Darcy and Elizabeth's Dreams of Redemption: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Melissa Anne

Author:Melissa Anne [Anne, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RBC Wordpress LLC
Published: 2024-06-27T00:00:00+00:00

22

There was little doubt in Elizabeth’s mind that her guards would still be waiting outside when she hurried downstairs just after dawn, especially since Wickham was still at large. Much to her surprise, her Uncle Gardiner was also waiting.

“Might I accompany you on your walk this morning, Lizzy?”

“Certainly, Uncle. I would be pleased to have you join me,” she replied.

The two set off and walked for several minutes in silence. Finally, her uncle broke the silence. “I like your young man very much.”

She grinned at him. “I do too.”

“Do you want to keep to the plans we made? Going to Pemberley? Your father signed everything Phillips put in front of him yesterday, including an outline of the wedding settlement and a statement granting his permission for the wedding to proceed, without questioning any of it.”

Elizabeth could only shake her head. “We need to leave Hertfordshire for the safety of my sisters, with Mr. Wickham still not captured. And while I worry about what will happen to Longbourn when I go away, I should not be made to feel guilty for wanting to leave. My father should not have expected me to remain here forever to do what he would not.”

“Among other things, he signed control of the estate over to Darcy, who will, of course, defer decisions to you,” Uncle Gardiner told her, causing Elizabeth to look at him in surprise. “With the entail, your father cannot transfer its ownership, but the agreement gives the control of the estate’s profits over to the two of you. I spoke to Darcy yesterday, and he intends to allow you to continue to make decisions about how the estate’s funds are spent. Of course, the household expenses will be paid first, followed by one hundred pounds apiece for you and your sisters. These amounts are to be paid to the husband or guardian of each of you, although your marriage settlement says these funds are yours as a part of your annual pin money.”

Shocked, Elizabeth blurted, “I cannot believe he did not even bother to read what he was signing. I have never been able to sign estate papers, but I read them carefully before passing them to my father. How will that even work?”

“Darcy wanted to speak to you about it ahead of time, but there was no real opportunity to do so.”

“What will my father do when he realises what all he has agreed to?”

“There is nothing he can do, and honestly, I do not think it will trouble him too much in the end. It will allow him to be just as indolent as he presently is and will make no material difference in his life, and with all of you girls at Pemberley, Longbourn will be a far quieter place than he is used to.”

Elizabeth did not respond, and the two spent several moments contemplating what had been shared. “Uncle, am I foolish for wishing to marry Mr. Darcy without my father’s permission and even his blessing? Is he

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