A Far Better Prospect: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary by MJ Stratton

Author:MJ Stratton [Stratton, MJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-10T22:00:00+00:00

A few weeks later, Louisa woke up to a familiar feeling of nausea. Throwing back her covers, she rushed to her chamber pot and heaved violently.

Could it be? It had been over a year since her last disappointment. Hurst had dutifully visited her chamber twice a week to no avail. She had seen him staring at her stomach quite frequently, and Milly had even confided that Louisa’s husband had questioned the maid about Louisa’s courses.

It had been nearly seven weeks since the last time she had her monthlies. Could she perhaps, finally, be expecting? Louisa did not dare hope. She returned to her bed and requested a tray for breakfast. Milly returned from the kitchen with some dry toast and broth and a soothing cup of tea.

Louisa wandered around in something of a daze, half agony and half hope. She would not know for sure until the quickening, of course. She would keep her thoughts to herself for now. No point in upsetting Hurst if her suppositions proved false.

A beautiful bouquet was waiting in the vestibule for her when she ventured that way. It was filled with all her favorite flowers. Louisa searched for a card, but other than a simple piece of paper with her name, there was nothing. Rather than decipher some meaning from it as she normally did, Louisa instead resolved to just enjoy the blooms.

She had settled in to answer a few letters when Charles strode into the room with Mr. Darcy close behind.

“Happy Birthday!” Charles cried, a wide smile covering his face.

“Birthday?” Louisa said in confusion. “Oh! Is it the nineteenth?”

“You forgot your own birthday, my dear sister?” Charles said incredulously. “Unheard of! For if you have forgotten, then clearly I have failed to express my love as your brother. We must rectify the situation immediately! Darcy and I are taking his sister to the museum. Will you not accompany us?”

“The museum?” Louisa said dumbly. Her brain was clearly not up to the task of thinking today.

“Yes,” Charles confirmed. “Do say yes. For we must depart before Caroline knows what we are about.”

Louisa chuckled and rose to gather her things. Before long she was in Mr. Darcy’s elegant carriage. Also in the equipage were her brother, Mr. Darcy, and two ladies, one young and one slightly older.

“Allow me to introduce to you my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy, and my aunt, Lady Matlock,” Mr. Darcy said.

Matlock? The countess? Louisa’s mouth went dry. “My lady,” she murmured quietly. Caroline would be furious when she found out.

“My sister is staying with my aunt until she goes to school in January,” Mr. Darcy said.

The young lady in question blushed and studied her hands folded in her lap. Lady Matlock tapped Miss Darcy’s leg lightly with her fan, causing the girl to sit taller and raise her gaze.

Louisa thought the girl seemed rather shy and sought to put her at ease. “I have heard that you play the pianoforte,” she said quietly. “Do you have a favorite composer?”

“I… that is to say, I do play,” Miss Darcy whispered.

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