Elopement by Ola Wegner

Author:Ola Wegner
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Not in Amazon Library, Compromise (D&E), Kidnapping, Eloping, Forced Marriage, Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, bad-ass Mr Darcy
Published: 2022-10-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

The following day, Heather was moved to the inn in Lambton. She was to remain there until more permanent accommodations could be found for her. Mrs Reynolds strongly believed that Heather could not stay at Pemberley even one day longer, as her presence was creating even more malicious hearsay.

Elizabeth was not entirely certain if the removal of Heather to the nearby town could stop people from talking. On the contrary, it seemed to only fuel the gossip. In the remote part of Derbyshire where Pemberley was situated, news like that proved to be a local sensation. Not every day did a young housemaid involve herself in an affair with the estate’s steward.

Elizabeth refused to discuss this unfortunate situation with anyone apart from her husband, who was rather unsuccessfully looking for a man who was ready to marry Heather and give her child a name.

Elizabeth could not restrain herself from listening to the rumours brought to her by her maid. Taylor repeated to her what the people were saying both in the estate and in Lambton, making Elizabeth well informed. By the end of the week, the gossip mill seemed to quiet down. Heather was sent to Scotland to live on the farm where Elizabeth and Darcy had spent their honeymoon. It was agreed upon that she would stay there, at least until her child was born.

On Sunday, the Darcys went to the church in Kympton as was their custom.

As they stepped out of the carriage, Elizabeth instantly noticed that there were more people waiting in front of the church than usual. Some of them she had never seen before.

She accepted Darcy’s arm and they walked towards the entrance of the church. People stared at them, but not as much as usual. There was another object of public interest today. Mr Fletcher and his family. Elizabeth smiled at Mrs Fletcher, but the poor woman was staring ahead of herself, holding her little girl in her arms, her lips pressed into a tight line.

After the service, Elizabeth, Darcy, and Georgiana spoke with the parson, Mr Hamilton, and his wife. Elizabeth excused herself before long and went up to Mrs Fletcher. Little Emma was attached to the front of her mother’s skirt while two older boys seemed to guard her on both sides. Mr Fletcher stood apart, as if separated from them by some invisible barrier.

“Good morning, Mrs Fletcher,” Elizabeth greeted her.

The woman showed her a pale smile and nodded her head. “Good morning, Mrs Darcy,” she said quietly.

“Good morning, Mrs Fletcher,” Elizabeth heard Georgiana’s voice right next to her.

“Miss Darcy,” Mrs Fletcher acknowledged her with a smile.

“What a beauty she is,” Elizabeth praised, looking at the little girl. She was not lying. Emma had the prettiest little face.

“She is the most handsome little girl in the entire neighbourhood,” Georgiana agreed.

Hearing the praise, the two-year-old clapped her hands and showed perfectly shaped white teeth in a smile.

“She likes to be complimented,” Mrs Fletcher said.

At that moment, Emma must have seen something which caught her attention, as she ran ahead of herself at great speed.

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