Reduced Circumstances by Ola Wegner

Author:Ola Wegner [Wegner, Ola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sequels, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Angst, Not in Amazon Library, Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Truly ghastly Mrs Bennet
Goodreads: 31311021
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2016-07-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Elizabeth closed her eyes and tilted her face to the yellow orb on the sky, enjoying the pleasant warmth on her skin. Many times she had been criticised for exposing herself to the sunrays. Despite the opinion that it would not only ruin her complexion but also influence her health badly, she never refrained herself from doing so. She craved the sunlight, especially after long months of windy and mostly rainy winter.

She was seated on the wicker chair in the small garden at the back of the house. The day was both sunny and cloudy. Rain showers interrupted periods of almost clear sky.

Her mother had left for Hertfordshire two days ago. Elizabeth was relieved that Mrs Bennet was gone. Her presence was burdensome, to say the least. Elizabeth did not know how to act while in her presence. Mrs Bennet was a thorn stuck deep in her heart. Would there ever come a time when she would be able to think peacefully about her own mother, without distress, hurt, and shame?

Sensing someone’s presence by her side, she opened her eyes to see Darcy.

“Mrs Gardiner informed me that I would find you here,” he said. He took her hand, bringing it to his lips.

Elizabeth greeted him with a welcoming smile, gesturing towards a place in a wicker chair next to her. “I am pleased to see you returned,” she said. “Was your visit to Pemberley fruitful?”

“I found everything in place, exactly as I left it. Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper, as well as Mr Savage, the steward, do excellent work at keeping it in excellent shape.”

“It must be a source of comfort to have such a trusted staff.”

“It is indeed.”

Elizabeth could recognise by his vacant expression that his thoughts were not in Derbyshire, and were occupied with something different.

He moved his chair closer to hers and reached for her hand, enclosing her much-smaller palm in his larger one. “Your aunt told me about Mrs Bennet’s unexpected visit.”

“Yes, my mother was here. Fortunately, she did not stay long.”

Darcy examined her face. “I gather that you were not pleased to see her.”

“My mother appears to take interest in my person only when she sees that it benefits her.”

Darcy raised her hand to his lips again. She attempted a smile, but she failed miserably.

“I suspect that you had a misunderstanding in the past,” he guessed.

“‘Misunderstanding’ is too mild a word. After Papa’s death, when we were forced to leave Longbourn...” she paused, finding it difficult to speak. “In Mama’s opinion, it was my fault.”

Darcy frowned, confusion written on his features. “Your fault because you were born a girl, not the heir? Should she not hold a grudge against Jane, who was her firstborn?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “My fault because I rejected Mr Collins’s marriage proposal. Had I been Mrs Collins, instead of my friend Charlotte, we all could have stayed at Longbourn.”

“I see.”

“Mama claimed that I was no longer her daughter. I do not want to imagine what she would have said and how she would have acted had she learned that I rejected you, Mr Darcy of Pemberley.

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