Their Dearest Loves: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Anthology by Anna Lockhart

Author:Anna Lockhart
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Read, Anthology, Purchased, Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms
Publisher: Daisy Chain Publishing
Published: 2021-05-05T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 3

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy walked in silence as they left the Sommerville home, neither appearing sure what to say to the other. Finally, when she realized they were still quite a long way from the Gardiner’s home, she felt she had to say something.

“What brought you to the Sommerville’s home today, Mr. Darcy?” she asked as she kept her eyes fixed firmly on the buildings in front of them. The gentleman appeared to be doing the same.

“Augustine Sommerville has been the Darcy family barrister for some time. His daughter Margery has a childish affection for me and I think her father believes he can convince me to marry her. It is why you found me hiding near the garden gate. I did not wish Mr. Sommerville to discover me and force me to converse with Miss Margery.”

“Force you?” Elizabeth asked as she laughed. “Would it be such a burden to spend a few moments talking to Margery Sommerville?”

“Would you find it a burden to try and converse with a barnyard hen? She speaks only of rumors and gossip, and when she does so, she speaks with such speed, I hardly understand a word she is saying.”

Elizabeth covered her mouth so Mr. Darcy could not see her laughing again. Once she regained her composure, she nodded thoughtfully.

“I only spoke to her and her sister for a moment, but I suspect Patience and Margery would get on well with my own sisters, Lydia and Kitty. They too live for the strange pleasure of a bit of local gossip. It is my mother who has instilled this hobby in her youngest daughters. My sister Jane and I prefer other ways to occupy our time. And Mary… well… she is Mary.”

Darcy chuckled and at last, glanced in Elizabeth’s direction. “It sounds as if your parents have their hands quite full. Five daughters? How does your father feel about that?”

She felt a stab in her chest as she thought about Longbourn, and the predicament that had been created by William’s death. Her father told her in a letter that she should carry no guilt and that the death of her husband was quite clearly not her fault, but it was no longer that simple. What would happen to their beloved Longbourn now if her father passed? Could some distant cousin, a brute or a miser or worse, suddenly appeared and demanded their home for himself? Elizabeth began to feel a little bit ill.

“Mrs. Collins? Did I say something to offend you?” Darcy asked, his voice concerned.

“No,” Elizabeth quickly answered. “I was thinking about my mama and papa. Jane will be leaving Longbourn soon, yet I am returning. I do not think this is what my parents had planned for me, obviously. But I fear it might make life more difficult for them as well.”

She only realized how forward she was being when they were already standing in front of her Uncle and Aunt’s home. Elizabeth did not know what came over her, but she let out a massive vast sigh of disappointment.

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