Hearts Entwined: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary by Anne Melissa

Author:Anne, Melissa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Melissa Anne Author
Published: 2023-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

Threats and Plans

“Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth began the following morning as they laid about in their bed, “I need to speak to you of more that Charlotte said in her letters to me. I received several while we were on our trip, and she mentioned that Mr. Livesay would likely be writing to you as well.”

He sighed. “I noticed a letter from him on my desk but had not had a chance to read it yet. Should I be concerned about what it contains?”

“I am not certain,” she admitted. “I do not know exactly what he wrote, but Charlotte said Jane is becoming more desperate, going so far as to threaten to ‘take what is mine’. I cannot imagine what she might mean or how she thinks she might have access to harm either of us. She is not reasonable, which is no surprise, but I cannot understand her.”

Fitzwilliam considered this for a moment. “Would the Gardiners invite Jane to town?” At the shake of Elizabeth’s head, he continued. “What could she do unless we are in Hertfordshire? That is the only way she could do anything, and she has no connections that would enable her to come to town. Perhaps we should send an investigator to Hertfordshire to see if he can learn anything, but I imagine this is mostly bluster.”

“The Bennets, well, mostly Mama and Jane, are being shunned in Meryton for their actions after our visit. Lady Lucas did as she promised and spread the truth of our marriage before Jane could spread word of a compromise or an early babe. Our appearance in Meryton aided that, and the break between my family and myself was revealed. There was a very public setdown when Mama tried to claim a closer connection with us. Jane attempted to claim she was pleased with the match but then revealed her true self when she insisted very publicly she would marry better. She did not appreciate your true status being revealed and is very focused on the fact that you are the nephew of an Earl. I worry that she is becoming unhinged,” Elizabeth admitted. “I doubt she can do any true damage, but I begin to worry about her mental state. She has heard too often from Mama that she ‘could not be so beautiful for nothing’ and puts a great emphasis on her looks.”

“Perhaps we should send a physician to Longbourn to evaluate both her and your mother?” Fitzwilliam asked. “While a few men would accept an insipid woman as a wife, most would not unless the lady in question also possessed a significant dowry. No man would want a wife who brings nothing, as your sister appears to do.”

Elizabeth sighed and snuggled deeper into his embrace. “There is little she could do, as she would not be invited in our home here or to Darcy House, and I cannot imagine she could manage to travel to either Oakridge Manor or Pemberley. It is such a long distance to travel and an expensive journey—not one my father could or would be willing to fund.

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