Clever Compromises by APRIL FLOYD

Author:APRIL FLOYD
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: APRIL FLOYD

Chapter 15

Elizabeth sat in the parlor at Longbourn a week after Jane’s wedding composing a letter for the newlywed. In it, she relayed Mr. Darcy’s tender moment before the wedding breakfast and the fact that he was to pay a call that very afternoon. She would have to wait to send it until Jane supplied an address where the couple would stay in a seaside town for most of their days before returning to Netherfield Park.

Jane had said Mr. Darcy loved her and now Elizabeth had come to believe it must be so for why else would he have touched her face and said he was most fond of her impertinence? Now that she could no longer deny Jane’s assertions, Elizabeth thought on Mr. Darcy’s actions. He had been kinder to her since Jane’s illness and after her family had surely sunk once more in his estimation the afternoon of Mr. Collins’s second proposal.

When Mr. Wickham had shown undue attention to her younger sisters in Meryton, Mr. Darcy had given a warning of the man’s treachery though he certainly held no obligation to do so.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the whining of her sister Lydia. “But Mother, it is not fair that I must stay at home while Kitty is traveling about with Jane and Mr. Bingley! I ought to be allowed to go into Meryton as I please.”

Mrs. Bennet was in no mood for her youngest daughter’s petulance. Though Jane’s wedding had left her most pleased, Mrs. Bennet was implacable in her resentment of her second eldest daughter. In her mind, Elizabeth had stolen the chance to truly shine among her friends with two daughters married within weeks of one another.

“Elizabeth, take Lydia into Meryton and see that she behaves. Your father has said you are responsible for her and I agree. You chose to be the spinster sister when you should be planning your own wedding so you ought to be happy to play the part.”

Elizabeth had left her letter to dry on the writing desk as she thought of Mr. Darcy and now folded it neatly and placed it in the pocket of her skirt. It would do no good to argue with her mother over the care of Lydia. Instead she rose and motioned for her sister to join her. “Come Lydia, I will not remain in Meryton the whole of the afternoon.”

Knowing she would see Mr. Darcy later gave Elizabeth the patience to shepherd her annoying sister to the door of the home and listen to her prattle on about the lieutenants she might see in town.

“Father has said you must not seek their attention, Lydia, especially not that awful Mr. Wickham. Mr. Darcy warned us against him and I would not doubt his word.”

“La, Lizzy! You would and you did once upon a time. What has changed your mind? Mr. Darcy seems as haughty and boring as ever to me.”

Elizabeth followed her foolish sister out the front door and thought of just the right

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.