Feather in the Wind: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Madeline Kennet

Author:Madeline Kennet [Kennet, Madeline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-06-14T22:00:00+00:00

Missed Opportunities

While Charlotte slowly recovered, she and Elizabeth missed two opportunities to dine with Mr. Bingley, of whom they continued to hear the highest praise; his sisters, about whom they had heard a great many unflattering things; Mr. Hurst, about whom they had heard there was nothing to say; and Mr. Darcy, who was apparently still in the neighbourhood much to everybody’s surprise.

“I watched him walk into Mrs. Long’s drawing room and look around with an expression of great discontent,” Lady Lucas told them on the morning after the second dinner party. “I do not know why he stays. He scarcely talks to anybody and never looks as though he is enjoying himself.”

“Mr. Bingley always looks happy,” Maria said. “He spends most of his time by your sister’s side, and everybody can see that he admires her greatly.”

“Your mother is in high hopes that they will make a match of it,” Lady Lucas said without sounding especially happy about that prospect.

Elizabeth swiftly changed the subject, preferring not to be mortified by thoughts of how her mother must be behaving if she was so certain of this match. It was all to easy to conjure up an image. She would be incapable of keeping quiet about her expectations.

It was on that same day that Elizabeth returned home. Charlotte spent all of morning out of bed and pronounced herself to be fit again, which very much appeared to be an accurate assessment. The colour was back in her cheeks, and she was able to summon up a moderate amount of energy.

“You will both be able to dine with the Gouldings tomorrow,” Lady Lucas said. “It will be a fine opportunity to see for yourselves how little pleased Mr. Darcy is with everything.”

Elizabeth was curious to meet the gentleman. Evidently, there would be little pleasure in making his acquaintance, but the observation of his strange manners might offer interesting diversion. As for Mr. Bingley, she felt equal to meeting him as Jane’s admirer. There would be no jealousy or regret that her sister had met him first.

On the following evening, she was delighted to meet Mr. Bingley, in part because he was indeed very personable, but mostly because he was not the man to whom she had felt such a strong attraction. Despite of all her attempts at persuading herself that her little encounter had been trivial, the moment of this discovery came as a great relief. Now it was possible to be supremely happy for her sister because it was immediately evident that Mr. Bingley held Jane in the highest regard.

Did this mean that Mr. Darcy was indeed the man she had met? Were her opinions so different from those of her neighbours that she could have thought of Mr. Darcy pleasant while others found him disagreeable? Could she perhaps have met some stranger?

She expected to find out in another moment. She was introduced to Miss Bingley and the Hursts, but there was nobody else with them. An explanation was given before long when Mr.

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