Read Online A Father's Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by J Dawn King - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J Dawn King
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longed to be established in
her own home. As Elizabeth said, it truly mattered not how or who it was that
brought those circumstances about. Charlotte had never been a romantic; instead
was pragmatic with her circumstances. She certainly could do worse than Mr.
Collins.
Charlotte
stopped and turned to her good friend. “If you truly do not mind, dear friend,
I shall call on Longbourn, after I visit the dressmaker, to offer comfort to a
disappointed suitor.”
“Not
at all, Charlotte, I wish you joy and a long, happy life.” Elizabeth recognized
that Charlotte feared being a burden to her family more than she feared an
unequal marriage. She longed to spend more time with her friend, but needed to
reach the coaching Inn so she could catch the post coach to town. It was,
weather permitting, a four hour trip and, if delayed too long, she would arrive
after dark had set in when the potential for danger and injury were greater.
They hugged tightly and promised to continue their correspondence. Upon
releasing one another from the firm embrace, Charlotte turned to go to the
dressmaker while Elizabeth set her sights to walk the remaining short distance
to Meryton.
“Pardon
me, Miss Lucas; are you and your family well today?” So distracted in their
parting they had failed to notice the arrival of one of the officers in the
militia. Elizabeth and Charlotte turned to face a tall, handsome Lieutenant.
“My
family is well, Lt. Wickham.” Charlotte turned to address her recent
acquaintance. “Lt. Wickham, may I present to you a close friend of mine, Miss
Elizabeth Bennet. Lizzy, this is Lt. George Wickham, originally from
Derbyshire, and now of the militia stationed here in Meryton.”
Elizabeth
was stunned. This had to be Georgiana’s older brother. He resembled Mr. Darcy
only in his stature and hair color. Lt. Wickham’s hair was straight where Mr.
Darcy’s was wavy and Lt. Wickham’s eyes were blue. Crystal clear eyes which
were piercingly cold, as if seeking to expose any weakness or vulnerability in
a potential victim. They had none of the warmth that Elizabeth had noticed in
Mr. Darcy’s dark eyes.
Though
wary, Elizabeth determined to appear that she had no prior knowledge of the
man. She knew he was not a gentleman but curtsied as if he were. Before she
could fashion a reply to his terse greeting, the sound of rapid hoof beats
reached the three of them. All three turned at the sound.
Mr.
Darcy was in the lead, charging toward them. He yelled back for Mr. Bingley to
restrain Georgiana from approaching. From the distance, Georgiana must have
recognized the officer for she stopped her horse without questioning her
brother’s directive. Anger and disgust radiated from Mr. Darcy as he reached
them. He politely, but stiffly, greeted the ladies then turned his full
attention to his half-brother.
“Wickham,”
he barked at the Lieutenant, “why are you here?” No greeting preceded the
question, though it would have surprised Elizabeth had there been offered any
courtesy to the older brother by his younger sibling. While Elizabeth expected
animosity, Charlotte Lucas did not. During social occasions, Mr. Darcy had not
recommended himself well to the neighborhood, but there had never been
unfriendliness or rude behavior. It was as if he was awkward when surrounded by
people he was not acquainted with. This display of emotions seemed out of
character for Mr. Darcy. His eyes blazed with anger and intolerance. Uncomfortably
aware that she was intruding on a private moment, Charlotte dismissed herself
to visit the seamstress, already making plans for her new dress to be worn to
Longbourn. None of the three left behind were even aware that she had gone.
Wickham
stared at his younger brother with intense hatred in his eyes. He looked past
Darcy to Georgiana and his expression never changed. Without responding to his
brother’s inquiry, Lt. Wickham spun around and walked away. It had
her own home. As Elizabeth said, it truly mattered not how or who it was that
brought those circumstances about. Charlotte had never been a romantic; instead
was pragmatic with her circumstances. She certainly could do worse than Mr.
Collins.
Charlotte
stopped and turned to her good friend. “If you truly do not mind, dear friend,
I shall call on Longbourn, after I visit the dressmaker, to offer comfort to a
disappointed suitor.”
“Not
at all, Charlotte, I wish you joy and a long, happy life.” Elizabeth recognized
that Charlotte feared being a burden to her family more than she feared an
unequal marriage. She longed to spend more time with her friend, but needed to
reach the coaching Inn so she could catch the post coach to town. It was,
weather permitting, a four hour trip and, if delayed too long, she would arrive
after dark had set in when the potential for danger and injury were greater.
They hugged tightly and promised to continue their correspondence. Upon
releasing one another from the firm embrace, Charlotte turned to go to the
dressmaker while Elizabeth set her sights to walk the remaining short distance
to Meryton.
“Pardon
me, Miss Lucas; are you and your family well today?” So distracted in their
parting they had failed to notice the arrival of one of the officers in the
militia. Elizabeth and Charlotte turned to face a tall, handsome Lieutenant.
“My
family is well, Lt. Wickham.” Charlotte turned to address her recent
acquaintance. “Lt. Wickham, may I present to you a close friend of mine, Miss
Elizabeth Bennet. Lizzy, this is Lt. George Wickham, originally from
Derbyshire, and now of the militia stationed here in Meryton.”
Elizabeth
was stunned. This had to be Georgiana’s older brother. He resembled Mr. Darcy
only in his stature and hair color. Lt. Wickham’s hair was straight where Mr.
Darcy’s was wavy and Lt. Wickham’s eyes were blue. Crystal clear eyes which
were piercingly cold, as if seeking to expose any weakness or vulnerability in
a potential victim. They had none of the warmth that Elizabeth had noticed in
Mr. Darcy’s dark eyes.
Though
wary, Elizabeth determined to appear that she had no prior knowledge of the
man. She knew he was not a gentleman but curtsied as if he were. Before she
could fashion a reply to his terse greeting, the sound of rapid hoof beats
reached the three of them. All three turned at the sound.
Mr.
Darcy was in the lead, charging toward them. He yelled back for Mr. Bingley to
restrain Georgiana from approaching. From the distance, Georgiana must have
recognized the officer for she stopped her horse without questioning her
brother’s directive. Anger and disgust radiated from Mr. Darcy as he reached
them. He politely, but stiffly, greeted the ladies then turned his full
attention to his half-brother.
“Wickham,”
he barked at the Lieutenant, “why are you here?” No greeting preceded the
question, though it would have surprised Elizabeth had there been offered any
courtesy to the older brother by his younger sibling. While Elizabeth expected
animosity, Charlotte Lucas did not. During social occasions, Mr. Darcy had not
recommended himself well to the neighborhood, but there had never been
unfriendliness or rude behavior. It was as if he was awkward when surrounded by
people he was not acquainted with. This display of emotions seemed out of
character for Mr. Darcy. His eyes blazed with anger and intolerance. Uncomfortably
aware that she was intruding on a private moment, Charlotte dismissed herself
to visit the seamstress, already making plans for her new dress to be worn to
Longbourn. None of the three left behind were even aware that she had gone.
Wickham
stared at his younger brother with intense hatred in his eyes. He looked past
Darcy to Georgiana and his expression never changed. Without responding to his
brother’s inquiry, Lt. Wickham spun around and walked away. It had
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