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

Darcy, I’m afraid I am finding myself rather satisfied with Hyde Park. Perhaps another time we might visit with a gig?”
    Darcy nodded and motioned for the servants to begin packing up.
    “It was lovely to see you again, Mr. Bingley and Miss Bingley. I’d invite you to call, but I’m afraid we are to leave town just as you have arrived. A pity. I’m sure my aunt could use my help in preparing our dinner plans.” Elizabeth plastered a smile in place as she farewelled the Bingleys, even as her blood began to boil that Charles would dare to abandon Jane because Lydia was ill.
    “You’re hosting a dinner? Are you having a large to-do?” Miss Bingley asked with a tone just asking for the guest list.
    “No, just intimate friends and family, I’m afraid, though my brother, the Viscount, is attending.” The colonel had endured enough of Caroline Bingley’s barbs the entire walk back to the main group and felt little regret in putting her in her place, even if it meant he also slighted Bingley. Both Kitty and Mary looked at the colonel with adoration, but it was Miss Mary he offered an arm to along with Miss Georgiana to help them back up the hill towards the Darcy carriage.
    As Darcy and Elizabeth finished the farewells, Darcy made a point to offer his arm to Miss Kitty as well. Walking up the same hill as his cousin before him, Darcy wondered once more how he was going to warn the sisters to guard their tongues. Every scenario in his mind played with Elizabeth becoming so cross at him, he was at a loss for what he was to do. Ultimately, he decided once they returned to Gracechurch Street, he would have no choice but to ask Mr. Gardiner for his aid.
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    Chapter Eight
    Throbbing pain in Elizabeth’s temples made her happy to retire for a rest on the fourth afternoon at Matlock. Her feet ascended the thirty carpeted steps up the main hall as she still couldn’t stop the details swirling in her mind for Easter dinner. Lady Matlock had helped her go through all of the escorts and privileges, but was Lady Sefton to be escorted in by Lord Marlborough or the Viscount of Eaton? She shook her head and remembered that Darcy’s aunt was not going to let her fail.
    The last room on the left in the visitor wing was hers, a completely separate hall from where Mr. Darcy was roomed on the family side of the mansion. With great effort, she pushed the heavy, medieval styled door and found Becky laying out her evening attire. Becky immediately curtsied, then seeing Elizabeth’s color, she rushed forward to help her lady to her bed.
    “A thousand thanks. Are there any powders left in my trunk?” Becky nodded and rushed to Elizabeth’s private toiletry case to find the last packet of powders given to her by the apothecary in London. Without her habitual morning walk, the headaches Elizabeth sustained as a child were returning in full force. She was adamant that in the morning she would find a way to walk in the elegant gardens even if it meant she needed to tie the bed sheets and scale the balcony to avoid Lady Matlock and her endless teachings of running an estate the size of Matlock.
    “Here you are, Miss Elizabeth. I’ll send young Robin around to the town to purchase more. Mr. Darcy surely won’t want you to be without your remedy.”
    “Please send a note to Mr. Darcy’s valet that I intend to take a walk in the morning and would be so very pleased if his master would join me.”
    “Aye, ma’am.” Becky curtsied and smiled. Knowing Miss Elizabeth since childhood had helped her tremendously in her transition from house maid to lady’s maid. Though the rest of the above stairs staff at Matlock sniffed at her lack of credentials and formal training, she knew that Miss Elizabeth would never desire an unknown, snobby French maid, no how.
    Elizabeth lay on the elegant cool sheets, wishing she could disrobe to her chemise, but if it was one thing she’d learned from her aunt before leaving, it was that house parties