The Adventures of Lizzy Bennet - Book 2: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Read online

  The Adventures of Lizzy Bennet Book 2

  By Kate Speck

  “Of all possessions, a friend is the most precious.”

  ~Herodotus

  Year 1805

  Chapter 1

  January 1805

  “LIZZY! LIZZY BENNET! You come down right now!” The lady shouted from below the tall tree.

  “Awww... I like it up here.” Lizzy complained as she climbed down. “I miss my tree on Oakham Mount. I miss riding on Ghost and driving my pony trap to take my sisters on it. It was the best gift I could have ever imagined.”

  The lady helped Lizzy fix her clothing and smoothed her hair. “Lizzy, I know you have been restless but you cannot climb the trees at the park. It is cold and you will catch a chill without your gloves or scarf on. We will be going to the museum soon and you did promise Jane to tell her all about the history of its main exhibits.”

  “I remember, Aunt Madeline,” Lizzy smiled as she held her hand. “I’m very excited to go there again and I am grateful to be here. I’m sorry to be such trouble. I know Jane has been enjoying herself this week with shopping and seeing the sights but I wish Will were here. I’ve been wanting to practice my fencing but no one will fence with me.”

  Mrs. Gardiner softly smiled, “He is a good friend to you, Lizzy. He is a very good brother to Miss Georgiana but I never see him laugh and jest as much as when he is with you. I know you miss him but perhaps your uncle might be willing when he comes home. He has been working hard this week to finish all of his businesses early so he can spend time with you and Jane.”

  Lizzy nodded, “I hope do hope so. Uncle has been so nice to allow me to read his books and I enjoy going to his office in the mornings to observe the workers there. Papa says character study is amusing and people change all the time so there is much to learn by watching. It is fascinating to see so many various personalities in town, more than the four and twenty families that we dine with in Hertfordshire.”

  “I am glad to hear it, Lizzy. We will definitely enjoy ourselves for the month and we have many outings planned.” Mrs. Gardiner confirmed. “I appreciate your patience and am glad your uncle was able to take him with you to the office in the mornings. I have been feeling poorly and I believe I am with child.”

  Lizzy squealed in joy, “Truly?! Congratulations, Aunt Madeline! When? When will you have your child? Do you wish for a girl or a boy? How wonderful!”

  Mrs. Gardiner laughed, “We believe late May. Your uncle says he does not mind either but I would love a little girl.” She tapped Lizzy’s nose. “Someone just like you, Lizzy, full of life and joy to make me smile.”

  “I’ll be sure to behave myself, aunt.” Lizzy beamed. “We must care for you and ensure you are eating well. No heavy work and frequent rest for you from now on, Missus! I’ll be watching you.”

  “You are such a mother hen, Lizzy. All will be well.” Mrs. Gardiner giggled. “Come, let us get you cleaned up and we will head out within the hour. We must make you presentable like the pretty girl you are. I do not know what your uncle was thinking to allow you to wear boy’s clothing and hide your beautiful hair under this hat. You are far too pretty to wear trousers and jacket.”

  Lizzy laughed loudly, “He knew I would ruin all of my dresses and I’m glad he had kept some of his old clothes that I could wear. It’s to be a secret and you must not call me ‘Lizzy’ when I’m in my disguise, aunt. I am Liam, your cousin from Shropshire.”

  Mrs. Gardiner hid her amusement, “Yes, Liam, your secret is safe with me.”

  Lizzy skipped gaily back to Gracechurch Street and prepared for the day after embracing her sister who had been spent the peaceful morning drawing and embroidering.

  ~*~

  “Why in the world would you indulge her fantasy of being a boy, Edward?” Madeline Gardiner chastised her husband. “I had no idea you kept your clothes from your childhood. Your sister will have an apoplexy when she finds out.”

  Mr. Gardiner chuckled, “She begged and begged when she saw them set aside for the orphanage. I did not know I still had them until we began to clean out the guestroom closets for the girls. I allowed it because Fanny would have never approved of it and Lizzy would not relent until she experienced it herself. And she made the argument that her dresses would be spared and that torn dresses would upset her mother more. You know how Lizzy is, Madeline. She wishes to write about adventures and humouring her now will not only help her understand what it feels to wear trousers but perhaps she will learn that it is not a curse to be female after all.” He drew his wife close to his body and kissed her neck. “Women certainly have an advantage over us weak men who will do anything for love.”

  Mrs. Gardiner laughed, “Oh, dear husband, I hope you are right. I will not tell your sister if you will not. Mr. Bennet will get a good laugh out of it but Fanny will faint dead away.” She wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck. “I do hope she will grow out of the phase and be happy in her own dress. The grass may be greener on the other side at a distance but it is only an illusion. I learned of it a bit earlier than her age because my mother allowed me to dress like a boy when I was ten years old.”

  Mr. Gardiner quirked his eyebrow, “You?! A boy? Did you climb trees as well?”

  “Oh, yes, of course! Although my mother would have never allowed it in a large city like here, it was in the country and I was seen by only a few people. There was a large tree on the green by the smithy that was perfect for my own adventures, and only when I found myself fancying a young boy in Lambton that I decided dresses were fine. My days as a boy lasted me one week but it was a very liberating time, to be sure.” She beamed brightly as she told her story.

  “And this boy you fancied,” Mr. Gardiner possessively embraced her and smiled, “what happened to him?”

  “He was a sixteen-year-old butcher’s son and I thought he was so strong and handsome,” she laughed, “but when I grew the courage to finally talk to him, I found out that he had terrible teeth and was as dim-witted as a doorknob, and he did not know how to read and was a frequent drunkard at an early age.” She kissed him tenderly, “I prefer to have a husband who is intelligent and handsome and diligent to care for his growing family.”

  Mr. Gardiner affectionately caressed her cheek, “I will be all that for you and more, my love. I will trust your judgment regarding Lizzy and if you wish for me to take back the boy clothes, I will do so. You are a wonderful aunt to her and I could not be prouder.”

  Mrs. Gardiner smiled, “She will be well. She is certainly more stubborn than I had been so I give her a month until she decides for herself. As long as it is not made public and one of us can keep a close eye on her, I agree with you that it is a good education for her. We still must shield her from activities that are not fit for a young girl, Edward. I know how crass boys can be and although Lizzy has been exposed to more transgressions through books than most girls her age, it is different to hear and see in reality.”

  “We will be vigilant, Madeline. I believe we have more important things to do right now than speak of my tomboy niece. Let us go and find some respite until dinnertime.” Mr. Gardiner winked. “The girls are resting and Jane will watch over Lizzy when she awakens from her nap. She spent too much of her energy during our outing and was positively worn out!”

  Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner smiled at each other and immensely looked forward to their own family in the near future.

  Chapter 2

  March 1805

  “Thank you for your invitation, Mr. Bennet. It was most kind of you to invite us for
Christmas and although we could not make the trip at that time, we are pleased to be here now with you.” The man bowed several times.

  Mr. Bennet observed him closely to see if he could detect any duplicity and was pleased to find none. “I hope you find Longbourn comfortable, Mr. Collins.” He turned to the young man next to him and spoke kindly. “You are older than I had expected, Master Collins. You are now seventeen?”

  The younger man nodded, “Yes, sir. Eighteen in the fall, sir.”

  Mrs. Bennet and the four girls who were sitting with them in the drawing room giggled to see the shy young man colour with so many females in the same room. “As you can see,” Mrs. Bennet commented, “we have our daughters from fourteen to six years in range and they are only here for the introductions. My second daughter is at her friend’s home and will return soon.” She turned to the governess, “If you will take the girls upstairs, Mrs. Porter, I thank you.”

  The governess did as instructed and left the drawing room.

  “Mr. Bennet, I hope you will forgive me of my prior offences when I last visited Longbourn and I would like to share with you my true intent for our visit. I wished to make a proposal of a kind, unrelated to marriage, of course, and wondered if we could speak privately in your study. If Mrs. Bennet might stay with him or if you would like for my son to retire to his rooms...” Mr. Collins could not continue when Lizzy walked into the drawing room.

  “Papa, mama, I’ve brought Charlo...” Lizzy stopped when she saw the guests. “I apologise. I forgot we were expecting visitors.”

  Mr. Bennet made the introductions. “Mr. Collins, Master Collins, my second daughter Elizabeth. The lady behind is our neighbour’s daughter, Charlotte Lucas. Lizzy, my cousin and his son.” He looked at the older gentleman, “If you please, we can go to my study while the young people make their acquaintance.”

  Lizzy was curious to what business her father and Mr. Collins had while young Mr. Collins and Charlotte conversed cordially with Mrs. Bennet asking several questions.

  ~*~

  “I cannot regret more of my terrible behaviours in the past, Mr. Bennet.” Mr. Collins began. “I had been banished from Longbourn by your father after my indiscretions and I left very angry, as I believed I was wronged, but it was my arrogance that led me to behave badly and I quickly learned my lesson when I met the most wonderful woman in London a few months later. She refused courtship with me because she thought me dissolute and I had to prove to her that I would be faithful to her for nearly six months before she agreed to courtship.” He sighed, “We married another six months later and were very happy to welcome our son into the world, but Alice became ill and she passed five years ago. I did the best I could for my son and felt that I had done well but I have discovered... I am dying, Mr. Bennet. My son is seventeen and he will be left all alone and I have no one to turn to. You, as much as you might despise me, are the only family we have left, and I must beg for your forgiveness and hope that you will agree to assist my son when I am gone. He wishes to attend university in the fall and I do not know if he will be selected but I recalled that you were a professor at Oxford before. My proposal is that if you will help me and give me your assurance that you will care for my son as your ward, I will sign off Longbourn to you so that you can keep the estate for your daughters.”

  Mr. Bennet’s mouth dropped with the offer. “You would give up your son’s future inheritance?”

  Mr. Collins softly smiled, “I never wanted it, you know. My land now brings in about a £1,000 a year and William only wishes to be a parson. He wants to attend school and learn a bit and do Godly work. What would he do with my land and yours? He would only lease them out and being a landowner means nothing to him. I wish for his happiness and becoming a parson is his greatest wish.”

  “It would be...” Mr. Bennet blew out his breath. “What is wrong with your health, Mr. Collins? Is there no hope?”

  Mr. Collins laughed, “I offer you an end to the entailment and you ask me about my health? You are very kind, sir.” He cleared his throat. “It is the stomach, Mr. Bennet. Doctors guess cancer and think I have four or five months at best. William knows but has not accepted the fact that I will be gone from the world and needs the care of other family members whom he can rely on to help him through his loss, the loss to come.”

  Mr. Bennet contemplated his next move and spoke a few minutes later. “I will agree to your proposal under one condition. I do not like the idea of an entailment but I also do not wish to see Longbourn broken up in five parts for my daughters to get their share. I would like to have our agreement state that should your son elect to become a landowner by the age of... thirty, he will have the choice to inherit Longbourn, as long as my family will not be tossed into the hedgerows. If he does not choose before his thirtieth birthday or I should pass before that time, an heir of my choosing will inherit Longbourn, male or female, and the estate will not be split apart. By then, my daughters should be married off and I can designate one of my daughters or my first grandson as heir. How do you feel about that?”

  Mr. Collins’ mouth dropped, “You are most generous, Mr. Bennet! To offer William more than twelve years to make his choice is beyond belief. Thank you, sir. I can have my solicitor draw up the agreement right away.”

  The gentlemen shook their hands. “We will take care of your son, Mr. Collins. He will be part of our family and I will see if I can pull some favours from of my old associates to get him into Oxford this fall. He will have his heart’s desire and he will always have a family as long as he knows what is expected of him. I will not tolerate misbehaviours and I hope he knows it.” Mr. Bennet confirmed.

  “Yes, sir. He knows what is expected as a clergyman and has lived a wholesome life. I would love to see him married before my passing but he is too young and his education is a priority.” Mr. Collins sat with a broad smile. “Thank you. I truly appreciate it.”

  “Well,” Mr. Bennet replied, “Do you have any further questions or requests? We should return to the drawing room.”

  Mr. Collins answered, “Just one, sir. Is that what I think it is? Where in the world did you get such an exquisite replica? It is a magnificent miniature!”

  Mr. Bennet beamed, “It belongs to my daughter Lizzy but I begged for the privilege of keeping it here so I can look at it often. It was given to her by a special friend and it is a priceless treasure.”

  “It certainly is, sir. It is an incredible construction and I could look at it for hours on end.” He replied in awe.

  “You will be here for the next week and you are at liberty to sit in this room to inspect it as often as you wish.” Mr. Bennet generously offered. “We are family, Collins.”

  His cousin smiled. “Yes, sir, yes, we are.”

  The gentlemen returned to the drawing room to join the others and Mr. Collins was very pleased to see Mrs. Bennet speaking cordially to his dear son. Although despairing for the short time left on earth, he was relieved that his son would not be alone in the world with no one to think kindly of him.

  ~*~

  April 1805

  “You lad, there!” William shouted, “What are you doing up there? What is your name?”

  “Who are you?” The child responded, “What’s your name? I am Liam.”

  William responded, “I am Mr. Darcy, Liam. I cannot see your face, boy. Come down and speak with me. Have you seen a little girl here? Lizzy Bennet? This is her tree and she is supposed to be here.”

  “No one can own this tree! This part of the land does not belong to anyone and it’s for everyone’s use!” The boy retorted after landing on the ground.

  “Lizzy?!” William reacted, recalling their conversation at their very first meeting. “What in the world are you doing dressed like a boy?”

  Lizzy smirked as she took off her hat and her long, curly hair fell. “If boys can wear dresses as children and get breeched when they grow, why can’t I wear breeches when I grow in exchange?” He laughed, “I promised mama that I w
ouldn’t wear boy’s clothing but I wanted to surprise you. Welcome back to Hertfordshire, Will!”

  William chuckled as he embraced her. “I hope she will not be angry with you, Lizzy. The clothes look older but the hat appears new. Was that a recent purchase?”

  “My Uncle Edward bought it for me. He said if I was going to be in disguise, I must look the part and hide away my curls. No matter what I do, my hair doesn’t look like a boy’s and mama will kill me if I cut it.” Lizzy answered. “As long as I’m not caught by our neighbours, she will be fine. She has learned to tolerate more of my mischief lately.”

  “I am your neighbour and I found you, Lizzy. Perhaps I will tell everyone that the Bennets now have a son named Liam!” William quipped. “You are too pretty to be a boy.”

  Lizzy giggled, “Thank you, Will. I know I’m not pretty like Jane or Georgiana but I appreciate it just as well. I chose Liam because it begins with ‘L’ and it is the second half of your name. I’ve begun writing my story and Will and Liam are my characters’ names and my charade is part of my research into what it feels like to be a boy. I find that I enjoy the disguise but it’s not as fun as I had first thought. The trousers are scratchy and it’s hot under all these layers. Things are tight where I’m not accustomed to it and the costume is quite plain. I see why Beau Brummell felt the need to accentuate his fashion, even if I think he is insane.”

  William laughed as he put her on Snowflake, his mighty stallion, and they rode together, with Lizzy easily guiding the horse. “We will have to go to Longbourn for you to change your clothing first, Lizzy. My parents will not mind but Georgiana might fall madly in love with the dashing Liam and elope with you at the age of eight. And I would guess your mama would be mortified by anyone else seeing you in your disguise.”

  “I wouldn’t want Georgie to elope with anyone, Will. All right, I will go and change first and look more delicate like a girl.” Lizzy laughed. “I’m a twelve-year-old girl now and I must look the part. I do like my dresses, I will admit. Aunt Madeline took me shopping and between your mama’s tastes and my aunt’s, I don’t know whose choice is better. I liked what they chose better than mama’s selections or Jane’s old dresses, and my clothes are softer and more comfortable than the others from before. I hope you missed me for myself and not for my dresses, Will!”