Secret Arrangement: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Deborah Ann Kauer

Author:Deborah Ann Kauer
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Read, Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms
Published: 2020-12-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty

November – Thursday Evening

Thursday passed so quickly Elizabeth was astonished when she discovered it was time to dress for the upcoming dinner. In fact, she felt her time in London was passing too swiftly, and she had not seen Hope during the past week. She planned on requesting to see her before dinner was announced, for she had discovered she missed the child very much.

“Lizzy, look at the grandness of it,” Mary declared as they pulled up in front of Darcy House. “Just imagine, of all this, you shall be mistress.”

“It is a lovely house,” Jane added.

“Do not allow its appearance to overwhelm you, my dear,” her aunt reassured her.

Of all the comments, her aunt’s words were the ones she wondered about the most. Had her aunt seen something in her expression to suggest she felt overwhelmed? Of course, her aunt was correct. What she saw was more extensive than Longbourn and almost grander than Netherfield. Plus, its modern construction made it newer than either of them. In fact, all the houses on the block, she noticed, appeared more contemporary looking, probably built within, at least, the past fifty to sixty years.

In comparison, the house her uncle and aunt lived in was well over two hundred years old, but still in remarkable condition. Furthermore, her uncle and aunt made improvements to the house soon after they purchased it. All the tradesmen on the block had improved their properties, for they wanted their neighborhood to reflect the prosperity they enjoyed.

As soon as the coach stopped, a footman opened the door and reached in to help the ladies out. Of course, Mr. Gardiner had been the first to exit the coach. As they approached the massive front door, it opened to welcome them, and just beyond the door stood a regal-looking man, who Elizabeth assumed he was Mr. Darcy’s butler. Two maids stood off to the side on the other side of the door, waiting to collect their wraps and other outerwear. Once they had shed their outer clothing, the butler ushered them down the hall to a door on their left. Upon opening it, he declared, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and their nieces. Being fourth through the door, she did not see Mr. Darcy or Georgiana until she was well into the room. Before the door closed behind her, she noticed another gentleman standing with the Darcys. He wore an officer’s red uniform, but she knew his rank was much higher than those young men her sisters had been flirting with.

“Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, I am pleased to present you to my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. The colonel shares guardianship of my sister with me.” Darcy explained.

“Charming,” the colonel said as he bowed over the hand of each of the ladies. Mary giggled at his gesture.

“You find my joy at meeting you humorous?” He asked Mary as he cocked an eyebrow up.

Elizabeth saw the twinkle of laughter in his eyes and noted the corner of one side of his mouth was raised.

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.