A Pair of Sparkling Eyes (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Chapter 1

The young girl stared at the impressive building in utter silence — something that rarely happened, if ever — her brown eyes widened in complete admiration.

“It is so pretty, Aunt! And so large! A hundred times larger than Longbourn,” she exclaimed enthusiastically as she held tight to the hand of an elegant young lady next to her, who was equally lost in awe.

“Not quite a hundred times larger, Lizzy, but almost,” the lady answered, brushing her hair out of her face. “I am so glad we came! Pemberley is even more beautiful than I remember. Is that not so, Mr Gardiner? Do you find it agreeable?”

“Indeed I do, my darling. I am happy to be here at last.” The gentleman behind them gazed up in wonderment at the sprawling house.

“I was starting to tire of listening to you talking about the park, the woods, the lake, and the views. But now I must admit that I have never seen a place more beautifully situated. You were right to praise it so.”

Lizzy turned to him seriously. “Uncle Edward, Mama says that since you are now married, you should always listen to Aunt Madeleine and never question her. And Mama says she knows best as she is your elder sister.”

“I would never dare to contradict your mama,” the gentleman answered with equal seriousness.

“I listen to Jane too, because she is older than me,” the girl added, then corrected herself. “Well, I do not listen to Jane all the time, as I am obstinate and disobedient. Mama says so.”

Edward Gardiner and his new wife Madeleine laughed at the sweet sincerity of his favourite niece, Lizzy, the second daughter of his sister Fanny Bennet’s five.

Married for six months, Edward Gardiner had at last indulged his wife’s desire to visit Derbyshire — the place where she had grown up.

The opportunity for such a visit had been unexpected.

The Bennet daughters, with the exception of Lizzy, and Mrs Bennet were all bedridden with a terrible cold, and Mr Bennet could hardly supervise a healthy and energetic child of ten as well as bear the constant whining of the other five members of his family.

“Come, we should go to the back entrance,” an older woman interjected from the carriage with a sign of urgency on her face. “We have a fixed appointment, and it would not do for Lady Anne to have to wait. We cannot be a single minute late.”

“Of course. I shall take you to the door, Mrs Clarke. When should I return to fetch you?” Mr Gardiner enquired.

“Aunt Honoria, dear Edward, just as Madeleine calls me. After all, I am your great-aunt now too.”

“As you wish, Aunt Honoria. It would be my pleasure.” He bowed ceremoniously with a little smile on his face.

“Good. Now, you do not need to return. Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper, will send us back to Lambton in a carriage as soon as we have completed our task here,” the lady explained, eager to set foot on the ground.

Mrs Clarke’s advanced age and her recent illness made her unsteady on her feet, so she immediately grabbed her niece’s arm, stepping inside the mansion hesitantly. Behind them, a couple of servants were carrying two large packages from the carriage.

The ladies walked down a long hall, and the echoing of their steps impressed young Lizzy even more.

She continued to hold her aunt’s hand even tighter, looking around, astounded by the elegance, the significance of which she could not fully understand but perceived as being special.

So much richness she had never seen, nor had she ever imagined.

“Mrs Clarke, how kind of you to have come. You feel better, I trust?” a woman of gentle features said as she approached, followed by two maids.

“Mrs Reynolds, good day,” Mrs Clarke answered. “I feel a little improved, but my feet and my back are still aching. One cannot fight old age, and seventy years are not easy to carry.”

“But I am pleased to see you looking better than last week.” The compliment was received with a slight smile. “And who are your lovely companions?” Mrs Reynolds directed her attention to the two other ladies accompanying Mrs Clarke.

“This is my great-niece, Madeleine Gardiner. She is visiting Derbyshire with her husband, and she was kind enough to accompany me today for the fitting of the first three dresses. Mrs Norbert remains at the shop, working on the rest.”

The eyes of the housekeeper fixed on the little girl who was standing in front of Mrs Gardiner.

“And this is my niece, Elizabeth Bennet,” Mrs Gardiner said, as Lizzy curtseyed properly. “I hope you do not mind that I have brought her with me.”

“No, not at all, my dear. Pemberley needs some cheer,” she added with sadness in her voice. Addressing Lizzy directly, she said, “Do you like Pemberley?”

“Very much so, Mrs Reynolds. I have never seen anywhere more beautiful than this.”

“I am glad you approve of it. It is a magnificent estate. And it is a good home to those that live here, although…” Mrs Reynolds’s voice trailed away, the lady clearly realising it was not proper to speak of her employers’ lives to others.

“Allow me to lead you to the mistress’s apartment, Mrs Clarke.

She has been waiting for you. When you have finished, we shall have a cup of tea and some biscuits,” the housekeeper added with kindness in her voice.

As they walked at a slow pace to accommodate Mrs Clarke, Lizzy’s attention was drawn to the windows.

It was a sunny summer day, and from afar, a child could be seen playing under the supervision of two women.

A couple of puppies were barking happily around her.

Lizzy withdrew her little hand from her aunt’s and moved closer to one of the windows, staring out curiously.

“Lizzy, come here,” Mrs Gardiner whispered, alarm in her voice.

But Lizzy remained at the window, looking out with delight at what seemed to be a jolly scene.

“Who is she?”

“Lizzy!” Mrs Gardiner exclaimed, blushing. However, her relief came quickly when the housekeeper smiled.

“That is my young mistress, Miss Georgiana Darcy, with her governess and her nanny,” Mrs Reynolds said.

“Are there many children here at Pemberley?”

“Just Miss Georgiana and her brother, Master Fitzwilliam. He is her senior by several years. But he is not at Pemberley currently. He has accompanied his father to town. You see, he will inherit the estate one day, and he has been very eager to learn about its management from his father.” The housekeeper continued with an explanation that seemed to be more for Mrs Gardiner than for little Lizzy, whose attention was still fixed on the scene in the garden.

Mrs Reynolds turned her gaze towards the group on the lawn, then spoke again to the ladies.

“Perhaps Miss Elizabeth would rather go out and play instead of waiting for you in a chamber? One of the maids could take her there.”

“Yes, I would like that very much!” Lizzy said enthusiastically before the other ladies could reply.

Mrs Gardiner was slightly hesitant. “Are you certain it will not disturb Miss Darcy?”

“No, not at all. She will be happy to have company closer to her age. There are rarely young visitors, especially young girls at Pemberley,” Mrs Reynolds said, admitting the real reason for her proposal.

“Besides, to be honest, Lady Anne is not feeling well. Her apartment is not the proper place for a child.”

“Please, Aunt Madeleine,” Lizzy begged, encouraged by the housekeeper’s words.

“If a maid could accompany her there and someone will closely supervise her, it is acceptable. Lizzy, you must promise me you will be careful and will do what you are told. I trust you to be wise and well behaved.”

“I shall, Aunt, I promise! I only wish to play with the puppies. I shall bother no one else. Not even Miss Darcy if she does not want me to.”

“You must not worry,” the housekeeper said. “Miss Georgiana is playing under strict supervision, as she is only five years old. There will certainly be no danger for Miss Elizabeth.”

“Oh, but I am much older!” Lizzy declared. “I am ten years old, which is twice as old as Miss Georgiana. My sister Lydia is five years old as well, so I know how to play with little children. I am quite grown up!”

Mrs Reynolds’ smile broadened in front of the girl’s liveliness, and she made a small hand movement towards one of the maids. “Miss Elizabeth seems to be a very clever girl. I am sure she and Miss Georgiana will enjoy each other’s company.”

Lizzy nodded and, despite her aunt’s lasting reluctance, agreed to take the maid’s hand and follow her to the gardens.

The governess and the nanny both received Lizzy with surprise and aloofness, as very few children were allowed near Miss Darcy. Miss Georgiana herself stepped back, seeking protection from her nanny due to the uniqueness of the circumstance.

The two women proceeded to question the maid about Lizzy’s identity and then ask the girl her about her family and the reason for her presence there.

While slightly intimidated at first by the two ladies’ severe voices and expressions, Lizzy’s spirits became playful soon enough, and she lost no opportunity in answering in an animated and confident tone.

The two puppies, however, had fewer reservations towards the newly arrived girl, running eagerly towards her.

Lizzy knelt on the grass at once, laughing as they licked her face, which made Miss Georgiana smile for the first time.

Only a few minutes were needed before Miss Georgiana’s curiosity and interest led her to approach Lizzy.

Once the strangeness had dissipated, the two girls played together under the reluctant approval and strict observation of the women, as well as their demands that they should behave in a certain manner.

But the girls paid no attention to anything except each other and the puppies.

***