A COMPROMISED MR. DARCY

Another Pride and Prejudice Variation

By Ronnie Allan

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the second story I posted, quite different from "Elizabeth Bennet's Stolen Kiss." I hope you enjoy this and please keep posting your comments.

1.

Fitzwilliam Darcy was finally in his carriage on his way back from London to Pemberley after having negotiated with a reluctant George Wickham to marry an unrepentant but very willing Lydia Bennet. He hated to have any dealings with Wickham because of his disgust at Wickham's total lack of common decency. How could any man who had received a gentleman's education corrupt an innocent very young lady, even if she was willing? Only his intervention and paying out large sums of money induced Wickham to marry the girl. Darcy did this only to save the reputation of the whole Bennet family, especially Miss Elizabeth's. If he had not intervened, the stigma of having a ruined sister would have meant that the Bennet sisters would never have been accepted in any polite society and would have no hopes of marrying any decent man. Society was most unforgiving for any hint of a scandal, especially of this kind, even among people who had previously been considered friends. Even though the Bennets lived a quiet life in a small village, London society would not ignore such a juicy scandal involving a gentleman's daughter and a person having connections to a great estate such as Pemberley. However, once a couple was properly married, society took little notice of how that marriage came about or what the couple had done before their marriage. This is what Darcy was counting on and his reason for spending his time and money on such unworthy individuals.

Thinking of this, Darcy knew he had to consider very carefully just what he wanted of Lydia's older sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He had previously thought her completely beneath him because of her family's relatively low social status, even though her father was clearly a landed gentleman with an estate that had been in his family for many generations. Darcy was especially disgusted by some of the family's intolerable behaviour, especially that of Elizabeth's mother and younger sisters, but including, at times, that of her father. Darcy had felt so strongly about this lack of proper decorum that he had convinced his good friend Charles Bingley to give up his attentions to Elizabeth's older sister Jane, even though he knew that Bingley had been very strongly attracted to this beautiful woman who never seemed to have any unpleasant thoughts or words about anyone. Darcy knew that this was the type of woman who would suit Bingley's own very happy disposition, if only her family's behaviour was not so unacceptable. Bingley's attraction to Miss Bennet seemed to be different from his frequent infatuations with other pretty women that he had admired in the past but had soon forgotten when he met a new beauty. To Bingley, his frequent attraction to beautiful women led him to call each of them his "angel," but his regard for Miss Bennet just might be different.

Now Darcy was beginning to realize just how unimportant his objections had been. After his complete surprise at meeting Elizabeth at Pemberley and seeing how changed her attitude and behaviour were toward him, he began to hope that her very passionate refusal of his offer of marriage at Hunsford may have been regretted by her after she had read his letter of explanation about his treatment of Wickham and his interference with Bingley's attachment to Jane. He could only hope that his letter of explanation gave her pause long enough to reconsider her vehement objections to him. On his part, he had taken her criticisms to heart and was trying to change his ways and be a better person who would be acceptable to her.

He knew that he had not yet corrected one of her most important criticisms of his behaviour—that he had separated Bingley from her sister Jane, thus destroying both Bingley and Jane's excellent chance at happiness. His professed excuse for his action was that Jane did not appear to return Bingley's regard to any degree, but he knew that the principal reason for his interference was his objection to her family. Even though Bingley had expressed his admiration for so many other beauties in the past, this attraction to Jane now appeared to be very different as Bingley was still miserable over his departure from Netherfield and Miss Bennet's company. Elizabeth had bitterly complained that her sister never showed her emotion to anyone who did not know her as well as she did, so how could Darcy possibly have the effrontery to claim that Jane appeared to be indifferent to Bingley? Darcy now felt that he had been very hypocritical in this as he had already made an offer for Miss Elizabeth and was now seriously planning to make a second offer to her. After all, if Miss Elizabeth Bennet and her family were good enough for him, how could he claim that Miss Jane Bennet was not good enough for Bingley? He believed that Bingley's sister Caroline would eventually approve of Jane Bennet as Caroline wanted her brother to marry into a higher class to distance their very recent connections to trade. Certainly, Caroline wanted both of them to marry much higher up, but the Bennets were landed gentry, even though not of the highest class. Darcy knew that his own status as master of the great estate of Pemberley was the main reason why she so desperately wanted to marry him. As mistress of Pemberley, her aspirations to enter into the highest classes of society would be assured.

Darcy hoped that the Bingleys were still at Pemberley as he resolved to talk Charles about returning to Netherfield and his newest angel, Jane Bennet. He just hoped his absence from Pemberley had not meant that his sister Georgiana's life had been unbearable because of Caroline Bingley's insufferable attentions to her. Both he and his sister knew that Caroline wanted to marry Darcy only for his position in society and her desire to become mistress of Pemberley. If she could achieve her goal of marrying Darcy, society would be less likely to shun her for her family's recent involvement in trade, which was indeed the source of their wealth. She was the main instigator of Charles's renting of Netherfield as having a landed estate was another step up the ladder of respectability and acceptance into high society. Darcy tolerated Caroline Bingley only because of his great friendship with her brother. He could only hope that her desperation to marry him would not lead her into even more desperate schemes. He believed that Caroline had detected his interest in Miss Elizabeth, so she would believe that her marital ambitions were threatened.

When Darcy arrived at Pemberley, he was pleased to find that Bingley had decided to delay their departure until he returned as he had not wanted to leave Darcy's sister Georgiana alone. Georgiana was very pleased to see her brother because she had been constantly importuned by Caroline Bingley, who had gone so far as to act as if she were already the mistress of Pemberley. Caroline ordered the staff around with an increasing arrogance, insisting on their complete and immediate attention to her demands under threat of dismissal. Darcy expressed his appreciation to Bingley for staying with Georgiana, but agreed with Bingley's plans to depart the next day, even though Caroline hinted that she would like to remain at Pemberley because of her sincere desire to keep company with her friend, dear Georgiana. As neither Darcy nor his sister supported this plan, Bingley insisted they had to leave in the morning as they were expected elsewhere and had already delayed their travel plans.

Dinner that night was not a happy event because of Caroline's constant lamentations on their planned departure so soon after Darcy had returned. Caroline was obviously suspicious about the reasons why Darcy had left for London at the same time that Miss Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle left Lambton, but Darcy would not clarify why he had had to go so suddenly when he had not previously mentioned this possibility to them. Those departures were certainly not planned as the Gardiners had been invited to dine at Pemberley the same day that they left, but had to cancel their dinner plans. Caroline was apprehensive that Darcy's trip was somehow related to his obvious attraction to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She felt that this upstart nobody from a nothing village in Hertfordshire might frustrate her marriage plans that she had worked on for so many years.

When the ladies withdrew from the dining room, all three gentlemen consumed more port than normal, with Darcy secretly celebrating their imminent departure, Bingley drowning his continuing sorrow over the absence of Miss Bennet, and Hurst simply doing what he was wont to do whenever alcohol was available—drink until he fell asleep. Darcy took the opportunity of Hurst's snores to ask Bingley, "What would you think of returning to Netherfield for the shooting? We saw lots of birds when we were there, so it should be great sport."

Bingley was surprised at this question. "I thought you had been strongly opposed to my returning to Netherfield as Miss Bennet did not return my affections and you did not want me to be hurt if I developed strong feelings for her that were not returned? I cannot understand why you have suddenly changed your opinion. Sure I would like to go for the shooting, but what about Miss Bennet?"

Darcy replied, "I may have misconstrued Miss Jane Bennet's regard for you; I have it on very good authority that Miss Bennet does not show her emotions and has not been happy since we left. If we return to Netherfield for the shooting, it will give you both a chance to determine if you still have feelings for each other. If either of you feels differently, at least you will know. As it is now, you are both unsure of what you may have lost."

Bingley was ecstatic with this plan as he felt it would be inevitable that he would regain Jane's good regard. Slowly he began to be suspicious of Darcy's professed reason why he wanted to return to Netherfield. "Darcy, I hate to be suspicious, but if my return to Netherfield makes Miss Bennet less unhappy, would it also mean that Miss Elizabeth might feel gratitude to you? Is Miss Elizabeth the source of your sudden knowledge about Miss Bennet? Is this just a way for Miss Elizabeth to improve her opinion of you? I saw how you were so friendly with her when she was here. Your face lit up whenever you were with her; that was obvious to everyone who saw you. Mind you, I do not mind helping you in your plans for Miss Elizabeth as it also helps me. I wish you would be more open with me. Please tell me what your feelings are for Miss Elizabeth; do you have strong feelings for her?"

Darcy admitted he planned to ask Elizabeth if she would allow him to court her and said that he hoped she would respond favourably to his desire for a chance of getting to know each other better. While Bingley had not been informed of Darcy's offer and rejection in Kent, he could not fail but to be aware of Darcy's interest in her from his attentions to her while she was visiting Lambton with her aunt and uncle.

When they rejoined the ladies, all three men continued to drink, this time with many glasses of brandy while Caroline and Georgiana entertained them at the piano. The men continued to imbibe after the ladies went up, until all three needed the assistance of their valets to make it to their rooms and get them ready for bed.

Darcy immediately fell into a deep sleep and soon dreamed his regular dream of being with Elizabeth very intimately. He could smell the perfume she always wore, very light and flowery. His dreams seemed almost real with his holding Elizabeth tightly, kissing her, feeling her touching him, reacting to her touch, rolling on top of her, and taking her completely. He murmured "Elizabeth, my dearest Elizabeth! How I have wanted you. Oh, my darling." His murmurs became shouts as he fulfilled his ecstasy, the dream was so real. He immediately rolled over and went back into a sound dreamless sleep.

When Darcy woke with the first light, he smiled at the strength of the memory of his dream, even though he now suffered from a headache. What a wonderful dream! It had seemed so real! When he rolled over, he was horrified to see red hair on his pillow, then Caroline's face smiling at him indulgently. She said, "Good morning, my dear. Thank you for a wonderful night."

Darcy immediately leapt from the bed, not realizing his nakedness until she looked knowingly and admiringly at his body. He grabbed his dressing gown as she sat up, showing her own lack of clothes. "Cover yourself, for God's sake. What are you doing in my bed?"

"My dear, surely you remember inviting me into your room? You were so insistent that I could not refuse you anything, anything you wanted," Caroline said this as she stretched her arms wide, making her breasts stand out. She threw back the covers, revealing her complete nakedness and, to Darcy's horror, a blood stain on the sheet. She got out of bed and went to him, naked as she was, and said, "Aren't you going to give me a hug and kiss? Your kisses are wonderful. I just wish we had done this long before now. Why did we waste so much time?"

Darcy saw her dressing gown on the floor and picked it up, giving it to her. "Cover yourself and get back to your room." He opened the door to escort her out but was horrified to see that Louisa and her husband Hurst were just passing by. They could not miss Caroline standing there, putting on her dressing gown. Louisa exclaimed, "Caroline, what are you doing in Darcy's room? What is going on?"

Hurst added, "Darcy, you better explain yourself. I cannot believe you took advantage of Caroline. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Caroline pulled Louisa into the room and guided her to the bed, pointing out the blood stain. "Is it not obvious what happened? I am ruined! What am I going to do?" She sobbed at these words, even though she was smiling.

Bingley was just coming down the stairs, rubbing his eyes. "What is going on? Why is everyone here? What is all the noise about?"

Louisa answered, "We found Caroline in Darcy's room, putting on her dressing gown. From the evidence in the bed, it is obvious what happened last night. She is ruined unless Mr. Darcy decides to do the right thing."

Darcy was still standing there, stunned. Bingley realized he had no choice but to accept his role as his sister's protector. "Darcy, you better get dressed so we can talk. Hurst and I will wait for you in your library. We have a lot to decide. Caroline, go get dressed right now. I will speak to you later."

Meanwhile, several footmen and maids were close enough to see and hear everything. They stood without speaking, stunned at what they saw. No one noticed Georgiana standing at the top of the stairs, her hands to her mouth, eyes wide.

Caroline and Louisa left together to go to Caroline's room, with Caroline exclaiming, "It's a good thing this happened before it was too late. Darcy had the nerve to call me Elizabeth while he was making love to me. Now I finally will be mistress of Pemberley and that insufferable piece of baggage will never be heard of again. Who knows what Darcy would have done without my help?" Louisa was horrified at her sister's words and behaviour but said nothing. Neither sister noticed that Georgiana heard their words or saw her apparent confusion at what Caroline's words meant. As an unmarried maiden, she was kept strictly in the dark about what actually happened in the marriage bed.