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

is above impunity.”
    “Surely, you are correct in that regard, but I also know your Major General gave you an opportunity to teach a future cavalry unit here. And you are vacillating between the two duties.”
    “I think there’s great honor in a man who stays behind to train the men going to war. If they are not aptly prepared, their instructor is little more than a murderer, so the man who stays behind to train is of the highest honor, indeed.” The entire group turned their heads to look at Mary after her sudden outburst, but Mary Bennet did not flinch, and instead she stared directly at the colonel. The silence hung in the air for a few moments until the party began to busy themselves with eating. Kitty finally found a way to break the silence.
    “Miss Darcy, would you like to take a stroll with me over the bridge? Would that be alright if we had a footman accompany us?”
    “There’s no need,” Richard said as he stood and dusted the crumbs off his brilliant red coat, “I’ll be happy to escort you ladies myself. Miss Mary?”
    But Mary Bennet shook her head. “I should like to remain here, with my sister and Mr. Darcy.”
    “We hardly need a chaperone, Mary. Half of London is here today,” Elizabeth tried to entice Mary to leave, but her sister wasn’t budging. Giving up, Elizabeth turned to William. “Which two days was it again that your aunt suggested for the ceremony?”
    Darcy loosened his cravat and leaned back on his hands. Snatching up a pretty red apple, he took a loud bite from it, garnering a soft giggle from Elizabeth. “She recommended either May 14th or May 21st so that we might travel to Scotland before Sunday.”
    “And it takes three days to travel to your estate there?” Darcy nodded. “Well, I think you should tell her that if we can’t manage it any earlier, then May 14th sounds like a perfectly lovely day to become Mrs. Darcy.” She looked at Mr. Darcy and wiggled her nose like a bunny, their public gesture of affection ever since the dinner at her aunt and uncle’s home. Darcy smiled widely at her, until suddenly his face soured. Walking back to their little picnic was the trio that had left to explore the path around the pond, but they had two extra in tow, Mr. Bingley and his sister Caroline.
    “I fear we are about to be invaded,” he whispered and Elizabeth’s head whipped around to look behind her, then she quickly returned to look at her William.
    Sighing, she supposed it was Miss Bingley’s right to enjoy a public park on such a warm day, but she wondered what excuse Mr. Bingley would give for abandoning Jane in Hertfordshire? Plastering a smile in place, Elizabeth adjusted her seat to greet the advancing party.
    “Miss Eliza! How splendid to find you in London and to think we nearly just missed you according to Miss Kitty. An Easter at Matlock, what a heavenly invitation for a family of such limited means.” Miss Bingley allowed the colonel to escort her to the blanket and she gracefully lowered herself to sit at Mary’s feet. Elizabeth watched as Mary’s legs involuntarily twitched every so slightly before her sister calmly tucked them up underneath her right side.
    “Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley. I hope the roads from Hertfordshire were kind? How are my mother and sisters?”
    “Fine, fine, Miss Elizabeth, though Miss Lydia has been awfully ill of late. Poor Jane, I mean Miss Bennet, has been attending her and it was on her advice that we have taken the opportunity to visit London since she has not been able to entertain callers,” Mr. Bingley said.
    “Oh, dear, how ill is Lydia? We’ve heard no reports of this!” Mary said.
    “She’s probably fine, just pining away for Wickham. She’s just pretending to be sick so she can keep getting sympathy.”
    “Kitty! We do not discuss that subject in public.” Elizabeth hissed, as Caroline Bingley preened and smiled at the gossip. Elizabeth’s stomach soured at the sight and turned to her fiance. “Mr.