{"id":2514,"date":"2018-07-17T08:59:32","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T12:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/?p=2514"},"modified":"2021-12-17T12:25:20","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T17:25:20","slug":"chapter-9-a-summer-shame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-9-a-summer-shame\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 9 A Summer Shame"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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I want a Graham Hamilton and a bonfire in Scotland. You?

You can preorder A Spring Society, Book 6 of this series, directly from me on Gumroad:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/gum.co\/sosbook6<\/a><\/p>

XOXOXO<\/p>

Elizabeth Ann West<\/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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Chapter 9 - A Summer Shame, 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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For a spell, the three sisters enjoyed their reunion and the eldest, Jane Bennet, wondered if perhaps Mr. Darcy had not exaggerated the trials and tribulations of handling a pregnant Lydia in his letter beckoning her to leave England. As she sat in the morning parlor of the grand stately home, Jane remained quiet, still exhausted from her ordeal at Matlock and the long journey up north.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Tell me all about the gowns you wore! Were they lined with golden thread? Oh, how I wish I had been in London this summer! I am sure the evenings were simply divine . . .” Lydia gazed above Jane’s head with a far-off look on her face.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth attempted to shake her head as little as possible in warning to Jane, but her sister missed the cue. Instead, Jane brightened at her first opportunity to cheer Lydia and rolled into a delightful retelling of her adventures.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“The first ball after breaking my understanding with Mr. Bingley was the most difficult, but I was saved in society’s eyes by a most dashing man, why . . .” Jane’s eyes widened as she recalled the connection to the county they were in, ” he was the Marquess Haddington! He told me his family was an ancient Scottish line.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Pinching the handle of her cup until her finger’s first knuckles were white as sheets, Elizabeth nodded. “Jane, how are the Fitzwilliams?”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Jane ignored Elizabeth’s question and gave her attention to Lydia, still absorbed with interconnections of her experiences. Here she had been taught to think of London Society as this vast sea, deep with debutantes and suitors, but the shallow degrees by which everyone who was anyone linked together thoroughly distracted her. “The Marquess Haddington has such pleasing features, why, the man I met yesterday who was so kind as to hand me down from the carriage appeared to be a mirror image. Is he related? I did not learn his name.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“You, you met a man? And he was handsome?” Lydia’s lower lip quivered.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Calm yourself, Lyddie, it was Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Darcy’s friend and our neighbor. I’m sure you will meet him yourself in a few short weeks.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“The resemblance was most remarkable.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth laughed. “I believe Mr. Graham Hamilton is a twin. I have not met the Marquess, but Mr. Hamilton holds a rather large farm he inherited from his mother’s side of the family, being the second born. Their mother was the Duke’s first wife.” Elizabeth prayed Jane would remember her earlier question, but instead, she fell right into another subject sure to aggravate the fragile nerves of Lydia Bennet.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“How terrible they lost their mother! Was it their birth? I have heard bearing twins is tricky.” Jane gasped as the weight of her words registered, and she jerked her focus to Lydia. Large, fat crocodile tears poured down the young girl’s cheeks.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“What if I am having twins? Look at me, I am so ridiculously large!” Sobbing and wretched, Lydia grasped her dress with two fists and pulled at the fabric.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Lydia, no! You’ll tear your lovely dress! Tell me about this fabric, what a wonderful pattern of calico, I do so love these sweet flowers along the trim.” Jane smiled at her youngest sister and reached over to still Lydia’s hands.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Don’t touch me!” Lydia snatched her hands away from Jane, her eyes wide with fear. “I know you two laugh at me when I am not in the room. Laugh as I waddle like a duck and I am so ugly, not even my dear Wickham will desire me anymore!”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Helpless, Jane looked to Elizabeth as Lydia continued her tirade but Mrs. Darcy, calm as could be, rang the little bell on her tray. In seconds, a maid appeared and curtsied.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Please tell Seamus and Brandon that Miss Lydia will be retiring upstairs for a rest. Thank you.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“No! No! I don’t want to rest! I won’t be banished to my bedroom! It’s too early!” Lydia began to whine and cry harder.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

“Should I fetch Dr. Simpson?”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Lydia bit her lip and shook her head. The last time Dr. Simpson visited for one of her fits, she had been sedated for days. Since none of her letters she had sent to her mother or aunt had ever seen a reply, Lydia needed to be awake and alert for her plans to escape. Besides, with any luck, she might convince one or both of the footmen to visit her later. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

“I am sorry. Please tell Mr. Darcy I’m good. I will go to my room and rest. There’s no need to send for the doctor.”<\/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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