A Pemberley Medley by Abigail Reynolds

Author:Abigail Reynolds
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: jane austen, darcy, pride and prejudice, austen, austen sequel, mr darcy, elizabeth bennet, austen variation
Publisher: Abigail Reynolds

Georgiana took the news as well as could be expected. There were some tears, and a little of the stiff Darcy pride that Elizabeth knew hid feelings too painful to expose to the world. When Georgiana requested some time to herself to consider the matter, Elizabeth encouraged her in finding her own strength, and honoured her request.

She considered hiding in her room again herself, but brooding would not be helpful at this stage; she needed to save her strength for the days ahead. With a sigh, she collected her embroidery and returned to the study. Darcy was only too happy to have her companionship and, after asking after his sister, returned to the papers he was obligated to complete before their departure on the morrow.

Elizabeth was content to sit quietly as she worked, but eventually thoughts of Lydia began to intrude despite her best efforts to discourage them. She had grave fears for her sister's future - even if Wickham could somehow be brought to marry her, what sort of future could she have, as a wife to such a wastrel? Lydia had never learned to consider the consequences when choosing her pleasures, and now the consequences would be dreadful indeed, not only for herself but for her entire family. How could Lydia have been so heedless as to behave in such a brazen manner?

Yet how could Elizabeth condemn her completely when she herself had permitted liberties so far beyond the proprieties herself, when she herself had behaved in a shameless manner when confronted by temptation? She was equally at fault, only more fortunate in the outcome; she had taken the similar risks to her own reputation and that of her family each time she had allowed Darcy to touch her. A sense of shame began to gnaw its way through her.

She stared blindly at her embroidery. No better than Lydia, she thought, the words burning her like acid. She could not even bring herself to look in Darcy's direction. Feeling the need to escape, she stood suddenly, drawing his attention. “Please excuse me,” she said. “There is something I must fetch.”

Darcy was puzzled. “Elizabeth, wait, please,” he said, noticing the lines of stress in her face, and wondering if she could be trying to run away again. “Something is troubling you, I can tell. Will you not tell me about it, my love?”

Elizabeth knew that she was caught, and it gave her a moment of panic. “It is nothing that requires attention,” she said anxiously.

He sat back, looking at her unhappily, wishing he knew how to convince her to confide in him. “Can you trust me enough to let me be the judge of that?” he said as gently as he could manage.

And you do not trust him sufficiently to speak to him about your fears. Her aunt's words came back to her, and she paused in indecision. He would want her to tell him, she knew, but she was far from wishing to share these thoughts. She certainly

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