Prevailed On To Marry (A Pride and Prejudice Alternative Story) by Zoe Carter

Author:Zoe Carter [Carter, Zoe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-03-31T22:00:00+00:00

Miss Elizabeth Bennet was unaccustomedly nervous as she dressed for the evening at Rosings. She had been happy to tease and plague Mr Darcy when she thought he despised her, for she had realised early on that she must stand up to him or she would grow afraid of him. But now, things were different. He admired her, and he was capable of being wounded by her. That meant she would have to be more circumspect, for she did not want to give anyone pain, not even Mr Darcy. She was by nature a kind person and to torment someone was not in her nature. But she was still wary of Mr Darcy, for she knew he had done her sister a great deal of harm, and he had done Mr Wickham a great deal of harm, too.

It was one thing for him to tell his nurse that he meant to repair matters. It was another thing to actually do it. He might even change his mind. Whatever the case, she would require some proof before she was willing to relent towards him.

‘I have always liked you in that gown,’ said Charlotte, as she entered Elizabeth’s bedchamber. ‘The lace trim gives it an air of distinction without being overpowering. It sets your hair off beautifully. I am seldom jealous, or even envious, but I must admit I would like it if my hair was as thick and lustrous as yours, Lizzy.’

‘You have your own beauty, Charlotte,’ Elizabeth said.

Charlotte gave a rueful smile.

‘I am not a beauty, Lizzy, and you know it as well as I, but I thank you for your kind words. However, I like to see beauty, even though I do not possess it.’

‘If we are talking of beauty, then I am nothing compared to my sister Jane,’ said Elizabeth.

‘That is true,’ said Charlotte, in a matter-of-fact manner. ‘But Jane is not here and you are. I do wish you would give serious consideration to Mr Darcy, Lizzy. I am sure he admires you. He watches you when he thinks no one is looking, and a smile plays about his lips which is unlike any other smile I have seen on his face. It is gentler than his usual expression, and there is real admiration in it. His eyes warm, too. He is not a demonstrative man but I believe there is real affection there. You should not ignore the preference of a man like that, Lizzy.’

Elizabeth felt uncomfortable. She wondered whether to confide in Charlotte, but there had been a little coolness between them since Charlotte had married Mr Collins and she decided against it. If she told Charlotte that she knew Mr Darcy admired her, then Charlotte would press her to secure Mr Darcy’s affections as quickly as possible, and Elizabeth did not want to be hurried. Mr Darcy was still unknown to her in many ways and it would take more than an overheard conversation and a few uncomfortable recollections to make her perform a complete about-turn in her opinion of him.

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