Elizabeth Bennet's Excellent Adventure: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary by Regina Jeffers Page B

outside of Watford.
    “Mrs. Elizabeth Bryland.”
    The captain’s eyebrow rose in curiosity.
    “Does your husband not travel with you?”
    Elizabeth rushed to say, “Mr. Bryland lost his life upon the Continent. I am newly from my widow’s weeds.”
    The idea of being a widow appealed to Elizabeth for travel purposes, but the idea of creating a story of a lost husband and family was not to her liking. She always considered herself an honest person. In fact, speaking her mind often vexed her dear mother and sisters. Yet, Mr. Darcy found your quick tongue refreshing . The thought of her former betrothed brought a frown to her mouth.
    “I can see you still grieve for the late Mr. Bryland,” the captain said in concern.
    Elizabeth shook off her thoughts of Mr. Darcy.
    “I do,” she murmured, and then with a squaring of her shoulders, she added, “I believe I shall walk along the road for a bit. I fear I am unaccustomed to a sedentary life.”
    “Do you desire my company?” the captain offered.
    “I assure you, Sir, I am stout enough for a steady walk. I thank you for your concern.”
    Captain Wentworth smiled easily at her.
    “I hold no doubt, Ma’am.”
    He glanced to where the grooms brought fresh horse to harness to the coach.
    “Do not go far. The coach will not wait for you, and I would dislike being denied your ‘stimulating conversation.’”
    * * *
    It was a full day before Darcy stepped down before the Gardiners’ Town house in Cheapside. His sister objected to Darcy’s leaving his bed so soon, but after receiving the colonel’s express, Darcy waited only long enough for proper calling hours before he rapped upon the Gardiners’ door.
    Darcy refused the laudanum the physician ordered for he did not like the way the opiate ripped control from his hands. As he waited for one of the Gardiners’ servants to respond, Darcy shifted his weight to better tolerate the pain in his chest. It was difficult to breathe. Moreover, his cheeks and chin and much of his body held bruises in various shades of green and purple.
    “Yes, Sir?”
    A familiar maid bobbed a curtsy.
    He kept his chin down so the girl could not observe his battered face.
    “Mr. Darcy to speak to Mr. Gardiner,” he announced.
    Darcy would prefer to speak to Elizabeth first, but he knew he must assuage her family’s ire before they would summon Elizabeth to speak to him.
    “I be sorry, Sir,” the maid said with a look of unease, and Darcy wondered if the Gardiners meant to send him away. “Mr. Gardiner be not at home.”
    Darcy sighed heavily.
    “Then might I speak to Mrs. Gardiner?”
    “The mistress be not at home either, Sir,” the girl pronounced.
    Darcy attempted a third approach.
    “Perhaps Miss Elizabeth is available.”
    The maid’s features crunched up in confusion.
    “The master’s niece not be within, Sir, since the lady’s return to Mr. Bennet’s home more than a month removed.”
    It was Darcy’s turn to know puzzlement.
    “I received word from Hertfordshire late yesterday stating that Miss Elizabeth rejoined the Gardiners’ household a week prior,” he insisted. “It is of the utmost importance I speak to the Gardiners or Miss Elizabeth. I mean to wait.”
    The girl blocked Darcy’s forced entrance into the house.
    “I beg your pardon, Sir, but I cannot permit your presence in the master’s house without Mr. Gardiner present. If you care to call the beginning to the next week, I be certain the master will entertain your urgency.”
    Darcy’s frown deepened.
    “Why next week? Are the Gardiners from London? I understood your master departed Hertfordshire after…”
    He would not say the words: The ones that announced the failure of his wedding day.
    “The master and mistress,” the maid declared in self importance, “attended the wedding of their niece and then they were to Oxfordshire for the christening of the mistress’s grandnephew. They’ll return within the week.”
    Darcy thought an error