Elizabeth Bennet's Excellent Adventure: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary by Regina Jeffers Page A
Authors: Regina Jeffers
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brother’s words, but the wax seal remained in place.
“Come in and permit me to make you acquainted with my family.”
As they entered the parlor, Miss Darcy shared, “My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, will accompany Darcy to Hertfordshire.”
Elizabeth responded without much enthusiasm.
“Yes, your brother spoke of a promise between the cousins regarding weddings.”
“It is my understanding the colonel will soon be required upon the American front to train new British recruits. It saddens me that my cousin will be from his family over the festive days and beyond.”
Miss Darcy’s countenance displayed the girl’s affection for the colonel.
Elizabeth observed, “If the colonel must serve England, I would think him safer upon the Canadian border than with Wellesley upon the Peninsular.”
“Yes…yes, I suppose,” Miss Darcy said on a rush. “Even so, I wish the colonel was a simple country gentleman rather than a trained soldier.”
* * *
After learning from Kitty of Lady Catherine’s calling upon the Bennet household, Miss Darcy expressed concern in private to Elizabeth as the girl departed with Mr. Bingley.
“I pray Aunt Catherine spoke to you civilly,” she whispered as Elizabeth waited with the girl for the coachman to bring Bingley’s carriage around.
“Although my experience with Her Ladyship is limited, I believe Lady Catherine speaks her opinions without prompting,” Elizabeth quipped.
She could not shake the feeling that Lady Catherine’s prediction would know fruition.
“Oh, dear,” Miss Darcy whispered anxiously. “Darcy will not be pleased with our aunt’s interference.”
The girl caught Elizabeth’s hand to press the back of it.
“Please do not hold Darcy responsible for Lady Catherine’s delusions. My brother does all he can to dissuade her.”
“I assume your brother will possess another opportunity to do exactly that,” Elizabeth said matter-of-factly. “Her Ladyship meant to press her point with Mr. Darcy.”
Miss Darcy squeezed Elizabeth’s hand a second time.
“Do not fear, Darcy will correct Aunt Catherine’s miscalculations. My brother cares very deeply for you, Miss Elizabeth. Do not discount Darcy’s resolve to make you his wife.”
Elizabeth wanted desperately to believe the girl; yet, each time she counted the reasons Mr. Darcy would choose to marry her and the reasons he would not, the second list remained three times longer than the first. If they were in love–if they openly expressed their affections, mayhap then, Elizabeth could believe Mr. Darcy might withstand the pressure of his family and Society to deny their connection. It gritted against everything holy that Elizabeth recognized the truth of many of Lady Catherine’s arguments, as well as the knowledge her rebukes to the gentleman in Kent could not be wiped from the slate recording their journey.
“Only novels bring the hero and heroine together after a bit of trouble,” she told her foolish heart as she crawled into bed that evening.
* * *
The last three days had Darcy at his wit’s end. In addition to the painstakingly slow negotiations with the stock company and two other investors, Darcy’s confrontation with Lady Catherine occurred over part of Monday evening and twice more on Tuesday. Because of the interruptions into his private affairs, Darcy had yet to retrieve the wedding ring for Elizabeth.
On Tuesday, he sent the colonel to Netherfield to assist in chaperoning Georgiana for Mrs. Hurst had yet to join her brother to serve as his hostess, as well as to smooth the feathers of Darcy’s future family for Georgiana sent an express chronicling the terrible rumors Elizabeth endured in his absence.
As Wednesday came to light, Darcy meant to be on the road to Hertfordshire.
Even that was not quick enough in Darcy’s estimation. He missed Elizabeth with an ache he could not describe to those who never knew love. Darcy planned to claim her mouth several times this evening in
“Come in and permit me to make you acquainted with my family.”
As they entered the parlor, Miss Darcy shared, “My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, will accompany Darcy to Hertfordshire.”
Elizabeth responded without much enthusiasm.
“Yes, your brother spoke of a promise between the cousins regarding weddings.”
“It is my understanding the colonel will soon be required upon the American front to train new British recruits. It saddens me that my cousin will be from his family over the festive days and beyond.”
Miss Darcy’s countenance displayed the girl’s affection for the colonel.
Elizabeth observed, “If the colonel must serve England, I would think him safer upon the Canadian border than with Wellesley upon the Peninsular.”
“Yes…yes, I suppose,” Miss Darcy said on a rush. “Even so, I wish the colonel was a simple country gentleman rather than a trained soldier.”
* * *
After learning from Kitty of Lady Catherine’s calling upon the Bennet household, Miss Darcy expressed concern in private to Elizabeth as the girl departed with Mr. Bingley.
“I pray Aunt Catherine spoke to you civilly,” she whispered as Elizabeth waited with the girl for the coachman to bring Bingley’s carriage around.
“Although my experience with Her Ladyship is limited, I believe Lady Catherine speaks her opinions without prompting,” Elizabeth quipped.
She could not shake the feeling that Lady Catherine’s prediction would know fruition.
“Oh, dear,” Miss Darcy whispered anxiously. “Darcy will not be pleased with our aunt’s interference.”
The girl caught Elizabeth’s hand to press the back of it.
“Please do not hold Darcy responsible for Lady Catherine’s delusions. My brother does all he can to dissuade her.”
“I assume your brother will possess another opportunity to do exactly that,” Elizabeth said matter-of-factly. “Her Ladyship meant to press her point with Mr. Darcy.”
Miss Darcy squeezed Elizabeth’s hand a second time.
“Do not fear, Darcy will correct Aunt Catherine’s miscalculations. My brother cares very deeply for you, Miss Elizabeth. Do not discount Darcy’s resolve to make you his wife.”
Elizabeth wanted desperately to believe the girl; yet, each time she counted the reasons Mr. Darcy would choose to marry her and the reasons he would not, the second list remained three times longer than the first. If they were in love–if they openly expressed their affections, mayhap then, Elizabeth could believe Mr. Darcy might withstand the pressure of his family and Society to deny their connection. It gritted against everything holy that Elizabeth recognized the truth of many of Lady Catherine’s arguments, as well as the knowledge her rebukes to the gentleman in Kent could not be wiped from the slate recording their journey.
“Only novels bring the hero and heroine together after a bit of trouble,” she told her foolish heart as she crawled into bed that evening.
* * *
The last three days had Darcy at his wit’s end. In addition to the painstakingly slow negotiations with the stock company and two other investors, Darcy’s confrontation with Lady Catherine occurred over part of Monday evening and twice more on Tuesday. Because of the interruptions into his private affairs, Darcy had yet to retrieve the wedding ring for Elizabeth.
On Tuesday, he sent the colonel to Netherfield to assist in chaperoning Georgiana for Mrs. Hurst had yet to join her brother to serve as his hostess, as well as to smooth the feathers of Darcy’s future family for Georgiana sent an express chronicling the terrible rumors Elizabeth endured in his absence.
As Wednesday came to light, Darcy meant to be on the road to Hertfordshire.
Even that was not quick enough in Darcy’s estimation. He missed Elizabeth with an ache he could not describe to those who never knew love. Darcy planned to claim her mouth several times this evening in
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