Two Days Before Christmas by Leenie Brown

Author:Leenie Brown [Brown, Leenie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leenie B Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

“We have just one more place to visit,” Aunt Gardiner told Elizabeth as their carriage crawled through the streets of the city.

They had been seeing to errands all morning. Elizabeth had agreed to accompany her aunt while Jane had wished to remain at home with the children. Therefore, Aunt Gardiner and Elizabeth had had ample time to talk about many things. The chief topic of interest for Aunt Gardiner had been the gentleman who had called with his sister on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday.

“The orphan house?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes, Mrs. Verity’s.” Aunt Gardiner sorted through her parcels to find the one that Elizabeth knew contained two shirts and three petticoats. “It is not much,” she said as she found the correct parcel and placed it on her lap, “but it will be appreciated. Mrs. Verity relies not only on her own funds — substantial though they are — but also on the generosity of her friends to meet every need of her charges.”

Mrs. Verity was a wealthy widow, who, having no children of her own, had chosen to use the money left to her by her husband to set up a house for orphans. Her intention was not just to give them a safe place to live, but to educate them in every area of life that might afford them a proper future, free of crime and filled with hope — at least, that is how Aunt Gardiner had described it.

Elizabeth had to admit she was curious to see what an orphan house looked like. There was nothing of that sort in Hertfordshire, and the idea of a lady running her own establishment and aiding the less fortunate intrigued her.

“Mr. Darcy seemed disappointed yesterday when you refused his offer of a drive in the park.”

Elizabeth’s reply was a tight smile.

Aunt Gardiner sighed. “He is a fine gentleman — handsome and rich — and quite obviously besotted with you. I do not know why you insist on repelling his every advance.”

Elizabeth wished she had an answer for that herself — or at least one that did not show her in such a poor light. “I have been such a fool, Aunt. I cannot see him without being reminded of my shame.”

“Pride is a dangerous thing, Elizabeth.” Her aunt tipped her head and looked at her very seriously. “Apologize.”

Elizabeth pulled the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth and winced at that one word.

“Oh, it will smart for a time, to be sure,” her aunt continued, “but then, it will be done.”

Elizabeth knew it was true. The proper thing to do was to gather her courage and admit her folly. “He will hate me,” she admitted in a whisper.

Her aunt’s brows rose. “And you wish for him to not hate you?”

“Yes,” Elizabeth could feel her face turning red. “I believe I have wanted him to not hate me ever since the assembly at Michaelmas. I had hoped when I saw him enter and when his friend paid attention to Jane that he might consider me.

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