The Other Elizabeth Bennet by Meg Osborne

Author:Meg Osborne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 19th Century, Love, Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth and Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet Darcy, JAFF, Jane Austen Fan Fiction, Jane Austen, Regency, clean and wholesome romance
Publisher: Meg Osborne
Published: 2017-06-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“I shall not be away long,” Darcy said, as he folded his letter and set it down beside his plate.

“What a pity that you must be away at all!” Caroline lamented, with a none-too-subtle glance towards her brother. She need not say any more for her meaning to be entirely clear to Darcy. How can you leave us at a time like this? Darcy knew the timing was not the best, but what could be done? There was a problem in London that needed his immediate attention, and as such he must see to its solution.

“I am sure you will scarcely notice I am gone!” he said, returning to his breakfast. “After all, is not the assembly in a day or so? That will provide ample distraction. And without an additional guest, Miss Bingley, you might dance with all the gentlemen of Hertfordshire should you wish to.”

Caroline pouted, and Darcy knew that his absence at the assembly accounted for at least half of her disappointment. She had looked very much forward to arriving at the Meryton assembly on Mr Darcy's arm and had doubtless schemed to secure him for several dancers all to herself. He kept his features impassive, but could not help internally rejoicing that Fletcher’s problem had at least provided him with an escape from that particular evening’s entertainments.

“It is not merely for myself I am concerned,” Caroline continued. “My poor brother!”

“Poor nothing!” Bingley said, cheerfully. “Darcy said himself he shall not be gone long. Honestly, Caroline, you act as if I am utterly incapable of comporting myself without my friend here to remind me when to bow and how to be agreeable in society.”

Caroline’s features hardened into a frown. It was not Bingley’s manners that concerned her, rather his propensity to be too agreeable, and towards one lady in particular. Darcy said nothing. His own opinion of Jane Bennet, and her sister, was in flux, and that was as second reason why he rejoiced in the chance to return to London, however fleetingly he might be there. He wished to determine for himself that he was correct in his first assessment of Elizabeth Bennet. Meeting her had shaken his resolve, and seeing her sister interact with Bingley had further worn him down. They were a happy couple. She was perhaps a little less equal to Charles in terms of wealth, but it ought not to be remarked upon. She was pretty and kind, and quite amiable enough that he could foresee them being happy together. Caroline’s assertion that she cared only for Charles’ money, Darcy had abandoned on first observing the pair together. There had been a light to Jane Bennet’s eyes that occurred whenever Charles spoke, and he ventured to presume, though he was by no means an expert in the manners of ladies, that she was quite in love with him. If only he could ascertain that her sister was not the hoyden he had heard of, he might relax further. Somehow it was

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