Darcy's Sweet Repose: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Cass Grix

Author:Cass Grix [Grix, Cass]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Fantasy, Not in Amazon Library, Alternate Universe
Goodreads: 36545201
Publisher: Cass Grix
Published: 2017-11-05T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Normally Darcy enjoyed fishing, but the next morning, it was all he could do to bait a hook for his mind kept returning to Elizabeth who was at that moment at Pemberley, conversing with his sister.

Bingley was equally distracted. “I cannot wait to speak with Miss Elizabeth and ask her about her family.”

He meant Jane, of course.

“As far as I know, all the members of her family are alive and well,” Darcy said dryly.

“But are all her sisters still unmarried?” Bingley asked pointedly.

At this, Mr. Gardiner, who had overheard their conversation suggested that they abandon their fishing and join the ladies. “I have caught enough fish for one day,” he announced happily, and the other men agreed.

When they came back to the house, they found the women busy with sewing or cards. Miss Bingley asked Mr. Darcy if he wished to play cards with her, but he declined. He sat near Elizabeth instead, earning a look of stern disapproval from Miss Bingley. Darcy amused himself by thinking how she would react once he was engaged to Elizabeth.

Mrs. Gardiner asked her husband about the fishing and for a few moments, he expressed his pleasure.

“You must come again,” Darcy said. “Even if I cannot join you, I will spare some of my men to assist you.”

“You are most kind,” Mr. Gardiner said.

Mr. Bingley approached Elizabeth and said that it had been a very long time since he had the pleasure of seeing her.

She said, “Yes, we have not seen each other since the Netherfield Ball.”

“November twenty-sixth,” he agreed. “Eight long months.”

It felt even longer to Darcy, but then, he’d recently had to renew their acquaintance after a twenty-year separation.

Elizabeth agreed that it had been a long time.

“And yet, sometimes it seems like only yesterday,” Bingley said. “Tell me about your family. Are they all well?”

“When I saw them last, yes,” Elizabeth answered.

“And are all your sisters still at Longbourn?”

“No. My sister Lydia is currently visiting in Brighton with friends. And earlier this year, Jane did spend some time in London.”

Bingley looked astonished. “She did?” He turned to his sisters. “Did you know of this?”

Miss Bingley looked uncomfortable but admitted finally, “Yes, she called on us and I returned the call in Gracechurch street.”

“Why did I not know?” Bingley demanded. He turned to Darcy. “Did you know of this?”

Darcy avoided answering the question. He said, “We can discuss the whys and wherefores at another time. Let us enjoy Miss Elizabeth and her relations who are now before us.”

“Yes, of course,” Bingley said politely. “Forgive me if I seemed harsh. I was merely surprised.” He smiled at Elizabeth and the Gardiners.

Miss Bingley took this opportunity to interrupt and say with a sneer, “Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the militia removed from Meryton? That must be a great loss to your family.”

Darcy’s annoyance flared at her manner and her words. He feared that she would mention Wickham by name and stiffened in alarm. He looked briefly at his sister, saw her distress, and then looked at Elizabeth.

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