In the Arms of Mr. Darcy
Poems quoted by Darcy in Chapter 9:
“The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” by Christopher Marlowe, 1599
“Your Smile Stops the Minutes” by Stephen Lathan, 1986
This novel is dedicated to my husband, Steve. For over twenty-four years this amazing man has proven to me what romance and true love are. The poem that Mr. Darcy writes and recites to Elizabeth while dancing on Twelfth Night was actually written for me by my husband, at the time my fiancé, and he still quotes it from memory often while gazing into my eyes, just as he did all those years ago. Because of him, my tale of happily-ever-after is possible. Honey, I love you forever! You truly are my soulmate, my blood and bone.
Cast of Characters
Fitzwilliam Darcy: Master of Pemberley in Derbyshire: 29 years of age, born November 10, 1787; married Elizabeth Bennet on November 28, 1816
Elizabeth Darcy: Mistress of Pemberley: 22 years of age, born May 28, 1795
Alexander Darcy: Heir to Pemberley; born November 27, 1817
Georgiana Darcy: 18 years of age; companion is Mrs. Annesley
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam: 33 years of age; cousin and dear friend to Mr. Darcy; second son of Lord and Lady Matlock; regiment stationed in London
Lord Matlock: the Earl of Matlock: Darcy’s Uncle Malcolm, brother to Lady Anne Darcy; ancestral estate is Rivallain in Matlock, Derbyshire
Lady Matlock: the Countess of Matlock: Darcy’s Aunt Madeline, wife to Lord Matlock
Jonathan Fitzwilliam: Heir to the Matlock earldom, eldest Fitzwilliam son; wife is Priscilla
Lady Annabella Montgomery: sister of Richard and Jonathan Fitzwilliam
Charles Bingley: Longtime friend of Mr. Darcy; residence Hasberry Hall, Derbyshire; married Jane Bennet on November 28, 1816
Jane Bingley: elder sister of Elizabeth and eldest Bennet daughter; wife of Mr. Bingley
Caroline Bingley: sister of Charles Bingley
Louisa Hurst: married sister of Charles Bingley; husband is Mr. Arbus Hurst; residence London
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet: Elizabeth’s parents; reside at Longbourn in Hertfordshire with two middle daughters, Mary and Kitty
Mary Bennet: Elizabeth’s sister; middle Bennet daughter
Joshua Daniels: betrothed to Mary Bennet; son and partner of Mr. Darcy’s London solicitor, Andrew Daniels
Katherine (Kitty) Bennet: Elizabeth’s sister; fourth Bennet daughter
Lydia Wickham: Elizabeth’s sister; youngest Bennet daughter; married to Lieutenant George Wickham, stationed in Newcastle
Edward and Violet Gardiner: uncle and aunt of Elizabeth; reside in Cheapside, London
Dr. George Darcy: Mr. Darcy’s uncle; brother to James Darcy; resides at Pemberley
Lady Simone Fotherby: widowed Marchioness of Fotherby, Buckinghamshire
Marchioness of Warrow: Darcy’s great-aunt; sister to his grandfather
Sebastian Butler: grandson to Lady Warrow; future Earl of Essenton
Lady Catherine de Bourgh: Mr. Darcy’s aunt; sister to Lady Anne Darcy; residence Rosings Park, Kent
Anne de Bourgh: daughter of Lady Catherine; Mr. Darcy’s cousin
Dr. Raul Penaflor Aleman de Vigo: betrothed to Miss de Bourgh
Stephen Lathrop: Cambridge friend of Mr. Darcy; residence is Stonecrest Hall in Leicestershire; wife is Amelia
Henry Vernor: family friend of the Darcys; residence is Sanburl Hall near Lambton, Derbyshire; wife is Mary, daughter is Bertha
Gerald Vernor: son of Henry Vernor; childhood friend of Mr. Darcy; wife is Harriet; residence is Sanburl Hall
Albert Hughes: childhood friend of Mr. Darcy; wife is Marilyn; residence is Rymas Park near Baslow
Rory Sitwell: Derbyshire resident and Cambridge friend of Mr. Darcy; wife is Julia; residence is Reniswahl Hall near Staveley
George and Alison Fitzherbert: Derbyshire residents and friends; residence is Brashinharm near Barlow
Clifton and Chloe Drury: Derbyshire residents and friends; residence is Locknell Hall near Derby
Charlotte Collins: Longtime friend of Elizabeth’s; married to Rev. William Collins; resides at Hunsford, rectory of Rosings Park in Kent
Mrs. Reynolds: Pemberley housekeeper
Mr. Taylor: Pemberley butler
Mr. Keith: Mr. Darcy’s steward
Samuel Oliver: Mr. Darcy’s valet
Marguerite Oliver: Mrs. Darcy’s maid
Phillips, Watson, Tillson, Georges, Rothchilde: Pemberley footmen
Mr. Clark: Pemberley head groundskeeper
Mr. Thurber: Pemberley head groomsman
Mrs. Langton: Pemberley cook
Mr. Anders: Pemberley head coachman
Mr. Burr: Pemberley gamekeeper
Mr. Holmes: falconer
Mrs. Smyth: Darcy House housekeeper
Mr. Travers: Darcy House butler
Reverend Bertram: Rector of Pemberley Chapel
Mrs. Hanford: Nanny to Darcy firstborn
Chapter One
Relative Invasion
Meryton, located roughly one hundred fifty miles to the south of Pemberley in Derbyshire and nestled in the pastoral valleys of Hertfordshire, was experiencing an atypical cold spell for this winter of 1817. Snow had not yet fallen and it was warmer than the northern counties, but beyond a doubt, winter had descended with a vengeance not seen in years. Whatever the facts, weather or otherwise, none of the inhabitants of the modest manor known as Longbourn took note. All energies were either focused on preparations for the trip to Pemberley or avoiding said preparations.
Mrs. Bennet had been in a barely controlled dither since her springtime trip to Darcy House in London. She was further incited by Kitty’s gushing descriptions of Pemberley, after her daughter’s return from visiting there in August. Despite her incessant declarations to anyone listening of the great wealth that her second daughter married into, the woman of humble means had no true concept of such a life. The subdued opulence of Darcy House had amazed her, and based on the picture painted by Kitty, Pemberley promised to be vastly superior. Frankly, she was overwhelmed at the concept and her infamous nerves were on high alert—for justifiable reasons this time.
Between Mary’s wedding planning, the Christmas vacation arrangements, and his wife’s histrionics, Mr. Bennet found himself retreating to the solitude of his study more and more to evade the frenzy. He merely wanted to see his favored daughter and new grandson, enjoy the pleasure of good company, and lose himself in the library. Inconsequentials, such as fashionable clothing and haircuts, were of no interest.