So Long, Sentiment Read online

  Edition: 3

  This edition published 28 March 2019

  First published via Derbyshire Writer's Guild, 18 April 2000

  —

  Elizabeth orders Jane down to London, in the hope of mending her broken heart, and later joins her there. Olivia Crenshaw, friend of Elizabeth, decides it's time to help along Jane and Bingley, meanwhile noticing a fire catching hold between Elizabeth and Darcy - and one not of romance.

  At first the two are fiercely abrasive and stubborn with one another, and as time goes on Lizzy becomes mortified at her having to rely on Darcy for help, yet her desperation only intensifies as she feels her independent nature slipping into Darcy's handkerchief pocket.

  So Long, Sentiment

  A Pride and Prejudice Variation

  Amber Allen-King

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  One

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  "It is no wonder that she has been so quiet and withdrawn," said Olivia Crenshaw, with a sigh. "Her heart is broken."

  "And it could have not happened to a less deserving person than my dear Jane," replied Elizabeth, her voice tinged with bitterness. "The worst of it is that I do not believe that it is Mr. Bingley's fault at all. His "so superior" sisters had a hand in this, and Mr. Darcy, too. I am certain of it."

  "Mr. Darcy? Fitzwilliam Darcy? Why should he want to--?" Elizabeth silenced Olivia with a sharp look as Mrs. Gardiner entered the parlor and began puttering around. Olivia Crenshaw was the daughter of Mrs. Gardiner's dearest friend, and she and Elizabeth had also developed a strong friendship over the years during Elizabeth's visits to London. Mrs. Gardiner, realizing that the two ladies had been deep in gossip about beaus or some other intriguing subject, did not tarry. She found her sewing basket and repaired to the library to give the ladies some privacy. As soon as they were alone, Olivia continued.

  "I cannot believe that Mr. Darcy would--." She was cut off again by Elizabeth's vehement reply. Olivia was taken aback. As a young heiress with a modest fortune, she was often thrown into company with Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, Derbyshire. She had rarely actually addressed the man--he was far too intimidating--but she could scarcely believe what Elizabeth was suggesting. She let Elizabeth's comment drop.

  "Oh, but what is to be done about poor Jane?" she cried. "It pains me so to see her like this." Jane Bennet had been in town with the Gardiners since January, and nearly two months had passed without any sign of Jane's melancholy abating.

  "I do not know, Livy. I had hoped that her coming to town might change things. I suppose I thought that she might be able to see Mr. Bingley. I am certain that if they could just speak to one another again they might... And if not, well, there are so many distractions to be found in London this time of year." She stared at her hands for a moment, then leapt out of her chair in frustration. "Oh, Livy, I have never met two people more ideally suited to one another," she said with a passion that made Olivia smile. "If they could meet again, without the interference of those two harridans--or Mr. Darcy--I know they could work things out."

  Olivia smoothed the silk of her mauve gown as she thought. "I do not know Jane's Mr. Bingley," she began, "But maybe if we were to take the carriage out and look for him..."

  "There is no time to go searching for Mr. Bingley," Elizabeth cried with exasperation. "I am to leave for Hunsford the day after tomorrow!"

  "I know that, but if we limit our search to places where he might be found, or perhaps if you and Jane were to join us at the theatre tonight--." Olivia assayed, but was cut off again.

  "And drag poor Jane around town in a desperate search? No, she would never go along with such a scheme. And after all she has suffered I have not even the heart to ask her." Elizabeth pouted for a moment. "Even if we were to find Mr. Bingley, what would we say to him? How are we to persuade him? I wish there were some other way. If only there was more time." Elizabeth gracelessly plopped back into her chair.

  "Is there no way to convince Sir William to extend his stay?" Olivia asked, but she knew the answer before Elizabeth spoke. Sir William was eager to see his newly married daughter, Charlotte Collins, and it would be unfair to ask him to postpone his journey. But Olivia had not given up. She rose from the settee and reached for Elizabeth's hands. Pulling the surprised woman out of her chair she began dragging her toward the front door. "Well then," declared Olivia. "Time is of the essence. If we only have a day and a half, we had better make the most of it. And if Jane will not join us, we will have to speak with Mr. Bingley ourselves."

  "And say what?"

  "That is the beauty of my scheme. We do not have to say anything! If he loved her half as much as you say he did, the sight of you will be more than sufficient to renew Mr. Bingley's interest in Jane," Olivia asserted confidently. She cast a glance at the doubtful Elizabeth as she struggled into her coat. "Well, at least we must try!" She said airily as she led Elizabeth to her waiting carriage. As soon as the carriage pulled away from Gracechurch Street, Olivia asked, "Now where does this Mr. Bingley reside?" Elizabeth searched her memory and named the street that Jane had spoken of in her letters.

  "But what are we to do, Livy? Where are we to go? We cannot just go up to his door and beg admittance."

  "Why not? You are acquainted. It would not be at all unseemly," Olivia replied reasonably.

  "Oh, but we could not. Should not--it would be too awkward, our arriving suddenly, out of the blue. And I am certain Miss Bingley would not receive us..."

  "Tush, Lizzy. I was only kidding. I happen to know that there is a lovely park just opposite Mr. Bingley's townhouse. Would you care to take a stroll with me?" she asked with a twinkle in her eye. Elizabeth looked slightly alarmed. She was far from convinced that appearing in Mr. Bingley's neighborhood was a good idea. And should they encounter Mr. Bingley, then what? What would she say to him? Elizabeth glanced at Olivia and knew that attempting to reason with her would be pointless. Elizabeth had learned years ago not to try to dissuade Olivia Crenshaw once her mind was made up. The two ladies made small talk until the carriage reached _____ Square. They then grew silent and Elizabeth found herself looking for Mr. Bingley in spite of herself. As the carriage came to a stop, Elizabeth gasped as she spied Caroline Bingley coming down the steps of number 12 and crossing the street, headed toward the park.

  "Oh, no!" gasped Elizabeth, sitting back into a corner of the carriage, lest she be seen. "It is one of Mr. Bingley's sisters!" Olivia boldly poked her head out of the carriage window and stared at the blood red-cloaked and befeathered figure across the street where she stood talking to another lady, swathed in green velvet and fur. She saw the two women link arms and walk in a direction away from the park.

  "It is safe, now," Olivia declared, nodding at the footman, who opened the door to the carriage and handed her out.

  "Are you sure?" whispered Elizabeth, still cringing in the shadows. Olivia let out a hearty laugh.

  "Come on, then, time is wasting! Do you want to find Mr. Bingley or not?" Elizabeth slowly emerged from the carriage, blushing at the amused footman who handed her down the step. Caroline Bingley was the last person Elizabeth wanted to see. It had been Miss Bingley's fateful visit in Gracechurch Street that had destroyed all Jane's hopes of ever seeing Mr. Bingley again. No, it wouldn't do for Elizabeth to be seen by Miss Bingley.

  "She would have her brother smuggled out of London in a barrel before she would let him share a single word with another Bennet," Elizabeth murmured to herself. Olivia took Elizabeth by the hand and led her confidently int
o the park. Elizabeth would have remained rooted to the spot where she stood, otherwise.

  • • •

  "Olivia, I do not know if this is a good idea," Elizabeth said for the fourth time, as the pair strolled through the park. "Perhaps--."

  "Perhaps you should relax and enjoy yourself," countered Olivia. "It is a lovely afternoon, there is a hint of spring in the air, and the park is brimming with handsome gentlemen. One of them must be Jane's Mr. Bingley."

  "If he is here, I am sure he is safe from us in this crowd. Oh, Livy, this is a fool's errand. I am sure of it. Maybe we should just let--."

  "...Let our poor Jane suffer? Not while there is hope, Lizzy. And I am feeling very lucky today." Olivia grasped Elizabeth's arm and practically dragged her onto a wide path. The ladies were forced to slow their pace and join the throng of people out to enjoy the unexpected respite from the stormy March weather. Olivia smiled and nodded to a number of acquaintances, many of them young men, but she never stopped for more than a few seconds. She was determined to walk the length of the park and back, if necessary, to find her prey. Elizabeth, meanwhile, who had nearly given up at the sight of Miss Bingley, only half-heartedly searched the crowd. Her feet were beginning to ache and she quickly grew weary of watching fashionable ladies on parade. When Olivia stopped to speak with yet another male acquaintance, Elizabeth found herself wondering if her younger sister Lydia were not better suited to being Olivia's companion for the day. Lydia was always eager to meet men, particularly men in uniform. Sighing deeply, Elizabeth detached herself from Olivia--she wasn't interested in any more introductions to people that she would in all likelihood probably never meet again--and turned to look back the way she had come. What she saw made her heart leap to her throat.

  Mr. Darcy! A voice was screaming inside her head, but she couldn't make a sound. Mr. Darcy was the last person she expected to encounter, and the sight of him was even less welcome than the sight of Miss Bingley. Elizabeth felt dizzy, and she was certain that her head would explode from the strain of her emotions. Staring at the tall, dark figure, she reached out and gripped Olivia's arm so tightly, that Olivia cried out.

  "Are you all right, Miss Crenshaw?" asked her gentleman friend.

  "Uh...yes. Yes," Olivia replied, glaring at Elizabeth, who was not paying attention. Panicked, Elizabeth abruptly released Olivia's arm and disappeared into the crowd. Mr. Darcy was only yards away now. She could not be certain that he had not already spotted her. "I think my friend is in need of me, Colonel," Miss Crenshaw said sweetly, as she stared after Elizabeth. "Would you excuse me, sir?" Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, ever the gentleman, had seen the distressed look in the eyes of Miss Crenshaw's companion. He did not hesitate to offer his assistance.

  "May I be of service to you ladies?" he replied gallantly. As he spoke, he caught a glimpse of his cousin bearing down on him. Before she could utter a word, Mr. Darcy appeared and Olivia understood the source of Elizabeth's distress. She also knew that she had to extricate herself from these two gentlemen and find her friend.

  "Miss Crenshaw, Fitzwilliam." Mr. Darcy doffed his hat to the lady and offered the Colonel a warm handshake. Olivia was impressed at his memory. The two had been introduced only once at some social function years ago. She curtseyed in response.

  "Good afternoon, Darcy. I was just on my way to you," the Colonel said, "But as you see, I was distracted by the charming Miss Crenshaw." Olivia noticed, with some amusement, that Mr. Darcy rolled his eyes at Colonel Fitzwilliam's attempt at flattery.

  "Far be it from me, Colonel," she said archly, "To keep you from achieving your objective. I should not have thought that a decorated military officer could be so easily diverted from his mission." Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed in a way that temporarily rendered Olivia weak-kneed. Mr. Darcy, remembering another young lady's slightly irreverent sense of humor, smiled briefly. The fleeting glimpse of his dimple immediately convinced Olivia that Mr. Darcy was completely innocent of any and all of Elizabeth's accusations. Lizzy! Olivia turned suddenly and scanned the crowd. Elizabeth Bennet was nowhere in sight.

  "Oh dear, I seem to have lost my friend," she said and turned as if to depart, when she heard Colonel Fitzwilliam say, "Perhaps we should help you look for her. You will never find her alone in this crowd."

  "Oh you are too kind, Colonel," Olivia smiled. "But I could not impose." She was growing desperate. How could she have forgotten that Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam were related? No! He--they--must not help her search. Her argument was fruitless. The Colonel felt responsible. He had selfishly detained Miss Crenshaw and her friend had become bored. Miss Crenshaw's insistence that her friend's defection had nothing to do with him didn't to weaken his resolve.

  "Perhaps she had some other appointment, and suddenly remembered it," Mr. Darcy offered, although he privately considered abandoning a companion in such a manner a gross breach of etiquette.

  "Yes, yes. That must be it. I will go back to my carriage. I am sure Liz--uh, Miss Brown left word with my footman." She rushed off, the two men a short distance behind.

  "Allow us to escort you, Miss Crenshaw," said the Colonel, offering his arm. Mr. Darcy remained a pace or two behind. When they reached the carriage, Olivia held her breath and had a word with the footman, who loudly--too loudly--proclaimed that he had not seen the lady in question. Olivia's desperate plan to tell the men that her friend had left a message was dashed by the powerful lungs of her honest servant.

  "Is the lady at all familiar with the park?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked, growing concerned. "You said earlier that she was just visiting London. I would hate to think that the lady is lost and alone somewhere. We should go back into the park and make a thorough search. Are you coming Darcy? We could use an extra pair of eyes." Mr. Darcy nodded, and joined his friend. He was becoming curious about this mysterious stranger. He sidled up to Colonel Fitzwilliam and whispered, "It might help if I knew who I was looking for."

  "A lady of about Miss Crenshaw's height and coloring, wearing a dark blue coat, a russet hat and scarf, and with the most incredible brown eyes I have ever seen." He glanced sidelong at Miss Crenshaw, hoping she did not hear that last bit. Mr. Darcy stopped in his tracks and for a moment he saw the woman his cousin had described. Elizabeth Bennet. Those eyes. That smile. That damnable tendency to infuriate and beguile... "Darcy? Do you see her?" asked the Colonel. Mr. Darcy shook his head and walked on.

  • • •

  After a little while, Elizabeth reached the edge of a small pond and stopped to catch her breath. She summoned up enough courage to look back. There was no sign of Mr. Darcy. Sadly, she realized, there was no sign of Olivia either. She sat down on a bench, assuming that Olivia would finish her conversation with the gentleman and come after her. She relaxed a little, and thought about her close escape. Mr. Darcy! Here, in _____ Park! She had never expected to see him again. But why should he not be here, she asked herself. I am the one who is out of her element. She laughed to herself. I am certain Mr. Darcy would agree with me on that sentiment. It would be the first time we have ever agreed on anything! She looked around and saw a young couple, obviously very much in love, strolling arm in arm. She sighed and wondered if she would ever see such a scene between Jane and Mr. Bingley. Not if I do not get myself out of this park, she concluded, and stood to survey the terrain.

  Meanwhile, a dazed Olivia Crenshaw was anxiously searching for Elizabeth, hoping that she would not find her. All my life I have been told that men were inconstant and unreliable. Leave it to me to be saddled with the only two exceptions to the rule.

  "I am beginning to think that Lizzy was right about this," Olivia muttered to herself. Mr. Darcy's head spun around. "My friend, Miss Brown," Olivia quickly improvised, "Suggested that the park would be far too crowded today." She didn't sound convincing even to herself, but Mr. Darcy seemed satisfied. Olivia wondered at his reaction, as Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy, like two hounds on the trail of a fox, walked ahead of her, searching for the elusiv
e "Miss Brown." Olivia reluctantly trailed behind. For a moment she considered diving into the bushes and disappearing herself, but she doubted that the good Colonel would let her stay lost for more than a second.

  "There, Fitzwilliam! Is that the lady?" Mr. Darcy pointed toward an area near the pond. A stand of bushes impeded Olivia's view and she could not see over them, even standing on her toes.

  "Yes, Darcy!" said the Colonel. "That is the lady. I am sure of it." They took off across the grass to intercept Elizabeth, much to Olivia's consternation. Aha, my two faithful hounds. Let us see if you are as good at retrieving as you are at flushing out your prey. As she struggled to catch up with the two men, she tried to calm her fluttering heart and prepare a defense. What if Mr. Darcy sees Lizzy? She has every right to take a stroll with a friend in the park on a lovely afternoon, does she not? Surely, he cannot find anything wrong with that? And why should my friend not have an alias? Olivia smacked herself on the forehead and strode on.

  Elizabeth, meanwhile, was completely lost. It was growing late and the crowds had thinned considerably, but since she had paid no attention to where she was going as she fled, she had no clue as to how to get back to Olivia. She considered exiting the park and walking along its perimeter to find the carriage, but the park was much larger than she had originally thought, and Olivia was probably still somewhere inside it looking for her, not to mention the fact that Elizabeth had no idea where to find an exit.

  Perhaps I should stay put and let Olivia find me, she thought and resumed her seat on the bench. A moment later she was on her feet again; the prospect of sitting alone as dusk approached frightened her into action. She looked around and chose the most likely direction. She took a few paces and stopped. Mr. Darcy and the gentleman who had been speaking to Olivia were cresting a small hill not a hundred feet away. Elizabeth turned away and froze. She turned back again and prepared for the worst, but Mr. Darcy and the stranger had disappeared. She stared at the vacant spot for only a second then she lifted her skirts and ran.