Elizabeth Bennet and the Case of ...

Elizabeth Bennet and the Case of Mistaken First Impressions, Pride and Prejudice Fanfiction

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Elizabeth Bennet and the Case of Mistaken First Impressions By Carrie

Chapter One

Posted on Saturday, 24 April 2004

A tall, wiry man made his way through the London streets, through the bustle of the people and the sickly yellow fog. He ended up standing in front of a peeling blue door that even a beggar wouldn’t think suitable to sleep in front of. He sighed in exasperation and noting the unsavoury characters on the street, knocked sharply on the door. After a few minutes a wizened old housekeeper opened the door, she looked like all her features had been drawn towards the centre of her face and had left wrinkles as evidence of their progress. Her face formed a lopsided smile and she ushered him in.

The hallway was no improvement on the outside, in fact it was worse. Battered and scuffed skirting boards lead up to ugly brown wallpaper, with evidence of considerable damage by damp. The red carpet was threadbare where he stood and he supposed visitors normally didn’t venture beyond the doorway and he could see why they wouldn’t wish to. There was no improvement as he walked further in. The housekeeper opened a door to their right and showed him in.

“Ah, Mr. Darcy welcome.” A man in a tweed suit rose and held out his hand.

“Mr. Gardiner, sir.” Darcy said as he grasped the offered hand firmly.

“Now as to why we are here. My client has a rather unusual request to make of you.” Mr. Gardiner said.

“Sir there’s a wire for you!” A young curly haired man burst into the parlour.

“Mr. Darcy this is my apprentice, Mr. Bingley.”

“Pleased to meet you sir.” Mr. Bingley said as he disappeared out of the room with his superior.

Mr. Darcy looked around with a shrewd eye; something was different in here to the hallway. Everything was still shabby, but they were things that were at one time very fine and still had a sort of decaying dignity. He wandered idly quite what Mr. Gardiner was doing in such a house. Mr. Darcy was so lost in his thoughts that he did not here the door open and close softly, but he did hear the velvety voice of a woman say,

“Excuse me, sir”

He turned and his eyes rested on the speaker, she was a woman of whom none of her sex would have seen anything to admire and no man would have seen anything to dislike. I deed her appearance at present seemed to be calculated solely for the attention of men. Her dress although once probably silk was worn and in need of repair, it was deep red and incredibly low cut. Her lips and cheeks were rouged and this combined with everything else led Darcy to assume she was a prostitute.

“What are you doing here? No one asked for your services.” He said icily

She flicked her eyes quickly up and down him, apparently unfazed by his comment and a small knowing smile appeared on her face.

“Actually I believe my services were requested.” She said, her voice was rich and it seemed to caress the words as she spoke them. She got up gracefully from where she had sat just seconds earlier and as she walked towards him her dress swayed with her hips. “If you are Mr. Darcy, as I think you are, then we shall be in very close contact.”

She was standing rather too close for him to be comfortable but then she smiled, took a step backwards and opened the brown leather wallet in her hand.

“That’s mine!” Mr. Darcy said in a slightly strangled voice.

“As I thought, you are Mr. Darcy; you should take better care of your possessions sir.” She said as she returned it to him.

“Ah! Lizzie you’re here. Did you get it?” Mr. Gardiner said on re-entering the room.

“Of course.” She said and drew a glittering red stone from the folds of her dress.

“The Duchesses ruby she will be pleased…”

Darcy stopped listening as he was too busy reconsidering the woman before him, she looked like a harlot but she spoke like a Lady and Mr. Gardiner certainly treated her as one.

“Mr. Darcy, Miss Elizabeth here is Lady De bough’s unusual request. She wishes you to work with her on your case.”

First Mr. Darcy simply stared and the he said, “Absolutely not.”

“Darcy…”

“It’s alright uncle, Mr. Darcy,” she said, “I have absolutely no desire to work with you either, but Lady Ann is not a fool, she must have a reason.”

“Woman cannot do this sort of work; you may be fine as an amateur pickpocket to retrieve trinkets for upper class women, but on this sort of case you would be a liability.”

Again a knowing smile was on her face, “Mr. Darcy, I tend to find that men are much more easily distracted from their tasks than women.”

As she spoke she fiddled with a piece of lace at the base of her neckline and Mr. Darcy gaze was instantly drawn towards it. She began to breathe ever so slightly deeper than was usual and in this way stayed his reply for some minutes. Just as he was about to speak, she cut in.

“Uncle I shall go and change and I think you had better instruct Hill to bring Mr. Darcy a cold drink, it seems to have gotten rather warm in here.” With a laughing glance at Darcy she left the room.

Chapter Two

Posted on Saturday, 1 May 2004

In the cab on the way home Elizabeth could not help smiling at what had passed. Men were so predictable, even the high and mighty Mr. Darcy was not immune to a woman’s charm. Despite having no brothers Elizabeth found that she mostly understood men; for she enjoyed character study and had spent hours contemplating her uncle’s apprentices in order to unravel the mystery of men. She had come to the conclusion that men were simpler creatures then she had thought. Finally reaching her destination she alighted from the four-wheeler and waited to enter her home.

“Miss. Elizabeth you’re back.” Their friendly housekeeper greeted her, “You will find Miss. Bennet in the morning room.”

“Thank you Hill.” Elizabeth said as she removed her bonnet and coat.

Hill had been with the Bennets since Jane was little and she had remained with the eldest two sisters after the family tragedy. It was her sister who kept the house Elizabeth had just left.

Jane looked up as Elizabeth entered, “I thought it was your cab that I heard outside.”

“Who are you writing to?”

“Lydia, we have received letters from Mary and Kitty by this mornings post.”

“Lydia never replies.” Elizabeth said.

Jane sighed this was a continuing topic of discussion between the two sisters, “I know but she may, and we cannot simply abandon her. The Phillips say only that she is in good health.”

“What did Mary and Kitty say?” Elizabeth said arranging her skirts as she sat down and averting a possible argument between them.

“Mary is finding that teaching gives her very little time for private reflection and she finds many of her pupils tiresome with little wish to cultivate their minds, but has found a promising student in a girl named Prudence.”

Elizabeth suppressed a smile and motioned Jane to continue with Kitty’s letter.

“Kitty is very happy at Uncle and Aunt Gardiner, as her duties with the children are light and she has much free time. She writes of a young man named Peter who has being paying her much attention.”

“Some things will never change, even after such an upheaval as we have experienced.” Elizabeth stared into the distance and her face betrayed her melancholy. At length she snapped out of her reverie and said, “Have I any business letters?”

Jane had acted as an unpaid secretary to their father and as Elizabeth had followed in his footsteps as a private detective she had continued to act so for her as well. “Lady Atwood sent a note of thanks to you for solving her little problem. And Lady Ann has sent an invitation to us to dine at her town house this Tuesday and everyone involved in her case shall be in attendance.”

“I shall look forward to that then!! Elizabeth said sarcastically, Jane made no comment but simply waited for her to continue. “I met the famous Mr. Darcy, with whom Lady Ann requested I joined forces for her case and it was certainly enlightening. I hope he is as good a detective as he’s reported to be because his personality needs a little work.”

“Lizzie!”

“Jane he was rude and dismissive of my talents. If father was alive Lady Ann would not have even considered asking him to solve her case. Father understood and valued women as thinking beings instead of ornaments!”

“Indeed he did, so you must not disappoint him by wasting your time upon disliking Mr. Darcy instead of working on the case.”

Elizabeth had the sense to look guilty, “Yes you are right,” she said, “Have you met Uncle Gardiner’s new apprentice, Mr. Bingley yet?”

“No not yet.”

“I rather think you shall like him, I wonder if mother would have considered him good enough for her favourite daughter.”

“Lizzie.” Jane said yet again but this time her tone was gentle, “I really miss them Lizzie.”

“So do I.”

The two sisters arrived first at Lady Ann’s imposing town house and were ushered into the sitting room. Ann rose to greet them and various adornments on her dinner dress rustled loudly. Elizabeth sighed Ann was such a lovely person and quite removed from her mother, but she had inherited Lady Catherine’s fashion sense, or lack of it. Jane’s dress was the exact opposite; it was a beautiful sky blue to match her eyes and had very little decoration. Soon after they sat down Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy all arrived together.

Darcy hated this sort of thing; he would rather be working on the case than discussing it. He had all the details and the sooner it was solved the sooner he could rid himself of the slightly impertinent Miss. Elizabeth.

“It is a pleasure to meet you again Mr. Darcy” Elizabeth teased.

Darcy could not believe his eyes; she did not look like the same person who had stolen his wallet only a few days ago. She wore a deep pink dinner dress simple yet beautiful and it gave her the perfect and he understood coveted hour glass figure. However he noted with interest the black instead of the traditional cream ribbon that held her cameo in place around her neck. She also had similar ribbons in her hair.

“Do you not remember me sir?”

He could never mistake that voice, “Of course I do.” He said abruptly.

Ann came bustling over, “Well Darcy you have met everyone here, except Miss. Elizabeth’s sister I believe.” Darcy nodded, “Well may I introduce Miss. Bennet to you then.”

“Bennet?” he said surprised.

“Why of course.”

As he exchanged greetings with Jane he could see Elizabeth’s eyes, sparkling with suppressed laughter, she seemed always to be laughing at him. Her father had been the best detective in all England and he himself had studied countless cases of his when learning the craft. He had even traveled to visit his grave in order to pay his respects to his departed inspiration. And Elizabeth was his daughter.

“Shall we go through?” Ann said and the party moved into the dinning room.

Once seated Ann began, “Well you all know why you are here so I shall simply fill in the particulars. My house in the country Rosings Park was broken into three days ago and the police have come to the verdict that it was merely petty theft. However, being a suspicious person I am not inclined to agree with them, so I have asked Miss. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy to look into it for me. Stolen from the library, which was the only room disturbed, was a crystal paper weight, a book and a vase – none of which are particularly expensive. The room was in complete disarray and the thief seems to have passed over many valuable pieces.”

The evening continued and it was agreed that Elizabeth and Darcy would pay a morning visit to Mr. Bingley the next day to pick up the written statements from the staff of Rosings and other paper work.

Chapter 3

Posted on Saturday, 8 May 2004

Elizabeth was led into the morning room of Mr. Bingley’s house and found him accompanied by an elegant and one would almost say beautiful woman, were it not for the slight harshness in her features.

“Miss. Bennet allow me to introduce my cousin Miss. Winter.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Elizabeth said.

Miss. Winter gave her a sweeping glance and said, “Charmed I’m sure.”

A pained look flitted across Bingley’s face and Elizabeth smiled reassuringly at him. “How long are you to stay with your cousin Miss. Winter?”

“Oh I am keeping house for him, for we neither of us have siblings and I do think houses need female input.”

“Indeed I am surprised, I have been led to understand that many single men prefer a bachelor house.”

“Oh Charles would not survive in a house on his own, would you Charles?”

“Well…I…”

Fortunately for Mr. Bingley was saved from making a more comprehensive reply by a servant announcing the arrival of Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth happened to be observing Miss. Winter at the time rather than Mr. Bingley and noticed her rather interesting reaction. She was at first surprised, and then threw an angry glance at Mr. Bingley, which Elizabeth correctly attributed to her not having been told of Mr. Darcy’s intention to visit. Finally she smoothed her dress and rose to greet him.

“The famous Mr. Darcy how much I have heard of you.” She said.

Bingley introduced them and Caroline continued, “I was so amazed at the manner in which you solved the murder of…well whoever it was, it seemed quite impossible to me.” She simpered.

Mr. Darcy smiled politely and as he turned about to talk to Bingley he caught sight of Elizabeth whose eyes were brimming with laughter and so he turned back to address Miss. Winter.

“All I had to do was follow the late Mr. Bennet’s model – this murder was of a similar format to the infamous Fleet Street murders. I suggest you study the chronicles of his cases.”

He looked towards Elizabeth and saw that the shock he had first seen out of the corner of his eye when he mentioned her father had now been replaced by deep sadness; her face gave nothing away but her eyes were filled with misery.

He knew that sort of sadness only too well, it was grief. He had felt its touch over the years first with his mother and then his father. He had been so intent upon gaining the upper hand over this woman that he had failed to perceive that she was still a person, moved by human emotion.

Miss. Winter had been talking at him the whole time he had been lost in his thoughts. He knew her sort, they were not quite accepted into the highest classes of society, yet not exempt from them either. She just wanted an advantageous marriage to affirm her position. She was the sort of woman he prayed he would not fall prey to.

“Oh are they the servants’ reports from the robbery?” Miss. Winter asked, “Let me help you look through them.”

“Caroline!” Bingley said, “Lady Ann has not given you permission to know the details of her case.”

“Cousin you do worry terribly, Lady Ann and I are good friends.”

Darcy doubted that this was the case but remained silent.

“We are sorry to have taken up so much of your morning Miss. Winter, Mr. Bingley, I’m sure you had other things to attend to. Mr. Darcy and I only intended to collect the papers and leave you in peace. So we shall take our leave of you. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.” Elizabeth said

Mr. Bingley showed them out and expressed his regret for his cousin keeping them so long.

“Not at all Mr. Bingley, besides it allowed you and I time to talk.” Elizabeth said.

“Yes indeed it did and I very much enjoyed our conversation.”

“And so did I, so I shall repeat my offer to you, please call on us at any time, you would be most welcome.”

“I shall accept your offer gladly Miss. Bennet.”

Darcy’s home was on a grand scale and Elizabeth was impressed although she tried to conceal it as best she could. He gave her the reports of the maids and female kitchen staff, whilst he himself had all the male staff, such as valets and gardeners. The housekeeper led Elizabeth to the morning room to look through them and Mr. Darcy left to sit in his study.

Elizabeth looked around the morning room, it was certainly a woman’s room, with lace edged table cloths obscuring offensive table legs and fragile ornaments on the shelves. She settled herself at a beautiful writing desk to study the reports. As she began to read she found that her fears were confirmed, no one had seen or heard anything until the head servant raised the alarm after startling the burglar. And by the time she had finished all of them she found herself no further on than when she had finished the first one. She went in search of Mr. Darcy and found him sat staring into space in a red leather chair behind his huge imposing desk.

“Mr. Darcy sir, have you finished?” she asked startling him out of his reverie.

“Um…I…no I haven’t.”

“Let me do some.” She said taking half of the sizable pile he had left to do.

He stared in amazement as she settled comfortably into the easy chair in front of his desk and began to read. Not wishing to create a scene he resumed his reading, although he felt his private space had been invaded by the attractive woman sat before him. After a little while he announced.

“I’ve found something that could be useful. The gardener said he saw a man lurking outside the house just prior to lock up on the night and also various nights leading up to the robbery.”

“The head servant said it was a man he came upon in the room who fled when he shouted.”

“Of course it was a man!” Darcy said incredulously, for which he received a hard stare from Elizabeth.

“Indeed it is rather too disorganized a crime to have been committed by a woman.” There was a short tense pause before continued to speak, “I propose that we ask the servants if they also have seen this man, one of them may know him.”

“I very much doubt it.” Darcy said dismissively.

Spots of colour appeared in Elizabeth’s cheeks at his words but she said nothing and as the silence lengthened into awkwardness Elizabeth spoke, “Seeing as you appear to have no other suggestion, we shall organize to do it now.”

Chapter 4

Posted on Saturday, 15 May 2004

She requested her coat from the maid and they left both smouldering with anger during the journey to Rosings. Once there Elizabeth spoke for the first time since they had left Darcy’s house in London.

“I think it will most likely the maids who will know him. So we shall ask to see them first.” She did not wait for a reply but alighted from the carriage.

There was no problem them seeing the maids as Lady Ann had sent a message to the housekeeper stating that their arrival might be expected at some point.

“Have you seen a strange man loitering around the estate recently?” Darcy asked abruptly.

The maid looked frightened out of her wits by the imposing man before her and stumbled dreadfully over her words, stating that she could not remember.

“It’s alright just take your time, we were simply wondering if a man had been around perhaps a week or two before the robbery someone who was not part of the staff?”

The poor girl calmed a little at Elizabeth’s coaxing tone, “I can’t be sure Madam, but I thought the scullery maid Annabelle had a new sweetheart.” She coloured, “I don’t know if that’s what you mean.”

“That is just fine, Annabelle did you say?”

“Yes Madam.”

“Thank you could you fetch her please.”

The maid practically ran from the room with a fearful glance at Darcy.

“Mr. Darcy!” Elizabeth said once the door had closed, he stopped pacing up and down and turned to face her, “That unfortunate girl was afraid of you and I’m not surprised. There was no need to be so vicious with her.”

“I was direct nothing more.”

“I have a feeling that this maid, if she is the type I’m assuming, will respond much better to you than me; so use ,some of that charm which I’m sure you possess though I have seen little evidence of it.”

Before Darcy could reply there was a knock at the door and Annabelle entered.

“We understand that you have been ‘seeing someone’ recently, something that began perhaps a few weeks ago?” Mr. Darcy said.

Elizabeth was surprised at his use of ‘we’ and pleased that he was employing his handsome features and masculinity effectively with the pretty maid. She would most likely tell him anything now, just to get a smile out of him.

“Yes sir, George White his name was, I’m not seeing him any more, you see he was unfaithful to me.” She paused a moment, “I found out just after the house was broken into and so I told him I did not want to see him anymore, he didn’t seem too upset though.”

Elizabeth hurriedly wrote on a piece of paper in front of her, ‘where can we find him?’ and pushed it over to Darcy who read it and put the question to the girl.

“I met him in the servants’ local sir, but I believe he can be found at Mr. Younge’s Place.’

“The brothel?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes Ma’am.”

“Thank you.” Darcy said with a smile and she left.

“I knew you could be charming if needed.” She said teasingly.

“I despise false flattery and sincerity.”

“As do I but in some situations it can be very useful. I think we should pay a visit to Mr. Younge’s Place.” She said

“I shall go alone, a brothel is no place for a Lady.”

“Ah yes, but although you declined my services, someone else may desire them.” She said alluding to their first meeting. “It shall be alright I will disguise myself as a prostitute and you can be my client.”

“Absolutely out of the question.” Darcy replied.

However that night saw him in the hallway of Rosings waiting for Elizabeth to appear. He was leaning on the cloakroom door facing it with his arm at right angles and his forehead resting on his arm. It was a posture of weariness, he did not want to go to the brothel in this manner, he wanted to go as himself, a detective. But Elizabeth had pointed out that this way they would encounter less hostility and panic and get more information. He had to confess that she was right.

Suddenly the door he was leaning on opened and forced him to take a stumbling step forwards, straight into Elizabeth who fortunately kept her balance and made what could have been an incredibly embarrassing situation into only a slightly awkward one. He had stumbled so close to her that he could feel her breath on his neck and the warmth of her skin through the silk on her arm, which he had grasped to steady himself.

“What are you doing in here?” He said rather more sharply than he had intended to.

“I was avoiding the servants, I did not wish for them to see me like this so I hid myself away in here.”

“Right” he said

“Mr. Darcy please.” She said indicating his hold on her.

“Of course, of course.” He said and stepped backwards to a respectable distance and soon after they set off towards Mr. Younge’s Place.

It appeared that Elizabeth had more than one dress suitable for disguising herself as a prostitute. Instead of the red he had been expecting this dress was pure black silk in good condition, it had a bertha neckline, wide, low cut and off the shoulders. The black contrasted vividly with the smooth whiteness of her skin and her bright rouged lips. Instead of the layers of petticoats of cages women wore to give the shaped skirts that were fashionable, the skirts of this dress, although still full length, were allowed to cling to the shape of the wearers legs.

They got out of the cab a little way down the street from the place and Elizabeth turned to speak to Darcy.

“You need to loosen your shirt, to look relaxed. Most of the men in this place will be servants, but the owner of the place is an associate of mine and he knows our cover and will help as well.”

Darcy made a sort of grunting noise; he was very unsure of himself in this situation and was attempting to seize control of his nerves. Elizabeth saw this and decided to put aside her dislike of the man for one night to reassure him and to ensure it went smoothly.

“Mr. Darcy, I shall need to know your Christian name.”

“It’s William.”

“William.” She said and his eyes darted quickly to meet hers, “Calm down sir, it will be alright. You must call me Elizabeth.” Just as they were about to enter she said, “For heavens sake at least pretend to find me desirable, put your arm around me or something!”

He took her advice, they entered and Elizabeth made eye contact with the owner who was behind the bar.
“Make your way over to the man on the right of the bar with the balding head.” She whispered.

When they had almost reached the bar a man shouted, “Eh! She’s a pretty filly, care to share sir? I pay a good price.”

“Oy! She’s not to share with anyone, she belongs to the gentleman she’s with, not to this establishment. He’s here to talk business with me.” It was the owner who spoke and he beckoned them over.

“Don’t you worry about him he’s inebriated, he wont remember you in the morning.”

“I think I ought to be offended by that!” Elizabeth said smiling, “We are here to enquire about a George White.” She whispered.

He tapped his nose and said, “I’ll see what I can find out, he’ll be in himself in a bit – he’s a regular but never in before eleven. What can I get you before I go?”

“Whiskey.” Darcy said quickly, “Double.” And Elizabeth declined.

The hot liquor gave him some Dutch courage and melted some of his hate for places such as the one he was in.

“William people are starting to stare; even gentlemen are not this gentlemanly with their mistresses.” She said wryly.

With the whiskey taste in his mouth he pulled her closer to him and kissed her full on the lips. She stiffened and her eyes widened in shock, but she found her senses taking over her mind as her body automatically responded. As he pulled away he whispered into her ear.

“Is that more to your satisfaction?”

Elizabeth said nothing but took the glass out of his hand and drained the last drop of whiskey left in it. The owner returned saving Elizabeth from making any reply and at the same time rescuing Darcy from her razor-tipped tongue.

“He started coming around here about a week ago, very interested in the Rosings Park estate. He got friendly with a maid there and spent hours waiting around at Rosings for her. Ah there he his!”

Chapter 5

Posted on Saturday, 22 May 2004

Elizabeth turned to face the door and now making his way across the room was an incredibly handsome man. He scanned the room passing over the aged prostitutes hiding behind a mask of makeup and also over the cheap, young and inexperienced ones until his eyes rested upon Elizabeth. He smiled in a slightly predatory manner and stalked over to them. Mr. Darcy instantly placed his arm around her shoulders in a territorial manner.

“George punctual as ever.” The owner said, “What can I get you?”

Ignoring the bar tender he addressed Darcy, “Finally had to stoop to a human level then William, no one wanted you for free?”

Elizabeth could feel the tension in Darcy’s body and his arm tightened around her,

“Mind you,” He continued, “I don’t blame you she’s bewitching, you want to be careful though Darcy she’s the sort of woman a man can lose his wits over.”

His eyes traveled shamelessly over Elizabeth’s curves and she felt the heat rising in her cheeks. Still Darcy had said nothing, his jaw was clenched shut as he struggled to control himself.

“If you are looking to make some extra money.” He said addressing Darcy while trailing his finger down Elizabeth’s cheek, “I’d pay an excellent price for this one.”

“Good sir, you could not afford me.” Elizabeth said and Darcy although knowing she possessed an extraordinary voice had never heard her use it to her own advantage. As she spoke her voice was soft and sultry.

“Woman I would go very deep into debt over you.” He turned to speak to Darcy once more, “Where did you find her?”

“I’m sorry Mr. White, it appears we must be leaving, it was a pleasure to meet you.” Elizabeth said sensing Darcy’s overwhelming desire to flee the situation.

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