Lord Wolfbridge alone. The man with the laughing eyes and beautiful teeth had her feeling quite at ease within minutes despite his elevated status. Though their conversation was only about it being a cold day, and on the probability of an early spring, he impressed Elizabeth with the belief that even the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic could be rendered interesting by him.
After a few minutes, he took her arm and directed her to the older couple she had seen him introduce to her aunt. “Miss Bennet, these are my parents, the Earl and Countess of Elderton. Elizabeth curtsied. Lord Wolfbridge continued, “Father, Mother I would like to present you to Mrs Gardiner’s niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Elizabeth saw that Lord Wolfbridge had inherited his looks from his father… including those brilliant teeth. His mother was a pleasant looking woman who smiled sweetly at Elizabeth. She said, “What a pretty young girl you are. Your hair and eyes are quite unique.”
Elizabeth returned her sweet smile and said, “You are very kind Lady Elderton. I rarely get compliments when I am home. Two of my sisters have similar hair and eyes to mine. It is my older sister, Jane, who is considered the beauty of the family. She is tall, fair-haired and serene, with exquisite features and quite the perfect figure. None of the rest of the Bennet sisters get noticed when she is around.” She gave the Countess her signature grin as she added, “I would have left home sooner if I had known that once out of her presence, I would receive such praise.”
Lord Wolfbridge and Lord and Lady Elderton laughed at her humour. They talked for a few moments about the plants, but soon Anne came to bring her aunt back to the other ladies. Elizabeth was now left alone to fascinate a viscount and an earl. She imagined how envious the inhabitants of Meryton would be when she treated them to her re-enactment of this encounter.
Lord Elderton said, “I asked your aunt if your family is related to Charles Gardiner. There is talk of his being elected a representative peer from Ireland. I understand he is a prominent member of the Protestant Ascendancy and has extensive estates in Ireland. Your aunt said she had never heard of their being any connection to any Gardiners in Ireland, even though she herself had relatives with estates there. Have you ever heard your mother or your grandfather mention Irish relatives?”
Elizabeth grinned at the Earl and said, “No, my Lord, I have never heard of any such connection. My papa told me once that my grandfather Gardiner did speculate about his being related to Bishop Stephen Gardiner who had been Queen Mary’s Lord Chancellor. His father had come from humble beginnings in Suffolk—he was a cloth merchant like my uncle.” Elizabeth giggled nervously as she added, “His mother—the bishop’s not my great-grandmother—was the natural daughter of a Duke. Even this dubious connection I find improbable. My grandfather was but a country lawyer, and he lived until I was ten. He was prone to bragging, so I am certain had he known of such an important relative, he would have mentioned it. My father enjoys pointing out the foibles of his family and friends—including his father-in-law. He is oft time unserious in the things he says.”
Lord Elderton smiled back, but inwardly considered her impertinence a bit disdainful of the aristocracy. He had expected her to fawn over a possible connection to the peerage—not find it a source of humour.
Lord Wolfbridge turned to the Earl and said, “Father, Miss Bennet is a Jacobin. Darcy got her to confess she is always on the hunt for the heads of the aristocracy. You must be careful around her or she may try to take yours.”
Lord Elderton gave her a forced smile. It was resplendent with beautiful teeth like his son’s, but he was unable to repress his animosity. He decided he would get back at this disrespectful little chit. He turned to his son and said, “As
After a few minutes, he took her arm and directed her to the older couple she had seen him introduce to her aunt. “Miss Bennet, these are my parents, the Earl and Countess of Elderton. Elizabeth curtsied. Lord Wolfbridge continued, “Father, Mother I would like to present you to Mrs Gardiner’s niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Elizabeth saw that Lord Wolfbridge had inherited his looks from his father… including those brilliant teeth. His mother was a pleasant looking woman who smiled sweetly at Elizabeth. She said, “What a pretty young girl you are. Your hair and eyes are quite unique.”
Elizabeth returned her sweet smile and said, “You are very kind Lady Elderton. I rarely get compliments when I am home. Two of my sisters have similar hair and eyes to mine. It is my older sister, Jane, who is considered the beauty of the family. She is tall, fair-haired and serene, with exquisite features and quite the perfect figure. None of the rest of the Bennet sisters get noticed when she is around.” She gave the Countess her signature grin as she added, “I would have left home sooner if I had known that once out of her presence, I would receive such praise.”
Lord Wolfbridge and Lord and Lady Elderton laughed at her humour. They talked for a few moments about the plants, but soon Anne came to bring her aunt back to the other ladies. Elizabeth was now left alone to fascinate a viscount and an earl. She imagined how envious the inhabitants of Meryton would be when she treated them to her re-enactment of this encounter.
Lord Elderton said, “I asked your aunt if your family is related to Charles Gardiner. There is talk of his being elected a representative peer from Ireland. I understand he is a prominent member of the Protestant Ascendancy and has extensive estates in Ireland. Your aunt said she had never heard of their being any connection to any Gardiners in Ireland, even though she herself had relatives with estates there. Have you ever heard your mother or your grandfather mention Irish relatives?”
Elizabeth grinned at the Earl and said, “No, my Lord, I have never heard of any such connection. My papa told me once that my grandfather Gardiner did speculate about his being related to Bishop Stephen Gardiner who had been Queen Mary’s Lord Chancellor. His father had come from humble beginnings in Suffolk—he was a cloth merchant like my uncle.” Elizabeth giggled nervously as she added, “His mother—the bishop’s not my great-grandmother—was the natural daughter of a Duke. Even this dubious connection I find improbable. My grandfather was but a country lawyer, and he lived until I was ten. He was prone to bragging, so I am certain had he known of such an important relative, he would have mentioned it. My father enjoys pointing out the foibles of his family and friends—including his father-in-law. He is oft time unserious in the things he says.”
Lord Elderton smiled back, but inwardly considered her impertinence a bit disdainful of the aristocracy. He had expected her to fawn over a possible connection to the peerage—not find it a source of humour.
Lord Wolfbridge turned to the Earl and said, “Father, Miss Bennet is a Jacobin. Darcy got her to confess she is always on the hunt for the heads of the aristocracy. You must be careful around her or she may try to take yours.”
Lord Elderton gave her a forced smile. It was resplendent with beautiful teeth like his son’s, but he was unable to repress his animosity. He decided he would get back at this disrespectful little chit. He turned to his son and said, “As
Similar Books
