The Word of a Gentleman: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Marie Green

Author:Marie Green [Green, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Alternate Universe
Goodreads: 218678895
Publisher: Marie Green
Published: 2024-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Torment him. What on earth did he mean by that? She took in a ragged breath and watched him stride towards his horse expecting him to deftly jump into the saddle and ride off.

He did not.

Elizabeth watched as his fist clenched around the reins but he leaned towards his horse and mumbling something incomprehensible, then rubbed the horse’s long neck. Watching she noticed how his shoulders seemed to lift, his muscles tightening beneath the fine cloth of his jacket. The clenched fist holding the rein rose to his forehead and he was stilled for some time. What was he doing? she wondered.

When he suddenly patted the horse’s neck and dropped the rein over the low branch, she thought she heard him say, in a very low, tortured groan. ‘This will not do. This is not who I am.’ He was too full of anger. It was distorting everything. Wickham had turned his sister from a bright, confident young girl, who loved life to a frightened girl who blamed herself, and would not forgive herself for what she had done and how she had injured her brother. And now he had to contend with this marriage into a family far below him. But Elizabeth Bennet was not to blame for this anger. She knew nothing of Wickham, she too had been beguiled by him. And her support for her sister, he understood. But she had not been there when Jane threw herself at him.

She was forthright, spoke frankly, and obviously had no intention of hiding her feelings. He had only known Elizabeth for a short time, but he felt she was genuine and she certainly loved her sister. She was a guest in his house and he ought to treat her as such not berate her for the turmoil that raged through him. He had asked her not to sketch his character so soon and here he was giving her every right to sketch a proud, disagreeable, angry man.

Elizabeth watched as he turned and strode towards her. Oh, no, Elizabeth thought, what was he about to say now?

“Elizabeth, I beg your forgiveness. You are a guest at Pemberley, I apologise for speaking to you in such a manner. It was unforgiveable. You are a young lady who cares a great deal for her sister and – well, I’m sorry. I beg your forgiveness.” He had found it difficult but had acted as a gentleman. It occurred to him that he had never needed to apologise to a young woman before. He had lost his temper, only once before, when he was alone with Wickham in the private room in Ramsgate.

Elizabeth saw a man who looked truly sorry. “I forgive you. Will you forgive me? I spoke out of turn. I should not have –”

His gloved hand went up to stop her. “Certainly, you are forgiven. I promise to pay attention to your sister, if you can persuade her to leave her room and to join the party.”

“Of course, thank you,” Elizabeth said softly.

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