Sweet Surrender: A Sensual and Passionate Pride and Prejudice Variation by Clair Arriela

Author:Clair, Arriela
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

They travelled in silence, but Mr Bennet preferred it that way. He was reassured to see Elizabeth reflecting on the life she had chosen.

“There is still time to change your mind,” he said, and Elizabeth looked at him as though she had just woken from a deep sleep.

“No, Papa, no! It is not about what is awaiting me in London.”

“Then it is about something you left in Hertfordshire?” Mr Bennet asked, suspecting there was something else.

“No,” Elizabeth said again, but her father knew she was not telling the truth. And her regrets could only be about a man. He observed her with curiosity as he had seen her as his comrade in the intellectual realm rather than as the magnificent lady she had become in recent years. He smiled as love was a matter Elizabeth Bennet could not control. Looking out of the window, he recalled the young men of the neighbourhood, trying to imagine who was his Lizzy’s chosen suitor. But no matter how hard he considered the young men, only one passed the examination. That proud aristocrat from London who had said that she was not beautiful enough to tempt him. He was the only choice for his clever daughter, just because he did not admire her as a woman.

“You know, Lizzy,” he finally said, “I have had a detailed conversation with Lord Averick about all the situations that could arise.”

“What situations, Papa?” Elizabeth asked, again less interested than she should have been when riding towards such a promising future.

“Let us say that you want to marry—”

“I do not. We have spoken about this.”

“You do not want to now. Nevertheless, London is a huge place, and you will meet many people. If you do ever want to get married, Lord Averick told me you can continue working if your new situation permits it. And to whatever extent you like.”

“Thank you, Papa, but for now, I must concentrate on the school, which is what I intend to do. But why did he choose me?”

“Well, dearest, in this society of ours, we live in a sad reality, and I am speaking about the whole kingdom, not just London or Hertfordshire. Ladies like you are rare.”

And seeing she wished to protest, her father did not let her and continued, “Accept this, you are happy for the life Lord Averick is offering you, but do not forget that as you are a rare gem, he is also lucky to have you.”

They continued their journey in silence, Elizabeth trying to imagine what Darcy had thought when he returned and she was not there. She imagined him in every scenario, angry at her departure or, on the contrary, relieved. Still, all she knew for certain was that she regretted leaving without a last conversation with him. One more night and she would have been a woman, and now she could only imagine what that meant.

“We shall stop at your uncle’s house. Mrs Gardiner’s orders.”

“I thought we were in a hurry,” Elizabeth murmured, not taking her eyes from the window as they were prone to fill with tears from time to time.

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