Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation by Beth Massey Page A

you know Edmund, it depends which head she is after. One I will guard with my life, but the other I could be persuaded to let her borrow.”
    Elizabeth was unnerved by the expression on his face—it seemed more like a smirk than a smile. Besides, she had no idea what he was talking about with his comment about two heads. She thought maybe he meant the heads of the father and the son. Believing they would think her slow witted if she let on she did not understand, she smiled sweetly and said, “Your son is teasing me, Lord Elderton. I am neither a Jacobin nor a Girondist. The confusion, I am sure, comes about because I am widely known for preferring mountains to flat land. Oakham Mount in Hertfordshire is my most favourite place. Rest assured sir, I am not out after either of your heads.”
    Lord Wolfbridge and Lord Elderton gave each other knowing looks and laughed heartily.
    Elizabeth blushed and felt they were laughing at her and not with her. She knew she had not understood their humour, but she was just as sure they did not comprehend her bon mot. Her confidence in being able to charm peers had vanished with the exchange. She quickly excused herself and went to find Mrs Darcy to ask questions about what was growing in the solarium. Learning about plants seemed a safe occupation. Her hostess was not that knowledgeable about the types of flowers, but she was able to identify the fantastical looking blossom she had seen in the arrangement in the entrance hall. Lizzy learned it was an orchid and was told that Mr Darcy collected them, and Mrs Darcy was thinking she might help him. Mrs Darcy promised someday to have her husband give Miss Elizabeth a guided tour.

    Over the next month and even after Lady Hughes had returned to Derbyshire, Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner visited Darcy House four more times. Mrs Darcy reciprocated three times. She was very gracious and came to Gracechurch Street as though it was nothing unusual. She met David and Marianne and proclaimed them delightful children and said Susan was the prettiest baby she had ever seen.
    Elizabeth and her aunt both believed they were developing a particular acquaintance with Mrs Darcy. All signs indicated she was very desirous of deepening the relationship into a true friendship. Elizabeth was hoping she could continue her association with one so well positioned in society through letters once she returned to Hertfordshire, and Mrs Gardiner was keenly aware that a connection with the Darcy family could be advantageous for her husband’s businesses.
    They were never invited for dinner, nor had Elizabeth seen Mr Darcy since that night at the theatre. Mrs Darcy never arranged for him to give her the tour of the conservatory’s plants. According to his wife, he was busy with estate business. She also explained that the Earl and the Countess had only been in London for a few days which is why they were never seen again. The Viscount, however, had twice been present during their visits. Their hostess said he was staying at Darcy House rather than at his parent’s townhouse. Lizzy still believed Lord Wolfbridge to be the most handsome man she had ever met, and her pride at seeming to please him had been restored.
    At night in the privacy of her bedchamber, she would frequently indulge in thinking about the tall, handsome viscount with those beautiful white teeth. These reflections on Lord Wolfbridge caused her to question whether she truly understood how he perceived her. She concluded that he enjoyed laughing at her wit but was troubled that his greatest pleasure seemed to be in seeing her blush. Most times, it was the peculiar questions he asked when no one else was near enough to hear that brought colour to her cheeks. She knew she was not of his sphere and so did not believe she was in any real danger of becoming infatuated. Still, these nocturnal attempts at sketching his lordship’s character most often resulted in the conclusion that he thought highly of her and that