Letters from the Heart by Rose Fairbanks

Author:Rose Fairbanks [Fairbanks, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Rose Fairbanks
Published: 2015-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

*****

The Darcy carriage ambled into Meryton, and Darcy did not miss the sight of several townsfolk gawking at the crest. It drew even more attention than he anticipated, and he worried anew what may already be circulating. He saw the woman he believed to be Mrs. Bennet’s sister flap her arms wildly about and scurry down the road to Longbourn. Bingley noticed as well and let out a strange longing-like moan.

“We do not go straight to Longbourn?” Georgiana asked.

“No. There is time for me to change at least before arriving for dinner, and you shall remain at Netherfield.”

“Oh, please allow me to come!”

“You do not have an invitation and neither does Bingley, actually.”

“I hardly think they would mind!” Bingley cried.

“I arrive to sort out a terrible mess and may very much be unwanted. Elizabeth wrote in her letter that she has been led to believe, by your sister no doubt, that I desire to match you with Georgiana.” He ignored the looks of alarm from his friend and sister. “The family may not welcome you back so easily either. Allow me to go and do my duty and then we will see on the morrow if we may all call together.”

Georgiana and Bingley let out nearly identical sighs of frustration, and Darcy rolled his eyes. His own frustration was from a different sort entirely.

An hour later he arrived at Longbourn’s door in fresh clothing. The house was strangely quiet. He chose the coward’s way out and requested Mr. Bennet immediately instead of greeting the ladies in the drawing room. Mr. Bennet did not seem very welcoming and chose to stare at him directly.

“Mr. Darcy, would you care to tell me your reason for visiting today?”

“I believe I owe you an apology, sir,” he humbly began. “I have reason to believe a mislaid letter was sent here this morning. In it, among other things, I insulted your family.”

Mr. Bennet raised an eyebrow, and Darcy had the uneasy feeling that he was the prey being played with, as a cat toys with a mouse. “And is that the extent of your travesties?”

“No, sir.” He gulped. “I also declared my love for your daughter, Miss Elizabeth, and then arrogantly laid out all the reasons I chose not to offer for her. I insulted her, I blamed her for my own lack of composure, and now I worry that I have compromised her reputation.”

Mr. Bennet was silent for a long time. “I believe she has sent you a letter as well. I am inclined to let the issue pass. I understand you have both exchanged admiration and insults and agree a match is nonsensical.”

This was not how Darcy imagined the meeting to go. “Sir! I...you must see that there were others who handled these letters. An attachment, even an engagement, must be presumed.”

“You sound very certain when you have only arrived to the area yourself, and it has been mere hours since the letters were sent.”

Blast the man! He would make Darcy confess all.

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