Darcy's Second Chance: A Pride and Prejudice Novella by Barbara Silkstone

Author:Barbara Silkstone [Silkstone, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Interquel, Not in Amazon Library, Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Read, Darcy's POV
Amazon: B078NBRVYT
Goodreads: 37753977
Published: 2018-01-18T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Summer was slipping away as the heat of the last days of July drained all who resided at Longbourn. Jane had no response from Bingley while visiting the Gardiners in London, despite having been in town for almost three months. Hurt and disillusioned by the cold reception she received from Caroline Bingley, she had fallen into a state of melancholy—much to Elizabeth’s dismay.

Upon returning from Rosings Park, Elizabeth told Jane about Darcy’s proposal and the infamous actions of Wickham. She chose to hold her tongue regarding Darcy’s discouragement of Bingley’s affections. The sisters shared all things, but Elizabeth felt knowing of Darcy’s interference would only cause more hurt for Jane.

Putting on a brave face and echoing comforting words, Elizabeth carried a silent hope that Bingley would come to his senses. She endured Jane’s sympathy for Darcy because he had kept his love for her a secret while acting the part of a cold and pompous prig.

Much to Elizabeth’s pique, sweet Jane sympathized with the pain Darcy might have felt while being in her company. She often thought if Jane only knew the cause of Bingley’s withdrawal, but she held firm in her nondisclosure. “It is ever like you, Jane to have such compassion for others and to defend those unworthy of your kind words,” Elizabeth said.

The sisters determined not to tell anyone about Wickham’s attempt to elope with young Georgiana. Many times, over and over again Elizabeth had recited to herself the details of Darcy’s horrible conflict with the scoundrel. With each recitation she became more certain the near kidnapping of Miss Darcy was the truth. In retrospect most of Wickham’s remarks, while acceptable at the time, now showed a desire for revenge against Darcy—along with greed for the girl’s fortune.

The summer went on at Longbourn much as it had the previous summer and the summer before. Aside from the cold empty feelings Elizabeth and Jane carried in their hearts it was as if Darcy and Bingley had never entered their lives.

Having read Darcy’s letter so many times the pages were worn thin at the creases, Elizabeth’s spirits toward him altered. Admitting she had been hasty in believing Wickham, she still could not forgive Darcy for ruining Jane’s happiness. She had crafted a trick to break herself from the habit of thinking of the man. Whenever she pictured his dark eyes and the one untidy curl that seemed to forever fall onto his forehead, she would pinch the palm of one hand with the fingers of the other. Within a few days a tiny blister developed and she ordered herself to find another fixation.

Good fortune smiled on Elizabeth in the form of an offer from the Gardiners. She had always wished to see the legendary lakes and peaks of England and much to her delight her aunt and uncle planned a month-long trip by carriage to tour that part of England.

Aunt Gardiner had an almost spiritual connection with her two eldest nieces; the good lady was but a few years their senior and knew the thin line between desire and necessity that the girls must tread.

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.