The Unreformed Mr Darcy by Mei Wei Lin

Author:Mei Wei Lin [Lin, Mei Wei]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

Lover's Walk

Elizabeth sat stiffly next to the viscountess. Lady Lindsey had had one of her migraines and could not accompany her to the Exchange. Lady Howe, her daughter in law, had to go instead. Elizabeth would have written a note in return declining this generous offer, but as Lady Howe was the one who in person delivered the message at the very moment that Elizabeth sat, ready, waiting for the countess in her front parlour, there was no going around the issue—the two women would go shopping together, even despite their mutual dislike.

Ever since their first meeting, Elizabeth was conscious of Lady Howe’s contempt for her and her family. She appeared to be contemptuous of almost everyone, but at the same time had never said or done anything to make Elizabeth regret that they would never be friends.

It was all the same to Elizabeth now. As had been the case when she was with the Bingleys, far bigger problems than the petty jealousy of society women were haunting her mind. All she could think of was that her sojourn in town was coming to an end; that she was soon to be delivered to Pemberley, to spend the rest of her days in this silent misery, in a marriage doomed to failure and unhappiness.

She had been, for the past few days, gathering the courage to ask Mr Darcy to allow her to invite Jane to Derbyshire. She had, originally, wanted to ask him to allow her sister to come to town and spend whatever remained of the Season together, but with the quarrel and everything that had happened, she thought that he would be disinclined to be kind to her or Jane.

The way things stood now, she wouldn’t be surprised if he were less inclined to reintroduce Jane to Mr Bingley than ever.

Her mind in a muddle, she said nothing for a long time as she sat in the town coach next to Lady Howe. The silence made the viscountess smile, and she said, “Oh do not worry, dear Mrs Darcy, the first weeks are always so hard.”

Elizabeth turned her head sharply.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Marriage,” said her ladyship. “It is so very hard, is it not?”

“You are mistaken,” Elizabeth said quickly, schooling her expression. She did not trust the viscountess, and did not want her to have any impression, which she might then spread around society in the form of malicious gossip. “I have no complaints. What is the hold up, can you see from your window?”

“A stagecoach is trying to pass some obstinate man with a cart,” said the viscountess, glancing out. “Do you mean to tell me that the height of your marital bliss looks so, ah, so pale and disconsolate? I am almost curious to see how you do look when you are truly miserable then.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Thank you. No doubt, at length, as our acquaintance continues, I will be able to oblige you, and make you very happy indeed. Then we can compare expressions and talk of it.

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