August 31, 1996, Saturday - Labor Day Weekend
A woman walks up to a man, asks a question, and he answers in return, "No thank you." Another woman, "No thank you." And another, "No thank you." And another, "Thank you, but no." And so on, "No... I am not gay! I am not married! I just don't want to dance!"
At a nightclub in Washington, D.C., that same man sits alone, with no drink in his hand and no intention to dance with any woman in the place. He gets up and snakes his way through the dance floor to his friend. "I'm leaving now." Darcy said matter-of-factly, as he tapped Bingley on the shoulder in the middle of the dance floor.
"Now?!?!" exclaimed his irritated friend. Darcy nodded his head. "Wait William! Why are you leaving now?" Darcy shrugged and pushed his way back through the crowd and out the door; Bingley went back to his dance partner. Bingley half-heartedly tried to go after his friend, but decided against it, he knew that after the party he would call his friend or go by his place later that night to check on him.
Later, around 2:00 a.m., Bingley called from the intercom, "William, let me in." Darcy pushed the button, so that Bingley could enter the building. He immediately unlocked the door for Bingley, so that he wouldn't have to get up a second time. Bingley burst through the door and found Darcy sitting in his favorite chair in the living room, with a half-empty glass in his hand and jazz music playing on the stereo. "What is with you man?! I've never seen you like this before! You've become so... so... moody and so easily bored. Well, more than usual. What's up?"
"I don't know Charles! I wish I knew. I just can't seem to get out of this funk."
"William," Bingley sat down in the chair next to him, "you have never liked the party scene anyway. So imagine my surprise when you suggested it. But then after only two hours in the place, you want to leave." He paused. "If you're having a problem... or something's wrong. Even if you just want to talk, please call me. I'm a good listener."
"I don't know what the problem is," Darcy paused to think. "I just think I'm a little antsy about the appointment... But, Charles if I find out what's wrong with me, you'll be the first to hear about it."
After more than 2 hours of listening to Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole, Diane Schuur, Duke Ellington, and other jazz masters, Bingley felt satisfied that he could do nothing more for his friend and so he left.
Charles Bingley had known William Darcy ever since his days at Harvard Medical School. In his second year of medical school, Bingley had discovered a new surgical procedure. His professor, Dr. Neimann advised him to seek a patent immediately and not knowing anything about patents, he went to the law school library to find some information. As he was turning into the library he ran into a dedication ceremony. William Darcy was giving the law school a large sum of money for a new wing to be dedicated specifically for foreign law studies. In his speech, the President Emeritus was praising Darcy as a child prodigy who was knowledgeable in every facet of law. Bingley decided at that moment to seek 'this Darcy person' out right afterwards.
Darcy's speech was short and to the point and as he was leaving Bingley approached him. Initially Darcy was going to brush him off, but he looked into his wide, puppy dog-eyes and decided to hear him out. Having his ear, Bingley told him about his discovery and Darcy said he would help him and he did. And because of the close working relationship they had over the next two months, they became friends. And over the years, they became the best of friends as they learned a lot about each other.
Bingley was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts and came from a well-to-do, respectable family. He was, at that time, 22 years old and with two older sisters: Caroline (age 24) single and Louisa (age 27) married. His parents died 6 years ago in a boating accident off Cape Cod. Bingley was going to specialize in heart surgery and two years ago he graduated Harvard pre-med. Bingley was sociable, likeable and fun and almost always seemed to be happy.
Darcy was born and raised in Nags Head, North Carolina and came from a very, very wealth family, descending from royalty in Derbyshire, England and the Presidency of the United States. He was 25 at that time, had graduated Duke University at age 19 in pre-law, from Harvard Law with 3 law degrees at age 23, from Wharton School of Business at 24. His sister, Georgiana, is 12 years younger than he is. His mother died almost a month after he graduated from high school, when he was but 16 years old and Georgiana only 4, and his father died 5 years after that. Darcy was shy and reserved, sometimes called haughty and arrogant, and he was never really able to make friends easily. Instead of learning the social graces, he studied. He was driven with the firm belief that his success in life would overcome any weaknesses he and/or his sister may have in social circles.
Bingley now age 30, a renowned heart surgeon at George Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. His patented procedure put his name in the running for a Nobel Peace Prize, although he did not win. He is 6' 1", blonde-haired, blue-eyed; an eligible bachelor with money and great outlook on life. He's well known in the D.C. area as a party animal and has been in and out of love so often that he is considered carefree and fickle. He owns a house in the 'Gold Coast', which is off of 16th Street, NW in the District and new owner of a horse ranch, named 'Netherfield' in Charlottesville, Virginia. His sister Caroline, now 32 and 6' even, is a snooty former model turned fashion editor for the Washington Post. She is seen only in the company of those that she considers the upper echelons of society. His sister Louisa, now 35 and 5' 6", is a housewife and still married to James, better known as 'Jimmy the fish', Hurst. He is a lazy lush. Thank God he came from money. Louisa is now trying to get Jimmy into politics.
Darcy now age 33, a very rich and powerful attorney, a counselor to the higher ups in politics, entertainment and business, because of his unequalled instincts and fierce interrogation skills. He is soon to be appointed a judge in some superior court in Northern Virginia. He is the epitome of tall (almost 6' 4"), dark and handsome, an eligible bachelor with major money and the entire world at his feet. In his maturation, he has become an enigma of sorts, his private life is private and he has had only a few female companions, but nothing serious. He is managing partner of his own law firm, owns a penthouse in the Watergate Hotel in the District, George Washington's Mount Vernon Home in Alexandria, Virginia, his family home, named 'Pemberley' in Nags Head, other properties, and several businesses. His sister Georgiana is 5' 7" and in a few days will be 21, she graduated from University of North Carolina with a B. A. in Marine Biology. She is currently working in a research lab, studying marine life. This lab, which is located about 20 miles from Pemberley, is funded by that same university.
September 1, 1996, Sunday
The phone rings at Bingley's home. "Hello."
"Charles... I'm sorry about last night." Darcy sighed. "I have no idea what I'm doing... I, I'm just bored, I need a challenge... a change. You know?"
"I think I do." Bingley really wasn't sure, but figured a change of scenery would do his friend some good. "Look, I just bought a horse ranch in Virginia." This was the first time in their friendship that Bingley had done something without Darcy's knowledge and guidance and he wanted his friend's approval, very much.
"A what?!" Darcy interrupted.
"A horse ranch! You know? You used to like to ride horses. And I'm planning, by the end of the month, to go and spend some time down there."
"Down where Charles? Where in Virginia?"
"Oh not far from here. It's barely a 2-hour ride. It's in Charlottesville and it's a beauty!" He paused, waiting for a response; but received nothing. "I'm taking some time off and I'm going down there around the end of this month, or no later than the first week of next month." He paused again. "I really wish you'd come with me."
"I don't know. Let me think about it."
"You need some time away William. You've relinquished almost all of your caseloads because of the appointment. By the way, have you heard anything yet?"
"No, not yet. It just needs some signatures and you know how long government officials can take on some things. But it's in the bag."
"Well then, come with me! I'm staying about a month and we can ride to our heart's desire. It's close to the University of Virginia and Monticello. They have a country club there, we can golf, play tennis, go swimming, whatever!"
"Alright, I'll come!" He laughed; Bingley was infectious.
"Good! Talk to you, when I have a definite date. See ya tomorrow."
"Good-bye." Darcy stood there with the receiver in his hand, not believing that he agreed to go to the boonies with Bingley. "I don't even know if this place has electricity." He laughed as he hung up the phone.
September 2, 1996, Monday - Labor Day
Bingley was having a barbecue at his house with family and a few friends. By the time Darcy got there, the party was jumping. Bingley had invited almost half the hospital and most of his neighbors. Darcy was not pleased and decided he would stay only an hour or so.
Darcy walked through the house, placed a package on the table and went out to the back yard to find his friend.
"Hey William!" Bingley waved and jumped. "Over here!"
Darcy pushed through the crowd and slid up to Bingley and whispered, "I thought you invited only a few friends."
"I did! But I couldn't just invite some of my colleagues without inviting some of the others, now could I?" Darcy just frowned. "Did you bring the drinks?"
"Yes, I put them on the kitchen counter." He looked around. "But it's not nearly enough."
"Don't worry about it. I had everyone bring drinks!" Bingley laughed.
Darcy was about to say something, like good-bye to Bingley, but before he could Caroline grabbed his arm and spun him around.
"William, darrrrrling!" She gave him a wet sloppy kiss on his lips. He pulled back in astonishment. "I didn't think you'd ever get here! Why didn't you call me to tell me you'd be late!"
He wiped his mouth in disgust. At that moment, Darcy knew that if he stayed, it was going to be a long day and he wasn't up to it. Caroline was already putting on airs, and he just walked in the door. She was draped all over him and she was half-drunk. "Caroline what are you doing?!" He shook her by her shoulders. "Straighten up!" Then he pushed her away and stomped back in the kitchen to get a napkin to wipe the lipstick off his face. After that he left.
That evening, Darcy stared at the skyline from his balcony. This has been a typical William Darcy day! "Everywhere I go, some woman is fawning over me. Bah!!! They only want my money, they don't want me." He went inside, poured himself a drink, nuked some leftovers and went back to his balcony. There he sat down in one of the chairs and waited for the fireworks display. "At least I'm safe here."
September 3, 1996, Tuesday
Darcy stayed home all day to work. He put the ringer off his phone, pulled out his laptop and started to write, but his mind was blocked. He couldn't concentrate. His mind was a complete blank page, yet it was racing; racing to nowhere.
What is it?! Why am I having such a problem?! Is this what limbo is like?! "Well if it is, I don't like it," he said aloud and kicked the air, "and I don't want to have anything to do with it!"
Darcy tried to work out in his fitness room; that didn't last long. He tried to cook, but he couldn't decide what to thaw. He wanted to order out for lunch, but couldn't decide what he wanted; so he ordered several dishes.
"Why am I so bored?!" He thought about it long and hard, but couldn't come up with a viable answer. "Something is missing, but what?" No one answered him.
He picked up the phone and heard the jumbled dial tone; he knew he had messages but chose to put off hearing and answering them, till later. Instead he called his sister.
"Georgie, how are you?!"
"Fine William, how are you?!" Georgiana was always excited to hear from her brother.
"Oh I'm good... Just calling to check on you and wish you a Happy Birthday."
Georgiana heard, for the first time in a long time, a hesitation in her brother's voice. "What's wrong?"
"Did you get the gifts I sent you?"
"No, the postman hasn't come yet. Are you trying to avoid my question? What's wrong?!"
"What makes you think something is wrong?"
"I know you, remember? By now, you normally have stories to tell me or you're asking me to come up to D.C. or you're singing to me. You haven't said anything yet."
"No, don't worry about me. I'm fine!" He lied.
"Alright then, how did you spend the holiday?"
"I went over to Charles'."
"Who else was there? What did you do? How long did you stay?"
"About 400 of Charles' closest friends."
"So you didn't stay long, huh?"
"No."
"Why don't you come down here. You know I can't leave my job right now."
"I know... I miss you Georgie."
"I miss you too William."
"Well, I'll call you next week. Hopefully, I'll be in a better mood by then. I promise. Happy Birthday."
"Thanks. Talk to you soon. Bye."
Georgiana sat by the phone and wondered about her brother. "Maybe he's anxious about the appointment? Yeah, that must be it. He's just restless, that's all."
Darcy sat by the phone almost ready to pick it up and call his sister back. But what would he tell her? Why would he call her back? He didn't know. He then retrieved his messages, most were from Bingley and Caroline, 3 and 5 respectively, and the other one was from a client.
Bingley had called to apologize for his sister's behavior, while Caroline left profuse apologies in each message. He called his client and told him who at the firm was now handling his case. He called Bingley and told him that he's not up to speaking to Caroline at present. Then he sat down and watched old movies.
Hours later, his pager goes off. Only Bingley and Georgiana have that number to use in case of emergencies. It was his sister this time.
"Georgie, what's up?!"
"William, I just got the package you sent! The dresses, the shoes, everything, they're all absolutely beautiful! You are such a wonderful brother!"
"I'm glad you like them," he smiled.
"I can tell that you didn't let Caroline persuade you in your choices."
"I didn't even let her know that I was going shopping for you. She may have been a model, but her taste in clothes leaves much to be desired." They both laughed.
"But she is the fashion editor for the Washington Post."
"Yes she is, but she tries to dress everyone in her image. And you are nothing like her!" They both laughed again. Caroline has been known to wear outrageous outfits to the simplest of affairs. She is always trying to get attention, especially Darcy's.
"Oh, one more thing, they are broadcasting an evacuation, because a hurricane is coming."
"Georgie pack your bags and come up to D.C.!"
"I'm not coming all the way to D.C. to avoid a hurricane. I'll drive to Raleigh and stay there until the weather clears. Okay?"
"Alright. Call me when you get situated."
"Okay, talk to you later."
"Bye sis. Be careful."
News flash from USA Today
: Hurricane Fran slammed into the North Carolina coast east of Cape Fear around 8 p.m., Sept 5, with howling gusts up to 120 mph, smashing trees, power lines, and coastal homes from the South Carolina border to Surf City, N.C... Fran's top winds quickly dropped to 100 mph after it slammed into Cape Fear, N.C., but the storm still caused damage on its way north to Wilmington and Raleigh.
September 6, 1996, Friday
Darcy called his sister to make sure that she was all right and she was. Then he called Pemberley to make sure it was still standing. He was told that there was serious damage on the back of the house, but nothing the housekeeper couldn't handle. Darcy went home anyway. By the time he made it to Pemberley, Georgiana was safely back home and Mrs. Reynolds had taken care of calling the appropriate repairmen, receiving estimates, and scheduling the work.
While at Pemberley, Darcy spent the next 10 days in the same restless manner as he had in D.C. Though sometimes when the noise in his house was too much to bear, he went to the courts to play tennis, or the course for a game of golf, or to a nice cozy, dark jazz club, or somewhere that he could be active yet be alone with his thoughts. Then he went back to D.C. on September 16th.
September 17, 1996, Tuesday
The phone rang at Darcy's office on 10th Street, NW. A secretary answered. It was Bingley. The secretary put him through directly.
"Yes Charles."
"William, we head out on Monday, the 30th. Is that okay?"
"Sure, I'll be ready. Should we each take our cars or just one?"
"No, no. You follow me. Just in case, you get bored and want to leave."
"Fine then." He paused. "Charles, what kind of ranch is it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Does it have electricity? Are the roads paved? Do we have to kill our own food?"
Bingley laughed heartily. "William, we aren't cavemen! What would make you think I would like roughing it that much?!"
"I'm sorry man. I just didn't know what to expect."
"It has all the modern conveniences. It's a pretty huge house with plenty of servants. If it didn't, my sisters would run like the devil back to civilization."
"Your sisters are coming?!?!" He cursed himself and Bingley. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I knew you wouldn't come." Bingley paused, waiting for his friend to renege, but he didn't receive one. "Look, the house is big enough that you don't have to see Caroline every minute of the day. Plus she doesn't ride, so at least you have that excuse."
"Alright, I'm still coming."
"Good! We'll meet you at your place around 10:00 a.m. on the 30th. Is that alright?"
"Yes it is." Darcy was about to hang up. "Charles!"
"Yeah."
"Thanks."
"Don't thank me yet! Bye."
In Charlottesville
During a pinochle game at the club, Mrs. Long told Mrs. Bennet some very, very good news and she was very excited to tell her family of it.
"Frank! Frank! Netherfield has been bought at last," she shrieked as she ran after her husband on the 15th tee of the golf course. He offered nothing in reply. "Don't you want to know who's taken it?!"
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it, now that you've interrupted our game," teased Mr. Bennet, while the rest of his foursome chuckled.
"Well, it has been taken by a rich young man from D.C. A single rich man! He came down last month to see the place. His name is Charles Bingley and he is coming here again before the end of the month. And he is a doctor!" She continued, "What a fine thing for our girls!"
"How so? How can it affect them?"
"Oh, Frank, how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I'm thinking of his marrying one of them!"
"For a rich, single young doctor must be in want of wife," teased her husband.
"Yes he must indeed!" replied Mrs. Bennet. "And who better than one of our five girls!"
"So, that is his design in settling here, to marry one of our daughters?"
"Design?! Oh, how can you talk such nonsense! But he may, very likely fall in love with one of them. Therefore, you have to visit him when he comes."
"No, no, I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or better yet, send them by themselves."
"By themselves?!"
"Yes my dear, because you are as pretty as any of them; Dr. Bingley might like you best."
Mrs. Bennet was distraught the whole day and she complained to all of the club members who were willing to stand around and listen. "He'll see us all ruined... Oh, if only we had been able to have sons!"
Franklin Bennet has lived in Charlottesville all his life. He inherited the 125-acre horse ranch he lives on with his wife and five daughters, from his father, who inherited it from his father. Mr. Bennet's grandfather Reginald, purchased the land in 1910. He had a large house built and named it 'Longbourn' and raised champion racehorses. Reginald Bennet had two sons, Harold and William, and they constantly fought over the land. As was the practice in those days, the eldest son was to receive the house and most property, while all the children each received a share of the monies. However, Reginald put an exception in his will, as long as Harold's family boar sons, the farm would stay in that line. If not, the land would revert to William's family, but only if there were a living male heir on William's side. And vice versa, once it was in William's family. Harold inherited the land on his father's death in 1940 and William left to make his own way in the world. Harold and William each boar one child, Franklin and Madeline, respectively. Franklin inherited the land in 1966 when his father passed. Madeline married Daniel Collins and boar only one son, William II, but Franklin and his wife Frances were not able to have sons, they had five daughters. So the family farm will fall into the hands of William Collins, Madeline's son, on Franklin's death. Therefore Frances' main objective in life is to get her daughters married to rich young men, so that she and any unmarried daughters will have a place to live when her husband dies.
Franklin or Frank Bennet is a man of quick wit, sarcastic humor, reserve and caprice. A learned man, but he married imprudently. He saw the beautiful Frances with the operatic voice in a talent showcase and fell in love with her on the spot. He asked for her hand, before he really got to know her. Frances Bennet is a woman of little understanding and information, uncertain temper, and a voice that once was a beautiful mezzo-soprano, now shrieked. She sees her musical talents in all her daughters and wished that at least one of them would've pursued it beyond high school. She saw in Frank his good lucks, education, manners, money and lands. She convinced herself that she could easily fall in love with a rich man as well as a poor one.
The Bennet's five daughters are as follows:
Jane, age 27, a tall (5' 10"), thin, blond-haired, green-eyed and beautiful; with the disposition of an angel. Mrs. Bennet, born to be a stage mother, tried to push Jane into modeling, singing and dancing, at a young age, but Mr. Bennet and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Gardiner stepped in, so instead she graduated from University of Virginia (UV), then Virginia Tech School of Veterinary Medicine.
Elizabeth or Lizzy, age 25, a tall (5'8"), curvy, raven-haired, raven-eyed, pretty young woman, with the disposition of a cat on a hot tin roof. Mrs. Bennet was too busy pushing Jane that she basically ignored her second daughter which caused Mr. Bennet to take Elizabeth under his wing. Behind this, Mr. Bennet became disenchanted with his wife and never fully recovered his initial feelings of love for her. Under Mr. Bennet's tutelage, Elizabeth graduated from UV 'Suma Cum Laude'; then went on to graduate from Georgetown Law and the Wharton School of Business. She is a big-time history buff, as is Mr. Bennet.
Mary, age 21, a medium height (5' 7"), sandy-haired, dark-eyed, non-descript looking young woman, with an air of conceitedness and is always spouting proverbs from the bible. A graduate of University of Virginia with a double major B. A. in Theology and Accounting, she helps maintain the books for the farm.
Katherine or Kitty, age 19, a tall (5' 8") and rather thin, sandy-haired, dark-eyed, pretty young woman with no personality and is lead around by the nose by her younger sister. She works at the country club as a swimming instructor and sometimes moonlights as a singer in town.
Lydia, age 17, a tall (5' 8") dark-haired, dark-eyed, pretty young woman with the disposition of a spoiled brat with a foul-mouth. She is still in high school and is a very promising tennis player.
All the girls still live on the farm with their parents, though Jane and Elizabeth moved into the little cottage about a mile behind the main house.
Important neighbors to the Bennet's are the Lucases. Bill Lucas has also lived in Charlottesville all his life. He is the former Mayor of the town and owner of the Country Club. He is married to Evelyn and they have 7 children, the oldest being Charlotte. Charlotte, age 32, is 5' 6", and also non-descript or plain. A graduate of University of Virginia, with a B. A. in Business, yet she works in the club as Secretary to her father and is Elizabeth's good friend. Maria Lucas is the second child, she is 23, also about as tall as her sister and is a graduate of University of Virginia with a B. A. in Liberal Arts. She has yet to decide what she wants to do with her life.
September 18, 1996, Wednesday
Life in Charlottesville was all a buzz about the arrival of Dr. Bingley on the 30th. Mr. Lucas announced that there would be a dance at the club on Saturday night, October 5, 1996, to welcome their new neighbor. Each mother began preparing their daughters to be the 'belle of the ball', so that they might be chosen to dance with Dr. Bingley.
September 19, 1996, Thursday
At Longbourn
"Oh Jane, Jane, we must go into D.C. to see if we can get you some new dresses!" Frances Bennet burst into Jane's office and shrieked; shrieking was her normal tone of voice.
"Mom, I don't need new dresses."
"Oh yes you do! Are you willing to see us thrown out of this house with no place to go!"
Jane said nothing, she knew that her mother was planning on Dr. Bingley falling in love with her, and there was no point in arguing with her about something as simple as a few dresses.
"Drop all your plans for tomorrow. We will go up to D.C. and find you something suitable to wear."
"Ma, I need some new dresses too!" chirped in Lydia who was running behind her mother.
"Why of course you do dear. Don't worry, I'll find something for you."
Jane remembered her mother's taste in clothes and almost screamed, "Why don't you ask Lizzy to come with us?" But from Jane it only sounded like a request, for her voice was soft and lilting.
"Lizzy?!?! Why would I want her opinion! That tomboy will want you in jeans! She has no taste in fine fashion! No, I won't have her interference!" Mrs. Bennet knew that Elizabeth would restrict her spending an enormous amount of money on the shopping spree, so she protested.
"I won't go without her," Jane implied.
Mrs. Bennet's eyes bulged out of her head and she couldn't speak for several moments. "Fine then! See if Miss Lizzy will come!" She stomped out of the office.
Making sure they were both gone, Jane walked into the adjoining office. "Did you hear that?"
"Yes I did," said Elizabeth sitting with her head down rubbing her temples. "This is all I need Jane, another reason to spend money."
"That is precisely why I want you to come."
Elizabeth looked up, "You want me to come, not only to curb mother's spending, but also to battle her 'taste' in fashion."
"Please come! You know how she is." They both laughed. "And I will just die if I have to wear something that makes me... makes me look like a... a..."
"Tramp!" Jane just nodded. "Oh Jane, you are just too sweet. You can't say 'no' to anyone, but you know I will come, and it will not be pretty. She and I clash on everything! Sister, you owe me big time!"
"I still owe you from last time," Jane laughed.
"Oh yeah! What was it last time?"
"She wanted me to go out with that slimeball, um... I can't think of his name."
"Senator Packwood?" Elizabeth laughed.
"No!" Jane giggled. "Robert something..."
"Robert Elton!"
"Yes, that's him! He made my skin crawl, yuck!" They both laughed. "You stepped in and told him that once our father died, he would have to take care of the entire family, or at least until the rest of the girls were married. The look on his face!" Tears rolled down Jane's face in laughter. "And when you told him that mom would stay with him forever, because it was 'tradition' that the mother stay with the oldest in these kinds of situations... He almost leapt through the door!" Jane fell on the floor from laughing so hard.
"Stupid, clumsy oaf!" Elizabeth could hardly breathe, she was laughing so hard. "He knocked down several of my plants trying to get out and left a trail of dust you could see for miles. You would've thought it was a twister or something!"
They both laughed a long time after that revelry. After wiping their tears and composing themselves, Jane went back to her office.
September 20, 1996, Friday
Jane knew that she should have driven, because her mother never seemed to like anything that Elizabeth did. And this was just another means to an argument. Jane tried to calm their mother, but she would have none of it, as the three Bennet ladies pulled into Georgetown Mall's underground parking lot. Elizabeth was already frustrated because Frances was backseat driving and the busy streets and highways made her mother nervous. So Elizabeth parked her tan Volvo with some abruptness, almost running into a black Mercedes Benz that was leaving.
Hmm... Handsome! Elizabeth thought to herself as she passed the dark-haired stranger in the black car. She immediately looked at the car's tags in her rear view mirror but could only make out on the first 3 letters on his license plate 'DAR.'
Nice! Thought the stranger in the black Mercedes, regarding the dark-haired driver of the Volvo. I should turn back around... Nah!
The three ladies went into every store in the mall, twice. That's how Frances Bennet shops. Never taking a breather, never taking a break. So at one point, both Jane and Elizabeth grabbed something to eat and sat down. After they finished eating, they walked back to the general vicinity of their mother, she didn't even notice that they had gone.
After 5 hours, Frances, Jane and Elizabeth agreed on a new party dress for Jane. It was a sea-green silk chemise dress with a sheer overlay in the same color. It matched her eyes and did not make her skin look sallow. She looked an angel had come down to earth. Elizabeth even bought a dress; it was a black cocktail dress, nothing extraordinary on the rack. But on Elizabeth, that was another story. Both dresses were mid-thigh length and would show off their legs. Frances was even pleased with Elizabeth's choice. Frances had also chosen a red plastic mini dress for Lydia, a hot pink baby doll dress for Kitty and a pale blue tea length for Mary. Frances was satisfied with the day, in its entirety.
In the next week, preparations were made in every household. Each wife instructed her respective husband on the proper behavior to impress a new neighbor. Proper behavior also recommended, no demanded, these same husbands go to Netherfield and greet the new neighbor.
Mr. Bennet still protested, to the dismay of his wife. So there was no peace at Longbourn.
September 30, 1996
Darcy woke up early that morning. He double-checked to make sure that he packed the essentials: hygiene products, underwear, 8 suits with coordinating shirts and ties (2 per week, just in case), laptop, casual slacks, blue jeans and shirts, some tennis shorts and golf pants, golf clubs, tennis racket, etc.
Darcy had to admit that he was actually looking forward to this vacation. He hadn't taken time off for himself in years, actually he had never taken time off for himself until this appointment business. The last time he took off was more than 5 years ago when Georgiana got in to a bit of trouble.
He had already taken his suitcases and equipment down to his car, made sure all his favorite CD's were in the console and was now sitting in the kitchen reading the newspaper, nibbling on his breakfast and sipping his coffee. At 9:55 a.m. the intercom system buzzed. He ran to the door to answer it. "Yes."
"We're downstairs William. Do you want us to come up or are you ready to go?"
Darcy didn't want Caroline in his place anymore; she had become quite a nuisance lately. "No, I'm ready. I'll pull out front. What are you driving?"
"The Suburban! It's the only thing big enough for my family, our suitcases and Caroline's make-up." They both laughed.
"Give me 5 minutes."
Darcy grabbed his keys and ran to the elevator. He had a private elevator for his penthouse, one of the privileges that goes along with the place. He reached the first level of the underground parking garage and got into his black Mercedes.
When he drove out of the garage, he pulled up next to Bingley's Suburban and saw Caroline standing outside the vehicle, waving to him. He cursed to himself. Damn! She to wants to ride with me!
"Hi William," she drew his name out like a southern belle might and jumped in the front seat.
He cringed inwardly. "Good morning," he said politely.
"Are we ready to go?" Caroline yelled to her brother, before slamming the car door. Bingley pulled off and Darcy followed him. Before he was able to turn on some music, Caroline began her speech. "William," she almost sang his name, "I am so sorry about the incident on Labor Day. I don't know what got into me... I never drink that much anymore, but I must have forgotten how many I'd had already. Will you forgive me?" she purred.
"Apology accepted." Darcy smiled politely and turned on his CD player and listened, as much as he could, to Billie Holiday.
Caroline, never one to be silent during any long period of time, started talking incessantly once they pulled on to the highway. She talked on and on about the latest gossip, parties, and fashions and how this trip in the country will do wonders for her complexion and attitude, and how backwards she supposes these country people will be, and how she is determined to only spend one week down in 'Deliverance.' Darcy blocked her out of his mind, he said nothing the whole trip; he just nodded his head every once in a while to give the impression that he was listening.
To Darcy, the trip may have only been 2 hours, but it seemed days longer. They all arrived safely, the staff came out to greet them and take their luggage. Bingley walked around the house like he was the master, king of his domain. He showed them all to their rooms.
To Caroline's great dismay, Darcy's room was down at one end of the hall while she was at the other end next to Bingley. "Charles can't we change this somehow?" she whispered.
"No Caroline, the room next to William's is so small, it doesn't have nearly as much closet space as you need. There is no connecting bathroom and there is no vanity."
She stomped away to her room and Bingley just smiled; he had just saved his friendship.
Later after lunch, Bingley and Darcy slipped away to the stables. They chose their horses and went off to view the land.
"I had almost forgotten how to ride!" Darcy smiled.
"Isn't it beautiful! I knew I made the right choice!"
"Yes you did my friend. May I ask what lead you to make this decision."
"A lot of things... But mainly my family." Bingley saw the questioning look on Darcy's face and continued. "They really don't have a life of their own. Louisa is always begging me to introduce Jimmy here and there and whenever I have a party, he always embarrasses me. I have yet to tell you what happened on Labor Day after you left. And Caroline, as much as she professes to be in the limelight, she isn't. She just gossips all day, spends more money than she earns and keeps dipping further into her inheritance."
"I thought she made a lot of money when she was modeling."
"She made some money, but not even close to what the top models are making now. Plus she is such a 'prima donna' and not that many designers wanted her in their shows."
Darcy chuckled as he thought of the 'prima donna' and wondered how she got that job at the Post. Probably slept her way there. And he immediately put that thought out of his mind as he shuttered.
The two men rode over and through the entire 75-acre ranch and Darcy agreed it was a good decision.
On their way back they talked about what they would do for dinner. They talked about going into the town to see what could be 'rustled up,' but then considered that since it was already 4:30 p.m. someone, namely Caroline, would have already ordered the staff to begin dinner preparations. They decided to go into town tomorrow morning to check things out.
"This is lovely Charles!" smiled Caroline at dinner. "So quaint. Whatever made you take a place so far in the country?"
Bingley and Darcy smiled at each other. "I thought this would be a nice diversion from the pressures of surgery. You know, a getaway."
"Why would you want to leave the city?" cried Louisa.
"If you wanted to get away, you could visit the museums or monuments like William does. I think this was a waste of money. Wouldn't you agree William?"
You would think that Caroline. Get a clue! Bingley said aloud, "I wanted to find a place where I could find peace, solitude and yet not be too far from the hospital."
"I think Charles can spend his money any way he chooses to, Caroline," said Darcy. "If your brother wants to get away from the... constraints in town, I think it's a good idea."
"Oh yes, you're right. You're always right," Caroline agreed. Changing the subject, "What shall we do to entertain ourselves?" No one said a word. "What about some cards? Or a game maybe?"
"Did anyone bring cards?" asked Jimmy. Everyone shrugged.
"What kind of game did you have in mind Caroline?" asked Louisa.
"I don't know... What about charades!"
Bingley and Darcy groaned, but after 15 minutes of begging from Caroline, they agreed to play. Jimmy decided to sit the game out to watch something on TV and drink, so that left the four of them.
"Boys against girls!" shouted Bingley before Caroline had a chance to snatch Darcy for herself.
Caroline pouted, "That's not fair! Who made you in charge?"
Bingley replied, "The master of the house, that's who!" Darcy was grateful Bingley didn't give in.
They played charades until midnight. Actually they played until the score was so far in favor of Bingley and Darcy, they decided to quit and the ladies went to bed.
"What time are we going into town tomorrow?" Darcy asked.
"How about leaving here at 9:00 a.m. Don't worry Caroline is a late sleeper," Bingley laughed. "A real late sleeper."
"Good night," they both said as they walked up the steps to their rooms.
October 1, 1996, Tuesday
At Netherfield
That morning, Bingley and Darcy woke up earlier than they planned; ate breakfast and were out of the house before 8:15 a.m.
"Do you know how to get to town?"
"Of course I do! We should take your car though."
"Alright then, let's get to it." Darcy drove his car, as quietly as possible, from the garage to the main road, as to not wake up the other inhabitants of Netherfield.
Bingley remembered precisely how to get to town, well almost. But they made it in good time anyway.
"This is not too bad, huh?" laughed Bingley. "Let's check out the restaurants."
"Why don't we just walk up one side of the street and then down the other, that way we check out everything."
"Sounds like a plan."
As they walked and looked in each establishment, Darcy asked, "What happened with Jimmy at the barbecue?"
"Oh yeah. Well, to make it as brief as possible, he drank too much."
"That I know!" Darcy frowned. "What else?!"
"Well," Bingley smiled at the memory; "a song was playing on the stereo, um... What was it? Um, the one by Phil Collins. The one on the 'Miami Vice' TV show." Darcy shrugged his shoulders; he didn't watch a lot of television, except for sports and old movies. "You know..." He began to sing, "I can feel it coming in the air tonight."
"Oh yeah!" Darcy remembered.
"Well, Jimmy jumped up from his favorite lawn chair, grabbed Louisa and started to twirl her around the yard." He smiled again. "At one point, he flung her a little bit harder than she expected and she went flying into the gate at the end of the property." Bingley and Darcy burst out laughing.
Darcy corrected himself. "She wasn't hurt was she?"
"No, not at all. But Jimmy was so out of it that he stumbled backwards into the grill and his shirt caught on fire." Both men were now in hysterics. "He ran around the yard prancing and screaming bloody murder." Bingley could hardly speak from laughing. "I had a fire extinguisher near by, so we sprayed him. We had to take him to the hospital." They laughed for a good long while and some of the passers-by looked strangely at them. "The funny thing was, he still had his drink in his hand in the hospital. Not one drop spilled from his glass!" Then he said in his best Sean Connery/James Bond voice, "shaken, but not stirred." By this time both men were holding on to the wall of the haberdashery, laughing so hard, coughing violently with tears running down their faces, that everyone on the street stopped to look. Some of them even laughed with them, though they didn't know the joke.
After realizing that everyone on the street had noticed, Darcy stopped cold. "I think we should go in here now," and dragged Bingley with him. Bingley finally stopped laughing, they both greeted the shopkeeper, and walked through the store. Bingley decided to try on a couple of Stetson's while Darcy stood by the front picture window. Suddenly the door popped open, chimes went off in the store and a pretty dark-haired girl walked in.
Elizabeth walked to the counter. "Here ya go Sam." She threw a pair cowboy boots up on the counter.
"Next week okay Lizzy?" said the shopkeeper.
"That's fine. Thanks." She waved to him and left.
She didn't see Darcy, but he saw her. Although he couldn't hear the conversation, he felt sure he had seen her somewhere before, but couldn't remember where. By the time Bingley called Darcy over to try on some hats, he forgot about it.
Darcy remembered the way back to Netherfield with no problems.
As soon as they walked through the door, Caroline sniped in a high pitched tone, "Where have you been!"
"In town! Why?!" snapped Bingley.
Immediately realizing that she looked foolish and clingy to Darcy, Caroline changed her tone. "Because we didn't know where you were, we thought that you'd gotten hurt or lost or something. I was just so worried about you, that's all."
"There's no need to worry about me Caroline. I'm a grown man and grown men don't have to tell their sisters where they will be at every minute of the day. Capish?"
Caroline nodded. "Lunch is being served." They followed her into the dining room.
That afternoon, some of the town gentleman came. Mr. Bennet was one of the first people to visit; he had always intended to visit, but it always made his day to tease his wife.
"Mr. Bennet welcome to Netherfield. I am Charles Bingley, these are my sisters Caroline and Louisa, Louisa's husband James Hurst and my friend William Darcy."
"I hope my visit isn't an inconvenience for you? I would hate to report back to my wife that I have disgraced us in some way. She may never forgive me," he laughed.
"No, no..." Bingley stuttered not completely catching Mr. Bennet's wry smile. "No inconvenience at all, Sir."
"Where are you located Mr. Bennet?" Caroline asked.
"My family farm is on the other side of town, due west. I understand from the town crier that you are a surgeon from D.C."
"Yes I am," said Bingley.
"What do you do, if you don't mind my asking?" inquired Caroline.
"Do? I don't do anything!" He heard Caroline gasp. "I let my daughters do whatever is required to run a farm. Jane takes care of the animals and Lizzy takes care of the money. What do I need to do, other than play golf?" The men all smiled. "How long are you planning to stay down here, Dr. Bingley?"
"About a month," Bingley beamed.
"Well, well. That's all well and good, but how often do you plan to visit down here afterwards?"
"I'm not sure yet. Hopefully one week a month or a few days here and there."
"That's great. The townspeople will want to know all your plans ahead of time, to throw a party in your honor each time you come back, I suppose," Mr. Bennet chuckled. Bingley and Darcy smiled, but neither Caroline, Louisa or Jimmy got the joke. After an awkward pause, "I won't overstay my welcome like some who will be here shortly. Welcome to the neighborhood, son. Hope to see you around at the club." He left.
Before Mr. Bennet came, Mr. Long stopped by. After Mr. Bennet, came Mr. Jones, Mr. King, Mr. Graves, Mr. Chestnutt, Mr. Forster, Mr. Lewis, and finally Mr. Lucas.
"Mr. Lucas welcome to Netherfield..." Bingley gave the same speech to him as all the others.
"I say, this is the most splendid house in the whole town! You picked a good one here! You can call me Bill. I used to be Mayor in this here town and I am the owner of the Charlottesville Country Club and Resort. Except that we don't have any living quarters, except for my home, or Lucas Lodge as we like to call it, but we like the word 'Resort' anyway. My daughter Charlotte," he laughed, "Get it! Charlotte, Charlottesville! I laugh every time I think of it! Well anyway, my daughter Charlotte is my secretary and my wife Evelyn plans all the activities. I have 6 other children, Charlotte being the oldest." He stopped to take a breather. "Has Frank Bennet been by here?" They nodded. "Well, he's a good man, a good, good man. He and I are the very best of friends! His second daughter Lizzy and my Charlotte are the very best of friends. We see them often. Frances, Frank's wife is a little high strung, but a good woman, nonetheless. And..." Suffice it to say, Mr. Lucas went on for more than an hour. Bingley agreed to bring his family and friend to the dance on Saturday. They were glad when Mr. Lucas left.
"Charles, how dare you speak for us! I'm not going to some hoedown! William wouldn't you agree?"
Darcy agreed with Caroline, but would not show it. "Caroline, I am here to be with your brother and enjoy the simple life. No, I am not looking forward to a dance, but I will go as he has asked me to."
"I have nothing to wear! What does one wear to a round up?! I know! I'll go see if any potato sacks haven't been thrown away. That will do just fine. These country bumpkins know nothing about fashion! Why do we have to go?!"
"Caroline, it would be the neighborly thing to do. All we have to do is go for a few hours; meet the neighbors; talk to them and have fun."
"Talk to them?! What do I have in common with any of these backwater misfits?!"
Angered by her comments, Bingley railed, "Caroline, if you insist on complaining about everything and everyone and putting a damper on my fun; then you should just go home!. I won't have you pouting around here! You can go back to D.C. and do that!" Then Bingley stormed off.
"Why is he jumping down my throat?" she pouted. No one said a word.
At Longbourn
Lydia and Kitty brought news home of Dr. Bingley, since they were at the club when Bill Lucas returned from visiting with him. Mr. Lucas's report was very favorable; he had been quite delighted with their new neighbor.
"He's young and handsome," said Kitty.
"And he'll be at the dance on Saturday!" cried Lydia.
Mrs. Bennet, however still not knowing that her husband had done his duty by going to see Dr. Bingley, was relentless in her dismay. "Unfortunately, we will be overlooked at the dance, because your father did not do his duty and call on Dr. Bingley! He will be put off because he will think we slighted him!"
"Mom, that can't be true. Dr. Bingley can't be that bad and I doubt he would take it that way," implied Jane.
"Oh Jane, he will slight us in return, I know it! This is all your father's fault! And if I didn't have to keep up appearances at the club, I wouldn't even consider going!"
"But mom!" cried Lydia.
"That's enough! I do not wish to hear Dr. Bingley's named mentioned in this house! I am sick of him and the whole ordeal!"
"I'm sorry to hear that, Franny. I wish I had known this before I went to visit him earlier today," said Mr. Bennet.
Everyone's mouth fell open and a hush went through the room for several moments. The astonishment of his family was just what Mr. Bennet had imagined. When they all realized what happened, everyone began to talk at the same time. However, Elizabeth gave her father a raised eyebrow to signify she didn't appreciate him leaving them in the dark and having her mother's hysterics raised in the wake.
Mrs. Bennet, however, managed to declare amongst the chatter, "I knew you would go for me and the girls! I knew it all the time! Oh what a good joke you played on all of us! Isn't he a wonderful father, girls?! And now you will all dance with Dr. Bingley!"
Kitty and Lydia danced around the room with Mrs. Bennet, Jane and Lizzy sat and laughed at them, and Mary opened a book to ignore them. While all this happiness and cheer was going on Mr. Bennet quietly slipped away to his library.
