Short Story Excerpt

This is the beginning of a little story I’ve been working on for a while now. Basically, what if Elizabeth left the inn at Lambton before Jane’s letters arrived? What would have happened? Take a look…

Lambton, Derbyshire

 August 1812

Elizabeth tied her bonnet ribbons in a jaunty bow to the left of her face. She did not think she was being too vain by recognizing the style to be rather flattering on her. They had plans to walk to the church this morning and call on an old friend of Mrs. Gardiner’s. Elizabeth did not think it likely she would see Mr. Darcy before dinner at Pemberley this evening, but she had not expected to see him when she called on his sister the day before, nor had she expected to see him at the inn the very day of his sister’s arrival, yet she had. So she took extra care with her hair, wore her most flattering walking dress, and tied her bonnet bow thrice before she was satisfied.

They were stepping out of the inn when they saw Mr. Darcy walking towards them. Elizabeth felt a little thrill—she had been right to dress carefully—and she gifted him with a bright smile. He returned it, looking somewhat dazed, and addressed her uncle.

“Are you on your way out?”

Elizabeth stifled a smile. They were very clearly on their way out, though she supposed it was possible they were on their way in—from a very early appointment.

“We were just going to walk down to the church. Will you not join us?” said Mr. Gardiner jovially.

“Thank you, I will.”

Darcy fell into step beside Elizabeth, the Gardiners walking ahead of them.

“I am surprised to see you this morning, Mr. Darcy.”

He looked about nervously and she pretended not to notice it. Or perhaps she truly did not, for she continued to cast nervous glances at her shoes and the shop windows around them.

“I had business in the area.”

She nodded.

They walked another few minutes in silence before Mr. Darcy sighed. “Miss Bennet, I do not like disguise.”

“Yes, I know.”

“I had no business in Lambton other than to see you.”

“Oh?”

“I had hoped to take you for a drive in the country, if you are amenable.”

“A drive?” Why could she not string together a full sentence?

“I have brought my curricle.” He looked over his shoulder. “I’ve left it at the inn.”

Elizabeth noted with some relief that he was as nervous as she was. Oddly, it had the effect of soothing her nerves. “A drive sounds lovely. I will ask my aunt.”

Darcy nodded and they followed her relations into the churchyard. Mrs. Gardiner told them about the church building itself and her memories of it from her childhood. Her father had been the curate there before being offered a living further south and she had fond memories of the village and this building in particular.

Elizabeth listened with a warm smile, for she was close to her aunt and generally enjoyed hearing about her life before Elizabeth had known her. However, at the moment, her mind was too full of Mr. Darcy to enjoy her aunt’s stories. He stood alarmingly close to her, the sleeve of his jacket brushing against her arm when she made the slightest movement. He was speaking of the glass in the windows—his father had ordered new ones when the older ones were blown out in a storm in the year one, but she could not focus on the words. His voice was warm and lilting, like a hot cup of tea on a cold winter’s day, and she could not stop her mind from wondering what it would be like to have him read to her by the firelight as she sewed, or perhaps rocked a young babe.

Stop it, Elizabeth! You are being ridiculous!

Embarrassed by the direction of her own thoughts, she turned away to stand beside her aunt. When the gentlemen looked preoccupied, she whispered, “Aunt, Mr. Darcy has asked me to go for a drive with him today.”

Mrs. Gardiner turned towards her with raised brows. “Did he?”

Elizabeth flushed at the restrained glee she heard in her aunt’s voice. “Yes.”

“Would you like to go?”

“I do not wish to disrupt your plans. Did you not wish to visit your friend?”

“My dear, do not let my plans deter you. I shall have your uncle with me. I shall hardly feel abandoned. So the question remains: do you wish to go?”

Elizabeth bit her lip nervously, then met her aunt’s gaze as steadily as she could. “Yes, I believe I would.”

Mrs. Gardiner smiled and patted her hand. “Then so you should. Mr. Darcy is a fine upstanding gentleman. He would do very well for you.”

Elizabeth looked heavenward. “Not you, too!”

Mrs. Gardiner laughed softly. “I notice you do not disagree with me.”

Elizabeth felt heat suffuse her face.

“I do not say you would do well because he is wealthy and grand, though he certainly is. I say it because his mind is well matched to yours, and I believe your temperaments would do well together.”

“Do you?” Suddenly, Elizabeth was wild to know her aunt’s thoughts on the matter.

“Yes. He could do with some of your liveliness, and I do not think he is the sort of man who would resent you for being more charming than he is.”

“No, I do not think he is,” she mused. Elizabeth had never thought about it before, but might a man feel that way? Would her lively talents make her husband, imaginary creature though he was, feel inferior in some way? It was almost laughable, but then she thought about the couples she knew. About how her father made her mother feel inferior due to his greater intelligence. They had not successfully managed their differences. She had seen Lady Lucas look at her husband with something approaching resentment. It was usually when Sir William was welcoming a crowd into their home. Would Lady Lucas have preferred to do things differently? Did she resent her husband’s overt affability? Oh, dear! Elizabeth was embarrassed that she had never thought of it before. What of her Uncle Phillips?

Shaking her head slightly to clear it of all the unpleasant thoughts suddenly assaulting her, Elizabeth focused her attention back at her aunt. “Do you like him? Mr. Darcy?”

“Yes, I do. He is a very pleasant young man. Intelligent, affable. Indeed, I see no improper pride in him.”

“Neither do I. Not anymore,” she agreed with a wistful look at Mr. Darcy.

“Elizabeth, is there something you wish to tell me?”

“No, Aunt. Though I thank you for releasing me this afternoon. I shall return in time to dress for dinner.”

Mrs. Gardiner looked at her shrewdly before nodding. “Very well. Have a good time, my dear.”

Thanks for reading! This story should be released soon. 🙂