The Lambton Reunion: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Lane Cossett

Author:Lane Cossett [Cossett, Lane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Not in Amazon Library, Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms
Amazon: B08DC4BBD9
Goodreads: 54616375
Published: 2020-07-19T04:00:00+00:00

28

“I don’t like this,” Eleanor Gardiner was stabbing at a piece of paper with a paintbrush.

“Don’t do that, Eleanor. What you’ve done is beautiful.”

The young girl pushed the paper away impatiently. “Don’t like it,” she said crossly.

Victoria, who was practising her writing with Sarah, Mrs. Cotter’s granddaughter, exchanged looks with her new friend.

Elizabeth inwardly sighed. She was trying to do her best bust she wasn’t enjoying it.

She sat down beside Eleanor and tried to coax her to draw, but Eleanor refused and in the end, she told the girls to pack up their things so they could go for a walk. No one was sorry to leave the vicarage.

Victoria and Sarah walked together while she held onto Eleanor, who liked to run off if she got the chance. It was a lovely day and Elizabeth immediately felt better. The Old Vicarage was set back from other houses, and they walked down the road to the first set of cottages and down towards the church. As they walked three men were coming in the opposite direction. Elizabeth peered at them. She was sure it was the man she had seen in Lambton. He was with two other men, they were laughing and joking, swaying slightly as they walked. Elizabeth pulled the girls to one side to let them past. One of them doffed his hat at them, and made a comment she could not hear. The men went on their way, but one looked back. The’r eyes met and there was a look of recognition in his eyes. It was Mr. Wickham. He looked startled to see her. She was just as surprised to realise it was him and wondered what he was doing in the area. She couldn't imagine Mr. Darcy would be pleased if he knew of it. Calling hurriedly to the children, Elizabeth and the girls continued on their walk. For some reason the brief encounter had left her feeling unsettled, but she had no idea why. Perhaps it was because she still felt uncertain about Wickham’s character. But what did it matter? Neither Mr. Wickham or Mrs. Darcy was anything to do with her.

They continued their walk and took Sally back to her aunt’s house before returning to the Old Vicarage. When they got back, Victoria took Eleanor upstairs so that they could change out of their boots. They were chatting happily together and Elizabeth was pleased to see that they were content. They still mourned for their mother and several times Victoria had wept bitter tears in Elizabeth’s arms saying how much she missed Mrs. Gardiner, but those occasions were becoming less frequent.

Elizabeth went into the drawing room. Mrs. Kendrick was sitting at the table with a basket full of sewing. Elizabeth looked at it in surprise. She could not imagine her mother ever doing such a task. Her mother did little more than sit in a chair each day and gossip.

Mrs. Kendrick put down her needle and the sheet she was sewing.

She reached for a large white card which was on the table next to her.

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