An Epic Surprise: A Pride & Prejudice Vagary by Shana Granderson A Lady

Author:Shana Granderson A Lady [Lady, Shana Granderson A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Henry arrived home the day before Tommy as Cambridge’s term break commenced a day prior to Eton’s. The morrow was also the day the Gardiners and their four children were to begin to be hosted at Longbourn. It was two days before the Earl and Countess’s expected arrival at Netherfield Park.

His pleasure at seeing his twin sister was usually effusive, but nothing like this day when Henry’s hug lifted Mary’s feet clear of the floor as he swung her around. “I am so pleased for you Mary; Fitzwilliam is a very good man. I could not have parted with you to someone less worthy,” Henry said near her ear once he had put Mary back on the ground. He looked at his older sisters who were smiling indulgently as they watched him greet his twin. “No prospects for either of you two old ladies as yet?”

His last statement, albeit said in jest, earned Henry playful slaps on his arms from all three of his sisters. It was good to be home until after Twelfth Night.

Knowing their brother was teasing them, neither Jane nor Elizabeth took any umbrage at Henry’s statement. They were both confident when it was time and they found the right man, they would resign their single status. Neither begrudged Mary her joy nor felt any envy that she was engaged before they had found a suitor for themselves.

At that moment the face of the last man Elizabeth could consider aligning herself with flashed in her memory. ‘Why on earth did I see the image of Mr. Darcy in my mind? It must be because I dislike him so very much. I will be polite when I am in Kent, but no more than that. Rude, insufferable, interfering man!’ she thought.

Once Henry had been greeted and welcomed by his parents, he made his way up to his chambers to wash and change.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

It had been two days since his aunt and uncle decamped to Hertfordshire and Anna and the Rhys-Davies departed London that Darcy began his journey into Staffordshire.

He could have travelled with the Duke of Bedford and his party, but he preferred to keep his own company. He was trying to understand his aunt and uncle’s reaction to Richard’s engagement. They were unequivocally supportive, and never a word regarding the Bennets’ lower social status or lack of wealth was ever mentioned.

At least he had not received another set-down at their hands thanks to the fact Darcy had guarded his tongue on that subject. To make sure he did not say the wrong thing, he had limited the time he spent with his family before they left Town. For the life of him, he could not see the incongruity between his desire to marry Miss Elizabeth and his opinions regarding the family’s position and worth in society.

There was a knock on the study door which snapped him out of his reverie. “Your coach is packed and ready to depart,” Carstens told his master when he had been bade enter.

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