Goodnight Elizabeth

Summary Goodnight Elizabeth

While Elizabeth Bennet takes an instant dislike to the dark and handsome owner of Pemberley Books and Press, Darcy is instantly attracted to her. Compliments are misunderstood and insults are made. But when William Darcy pours out his heart in music, Elizabeth can no longer pretend to be unaffected. A happily ever after seems inevitable. But not so hasty if you please! Let us not forget Wickham!

Author’s note
The following story is set in the village of Loversall, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The houses and scenery described however may be totally inconsistent with the actual surroundings of Loversall, since I have never been there at all (or in the UK for that matter). It is all purely fictional.
The story is based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and contains a good number of direct quotations from this book. Furthermore I’ve taken the liberty to call Darcy’s sister Gina, short for Georgina. I have no idea who in the Derbyshire Writer’s Guild came up with this, and I therefore do not know to whom the credit for this belongs. Similarly Caroline Bingley wears orange (for what other colour should she wear?) and is a party planner (for what other occupation could she have had?). I hope you may enjoy this story, it is my first and therefore could of course be total crap, but hey I’ve tried.


Goodnight Elizabeth

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young woman without wealth or connections must be in awe of a man in possession of good fortune and a handsome face. However one young lady was not.


Chapter 1 – First Impressions

“My dear Thomas, have you heard that Chattersworth House is sold at last?”
Thomas Bennet replied that he had not.
“Well, it is! Apparently the owner of some big sport´s chain has taken it.”
Thomas Bennet rolled his eyes. The sister of his late wife, Angela Phillips, was always sure to relate the latest gossip to the Bennet household, just as she used to do when her sister Fanny was still alive. In fact she was just like his late wife, easy on the eye, full of chatter and…, well that was where the comparison ended. Where Fanny Bennet had possessed some common sense, her sister was in possession of none at all. Thomas was never interested in the latest gossip of the village. He only half paid attention to what his sister in law and neighbour told him, while reading the literature section of the Times.
“What a fine thing for my nieces!”
No reaction.
“Thomas what a fine thing for your girls!”
His attention was caught. “How so, how can it affect them?”
“My dear brother, this Mr Bingley is a very wealthy and single young man. “
“So?”
“Well, you have two single daughters, and he may very well fall in love with one of them. Imagine dear Jane married to such a rich man! And that of course throws Lizzy in the way of other rich men. We cannot expect her to catch the eye of this Mr Bingley, because apparently he is very handsome and therefore way out of her league, but our beautiful Jane he will not be able to resist!”
“We will see about that!” Thomas said.

The Bennet household consisted of Thomas Bennet and his two daughters Jane and Elizabeth Bennet. They lived on the outskirts of the village of Loversall, South Yorkshire. Fanny Bennet had died in a car accident fifteen years ago. She had suffered an attack of the nerves while driving and had bumped into a large tree. She had been dead instantaneously.
The first few years without Fanny had been a trial to the Bennet family. She was greatly missed by her two daughters, and by her husband. He had always talked of his silly wife, but he missed her greatly.
Thomas Bennet was about sixty years of age, and owner of a small bookshop “Loungbourn” in the centre of Loversall. While he was a proficient at reading the books in his shop, he was not so much of an expert at selling them. He was a reserved man, especially since his Fanny had died. But he enjoyed making sport of everything and everyone.
His eldest daughter Jane was 28 years old, had the sweetest disposition possible, and was the beauty of the area. His youngest, Elizabeth, “Lizzy” for friends and family, was 26 years old, and much like her father. She was clever, and witty, and was often found in her fathers’ bookshop reading everything that was available. That is, when she was not elbow deep in dirt ploughing in their garden. While Jane was tall and slim, fair-haired with eyes in the brightest blue, Elizabeth was of medium height, and though by modern standards maybe a bit chubby, very feminine. Her hair was a curly chestnut brown and her eyes where as dark as blue eyes could be.
Although Jane and Elizabeth were well over 25 years old, both of them still lived at home. Truth being, they didn’t want to leave their beloved father all on his own.

*

At Chattersworth House two early risers sat at the breakfast table. “Darce, would you mind making a tour around the neighbours with me?” Charles Bingley had persuaded his friend to finally take some time off from his business and accompany him to his newly purchased home Chattersworth House in Loversall, South Yorkshire.
“Not at all Charles, anything to keep me away from your sister!”
William Darcy and Charles Bingley had met in the “Oxford University Athletic Club”, during the university years. Charles Bingley was a good looking, amiable young man with easy unaffected manners. His friend William Darcy was tall, dark, extremely intelligent, handsome and dreadfully uncomfortable among strangers. Although their characters where as similar as day and night, their friendship was very strong.
As amiable and pleasing as was Charles, as proud and haughty was his spoiled sister, Caroline. She couldn’t understand why on earth Charles had decided to purchase a house in Loversall. Loversall, of all places!! But, after he had mentioned William Darcy would accompany him to Loversall, Caroline had decided she found Loversall delightful and had to visit Charles’s new house in this “lovely” village. Charles could never deny his little sister anything, although he knew his friend would be very displeased with her visiting.

Since Caroline and William had been introduced, and Caroline had learned just how wealthy her brother’s friend was, she had decided she was to become Mrs William Darcy. Darcy however, had very different ideas on the matter. He couldn’t stand Caroline. The way she was all over him every single time they met, calling him by the dreadful “Willy”. But she was his best friend’s sister, so he felt he had to be polite. Since it proved a great trial to be polite to the superior sister, and he often found his comments to her were bordering on the uncivil, he tried to avoid her as much as possible. At least at the breakfast table he was certain of avoiding her. As far as he knew Caroline never ate anything.

*

Not three miles away, another early riser had decided to take full advantage of the beautiful day that lay ahead. Although it was already late October, this Sunday promised to be a very nice sunny day. Elizabeth decided to spend most of the day in the garden, being inside for almost the whole of yesterday helping out her father at the bookshop, she felt she needed fresh air. Firstly, she took “Bernie” for a walk. Bernie was a young Bernese Mountain Dog, and a great favourite with Elizabeth. Although most Bernese Mountain Dogs are great people lovers, Bernie was, well a bit shy. The only person who he really trusted was Elizabeth. She could do almost anything with him. She taught him the basic commands, and of course a few tricks, one of them the “high five”.
After finishing their walk, Bernie was running around in the garden, while Elizabeth checked what needed to be done. The garden needed a lot of work. The grass needed to be cut, the flower beds to be weeded, some bushes were in need of trimming, and the gutter needed to be cleaned.
“What to start with?” she said to herself. “Best to get the worst thing over with, the gutter it is!”
After a good half an hour’s work the gutter was clean, and Elizabeth was anything but.
The next thing on her list was cutting the grass. She pulled the old lawn mower out of the shed, checked the fuel, and pulled the crank to get it running. After five good strong yanks the machine puffed into life. The mower was having difficulty getting through the long damp grass. Often it choked on the grass, leaving Elizabeth on her knees pulling the grass out of the machine with her hands. Now it choked again. “Bloody thing” she said. She left the machine running while pulling the grass out, although dangerous, if she would stop the machine, she might never get it running again.
Just at that moment the grass she was pulling shot loose, hitting her right in the face.

Charles and William just walked up the lawn where they were greeted with a very unfeminine speech. William peeked over the hedge just in time to see Elizabeth getting attacked by a large amount of wet grass. He couldn’t help himself, he let out a laugh. Elizabeth looked up to see a tall, dark and very handsome man laughing at her.
Damn he was handsome. And she was all covered in grass. Of course, why not meet the most handsome man ever while looking as unattractive as humanly possible. Just my luck!
“Uhm, hello?”
“Good day!” William felt himself blushing.
She walked up to him. “You weren’t just laughing at me, were you?” She asked him with a quizzical brow and laughing eyes. She reached out her hand.
“My name is Elizabeth Bennet, nice to meet you”
“Uhmm, William Darcy, nice to meet you too.” He shook her hand, gazing into her eyes. Such dark eyes, and so blue!
Silence. Then he reminded himself. She must be wondering what I’m doing here!
“I came along with my friend Charles Bingley, I believe he already went inside. He recently took the property of Chattersworth House.”
After some minutes of friendly conversation about his grand gardens at the Pemberley estate, he began lecturing her on the fact that she had left the lawn mower running while putting her hand inside. It was dangerous and irresponsible!
Just at that moment Bernie came back from the pond in the garden. Upon hearing Elizabeth, he came to see what was going on. He ran towards them and jumped up at Darcy to give him a nice “high five”.
“What’s that!” Darcy looked down at the dog, and saw his good pair of jeans smudged with mud. He looked up at Elizabeth.
“That’s Bernie!” She laughed. Glad to be saved from the awkward conversation.
He looked up at her with a stern brow.
“That’s just payback my friend. That’s what you get for laughing at me!”
Darcy was not humoured. “Didn’t you teach him not to jump up at everyone?” he asked in an angry voice.
“Oh, dear, I am so sorry!” Elizabeth said cynically. God, this man was haughty, and stubborn! What a stick in the mud! Ha-ha, literally! Handsome he may be, but I would prefer a plain man with a good sense of humour any day!
“He, is actually making you a compliment, you know. He normally doesn’t take to strangers. He apparently thought you were a nice man.”
“It seems dogs make mistakes as well” Elizabeth said under her breath.
“I’d better get into the house, Charles will be waiting” and off he was.

“Well, Bernie, you did an excellent job! That man is not worth our regret.” Elizabeth said when Darcy had gone into the house. And she patted him on the head. She finished up, and pushed to lawn mower back into the shed. “Pff, probably not very decent to stay out here, huh Bernie? Not when our new neighbour is sitting in the kitchen.”
She walked towards the backdoor of the house, and checked her clothes. She really couldn’t go in looking like that. She would leave a trace of cut grass al over the floor! Near the garden tap she pulled of her Wellingtons and washed her hands and face. Then where she thought no one could see she pulled of her sweater, to shake of the grass.

“Hello there!” Jane looked up when she saw a man knocking on the door. She opened the door. “Hello!”
“Good morning, my name is Charles Bingley. I moved into Chattersworth house, and wanted to meet my new neighbours.”
“Welcome in the neighbourhood! My name is Jane Bennet.” She said with a very becoming blush on her cheeks. Jee, what a nice man. Jane thought.
Oh my god, did I die and go to heaven just now? What an angel!
“Oh I forget my manners, come in. Come and meet my father. My sister is in the garden.”
“Oh yes, I came with my friend William Darcy.” He looked over his shoulder, but didn’t see Darcy. “Oh, I don’t know where he got to.”
“Sit down, I will get my father.” She pointed at a kitchen chair.
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
“Yes, please!”
“I will put the kettle on.” Jane hurried to the study. “Father, our new neighbour is here!”
“Coming!”
Back into the kitchen she said, “My father will be in in a moment.”
Charles followed her with his eyes while she made them tea.
Just at that moment William came in.
“Ah, you must be Charles’s friend. Nice to meet you, I’m Jane Bennet”
“William Darcy, nice to meet you too.”
“My father will be here in just a moment, and my sister is in the garden.”
“Yes, we’ve met” Darcy said while glancing down his smudged jeans.
Jane followed his eyes. “Oh dear, you’ve met Bernie as well! I am sorry, I hope the stains will come out. He normally doesn’t do that to any one other than Lizzy.”
William took a seat next to Charles at the kitchen table.
“Would you like a cup of tea as well?” Jane asked him.
“Yes, thank you.” He looked at his friend, he was clearly quite besotted with his new acquaintance. She is indeed very pretty. Not as attractive as her sister though. Those eyes! He looked out of the window into the garden. His eyes scanned the garden, the pond in the back, the old shed. Wait, what was that? He saw Elizabeth standing at the tap through the reflection of the shed’s window. Ah she is washing her hands, and… Oh God, she is pulling off her sweater. He saw her standing with her back towards him. Oh God, what would it feel like to touch that soft skin?

“Ah, my new neighbour!” “Welcome to Loversall.”
“Hello, you must be Mr Bennet. Charles Bingley”
“Thomas, please. Nice to have a new neighbour at last.”
Just then Elizabeth walked in.
“Ah, there is my other daughter, may I introduce to you Elizabeth Bennet.”
“It is nice to meet you” Charles said.
“Nice to meet you too.” Elizabeth replied. Oh, he is very different from his friend. He looks very amiable. And he is looking very amiable at Jane! And she at him! This is promising! Very promising!
“May I introduce my friend William Darcy” Charles said to Thomas.
The gentlemen nodded.
“Darcy you say? Hmm, not the Darcy? Of Pemberley Books and Press?”
“You are acquainted with my business?” Darcy asked the man.
“My father owns the local bookstore. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Longbourn books” Elizabeth said.
“No I did not.” He mumbled. Get a grip Darcy, she is just a local nobody with very blue eyes and a very soft back. Nothing to it! He was feeling very uncomfortable. He did not often find himself attracted to a woman. Let alone to one he just met.
Thomas kept conversation with both men. He asked Darcy a few questions about his business, and learned Charles owned his own business as well.
After half an hour the two men left.

Chapter 2 - First reflections

In the evening the Bennet family shared a glass of wine in the living room.
“Well, girls, how did you find our new neighbour and his friend?”
“I thought them very nice, papa. Especially Charles.” Jane said dreamily.
“Yes, Charles seems a very amiable young man. Lizzy, what did you think?”
“Yes, Charles seems very amiable indeed. But I doubt his friend is very nice.”
Jane defended them. “Why would you say that? I thought they both had very pleasing manners.”
“Not at all. Darcy’s manners were nothing to Charles’. Charles was truly interested in making our acquaintance. Darcy on the other hand looked like he would have preferred to be anywhere but here.”
“Ah, my Lizzy. Not blinded by his apparent wealth and handsome features, I see.” Thomas said.
“No, not at all. I will admit he is a very handsome man, and probably very intelligent as well, but he knows it all a bit too well himself.”
“He may not be more proud than your average rich man, used to getting his own way, my dear. But Charles Bingley seems to be a very nice man. He will make us a fine new neighbour.”
They all agreed to that.

The following day, Elizabeth rose early, and took Bernie out for a walk before breakfast. The Bennet family usually ate their breakfast together before going of to work. Jane worked as a teacher at the local primary school. Her pupils loved her. She had a never ending enthusiasm, and great patience. Elizabeth was a part time English teacher at a grammar school in Doncaster. And although she enjoyed her job, her real goal in life was to become a writer. But in order to make a living, she taught English four days a week. Fridays and Saturdays she spend with her father in the bookshop, checking the books, seeing if in some way expenses could be lowered, etc.

*

As she exited her classroom she was met by her cousins Lydia and Kitty Philips. Twin sisters Lydia and Kitty (always in that order) were fifteen years old, and both attended the grammar school where Elizabeth taught English. They were much like their mother, frivolous, lively and with a total lack of decorum. Lydia was the cheeky one, and Kitty followed where ever Lydia led her. They didn’t do too well in school, their attention was much too occupied by everything that was male and on two legs.
“Hi, Lizzy! Did you meet Charles Bingley and his friend? They called on us yesterday. What handsome men! Wouldn’t it be great fun if I was to catch one of them?”
Kitty agreed. “So handsome, and so well off!”
“And about twice your age.” Elizabeth remarked.
“Well, anywayssss.” Lydia said rolling her eyes at Elizabeth. “Mum invited them for her party this Friday evening. Apparently, Charles and William are here for a month, together with Charles’ sister. You and Jane are coming right? There will be stashes of food, music and dancing.”
“Yes, yes, we will be there.” We can hardly avoid it. She uttered a sigh. She was in for a very long evening.

Mrs Philips party, or rather Mr and Mrs Philips’s party, was held as a celebration for the reopening their pub the “Horse’s Mouth”. They had refurnished and extended the pub, to offer more room for festivities and dancing, much to the delight of their young daughters. Lydia and Kitty danced wherever it was possible. And to prevent further damage to the billiards table (which had often been used as a dance floor by both girls) Ken Phillips had agreed to add an actual dance floor to his pub.

“Lizzy! Oh dear, you’re not even dressed yet!”
“Are these not clothes then?” she said looking down.
“Lizzy! I mean properly dressed.”
“Dressed? For what exactly?”
“Lizzy! You know very well we are to go to Aunt and Uncle Philips’s party this evening!”
“Well, I’ve got clothes on, haven’t I? And they don’t have any holes in them that aren’t supposed to be there, so I think them quite proper as well.” Elizabeth was lying on the sofa, watching a new detective series.
“Oh, come on, it will be fun! You know Charles and his friend were invited too?”
“Ah, now I understand your fancy dressing” Elizabeth said while pointing at the new dress that Jane was wearing. It was a closely fitted dress of a pale blue shade matching her eyes perfectly.
“What do you mean?” Jane said blushing.
“Oh, I don’t know. In all honesty, Jane you do look beautiful, but if it is aimed at Charles I’m afraid it is a waste of effort”
“Why do you say that?” Jane asked Elizabeth alarmed.
Oh this is just too easy! She is falling for it again! How amusing to have such a believing sister.
“Well, you can dress as beautiful as you want, but Charles is still just going to imagine how you look without your dress on.”
Jane picked up a pillow from the couch and threw it at Elizabeth. “You little frizz head!”
“Bravo! That is the most unforgiving speech I’ve heard you utter in a long time. Good girl!”
“There will be more were that came from if you will not get your little frizz head upstairs and put on something nice!” replied Jane.
“Who are you and what have you done to my sister?”
Jane pulled up Elizabeth from the couch and directed her upstairs.
“Yes, very well. I will go and put on my “party outfit”. I would not want to disgrace you, dear sister.”
“I’ll help you pick something out.” Jane was all smiles again.
“Oh, but can I please were pants? Please, pretty please? I really don’t feel like going into a nasty fight with tights again.”
“You’re such a lady!” Jane laughed.
“The person who invented tights must have been ready for the loony bin. How can he possibly have thought that those itching stretchy things that never fit properly were a good idea?”
“He?”
“Well, it must have been a man who invented them, obviously.” Elizabeth smirked.