Miss Elizabeth's Charms: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novella by Zoe M. Warrick

Author:Zoe M. Warrick [Warrick, Zoe M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Shy/Misunderstood Darcy, Read
Goodreads: 220619862
Published: 2024-10-20T04:00:00+00:00

MORNING

From two until four, Elizabeth and Charlotte went to Meryton to run errands and be seen doing ordinary, unsuspicious activities. They then walked home to have dinner, after which Elizabeth used a map of Meryton and a scrying crystal on a string to track Mr. Darcy’s movements. With relief, she observed that he went to Mrs. Martin’s house as expected and fled from it at the appointed time along the westward road. The only hitch was that he next walked north toward Lucas Lodge instead of south to Willow Cottage.

As soon as Elizabeth saw Mr. Darcy go astray, she hurried from the cottage to find him. When she did, the face of Mr. Wickham wandering in the moonlight made her taste nausea again. But once she broke the glamor over him, Mr. Darcy in such a silly state became exceedingly diverting. He was supposed to pretend to be soused, but perhaps he had doubted his acting abilities or been required to drink by his friends.

Inebriation always revealed interesting facets of people’s characters. Elizabeth might have wondered whether the ever-staid Mr. Darcy would be belligerent or improper when in his cups. He was neither. He followed Elizabeth through the moonlit fields most placidly. Were Elizabeth alone in the dark with a different man in such state of drunkenness, she might have felt instinctively afraid in spite of her witchcraft; on this night, alone with Mr. Darcy, she suffered no fear at all. His tall, staggering presence was a relief to her. He was safe after his escapade.

At last, the candlelit windows of Willow Cottage appeared in the gloom. “Here, we are home,” Elizabeth said to her companion.

Moving with the excessive care of a man who knows he is unsteady, Mr. Darcy came with her to the parlor and, after bowing to Charlotte, sat on the sofa opposite Elizabeth’s chair. He glanced at his own waistcoat and sleeves, evidently observing that he was in his own form again, but said nothing. The stiffness of his expression suggested the worst kind of mortification.

“I think Mr. Darcy may benefit from a tonic to induce sobriety,” Elizabeth said to Charlotte.

“Ah,” said Charlotte. “One moment.” She went into her brewing-room, where her finished concoctions were stored in a large closet.

“I gather that you were able to carry off our plan?” Elizabeth asked, trying not to laugh at the poor gentleman’s state too much.

“I was,” said Mr. Darcy, straightening his cuffs.

Elizabeth was too merciful to tease him further.

Charlotte re-entered the parlor carrying a teacup and saucer. “I am afraid the taste is unpleasant,” she said.

Always proper, Mr. Darcy stood as she came in and thanked her as he accepted the cup. To his credit, he gave only a small grimace as he drank.

The potion worked instantly; Mr. Darcy blinked and then gracefully sat again. “I found records of debts amounting to almost a thousand pounds among Wick—Mr. Wickham’s belongings,” he said. “I showed them to all present at the supper party and left them there. His guilt in the matter of spending beyond his ability to ever pay is proven.

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