Duels of Every Sort by Sarah Brown

Author:Sarah Brown [Brown, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781071440278
Published: 2019-06-02T04:00:00+00:00

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When we arrived at Longbourn, we found the girls engaged in what was apparently a post ball tradition. The two Lucas sisters had come for a morning visit, and all of the ladies were recalling and analyzing the events of the ball in great detail. Mrs. Bennet, the servant informed me, was visiting her sister Phillips in town for the same purpose.

When Fitzwilliam and I entered the room, we were treated to an itemized list of all the decorative lace that had adorned Miss Bingley’s gown as recounted by Miss Lydia. Neither the gentlemen of the house nor Bingley were anywhere to be seen—not that I could blame them if lace were the current topic.

“Oh, Mr. Darcy!” Elizabeth cried, when she saw us. “And Colonel Fitzwilliam, how lovely to see you both this morning. We were just reminiscing about last night’s festivities.”

I took Elizabeth’s hand and kissed it. Greetings were exchanged all around. I noted the particular manner in which Fitzwilliam greeted Miss Lucas. I hoped his extended visit would not cause difficulties for him. Miss Lucas seemed very glad to see him, as well.

When we had all settled in and Miss Maria and Miss Lydia had resumed their previous discussion regarding gown ornamentation, I asked Elizabeth, “Where is Charles? I know he rode here this morning.”

“Oh, he and John escaped on the heels of my father to the library a few minutes before you appeared amidst cries of ‘No lace, Lydia! I beg you, no lace!’”

I laughed at this picture. If the topic continued, I could easily see myself seeking refuge, too. However, after a few minutes, Miss Lydia and Miss Maria decided to walk back to Lucas Lodge together for some silly reason or other. Miss Lucas remained, engrossed in conversation by now with Miss Bennet and Fitzwilliam—or rather, just with Fitzwilliam as Miss Bennet was being pleasant but quiet, as was her wont when anyone but Bingley or Elizabeth was about.

“And how are you this morning, Will?” Elizabeth asked.

“I am much better, now that I am here with you. Though I am afraid my morning did not go quite to plan.” I sighed, twisting my signet ring. Gloomily, I continued, “I have much to tell you and your father.”

She looked at me with concern. “Should you like to go to him now? Simply be finished with it so that we may enjoy the day?”

I glanced at Fitzwilliam and ran a hand through my hair. It did not appear that he was likely to leave his current position in the near future. “Yes, I suppose that is best.”

Elizabeth and I rose and explained our purpose to the others before quitting the room. However, once we were in the hallway, I could not let the opportunity to be alone with her pass. Wickham’s lies, the mortification of informing Colonel Forster about his true nature only to discover him gone, and now the prospect of reliving my past with Wickham for the second time in one morning had left me feeling empty and angry.

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