The Adventures of Miss Olivia Wickham by Kay Bea

Author:Kay Bea [Bea, Kay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Quills & Quartos Publishing
Published: 2020-05-28T04:00:00+00:00

While Olivia and her sisters were being transformed from ragged orphans to proper-looking Darcy girls, Elizabeth consulted the governess and looked in on and reassured her sons. Then she sought out her husband. She found him behind his desk in their shared study. His jacket hung carelessly over a chair, his shirtsleeves were rolled up revealing muscular forearms, and he was bent in concentration over the letter he was writing. While she had never doubted that she married a good man, his handling of today’s events had only strengthened that conviction. No goodwill remained between her husband and Wickham; his childhood friend had brought naught but pain and suffering to the Darcy and Bennet families. Yet when the Wickham children had arrived with no prior warning, there had not even been a need for conversation. Darcy had acted as the good and honourable man he always had been, and through his quick embrace of the situation and his understanding of her, he made clear that the Darcy family would accept the girls into their home. Such a reaction could only cause her to fall in love all over again.

Still gazing absently at her husband, Elizabeth said softly, “Olivia says her parents disappeared often, but Lydia would return—eventually.”

“This time she did not.”

“I think, perhaps, she tried to send them here in her own way. Olivia told me her mother often related stories about us, about Pemberley. It was those stories that told Olivia where to come, if not how to get here.”

Darcy gave her a gentle smile. “Perhaps. I do not know your sister as you did. Whatever sent them to us, I am glad they are come. I am even now writing to my solicitor about the girls. I imagine it will take some time and perhaps a very little money, but we shall make them ours and protect them as necessary.”

Elizabeth smiled. “I never doubted you would do such a thing.” She moved to her desk as she continued speaking. “I must write to our sisters. I believe they have daughters enough between the three of them that we shall have suitable clothing in a trice. Enough to last until we can have the seamstress visit in any case.”

“And between now and then?” Darcy asked as he continued writing.

“Our nieces are forever leaving one or two things behind when they visit. I am certain Mrs Givens can make do with what we have for the nonce.”

“The boys have often wished for a sister,” Darcy said quietly.

“Just as we often wished for a daughter.”

“And now there are five. Perhaps I shall gain greater sympathy for your father.”

Elizabeth laughed at that. “Your sympathy for him grows with every visit of our sisters and their families.”

Darcy conceded the point. “Where will they sleep? There are not enough beds in the nursery.”

“They will remain in the guest nursery tonight. We can begin sorting rooms tomorrow. I believe only Olivia will require her own room for now, though she may wish to remain with her sisters for a time.

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