The last time I wrote and posted, my separation was final. I am now one judge’s signature away from a final divorce. It can happen any day now. I can’t really express what a trial this time in my life has been, nor am I particularly satisfied with the areas of my life I let slide as I dealt with the monumental change. I was devastated to learn my husband left me for another. I’ve dedicated a book to this man, grew his child in my body, took on the care of his child from a previous marriage . . . I. Trusted. Him. No amount of book boyfriend could salve my wounded heart. And so it has been months of 600 words here. 800 words there. Weeks apart.
But, time, and pursuing healthy ways to cope with my new life have, I believe, allowed me to begin a true return. I have a clear plan to finish this book, and I have work in progress to start Book 5 of the Moralities of Marriage right after this one.
So thank you for still reading. I may still be a mess…. but I am a beautiful mess and when my wounds heal, that scar will be stronger than the original tissue.
XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West
Chapter 5 - A Spring Society, a Pride and Prejudice Novella Variation
Late spring in Scotland brought the much needed reprieve from winter’s cold breath. Jane Hamilton worked out in the kitchen gardens of Starvet House to oversee plans for the herbs and vegetables. She had sat her ward, Robert Bennet, the orphaned, natural child of the late Lydia Bennet and George Wickham, on a blanket near the plot of dirt with his nurse, a young maid named Alice. Alice had turned her head for one moment to fuss over the items in a basket for both Jane and Robin’s comfort when the babe’s movement caught Jane’s attention.
“I was asking for only a few vegetables that are more common . . . Oh!” Jane forgot her thought to the head gardener as Robin, with a look of determination across his brow, pushed his bottom straight up with his hands on the ground. Then he pushed his torso up with his little arms. Reaching his hands out for the only woman he knew as a mother, Robin took his first awkward steps on the uneven ground of the garden, and promptly fell back into the dirt.
Then he cried out.
Jane rushed to the little lad, just three-quarters of a year old, and laughed. “Darling, you are not supposed to walk yet. You’ve just begun to crawl!” And so he had, keeping both of his nurses and Jane and Jane’s husband, Lord Graham Hamilton, quite busy when he was in their care. He crawled, pulled himself up on furniture, and was always reaching out for stray hair fallen from a bonnet or the curtains when he neared them.
As soon as Jane picked him up, Robin ceased his fussing and squirmed and pushed against her. He did not wish to be held, but to be let free so he could attempt his new trick once more.
“Oh, there you go, you rascal,” Jane said as she plumped him right back down on the blanket as a wagon drove around the lane in front of the house to the side gardens. Jane shaded her eyes as she tilted her chin up to see who came, but she had a good inkling as to whom it might be.
“Whoa! Whoa!” Graham’s booming baritone settled the ponies as he drove the cart a bit dangerously close to the picnic. Jane naturally placed herself between Robin on the blanket and the steadying wagon. Graham stood upon the edge of the vehicle and smiled at his new wife, before crying with excitement.
“There you go lad! Walk to your Da!” Graham leapt down from the wagon and with one wide step, avoided a collision with Jane. He rolled to the ground just as little Robin fell once more and lifted the child above him as Robin giggled and shrieked. “Did you see that? He took his first steps!”
Jane stood with her hands on her hips, genuinely enjoying the easy affection between her husband and the boy they had taken on together. But she was slightly put out that she had been usurped by the baby from receiving a proper greeting.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but those are his second steps. He took his first steps to try to get to me,” Jane boasted as she joined her two men on the blanket. Graham sat up with the baby cradled easily in his arms and leaned forward to kiss his lass.
“Is that so? You rob a father of his glory?”
“Only a glory dishonestly claimed.”
“So says you, but what do you say, eh, lad?” Graham looked down at Robin who was beginning to fuss and squirm in the same way he had in Jane’s arms. “Suppose it’s little matter, look at him go. He’s a determined little lamb!” Graham gently placed the babe back on the blanket only for Robin to roll to his stomach and again push himself up. This time, once he stood, his Da held out his strong hand and little Robin grasped two fingers with his little fist. The steady hand was all he needed to take a few more steps before he lost his balance again, and his grip, and tumbled back to the soft ground.
Both Jane and Graham cheered his little efforts and waived off Alice who made a movement as to get the boy. Soon, Jane was sitting snuggled closely to her husband as they both helped the baby stand up again and again until it became clear he was tiring and it was nearly time for his nap.
“Alice?” Graham addressed the maid that had been close to the boy since his birth. Jane began to protest, but her husband turned to her next. “I came back to fetch you and if you have nothing else planned this afternoon, I would like to show you the progress on the house.”
Chapter 5 (cont'd) - A Spring Society, a Pride and Prejudice Novella Variation
Jane looked wistfully at the garden, as the gardener had long waived himself off and returned to his daily chores. For months now, Graham was gone for most of the day and returning home nearly at dinner time to oversee the rebuilding of his estate. Their estate, Jane had to remind herself, though when the home burned down last summer, she was merely an acquaintance of the great Lord Graham Hamilton, twin brother to Viscount Haddington, both sons of the Duke of Hamilton.
“If you shall allow me to see him put to bed and refresh my dress, then I shall be happy to go with you,” she replied. She offered her husband a chaste kiss to seal the promise, and followed Alice indoors. Graham followed behind the women as he declared he, too, would seek refreshment before travelling back the five miles to Blaylock.
“The post, madam.” The butler nearly stumbled into Jane in the foyer as he handed her two letters. The first was the normal weekly letter from Mr. Darcy that Jane used for any instructions to the staff. A letter from her sister Elizabeth was often tucked inside as well. But the other letter was from Mary and postmarked from London.
Jane tore it open, deciding the letter from the Darcys could wait.
Dearest Jane,
How strange it is to think that I have so many unexpectedly inherited your moniker instead of Lizzie, but I was cheered to hear of your good news! Lizzie assured me the Hamilton family are of strong character and that your husband is a kind man. I do not mean to distress you, but she told me the story of the fire, and it is only someone of great courage and faith in our Lord who would run into a burning building to save others.
Although my intended may not make me a Countess, as I have learned that Lord Hamilton inherited his grandfather’s title, I have news of my own to share. At Christmas, shortly after Richard declared himself, he apprised me and the Darcys of a chance he might see deployment to the Continent. Our uncle was also privy to the plans should such an event come to pass.
I write this as my trunks are packed for Newcastle. The base being so very near to Edinburgh, and Mr. Darcy’s house, we have decided to elope there at our earliest convenience. I should say to expect me and Colonel Fitzwilliam within the fortnight, but it shall take me at least a week to reach his barracks. Then I must learn of what leave may be had. Our aunt proudly calls this my first trial as a future army wife, planning my nuptials around the needs and necessities of His Majesty’s Finest. But I truly don’t mind.
And then your long-held precedence will pass to Kitty, and she will become Miss Bennet. I believe I shall be quite comfortable as Mrs. Richard Fitzwilliam of Matlock. All my best to you, Lord Hamilton, and little Robin. I do love to hear of his antics in your letters and cannot wait to meet him in person.
Your Loving Sister,
Mary
NEW RELEASE
For the Love of a Bennet
What if Elizabeth Bennet traveled with Lydia to Brighton?
A reimagining of Jane Austen’s most beloved tale, Pride & Prejudice, join author Elizabeth Ann West as she writes the romantic adventure story she always wanted! When Lizzy and Lydia arrive in Brighton, it’s very clear that the younger Bennet sister came with very serious plans towards Mr. Wickham. Thankfully, an old ally is also in town, with problems of his own to solve. After Mr. Darcy, himself, is summoned to Brighton to hopefully solve two dilemmas with one wealthy member of the gentry, the whole militia is thrown into an uproar by Wickham’s most dastardly deed, yet. Together, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy have to save Lydia from her own undoing, or it will mean more than just mere reputations are ruined.
For the Love of a Bennet is a novel length story, currently being posted chapter by chapter on Elizabeth’s author site. This story was originally conceptualized in 2019 as a part of the All Go to Brighton challenge.
Chapter 5 (cont'd) - A Spring Society, a Pride and Prejudice Novella Variation
Jane began to shake the letter in sheer joy as the poor butler nodded up and down, but did not know how to behave in response.
“Mary is to be married, here in Scotland!” Jane spun around to hunt for her husband, but Graham had already gone upstairs, likely to see to Robin’s tuck in when his wife became distracted by the post. With no other outlet for her exuberance, Lady Jane Hamilton bounded up the stairs, hearing Robin fussing as she neared his nursery. Carefully peeking in the room, she spied Graham handing off the exhausted child to Alice as he left the nursery. Jane took a step back so that her charge would not see her, and beamed at her husband.
“You are very happy about something,” he stated, as she suddenly seemed unable to speak.
“My sister is to be married!” she blurted as she followed Graham to the suite they mostly shared as official guests in Mr. Darcy’s home, though they also saw to the care of the home in his absence.
Graham Hamilton frowned. “I believe we’ve known this for some time, or is it Catherine we are to wish joy?” He appeared pleased with himself that he remembered the sisters’ names as there were four of them. Even though Lydia was deceased, his wife preferred to speak about Lydia only in the past tense when referring to memories of their upbringing. Jane never referred to Lydia as not being in the present. To Graham, it seemed only reasonable as he imagined daily caring for her sister’s orphan was enough of a painful reminder of the loss. She didn’t need to commit it to speech as well.
“No, not Kitty. It is Mary.”
“And we were made aware of her engagement months ago,” he repeated, still confused.
“Yes,” Jane grew frustrated as she kept smiling and fluttered the letter in her hands, and only the sobering thought that her sister Lizzie would point out she was impersonating their mother allowed Jane to calm her nerves. “Mary is to elope because Richard must deploy.”
Graham accepted the letter she thrust out to show him and without thinking he reacted.
“A new crop of war widows.” As soon as the words tumbled out of his mouth, he looked up in horror at Jane, who was equally mortified. “Forgive me, I did not think.”
“I should say not! There is no reason to believe that Colonel Fitzwilliam will die. He’s been to war before and survived. The officers are rarely targeted.” Jane repeated the often-spoken assurances she told herself since Mary first confessed her affections for the man in a fine red coat.
“As I said, I should not have spoken. But he is cavalry, they are often the most brave.”
“And perhaps marriage will change his priorities,” Jane countered, taking the letter from Graham gently as she wished to keep it. Graham shrugged and kept his words to himself.
Jane took a good look at her husband and saw a weary man. As he took a seat on the bench in front of the large four-post bed, the months of back and forth to Blaylock House were taking their toll.
“How is the house building going?” she asked as an olive branch. They so rarely quarreled, and it was not a habit Jane wished to start now.
Graham reached up and pulled his wife down upon his lap, squeezing her small frame to his broad chest and breathing in deeply. When an equally large sigh left his lungs, Jane grew worried until she felt his gloved hands begin to tickle up her ribcage.
“Graham,” she uttered, only he continued. “Graham!”
He laughed to match her own giggles and tipped her backwards slightly to plant a kiss just along her clavicle before settling her back upright.
“It’s a tedious business. But I am eager to show you the progress,” he confessed.
Jane pursed her lips.
“I know that look, dear wife. You have other thoughts.”
She nodded. Then smiled.
Finally, Jane twisted in his embrace a quarter turn to more directly face him. “You look exhausted, and I do hate to see you this way. I suggest we rest and tomorrow, we plan a glorious picnic and I shall take the carriage out to the house.”
“Are you saying my wagon is not good enough for Lady Hamilton? I told you that you were marrying a gentleman farmer!” He laughed as Jane playfully swatted at him.
“I am saying no such thing, but if I am to spend the day inspecting frames and foundations, there are some comforts a lady must preserve. What will the servants think?” Jane said, teasing her husband right back as he realized that without a proper house at the site, Jane couldn’t relieve herself like the men. He cringed as he realized how foolhardy his plans to abscond with his wife in his simple wagon that very afternoon had been. But Jane was always gentle with him. She never said a cross word to critique or nag, but always found a way to show him a better path.
Again he sighed deeply and Jane laid her head upon his shoulder.
“You promise you will come tomorrow?” he asked.
Jane lifted her head and kissed his scruffy cheek as since he began overseeing the building of the house properly, Graham had taken to growing a beard like the men working on the home. “Nothing shall keep me away. But now I must go see to the arrangements for our guests. They might arrive any day!”
“Oh no!” Graham pronounced as he effortlessly lifted his wife into his arms before walking the few steps to lay her upon the bed. “You ordered me to rest, lass, and that is only accomplished with your company.”
“It that so, now?” Jane said, mimicking the speech patterns of the locals.
“Aye,” Graham replied before finding other ways to please his wife than just tickles.
You’ve been reading A Spring Society.
Book 6 of The Seasons of Serendipity, continues to tell the fate of the Bennet family after the death of their patriarch, Mr. Bennet, in Book 1, A Winter Wrong.
After a winter of wonders, from a Darcy babe making his growth known to the arrival of Darcy’s uncle, Alistair Darcy, the Bennet, Darcy, and Fitzwilliams families became further entwined with the engagement of Mary Bennet to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Spring 1813 continues to delight the Darcys as they come up on their first year anniversary and welcome a new addition to the family.
The Seasons of Serendipity are novella length episodes to be read and enjoyed like our favorite hour-long BBC dramas. The series has 5 novellas in the main storyline, and a bonus novella that follows Jane Bennet’s adventures in Scotland with the handsome, reluctant Lord Graham Hamilton in A January for Jane.
A Spring Society Book 6 of the Seasons of Serendipity.
a Pride and Prejudice novella variation series
Release Date: TB, 2018 (direct preorder), TBD other vendors
~ 175 pages in print
+ 23 additional Pride & Prejudice variations are available at these fine retailers . . .
Thank you for your comments. They help me write more.
XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West
A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 8 novels and 11 novellas, 18 of which are story variations of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.
That was a nice chapter. Loved the ‘first step’ scene, but did I miss something? Why are Mary and Richard eloping? Is it eloping if everyone knows about it? Mary started out such a strong character. —Helped Richard with Mrs. Young. Since then she seems to have lost something. I would love to see her get it back. You can’t take her back to quiet and plain — that boat sailed … Of coarse, I don’t expect her to win the war on her own, but she ought to ‘do’ some of the things her letters promised to poor Richard… Lord, Jane had a whole book of her own… what ya gonna do about Mary? Please don’t kill her off after reading this. Oh, what are Darcy (elder) and Mrs. Bennet up to? Lost’s potentials… Anne in London for season. Kitty and her play. Thanks for updating.
Mary gets her own book too 🙂
There is another scene coming, and by eloping, Mary and Richard are not doing a formal wedding in London and his parents do not know. The only people who knew deployment and eloping might be needed were Mr. Darcy, Mr. Gardiner, Richard and Mary.
I went back and read the whole series, just because I really love it. I reread chapter 3. I am with ya now…. This is really a wonderful series. I hope you enjoy writing it as much as I enjoy reading it.
Thank you so much for reading every chapter! All of my books are so funny to me… the way my memory works is I can replay just about any memory I have. I have a highly visual memory where I can repeat back very verbatim like a movie in my head . . . except for my books! I can reread a chapter and not remember writing it… I think because it’s like 2 simultaneous memories… I am using my “visual machine” in my brain to live the scene so it’s occupied and can’t record the visual of me sitting in my desk chair typing or dictating…. so when I read my books, many times it’s like a new story to me too. I understand some might call this “the zone” etc. but I find it highly amusing.
Yes, I am excited, no thrilled about that— ‘book of her own’.
A May for Mary 🙂
I love this series, and apart from your stories, I love reading your personal updates above each chapter. I am very fortunate in having a wonderful, faithful, and faith filled husband, but have a number of friends and loved ones who have had to deal with hurtful, deceitful men like you are. I have to say I admire your attitude, and simply love the last paragraph, of you being a beautiful mess who’s scars will grow to be stronger than the original tissue! My best to you in your struggles and glories!
Thank you so much~ I am using a program called Harboring Hope that offers 10 week small groups for affair recovery. I am learning how to process this pain and hurt in a positive way to bring myself closer to God.
I love the reading rrom. I have just reread the first four and then devoured volume 5. I just finished reading up to chapter 6 of volume 6. Please keep more coming. I absolutely love the plot, themes and all the characters.