Agony and Hope by Diamond L.L

Author:Diamond, L.L.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: L.L. Diamond
Published: 2021-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

As soon as the door closed behind Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth trained her eyes on the canopy and breathed to keep herself from collapsing into a heap. She despised being angry with Jane, yet how could she prevent those words poised on the tip of her tongue from escaping? After Lydia’s ruin, Fitzwilliam Darcy became an impossibility—a dream that would remain unfulfilled. How was she to face living in his home day after day? How could she keep from running mad?

Stupid, stupid Lydia! She tarnished more than her own virtue by running away with Wickham. She had cost them all their future happiness. Her youngest sister had never thought of anyone other than herself and her own entertainment. She hated Lydia. How the guilt ate at her for harbouring such an immovable dislike of someone—her sister in particular.

And here sat dear Jane while she ladled a hearty soup into Elizabeth’s mouth. Her elder sister would never harm a fly. “What could you and Fitzwilliam have possibly been arguing about?”

After she swallowed, she rubbed the ache in her chest. “I do not wish to speak of it.”

“He has done so much for us, and he cares for you a great deal.” Elizabeth made to speak, but Jane shoved another spoonful into her mouth. “Chew that potato and listen. When he first saw me on his doorstep, he turned positively ashen. He was so stunned, I thought he might faint at my feet.

“And the manner in which he has tended you. He bathed your forehead and cheeks when you were most feverish, he assisted when you needed to take your draughts, and he calmed you when you begged for his aid in finding Lydia.”

Elizabeth gulped down the last bite and fought down the sudden lump that threatened to burst through her throat. “What?”

“When you woke, you were often insensible, and Fitzwilliam was ever so generous. He would promise you all in his power while also seeing to your needs. He is every bit the gentleman.” Jane looked down to the bowl with a shuddering breath. “He loves you, and I know you love him.”

“I have never spoken of my feelings.” She lifted her head to face Jane more directly. “And since when do you call him Fitzwilliam?”

One of Jane’s shoulders lifted. “I invited him to address me in a more familiar manner while we cared for you. The formality made speaking with haste more difficult. Does our familiarity bother you?”

“No!” Elizabeth coughed, making her cradle her head in her hands.

“In regards to Fitzwilliam, I have suspected your feelings for some time. You have made comments—I suspect when you thought no one was listening. Then, you spoke of how much you love him during your illness.”

Her hands trembled. “Not with him—”

“No,” said Jane, “not with him in the room.” Her elder sister’s eyes shone. “I cannot imagine what it must be like to be the recipient of such devotion. He has not laid eyes upon you in over two years, yet he has not wed nor does he seem inclined to court any lady but you.

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