Dishonorable Gentlemen - Book One of the Bennet Gang Duology: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (Pride & Prejudice Variations) by Summer Hanford

Author:Summer Hanford [Hanford, Summer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Alternate Universe
Goodreads: 229944662
Publisher: Summer Hanford
Published: 2025-04-02T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Rising Stakes

“Please, Elizabeth,” her youngest sister’s voice whined, distracting Elizabeth from the mending she’d spread atop her coverlet several days after Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley had appeared outside the stable to call on them. “I can’t ask for Nanny Hill or a maid to walk me to Aunt Phillips because they all tattle to Mama. I only want to spend time with my aunt and it isn’t fair that Mama won’t let me simply because Mr. Bingley is smitten with Jane. As if he cares one whit who our relations are. All he can see are her big blue eyes.” Lydia emphasized this by making her eyes round and batting her lashes, a dreamy, vacant sort of expression that Jane would never wear on her face.

Elizabeth chuckled. Her attention returned to the various stockings and other bits of mending she truly ought to do, before shifting to the window and the bright afternoon sunshine. It appeared to be an absolutely gorgeous autumn day. “Oh, very well. I will walk with you to Aunt Phillips’ house.”

Lydia clapped her hands together, her smile radiant. “I knew I could persuade you. You’re my favorite sister.”

“You said the same thing to Jane yesterday when she gave you her apple tart.”

“Because when she gave me her apple tart, she was my favorite sister, but now you are,” Lydia replied without a hint of remorse. “I will fetch my bonnet.” She skipped from the room.

Reflecting that it was not a terrible thing that her youngest sister wasn’t yet out, Elizabeth stowed her mending and donned her bonnet as well.

Soon, after a brief stop in the parlor to inform Mrs. Oakwood of their walk, which resulted in Jane and Mary joining them and Kitty remaining behind, they set out. As none of them employed mincing little steps like Kitty or their mother, it didn’t take them long to reach the village.

“It is a pleasant day for a stroll,” Jane said, breathing deeply of the crisp autumn air. Her gaze roamed the central street of Meryton down which they walked and Elizabeth knew her sister hoped to meet Mr. Bingley.

“You will not say that once you know our goal,” Elizabeth cautioned.

Jane turned to her with mild alarm. “You said that your objective was to walk.”

“We lied,” Lydia chirped.

On Elizabeth’s other side, Mary snorted

Jane’s eyebrows crept up. “You lied?”

Elizabeth cast Lydia a quelling look. “We did not lie. Walking is one of our objectives. The other is to visit Aunt Phillips.”

Worry eased from Jane’s face. “Well, I can see why you did not mention as much. Mama’s restriction on visiting our aunt is severe.”

“Especially when Aunt Phillips is holding a card party for the officers,” Lydia added.

Elizabeth turned a surprised look on her. “You said nothing about a card party. You lied to me.”

Mary issued another snort, this one sounding suspiciously like a laugh.

Lydia smirked. “I did not lie. Visiting our aunt is one of my objectives.”

Jane laughed. “You cannot fault her for that, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth shook her head, aware that her youngest sister was in danger of becoming something of a monster.

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