An Arranged Marriage by Jan Hahn

Author:Jan Hahn [Hahn, Jan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Regency, General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781936009145
Google: dksqYAAACAAJ
Amazon: 1936009145
Publisher: Meryton Press
Published: 2011-06-06T21:00:00+00:00

She shook her head. "I was frightened, though, and so we did it only once more, but that time we waited until nightfall. George said there would be less chance of being caught and Fee agreed with him. We came very close, though. One of the grooms walked right over there through those trees and all three of us stayed under water until we thought our lungs might burst. I was too afraid to dare attempt it again."

She rose and indicated we should return to the house, and I was more than willing, for I had much to think over. I was more shocked than I had let on to Georgiana, not at the childish escapade she had confided, but at the fact that Mr. Wickham knew Fiona. I had always assumed he had left Pemberley before she arrived from Scotland, for I knew that he and Mr. Darcy had both attended Cambridge together and by that time Mr. Wickham's dissolute habits were well known to the son and heir. But now, Georgiana told me that in actuality he was there, cavorting in the pond with Fiona. My mind whirled with new suspicions, unanswered questions and the briefest glimmer of hope.

Mrs. Reynolds met us shortly after we entered the house. "The Colonel has returned and is in the drawing room, Ma'am, and the post has come. Here are letters for both of you."

Georgiana exclaimed with delight when she saw that hers was from her brother and tore it open at once. "Oh, I hope Wills is coming home and that he approves of the Harvest Ball." She scanned the letter quickly, her face falling at its contents. "He is not coming, but wait...he says we are to go ahead and make plans for the ball, that we are to hold it whether he is here or not. I am glad, but I cannot imagine a harvest ball without Wills."

And I dare not imagine it with him, I thought.

"Who did you hear from, Elizabeth? Did you receive a letter from Wills, too?"

I shook my head in response as I sifted through the mail in my hand, recognizing Kitty's scrawl and a thick parcel addressed in Jane's handwriting. I had not seen Mr. Darcy for over two weeks, nor heard one word from him. Neither had I written to him. Indeed, I was thankful I had not corresponded when filled with anger, for today's revelation now confused me. I truly did not know what to think. Could it be that all my suspicions were in error, that Mr. Darcy was innocent?

Oh, dear Lord, let it be...let it be.

Author's Note: From what I have learned through limited research, the harvest would have taken place in late summer or early September with a harvest festival ensuing no later than the end of September. I know it is a stretch for Pemberley to host such a celebration in late November, but please allow me this indulgence for the sake of the story.

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