Searching for Pemberley

Geoff was absolutely captivated by Sadie. When she asked him what it was like to work for the Foreign Legion, he answered in typical Geoff fashion: “I have not offered my services to the Foreign Legion. I am, however, a civil servant of the British Government working in the Foreign Office, and I would be more than happy to explain the differences to you.”

Having the party with an open bar turned out to be a stroke of genius. By the end of the evening, everyone was toasting the Crowells’ health, and some broke into an unintelligible “Knees Up Mother Brown,” a popular WWII song in Britain.

I danced until I could no longer keep my shoes on, and it was nearly 1:00 when the lead singer announced that there would be one more dance. We had requested “Always.” It was that song that Michael and I had been dancing to when we had fallen in love at Montclair. Everyone looked for their best girl or guy. Patrick danced cheek to cheek with Anna while Bobby and Teresa kept some space between them because Mamie was watching their every move.

As Michael and I danced, I thought about the long journey that I had traveled to arrive at this place and the people I had met along the way. With the exception of my family, it was Jack and Beth who had the greatest impact on my life, and I was looking forward to becoming a part of their family. In order to do that, I had to leave behind family and friends and the town that had helped to shape the person I had become. It was my intention to take with me the best of all those whom I had known and loved. But the next part of my life’s journey lay in England with Michael.

Of all those whom I needed to thank, there was one person who was not there. I owed a debt of gratitude to Jane Austen and her tale of two lovers. After all, it was Jane who had led me to Michael.

The End

Mr. Bennet (Mr. Garrison)— A gentleman farmer and the father of five daughters. Because of an entail placed on the estate, Longbourn will be inherited by his closest male relative, the Rev. William Collins. Elizabeth, his second oldest daughter, is his favorite.

Mrs. Bennet (Mrs. Garrison)— Acutely aware that her husband’s death will mean that the family will have to vacate Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet becomes obsessed with marrying her daughters off to the first eligible bachelor. A silly woman, her interference proves embarrassing at best, and in the case of her daughter, Jane, and the eligible and wealthy Mr. Bingley, nearly fatal.

Jane Bennet (Jane Garrison Bingham)— The eldest Bennet daughter and the prettiest. A kind, sweet creature, she is agreeable in every situation and sees good in everyone. This results in her misjudging Charles Bingley’s sisters, who are determined to keep her away from their brother, Charles. She is viewed as the family’s savior because she is the one most likely to make an advantageous marriage.

Elizabeth Bennet (Elizabeth Garrison Lacey)— An attractive, intelligent, and witty young woman. Despite her precarious situation because of the entail, “Lizzy” is determined not to marry unless she falls in love. Offended by Mr. Darcy’s rude behavior when he first comes to Meryton, she refuses his offer of marriage when he tells her he has had to put aside his own objections to marrying her because of her inferior position in society. However, when she later meets Darcy at Pemberley, his estate in Derbyshire, she recognizes he has changed and is now a man worthy of her love.

Mary Bennet (Mary Garrison)— The middle daughter, a sanctimonious scold, who thinks she is morally superior to everyone around her.

Kitty Bennet (Celia Stanton Garrison)— An empty-headed girl of seventeen, who follows her younger sister, Lydia, in her pursuit of a good time, which includes flirting with the officers quartered near Meryton.

Lydia Bennet (Lucy Garrison Waggoner Edwards)— The black sheep of the family. This sixteen-year-old flirt runs away with the cad, Mr. Wickham. This action has the potential to harm the marriage prospects of her four sisters because no respectable man would want to have anything to do with the Bennet family. Lydia is rescued by Mr. Darcy, who arranges for her marriage and purchases an army commission for Wickham.

Henry Bennet [1] These characters do not appear in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. (Henry Garrison)— The Bennets’ only son, who died when he was twelve. Without a male heir, the Bennet estate will be entailed away to the benefit of Mr. Collins because it cannot be inherited by a female.

Caroline Bingley and Louisa Hurst (Caroline Bingham Upton and Louisa Bingham Ashurst)— Charles’s conniving sisters, who attempt to sabotage Jane and Charles’s romance. Caroline wants to get her brother back to London as quickly as possible because she has noticed that his friend, Mr. Darcy, is attracted to Elizabeth Bennet, and she wants Darcy for herself.

Charles Bingley (Charles Bingham)— Darcy’s friend, whose family made their fortune in trade. Although he holds an inferior position in society to Darcy, his amiability wins him many friends and the love of Jane Bennet. He is convinced by his sisters and friend that Jane is not in love with him.

George Bingham [2] These characters do not appear in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice . —Charles’s eldest brother and the head of the large Bingham family. His success in business is the source of the family’s wealth. As a result, he exerts a strong influence on all of his siblings. Richard and James Bingham are also Charles’s older brothers.

Mr. William Collins (William Chatterton) —Described as one of literature’s greatest bores, he is to inherit the Bennet estate upon Mr. Bennet’s death. Supremely obnoxious, he goes to Longbourn with the intention of marrying one of the Bennet daughters. After he is told that Jane will shortly be engaged, he turns his attention to Lizzy, who finds him to be ridiculous. Over the objections of her hysterical mother, she refuses his offer of marriage. He quickly recovers and proposes to Lizzy’s closest friend, Charlotte Lucas.

Fitzwilliam Darcy (William Lacey) —Born to privilege and status, this wealthy son of the landed gentry offends Elizabeth when they first meet at an assembly in Meryton because he believes himself to be superior to everyone there. It is only when Lizzy rejects his offer of marriage that he takes a long hard look at his actions and realizes he did not behave like a gentleman. A chastened Darcy renews his attentions to Lizzy, resolves Lydia and Wickham’s problem, and informs his friend, Charles Bingley, that he was wrong about Jane Bennet and that they should marry. Lizzy recognizes the changes in Mr. Darcy and accepts his second proposal.

Georgiana Darcy (Georgiana Lacey) —The much younger sister of Mr. Darcy, who becomes the target of George Wickham in his effort to secure her fortune, but Darcy was able to prevent an elopement.

Anne de Bourgh (Anne Desmet)— The sickly daughter of Lady Catherine, who is supposed to marry Mr. Darcy because it was the wish of both their mothers.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Lady Sylvia Desmet) —Mr. Darcy’s overbearing aristocratic aunt, who interferes in everyone’s affairs. When she learns her nephew is possibly engaged to Elizabeth Bennet, she hops in her carriage and heads for Longbourn with the intention of preventing such an ill-advised proposal.

Col. Fitzwilliam (Col. Alexander Devereaux)— Mr. Darcy’s cousin and the younger son of an earl. Elizabeth is mildly attracted to him, but because he must marry a woman of fortune, nothing can come of it.