Constitute Their Happiness: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Amelia Wood

Author:Amelia Wood [Wood, Amelia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Not in Amazon Library, To Transfer
Goodreads: 57013743
Published: 2021-02-08T05:00:00+00:00

Mr Gardiner had arranged to borrow an open-top carriage for the girls to travel in so they might see the countryside to its best advantage. Jane’s spirits lifted as she pointed out an old ruin and lamented her inability to paint. A group of small children rolled out onto the road from a nearby crofter’s cottage and waved at the girls, following them at some distance. Elizabeth smiled as Jane waved back to them, admiring their sweetness.

“This was a wonderful idea,” she told Elizabeth. “We are not even there yet and I already feel so much better. How did you discover this place?”

“Someone must have mentioned it in passing and it stuck in my mind,” said Elizabeth vaguely. “Oh, look, Jane. I think we are almost there.”

The carriage followed a winding track lined with woods on one side and the sparkling river on the other. As the road sloped up, they could see the pretty house that formed the main part of the gardens. The sun burned brightly, filling the air with the scents of summer and soft grass.

They were not the only ones who had decided to come that day. Several other carriages were already at the gardens and Elizabeth spotted more behind them. Her heart skipped as she wondered if any of them contained Darcy and Mr Bingley. It would not do for them to see one another too quickly. Elizabeth wanted Jane to enjoy herself as much as possible before she encountered her beloved.

They decided to have tea and cakes first. Jane bit into the lemon sponge and exclaimed at its delicacy, urging Elizabeth to try one. Elizabeth tried to equal Jane’s enthusiasm even as she looked about her for the familiar sight of a tall figure.

“There is a lot to see here, is there not,” said Jane, misunderstanding the reason for Elizabeth’s distraction. Elizabeth started and turned back to her sister.

“There is. I am excited to explore. But I shall not go anywhere until I have done justice to this delicious food.”

By the time they had finished, Elizabeth still had not seen Darcy or Bingley. Her heart sank. Perhaps something else had come up at the last minute. A note from Georgiana might have arrived within minutes of Elizabeth and Jane leaving their uncle’s house and Elizabeth would know nothing of it.

But if Darcy did not appear, Elizabeth was determined that the day would not go to waste. Jane was already much brighter than she had been for some time. She laughed and chatted eagerly and even teased Elizabeth a time or two when Elizabeth appeared distracted. Besides, the gardens were beautiful and the cakes were indeed the best Elizabeth had ever tasted. Even without Darcy and Bingley, it was still a good day.

Still, Elizabeth could not help feeling a pang of disappointment that was only slightly related to Jane and Bingley’s situation. She had looked forward to seeing Darcy more than she realised. Why would he not come?

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