Darcy’s Paramour: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by M. A. Sandiford

Author:M. A. Sandiford [Sandiford, M. A.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2020-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

22

There was no reason for Darcy to keep a low profile. He took her across Westminster Bridge and helped her descend from the carriage, so allowing the whole troupe to witness their arrival.

Herne, surprisingly, took her absence in his stride, but Rose was irritable as they dressed for acrobatics.

‘What’s going on, Beth?’

‘Mr Darcy helped me after I had an accident.’

Rose ran a finger along the graze on her hand. ‘What accident?’

‘I’d rather not say.’

‘So you stayed the night at his house?’

‘In the guest room. With his sister and cousin also in residence.’

‘You never tell me anything.’

‘One day, dear Rose. Promise.’

‘The others are anxious too. You’ve helped get these commissions, and now it seems you’ll be running off like Olivia.’

‘I’m not engaged to Mr Darcy.’

‘So Bella is right, and you’re his canary bird.’

‘Bella can imagine whatever she wants.’

‘You know what she thinks, don’t you? You take Percy away from her, then you drop him for the first rich gentleman who takes a fancy to you.’

‘That is ridiculous. I’ve told Percy that I have no intention of marrying anyone, himself included.’

‘Have you told Bella?’

‘Repeatedly. Makes no difference.’

Rose threw on a cloak, ready to leave. ‘They’re doing the pyramid at the Amphitheatre tonight.’

‘Without Tabby?’

‘Her knee won’t be ready for another week or two.’

‘That’s all I need.’

‘We’ll practise. It will go all right.’

At the edge of St George’s Fields, Elizabeth watched as Rose rehearsed dismounts for her Equestrian School routine. It was so familiar that she hardly needed to prepare: the trial run was mostly for the benefit of the horse.

The pyramid rehearsal had passed with no accidents. A sullen Bella had gone through the motions without saying a word; at least she had not gripped too tightly. It was not Elizabeth’s first experience as understudy, but previously she had partnered Tabitha.

To return to her routines as Beth Miller felt odd after her sojourn with the Darcys. For a day, Elizabeth Bennet had surfaced, and it was if a dialogue had begun between her two personas. Every person is two people: well, she certainly was. For months, the brash daring Beth had faced the challenges of her new life, from acrobatics to performances to consorting with dandies, courtesans, even royalty. Now Elizabeth Bennet cast a critical eye over Miss Miller and felt a mixture of admiration and distaste.

She was faced, she thought, with two attitudes to life, embodied in Darcy and Brummell. Darcy, she now realised, was driven by the desire to nurture people. This was shown clearly in his tenderness for Georgiana, but also in the way he cared for his tenants, friends like Bingley, and of course, herself. Brummell saw people as a source of enjoyment. He had no interest in helping the needy: what he sought was entertainment and advancement, to be gained by pursuing attractive young ladies, urbane older ones—and royalty.

There could be no discussion, of course, over who was morally superior. But Elizabeth was loath to condemn Brummell and his friends entirely. Nurturing people was all very well, but

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