The Golden Daffodil: Expanded Edition by Kendig Laraba

Author:Kendig, Laraba
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-05-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

The sitting room at Netherfield seemed very full of people; Mr. Bennet had arrived early at the mansion along with his two eldest daughters, ostensibly to sort out more details of the marriage settlements, but in actuality to be part of the discussion concerning George Wickham. Miss Colby, Anne, Darcy, and Bingley rounded out the group; thankfully, Miss Bingley had retired to her room for an afternoon nap after exhausting herself at the previous night’s ball.

“So Wickham ran,” Anne commented, tapping her lips with one slim finger.

“I fear so,” Darcy replied, marching up and down the blue and green Oriental rug. “It is exasperating.”

“What do you think he will do next?” Miss Colby asked.

Darcy took a few more turns on the carpet and then sank into a nearby chair, his brow clouded with concern. “In truth, I do not know,” he admitted. “In the past, Wickham has always fled from trouble, and it is quite likely that he will merely disappear for a short time, only to pop up again in another part of England, like a particularly diabolical jack-in-the-box.”

“You do not believe he will return to Meryton to pursue me?” Anne inquired calmly.

Her cousin grimaced and confessed, “While it seems unlikely, I cannot entirely rule it out. He must be desperate; he has absurd habits of expense and the militia, while it does not pay much, gave him the social standing to run up debts locally. You are a prize, Anne. You must take great care.”

“I hope he does return for me,” the heiress of Rosings declared with a disdainful curl of her lips. “He will find himself quite surprised by my abilities.”

Darcy winced openly and said, “Do promise me that you will take precautions, Anne.”

His cousin opened her eyes wide in a thoroughly overdramatic fashion. “Oh, dear cousin, I am the very soul of sense and caution!”

Darcy cast his eyes heavenward before turning his focus on the woman who would soon be his bride. Elizabeth was seated between her father and Jane, her porcelain forehead slightly wrinkled with a worried frown.

“Dear Elizabeth,” Darcy said huskily, “I do hope you will also take care. While Wickham would not obtain the wealth he so desperately desires from you, I am his sworn enemy and if he were to…”

Words failed him as he found himself quite unable to finish such a horrific suggestion. Elizabeth was on her feet in a moment, and he noted, for at least the twentieth time, how petite she was compared to his tall frame. Petite, beautiful, and altogether lovely.

“Dearest love,” she murmured, quite heedless of her audience, “I promise you that I will be extremely cautious until the situation with Wickham is resolved. I will not walk without at least a strong servant in tow, and I will always carry my knife with me.”

This provoked a squawk of astonishment from Mr. Bennet, who turned an amazed eye on her. “A knife, my dear girl? You must be joking!”

“Not at all,” his second eldest retorted. “Both Jane and I have been training with Miss Colby and Anne.

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