Miss Georgiana Darcy of Pemberley by Shannon Winslow

Author:Shannon Winslow [Winslow, Shannon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Austenesque
ISBN: 9780989025911
Google: uNglswEACAAJ
Publisher: Heather Ridge Arts
Published: 2015-07-18T01:20:58+00:00

- 20 -

Rosings Park

William and Elizabeth expeditiously settled between themselves that they would travel to Hunsford on Monday. Elizabeth then came to consult with me about my wishes, going so far as offering to contrive an excuse for me if I felt I could not endure the ordeal of so much time in Anne and Fitzwilliam’s presence.

I had already decided what I should do, however. So I thanked her for her concern but said no excuse would be necessary. Encouraged by my success in their short visit, I began to think myself strong enough to face a longer one. Besides, I really did have a powerful desire to see Rosings again.

Meanwhile, there was another ball to attend. I had been dreading this particular one, not because I was suddenly disinclined to dance but because I should almost certainly see Henry Heywood and his sister there. Henry, I assumed, would simply avoid me altogether. I had no idea how Andrea would behave.

Since Henry’s most unfortunate proposal, I had not heard one word from her, nothing even in response to a note I had sent. This was exactly what I had feared, that I would not only lose Henry’s friendship through this regrettable affair, but Andrea’s as well. And I had precious few close friends in London as it was.

It did not take long after our arrival to confirm that the Heywoods were present – Mr. and Mrs. as well as their two offspring. I prepared myself for what I knew would come next. William and Elizabeth, who had also seen them, made their way in the Heywood’s direction, and I could not but follow.

Mr. and Mrs. Heywood’s manner of greeting us was no less friendly than it had ever been, so either they did not know I had refused their son or they had very civilly decided to pretend that was the case. Not surprisingly, Henry, although he nodded to acknowledge my presence, neither spoke to me nor met my eye. Andrea did look at me, and I thought I saw in her countenance a longing to come to my side in the old way. But then, seeming to remember herself, she lifted her chin and directed her attention elsewhere.

I did manage to corner her later that evening, however, during the supper break. I sat down beside her where she could not very well avoid me, although even then she tried.

“Come, now, Andrea,” I said to the back of her head. “May we not be friends again? I know you are disappointed by what has happened, but I did warn you, as I tried to your brother, that it must be so.”

Finally she turned to me with a challenging look in her eye. “Why must it be so? Could you not at least have tried to like my brother?”

“I do like Henry, just not in a romantic way, as I told you before. I cannot help it. I wish that I could, for it would certainly save a lot of pain

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