A Twist of Fate Read online

  A Twist of Fate is a work of fiction. All characters are either from the author’s imagination, or from Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice.

  No part of this book may be reproduced without prior permission.

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  © Copyright January, 2017 by Brenda J. Webb

  All rights are reserved.

  First Edition: January, 2017

  Cover design by Roseanna White Designs

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  A Twist Of Fate

  To all who love to read Jane Austen fan fiction what-if stories. | Without your support and encouragement, | I would not be writing and publishing books.

  Fitzwilliam Darcy An Honourable Man | Mr. Darcy’s Forbidden Love | Darcy and Elizabeth – A Most Unlikely Couple | Darcy and Elizabeth – A Promise Kept | Passages – A Pemberley Tale

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  Dedication

  Other Books by Brenda J. Webb

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Dedication

  To all who love to read Jane Austen fan fiction what-if stories.

  Without your support and encouragement,

  I would not be writing and publishing books.

  Other Books by Brenda J. Webb

  Fitzwilliam Darcy An Honourable Man

  Mr. Darcy’s Forbidden Love

  Darcy and Elizabeth – A Most Unlikely Couple

  Darcy and Elizabeth – A Promise Kept

  Passages – A Pemberley Tale

  Chapter 1

  LONDON

  December 22, 1814

  With Christmas only days away, Blaylock’s Shop was abuzz with customers all vying to purchase something unique from an eclectic mix of books, antiques jewellery and just about anything under the sun that had been gently used. A place where the elite of the ton would never be seen, it especially appealed to the lower classes with a few farthings to spend. Today the shop was so crowded that Jane could barely hear her sister speak over the pandemonium as they waited behind other customers to approach the proprietor.

  “Oh, Lizzy, please do not sell Grandmother Bennet’s combs. You know it was her dying wish that you have them. Besides the fact that they are the only thing of value you have left, the pearls look so pretty in your dark hair. It would be such a shame never to see you wear them again.”

  Elizabeth Bennet smiled. “Jane, be reasonable. Even if we were invited to a soirée where I could wear them, which will not happen, we no longer have decent gowns for any occasion. I cannot justify keeping something so extravagant when we need the funds so much more, and my salary has not proved sufficient to buy what we need for Christmas. The combs will be put to a much better use securing a goose for Christmas dinner and if we are fortunate, a doll for Susan.”

  Left unsaid was she hoped to use part of what they received to pay for a physician to examine Jane. Instead of responding to the usual remedies, her sister’s ever-present cough had grown worse.

  Jane sighed at the mention of Lydia’s child—the daughter she had had with Wickham without the benefit of marriage. Though Susan was old enough to be walking, a deformed foot made it almost impossible.

  “I understand why you think as you do, but you have already sacrificed everything you possessed worth selling. And every time I think of you working as a caregiver for the mother of that horrible Lord Bascomb—he of the straying hands—I get sick to my stomach.”

  A fleeting look of despair crossed Elizabeth’s face but just as quickly vanished. “It is not that terrible . . . truly. She is kind, and I just have to make certain I am never alone with her son. Besides, since I work from late evening until morning, it gives me time to help you during the day.”

  “In my estimation, that is the worst time to work for Lord Bascomb. With the draughts you said she is given, he can be assured his mother will sleep soundly whilst you are there. He could always slip inside and—”

  “Jane, please do not think of such things. I am fortunate to have a position.”

  Jane’s countenance fell. “I should be working, too.”

  “Do not berate yourself. You would still be working had you not developed that awful cough. And, just so you know, part of what we get for the combs will go towards a physician to treat it.”

  “We should not waste money on something so trivial. My cough will clear up as soon as warm weather arrives.”

  As if to support her sister’s worry, Jane began to cough into a handkerchief she pulled from a pocket of her skirt.

  Once the coughing ceased, Elizabeth said, “I will hear no more on the subject.”

  Knowing there was no changing Lizzy’s mind once she decided on a course of action, Jane remained silent. Besides, by then they were almost to the counter where a short, stocky, balding man was peering over his glasses, smiling as they approached.

  Horace Blaylock was very familiar with the Bennet girls and had a soft spot where they were concerned. Edward Gardiner had been his neighbour in the warehouse district since he opened his own business. Quickly becoming fast friends, Gardiner had shared his grief when the girls’ father died of a heart ailment in the summer of 1812, bemoaning the fact that the estate was entailed to the male line. This meant Mr. Bennet’s family was left homeless when a cousin took possession of Longbourn. Consequently, Gardiner had rented a small cottage on a property not far from his own residence on Gracechurch Street for his sister and nieces. Nonetheless, with four children of his own, Edward had confided that the rent was taking a toll on his finances, and he was finding it hard to keep food on his table and theirs.

  As far as Blaylock knew, the eldest daughters were still working as companions, though on occasion they resorted to selling items from their former life to pay their bills. And he did his part in assisting them by paying the best possible price for whatever they had to offer, even if it meant he made very little on the transaction.

  “Have you something to sell, Miss Elizabeth?” Blaylock asked, knowing the younger sister would be the one with whom he would have to bargain.

  “We have,” Elizabeth replied cheerily.

  Without ado, Mr. Blaylock called over his shoulder to his wife. “My dear, I shall be in the office a short while!”

  With his wife’s nod, he led the way through a door behind the counter with Elizabeth and Jane right on his heels. The room was not much bigger than a large closet with a single chair and a desk piled high with papers. Next to the walls, boxes were stacked high, and there was little room to manoeuvre as he motioned for them to enter.

  As soon as they were all inside, Elizabeth held out a small velvet bag. Taking it, Mr. Blaylock emptied the contents upon his desk and began to examine the pearl, onyx and gold creations. Then he reached for the spectacles he used to examine jewellery to study both combs more thoroughly. When he was done with his inspection, he looked up, meeting the expectant faces of the young ladies.

  “Extraordinary! I have never seen more beautiful combs.”

  “They were a present from my grandmother,” Elizabeth ventured proudly. “And I have rarely worn them.”

  “If I price them honestly, however, I doubt that most of my customers would be able to purchase such lovely pieces, even at a bargain price,” Blaylock said. “New in a jeweller’s shop they would sell for upwards of fifty pounds, and in good conscience, I could not offer to sell them for less than twenty.”

  The Bennet girls gasped. They had not dreamed of reaping more than a few pounds for the pair.

  “But you must help us, Mr. Blaylock,” Elizabeth insisted. “The jewellers merely dism
issed us when we enquired about selling them there.”

  “They looked at us as though we had stolen our own possessions,” Jane added resentfully.

  “You are our only hope!” Elizabeth declared dramatically.

  “I do have one customer, a colonel, who wishes me to find a present for his sister. He could well afford them, but he is a bit thrifty when it comes to spending his money. And, in truth, I cannot pay you a fraction of their worth before the sale.”

  “May I make a suggestion?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Of course.”

  “We could agree to leave them here on consignment, just as we did the silver candelabrum. If you manage to sell them, you may keep half of what you get. Hopefully, they will sell quickly for we wish to purchase a few things for Christmas.”

  “Keeping half of the profit would be unfair to you.”

  “Sir, we suspect you have made very little on the items you have sold for us already,” Jane said. “If we can be a blessing to you and Mrs. Blaylock at this joyful season, we shall be pleased to do so.”

  Trying to keep the tears that quickly filled his eyes from spilling, Blaylock nodded. “If that is your wish, I shall see if I can persuade the colonel to buy them.”

  Elizabeth reached to take his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you.”

  GRACECHURCH STREET

  About the same time

  As Fitzwilliam Darcy’s carriage painstakingly threaded its way through the throng of vehicles on market row, his temper began to flare.

  “I do not know how I let you talk me into coming here, Richard! This place is madness at this time of year, and you know how I hate crowds. Besides, it is beginning to snow again.”

  “Oh, stop complaining, Cousin! Those flakes are so small you can barely see them. And, did I not rescue you from having to dance with Lady Harwood’s ugly daughter at Mother’s ball?”

  “If you consider spilling wine down the front of my shirt a form of rescue, then yes.”

  “Do not be so cynical! It was all I could think to do when you gave me your customary save me look! And, I might add that it worked.”

  “I refuse to honour that with a reply.”

  “Suit yourself! It will not kill you to walk into Blaylock’s with me. That man is a genius at finding fine wares for very little money. Since I do not have your fortune, it is the only way I can afford decent Christmas gifts for all of my family. Besides, you might learn a thing or two about thrifty shopping if you pay attention.”

  “I do not care to know any more than I do at present about shopping. Now, tell me. Who have you waited this long to purchase a gift for?”

  “Alicia. You know how particular my sister can be, and to this day I have not been able to find anything I believe will impress her. If she is not impressed, I will never hear the end of it.”

  “I hope she is impressed with a new parasol, for I am not exchanging my gift for something else.”

  “Oh, she will admire anything you give her; it is me that she likes to confound.” Just then the carriage pulled to a complete stop behind a long line of vehicles. “Come, Darcy! Let us walk the rest of the way. It will be faster, and we can have the driver take the carriage to the end of the street.”

  Before William could answer, Richard was on the pavement giving orders to the driver. As soon as William joined him, the colonel began walking quickly in the direction of a small shop on the corner. Once they arrived at Blaylock’s door, the throng waiting outside to enter made William throw up his hands.

  “We will never get in there today! Let us return tomorrow.”

  “Follow me.”

  Richard proceeded around the side of the shop and stopped at a door that was obviously used very little. Standing on his toes, he looked over the people who were pressed into that corner of the store, and spying a familiar face, he smiled and waved. In a short while, a thin, weathered, grey-haired woman had threaded her way through the crowd and was opening the door.

  “I was wondering if you were still coming today, Colonel!”

  “I had no choice, Mrs. Blaylock. Your husband is my last chance to impress my sister, and he promised to find something outstanding for her.”

  “I think Horace may have. I know he put aside a pair of earrings, and I just saw two young ladies accompany him into the office who always have nice items to sell. If they brought him something appropriate, I am certain he is holding it for your inspection as well.”

  “That would be a godsend.”

  “Stay right here, and I will tell him you have arrived.”

  Watching as Mrs. Blaylock approached the door to the office, both men were as surprised as she when it opened abruptly and Elizabeth and Jane Bennet emerged with her husband. While neither young woman looked in their direction, William recognised the one person who still captivated him and his heart began to beat frantically.

  “Is that not the Miss Bennets, Darcy?” Spellbound, William could not form a reply. “I am no expert on such things, but from all appearances, they must have fallen on hard times.” Realising that his cousin had not answered, Richard turned to see his pained expression. “I say, Cousin. Are you well?”

  William’s gaze dropped to the floor. “I . . . I am. It is just disturbing to see Eliz . . . Miss Elizabeth appearing so—”

  “Downtrodden? I agree. I thought you told me she married that Lucas fellow and settled in Meryton. He may not be a member of the ton, but he is certainly far from impoverished . . . or he was.”

  “From what Bingley said, that was my understanding.”

  Richard shook his head. “One has to wonder what could have happened to bring about so drastic a change to their circumstances.”

  Suddenly, Horace Blaylock was waving them forward. “Colonel Fitzwilliam, come into my office. I have some things I think you may like.”

  “LIZZY, IS THAT NOT Mr. Darcy?” Jane whispered as they walked out of Mr. Blaylock’s office.

  “Where?” Elizabeth said, struggling to push her wayward hair back under her bonnet whilst glancing around the shop.

  “To the left, by the door that is always kept locked.”

  Elizabeth tried to remain inconspicuous as she allowed only her eyes to gaze in that direction. The instant she ascertained it was indeed Fitzwilliam Darcy, she pulled her bonnet further down over her forehead. Grabbing Jane’s hand, she practically pulled her sister through the crowd and out the front door where the wind was now swirling the snow in circles.

  Once on the pavement, Jane said, “My word! One would think you were afraid to speak to him. I thought after you learned Mr. Wickham was the one who lied, you would have forgiven poor Mr. Darcy.”

  “I . . . I have forgiven him. And I readily admit everything he said about our family and Mr. Wickham was true, but that does not mean I wish to see him revel in being correct. He looked down his nose at our relations in Cheapside as it was. What would he think if he knew you and I resided there now? No. If I can avoid it, I never wish to be in Mr. Darcy’s company again.”

  “He never impressed me as the kind to revel in another’s misfortune, and I do not think it could hurt to speak to him. Caroline Bingley said Mr. Darcy has never married. Perhaps he still regrets you.”

  “How many times must I ask you not to speak to that woman? Caroline Bingley has no concern for us. She only wishes to gloat over how far we have fallen.”

  “You know full well that I did not seek her out. I encountered her in the park when I took our cousins there to play. I could not ignore her.”

  “I can only imagine how it brightens her day to hear we are in service, not to mention that we live in Cheapside.” Then Elizabeth smiled wryly. “My only consolation is the fact that she will be a spinster, too, simply because she had the cheek to think Mr. Darcy would finally come to his senses and offer for her.”

  “Lizzy! You are too hard on Caroline.”

  “And you, my dear sister, are too kind. She is the very reason Mr. Bingley now resides in Essex.”

&n
bsp; Seeing an expression of pain cross her sister’s face, Elizabeth immediately regretted her words. Still, before she could apologise, Jane said, “Mr. Bingley is a grown man with a mind of his own. He is responsible for his own actions.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “Let us not argue about something that no longer matters. Come! We must walk fast if we are to return to Uncle’s warehouse by the time he is ready to leave. He promised to take me directly to Lord Bascomb’s house, and heaven knows I dare not be late.”

  IN BLAYLOCK’S OFFICE

  “So, Colonel, you prefer the pearl and onyx combs over the pearl earrings?”

  “They are equally beautiful. How much are they?”

  “The earrings are ten pounds, and the combs are twenty.”

  Richard almost choked. “Twenty pounds! I could purchase brand new combs for that.”

  “I suppose you could, but these were passed down through several generations. I know the seller, and she took excellent care of them after her grandmother gifted them to her. I was told they were seldom used.”

  When Richard did not reply, the shopkeeper held the combs up to the light, turning them first one way and then another. “See their lustrous patina and how they glow when the light strikes them? If your sister has dark hair, the pearls will look like stars in a night sky.”

  “Since when did you become a poet, Blaylock?” Richard teased, making the shopkeeper look sheepish.

  “May I ask a question?” William interrupted. At the proprietor’s nod, he added, “I happened to notice some old acquaintances of ours, the Miss Bennets, were in your office just now. Did either of these items belong to them?”

  Blaylock’s brows furrowed. “I keep my clients’ business private.”

  “I do not mean to pry,” William said. “To be honest, after seeing their . . . pardon me . . . their attire, I am concerned for their wellbeing. I was under the impression that Miss Elizabeth Bennet had married well and was living in Meryton. But, seeing her today—”