Very Merry Mischief a Pride and Prejudice Novella by Elizabeth Ann West

Author:Elizabeth Ann West [West, Elizabeth Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: jane austen fan fiction, christmas story, historical romance, regnecy romance, pride and prejudice fan fiction
Publisher: Pemberley Possibilities
Published: 2015-03-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

The huge black sheep dog ran circles around Elizabeth as she tried to stay upright and gain her balance in the snow shoes. The spirited barking and prancing of a canine around her did nothing to help her steady herself, and twice she had fallen into the snow with unrestrained cheer. The third such time, she laid back and the dog licked her cheeks as she laughed with abandon.

"Windsor! Here boy!" Darcy called out, picking up a snowball and tossing it away from Elizabeth. Windsor happily ran after the sailing ball, only to bark in confusion when it landed and disappeared. Elizabeth looked up from where she was lying to see Mr. Darcy's handsome face smiling back at her. "You are a force to be reckoned with, Miss Elizabeth." He helped her up and pretended to watch Windsor as she dusted the fresh powder off her skirts.

"Oh, who can be cross at such a happy animal?" She glanced at Darcy and bent down to make her own snowball. "Here, Windsor!" her tiny voice rang out and the big, bumbling dog changed his focus to Miss Bennet to chase the snow ball she threw, though not as far. Taking Mr. Darcy's arm, she walked with him as they chose to take the frozen garden paths. The bushes of holly proudly presented their evergreen and vivid red berries with a confectioner's dusting of snow upon them. Elizabeth knew better than to touch their prickly leaves, but she couldn't help enjoying the sights and clean scents of winter around her.

"By January, this pristine white will be marred with ugly dirt as the horses and other animals need their exercise."

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. "We hardly get any snow in Hertfordshire except a small dusting, and that rarely happens before Christmas."

Darcy nodded, being knowledgeable about the various weather patterns throughout the country. "How is your family? I confess I have heard so little through Charles. . ."

Elizabeth took a deep breath and broke off from his arm, electing to walk on a little ahead. She wasn't quite ready to broach the subject, and talking about her family was awfully close to talking of his absence. "All are well. My mother is visiting Lydia, though she will return before the New Year. The babe is likely already born, we're waiting to hear the news." Darcy nodded, thankful she didn't dwell on that branch of the family at length. "Mary is married, this past autumn, to Mr. Nichols. He has been afforded the living in Hertfordshire and she is most content to be a parson's wife."

"And your friend? Mrs. Collins?"

Elizabeth swallowed, confused that Darcy had not heard through his connections at Kent. "Mrs. Collins perished last summer delivering a son. I would have thought your aunt would write to you of the news concerning her subjects." Elizabeth bit her lip, realizing how crass she had sounded. It was true the grand dame of Rosings acted as a regent over the citizens of the county, but she had no reason to disrespect the woman at present.

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