Their Secret Love: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novelette by Renata McMann & Summer Hanford

Author:Renata McMann & Summer Hanford
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Read, Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms
Published: 2020-02-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Drenched, for rain had caught them on their ride, Darcy returned to Netherfield with Bingley to find Miss Jane Bennet had fallen ill while visiting Bingley’s sisters. In most other women, Miss Bennet’s claim to be too sick to return home would have been pretense, but even Miss Bingley had to agree it was not. Bingley called for his carriage, changed, and went to fetch the apothecary.

The following morning, Miss Bennet still abed and unlikely to rise from it anytime soon, Elizabeth appeared. From her damp boots, beguiling flush and muddy hem, it was obvious she’d walked the three miles from Longbourn, and she looked enchanting. Darcy could hardly conceal his pleasure. He dared to flatter himself with the idea that concern for her sister wasn’t the only impetus for her presence.

Yet she disappeared into her sister’s room and did not come out, and Darcy knew fresh agony. To have Elizabeth so near yet be unable to go to her…But he could not. Miss Bennet obviously needed Elizabeth, and they still had to pretend, especially since Mr. Hurst was there.

Elizabeth did join them for dinner but when dinner was over, she returned directly to Miss Bennet. With so few of them, the men did not retreat for brandy nor the women for chatter, instead all five of them heading to their favored parlor. Darcy waited for the two sisters to sit together, then sat away from them, Bingley and Hurst taking places more in the middle of the room.

“How long do you suppose we’ll be made to endure Miss Elizabeth?” Miss Bingley said. “Her manners are so atrocious as to ruin my enjoyment of the meal, and between her pride and impertinence, she had no conversation.” Miss Bingley shook her head in mock sorrow. “And her gowns? Has she ever even been to London? Not that even the most established modiste could do anything to make someone as plain as Miss Elizabeth into a beauty.”

Darcy looked away, attempting to hide his displeasure.

“No, I daresay not,” Mrs. Hurst said. “No seamstress could. In truth, Miss Elizabeth has nothing to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild.”

Miss Bingley delightfully picked up that thread. She and Mrs. Hurst exchanged insults to Elizabeth, who was not even present to defend herself. Darcy gripped the chair arms tightly and maintained his silence.

“Your picture may be very exact, Louisa,” said Bingley, finally curtailing their venom. “But this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well, when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.”

Miss Bingley turned to face Darcy, to his dismay. “You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure, and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition.”

Forcing out the words expected of him, Darcy said, “Certainly not.”

Thus encouraged, Miss Bingley rose from the settee she shared with her sister and crossed to take the chair beside him, where she continued issuing insults.

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