Miss Bennet and the Beast: A Pride & Prejudice Variation Novel by April Floyd

Author:April Floyd
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms
Published: 2018-02-26T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

ELIZABETH WOULD NOT SEE either of the Darcy siblings again for nearly a fortnight. She was surprised when days passed and Miss Darcy did not come to call nor send a note.

She thought perhaps Mr. Darcy had returned to his plan of keeping the young mistress close to Pemberley. She hoped not and considered writing a note to Miss Darcy after breaking her fast.

Leaving her room to go to her aunt, Elizabeth saw her cousins gathered outside their parent’s door. Young Seth was fidgeting and Elizabeth went to him and picked him up to settle his restlessness.

“You may visit your mama for a short time, young man, and after breakfast we shall have a game of Follow the Leader and chase the hounds about the field beyond the gardens.”

Seth bounced up and down in her arms at this bit of information. Susan and Sophie led the way into their mother’s room when a maid opened the door and announced Aunt Madeline ready to receive her visitors.

Before bustling away on her errands, the maid ruffled Seth’s fair curls and gave him her best smile. Young master Gardiner had become a favorite of the staff at Dunleavy.

Elizabeth bent and released her wriggling cousin so he might join his mother. The girls would find their place at the foot of the bed but young Seth still wished to snuggle beneath his mother’s arm whenever he might.

Aunt Madeline was in good spirits although Uncle Gardiner had returned to London only the day before. Elizabeth hoped he might remain in Derbyshire for a time but an express had arrived.

His warehouse manager reported a missing shipment of spices and silk and a very unhappy, very wealthy customer now without the goods he had paid for months prior.

Before Elizabeth settled in her seat by the bed, the maid returned with a tray for her aunt and a cart laden with breakfast for the children.

Soon, the three Gardiner children turned earnestly to their food at a small table set before the row of windows overlooking the gardens. Elizabeth poured herself a cup of tea from their pot and pilfered an apple before returning to her aunt’s bedside.

“Would you care to come downstairs and sit on the terrace whilst I pretend to be as young as my cousins, Aunt Madeline?”

Elizabeth bit her apple as her aunt considered her suggestion.

“Do you think the doctor would approve? Edward certainly would not.”

“I could ask the maid when she returns. I know she received strict instructions as to your care. Perhaps if you remain upstairs and sit on the balcony of Lady Mary Grace’s drawing room, it shall not prove particularly taxing.”

Aunt Madeline’s countenance brightened at this plan.

“’Tis only a few steps down the hallway and I would so love to see more than these four walls, lovely as they are.”

Elizabeth was pleased to see her aunt smile again. Since the night the pains had come, Elizabeth knew her Aunt Madeline had struggled with the restrictions put in place by the doctor. There had never been a moment’s trouble with her health when carrying the other Gardiner children.

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