Mr Darcy's Autumn Intervention by Meg Osborne

Author:Meg Osborne [Osborne, Meg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jane Austen Fan Fiction, Pride and Prejudice Variation, Mr. Darcy, Lizzy Bennet
Publisher: Meg Osborne
Published: 2022-08-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Elizabeth enjoyed her walks with Charlotte Lucas almost as much as she did those she took with Jane. More so, at present, she thought, with a sigh. Whatever had occurred between her and her sister was still not resolved, largely because whenever Lizzy tried to raise the issue, Jane insisted nothing at all was wrong.

Nothing but the fact that my sister wants no more to do with me!

“...and so, Maria said...goodness me, Lizzy! I really must be telling this story all wrong to have you look like that!” Charlotte winced. “It is supposed to be funny!”

Obediently, Elizabeth smiled, but she could tell the expression was not quite convincing and in the end she gave it up.

“I’m sorry, Charlotte. I was distracted by my own silly problems.” She drew Charlotte over to a low wall and sat down, gesturing to her friend to join her. “Tell me again from the beginning. I am all attention now.” She folded her hands in her lap and looked with interest at her friend.

“No.” Charlotte shook her head but did at least sit next to Lizzy. “If you have something on your mind I certainly do not mean to add to it with my nonsense. Tell me, please, for I do hate to see you struggling with a problem alone. Is it - does it concern Mr Bingley?”

Lizzy had been so preoccupied with thoughts of Jane that the mention of their neighbour from Netherfield came as a complete surprise.

“Mr Bingley? No, not at all!” Lizzy paused, recalling the last interaction she had had with their handsome neighbour and wondered if she might do better to discuss this problem - which she could easily define and entrust to sensible Charlotte - than the nebulous distance that had sprung up between her and her sister. “That is, it is not a problem, but...” She sighed. “Charlotte, I know that I can trust you. You are my dear friend and if I swear you to secrecy you will stay silent.”

Charlotte mimed fastening her lips closed, her eyes dancing with merriment that soon faded when she saw just how overwhelmed Elizabeth was by her concerns. Charlotte took her hand and squeezed, urging her to speak and promising, silently, to listen.

“Mr Bingley came to call on us the other day, along with Mr Darcy and Miss Bingley, to invite us to dinner.”

“I saw them myself in Meryton that same day,” Charlotte nodded.

“They stayed above a quarter-hour, talking with my parents and my sisters...it was a call on the whole household, you understand? Not just to me.”

“Of course! It speaks to Mr Bingley’s agreeable nature. Go on.”

“He and I spoke, of course, although not of anything particularly important. We spoke of books - or rather, of a book. Udolpho.”

Charlotte nodded. She and Lizzy had both devoured this recent publication and had devoted many happy hours to discussing the intricacies of its character and plot.

“He enjoyed it almost as much as I did and agreed with me on all of the best and most shocking moments of the story.

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