Their Moment of Happiness (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Prologue

Margaret Fitzwilliam, the Countess of Romsley, sat on a sofa in her townhouse, staring at her sister-in-law, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who was delivering a tirade.

The woman had intruded on what had been a perfectly ordinary morning.

The earl and she had only just finished breakfast. Their elder son, Viscount Bramwell, had not yet made an appearance, and their younger, Colonel Fitzwilliam was at an early meeting, having expected to return in time for the meal, but he had not.

If only he was here! We could use as many rational heads present as possible.

What was particularly astonishing—and, truth be told, perplexing—was her sister’s insistence that they immediately depart London and go to Hertfordshire to prevent ‘a monumental disaster’.

“Darcy will be the ruin of us all!” Catherine said loudly.

“Darcy—” Romsley attempted to interject, but his sister spoke on, her volume increasing.

“Despite being engaged to my daughter, I have heard from more than one reliable source that he intends to propose marriage to another girl!”

“Darcy and Anne are engaged?” the earl asked. “Why is this the first I am learning of it?”

“Where is Anne?” Margaret said.

Catherine addressed her question first. “Resting.” She then scowled at her brother and said, “When he was at Rosings at Easter, we spoke of the wedding being this autumn. There is no need to make a big to-do about an engagement when we have known they would marry since they were in their cradles.”

The earl and countess exchanged a look, silently confirming that neither of them had heard that their niece and nephew would marry that autumn, and it was already October.

But she had no time to consider the matter further; it was more important to attend to Catherine’s explanation of why she was so alarmed.

“The entire family expects their union. Everyone in our social circle expects it. My daughter expects it!” Catherine insisted. “Is she to be thrown over after waiting years for him to finally be ready to settle down?”

“Has he proposed to Anne, yes or no?” the earl interjected.

Fixing her eyes on her brother, Catherine said, “They have spoken of it, yes.”

“Then he cannot possibly be on the point of proposing to another lady,” Margaret replied, shaking her head.

With a loud scoff, Catherine said, “Lady? She is no such thing. That girl has tricked him, used her arts and allurements to make him forget his duty. It is up to us to remind him.” Jabbing a finger at Romsley, she added, “You, especially, as the head of the family.”

She then stood and began to pace, her walking stick striking the floor heavily with each step. The countess, long convinced the other woman had no need of the instrument, wished she would put it down. I believe she only carries it so she might shake it at people, making herself look ridiculous.

“Darcy acknowledges that it was the dearest wish of his parents,” Catherine continued.

“It was their intention—as well as that of my husband and I—that they would unite the two families. My brother-in-law and I were writing of it in the months before he died, discussing the marriage contract, the timing of the wedding, what renovations were needed at Pemberley. Darcy is bound to my daughter!”

“But who is this girl you think he—?” The earl’s question remained unfinished when his sister spoke over him.

“Elizabeth Bennet,” she hissed through clenched teeth.

For several minutes, she shared everything she knew of the young woman, beginning with having met her when she had stayed at the parsonage near Rosings the previous spring.

“I knew I should have insisted Mr Collins send her away. She seemed like a prettyish sort of girl, the usual country chit of no account, when I first met her. As soon as my nephews arrived, her true character emerged. You ought to have seen her! Shamelessly flirting with them, especially Darcy, once she marked him as the better catch. I warned him she would do whatever was necessary to ensnare him, but he dismissed my concerns. It was too well known that he was promised to Anne for any other girl to suppose he would take an interest in her.” She made a noise of disgust and vexation.

Speaking as delicately as possible, Margaret asked, “Is it possible Darcy has changed his mind? If there is no formal engagement and no marriage contract between him and Anne…”

Catherine stopped pacing and stared at her, her stick aloft and pointed in the countess’s direction.

“I told you Hugh Darcy and I were writing of it when he died. He, along with my sister, meant for their son to marry Anne. How many times must I say it? I have proof—letters we exchanged in which we discussed our children’s union in detail.

There can be no doubt of his father’s wishes.

If he were alive, he would insist his son fulfil his obligation to my daughter and this family.

Since he is not, you will do it.” She used the walking stick to indicate her brother.

Margaret knew this was more likely to annoy than convince him.

With an enviable calmness, he said, “Did you show Darcy these letters? Do you have them with you now?”

She waved her hand impatiently. “They are in Kent. My word that they exist is good enough. Darcy is aware of what his parents wanted for him, and he was prepared to see to it—until his head was turned by this girl. It is not to be borne!”

“Catherine,” she said, “if he genuinely cares for this other girl—”

“Darcy is far too rational to fall for a chit like that unless there was some devilry at work. And even if he did, marrying her would tarnish his reputation irreparably, to say nothing of what it would do to my daughter and the rest of us. Elizabeth Bennet has no fortune, no proper education, and her mother’s people are from trade.

One of the uncles lives in the city, in sight of his warehouses!

As if that were not shocking enough, her youngest sister, barely fifteen years old, has recently eloped with George Wickham, the son of Pemberley’s former steward! ”

Fortunately, Catherine did not know that their own niece had nearly eloped with the same man the previous summer.

Recalling Georgiana’s severe agitation and knowing what it would have meant for her and the family—both Fitzwilliams and Darcys—had it not been prevented, made Margaret miss a moment or two of her sister-in-law’s speech.

She did not need to hear it, however, to guess at its content.

How could Darcy possibly call Mr Wickham his brother?

What would that do to Georgiana? Her husband squeezed her hand; no doubt his thoughts had moved along the same path as hers.

“To say nothing of the scandal!” Catherine began to pace again.

“Her father tried to patch it up, but everyone knows the girl eloped, actually lived with him unmarried for days—weeks—and that they are married now does not erase it. Can you imagine the gossip if our nephew were to tie himself to such a family? As if making such an imprudent choice were not bad enough, he would marry into a disgraceful family, and—worst of all—he would be jilting Anne! My daughter, the granddaughter of an earl, could never show her face in town again. Will you allow this to happen? Think of Bramwell and Fitzwilliam, neither of whom are married. Which is another matter we must discuss, and we shall, once this business with Darcy is settled. It is past time for Bramwell and Lady Cassandra to marry.”

In addition to Darcy and Anne’s union, the family had long anticipated a match between Bramwell and the daughter of one of the earl’s closest political allies. With reluctance, the countess recognised that her sister-in-law had a point; at thirty, her eldest son should settle.

Romsley shook his head. “Darcy cannot do this. Even if he has not made a formal offer to Anne, it seems he has agreed to the arrangement. Besides, he cannot possibly marry a penniless country girl with ties to trade, especially one whose family is embroiled in scandal.”

Pressing a hand to her chest, Margaret said, “I hate the thought that he is being deceived, that he will be heartbroken when he discovers he has been tricked into proposing.”

The earl tightened his grip on her hand, and the conversation shifted to how they would act.

Her husband said he would send an express to Darcy, demanding he return to London, but he soon agreed with his sister that it would be better to go to Hertfordshire.

They would give their nephew no warning, lest that encourage him to hasten making his proposal, which it likely would, especially if he told the girl of his family’s concerns.

Arrangements were quickly made, and Anne recalled from the chamber in which she had been resting.

They were gathered in the drawing room, waiting to be told the coach was ready, when Bramwell and Fitzwilliam joined them.

Fitzwilliam greeted them and apologised for missing breakfast. Bramwell yawned, his brow furrowing as he regarded his aunt and cousin.

“What is happening?” he enquired.

The earl explained, Catherine interrupting several times.

Fitzwilliam was incredulous. “Darcy is going to make an unsuitable marriage?”

“We are going to prevent it!” Catherine said, her voice harsh.

“That does not sound like my cousin,” Bramwell said. “There must be some sort of misunderstanding.” He gave his aunt a sidelong glance, subtly suggesting she was the source of it.

The countess could not entirely disagree, but it was vitally important to take the utmost care when selecting a marriage partner, and she was worried her nephew had not.

It was as well they were going to find out for themselves what his intentions were.

And there is the matter of Anne and his obligation to her.

Romsley said, “If there is, we shall soon discover it. But if even half of what my sister says about this girl and her family is true, Darcy will not marry her, especially when it means he would be disappointing Anne. If he does, he will face severe consequences.”

The brothers looked at each other and said, almost as one, “We are coming with you!”