Elizabeth Bennet's Excellent Adventure: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary by Regina Jeffers Page B
Authors: Regina Jeffers
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anticipation of their exchange of vows on the morrow.
“Will there be anything else, Mr. Darcy?” the jeweler asked with a ready smile.
After examining the many sketches the jeweler showed him, Darcy studied the pieces upon a black velvet cloth. The craftsman knew his art: all were exquisite. At length, his eyes fell upon a simple, but elegant design incorporating an alternate row of topaz and creamy brown stones he did not recognize.
“Diamonds?” he asked as his finger traced the cut of the unusual stones.
“Yes, Sir. I purchased a handful of what the darkie called “cacao.’ ‘Like me,’ he bragged.”
Darcy flinched with the caustic remark, and his opinion of the jeweler’s assistant lessened; even so, he kept his objections to himself. Rundell and Bridge held a reputation for excellence, and although Darcy recognized the prejudice following many from other lands, he knew his voice was in the minority. However, he would place a private word with the man’s employer regarding the impropriety of the assistant’s speech.
“I was uncertain whether anyone would think the stones worthy,” the craftsman said as he nudged his assistant to the side, “but I find the cream of the stones play well with the golden tones of the metal and the topaz. Do you not agree?”
“The piece is perfection,” Darcy murmured. “It reminds me of the cinnamon umber of my betrothed’s eyes.”
Thankfully, the jeweler did not pounce upon Darcy’s comment. The man waited for Darcy’s decision.
“Wrap it separately,” Darcy instructed.
“Certainly, Sir,” the man said with a deep sigh of satisfaction.
Darcy glanced up to note his carriage moving slowly past the shop. Customarily, his coachman would walk the team up and down the street in preparation for a journey. Keeping the horses warm meant fewer injuries than permitting them to stand for long periods.
With a look to his watch, Darcy hoped to be in the confines of his coach and on his way to Elizabeth within minutes.
Unfortunately, that wish was not meant to be. The jeweler insisted on tightening two prongs upon the necklace’s setting before wrapping the gift. If Darcy’s heart was not set upon seeing the delight upon Elizabeth’s face when he presented her the necklace, he would abandon the item to another day; but Darcy hoped to observe Elizabeth wearing it upon their wedding night: the necklace and little else.
In time, he secured both the ring and the necklace in an inside pocket of his jacket and stepped into the early afternoon shadows on what should be a busy street, but what was quite deserted except for the occasional street urchin and a house mistress. Darcy looked up and down Ludgate for his coach. A quick glance to his timepiece explained the abandonment of the street. It was well past time for the midday meal. He would be fortunate to reach Netherfield before the supper hour.
Another glance brought no sight of his carriage, and a frown claimed Darcy’s forehead. If thoughts of the urgency of reaching Elizabeth’s door did not distract him so, he might have taken note of the four men slowly surrounding him.
It was only when he heard the clicks of the two guns pressing into his back did Darcy recognize the danger the day held.
“You’ll come with us,” a menacing voice announced.
Darcy stiffened, but he kept his wits about him.
“If it is my purse you desire,” he said evenly. “I will hand it over without a fuss.”
“It be not yer purse Mr. Sloane requires,” the group’s spokesman announced.
“I assure you,” Darcy said, keeping his eyes upon the street in hopes of assistance, “I hold no one named Sloane in acquaintance.”
“That be not my concern.”
The man nudged Darcy in the side with the gun.
“Step betwixt the shops and we’sll settle this.”
Darcy wished for a different option, but he did as the man instructed. It was essential to stall until Mr. Garner and Murray reappeared with the coach.
Yet, he
“Will there be anything else, Mr. Darcy?” the jeweler asked with a ready smile.
After examining the many sketches the jeweler showed him, Darcy studied the pieces upon a black velvet cloth. The craftsman knew his art: all were exquisite. At length, his eyes fell upon a simple, but elegant design incorporating an alternate row of topaz and creamy brown stones he did not recognize.
“Diamonds?” he asked as his finger traced the cut of the unusual stones.
“Yes, Sir. I purchased a handful of what the darkie called “cacao.’ ‘Like me,’ he bragged.”
Darcy flinched with the caustic remark, and his opinion of the jeweler’s assistant lessened; even so, he kept his objections to himself. Rundell and Bridge held a reputation for excellence, and although Darcy recognized the prejudice following many from other lands, he knew his voice was in the minority. However, he would place a private word with the man’s employer regarding the impropriety of the assistant’s speech.
“I was uncertain whether anyone would think the stones worthy,” the craftsman said as he nudged his assistant to the side, “but I find the cream of the stones play well with the golden tones of the metal and the topaz. Do you not agree?”
“The piece is perfection,” Darcy murmured. “It reminds me of the cinnamon umber of my betrothed’s eyes.”
Thankfully, the jeweler did not pounce upon Darcy’s comment. The man waited for Darcy’s decision.
“Wrap it separately,” Darcy instructed.
“Certainly, Sir,” the man said with a deep sigh of satisfaction.
Darcy glanced up to note his carriage moving slowly past the shop. Customarily, his coachman would walk the team up and down the street in preparation for a journey. Keeping the horses warm meant fewer injuries than permitting them to stand for long periods.
With a look to his watch, Darcy hoped to be in the confines of his coach and on his way to Elizabeth within minutes.
Unfortunately, that wish was not meant to be. The jeweler insisted on tightening two prongs upon the necklace’s setting before wrapping the gift. If Darcy’s heart was not set upon seeing the delight upon Elizabeth’s face when he presented her the necklace, he would abandon the item to another day; but Darcy hoped to observe Elizabeth wearing it upon their wedding night: the necklace and little else.
In time, he secured both the ring and the necklace in an inside pocket of his jacket and stepped into the early afternoon shadows on what should be a busy street, but what was quite deserted except for the occasional street urchin and a house mistress. Darcy looked up and down Ludgate for his coach. A quick glance to his timepiece explained the abandonment of the street. It was well past time for the midday meal. He would be fortunate to reach Netherfield before the supper hour.
Another glance brought no sight of his carriage, and a frown claimed Darcy’s forehead. If thoughts of the urgency of reaching Elizabeth’s door did not distract him so, he might have taken note of the four men slowly surrounding him.
It was only when he heard the clicks of the two guns pressing into his back did Darcy recognize the danger the day held.
“You’ll come with us,” a menacing voice announced.
Darcy stiffened, but he kept his wits about him.
“If it is my purse you desire,” he said evenly. “I will hand it over without a fuss.”
“It be not yer purse Mr. Sloane requires,” the group’s spokesman announced.
“I assure you,” Darcy said, keeping his eyes upon the street in hopes of assistance, “I hold no one named Sloane in acquaintance.”
“That be not my concern.”
The man nudged Darcy in the side with the gun.
“Step betwixt the shops and we’sll settle this.”
Darcy wished for a different option, but he did as the man instructed. It was essential to stall until Mr. Garner and Murray reappeared with the coach.
Yet, he
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