Second Son: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Cherith Boardman

Author:Cherith Boardman [Boardman, Cherith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

That night Jane joined Elizabeth for a bedtime chat, for the first time in more than a month, and related to her sister what had been told her by Lt Wickham.

“Jane, consider in what a disgraceful light this would place Mr Darcy!” cried Elizabeth. “I have spoken with Mr Darcy much more than you, and it is impossible!! No gentleman of common honour and humanity, or any value for his own character, could be capable of such behaviour.”

Jane shook her head, even as Lizzy continued. “Think about it, dearest! Think about Mr Bingley and Mr McKenzie… Can his most intimate friends be so excessively deceived? Even our own father?”

Jane cut her younger sister off. “I cannot believe Mr Wickham would invent such a history as he gave me this afternoon.”

“Please! Jane – Mr Darcy warned me that Lt Wickham is a liar and a rake. Will you believe the word of a man to whom you have recently met, over Mr Darcy – who we first met five years ago and has been our neighbour for almost two months?”

“Lizzy!!” Jane’s voice was tinged with her frustration. “Did Mr Darcy give any proofs with his warnings? Mr Wickham gave me names, times, facts – everything mentioned without ceremony – besides there was truth in his looks. If it be not so, let Mr Darcy contradict it.”

Elizabeth studied her elder sister; Jane was usually so averse to thinking ill of anyone – which, unfortunately, resulted in her trusting a practiced liar before. “Aye, Jane, I shall ask Mr Darcy. He once described Mr Bingley as ‘a man categorically incapable of doleful countenance.’ I would, in turn, describe Mr Darcy as a man categorically incapable of disguise or deceit. I shall find a way to question him at the Netherfield ball, and I shall believe whatever he tells me – for a man who cannot even enact an evening charade will tell me the truth.”

The Bennets had always been a very loyal family – Jane was confused and hurt by Lizzy’s faith in Darcy’s innocence over her elder sister’s opinion of his guilt. Lizzy should dislike the man because he insulted me that first night! What does it mean that she has befriended the man? I hope her heart has not been touched by Mr Darcy’s preference of her company – he can mean nothing by it since he is betrothed to Miss de Bourgh. Jane studied Lizzy for a few moments before preparing to take her leave and go on to bed. “I beg your pardon, Lizzy, I do not want to argue with you, but I know exactly what I think.”

Elizabeth was worried about what Jane related to her. It was true Mr Darcy had only delivered an earnest, but general, warning regarding the new lieutenant. At the time, she had had not demanded any details – a result of his obvious emotion. Perhaps there is a misunderstanding between the two gentlemen? Perchance the ambiguity of the two different wills probated

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