The Garden of Roses by Anne Arden

Author:Anne Arden [Arden, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Anne Arden

Chapter 8

Soon, Elizabeth found herself once again immersed in the sweet and peaceable sanctity of the Rosings Park rose garden. At long last, she could breathe again, inhaling the tender, near ethereal scent of pearl pink and scarlet red roses as her gaze devoured the beauty of the florals.

For a few precious moments, she lost herself in the garden, seeking the solace in beautiful birdsong as she struggled to regain her bearings.

To mention little of her lost pride.

Never had she felt so insulted—so utterly humiliated… She fumed in silence, remembering Lady Catherine’s words as she suddenly conjured all of the clever rebukes that had eluded her moments earlier—all of the sharpened bon mots that she was more than certain would have put Lady Catherine de Bourgh very much in her place.

Seeming to read her mind, Colonel Fitzwilliam turned to face her with serious eyes and a slight, though markedly sincere smile.

“I am truly sorry, Miss Bennet, for the behavior of my aunt,” he apologized with a deep bow. “For once I must admit it, I am abashed by her conduct.”

Forcing a polite smile, Elizabeth waved away the colonel’s words with a weak attempt at a casual wave.

“Oh, dear Colonel, you have no need to apologize,” she assured him. “And you really should not have been called away from your hours of reading and relaxing to play the role of my chaperone. Mr. Darcy did, after all, offer to accompany me for the occasion of this walk.”

She bit her lip all of a sudden as she took note of the undeniable lilt that elevated her tones at the mere mention of Darcy’s name.

The colonel shook his head, a smile playing on his lips.

“I assure you, dear lady, it is never any trouble for me to enjoy a long good walk in the gardens of Rosings Park,” he assured her in a charming tone. “Especially when I walk by the side of a beautiful young lady.”

He paused here, adding with a shrug, “Although I must agree that Darcy no doubt would have much preferred to stand in as your escort this sunny afternoon.”

Elizabeth felt a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks at his words.

“Do you think so, Colonel Fitzwilliam?” she murmured, her cheeks flaming at the colonel’s emboldened—and, she had to admit, most welcome—comments. “Truly?”

The colonel nodded with a smile.

“Indeed,” he affirmed. “I do believe, Miss Bennet, that you claim an ardent admirer in my dear cousin.” He arched his eyebrows. “As ardent as Darcy ever gets, that is.”

Elizabeth giggled outright, her step becoming light and vibrant as she practically skipped her way through the trails of the rose garden.

Just then, she caught herself, slowing her step as she cleared her throat loudly and folded her hands before her.

“Well, I must say, Colonel Fitzwilliam, that I am most pleased to hear of Mr. Darcy’s favourable opinion of me,” she stated, struggling to even and steady her tone. “He seems a fine gentleman.”

She was surprised to find that she really did think so.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.