The Fire at Netherfield Park: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Renata McMann & Summer Hanford

Author:Renata McMann & Summer Hanford [McMann, Renata & Hanford, Summer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-05-21T05:00:00+00:00

Darcy

Darcy stood in the doorway to the parlor, watching Elizabeth and Georgiana play. They were too absorbed in their duet to notice him, and Mrs. Annesley’s head was bent toward her sewing, affording Darcy an excellent chance to study them. He had never heard his sister play so well. Elizabeth somehow put more feeling into her music, giving it life and vitality of its own. He doubted anything had been said, but by practicing with her Georgiana appeared to be learning that music was about more than dutifully playing the notes as written.

Why, he wondered, had he invited Elizabeth to Pemberley? His reasoning at the time had seemed sound, he had that as solace. When they met at the Gardiner’s, he’d been too much affected by seeing her again. Even though he’d known Elizabeth would be there, he’d been forced to linger in the hall for a time to gather himself. That was how much the sight of her moved him.

Which was why he’d leapt at the opportunity to invite her to his home. Not out of regard, but in the hopes of affecting a cure. Elizabeth Bennet, as he’d told himself numerous times, was much too low for him. She was also far too low for Pemberley. Darcy had thought, once he saw her here among the elegance and finery of his world, her unsuitability would manifest in uncountable small ways and grate on him, scouring away any feelings he might harbor toward her. He’d even brought Georgiana back, both to help contrast with Elizabeth and to keep her away from Miss Bingley.

Unfortunately, his reasoning was not bearing fruit. Unworthy as he knew her to be, she seemed at ease in his home. She complemented the tasteful surroundings. Darcy had only succeeded in making his situation worse.

He wondered if Elizabeth was like Georgiana’s crocus or the lone tree they’d passed on the road; beautiful because the surroundings were so plain. After all, she was the only young woman in Pemberley not already wed or directly related to him. As well, in Hertfordshire, there had been a dearth of beautiful women.

No, that wasn’t completely true. Elizabeth’s two younger sisters would be considered beautiful if they had enough rank, poise or money. Mrs. Bingley would be considered beautiful without standing or income. Now, she had both, and she was Elizabeth’s sister. Elizabeth’s connections had grown.

Still, in the carriage, Darcy had taken his sister’s words as a sign he was doing the right thing by bringing Elizabeth to Pemberley. At the time, he’d imagined Georgiana’s soliloquy about the lone flower an affirmation of the idea Elizabeth had gained a hold on him simply because she was the most fascinating of the women he’d been forced to endure in Hertfordshire. Now he found himself considering that perhaps he was a man ill equipped to interpret portents.

Standing there, watching Elizabeth’s agile fingers move effortlessly across the keys, Darcy realized acts of providence or no, he’d had enough of English roses. The eligible women of his class were uninteresting, one much the same as the next.

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