Rumours & Recklessness: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Nicole Clarkston

Author:Nicole Clarkston [Clarkston, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

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Elizabeth was, once again, spending the morning in her father’s room. Mr Jones had come and gone already this morning, and Mrs Cooper had finished Mr Bennet’s morning breakfast. “Miss Elizabeth, would you help me to change the linens?” she asked.

Elizabeth frowned. “How are we to do it? We cannot move him, can we?”

“Oh,” the lady chuckled, “there are ways. Come, I will lift the lower sheet under his body, and you can slide the fresh one beneath.” Thanks to Mrs Cooper’s deft, practiced fingers, they had the bed linens changed in good order. Elizabeth settled in her chair to read aloud again.

She was so engaged when there came a light knock upon the door. Mrs Gardiner opened it to Elizabeth’s summons. “Lizzy, Mr Darcy is here to see you.” She opened the door fully to reveal the tall man behind her, causing Elizabeth to start. “He expressed a wish to inquire after your father directly. I see no harm, do you?”

Elizabeth rose awkwardly. She had expected him to wait for her in the drawing room. She could not hide her surprise that he had come upstairs to see her- she had not expected such meek informality on his part. Darcy bowed his thanks to Mrs Gardiner, who cast a firm look to her niece. She stood back, allowing him room to pass by her. Darcy stood still a little hesitantly in the doorway, his fingers twitching at his sides. Elizabeth sighed, resolving to make herself amenable. “Would you care to come in, Mr Darcy?”

Mrs Gardiner abandoned him there, retreating back down the hall. He bowed and entered the modest room, his inquisitive gaze finding Mr Bennet’s pale face. It was a reminder of the very real uncertainty which still lingered over his new friend, and the instability wrought upon his beloved’s family.

“Mr Darcy, may I introduce you to Mrs Cooper?”

His attention rose back to the ladies facing him. Elizabeth’s expression was warmly welcoming. His eyes lingered on her, drinking in his first taste of her favour, for the space of an extra breath before he turned to greet Mrs Cooper. He found her very agreeable, with a competent air and a comfortable demeanour.

“I am right pleased to meet you, Mr Darcy, sir,” she curtseyed and met his gaze boldly. Though she had spent a great deal of her time shut away in this small room, the talk of Mr Darcy drifted through the door and permeated the servant’s kitchen where she took her meals. This, she knew, was her silent employer de facto, and it was clear to her at first glance that he had taken quite a fancy to her favourite of the Bennet girls. A very sensible man indeed, she decided.

Darcy smiled at the woman’s forthright manner. A servant from a great house- such as Pemberley, for instance- would not dare take such freedom in addressing him. Mrs Cooper, however, was a rustic sort of professional, and thus an independent of sorts. He had a feeling that

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