Mr. Darcy's Bookshop: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (Pride & Prejudice Variations) by Summer Hanford

Author:Summer Hanford [Hanford, Summer]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Summer Hanford
Published: 2024-01-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

Elizabeth would have preferred to read the book Mr. Darcy had given her rather than mend, but she knew her flagging concentration would not allow it. Not with the revelations and claims in his letter swirling through her mind. So after breakfast she sat in the front parlor with her sister and aunt while Jane stitched flowers and Aunt Gardiner read over her notes on potential governesses, and fought valiantly not to pick apart every word in Mr. Darcy’s letter again and again. When one of the maids entered with the day’s post Elizabeth looked up from the hem before her in relief, hoping for a distraction from her thoughts.

The girl took several letters to their aunt, then turned to where Elizabeth and Jane sat on the sofa. “There is a letter for Miss Elizabeth and one addressed to both Miss Bennets.” She extended the envelopes.

“Thank you,” Elizabeth said, taking hers and handing the other, which she could see was from their father, to Jane.

Elizabeth opened her letter, from Charlotte, to read,

My Dearest Lizzy,

I know I have been remiss in writing to you. You must know what I will say, for rumor will have carried it to you almost faster than a letter travels, and yet I am so leery of your scorn that I have held my pen. But I must be brave, for I am happy in my choice and so will own up to it: I am betrothed to your cousin, Mr. Collins.

There. I know what you will say. I am well acquainted with your opinion of the man. Did you not flee to London to avoid his attentions, taking Jane with you to move her beyond his reach as well? And yet, he is not so terrible as that. He is honest, god-fearing, and good, with a fine living and the patronage of a great man. Moreover, married to Mr. Collins I will be mistress of my own home, rather than a burden to my family. It is more than I have dared hope for many long years. Please see that this will be good for me and does, indeed, make me happy. If you love me as dearly as I suppose, it will make you happy as well.

Yours Always,

Charlotte

Elizabeth lowered the page with a sigh, hating to think of her intelligent, capable, reasonable friend wedded to the sycophantic oaf who was her cousin. Yes, she had known of their betrothal, but until she heard the matter from Charlotte, she’d held out hope. After all, Elizabeth’s mother, sisters, and aunt had all gleefully passed along false rumors before. Why, in one recent letter, they’d had a local heiress, Mary King, wedded to one of the officers, a Captain Carter, stationed in Meryton, yet in their next correspondence, they’d owned to her only having danced several times with the man and then having been spirited away to stay with her uncle.

“Papa wants us to come home,” Jane said.

Panic shot through Elizabeth. “What? Did he say when? Or why?” If she left London now, when would she see Mr.

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