The Last Waltz: . . . another pride and prejudice journey of love by Pat Santarsiero Page A
Authors: Pat Santarsiero
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declaration caused quite a stir as neither daughter wished to go to Netherfield. Their ambition was to walk to Meryton in hopes of seeing the officers. It also did not bode well with Mr. Bennet, and he immediately put a stop to his wife’s machinations.
“We will give Jane a day or two to recover,” he said. “When she is well enough to travel, I shall go and bring her home myself.”
Elizabeth eyed her father curiously. Although she loved him with all her heart, she had to admit he had never been an overly attentive father, and he had most definitely never interfered with any of his wife’s schemes. Oh, he would vex her incessantly, but he would always end up yielding to her demands.
Now he seemed to be exercising his authority as both father and husband. His forceful handling of this morning’s situation was quite surprising. He had flatly dismissed his wife’s suggestion that Kitty or Lydia travel to Netherfield to attend their sister. And even though no one truly believed Jane’s illness was of a serious nature, he had agreed to travel to Netherfield himself to see her safely returned to Longbourn.
But what was even more surprising had been his insistence that she attend the Meryton Assembly. She could not recall in her entire life a time that her father had commanded her to do anything. Her mind was still reeling that he had so completely disregarded her feelings in the matter.
As much as she had persisted in her reluctance to attend the Assembly, she had to admit she was not unhappy to have seen Mr. Darcy again; the sight of him had caused a mixture of emotions to stir inside her. To see the man she had fantasized about for five years suddenly standing before her in the flesh had all but taken her breath away. But the fear that had enveloped her at the thought of his discovering her defect had diminished the pleasure considerably.
Over the years, she had spent a great deal of time indulging her curiosity about the man, wondering if he had perhaps grown fat and balding. She smiled to herself. No, indeed, he had not. If anything, he was even more handsome than she had remembered. He now had a maturity and command of presence that would make any female swoon.
Could he not have acquired at least one imperfection?
Well, at least, he had not learned of her imperfection; she would not have to bear his pity. It was a small consolation, but she would let herself be content with that.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Once again, Mr. Bennet descended his carriage and did his best to prepare himself for his new mission at Netherfield. A compromise had been agreed upon, and he was accompanied by his daughter Lydia. Mrs. Bennet had insisted that at least one of her daughters be exposed to Mr. Darcy’s company, and since it would only be for an afternoon’s duration, Mr. Bennet had consented.
He was greeted more formally this time, and the housekeeper led them into the parlour as she announced their arrival.
As he entered the room, Jane tried to hide her surprise at seeing him. Had her trifling cold pried him from his library and brought him all the way to Netherfield? If anyone, she had expected to see her mother burst into the room. The sight of Lydia, however, did not surprise her in the least, as she was sure her mother had insisted that her youngest daughter accompany their father. She only hoped that Lydia would subdue her normal enthusiasm and behave in a ladylike manner.
Mr. Bennet and Lydia were greeted by Miss Bingley, and upon his introduction to Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet observed him very carefully. He would only have a scant hour or two to form his opinion of the young man.
“You look well, Jane. I would hardly think you had been ill at all,” stated Mr. Bennet.
“Yes,” said Caroline “She has received every possible attention.”
“Indeed, she has been well looked after, I assure you,” said Bingley. “Mr. Jones was sent for as soon as she was taken ill, and he prescribed something for her cold. She has much
“We will give Jane a day or two to recover,” he said. “When she is well enough to travel, I shall go and bring her home myself.”
Elizabeth eyed her father curiously. Although she loved him with all her heart, she had to admit he had never been an overly attentive father, and he had most definitely never interfered with any of his wife’s schemes. Oh, he would vex her incessantly, but he would always end up yielding to her demands.
Now he seemed to be exercising his authority as both father and husband. His forceful handling of this morning’s situation was quite surprising. He had flatly dismissed his wife’s suggestion that Kitty or Lydia travel to Netherfield to attend their sister. And even though no one truly believed Jane’s illness was of a serious nature, he had agreed to travel to Netherfield himself to see her safely returned to Longbourn.
But what was even more surprising had been his insistence that she attend the Meryton Assembly. She could not recall in her entire life a time that her father had commanded her to do anything. Her mind was still reeling that he had so completely disregarded her feelings in the matter.
As much as she had persisted in her reluctance to attend the Assembly, she had to admit she was not unhappy to have seen Mr. Darcy again; the sight of him had caused a mixture of emotions to stir inside her. To see the man she had fantasized about for five years suddenly standing before her in the flesh had all but taken her breath away. But the fear that had enveloped her at the thought of his discovering her defect had diminished the pleasure considerably.
Over the years, she had spent a great deal of time indulging her curiosity about the man, wondering if he had perhaps grown fat and balding. She smiled to herself. No, indeed, he had not. If anything, he was even more handsome than she had remembered. He now had a maturity and command of presence that would make any female swoon.
Could he not have acquired at least one imperfection?
Well, at least, he had not learned of her imperfection; she would not have to bear his pity. It was a small consolation, but she would let herself be content with that.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Once again, Mr. Bennet descended his carriage and did his best to prepare himself for his new mission at Netherfield. A compromise had been agreed upon, and he was accompanied by his daughter Lydia. Mrs. Bennet had insisted that at least one of her daughters be exposed to Mr. Darcy’s company, and since it would only be for an afternoon’s duration, Mr. Bennet had consented.
He was greeted more formally this time, and the housekeeper led them into the parlour as she announced their arrival.
As he entered the room, Jane tried to hide her surprise at seeing him. Had her trifling cold pried him from his library and brought him all the way to Netherfield? If anyone, she had expected to see her mother burst into the room. The sight of Lydia, however, did not surprise her in the least, as she was sure her mother had insisted that her youngest daughter accompany their father. She only hoped that Lydia would subdue her normal enthusiasm and behave in a ladylike manner.
Mr. Bennet and Lydia were greeted by Miss Bingley, and upon his introduction to Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bennet observed him very carefully. He would only have a scant hour or two to form his opinion of the young man.
“You look well, Jane. I would hardly think you had been ill at all,” stated Mr. Bennet.
“Yes,” said Caroline “She has received every possible attention.”
“Indeed, she has been well looked after, I assure you,” said Bingley. “Mr. Jones was sent for as soon as she was taken ill, and he prescribed something for her cold. She has much
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