Rake Darcy, Regency, NB, NC-17, thanks tJean for betaing. Happy reading!

Mr. Darcy looked into the mirror and yelled out loud.

“Who are you?” He turned to look at the man who stood one foot from him. How could that be possible? The man looked exactly like him, with the same tall frame, dark curly hair.

While he himself was wearing a black overcoat, matching waistcoat and breeches and pristine white shirt, the man had everything on reverse. His coat, waistcoat and breeches were alabaster white while his shirt was black. And the other differences were that this stranger had olive skin and a rakish grin.

“I am your rakish soul.” The man replied with a wink and rubbed his hand over his thigh.

“Rakish soul? I do not believe that. You must be an imposter.”

“Do I not look exactly like you, Good Darcy?”

“I do not have olive complexion.”

“Well, people normally associate rakish behaviour with black. As your blackguard, I take on the darker complexion. But you can tell my eyes, nose, mouth and voice are exactly like yours.”

“I do not have a rakish soul. I am an honourable man.” Mr. Darcy spoke with conviction.

“Ah you are wrong. Every human is born evil. Only upbringing and education prevent them to stay evil. But I can assure you, you were born with just a tiny bit of rakishness, not evil at all. You are mostly a good man, by and by.”

“You are a fake!” Or am I turning mad? I am about to attend the Meryton Assembly. Should I stay in and send for the doctor for myself?

“Do not be alarmed, Good Darcy. I appear here and now for a good reason.”

“Why?”

“To show you how to court a lady.” Rakish Darcy grinned. “And I shall be with you for a while. You can call me Rake Darcy.”

“I do not intend to court a lady, not in Hertfordshire anyway. And you cannot make fun of my surname in this manner.”

“But it is the time. You cannot fight fate. I am just part of you. Darcy is as much my surname.”

“Nonsense! I am devoted to care for Georgiana till she recovers from her heartache. Move aside.” Darcy barked out the command. “And do not follow me.”

“No one can see me, except you. And Georgiana needs a woman’s hand. It will do her good when you find her a nice sister.”

“You sounded like a match-making mama. Go away, charlatan!” Darcy walked out of the room. When he turned back, he could see his olive skin twin following him. But the servants, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Hurst did not seem to notice the imposter.

Am I truly mad? He wondered.

“Oh, Mr. Darcy, do you think we would be quite safe among the savages?” The angular voice of Miss Bingley woke him from his thought.

Darcy did not reply. He just bowed to her. But his rakish soul walked near her, pulled and clipped a long feather from her head. Her head jerked to a side and she yelled out in pain. She did not seem to see Rake Darcy either. Darcy’s mouth gaped open. He wanted to laugh but as a true gentleman, he stifled the urge.

Bowing to Miss Bingley quickly again, he pulled Bingley aside.

“Bingley, can we go in separate carriages?”

Bingley looked at his sister, who was stomping her feet and swearing to herself, trying to tidy the unruly feathers. He nodded and asked Mr. Darcy to go ahead with his carriage, while the Hursts and he waited for Caroline. Miss Bingley tried to protest but she was muffled by Rake Darcy.

Mr. Darcy turned a blind eye and settled in the carriage with trepidation. Does my mind truly turn crazy?

“No, you are not mad. And Orange Lady’s feathers are ugly!” Rake Darcy suddenly appeared in front of him, after the carriage was on its way for about two minutes.

Darcy’s heart startled. He folded his arm and said angrily. “She is my best friend’s sister. You should not play tricks on her.”

“Buh! She is a bad influence! You will be a snobbish jerk if you associate with her more often.”

“No one can influence me. I am master of my own self.”

“Master my ass! Let me watch your behaviour tonight and I shall know how to label you.”

Rake Darcy looked out of the window, exclaiming at the lovely scenery, the bright moon and the fresh air. He was excited like a five year old boy on his first picnic.

Mr. Darcy gritted his teeth, refusing to talk to Rake. I do not behave like this. He has no dignity or manners.

When the carriage pulled up in front of the Assembly, Darcy panicked. He should have waited for Bingley. He did not know anyone there. He did not want to go into the hall all alone. People would surely size him up and down, assessing his wealth.

“Come on! There are lively music and merry ladies inside.” Rake Darcy pushed the reluctant Mr. Darcy forward.

The Assembly suddenly became silent. Darcy flustered. He had never “stumbled” into a gathering in such an inelegant manner.

An elderly gentleman came forward and greeted him.

“Sir William Lucas here. Welcome to our Assembly. I did not have the good fortune of making your acquaintance.”

Mr. Darcy bowed, with more dignity this time. “Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley. I am a guest of Mr. Bingley. He is delayed for a few moments.”

“Capital! Capital! Mr. Bingley mentioned you would be joining him.”

While Sir William was asking him about his journey to Hertfordshire, he caught Rake Darcy skipping around the room, clipping more feathers from  ladies’ hats and then stopped …right in front of three women.

Sir William followed the direction of Darcy’s eyes and said jovially. “Oh, may I introduce you to Mrs. Bennet and her daughters?”

“Umh…” Darcy stammered as he saw Rake lowering his mouth to the earlobe of one of the younger ladies. She was extremely pretty, with blond hair, serene countenance and a sweet smile. She did not notice she was inches from being kissed.

He gave his rakish soul a glare and walked to the party quickly. Stop, Rake! How could you do such a thing here?

“…delighted to make your acquaintance.” The sound of a high pitch voice startled him. Sir William had introduced him to the older lady.

Darcy could feel sweat perspiring from his brows. He was too busy thinking how to stop Rake that he ignored the women’s greeting.

“Do you like to dance, Mr. Darcy?” Mrs. Bennet looked annoyed. She tilted her head to the direction of the blond lady.

Seeing that Rake Darcy was circulating around the blond lady, ogling her in every direction, he closed his eyes for a second and decided that a dance would be good. At least he hoped to draw his scoundrel twin away from the handsome woman, if Rake was really here to observe him court a lady.

He turned to the other younger lady and bowed. “Would you do me the honour of dancing with me?”

Mrs. Bennet frowned and murmured. “But surely you would like to dance with Jane first. She is prettier than Elizabeth…”

Darcy looked at Elizabeth Bennet for the first time. She was slightly shorter than Jane but she had a more womanly figure. While Jane had angelic feature, Elizabeth had dark curly hair and mischievous eyes. Pretty in her own way, she was truly less handsome than Jane.

It shall be a torture. She probably has no wit. Darcy tightened his jaw.

But seeing Rake Darcy’s boorish behaviour with Jane, Darcy put out his hand decidedly.

Elizabeth put her hand on his and followed him out to the dance floor.

He felt a sudden thrill in his body when she touched his hand. As they walked to the dance floor, he had to admit she at least had good manners.

Uneasy with strangers, he remained silent. His eyes drifted off to search for his olive twin, wanting to know if Rake had followed him to the dance floor.

“Did you regret your decision?” The voice of his partner startled him. At least she has a lively voice.

“What decision?” Darcy frowned, turning his attention more to his dance partner.  

“For asking me to dance, instead of my sister.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Your eyes seem to be turning to her direction than concentrating on our dance.”

“I want to see if my friend Mr. Bingley has arrived.”

“I see you are not familiar with our neighbourhood. The entrance to the Assembly is that way, not where Jane is standing.” She arched her eyebrow. Her mouth curled up slightly on the right. What a fine pair of eyes! Dark and sparkling when she flirts. And the lush cherry lips! He drew in a deep breath. She smells like fresh lavender, mother’s favourite fragrance.

“Caught on the spot, Good Darcy? It is an unforgivable offense to neglect your dance partner, especially one so lovely.” Rake Darcy’s sneering voice startled him. The devilish man was standing right behind Elizabeth, mimicking her dance steps.

Darcy stared down at his rakish soul and bid Rake to desist with his eyes. His dance partner crocked her head and looked at him strangely. He bit his lips, reframed from bursting out the scathing words he wanted to tell Rake.

Moving towards the end of the dancing line, Darcy’s hands were touching Elizabeth’s in one of the dance moves. Suddenly Rake walked closer to her, wrapped his dark hands around her waist from behind, smoothed the way up the front of the dress and cupped her gorgeous bosom.

Darcy stopped dead. His eyes nearly popped out. Such a great pair of creamy mounds! His body boiled as he felt the sensation in his hands. How can that be? When Rake caresses the lady, I feel the tingle?

Elizabeth stood still in front of him. Shivered, her long eye lashes blinked quickly. Then she closed her eyes for a moment and leaned her head back to Rake.

Darcy was outrageous. He could not allow Rake to ravish Elizabeth on the dance floor. A commotion startled him. It seemed the Bingley’s party had finally arrived. A loud voice was speaking and the people in the Assembly turned their attention to their new neighbours.

Darcy used this opportunity and pulled Elizabeth out to the balcony. Rake’s devilish smile stopped as he was separated from them. He yelled out after the pair. “Hey, Good Darcy, where are you taking her? Her breasts are firm and bouncy. I want to have a good taste of them.”

Upon hearing such an outrageous demand, Darcy closed his eyes for a second and then picked up his pace. Once Elizabeth and he were outside, the night air cooled his heated body. Under the bright light of a full moon, his eyes fell on his dance partner again. Elizabeth’s shimmering yellow gown glowed, making her look like a golden goddess.

She was breathing heavily. Her chest was moving up and down. The cool air made her nipples stand up, pushing against the thin muslin. Darcy suddenly had the urge to follow Rake’s words and suckle her hard. But he mastered just enough self control to resist those thoughts.

“What happened?” She whispered. Her husky sounding voice helped to forestall his ungentlemanly thoughts.

Darcy nervously brushed his hair with his hand and turned to look up at the sky. “It is too hot inside.”

“You do not want to greet your friends?”

“Miss Binlgey is not my favourite person.” After the words came out, he clamped his mouth shut. It is Rake! He is a bad influence.

“She intends to snare you?”

“How did you know?”

“You immediately escaped out here when I heard her ask where you were.”

“Did she indeed?”

She nodded. “Rather loudly.”

“It is unfortunate that Bingley has such a sister.” What has happened to me? I am confiding in  a stranger most unkind thoughts about Miss Bingley.

“I have three rather silly younger sisters too. We cannot choose our relations. What about you?”

Darcy’s countenance turned grave. “I have a younger sister, 12 years my junior. Georgiana used to be cheery and lively. But a misadventure this summer has changed her.” Why did I confide in her, rather than Bingley? Perhaps the appearance of Rake Darcy has shaken me up.

“I am sorry to hear about it. Did you not want her to be here with you?” She asked softly.

Her compassionate expression urged him on. “I blame myself for her misadventure. My aunt and uncle thought my self-berating mood was not helpful to Georgiana’s recovery. So they took her in for the time being while I traveled here to visit Mr. Bingley.”

“And you miss her.”

He nodded. “Our mother died when Georgiana was two. I love my sister dearly.”

“And your father?”

“He died five years ago.”

“You miss your father’s guidance and your mother’s gentleness.”

He nodded again. How can she understand so much about me?

“You have very soulful eyes. I can see that your parents were very dear to you and still mean a lot to you even now.”

Looking straight into her tender gaze, Darcy suddenly felt a sense of belonging. He felt like going home, sharing life’s ups and downs with someone who understood him, even without words. He started pouring out the sense of disappointment, anger and betrayal towards his childhood friend George Wickham, without disclosing Georgiana’s failed elopement.

“I sometimes think that all humanity is born evil.” Elizabeth touched his hand to comfort him. “Only good breeding and education prevent them from staying evil. It is tragic that Mr. Wickham did not take advantage of the excellent opportunity your family had provided him.”

She said exactly the same thing as Rake! How can that be?

She turned her face to the sky and said with more a cheerful voice. “But then I remember our Lord. He provides us with guidance and good examples. I am happy to say that I know more good people than bad…but… you must take into account that I only dine with four and twenty families regularly.”  

Darcy smiled at her jest. Do I know more virtuous than vile souls? Indeed I do. Will I be able to forgive Wickham? Perhaps, one day.

But in the meantime, there was a beautiful lady with sense and sensitivity, standing before him with glittering eyes. She was very worthy of his attention. He brushed a wayward curl behind her ear and whispered, “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would you do me the honour of dancing with me?”

“Another dance? Are you sure you know what you are getting into?” She arched her eyes, but not taking his hand.

He nodded. “I know you have three silly sisters.”

“And a match-making mother.” She smiled.

“I often meet many  of them in London society.” He returned her smile.

“My aunt and uncle live in Cheapside.” She put her hand in his.

“The late great grandfather of Mr. Bingley lived not far from there too.” He squeezed her soft hand and put it on the crook of his arm. They walked back to the hall, chatting eagerly.

That night, unknown to the good people of Hertfordshire, they were treated to the rare smile and laugh of Mr. Darcy.
Miss Bingley nearly fainted on seeing him take Elizabeth Bennet to the floor for the third set of dances.

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And where is Rake Darcy? Will Darcy and Elizabeth, the two good souls, have a smooth journey to happiness? That can be left for another story, another time.

The End