A Dishonorable Offer: An Elizabeth and Darcy Story by Timothy Underwood

Author:Timothy Underwood [Underwood, Timothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Fiction, Historical, Love Stories, Romance, Women's Fiction
ISBN: 1534941347
Google: KI71DAEACAAJ
Amazon: B01HN82EPA
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2016-06-26T23:00:00+00:00

*****

Lady Lucas said, "It was such a surprise — Mr. Darcy leaving so suddenly with no leave or notice. He seemed so steady. It must be something serious.”

Jane and Elizabeth had called at Lucas Lodge, and Jane carefully watched how her sister stiffened when Lady Lucas returned to the main subject of gossip for the past two days.

The day before Darcy left, Lizzy returned home and desperately hugged her and spent the evening talking with a feverish quickness. Then, when Elizabeth thought Jane was asleep, she started to cry.

Elizabeth hadn’t wanted to tell her about it yet, so Jane embraced Elizabeth without saying anything and squeezed her until they fell asleep. Yet, Lizzy had not seemed nearly so broken as Jane had expected. She was sad, but there was still some of that light in her eyes.

Jane was glad for that. She had been so worried for Elizabeth.

Jane knew Lizzy must have done something foolish, like confessing her love to Mr. Darcy. Why couldn’t some gentleman who might have married Lizzy visited Netherfield and made her sister fall in love with him? Not the haughty, careless nephew of an earl.

Darcy should have realized what he was doing to Lizzy, and she hadn’t thought he was the sort of man who would make a girl fall in love with him, and then callously abandon her. Bingley had told her he wasn’t. But he was.

Jane’s attention was pulled back to the room they sat in. Lady Lucas asked, “Eliza, have you any notion? You and Mr. Darcy had become good friends.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “No. He said nothing to me about plans to leave.”

More callers arrived at Lucas Lodge. It was Mr. Bingley and Miss Bingley. Bingley was taken aback to see her in the room, and instead of his usual friendly greeting, he stiffly inclined his head at her. Had whatever happened between Elizabeth and Darcy led Bingley to wish to avoid her?

Couldn’t the dream have lasted a few more weeks?

Lady Lucas asked, “Mr. Bingley, can you explain exactly what business called your friend away so quickly? He’d promised to dance with my Maria at your ball.”

Bingley pulled at his sleeves. It was a characteristic habit of his when he was uncomfortable. Jane had catalogued many such habits in the time she had known him.

After the briefest glance at Elizabeth, he said, “It was a personal matter. But Mr. Darcy loves his estate and had been eager to return to it. It has superb hunting, excellent fields, plenty of birds, and crisp cold weather. I’m not surprised Darcy took the first excuse he could find to leave.”

“But it was on such short notice.”

“Yes. Mr. Darcy has the resources to do as he pleases, and he is much in the habit of acting quickly once a decision is made.”

Jane saw Elizabeth listened intently.

After several minutes more Jane and Elizabeth stood to end their call. Bingley stood with them. “Might I walk you back to Meryton? There is a matter to speak about.”

Jane wasn’t sure if she felt anxiety or hope.

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