A Visit to Scotland
Page 10
“I do not know when I have eaten a more satisfying meal,” Caroline remarked, and Elizabeth shot her a grateful smile. She was not sure what had come over the obnoxious Miss Bingley in the last few minutes that had thus far evaded her, but she seemed acutely aware of the difficulties between those seated at the table. Instead of plundering the effect for her own entertainment and gossip, though, she now appeared to understand that it was for Anne’s sake that peace reigned, and was inclined to contribute. Lizzy assured herself that her friend was eating, however slowly, and returned to her own seat, next to Darcy. He strategically avoided looking at Wickham, but, Lizzy felt, it was not out of anger or malice that he averted his gaze, stealing only occasional glances at Anne as if to reassure himself of her wellbeing.
“Is everything settled?” she whispered, under cover of Bingley’s friendly quizzing of Wickham over the fine countryside that surrounded them. Darcy nodded, lifting his eyes to meet hers. Lizzy ventured a smile and was gratified to see it returned, however fleetingly, and returned to her own meal.
“Well, Bingley,” Darcy said when his companion paused for breath. “I hope Scotland has not won your heart too completely, or you shall be forced to remain here alone. Mrs Darcy and I, and Mr and Mrs Wickham, will be returning shortly to England.” A hush fell over the table, and Lizzy found herself wondering what words were to fall from her husband’s lips next. She could not quite believe his easy inclusion of “Mr and Mrs” Wickham in a sentence with their own names and hung on his words lest there be some pronouncement therein that would explain his change of heart. Instead, she almost dropped her fork at his concluding statement. “We shall go to Pemberley.”
PEMBERLEY. The word echoed like a whisper around the table, and Darcy felt five pairs of curious eyes fix upon him. There was but one pair he cared for, though, and he turned immediately to Elizabeth.
“Provided you agree to it, Elizabeth. You have often said you wished to see Pemberley, and it was our intention to go there after Christmas. You do not dislike the idea?”
“No, indeed!” she said, with a happy smile. “I rejoice at it. But will -” she trailed off, but Darcy foresaw her question. Georgiana might welcome them to Pemberley, but what would she make of George Wickham, let alone George Wickham and his wife Anne de Bourgh.
Darcy’s brows knit. He had not reached a decision about Georgiana. She must see Wickham again, that much was plain, but was her constitution strong enough to stand it at present?
“Do you know, Mr Darcy,” Caroline began, a moment later. “I have long had a desire to invite Miss Georgiana to visit us at my dear sister’s home, Lattimer Place, which is not too far from Pemberley. I wonder, if you are to take a party home, whether she might not be persuaded to come quite soon.”
Darcy stole a glance at Caroline, unsure what to make of her words. Ordinarily, he might assume her to be teasing, interfering or otherwise scheming to some end that would benefit her, but nobody else. His brain ran in circles and he attempted to discern what motive could possibly underpin her generosity.
“Well!” Bingley delighted at this unusually kind suggestion of his sister’s. “Now that is a fine idea. What say you to it, Darcy? Do you think she will?”
“Oh, will she not wish to stay and see us?” Anne asked, innocently.
Silence descended on the table until Elizabeth broke in with a response.
“It is on my account, Anne, dear!” She laughed. “I am a little nervous to meet my new sister, and have thus been delaying our arrival at Pemberley. You see, Darcy was eager to go there straight away, and not tarry in London, but I insisted that I did so prefer to meet Georgiana on some neutral ground. I fear that she will see me as usurping her place, you see, and...” she glanced desperately at Darcy.
“Nonsense!” Anne laughed. “Why, Georgiana is the sweetest, kindest....William, you must convince your wife she is mistaken!”
“Of course she is!” Bingley said, realising a moment too late the true reason behind Elizabeth’s words. “But...I do not wonder that it might not be opportune, nonetheless, to invite her to stay with us. We are but a few miles’ apart and might see each other often. Will you write to her, Darcy?”
“Immediately,” he said. “And you may set out ahead of us by a day or two, for I am sure Mr and Mrs Wickham do not wish to be uprooted entirely straight away.” A glance at Wickham suggested that he did not object to leaving Scotland as swiftly as he arrived, but he would not say as much.
“I should like to see Pemberley again,” Wickham ventured, at last, his voice low. “I have not been there in, oh, quite some years.” He lifted his gaze to Darcy’s, and silently communicated his thanks for such a suggestion. “It is good of you to invite us. I am sure Anne will benefit from the healthy air and being amongst her family once more.”
“Then it is settled,” Darcy said, with a tentative smile at Elizabeth. “We shall set off, together, for Pemberley.”
The End
Also by Meg Osborne
A Convenient Marriage
A Convenient Marriage Volume 1
Longbourn's Lark: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Three Weeks in Kent: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Suitably Wed: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
A Visit to Scotland: A Pride and Prejudice Variaton
The Consequence of Haste: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
A Surprise Engagement: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Fate and Fortune
Too Fond of Stars: A Persuasion Variation
A Temporary Peace: A Persuasion Variation
Three Sisters from Hertfordshire
A Trip to Pemberley
An Assembly in Bath
An Escape from London
Standalone
After the Letter: A Persuasion Continuation
Half the Sum of Attraction: A Persuasion Prequel
A Very Merry Masquerade: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novella
The Other Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novella
In Netherfield Library and Other Stories
Mr Darcy's Christmas Carol: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Such Peculiar Providence
A Chance at Happiness
The Colonel's Cousin: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Watch for more at Meg Osborne’s site.
About the Author
Meg Osborne is an avid reader, tea drinker and unrepentant history nerd. She writes sweet historical romance stories and Jane Austen fanfiction, and can usually be found knitting, dreaming up new stories, or on twitter @megoswrites
Read more at Meg Osborne’s site.