Retaliation - 4
Part of the Dragons, Deceit, and Desire collection
Hi Everyone! New subscribers, you can start reading Reclamation from Chapter 1. Retaliation is a short paranormal/fantasy story to keep you happy while I finish editing Reclamation, the previous WIP draft that has taken me way too long to write and edit. I’m blaming old age for the writer’s block, failure to meet deadlines, and downright dragging of my feet.
Trigger Warning: There is violence and some sexual content in Retaliation.
The following is a WIP story with a few chapters so far. I haven’t looked at it since 2024, and I never got around to finishing it. Three years ago, I began writing short Austenesque stories inspired by dragons and love of magic, but moved on to other things.
As always, your comments and likes will be appreciated! The likes really help. ;o)
Chapter 4
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam walked into Netherfield. He gestured for the butler to lead the way. The butler led him to the drawing room, announced him, and left. Richard looked at the assembled party. Charles Bingley rose to greet him with a bow as the ladies rose and curtsied.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, this is an unexpected honor,” Bingley spoke with a quizzical look at the colonel while clasping his hand in a warm greeting. “I hope you aren’t looking for Darcy. He left us last week without any indication of where he planned to go.”
The colonel held Bingley’s hand in a tight grip. He clearly saw the truths Bingley tried to obscure with the greeting. “Did he now? His location is no mystery to our family.” The colonel spoke with an amused expression and a glance of disdain at Miss Bingley.
Richard released Bingley’s hand and continued, “This is a social call. I had business with the militia stationed here and felt it polite to pay my respects. Also, Darcy asked me to inform you that he is married and on his honeymoon trip.”
The colonel took in the group’s reactions. Caroline Bingley struggled to suppress her rage. The Hursts seemed curious. Bingley appeared surprised and blurted out, “You can’t be serious! Married already? We thought there’d be plenty of time to speak with him before...” he clamped his mouth shut.
“Before what, Bingley?” Colonel Fitzwilliam narrowed his eyes at him.
“Well, before the wedding. It was so sudden. Hardly believable. A long engagement would have been more like Darcy.” Bingley sputtered.
The colonel gritted his teeth and spoke with an inflection of steel in his voice. “You really don’t know Darcy very well if you thought it possible for him to hang about for months to be part of a society wedding. Once he found his future bride, he lost no time securing her. He took her and her father away and married her. They are quite happy. Mr. Bennet will be back any day now.”
Miss Bingley reacted to these words with a typical spiteful comment, “One wonders at the level of society any Bennet wallows in if such swift trips to the altar are necessary. How a person of her standing managed to entrap Mr. Darcy is a mystery.”
The look Richard leveled at the woman could quell enemy forces. He stepped closer to her and said, “How dare you insult Darcy, his wife, and our family in such a manner? I will point out to you that your standing is beneath that of the lowest landowner. As nothing more than a mannerless tradesman’s daughter with the tongue of a viper, it will be a miracle if you ever find a husband of any standing to wed you. Do not attribute trickery to every woman because the many snares you set for my cousin failed. Your dishonest actions and slanderous statements will bring you nothing.”
All heard the conviction in the colonel’s voice as he continued, “As compensation for your efforts to harm our family, entrance into any Darcy or Fitzwilliam home or property is withdrawn forever. If we see you anywhere, do not approach us. The Bennets are now part of Darcy’s family. Do not approach them. If we hear of any slander against our families, you will be sued for every penny of your fortune.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam turned and walked out of the room. He left the house, with an agitated Charles Bingley following behind. Once he mounted his horse, the colonel said, “Stop trying to apologize for your sister. She will ruin you all in society if you do not remove her from your side. I go to Longbourn now to pay my compliments to my new cousins.” Bingley’s mouth dropped open in surprise.
The colonel pulled himself into a stiffer posture. He looked at Bingley with disdain, “I guarantee that the welcome I get from the Bennets will be warm and sincere. They’ll ask me to sit immediately after introductions and offer me refreshments. Mrs. Bennet has a reputation as the finest hostess in the county. Think hard about the type of reputation your sister has as a hostess. Think harder about your own disloyalty to a man you claimed to honor.”
“Mrs. Bennet is vulgar, and the two youngest daughters are silly flirts. Miss Jane Bennet is beautiful, kind, intelligent, and considerate. Mary Bennet has few social skills and nothing to recommend her to a man. I doubt you will be comfortable at Longbourn,” answered an angry Bingley.
The colonel laughed aloud. “You say this after you failed to offer me a seat in your parlor or a cup of tea? The lowest soldier in my brigade would not insult me by failing to act civilly if I visited his tent. You have been paying court to the eldest daughter for two months without making your intentions known to Mr. Bennet. Instead, you stand by and allow your sister to denigrate the Bennets. I believe it is time for an honorable man to meet the beauty, one who knows how to please a woman.” Richard rode away, leaving a distraught Bingley to ponder the man’s words. Bingley stared after Colonel Fitzwilliam with a frown for a long moment. He felt a shiver run down his spine. He did not like the feeling.
Even though there was no “action” it felt like a lot happened. I love the apparent talent the Colonel had to know what Bingley wasn’t saying.
I am wondering if there is more to the handshake between Bingley and the Colonel. Great set down to Bingley and Caroline! Oh, to be a fly on the wall when the Colonel left!!!