Mr. Darcy's Unexpected Christmas: A Pride and Prejudice variation by Teresa Darwell

Author:Teresa Darwell [Darwell, Teresa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

With despondent heart, she thanked the merchant courteously and left, her spirit crushed. She could hardly direct a man in Fitzwilliam’s employ to produce such an article and moreover to keep it secret from his master. She relented her standards insofar as she did purchase a hefty tome of the history of the land in the district Pemberley sat, but she made solemn oath that only if she were weakened by illness or took a tumble from a horse would she present such to Darcy on Christmas Day.

Fatigued and dispirited, Elizabeth finally conceded and allowed her maid and servant to have refreshments brought to her at the hotel. She supped the reviving tea but managed only a bite or two of the dainty pastries which did little to replenish her drooping energy. Sitting quietly, she reviewed all she had seen so far, wondering if any of them might do. Yet all the articles she had seen, beautiful as they may be, were entirely unsuitable. Each could be purchased by any wife and given to any husband.

She was in search of a special and unique expression of her love. She had spent the day entire scurrying from one merchant to the next in a fatiguing frenzy and to what avail?

Afraid she might succumb to the defeat and tiredness threatening to overpower her, she bit her lip that she might banish the tears pricking her eyes. She would not give way! Barely fortified by the tea and refreshments, she rose quickly from her seat and ventured outside once more. A slight giddiness assailed her but closing her eyes against it she steadied herself and carried on. She pulled her cloak tightly around her for the day was no longer young and the wind was whipping around her gown as if to mock her. Flakes of snow blew viciously, determined to catch in one’s eyes and make everything hazy and indefinite.

She fought her way on, no longer sure which way the few remaining merchants she had not yet called upon lay. She called out for her maid but received no answering call. Discomfited and disoriented, Elizabeth tried to reverse her course, but could no longer see the entrance to the hotel.

“Tilly!” she called again. “Chambers!” She could hear nothing over the howling of the wind and the flapping of her cloak as she fought to keep it in place. She knew not whether her quickening breath was caused by the raging wind or the increasing panic in her breast.

And then – a hand on her arm! Were she a more sensitive creature she would have fainted dead away but as it was, she cried out in fear and tried to pull away her arm.

…. mistress… come here... come here.… come here….

The voice was everywhere, surrounding her, it was of the very wind itself.

“Let go of me!” Elizabeth demanded desperately. Why could she not free herself? The hand upon her arm was like a claw, clinging and strong.

“Please,” she pleaded, “I have money, my purse- 0h!” She realised in horror that her maid carried the reticule.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.