Elizabeth Bennet's Excellent Adventure: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary Read Online Free PDF Page A

Darcy’s genuine care of Aunt Gardiner’s reminiscences. But such was not the reason Elizabeth asked the gentleman to call upon her.
    “Mr. Bingley,” she addressed Darcy’s friend rather than the man himself. “Perhaps Jane and I might show you and Mr. Darcy Aunt Gardiner’s prize roses. It is a pleasant day.”
    “I would enjoy the opportunity to praise Mrs. Gardiner’s gardening skills,” Mr. Bingley replied with a wide smile.” “What of you, Darcy?”
    Elizabeth was glad to hear the gentleman acquiesce.
    Out in the spring sunshine, Elizabeth walked in silence beside Mr. Darcy. It did not surprise her when Mr. Bingley directed Jane’s steps toward the rose arbor.
    Mr. Darcy nodded in the direction of his friend.
    “If your sister still wishes the match, it is hers to claim.”
    “Did you explain your perfidy in Mr. Bingley’s unexpected withdrawal from Netherfield?” Elizabeth asked with more sharpness than she intended.
    Mr. Darcy shrugged his response.
    “Not completely, but I will. Today I feared appearing on your doorstep without Mr. Bingley in tow would earn me no favor.”
    “And you wished my favor, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked with an arched eyebrow.
    “I wished to learn of the urgency your note implied,” he corrected.
    Elizabeth gestured to a nearby bench. Once seated, she swallowed a deep steadying breath. She kept her eyes on her hands rather than to look upon Mr. Darcy’s countenance.
    “Needless to say, your letter brought me moments of unrest,” she began softly.
    “Unrest was not my objective,” Mr. Darcy assured. “I simply wished to clarify my actions, especially as to my conduct with Mr. Wickham.”
    “Mr. Wickham?”
    Elizabeth looked up in confusion.
    “There is little in the letter that speaks of Mr. Wickham, and nothing where your former friend is specifically named.”
    “You must be mistaken,” the gentleman insisted. “I disclosed the secret of Mr. Wickham’s attempted seduction of a member of my family and the shame he delivered to her door. I pleaded for your discretion, but I thought it important for you to know the truth.”
    Elizabeth’s irritation grew by leaps and bounds.
    “Mr. Darcy, if you offered my such confidences, you can be assured that I would never abuse them; however, there is a mistake, but not on my end. I reread the letter only this morning. It is as if we speak of two different missives.”
    The gentleman frowned in deep disapproval.
    “Would you please describe the letter you received?” he asked in what sounded of dread.
    Elizabeth could not keep the blush from claiming her neck and cheeks.
    “A lady cannot repeat such promises to a gentleman,” she said with a squeak in her voice.
    “Please, Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy pleaded.
    Elizabeth looked away in embarrassment. She could not understand why Mr. Darcy meant to torment her. She shook her head in the negative as another flush of color sped across her skin.
    Mr. Darcy spoke with sympathy.
    “Did the letter address my desire to cherish, adore, and protect you?”
    Elizabeth nodded in the affirmative this time, but she kept her eyes diverted from Mr. Darcy’s.
    The gentleman cleared his throat.
    “I must apologize, Miss Elizabeth. I wrote more than one letter during the slow hours of the night. The first one, I burned because I spoke of Mr. Wickham in very unflattering terms. I fear my anger controlled my response. Upon second thought, I realized that particular letter was not fit for your eyes.”
    Mr. Darcy paused as if considering what to say next, and Elizabeth permitted herself several quick glances at his expression, but his features were unreadable.
    “I must confess,” he continued, “my emotions ruled my response to your refusal of my hand. I suspect the letter I presented you was my reasoning out what occurred at Hunsford Cottage. Again, the letter was never meant for anyone’s eyes but mine.”
    Elizabeth admitted, “Many write of their anger. Mr. Bennet does so.