Free A Spring Sentiment: A Pride and Prejudice Novella Variation (Seasons of Serendipity Book 2) by Elizabeth Ann West

stopped crying. “Stay home? I do not wish to stay home. That’s the point entirely!”
    “Then go, quickly, before he sees you and asks why you’re upset.”
    As Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy were invited inside, the room seemed to have an odd sense of appearing too casual that made Darcy pause and take stock of the inhabitants. There was Elizabeth, glowing as always, though it appeared as if she had just been angry. Miss Mary wore a blank expression of indifference, and Mrs. Gardiner was radiantly enthusiastic in her welcome. He bowed as his sister curtsied and crossed the threshold.
    “Is Miss Catherine not to join us?”
    “Oh, she had a small accident with her dress and will be right down,” Elizabeth said in a hollow and slightly higher-pitched voice than her normal tremor. “Georgiana, how lovely to see you! I hope you received the sheet music I sent?” “Indeed, it arrived yesterday. Thank you for such a thoughtful gift!”
    Elizabeth beamed at her soon-to-be younger sister. “When William and I were shopping for new books, I saw it in the music shop next door and knew you’d love the latest waltzes. I hear the dance is the highlight of every ball on the Continent.”
    Darcy cleared his throat and turned slightly red that Elizabeth had used his Christian name so casually. But perhaps it was safe enough here at the Gardiners’, but he shuddered to think of what his cousins would say to him if she should slip at Matlock. Kitty rejoining the sitting room interrupted his worries, and he soon found the women all looking at him expectantly to follow them out to the carriage.
    “Mrs. Gardiner, it is always a pleasure. I am saddened you could not join us this afternoon.”
    “I thank you, Mr. Darcy, but I believe a rest is most welcome to me this afternoon.” She laughed as she allowed him to escort her to the hall where the younger ladies all congregated. “I trust you with my girls; please keep them safe.”
    “Always, madam. You have my word.” Darcy bowed and helped the ladies into the carriage. As much as he wished to have joined them inside, he mounted Poseidon and rode alongside the carriage the number of blocks back towards the fashionable side of town.
     
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    The picnic had barely been set when a bombastic voice called out to their group. “Darcy! You started without me, old man?” The colonel walked with such pomp in full uniform up the path towards their little knell by the pond. While all of the ladies in attendance turned to see Colonel Fitzwilliam’s approach, Elizabeth watched William’s face as he pursed his lips for half a moment.
    “Did you not wish for your cousin to come?” she whispered.
    “No, I simply hoped his errands at the War Office would have lasted a little longer,” he replied.
    Elizabeth sat perplexed by Mr. Darcy’s meaning until the introductions and greetings took her attention away. the colonel happily sat himself between Kitty and Mary and quickly had all three of the younger girls giggling at some joke. “Colonel, I heard you just came from the War Office. I dare to hope you are not being called back to the front lines?”
    The younger girls all shared a look of ghastly horror, but Richard nodded his head. “Sadly, it appears my Major General has high hopes for a title or two, and recently volunteered his units for another tour of duty. I won’t abandon my men, so if they go, then I am afraid I must as well.” Kitty let out a whimpered sigh at the colonel’s bravery and batted her eyelashes at the man. the colonel looked at her for a brief moment, and disconcerted, he found his glass of wine poured by one of Darcy’s servants and handed to him just before his pretty speech.
    “Be truthful, Richard. You relish the excitement of going back. I posit you would agree to just about any scheme to get away from the balls and demands of your mother.”
    “Ho, ho, Darcy! Be not ruinous to the one trait I can claim above your wealth. My valor