{"id":2129,"date":"2017-12-12T08:58:40","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T13:58:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/?p=2129"},"modified":"2021-12-17T12:42:13","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T17:42:13","slug":"chapter-7-spring-sentiment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-7-spring-sentiment\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 7 A Spring Sentiment"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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I love a good sisterly argument…. and yes, I’m the eldest of 3 daughters… so I love writing when Elizabeth or Jane have to reign in the younger ones. LOL<\/p>

XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Chapter 7 - A Spring Sentiment, a Pride and Prejudice Variation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bleary-eyed, Fitzwilliam Darcy finished his tenth letter for the morning before setting his pen down and rubbing his face with the palm of his hand. A yawn escaped from his mouth as the door to his study was knocked upon. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cEnter.\u201d He leaned back in his chair as his sister came into the room, clearly ebullient from a well-rested night. Darcy, meanwhile, had suffered through two weeks of early rising to finish his work before a reasonable hour to pay a call on the Gardiner residence and then return or stay for dinner and an evening\u2019s entertainment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cGood morning, William. It\u2019s quite warm out today, and I\u2019ve just received a note back from Mary. We are in agreement for a picnic this afternoon with the Miss Bennets in Hyde Park.\u201d Georgiana smiled brightly and made a tiny clapping motion with her hands.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cI am happy to hear the plans are set. Have you visited the kitchens to discuss this with Mrs. Palmer?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Georgiana\u2019s smile faded. \u201cEr, no. Would not Mrs. Kensington take care of the details?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cTo be sure, she is most capable of planning a small picnic, but I think it best for you to undertake this excursion. Good practice for your future and all that.\u201d A small pout began to quiver on his sister\u2019s lip, and Darcy laughed. \u201cNone of that false fear, if you please. Now off with you, I am too exhausted to trifle with any silliness you have planned to play at this morning.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Making a face at her much older brother, Georgiana Darcy curtsied and exited her brother\u2019s study. This new workload he placed on her shoulders was most vexing, and she was beginning to find truth in what her brother and cousin had always told her. There was truly no fun in growing up. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Giving his arms a stretch, Darcy looked once more over his correspondence before growling at a pile of at least another fifteen letters that all required his reply. He glanced at the clock on the mantle and resolved to respond to five more before he had to leave to meet with his solicitor. Mending his pen and opening a new bottle of ink, the Master of Pemberley and other properties set back to work. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Across the city on Gracechurch Street, Elizabeth Bennet happily entertained her younger cousins with tales of the daring Bennet sisters in Hertfordshire from so many years ago. After telling of the time she and Jane triumphed over the mean Lucas\u2019 boys by disguising a rather deep mud puddle with well-placed sticks and foliage, young Master Gardiner only wondered one thing. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cDid your Papa whip you?\u201d he asked, eyes wide. Since being warned of such a fate by his father last week for running in the hall and knocking into Mother, Peter Gardiner was very keen to know more about what did and did not constitute a whipping offense. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Shocked at the mention of her father, Elizabeth took a beat to swallow and considered her answer. Her father had never raised a hand to any of his daughters. She shook her head and gave her young cousins a weak smile. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cMy papa would have! He does not like it when you break the rules.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cOnly when breaking the rules can hurt another, Peter. Now you two are late for your lessons, and Nanny is waiting.\u201d Mrs. Gardiner appeared with a bouquet of lovely daffodils in her arms and swooshed into the room to replace the wilted flowers hanging limply in a vase positioned in the main window. Her two children scurried up the stairs without argument. \u201cI hope they didn\u2019t distress you much.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cNot at all. I was happy to give Nanny Pierce a break.\u201d Elizabeth rose to take over the flower arranging duties from her aunt. Mrs. Gardiner collapsed into a chair and fanned her face. Smirking, Elizabeth turned away from observing her aunt and stood on her tiptoes to see higher over the vase to the street beyond. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

The hustle and bustle of the street was too chaotic for her to make out very much, but a strange man standing on the far street corner gave her pause. He wasn\u2019t moving, and he was too far for Elizabeth to see the details of his face, heavily shrouded by his hat. Shrugging, she reasoned he must be waiting to deliver a message or have other such business to conduct. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Seeing her aunt still in distress, Elizabeth picked up the footstool and moved it closer to her aunt\u2019s feet, helping her to prop them up. \u201cI could have called a maid,\u201d the older woman scolded Elizabeth, who just responded with a wan smile. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cI carefully balanced the needs of my dearest relation with the convenience of waiting for a servant and ultimately concluded that I could indeed deign to move a mighty footstool.\u201d The two women shared a laugh, and Elizabeth took a seat near her aunt. Mrs. Gardiner couldn\u2019t help herself and absently rubbed the small, growing bump in her midsection. Noticing her niece eyeing her hands\u2019 movements, Madeline Gardiner looked down and blushed. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cForgive me; I suppose the surprise your uncle and I planned to share at dinner tonight is ruined.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth shook her head. \u201cWe all knew you were expecting weeks ago.\u201d Madeline Gardiner\u2019s mouth dropped in shock. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cWas I so very transparent?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Again, Elizabeth laughed and shook her head. \u201cNo, but I\u2019ve practically spent half a year here every year since I\u2019ve been out. I\u2019ve witnessed all of your symptoms for all four of the children.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Wincing slightly, Mrs. Gardiner adjusted her posture to stop the aches and pains of her body accommodating itself to the life growing inside. \u201cI don\u2019t recall feeling so tired and worn with the other four. Oooh.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth worried as her aunt\u2019s face paled, and she quickly stood up. \u201cI will send for the doctor. And Uncle.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou will do no such thing! Sit back down!\u201d Her aunt continued to take a few breaths through her nose and then suddenly smiled. \u201cThis is nothing but normal. I\u2019m sorry you had to witness my imposition.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Slowly, Elizabeth returned to her chair and arched her eyebrows. \u201cAre you sure I shouldn\u2019t tell Uncle?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cI simply tried to do a little too much this morning, and my body is reminding me to slow down. Now, forget me for a moment. Let\u2019s talk about you while we have the privacy. Do you have any questions about your future with Mr. Darcy?\u201d Elizabeth reddened and looked away. Mrs. Gardiner reached over to pat her hands. \u201cIt\u2019s perfectly safe, dear. Women do talk about these things, and you are very soon to be married. I\u2019ve watched him with you, and I don\u2019t think you have anything to fear in that corner.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth\u2019s head shot up. \u201cFear? Why ever should I fear him?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Madeline Gardiner took a deep breath and sighed. \u201cThere are some wives who do not learn until it\u2019s too late their husband is a brute and takes his pleasure with or without regard to their wives\u2019 wishes.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth\u2019s mouth dropped in horror, and Mrs. Gardiner nodded her head to confirm that what she was thinking was indeed the nightmare her aunt was trying to describe. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s an ugly business, that. And unless a woman has a father or brother to step in . . . well, you have nothing to worry about.\u201d Mrs. Gardiner attempted a wane smile in support. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Leaving Elizabeth stunned in her chair, Madeline Gardiner rose as her husband and other nieces entered the home. He had taken Kitty and Mary to the warehouses to pick out fabric for their wardrobes for the coming Season. The only reason Elizabeth had remained home was that Mr. Darcy had insisted on paying for all of her needs at the same modiste that served both Miss Darcy and Lady Matlock. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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