Foiled Elopement: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Renata McMann & Summer Hanford

Author:Renata McMann & Summer Hanford [McMann, Renata]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2017-06-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve – In-laws Met

Mr. Bennet arrived at the Sleeping Cat with a profound sense of relief. The journey had been blissfully uneventful. He offered Jane a smile. She made a pleasant travel companion, his eldest child. Perhaps he should have spent more time with her over the years. With her kind nature and pretty looks, she was sure to leave home soon, and take much that was sensible with her. He and Elizabeth would be alone in a sea of foolishness.

When they arrived at the Sleeping Cat Inn, Mr. Bennet was pleased to see it was a neat, well-maintained building. It stood a bit apart from the rest of the town, giving it a certain prominence. The wide porch, extensive stable and large innyard added to the general appearance of respectability.

Disembarking and sending his driver toward the stable to see to the carriage and horses, Mr. Bennet led the way inside. The large common room was airy, with wide windows along one wall to let in fresh air and daylight. A highly-polished bar stretched along the far wall, with a fireplace and pianoforte opposite each other at the two shorter ends of the room.

A man came out from behind the bar to greet them, further reassuring Mr. Bennet with his cheerful demeanor. “Welcome to the Sleeping Cat,” the man said. “I’m the innkeeper, Mr. Buchanan. How may we be of service today, sir?”

“I’m Mr. Bennet,” he said by way of greeting. “This is my daughter, Miss Jane Bennet. We’re here to collect another of my daughters, Elizabeth. She said she would be here.”

The man rocked back on his heels slightly, his expression clouding in a way Mr. Bennet didn’t care for. “Miss Bennet was here, and will return this evening, but she is not here now. She left for Scotland this morning.”

“Scotland?” She couldn’t be on her way to his sister, if she meant to be back by evening.

Mr. Buchanan nodded. He tugged at his collar. “She left in the company of a Mr. Darcy. They mean to marry.”

Jane gasped.

Mr. Bennet stared at the innkeeper. Mr. Buchanan could not possibly be correct. Running off to Scotland was something Lydia would do, not Elizabeth. She was the most intelligent of his daughters and not prone to flightiness at all.

“Mr. Bennet?” the innkeeper said, his voice sounding oddly far off. “Perhaps you should sit down, sir.”

“Papa, do sit down,” Jane said.

Mr. Bennet nodded, claiming the chair nearest him. “She’s gone to get married?” His Elizabeth wouldn’t do something so rash. As far as he knew, she’d never even fancied a gentleman. Who was this Mr. Darcy?

“Maybe it’s not so dire,” Jane said, taking the seat beside him. Her expression brightened. “Maybe Lizzy’s in love. It was bound to happen eventually.”

Mr. Bennet looked up at Mr. Buchanan. “Is my daughter in love?”

The innkeeper cleared his throat. “I couldn’t say, sir.” He glanced across the room toward a table where two respectable looking gentlemen sat at a gaming board. “If you’ll excuse me, Mr.

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