Fortune & Felicity by Monica Fairview

Author:Monica Fairview [Fairview, Monica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: White Soup Press
Published: 2020-04-28T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

Three weeks passed, in which the house was turned into a beehive of frenzied activity as everyone prepared for the descent of twenty guests. Covers were removed, mattresses aired, carpets beaten, and the best household silver was taken out to be polished. Additional servants were hired as well as footmen. There was an air of excitement as the time approached, and even the children began to grow restless as they waited for events to begin.

Finally, the day of the House Party arrived. It was impossible to keep the children interested in their lessons. Every time a carriage arrived, they would jump up and run to the window to stare at the new arrivals.

“Oh, look, there’s Uncle Henry.”

Percy did not sound particularly excited to see his uncle. Elizabeth examined the exceedingly handsome young man stepping out of the carriage, accompanied by three other young men. He had a languid arrogance to him, and as he strolled to the door, he looked around him with an expression of boredom.

“Are you fond of your uncle, Percy?”

The boy looked uncertain. “Papa calls him a good-for-nothing rascal who cares about nothing but women,” said the boy gravely, doing a good imitation of Lord Barrington.

Elizabeth laughed, but then she remembered that, as a governess, she ought not to encourage him in such things. She diverted the conversation by having the children point out anyone that they recognized, which they were very happy to do.

“I wish we did not have to be cooped up in the schoolroom when everyone else is having fun,” said Percy.

“If that’s what you feel, then imagine how I feel,” said Elizabeth.

Six pairs of eyes examined her as if they had never thought she could possibly have any feelings on the matter.

“What do you feel?” said Charles, tugging at her hand.

“I feel very left out,” she said. “I would like to be down there with the rest of the adults, stepping out of my carriage and looking forward to some good food and entertainment.”

The children regarded her doubtfully.

“Aren’t you allowed to join them?” said Charles, probably expressing what the other two were thinking.

“Not really,” said Elizabeth, who wanted the conversation to be over.

“Good,” said Kathy, unexpectedly. “Then you can stay with us.”

Elizabeth did not know whether to take her words as a good indication, or if she only meant that now they were all trapped together.

***

Once all the guests had arrived, Darcy took some time to adjust to the constant presence of people around him. Pemberley had been quiet for so long, he found it difficult to get used to the constant conversation and hubbub around him. It was all very well, as Barrington had said, to bring the place to life, but there was such a thing as too much of a hullabaloo.

He felt it distinctly on the second night, after the ladies had retired to the drawing room, and left the men to their cheroots and their port.

A group of three men who had come with Sanders were far into

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