A Month to Love 1 by Abbey North

Author:Abbey North [North, Abbey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-01-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3

Her good intentions and plan to never accept Darcy’s proposal were washed away by a tide of gossip and scandal. Within days, it was revealed they had been seen together at an inn outside the port city where Charlotte and Richard had fled. The innkeeper had done a very good job of describing Lizzy, including a sketch, so her and Darcy’s pictures appeared side-by-side in the society section of the paper.

The rumors had quickly made their way to Longbourn, where she had returned the day after trying to stop Charlotte’s hasty departure. She had not wished to remain for Mr. Collins to try to pump her for information.

Maria had joined her, returning to her family, and Lizzy had stopped in long enough to tell Sir Lucas what she knew about Charlotte’s actions, though she did not reveal having actually caught up with Charlotte, or having any knowledge of where her friend was heading. Mr. Lucas had been devastated, as had Mrs. Lucas, and Lizzy had beat a hasty retreat. She suspected they would bear ill will toward her for not stopping Charlotte’s actions, but she hadn’t been able to do so. She couldn’t admit that she had tried, of course, but then the paper came out.

Her father now stared at her sternly. “Explain this to me, Lizzy.” He had the paper spread before him, facing her across his desk, so she could clearly see her face beside a sketching of Mr. Darcy’s, along with the full article. Her stomach cramped with nausea.

“Oh, what a disaster.” She slumped into the chair in front of her father’s desk. “I assure you, I am not compromised.”

Mr. Bennet frowned. “But you are clearly compromised, sweet daughter.”

She blushed as she looked away. “I meant I am not ruined. I am… chaste.”

“Forgive me for doubting you, Lizzy, but if this article is correct, you and Mr. Darcy were alone in a room in an inn for two hours.”

She snorted. “It was hardly more than forty-five minutes, Papa. All we did was eat, and that was so we could be discreet about me not having a chaperone.” As succinctly as possible, Lizzy explained the situation for her father, fully admitting everything she knew about Charlotte and Richard, though she did not tell him Charlotte’s ultimate destination of Jamaica either. That would be betraying her friends.

Mr. Bennet seemed relieved. “In that case, it should all blow over.”

“Blow over,” shouted Mrs. Bennet from outside the door. “This sort of scandal shall not blow over. Your daughter is ruined unless Mr. Darcy marries her.” Fanny burst into the room then, and she was grinning. “Oh, what a marvelous turn of events.”

Lizzy glared at her mother. “Mama, what are you thinking? Me being ruined is hardly a momentous turn of events.”

“Of course not, but now Mr. Darcy shall be forced ask for your hand. You shall have a wealthy husband who will look after you. Perhaps you can even facilitate your sisters finding worthy men.”

“Mama, I assure you Mr. Darcy shall not ask for my hand, and I would not accept it if he did.

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