P&P200: Colonel Fitzwilliam’s News for Darcy
**This P&P200 vignette is the seventh I have written for the weeks leading up to the double wedding event on Nov. 16. First was Darcy Surprises Elizabeth on 10/29, then A Most Important Dinner at Darcy House on 11/1, An Enlightening Tour of Darcy House on 11/2, Mr. Darcy Goes Shopping on 11/3, After Church Picnic & Surprise on 11/4, and Georgiana Hosts a Tea Party on 11/5. Read those first! All are inspired by the Darcy Saga, and may even contain small portions of “flashback” moments I wrote within my sequel. However, all of them are altered a tad to present a differing POV and most contain additional information I never wrote before. So they are new material to be enjoyed as part of the awesome Austen Authors P&P200 extravaganza! Thanks for reading, Sharon Lathan
York’s Coffee House located across from Green Park on Piccadilly Street was a favorite place for Darcy and his cousin Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam to meet. The address was a rough halfway point between Grosvenor Square and the townhouse of Lord Matlock on St. James’s Square, but easy access was not the only reason the two men had chosen York’s years ago. For one, the coffee was excellent. All the beverages were, in fact, as was the food. Many coffee houses in London could boast the same, so even this was not the primary reason. It came down to atmosphere more than anything. Urbane and elegant it was, yet with an air of casual comfort not felt in a pretentious gentlemen’s club, such as White’s, where both Darcy and Richard were members. York’s spanned the entire ground level and two-thirds of the first level, and unlike the majority of coffee houses, did not cram seating places into every last available inch of space. Instead there was ample room for the tables and booths, with none too close together. The black brick building sat on the corner, the windows on both outer walls providing adequate lighting during the day and a nice view of Green Park. If privacy was desired, that could be arranged – for a price – in the upper room where thick walls separated the booths. Continue reading
P&P200: The Wedding Breakfast
Darcy and Elizabeth’s wedding would not have been a lavish affair, no matter how much Mrs. Bennet might have wished it. In the Regency years, the wedding celebration was a subdued affair, attended mostly by family. Jane Austen’s niece Caroline Austen gave the reason as such, “The old fashion of festivity and publicity had gone by, and was universally condemned as showing the great bad taste of all former generations.” Yikes! Imagine what she might have had to say about the recent royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton! Although, perhaps royalty was forgiven–or even encouraged in–such a display. Either way, I’m sure Mrs. Bennet would not have agreed with Caroline Austen even the slightest little bit.
Wedddings were required to take place in the morning hours, between eight o’ clock and noon, per Hardwicke’s Marriage Act of 1753, and as the attendees would likely have been fasting before taking communion following the church ceremony, the celebratory meal afterwards would be the first opportunity to break their fast. Hence the ‘wedding breakfast,’ which tended to be a light meal, similar to a modern day brunch. Continue reading
P&P200: Colonel Fitzwilliam Learns of Darcy’s Engagement
(November 6, 1812)
On a cold November afternoon, Colonel the Honorable Richard Fitzwilliam jauntily ascended the steps of Darcy House in London. His knock on the door was swiftly answered.
“Ah, Thacker, has my cousin returned?”
The butler glanced at the door. The colonel was a constant and welcomed guest at Darcy House, but the knocker was not in evidence, a clear sign that the family was unavailable to visitors.
The colonel laughed. “Oh, do not bother, old man.” He moved inside the vestibule. “I will just call on Miss Georgiana.” He handed the imperturbable servant his hat and gloves and was removing his coat when a tall gentleman made his appearance.
“I thought I heard your voice, Richard,” said a smiling Fitzwilliam Darcy, his hand extended in welcome.
“Darce! You have returned and looking exceedingly well, I might add. Now, where the devil have you been? What have you been up to?”
“Come into my study, Fitz. Your arrival is most timely if you mean to stay for dinner.”
“Of course! You would not throw your poor cousin upon the mercy of the kitchens of Horse Guards, would you? The horses eat better!”
Darcy harrumphed. “I seriously doubt that the Crown’s food is that deficient, but we will suffer your company. Thacker, be so good as to alert Cook that we have a guest for dinner.” The butler nodded as the two gentlemen continued down the hall.
“You have not answered my question,” Fitzwilliam pointed out. “You have been gone for a month. Did you return to Pemberley?”
Darcy’s response was lost to posterity, for at that instant, a pretty young lady dashed from the music room.
“RICHARD!” cried Georgiana Darcy. “Oh Richard, have you heard the news?” She leapt into an embrace with her cousin and guardian. “Brother is getting married!”
Fitzwilliam was dumbfounded. “Married?” His arms full of Georgiana, he peered over her head at Darcy. “To whom?”
Butter would not melt in Darcy’s grinning mouth. “You are acquainted with the lady—Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Thirty minutes later, the two gentlemen were comfortably ensconced in Darcy’s study with cigars and wine, a roaring fire in the grate, and Georgiana was upstairs changing for dinner.
“Now that you have successfully distracted me with cigars and wine,” said Fitzwilliam presently, “shall you tell me how things came to pass? Engaged to Miss Bennet? I am all astonishment!”
“I thought you had some wind of it. You must have seen evidence of my admiration in Kent.”
“I thought I saw something, but to this degree? No. You have been very sly.”
“Not in the least. I must wonder at your astonishment; surely my aunt spoke to the earl last month.”
“I have not heard anything, and I would be surprised if I did. You know Father and Aunt Catherine hate each other. But why would—oh!” Fitzwilliam frowned. “She knew? You told Lady Catherine of your intentions and not me?”
“Peace, Cousin! It was not so much a matter of telling her as her finding out.”
Mollified, the colonel sat back. “How did that come about? Anne?”
“No, I did not tell Anne, either.” He imparted the story of Lady Catherine’s journey to Longbourn, her confrontation with Elizabeth, and her attempt to warn Darcy off. By the time Darcy finished his tale, the colonel was excessively diverted.
“Ho, this is rich! The old bat thought she would have you bend to her will, but in all probability, she drove you right into Miss Bennet’s arms! How Father will laugh when he learns of this!”
Darcy sat up. “Must you tell him?”
“Of course! I can keep nothing from him—especially if I wish to stay in his best books. My allowance depends upon it!” At Darcy’s dark look, Fitzwilliam sobered and patted his cousin’s knee. “It would be all for the best, Darce. You cannot think he will look kindly on your betrothal to a county lady of no note.”
Darcy ground his teeth. “Elizabeth is a gentleman’s daughter; we are equals.”
“Do not be foolish! You know this will disrupt his plans for you. However, I can be of service. As much as he dislikes being thwarted, he enjoys thwarting Auntie Cathy more! The very fact that our aunt disapproves of Miss Bennet will raise her in my father’s eyes.”
Darcy was hardly mollified. “I will stand no disrespect for Elizabeth.”
Fitzwilliam almost laughed at the image Darcy presented—glowering face, arms crossed over his chest. Why, if only he bit his lip, he would be the perfect picture of an angry, stubborn child. “Miss Elizabeth is charming. She will win over Father in no time, and Mother too, I have no doubt.”
“And the viscount?”
Fitzwilliam’s smile faded. “That will be a harder task. You know how much stock my dear sister Eugenie puts in appearances, and Andrew follows wherever she leads.” The colonel’s and the viscountess’ mutual loathing was well-known within the family. “However, Father demands a unified public front in all things. Win his acceptance and the rest of the family will fall in line—including Lady Catherine.”
Darcy relaxed. “My uncle is a reasonable man. I am satisfied. I shall write him presently. He is still in Derbyshire, I recall.” He took a sip of his wine. “Shall you attend the wedding? If so, I would ask you to escort Georgiana.”
Fitzwilliam nodded. “I shall be happy to if I am granted leave. After all, someone must represent the family. It certainly will not be Lady Catherine.” He frowned. “I wish Anne could… but that is nonsense. Her health would not allow it, even if by some miracle our aunt gave permission.”
The two sat for some time, drinking, the crackling fire the only sound in the room.
“Darcy,” Fitzwilliam began again, “are you certain about this? Please understand I am only concerned with your happiness. Miss Bennet is all that is lovely and charming, but—”
Darcy held up a hand. “Fitz, I am certain. I shall not change my mind—I shall marry Elizabeth.” He sighed. “It is hard for me to speak of this. In her presence, I feel—calm. Complete. At peace. I find she is as necessary to me as food and drink. I do not think I can now live without her, knowing I have finally won her tender affections.”
“Have you?”
“She says I have, and I believe her.” He chuckled. “I certainly know my fortune means little to her!”
Fitzwilliam frowned, the source of his misgivings now on the table. “Forgive me, Darce, but how do you know that?”
Darcy laughed out loud. “Because she turned me down at Rosings!”
“What?”
Darcy ignored his cousin’s inelegant outburst and gave an abbreviated recounting of his misadventure in the parsonage at Easter. “So you see?” he concluded his tale. “If she were mercenary, she would have accepted my boorish proposal, and I never would have been the wiser until it was too late! But she had mercy on me and taught me a hard lesson on what it takes to please a woman worthy of being pleased.”
“Apparently, you have learned this lesson.”
“I will endeavor to put my better understanding to good use for the remainder of my days.”
Normally, Fitzwilliam would have disregarded such a statement as mere hyperbole had it come from any other man. “She has bewitched you, has she not?”
“I am a better man for knowing her.”
Fitzwilliam raised his glass and offered a toast. “Then I wish you joy with all my heart.”
Darcy’s eyes were suspiciously moist. “Thank you, Fitz. Your words mean more to me than I can say.” He gathered himself and stood. “Shall we to dinner? Georgiana is surely waiting for us by now.”
Fitzwilliam grinned, already relishing whatever arts Darcy’s cook was to employ that evening. “Excellent! Lead the way, Cuz.” And if what you say about Miss Elizabeth is true, Darce, I shall love her as if she were my own sister, he thought to himself.
P&P200: Wedding Fashions, Customs and Cake
GOOD GRACIOUS! LORD BLESS ME! ONLY THINK! DEAR ME! MR. DARCY!
And so began the planning for the double wedding of Mrs. Bennet’s two most deserving daughters. After the initial shock of learning that Lizzy would be marrying Mr. Darcy with his 10,000 a year and the possibility of a special license there is little doubt that foremost in her mind were the wedding clothes.
The marriages of her two oldest children to two of England’s most eligible bachelors would have put Mrs. Bennet over the moon and in a mood to plan an event to rival a royal wedding. As for the gowns it is clear that her preference would be specially made, elaborate white gowns, not the blue of the middle classes. And while Jane and Elizabeth would have objected to something as ostentatious or extravagant as silk and satin they would have conceded to specially made gowns of fine white muslin or lawn, perhaps embellished with white on white 
embroidery. As Jane and Elizabeth had their feet planted firmly on the ground, they would have chosen dresses that could be used after the wedding.
White was used not to represent the bride’s purity—as Austen said in P&P, “loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; one false step involves her in endless ruin…”— virginity was assumed; white was the color of celebration and certainly Jane and Elizabeth would want to celebrate their marriages. Continue reading
P&P200: Charlotte Collins on Bonfire Night
Last autumn I started a multi-post story about Charlotte Lucas and how she came to marry Mr. Collins. It ended up containing some surprising twists. This post continues the Charlotte’s tale. If you haven’t read the earlier sections, some bits of it might seem mysterious. You can find the earlier sections at Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8, Episode 9.
Across the clearing, sparks flew as the stuffed guy was engulfed in flames. Flickering yellow and orange tendrils shot up from the bonfire toward the sky. Charlotte remembered how huge and out of control the bonfires on Guy Fawkes Day had seemed to her as a child. She had always feared that the sparks would set a building alight, perhaps the result of all those years of stern cautions from her mother about taking care with candles, and her graphic descriptions of the possible consequences of carelessness. Now, of course, Charlotte did not give a second thought to the risk of the fire spreading. She could see the precautions the men were taking – the circle of stones to contain the fire, the buckets of water standing at regular intervals around the clearing.
It was a different kind of fire that Charlotte associated with Bonfire Night now. Had it only been a year ago that she had allowed Mr. Robinson to lead her off into the dark woods? That night had changed her life so completely, and none of it in the manner which she had expected. She was no longer an aging spinster, her future uncertain and dependent completely on her family, an easy target for a flattering seducer. Now she was Mrs. Collins, with a home of her own and security beyond any she could have expected.
Of course, that home of her own was precious little good at the moment, since she and Mr. Collins had fled the vicinity of Rosings Park. Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s wrath over Mr. Darcy’s engagement to Elizabeth Bennet, showing no sign of abating a fortnight after receiving the news, had been enough to convince Mr. Collins that absence was his best defense. And so Charlotte, now a married woman, was back at Lucas Lodge on Bonfire Night, which had been when it all began. Continue reading
P&P200: Georgiana Hosts a Tea Party
**This P&P200 vignette is the sixth I have written for the weeks leading up to the double wedding event on Nov. 16. First was Darcy Surprises Elizabeth on 10/29, then A Most Important Dinner at Darcy House on 11/1, An Enlightening Tour of Darcy House on 11/2, Mr. Darcy Goes Shopping on 11/3, and After Church Picnic & Surprise yesterday. Read those first! All are inspired by the Darcy Saga, and may even contain small portions of “flashback” moments I wrote within my sequel. However, all of them are altered a tad to present a differing POV and contain additional information I never wrote before. So they are new material to be enjoyed as part of the awesome Austen Authors P&P200 extravaganza! Thanks for reading, Sharon Lathan
“Miss Bennet. Miss Elizabeth. I am so pleased to see you both.” Georgiana curtsied before her guests, the fidgety hands and rosy cheeks indicative of her nervousness not affecting the graceful motion. “Thank you for accepting my invitation.”
“An invitation to pass the afternoon in your company, Miss Darcy, is one we are happy to accept. Neither Jane, nor I, could fathom a greater delight, could we, Jane?”
Georgiana’s blush deepened at Lizzy’s sincerely spoken words and Jane’s earnest agreement. “That is very kind of you to say. However, I know London boasts many fascinating entertainments, especially shopping!”
Lizzy laughed at the quip, laced her arm companionably through Georgiana’s, and gently steered toward the parlor. “Frankly, I am sick to death of shopping. Indeed I am!!” Lizzy emphasized at Georgiana’s incredulous expression. “After a while all the fabrics and lace look exactly the same, and I can no longer distinguish between sable or fox. On top of that, I am quite certain my feet shall never be the same after walking miles over rough stones. Tragic, really.”
“Now I know you are teasing me, Miss Elizabeth. My brother often mentions your fondness for walking, as well as your delight in teasing. I would be suspect at your claim of sore feet, but the sure evidence is that everyone knows the difference between sable and fox!”
Amid the three-way laughter, they sat on the sofas surrounding the low table already laden with a three-tiered silver plate rack and two porcelain salvers piled with an assortment of edibles. The housekeeper, Mrs. Smyth, entered at that moment and deposited another tray upon which were three china cups, a tea pot, and the usual additives. Continue reading
Jane Austen is Apparently Still Cruising the Baltic Sea
After some major and minor delays, I present a report of the second half of Jane Austen’s cruise around the Baltic Sea, which began way back here.
Jane in Tallinn, Estonia
Jane checks out Old Town, which predates her, so it’s very old
Tallinn is a port and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site for European Culture. It’s also way overrated. Super super ovverated. Also you can find Nazi stuff in the antique shops.
Soooo history. It started as Templar fortress and for awhile was a pretty important place if you lived in Estonia because I imagine there wasn’t a whole lot else going on in this country with their weird language that is nothing like the other languages around it and nobody can begin to understand it. Seriously, the guide said that. “You’re not going to understand anything. We barely do.” It’s related to Finnish but they’re not understandable to each other.
In Jane Austen’s time, Tallinn was part of Imperial Russia, joining it in 1710. A lot of places were part of Imperial Russia. It’s actually pretty hard to keep track of things in Eastern Europe. As it did not see heavy fighting during World War II even though the Nazis and the Soviets fought over it, most of the Medieval fortifications are still intact, making it a tourist trap. It does have the world’s oldest still-functioning pharmacy (they sell different things now) but it also has a place where you can buy matchbooks with Hitler’s face on them. So whatever. I’m not talking up this disappoint anymore. The cruise really talked it up, otherwise I would go easier on it. Plus they fought for the Nazis in WWII. Continue reading
P&P200: After Church Picnic & Surprise
**This P&P200 vignette is the fifth of several I have written for the weeks leading up to the double wedding event on Nov. 16. First was Darcy Surprises Elizabeth on 10/29, then A Most Important Dinner at Darcy House on 11/1, An Enlightening Tour of Darcy House on 11/2, and Mr. Darcy Goes Shopping yesterday. Read those first! All are inspired by the Darcy Saga, and may even contain small portions of “flashback” moments I wrote within my sequel. However, all of them are altered a tad to present a differing POV and contain additional information I never wrote before. So they are new material to be enjoyed as part of the awesome Austen Authors P&P200 extravaganza! Thanks for reading, Sharon Lathan
Sunday morning dawned with a slight chill in the air due to the intermittent breeze, but sunny and blue-skied. For everyone it was a planned day of rest. No shopping, business, or other major undertakings were on the agenda. In every way the fine weather and minimal expectations were advantageous to Mr. Darcy.
While dining at the Gardiner house the night before, Darcy casually mentioned that depending on the weather it might be a lovely afternoon to stroll to Hyde Park, perhaps enjoying a relaxing picnic. Easily accessible from Grosvenor Square, the eastern portions of Hyde Park required only a short walk and were typically less crowded than the popular areas, such as Rotten Row. It was kept tentative, although the two Bennet women were agreeable, and the Gardiner children thought it a capitol idea! Darcy had a special reason for hoping Sunday remained as pleasant as the days previous, but in an effort to maintain the surprise, he acted blasé.
The meager thespian skills he possessed served to divert suspicion as to his Sunday afternoon plotting, but failed utterly when Lizzy asked him if he and Georgiana planned to attend worship services the following day in hopes that she could accompany them.
“We do plan to attend service, yes,” he answered, brows lifted as he trained wide eyes on Lizzy. “We typically do unless absolutely unable for some reason. Of course you are welcome to join us, Elizabeth, but would you not prefer to worship at the church you usual do when in Town? With the Gardiners?” Continue reading
P&P200: Mrs. Bennet plans wedding & breakfast
“Oh, my dear sister! I am so delighted that I think I may have a spasm! I finally get to plan Jane and Lizzie’s wedding!” Mrs. Bennet fanned herself with the bonnet she had just removed as she plopped down onto the settee in Mrs. Phillips’ saloon. “I was so afraid that Mr. Darcy or Bingley’s sisters would insist on St. George’s Hanover Square, and, of course, I would have had to let my sister Gardiner assist me. As much as I love her and my brother, I must say that they made a mess of Lydia’s wedding- no guests, no flowers except a paltry little posy for Lydia to carry. I was ashamed of the niggardly arrangements. They did not even have a wedding breakfast afterwards!”
She breathed a deep sigh and allowed Mrs. Phillips to pat her hand and nod consolingly before continuing.”That would not do at all for Jane and Lizzie! They are marrying into the ton and must have a wedding that will not embarrass their husbands by being miserly with the biggest event of my daughters’ lives! And…I think I will be able to convince Mr. Bennet to go along with my plans- after all, Lizzie is his favourite daughter…surely he will wish to give her a lovely send off! I already have cook working on the menu for the wedding breakfast…I told her that we want everything to be prime about it! Of course, I don’t know how many guests there will be yet. I am sure Mr. Darcy’s sister and Bingley’s sisters will be here, but I am not sure about Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam and his parents. Darcy and Fitzwilliam are very good friends, from what Lizzie has told Jane about her visit in Kent, but his parents’ estate is all of one hundred miles away…surely too far to travel for a wedding! Since the wedding is to be at Longbourn Church instead of at St. George’s, I am afraid that not many of Mr. Darcy’s and Bingley’s fashionable friends will come to Hertfordshire…Oh, well, those that do will find that Hertfordshire can put on a wedding just as well as London can!” Continue reading
P&P200: Mr. Darcy Goes Shopping
**This P&P200 vignette is the fourth of several I have written for the weeks leading up to the double wedding event on Nov. 16. First was Darcy Surprises Elizabeth on 10/29, then A Most Important Dinner at Darcy House on 11/1, and An Enlightening Tour of Darcy House yesterday. Read those first! All are inspired by the Darcy Saga, and may even contain small portions of “flashback” moments I wrote within my sequel. However, all of them are altered a tad to present a differing POV and contain additional information I never wrote before. So they are new material to be enjoyed as part of the awesome Austen Authors P&P200 extravaganza! Thanks for reading, Sharon Lathan
Darcy paused on the walkway across the street from the massive building with windows spanning the entire front facade, and stared at the gaping portal where a veritable sea of people were entering and exiting. Perhaps that was a slight over-exaggeration, if he was being honest. Yet compared to the individual shops and exclusive merchants he typically patronized, the number of men and women were significantly more than what he was used to. Not unlike the crowds bustling through the walks inside the Royal Exchange, of course, but at the Exchange men were the predominant sex, and business was of a serious financial nature. Judging by the audible laughter and trailing servants laden with colorful boxes and bags, the establishment known as Harding, Howell, & Co. on Pall Mall had scant in common with the Royal Exchange!
All four of the merchants he had spoken with about his particular dilemma had instructed him to come here. He also knew it was Lady Matlock’s favorite shopping mall. “Much nicer than the Pantheon Bazaar,” she had recently mentioned, “unless you want an exotic product or children’s item.” That latter tidbit of information Darcy tucked into his brain for future reference. For the present it was his soon-to-be bride – coincidentally the someday-mother of the children he longed to buy merchandise for – that occupied his thoughts and send him on this excursion.
Get on with it, Darcy. How bad can it possibly be? He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and stepped off the curb. Minutes later he didn’t want to attempt answering that question. Every sense was deluged and instantly overloaded. Maintaining composure and not allowing his jaw to literally drop was a herculean feat. Strangely enough, the clamor of hundreds of voices echoing wasn’t the biggest assault. It was the profuse array of merchandise lining every last inch of space, wall to ceiling and case upon case. And he was only standing in the entrance foyer! At a reputed one-hundred-fifty feet square, Harding, Howell, & Co was gigantic by anyone’s standards. Computing the math on how much could be stuffed into a building that size was beyond his capacity at the moment.
How am I ever going to find the perfect wedding gift for Elizabeth? Continue reading
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