A Spring Sentiment: A Pride and Prejudice Novella Variation (Seasons of Serendipity Book 2) by Elizabeth Ann West Page A
Authors: Elizabeth Ann West
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themselves in each other on the grand steps of the Matlock Estate as a cloud of dust heralded the arrival of a single rider entering the lane. With all of the Bennet sisters and Miss Darcy, plus Lord and Lady Matlock outside, the head footman rushed forward to greet the express rider and receive his missive before pointing him towards the stables. Smoothing his livery, the footman handed the note with his white gloves to Lady Matlock. She opened it and swiftly read the contents.
“No!” she gasped, handing the letter to her husband. He also read the note and took a deep breath. Approaching his nephew and his intended, the Earl coughed slightly to break the gazes of Elizabeth and William.
“It appears there has been an accident and your uncle was seriously injured. I’m truly sorry.”
The Earl handed the note to Elizabeth and bowed. Her hands shaking, Elizabeth accepted the note and read to the point of where her aunt described her uncle’s accident before she cried out and dropped the letter. Mary stepped forward as Elizabeth turned to Darcy’s arms for support, but the colonel reached the letter first.
“Please, allow me.” The colonel read the note and offered his arm to Mary. “Your Uncle Gardiner lives, but his carriage crashed some four days ago in London. The Bennets are asked to gather back in Cheapside”
“How could two tragedies strike our family so suddenly?” Kitty wailed. Georgiana embraced her friend and confidante.
“Sssh, sssh, the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations,” Georgiana said in a soft tone, trying to provide comfort.
For a few minutes the party seemed frozen, stunned at the news and reflecting on the scripture quoted by the youngest of their family. Finally the colonel broke the spell.
“Right. Givens, Hampton, take the Bennet luggage and put it all on this carriage. Move all of the Darcy luggage to that carriage.”
“Richard! Those are my carriages!”
“Holmes!” The butler of Matlock House appeared from just inside the house. Colonel Fitzwilliam continued his barking orders. “Tell Mr. Pratt to pack my belongings, we leave in fifteen minutes.”
“Richard! A moment of discussion if you please.” Darcy shouted, finally getting his cousin’s attention.
“Leave it, Darce. You must go to Pemberley, you told me as much last evening. It’s been months. I shall escort the Miss Bennets to London, and you and Georgiana can meet us in a fortnight.”
“But—”
“Now, let’s show these ladies inside and perhaps give them a moment or two of refreshment?” The colonel ignored his younger but wealthier cousin and offered his arm to Miss Catherine so that she could be escorted in as he still held Miss Mary’s arm. The Earl nodded to his son in respect and followed his lead. Stuck without a better idea, Darcy had no choice but to escort Elizabeth and Georgiana inside.
As they climbed the stairs, he whispered to Elizabeth. “I am sorry, but he is right. I’ve been away for half a year, and there are responsibilities I cannot put off any longer.”
“It’s perfectly fine, William. I will miss you, but I know you will hurry to London as soon as you are able.”
Releasing Georgiana’s arm so that she could precede them inside, Darcy took a moment to lock eyes with Elizabeth, who was still tearing up.
“You have my word.”
Chapter Ten
Smug satisfaction dissolved to tediousness as George Wickham shuffled up the worn steps to Sally Younge’s boarding house in the wee hours of the morning. Finished with his duties for the day, he was dog tired, wanting nothing more than a hot meal and his bed. Unfortunately, there was Mrs. Younge, tapping her foot, waiting for him in the foyer.
“You’ve lied to me.” Her eyes slanted, she crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Those Bennet girls have been back in town for over a week! Where’s the one you fancied? Nab her and be done with it, so Mr. Darcy
“No!” she gasped, handing the letter to her husband. He also read the note and took a deep breath. Approaching his nephew and his intended, the Earl coughed slightly to break the gazes of Elizabeth and William.
“It appears there has been an accident and your uncle was seriously injured. I’m truly sorry.”
The Earl handed the note to Elizabeth and bowed. Her hands shaking, Elizabeth accepted the note and read to the point of where her aunt described her uncle’s accident before she cried out and dropped the letter. Mary stepped forward as Elizabeth turned to Darcy’s arms for support, but the colonel reached the letter first.
“Please, allow me.” The colonel read the note and offered his arm to Mary. “Your Uncle Gardiner lives, but his carriage crashed some four days ago in London. The Bennets are asked to gather back in Cheapside”
“How could two tragedies strike our family so suddenly?” Kitty wailed. Georgiana embraced her friend and confidante.
“Sssh, sssh, the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations,” Georgiana said in a soft tone, trying to provide comfort.
For a few minutes the party seemed frozen, stunned at the news and reflecting on the scripture quoted by the youngest of their family. Finally the colonel broke the spell.
“Right. Givens, Hampton, take the Bennet luggage and put it all on this carriage. Move all of the Darcy luggage to that carriage.”
“Richard! Those are my carriages!”
“Holmes!” The butler of Matlock House appeared from just inside the house. Colonel Fitzwilliam continued his barking orders. “Tell Mr. Pratt to pack my belongings, we leave in fifteen minutes.”
“Richard! A moment of discussion if you please.” Darcy shouted, finally getting his cousin’s attention.
“Leave it, Darce. You must go to Pemberley, you told me as much last evening. It’s been months. I shall escort the Miss Bennets to London, and you and Georgiana can meet us in a fortnight.”
“But—”
“Now, let’s show these ladies inside and perhaps give them a moment or two of refreshment?” The colonel ignored his younger but wealthier cousin and offered his arm to Miss Catherine so that she could be escorted in as he still held Miss Mary’s arm. The Earl nodded to his son in respect and followed his lead. Stuck without a better idea, Darcy had no choice but to escort Elizabeth and Georgiana inside.
As they climbed the stairs, he whispered to Elizabeth. “I am sorry, but he is right. I’ve been away for half a year, and there are responsibilities I cannot put off any longer.”
“It’s perfectly fine, William. I will miss you, but I know you will hurry to London as soon as you are able.”
Releasing Georgiana’s arm so that she could precede them inside, Darcy took a moment to lock eyes with Elizabeth, who was still tearing up.
“You have my word.”
Chapter Ten
Smug satisfaction dissolved to tediousness as George Wickham shuffled up the worn steps to Sally Younge’s boarding house in the wee hours of the morning. Finished with his duties for the day, he was dog tired, wanting nothing more than a hot meal and his bed. Unfortunately, there was Mrs. Younge, tapping her foot, waiting for him in the foyer.
“You’ve lied to me.” Her eyes slanted, she crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Those Bennet girls have been back in town for over a week! Where’s the one you fancied? Nab her and be done with it, so Mr. Darcy
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