Secrets & Loyalty: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Lane Cossett

Author:Lane Cossett [Cossett, Lane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Austenesque
Goodreads: 55104460
Published: 2020-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

From the book store, they had one more call to make and that was to the cobblers. Elizabeth couldn’t help looking to see if Sherborne Darcy had followed them, but she did not catch sight of him. She was still puzzled how he had found out facts about her. At first she had dismissed the idea that he might be following her, but now she realised that it must be true. She still didn’t understand what he hoped to gain by it. If he knew anything about Mr. Darcy, he must know that he was a man who liked to keep his business to himself. She had no influence over any aspect of Mr. Darcy’s life.

They arrived at the cobblers, which was very busy. They had to wait some time before they were served. Lottie handed over the boots and Elizabeth was tempted to leave, but she remembered Mrs. Gardiner’s instructions to look at wedding shoes. It was not something she wanted to do and she was beginning to wonder whether the wedding should go ahead. She had thought she knew Mr. Darcy, but since Lady Lavinia had appeared in their lives, he had grown distant and she wasn’t sure that she knew him at all.

The cobbler did have some white shoes that were being made. She got out a small piece of the fabric that was being used for her wedding dress and he said that they would go very well. Elizabeth still doubted it, but despite her reservations, she ordered them and was told they would be ready for her, along with Mrs. Gardiner’s boots, the next week.

At last their errands were all completed and they started on their journey back to Gracechurch Street. Victoria was complaining that she was hungry and thirsty, and Elizabeth sympathised. She felt the same herself.

Fortunately, it did not take them very long to arrive home. As they approached the street, Elizabeth saw a carriage outside number nine. It could only belong to Mr. Darcy. She wondered what he was doing there and hurried inside.

Mrs. Gardiner came out of the parlour to greet them, shutting the door firmly behind her.

“Mr. Darcy is here,” she whispered to Elizabeth. “He arrived soon after you left and insisted on waiting.”

Elizabeth took off her bonnet while Mrs. Gardiner shooed her daughter and Lottie upstairs to the nursery.

“I wanted to show you my book,” complained Victoria.

“Later,” said Mrs. Gardiner.

Elizabeth checked her appearance in the mirror, tucking in a stray curl and decided she looked her best.

“I will leave you to talk alone. You do not have long. Mrs. Salter will be here shortly.”

Elizabeth nodded, hoping that Mrs. Gardiner would not notice how nervous she was.

She opened the door of the parlour. Mr. Darcy was standing near the window.

“Mr. Darcy.”

“Miss Bennet.”

She closed the door.

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