Of Adoption and Acceptance: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Jae George

Author:Jae George [George, Jae]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2023-05-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

The Colonel arrived half past one the next day to find his cousin looking chagrined and wearing his blue jacket over a yellow waistcoat. “Darcy, these colors are unusually flamboyant for you. Care to explain?”

“When we stop at the florist to pick up the bouquet I have ordered, you will understand, Richard.”

“Well, as you can see, I chose my dress uniform as an element of defensive armor against Lady Elizabeth’s barbs. She is rather sharp-tongued.” Darcy only smiled at the metaphor for the battle that Richard was suggesting.

Darcy’s bouquet was large and made up of yellow roses, blue hyacinths, and white lilies of the valley. He explained, “The yellow roses say, ‘I made a mistake,’ the blue hyacinths mean. ‘I am sorry,’ and the lilies of the valley symbolize humility. I do hope she accepts my floral apology and doesn’t make me grovel before her other callers. There are bound to be many after last night’s ball.”

‘Many’ was an understatement. As the opening ball of the season had been very well attended, the callers were too numerous for the two cousins to even get close to Lady Elizabeth. When her father saw them standing in line to make a brief bow, he approached and greeted them. “Fitzwilliam, Darcy, almost as much a crush as the ball last night, eh? Come with me, gentlemen, I will have a vase brought for your flowers, and you can write a note for Elizabeth if you like.”

They followed the man down the hall to the library, where several other floral offerings were already displayed. “She and her aunt will go through these after the visiting hours have ended. I promise she will get your message. That is unless you would rather wait in the line?”

“No, sir. Thank you for this option. I’ll just write a note to add it to the flowers.” When he was done with his note, the bouquet had already been placed in a vase. He put the note within the blooms. He had decided to be bold and had written: If you can forgive me, please allow me to take you riding in the park – before the fashionable hour. Your servant, F. Darcy

“I think this will do, sir. Thank you again.”

Before they left, the Colonel asked, “Lord Ryland, do you know how we can locate Miss Jane Bennet? I hear she is also in Town, and I would like to tender an apology to her.”

“I believe you will find her at her uncle’s house on Gracechurch Street, Colonel. However, I am not sure she is receiving visitors. You may want to speak to Mr. Gardiner at his business Gardiner Imports, before arriving at their residence.”

“Thank you, sir, for the direction and the sage advice.” With bows to the earl, the gentlemen left.

*****

Late the following afternoon, a gigantic red-haired liveried footman delivered a note to Darcy House and waited on the steps for a reply. The message read: Yes, I can. Prince and I will be waiting for you at nine in the morning.

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