Darcy and Elizabeth What If? Collection 3

Darcy and Elizabeth What If? Collection 3 by Jennifer Lang

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Authors: Jennifer Lang
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Colonel Fitzwilliam was also in the carriage as he had decided to pay his respects to Lady Catherine. Georgiana’s painting was neatly wrapped and it was tied to the seat.
    The two gentlemen arrived safely and then joined Lady Catherine in the drawing-room, where Georgiana’s painting was much admired.
    ‘We are in need of a fourth for cards after dinner. Anne has a headache and will not play. We will send an invitation to the parsonage for Mr Collins. He will play and his wife and guest will be company for Anne.’
    ‘It is a fine evening. I will walk down to the parsonage and deliver the invitation myself,’ said Mr Darcy.
    He was eager to see Elizabeth again, and perhaps he might find a way of letting her know what he had done.
    He could not say this to his aunt, however, and so he said, ‘After spending much of the afternoon in the carriage I would like to stretch my legs.’
    He put his greatcoat over his black tailcoat and cream breeches, and he set his hat on his head, then he walked down to the parsonage.
    He was shown in by the maid and found Mr Collins in the small sitting-room.
    ‘Mr Darcy! To what do we owe this honour?’ asked Mr Collins, jumping up and bowing three times.
    ‘My aunt would like to invite you to dine at Rosings this evening,’ said Mr Darcy.
    Mr Collins looked foolish, and Mr Darcy was surprised. Usually, any invitation to Rosings was greeted with smiles and bows. But now Mr Collins did not appear to know what to say.
    ‘We have a visitor this evening,’ said Mrs Collins in her sensible manner.
    ‘Pray, do not let that inconvenience you,’ said a voice Mr Darcy recognised.
    ‘Wickham!’ he exclaimed.
    From out of the shadows at the side of the room came Mr Wickham, smirking and holding out his hand for Mr Darcy to shake.
    ‘What are you doing here?’ asked Mr Darcy.
    ‘I was passing Rosings and I stopped at the inn for a bite to eat. I heard that Miss Elizabeth was staying at the parsonage and so I came to pay my respects, and to assure her that her family were well when I saw them a few days ago.’
    Mr Darcy had a horrible presentiment about Wickham’s real reason for his visit. Surely he could not be meaning to resume his attentions to Elizabeth?
    ‘I hope Miss King is well?’ he said pointedly.
    Wickham shook his head ruefully.
    ‘I see that a scurrilous rumour has reached you. I have never paid any attention to Miss King and I am sorry to say it was a rumour put about by Miss King herself,’ said Mr Wickham, sounding as regretful as if he were an honest man. ‘She hoped to trap me into marriage, but I had no desire to marry her, and as soon as I learnt what she was about I removed myself from the neighbourhood. My inclinations lie in a completely different direction.’
    Here he directed a look towards Elizabeth, who had just at that moment entered the room.
    She was saying, ‘Here it is. I know my aunt will be pleased to hear you remember her.’
    A letter in her hand showed that she had just gone to fetch it, and Mr Darcy caught sight of the name Gardiner . No doubt she had been intending to share some news of her aunt and uncle in London, since her aunt had lived in Mr Wickham’s neighbourhood at one time.
    She stopped on seeing Mr Darcy and looked surprised. Then she glanced at Mr Wickham.
    Mr Darcy, too, looked at George Wickham. One sight of that smirking face told him that his worst fears were realised. George Wickham’s new-found commission had given him prospects and so he no longer needed to marry an heiress.
    He means to propose to Elizabeth! thought Mr Darcy in horror.
    Wickham looked at him insolently, and he knew it to be true.
    Does she love him? thought Mr Darcy in anguish.
    He was unable to keep his gaze from moving to Elizabeth.
    He read admiration in her eyes, but he thought he could not detect any love, for which he was grateful. But if Wickham remained in the area – and there was nothing to prevent him from staying at the inn – then things

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