Mr. Darcy's Lost Love - the Rescue of Elizabeth Bennet_A Pride & Prejudice Variation Novella Series by April Floyd

Author:April Floyd [Floyd, April]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 46733176
Published: 2019-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

When Elizabeth returned to Gracechurch Street with her aunt and sisters, Mrs. Bennet met them at the door. She reached for Lydia first. “Oh my dearest girl, what has happened to you? Your father would not say much more than Mr. Wickham had left the two of you in an inn not far outside London.”

Elizabeth and Lydia exchanged glances. “Oh Mama, it is true. He never meant to marry me though he said many times he did. I suppose when his money ran out at the inn, he disappeared and Lizzy and I were left to find our way here alone.”

Mrs. Bennet’s hands fluttered over her youngest daughter. “More is the pity for him as you would have made him a wonderful wife. Your father has said that a Colonel Fitzwilliam wishes to have you as his bride. When did you meet him, my dear?”

Elizabeth embraced their mother and continued embellishing Lydia’s story while Jane and Madeline Gardiner led them all upstairs to the parlor. “Mr. Bingley came to visit with Colonel Fitzwilliam, who is Mr. Darcy’s cousin. He and Lydia became enchanted with one another and the rest is, as they say, history.”

The ladies gained the parlor and Mrs. Bennet continued her query. “How is it that Mr. Darcy has offered for your hand as well, Lizzy? I did not think you might fall in love with such a detestable man!”

“He improves upon acquaintance, Mama. Truly, he is not so terrible as he was when first we met him at the Assembly.”

Mrs. Bennet harrumphed. “Do not be fooled, Lizzy. He is a presumptuous and prideful man. Though it would make me the happiest mama in all of England to have two of my girls married at once, I would not care for the likes of Mr. Darcy as a son.”

Ignoring the defense of the man rising in her throat, for her mother did not know him as Elizabeth did, she turned away and went to sit with Jane.

“I cannot believe Mama carries on still over Mr. Darcy. He is not the same as he was then. People themselves alter so much that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.”

Jane bit the corner of her bottom lip to keep from smiling at her sister. “It is true, Lizzy. We ought never to think we know someone completely, not even someone as close as a sister.”

Elizabeth turned and examined Jane’s face to find whether she was teasing her for sport. “You know me completely, Jane. But with Lydia, there has been a change. This business with Lady Louise has changed her.”

“You are changed as well and it is understandable that you would be. I see a fear in you I never saw before. You have always been so happy and so brave, but you are not now.”

Elizabeth sighed with regret. Her heart was hurt and her feeling of agency was diminished. How easily she had been taken and forced into a situation from which she could not escape rankled her soul.

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