Bitten by the Vampire by Rosewood Emerson & Austen Jane

Author:Rosewood, Emerson & Austen, Jane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emrys Pumpkin Press
Published: 2023-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 41

Lizzy, Hauntsford, after the conversation with Darcy

“What can be the meaning of this?” Charlotte says as soon as Mr. Darcy is gone. “My dear, Eliza, he must be in love with you or he would never have called us in this familiar way.”

I cannot have her believing this!

So when I tell her of the small period of his silence, it does not seem very likely, even to Charlotte’s wishes, to be the case.

After various conjectures, mine leading her falsely, we can at last only suppose his visit to proceed from the difficulty of finding anything to do, which is the more probable from the time of year.

All field sports are over. Within doors, there is Lady Catherine, books, and a billiard table, but gentlemen cannot always be within doors.

“In the nearness of the Parsonage,” I say, “or the pleasantness of the walk to it, or of the people who live in it, the two cousins must find a temptation from this period of walking thither almost every day.”

“But they call at various times of the morning,” Maria says, “sometimes separately, sometimes together, and now and then accompanied by their aunt.”

“It is plain that Commandant Fitzwilliam comes because he has pleasure in our society.”

A persuasion which of course recommends him still more, and I am reminded by my own satisfaction in being with him, as well as by his evident admiration of me, of my former favorite George Wickham. Though, in comparing them, I see there is less captivating softness in Commandant Fitzwilliam’s manners, I believe he might have the best informed mind.

“But why Mr. Darcy comes so often to the Parsonage is more difficult to understand,” Charlotte says. “It cannot be for society, as he frequently sits there ten minutes together without opening his lips, and when he does speak, it seems the effect of necessity rather than of choice—a sacrifice to propriety, not a pleasure to himself. He seldom appears really animated. Eliza, I know not what to make of him.”

“Commandant Fitzwilliam’s occasionally laughing at his stupidity proves that Darcy is generally different,” Maria says.

I scowl at this.

“I would like to have believed this change the effect of love,” Charlotte says, “and the object of that love you, Eliza. I shall set myself seriously to work to find it out.”

Charlotte watches Mr. Darcy whenever we are at Ravenswood, which I largely try to ignore, and whenever he comes to Hauntsford, but without much success.

“He certainly looks at you a great deal,” she says days later when we are by ourselves, “but the expression of that look is disputable. It is an earnest, steadfast gaze, but I often doubt whether there is much admiration in it, and sometimes it seems nothing but absence of mind.”

“Mr. Darcy absence of mind? Charlotte, that is laughable.”

“Then I do think there is a possibility of his being partial to you,” she says.

I chuckle dismissively. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s most likely just thirsty. Lady Catherine is rather stingy with the blood wine.”

“I shall not press the subject from the danger of raising expectations which might only end in disappointment.

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