Trust and Honesty: A Pride and Prejudice Novella Variation by Leah Page

Author:Leah Page [Page, Leah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-19T00:00:00+00:00

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As Darcy and Mr. Gardiner hastened towards London, the steady rumble of carriage wheels blended with the swiftly passing landscape, signaling their approach to Watford. The rhythm of the carriage seemed to echo Darcy's tumultuous thoughts, oscillating between schemes to suffocate Wickham and strategies to win Elizabeth's heart.

Darcy's silence was palpable, a thick veil that even the jostling of the carriage could not penetrate. He was acutely aware of Mr. Gardiner's occasional glances, the unspoken questions hanging in the air like the dust clouds trailing them.

Breaking the silence, Mr. Gardiner ventured, "Mr. Darcy, if I may... Forgive my intrusion, Mr. Darcy, but might I inquire about the nature of your relationship with Elizabeth?" His voice was laced with concern, a testament to his affection for his niece.

Darcy redirected his attention from the fleeting countryside to Mr. Gardiner, his eyes momentarily betraying a hint of vulnerability. "I love her," he confessed, the weight of his emotions making his voice nearly a whisper. "I had hoped, before this unfortunate affair, to ask your blessing for our nuptials."

"Has Lydia's situation dissuaded you?" Mr. Gardiner inquired, his brows knitting together in a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Darcy let out a brief, humorless chuckle. "It is not I who am deterred," he said, shaking his head slightly. "Elizabeth fears... she fears that I might come to resent her, to look upon our union with regret. She knows my great dislike for Wickham."

Understanding dawned on Mr. Gardiner's face, his expression softening. "Ah, she fears a marriage like her parents'. Mr. Darcy, you must not relent. Elizabeth will require assurance, not just of your love, but of your unwavering commitment to her, despite her family's... eccentricities."

Darcy absorbed Mr. Gardiner's words, realizing the truth in them. It mirrored what Ashford had advised, and what he had failed to do — engage Elizabeth in meaningful conversation, to truly communicate his feelings and intentions.

The previous day, he had mistakenly chosen the solitude of the window over the comfort of her company. When he should have spoken, he remained silent. Distant when he should have been close. I am a fool, he thought.

Darcy nodded to himself, a new determination steeling his resolve. “I will not forsake Elizabeth. However, I must first address the matter with Wickham. I believe I have a solution that will please us and frustrate him.”

“It will not harm, Lydia?” When Mr. Darcy agreed Miss Lydia would not suffer, Mr. Gardiner sat back against the seat in a more relaxed pose. “Excellent. She is a spoiled child who has made a grave mistake, but she is my niece, and I would not see her injured if I can help it.”

"Once we address the matter with Wickham, I shall return to Elizabeth's side. I am hopeful my cousin and his men will have found the man by the time we arrive in London. Perhaps this can all be resolved before the ladies arrive.”

“Does Colonel Fitzwilliam have knowledge of Mr. Wickham’s habits?”

Darcy nodded in the affirmative. “I pay a man to keep an eye on him.

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