taste was excellent, and his reading voice superb. At other times the three young people amused themselves, and Lady Netherby, by reading favourite scenes together from Shakespeare's plays. Elizabeth found reading Juliet to Lord Netherby's fervent rendition of Romeo, both alarming and moving. She was most relieved when it was over.

***

Elizabeth was delighted at the arrival of Jane and Charles, and also Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam on the day of the ball. She saw nothing of Mr. Darcy, who appeared to be keeping out of her way. Jane and Bingley were to spend two or three days at Fendalton Park before returning to Cheshire, and Elizabeth regretted that she was to leave the next day.

Lord Netherby chose to please himself, rather than his mother, by requesting Elizabeth to open the ball with him. Mr. Darcy did not dare ask her to dance, and in fact, he danced only three sets; one with his sister, one with his hostess, Victoria Netherby, and one with Jane. Still, it was impossible to avoid him entirely, as there was only one set, and in several of the dances partners were changed. Thus did Elizabeth find herself unavoidably dancing with Mr. Darcy for short periods.

She attempted to avert her gaze, but it seemed inexorably to return to his face, and each time he was looking directly at her with a sad, sombre, imploring expression. In one of those moments when their eyes met, Mr. Darcy surprised Elizabeth by addressing her. “Miss Bennet, though I know my behaviour to you has been utterly inexcusable, I beg you to at least allow me to voice my profound and heartfelt remorse.” Elizabeth looked away the moment he began speaking, and was greatly relieved that Mr. Darcy was obliged to move on to the next lady.

The second time she found herself dancing with him, Elizabeth managed to keep her gaze averted; however this was insufficient to prevent him from speaking. “I fully comprehend your anger and indignation, but I pray, Miss Bennet, that a day may come when you are able to accept my most sincere and contrite apologies.” Luckily, his speech was cut short when he was forced to change partners.

In the third and final encounter, Darcy spoke again, though once more Elizabeth refused to look at him. “I have been given to understand, Miss Bennet, that you are bent on leaving Fendalton Park tomorrow. I can well imagine that your hasty departure, when you have friends just today arrived, must be on account of your wish to avoid me. I deeply regret that I have in the past most unjustly deprived you of the society of others. I am, therefore, resolved to return to Pemberley tomorrow at first light. I earnestly hope that you will consequently amend your plans.”

Without looking up, Elizabeth, quite certain that Mr. Darcy must be looking at her, nodded her head slightly in acknowledgement. His gesture was not unfelt, and Elizabeth could not but be touched by the deep sadness and contrition evident in his voice.