Alias Thomas Bennet Read online

  When he stated that the London papers would soon carry the announcement of the marriages of Mr. Charles Bingley to Lady Jane Lydon and of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy to Lady Elizabeth Lydon, she said, “It will set a buzz within the ton such as has not been heard for many years.”

  Darcy visibly flinched, unable to hide his loathing at the prospect of such attention as was inevitable under the circumstances. She felt for her shy nephew’s reluctance to be noticed in society; this event would open him to even more scrutiny than he had become accustomed to as a single man of good fortune. She returned the discussion to the letter from Thomas Bennet, asking Darcy many questions about the man and his family, which Darcy answered to the best of his knowledge. Feeling justified in ensuring that the Shelton ladies had a proper upbringing, Lady Matlock was very thorough in her inquisition. Darcy’s assurances left her somewhat mollified; his words inspired confidence that the young ladies were genteel in nature, well bred, and wanting nothing in their comfort or education.

  “He has asked me to assist Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth,” she said. She paused to peruse the letter again, and read the passage aloud, “‘and their sister, Miss Mary Bennet, in their introduction into the first circles of London society. I suggest that you might collaborate with Mrs. Madeleine Gardiner, Mrs. Bennet’s sister-in-law, to work on the purchase of their trousseaux.’”

  Darcy made no response.

  “Well, there is no need to dawdle, Fitzwilliam. You will take me to your carriage and escort me immediately to this Gardiner family so that I can reacquaint myself with my goddaughter and her sister.”

  ***

  When Lady Matlock met the eldest three Bennet girls, she clearly saw Jane’s and Elizabeth’s resemblance to her sister and their birth mother, Lady Shelton. The meeting was tearful and happy for Lady Matlock. She was enthusiastic about getting to know her long-lost nieces. She went on to offer to obtain invitations for balls, soirees and musicales hosted by the most illustrious leaders of the London set and to introduce them to influential individuals in order for the girls to take their proper place in the hierarchy of society and, by extension, for their sister Mary to become known.

  Lady Matlock predicted the excessive deference to which Jane and Elizabeth, as the new darlings of the ton, would be subject. Many people who had brushed them off in the past would now be approaching with false sincerity in hopes of cultivating a relationship to their advantage in society. At her advice, Mr. Gardiner had the knocker removed from the front door until Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth became comfortable with the protocols of women of their rank. Soon after their engagements were announced and the London community had dispatched its spies to discover where the Lydon ladies were residing, the inevitable plethora of calling cards were left at the Gardiner home in Gracechurch Street.

  ***

  Longbourn, Hertfordshire

  Bennet received a letter from his cousin, Mr. Collins, which read as follows:

  Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, April 22 – 1812

  My dear cousin Bennet;

  As duty falls to me, mingling with my very good opinion of my authority as a clergyman and rights as a rector, I congratulate your two eldest daughters on their betrothals. I must also pay my compliments in deference to their superior positions due to their newfound fortunes as Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth Lydon. I hope they will condescend to my humble request to congratulate them in person when next I call at Longbourn. My coming thither will provide me with the greatest satisfaction, as I hold all the dear ladies of your family in terms of the highest admiration, and I have always thought them to be agreeable young ladies to Mrs. Collins and myself. Be assured that, when I am able to relate this most joyous intelligence to my benefactress, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and Miss de Bourgh on their expected return to Rosings, my happiness will be complete.

  I do not think it of light importance that I should have attentive and conciliatory manners towards everybody, especially towards those to whom I owe my preferment. I cannot acquit myself of that duty; nor could I think well of the man who should omit an occasion of testifying his respect towards anybody connected with the family.

  The respect which I feel for my ladies’ high rank, and in my veneration for their position in society, I relish my position in honouring your kind daughters’ favour with the most solemnity of gratitude and humbly hope that I can ingratiate myself to them with my own humility. For a want of having me improve myself, I am most thankful that the discovery is made in time for me to pay my respects to them, and I trust Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth will excuse my not having done it before. My total ignorance of the connection must plead my apology. I would appreciate being paid the compliment of their grand condescension, and I am confident that they will deign to recognize their friends in Hertfordshire and Kent.

  Your servant,

  William Collins

  He sighed as he handed the letter to his wife to examine.

  “Oh, Thomas, you must be so disappointed.”

  “I am ashamed my pride allowed me to assume that I had convinced him to change his sycophantic ways when he visited last autumn.”

  “Elizabeth’s accounts of Charlotte’s success were in the same vein.”

  “The tone of the letter indicates that he is as obsequious as before I intervened.”

  “If this is Mr. Collins’s view of Jane’s and Lizzy’s new notoriety, imagine what it bodes for them once others find out about it,” Mrs. Bennet said. “Our girls will be inundated by the attention of not only people like Collins, but also by those with less noble reasons for courting their favour.”

  Bennet nodded and then reviewed a section of the letter.

  “What will Lady Catherine say?”

  ***

  It was one of the most exciting evenings in Elizabeth’s life. She, Mary, Jane and the Gardiners were on their way for an evening at the opera. She had attended smaller theatre productions with her aunt and uncle when she was in Town for the Season before, but she had not the opportunity to attend the opera until they were all invited, along with Mr. Bingley, to attend in Mr. Darcy’s box. She peered out the window of the Gardiners’ carriage as they waited in the queue in front of Covent Garden. When Uncle Gardiner finally handed the four ladies out, Elizabeth took in the multitude of stylish ladies and foppish gentlemen gliding along, preening and posturing in all their finery, hoping to be noticed by the best of the haute monde.

  As they entered the theatre, Elizabeth continued to be in awe of all she saw. She was enthralled by the architecture and art, beautiful embossed wallpapers, decorative stucco, gilded plasterwork, carved woodwork, fine carpets, ornate sconces and huge chandeliers. This opulence was new to her experience; she never expected half as much splendour.

  “Oh, Aunt, I have never seen so many beautifully dressed women in my life!” Elizabeth observed. “My little ball gown is so plain compared to theirs. I am very glad you convinced me to wear your arm-bands and wrap so I would look at least half as elegant.”

  “Nothing is wanting in your appearance, dearest Lizzy,” Mrs. Gardiner assured her niece. With the extra lace and ribbon we added, your dress is perfect for the occasion. Many of the other ladies are decidedly overdressed. Look at that one over there; her lace is literally pulling down her décolletage, and it is such an unbecoming colour!”

  “That is Miss Bingley! Oh my, we must greet her,” said Jane, who made to move in that direction. The gentle touch of her aunt’s hand reminded her that she should not be so hasty, since her new social stature demanded a different deportment than was her wont.

  “It would be most polite for you to wait until the interval, dear, and then she must approach you. Then you may acknowledge her.”

  Elizabeth was relieved but knew the feeling would not last for long, as it would be inevitable that Miss Bingley would want to perform, not with her usual haughty manners, but with an uncommon amount of insincerity.

  ***

  For Darcy, the evening was not going so well. T
he buzz in the room was all about the potential presence of Lord Shelton’s two daughters, and no one was subtle enough to keep their comments from his hearing. The gossip mills had already associated him with Lady Elizabeth, so he was being tormented by the attention of well-wishers who were unable to hide their interest. Several were unabashed in their inquiries, expecting to be rewarded with exclusive information about the Shelton ladies and their inheritance. The whispers included speculation about the gentleman who had been their guardian for these last 20 years. Darcy inwardly sighed because he knew the gossip would become even more intense after the interval when the fashionably late appeared and insinuated themselves into the delicious conversations.

  Nervous as he usually was in public, Darcy was especially intimidated this evening. It was made no better by the appearance of Elizabeth. He rushed to her side, determined to swiftly secrete her in his box. He watched her protectively as, in her innocent inquisitiveness, she surveyed the people of fashion who filled the room, craning their necks to see who was attending and with whom. Her face was flushed with excitement.

  The entire theatre was watching the booth of Fitzwilliam Darcy for various reasons. Many ladies were jealous that Darcy and Bingley, erstwhile eligible bachelors, were no longer available to their individual prospects of an advantageous marriage. Many gentlemen, particularly those spendthrift nobles and second sons looking for an heiress of good fortune, were jealous that they had no opportunity to capture these well-dowered beauties. Above all, there was simply great curiosity for those who had not previously had a chance to see the Shelton ladies.

  At the interval, the gentlemen escorted the ladies to the hall; however, they were not prepared for the onslaught of admirers. Everyone who had ever met Darcy or Bingley wanted to be introduced to the mysterious Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth to garner their good opinions. Those who had the slightest acquaintance with Jane or Elizabeth from their prior times in Town were quite excited to renew the acquaintance and fawn and coo over the ladies’ dresses and their engagements, hoping to leave the evening as a dear friend.

  A more welcome well-wisher in the form of Colonel Fitzwilliam joined their party with his parents, Lord and Lady Matlock. When the Matlocks saw the dismayed faces of Darcy’s guests, they suggested retreating to the larger Matlock box to evade the crowd. The girls quickly agreed while Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner excused themselves to take a turn about the lobby to find an acquaintance who was also attending that evening.

  Once they had settled the ladies in the Matlock box, Darcy and Bingley left the little group to order some beverages. As he was leaving, Darcy could not help but notice that Colonel Fitzwilliam was already entertaining the others with his easy-going nature. When Elizabeth turned to Darcy with a look of pure adoration, he was abashed by his unreasonable jealousy. The look in her eyes told him that she understood.

  Less than pleased at all the notice paid to him, and especially to Elizabeth, Darcy was filled with anxiety as he moved through the crowd. His intention was to pay his respects to others only to the point of not appearing ill mannered, and then to return to Elizabeth. He hoped that his austere expression would warn off anyone thinking to approach him, but it was not to be; his engagement to one of the Shelton heiresses brought as much attention to him as it did to the ladies. Although aloof behaviour was expected of Darcy, the attention was overwhelming, so only his closest friends escaped the abrupt responses given to others’ attempts to voice their regards and wish him happiness on his recent betrothal.

  But as much as Darcy’s intention was to rush off with the minimum of courtesy, he was accompanied by his congenial friend. Bingley, being Bingley, whenever someone wanted to converse with him, would stop to be all that was welcoming and gregarious. When Bingley saw Colonel and Mrs. Forster, whom he had met when at Netherfield, he greeted them with enthusiasm.

  “Colonel Forster, Mrs. Forster, how nice to see you once again,” said Bingley, making his bow with typical ease and cheerfulness. A moment later, Darcy joined the group and bowed formally.

  “Likewise, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy,” Colonel Forster and his wife made their bow and curtsey in response. “Are you well?”

  Bingley replied, “Perfectly so, I thank you. And you and Mrs. Forster?”

  “We are well. Are you enjoying the performance this evening?”

  “Very much so, Colonel, and yourselves?” Bingley asked. “Does your party like the production?”

  “Harriet was remarking that it is the best opera we have seen in a long time, though it has been some time since we were last in Town,” Colonel Forster replied, smiling at his young wife. “It was shortly after our marriage, last autumn.”

  “Our party agrees with you on the quality of the music and performance. We were all remarking on it,” Bingley replied as Darcy rolled his eyes at Bingley’s audacity to have a prolonged conversation when he was impatient to get back to the ladies.

  “I understand that you two gentlemen are soon to be wed?” Mrs. Forster asked.

  “Yes, we are to be married in a double ceremony in June.”

  “I offer my congratulations to you both!” her husband said. “We are recently wed and cannot recommend it enough.”

  “Thank you, Colonel!” Bingley said with a broad smile, and Darcy nodded in affirmation while trying to conquer his irritation. The conversation was, in his mind, long overdue to end. His brow furrowed in consternation, and he twisted his ruby ring in frustration. He decided to break in before Bingley let his affability get out of hand, and made an appropriate transition towards the issue of his concern.

  “You have met our betrotheds in Meryton,” Darcy said. “They were then called Miss Jane and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

  “Yes, and I have heard that they are the lost Shelton heiresses.”

  “They are indeed!” said Bingley.

  Darcy broke in, hoping to avoid another long discussion. “We were about to procure them some refreshments when we met you.” He hoped that by ending the chitchat, he and Bingley could make their excuses and get back to their party.

  “We would very much like to give our regards to the ladies if you wouldn’t mind,” said Mrs. Forster. Darcy could not believe the cheek of the woman in her familiarity, but he did remember his good breeding.

  “Perhaps Bingley could escort you,” Darcy said brusquely, “and I will find a footman to assist me with the wine.” With the colonel’s nod, he left Bingley to continue his sociable exchange with the Forsters.

  ***

  The Forsters had already made their well wishes and departed by the time Darcy pushed through the crowd and returned to the Matlock box. Several conversations were taking place, and one in particular caught Darcy’s attention: he saw Elizabeth engaged in a discussion with his aunt and uncle, and his mouth curved into a smile. But it was short-lived. The sight of Miss Caroline Bingley speaking with Lady Jane only elevated the gloomy mood he was in as a result of enduring unrelenting well-wishers all evening. He could not tolerate the audacity of the woman to enter, likely uninvited, into a private area reserved for people she did not know to court favour with Jane and Elizabeth. Darcy was perturbed that she would so obviously try to inveigle her way into their circle. As much as he wanted to make his way to Elizabeth while escaping Miss Bingley’s notice, his wishes were in vain.

  “Mr. Darcy! How lovely to see you this evening,” she gushed as soon as she realized that he was nearby. Darcy was not at all surprised at her fawning; she had done so ever since Bingley had introduced them many years ago.

  “Miss Bingley,” he said formally with a gentlemanly bow.

  “May I offer my congratulations on your upcoming nuptials?” Her cloying tone grated on his nerves.

  “Thank you, Miss Bingley.”

  “I was just remarking to Lady Jane that I missed her dreadfully while she was away,” she said with false sincerity. “When I first heard that she and her sisters were back in Town, I was quite surprised that their cards were not delivered. My brother insi
sted that the ladies would need to refresh themselves after so much travelling, but I knew that my dear friends would be disappointed if I did not call on them immediately. But it was in vain, and I was forced to leave my card. Lady Jane has kindly informed me that the ladies were out procuring their delightful accessories for this evening.”

  In actuality, Miss Bingley had not called on Jane for some weeks as she had been loath to visit Cheapside. Bingley had confided to Darcy his disappointment that, upon hearing of Jane’s improved situation, Miss Bingley was shameless in her efforts to renew the friendship she had previously scorned. She knew it was inappropriate to try to gain access until her card had been acknowledged, but in her vanity, she felt herself above such decorum. It was an assumption Darcy thought typical of Miss Bingley.

  “I was beginning to think they were receding into seclusion from their friends due to their newly acquired rank,” she continued cattily. “But Lady Jane assures me that our cards were duly recognised and they will be making calls tomorrow.”

  Darcy could not believe his ears—Miss Bingley had all but accused them of evading her. Even though he knew that Jane and Elizabeth would never do such a thing, Darcy secretly wished they would consider shunning Miss Bingley as retribution for her interference in Bingley’s courtship of Lady Jane.

  Bingley distracted them by expressing a wish to include Lady Jane in a conversation with Miss Mary and the Gardiners, and she was excused, but not before Miss Bingley chastised her brother for taking away her dear friend. Darcy felt punished that he was left alone with Miss Bingley, but also relieved that Lady Jane no longer had to hear Miss Bingley’s ill-bred remarks.

  Elizabeth approached the pair, and Darcy knew she had come for his benefit since Miss Bingley was not a favourite of hers. He greeted her with a smile in his eyes that he knew she understood and offered his arm. When she took it, he put his other hand on hers. Oh, that they could steal away to a place where they would be relatively safe from women like Miss Bingley.