Elizabeth's Deception by Sophia Grey

Author:Sophia Grey [Grey, Sophia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blue Flowers Press

Mrs. Bennet had suitably recovered herself by the time Jane came to fetch them for supper. They went into the dining room and Elizabeth settled herself into her father’s chair with a brief flash of regret.

He should still be here, grumbling into his soup as Mama lectures him about the need for new dresses…

As the first course was served, Elizabeth did her best to ignore the stares of her younger sisters, the housekeeper, and the serving girl. Mrs. Bennet did her best to keep Mr. Collins thoroughly distracted by inquiring about the gardens at Rosings Park, one of his favorite topics.

“Mr. Roberts, you must agree to take Mr. Collins’ place at the Netherfield Ball,” Lydia cried, tiring of the conversation about the new grape arbor that her Ladyship was having installed upon the south slopes of the Rosings estate.

“Now, Lydia,” Jane admonished, anticipating Elizabeth’s desperate glance. “Mr. Collins was invited as the guest of honor, we cannot expect—“

“I am quite relieved for you to say so, Cousin Lydia,” Mr. Collins said. “You truly are as bright as you are lovely.” Lydia made a face, but Mr. Collins did not seem to notice. “I was, indeed, just telling Mr. Roberts that he should take himself to Netherfield Park at once to make Mr. Bingley’s acquaintance.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened slightly and she averted her gaze quickly to the Cornish game hen that Hill set in front of her. She had barely touched her soup, and sensed that if she had been wearing a dress that she would have been scolded for her lack of appetite. Elizabeth dabbed at her mouth with her napkin, her thoughts a panicked jumble.

“Oh, yes! You simply must,” Lydia said fervently, clearly enjoying the discomfort her elder sisters were experiencing.

“We shall see, Lydia,” Mrs. Bennet snapped, and that appeared to be the end of the conversation as Mr. Collins began a comparison of Hill’s Cornish hens to the one he had last eaten at a dinner party at Rosings Park.

Elizabeth and Jane exchanged relieved glances, but Elizabeth knew that this was not the last time the topic would be broached. The Netherfield Ball was only a few days away, and her meeting with Mr. Hawksworth much farther removed.

Elizabeth was in a precarious position—acting out of character would be suspicious. How would a gentleman react; especially one newly come into an inheritance such as this?

Elizabeth put a forkful of Cornish hen into her mouth and tried to think of something to say. As the new head of the family, she could not let her mother dictate her, or Mr. Roberts’, actions.

She chewed thoughtfully for a moment and then set down her knife and fork. “I believe that Cousin Lydia is correct,” she said, louder than she had intended.

All noise in the dining room ceased as every pair of eyes turned in her direction.

“Mr. Roberts, surely—“ Jane began, but Elizabeth silenced her with a sharp glare.

“From what Cousin Jane has told me in her letters, Mr. Bingley has been very kind to this family, and he deserves a proper introduction, and our gratitude.

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