The Rushing Waters of Pemberley
Delightful story. Filled with highly delusional people. Mr. Bennet and Lizzy had traveled to Liverpool to check on one of his investments that was coming from the Americas. Upon leaving Liverpool, heading to Ashbourne then on to Lambton, a severe storm hits. The carriage was crossing the Dove River when the high winds and rains toppled it over the bridge’s edge. Lizzy managed to open the door and escape the carriage. The rushing waters had carried her, as well as the carriage horses, onto Pemberley lands. Hearing the horses struggling, Darcy and his tenant rescues them and then see Lizzy clinging to a tree branch. Darcy rescues her and carries her to Pemberley. Dr. Watson from Lambton arrives to care for the patient. Sets and splints her broken arm, stitches her laceration, and brings his wife who acts as his nurse to care for her. When she awakens, the Watsons realize this is their daughter’s favorite niece, Elizabeth Bennet. These are the parents for her beloved Aunt Gardiner. Letters sent requesting them to make haste to Pemberley. In the meantime, Darcy, sure of Elizabeth’s kindness and generosity, marries her to fulfill his father’s dictate that if not married by his twenty-eight birthday, his inheritance will go to Richard Fitzwilliam. Feeling as he has compromised her, and that his heart is engaged, the Watsons and Lord Matlock witness the nuptials. The Gardiners and their children along with
Mr. Phillips, Mrs. Bennet, and Jane head to Pemberley. Mrs. Bennet (delusional person # 1) makes a complete fool of herself and the brothers have her committed to an asylum. Anthony Fitzwilliam, Matlock’s heir, is worthless (delusional person # 2) comes to try to convince Darcy to give him money for his debts. Darcy refuses his cousin and when his cousin gloats that he’s going to lose his wealth anyway, Darcy tells him that he has married. Anthony conspires with Wickham (delusional person # 3) to abduct Lizzy for ransom. Bingley arrives with Caroline (delusional person # 4) and the Hursts. Kidnapping foiled, Wickham has no intention of letting Darcy’s wife live, and when he turns to shoot, he’s attacked by someone. That someone turns out to be the missing Mr. Bennet. Reunited with his favorite daughter, Mr. Bennet turns Longbourn over to Mary and her husband so that he can travel north to visit his favorite daughters, grandchildren, and his favorite library. Liked that Bingley and Louisa finally grew a backbone and team up against Caroline and sent her on her way.