{"id":2955,"date":"2020-06-01T09:20:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T13:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/?p=2955"},"modified":"2021-12-17T12:53:34","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T17:53:34","slug":"chapter-6-a-winter-wonder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-6-a-winter-wonder\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 6 A Winter Wonder"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2955\" class=\"elementor elementor-2955\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-tzlwpqx elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"tzlwpqx\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-hpsvypa\" data-id=\"hpsvypa\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fjyyk18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fjyyk18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Entrenched . . . it was such a terrible fate. We know it as being &#8220;on a budget.&#8221; \ud83d\ude42 I felt so bad for Kitty in this story&#8230;but YAY Uncle Gardiner! We should all have an uncle like him!<\/p><h1>XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West<\/h1>\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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cmvpllr elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cmvpllr\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-jtxlnev\" data-id=\"jtxlnev\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-trjgule elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"trjgule\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter 6 - A Winter Wonder, a Pride and Prejudice Variation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-rhiemlj elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"rhiemlj\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Three members of the once wealthy Fitzwilliam family traveled in heavy silence from London to their country seat at Matlock. Lady Matlock furiously moved her knitting needles adding a tedious layer of metal clicking to the normal creaks and groans of the carriage. Her eldest son, Robert Fitzwilliam, sighed as he turned another page in his book, repositioning himself to better find light that quickly dwindled. The winter\u2019s sun tarried not in the afternoon and one last meeting with the bank had delayed their departure from London.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">My mind still cannot fathom you once again ran over your allowance. I thought I made myself crystal clear of how tenuous our situation resided.\u201d Reginald Fitzwilliam verbally flogged his offspring once more.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Should I bother to ask again why you reinvested with the same company that lost money last year?\u201d Robert Fitzwilliam did not look up from his book to even dignify his father\u2019s anger with eye contact.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Do not dare question me, boy, it is I who carry the mantle Earl of Matlock. You would do well to remember you are not of any consequence until my death.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Provided there is even an Earldom to inherit once you\u2019re finished fleecing the coffers.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">You insolent-&#8221; the Earl of Matlock surged forward but his wife\u2019s practiced arm jetted out and placed a calming bar to his chest.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The only person who deserves to be angry in this carriage is me.\u201d Lady Matlock\u2019s tone brooked no nonsense, attracting the attentions of both men for her boldness. \u201cOh yes, I lay the situation at the feet of both of you. It was not I who spent over her budget. It is not I who gambled and lost.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Distracting her husband and son from their own interests in the dismal prospects of the Fitzwilliam family, both men considered the wise woman\u2019s words.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Margaret, it was a business deal, I\u2019m terribly sorry-&#8220;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Not again, Reginald, I cannot abide your apologies again.\u201d She removed her arm from her husband as he attempted to kiss her hand to placate her. Furiously working the knitting needles in an even greater pace, Lady Matlock cursed herself under her breath for giving these men the satisfaction of seeing her pique.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Another silence descended the carriage as the last turn was made into the lane for Matlock. an estate held in the Fitzwilliam line since King Henry VIII, the reality of the financial stakes soon registered with all of the occupants inside.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Word of the family\u2019s financial troubles had already scurried through the staff\u2019s correspondence. A very somber welcome greeted the Earl and Countess and their son. Lady Matlock gave instructions for a simple meal for the evening and announced she would retire to her apartments for the remainder of the afternoon. Similar austerity measures would be taken at the grand estate just as it had in London. The most recent setback made it unlikely the Fitzwilliams could avoid renting out their town home in London for the much-needed cash come spring.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">A new squabble erupted between her son and her husband as she took the stairs, but the impossibly crushing feeling of defeat prevented Margaret Fitzwilliam from turning around and seeking peace once more. Her bejeweled hand, looking thinner than she remembered it last appearing, shakily glided around the ornate wooden finial, an action that for decades had given her the comfort of arriving home.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Nostalgia and melancholy tickled her tear ducts and the Countess of Matlock ever so slightly increased the speed of her gait so as to not burst out into tears in the hall of her own home. She had already resolved when Robert was first denied credit at his club that no matter what ridicule may befall her family in this time of financial strife, she would never break in front of another. It was a promise she managed to keep as she safely tucked away into her sitting room.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The argument between the Fitzwilliam men did not yield upon arrival and instead spilled into the study. Both men felt the other more to blame for the public now knowing the secret instability of the family\u2019s funds.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">What is the solution this time, father? Shall we sell more land?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Reginald Fitzwilliam glared at his pompous son, almost not recognizing his own heir as he sat before him.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">This behavior of yours, playing the dandy. It\u2019s from that new lot you run with, those poets. Did you feel superior always paying for the drinks and your merry mischief about town?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-brqvefk elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"brqvefk\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-loscrbw\" data-id=\"loscrbw\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-gvfavvc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"gvfavvc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Weekly chapter alerts, news, and other happy tidings! Join my mailing list!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-qtpooqe elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"qtpooqe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">If Lady Catherine had ever learned to use the Internet, she would have been a great proficient. Click here.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-nljoldv elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"nljoldv\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-nhayecn\" data-id=\"nhayecn\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-uvlbhdm elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"uvlbhdm\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter 6 (cont'd) - A Winter Wonder, a Pride and Prejudice Variation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ncyljeg elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ncyljeg\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">My lot are artists. Their words capture and explore the very trying times we all face. The winds of change have blown, father. Percival was shot dead in the street! The common man has not wielded his sword, but first blood has been drawn.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Don\u2019t be daft, it was the act of a madman! None rioted in the streets. You talk of the struggle of the classes beneath us but look around. It is our class that faces extinction with these new liberal policies.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Robert Fitzwilliam stalked angrily from his normal seat before the desk to pour himself a drink, only to find the decanter empty. Placing the crystal vessel forcibly back down on the tray, he was gentle just enough not to impose any damage. \u201cWe are to starve and die of thirst as well?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The Earl of Matlock gazed out of his favorite window in his study, one that looked out over the estate&#8217;s inner belly as it was called, where bursts of activity among the staff could always be seen. A few servants moved crates and goods to the various outbuildings, but it was a pale turnout for the return of the master and mistress.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Holmes is watering down the rum as I have instructed, it should arrive soon. I managed to send our last three barrels of scotch to market before it closed for the season.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Robert Fitzwilliam scowled and took a seat on the lone sofa still in the study, trying to ignore the sudden burning desire for the amber liquid he could not have. \u201cAt least Pemberley will have decent fare.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The Earl of Matlock turned around clenching his fists so as not to pummel his ungrateful son now lounging before him as if all would magically right itself.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I cannot impress upon you enough\u201d he began through clenched teeth, \u201cthe enormity of the precipice upon which we teeter.\u201d Taking a breath, Reginald found a calmer tact to deploy with Robert. \u201cIf you fail to marry this season I will not have the funds to carry us through another year.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Don\u2019t be preposterous, father. Our relations are wealthy. No one will wish us to fall completely from grace. Our family might benefit from using more silver and less gold.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The naive young viscount waved his hand to refer to his surroundings, disdainful of any good such grandeur might represent. Tired of arguing without profit with his father, the eldest Fitzwilliam son tore himself from the sofa and bowed to his father. He would retire to his apartments and see if his parents remembered to drain his own decanter. Tomorrow would see another day of travel, and there was no solution to be had at the moment. But if he was lucky, there might yet be a drop of decent liquor somewhere in the house. And that was a goal the Viscount Ashbourne saw to be a reasonable one.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Mary Bennet\u2019s moping was soon joined by another\u2019s. After the festivities of the tenant party, one Bennet sister spied little to hope for come Christmas or the New Year. Staring at a blank piece of parchment, Catherine Bennet found a welcome rest from Georgiana&#8217;s constant chatter of their London debut by hiding in the library. It was not that Georgiana did not enjoy reading, but her first love was music, while Kitty&#8217;s was not. Mrs. Annesley, though appointed companion to both of the young women, rarely bothered to track Kitty&#8217;s movements. And that is how her Aunt Gardiner began to visit with her in the afternoons, as their private tete-a-tete, between the book stacks.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Pardon my tardiness, the children simply would not take to their naps.\u201d Madeleine Gardiner smiled as she found her niece sitting prettily in a corner of the room, a different location from where they normally sat and chatted by the fire.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I suppose if I were their age, I would not wish to rest with all of the excitement around me, either.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Too true, though I do wish Fanny had asked me before sneaking the children down to test Cook&#8217;s desserts for the holiday.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Mama means well. To her, food is love.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #262626;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Your father always complained she talked incessantly about menus when he wished he could speak to her more about books!\u201d Mrs. Gardiner smirked as she remembered Robert Bennet&#8217;s chief complaint all of the many years the Gardiner and Bennet family gathered.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Kitty giggled at the memory of her parents&#8217; squabbles. \u201cShe does, what I mean is, my mother always believes a good meal will erase the day&#8217;s ills. I suppose to a point, that is true.\u201d Kitty sighed and twirled her clean quill in her fingertips. For once, the formerly ink-stained Bennet girl possessed hands pristine and pure.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bqckbar elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bqckbar\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-zhngqtw\" data-id=\"zhngqtw\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cujgi6b elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-1706 elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cujgi6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">WHAT A DEAL!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-vvcemc5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"vvcemc5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-kpqclyn elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-1708 elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"kpqclyn\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/final-garden-n2ov1skyozd7q39bri3b63osik2tqhk5713ss952fo.jpg\" title=\"final garden\" alt=\"cover for the book 3 Dates with Mr. Darcy\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-sdicxgm\" data-id=\"sdicxgm\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-sz5x6rf elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-1710 elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"sz5x6rf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A kiss at the Netherfield Ball . . .<\/b><\/span><\/p><p><em style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three Dates with Mr. Darcy<\/em><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"> is a bundle of: An exclusive story, <\/span><em style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Much to Conceal<\/em><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">, a novella that imagines what if Elizabeth confessed to Jane in London that Mr. Darcy proposed in Kent?&nbsp;<\/span><br><\/p>\n<p><em>A Winter Wrong,<\/em> the first novella in the Seasons of Serendipity series that imagines what if Mr. Bennet died at the very beginning of Pride and Prejudice?<\/p>\n<p><em>By Consequence of Marriage,<\/em> the first novel in the Moralities of Marriage series that wonders what if Mr. Darcy never saved his sister Georgiana from Wickham\u2019s clutches?<\/p>\n<p>Elizabeth Ann West\u2019s Pride and Prejudice variations have enthralled more than 100,000 readers in over 90 countries! A proud member of the Jane Austen Fan Fiction community since the mid-2000s, she hopes you will join her in being happily Darcy addicted!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-xgdwngk elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"xgdwngk\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-istiays\" data-id=\"istiays\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pyrelav elementor-view-default elementor-position-block-start elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"pyrelav\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrkindlebooks\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-icon\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Shop Amazon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-amazon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrkindlebooks\" target=\"_blank\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop Amazon\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-smprgnz elementor-view-default elementor-position-block-start elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"smprgnz\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrgooglebook\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-icon\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Shop Google Play\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-play\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrgooglebook\" target=\"_blank\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop Google Play\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cntnppi elementor-view-default elementor-position-block-start elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"cntnppi\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrkobobooks\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-icon\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Shop Kobo\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-envira\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrkobobooks\" target=\"_blank\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop Kobo\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-owcetmt\" data-id=\"owcetmt\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-tkswkcm elementor-view-default elementor-position-block-start elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"tkswkcm\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrapplebooks\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-icon\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Shop iTunes\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-apple\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrapplebooks\" target=\"_blank\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop iTunes\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-stnvumz elementor-view-default elementor-position-block-start elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"stnvumz\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrnookbooks\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-icon\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Shop Nook\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-bookmark\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrnookbooks\" target=\"_blank\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop Nook\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-tczjbce elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"tczjbce\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-nxywfrn\" data-id=\"nxywfrn\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pjnefyy elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"pjnefyy\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chapter 6(cont'd) - A Winter Wonder, a Pride and Prejudice Variation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-mjwddnm elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"mjwddnm\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">I see that you have not written,\u201d Mrs. Gardiner leaned over her niece to find a better view, but the parchment sat blank from all directions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Kitty&#8217;s mouth twisted in dismay. Her past time and comfort had become a double-edged sword. She followed Fitzwilliam&#8217;s punishment meted out over the fraudulent letter to the publisher, but still her stories spun in her imagination. For a time, she considered giving up her writing, just become an obedient sister and daughter, take a normal path. But the thought of dancing with men after all that had happened . . .<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;Aunt, why does no one talk of Lydia coming out this Season?&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Aunt Gardiner blanched at the sudden discussion of the lost Bennet daughter, but recovered soon enough. &#8220;Oh, I&#8217;m sure she&#8217;s still much too immature to handle a London Season. Now, tell me about your new story idea, I&#8217;m dying to hear the premise.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Kitty began to layout plans of a fortune hunter lady who made up lies of her relations and nearly snares the cousin of the Prince Regent when she interrupted her tale as errant thoughts again took over. &#8220;But no one even discusses her plans for spring. No one talks of when she will come home from Scotland, not even Mama!&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;Kitty, dear, she is ill. You want your sister to get well?&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;Yes, but is she too ill to have plans made for her Season?&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;Well, I&#8217;m not sure . . . &#8221; Madeleine Gardiner paused as she was unsure of what would persuade Kitty into dropping the subject, &#8220;do you not trust your mother and Lizzie to have the situation managed?&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Kitty look conflicted as she turned away from her aunt entirely and stared at the Persian beneath her feet. Tears welled at the sides of her eyes but she did not wish to cry like a baby not getting her way. It was unfair that there was something about Lydia everyone was keeping quiet, it was not like her sister to not write in nearly six months!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;And Jane? Do you not think sweet Jane is doing all she can to nurse Lydia back to health?&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">At the mention of Jane, Kitty sniffled to restore her composure, dabbing the eyes with the back of her wrists. She looked up at her aunt and smiled a weak, wobbly thing. &#8220;I suppose if I write a new story, I can write it for Lydia? For when she gets all better?&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Mrs. Gardiner smiled a warm beam in return and clasped her niece&#8217;s hands in her own. &#8220;That&#8217;s a jolly good idea, be sure to write many dashing red coats just for her!&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Kitty joined her aunt in a laugh. &#8220;She does so love the military men.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;That she did, that she did.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Mrs. Gardiner looked out at the windows with a far away look in her eyes and that was when Kitty knew. Like a violin string tuned too tightly, Kitty&#8217;s heart snapped and poured all of her melancholy over not being written in return. Her aunt had just spoken of her sister in the past tense and a nagging suspicion began to cloud Kitty&#8217;s mind. But she shook it off and dipped her quill, blowing out a few deep breaths to steady her nerves. In time, she would get to the bottom of Lydia&#8217;s situation, in time she would.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Two letters from Pemberley forced Edward Gardiner to close his business early for the holiday season and leave his Gracechurch Street home. His cigar and tobacco contracts secured, he felt a smug satisfaction in also arranging for three buyers of his clients&#8217; silks and added one new bookstore to his catalog.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The import and export business stood founded on a relationship game. Clearly communicate to whom you are representing and what you have to offer, make your expectations plain to your clients, and never give back a penny paid. And with two older sisters, Edward Gardiner was an accomplished negotiator and practitioner of keeping the peace since his childhood.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The first letter,\u00a0 written by his niece Mary, put ice in his veins. The child sounded so despondent, so hopeless, her words pushed flights of fancy in his mind that she would make a rash decision if some resolution did not come concerning her colonel. Since her confessions to him of her adventures, affections, and now advances on this man, Edward felt most like a father figure to her than her other sisters. There was a bond of responsibility\u00a0 he carried where it came to her happiness, a mantle he wore with pride. And if that was not his chief objective, his wife&#8217;s letter made it clear that it should be.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Riding in his carriage, a\u00a0 sudden swerve provided too much inertia and his fears hollowed in his gut. Flashes of wreckage raced through Edward&#8217;s mind as he banged madly on the roof.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;Have a care! There is no rush! I wish to arrive in Newcastle in one piece!&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The carriage immediately slowed and Mr. Gardiner&#8217;s heart beat eventually returned to a normal cadence. Straightening his disheveled appearance, Edward Gardiner warily looked at the bleak countryside around him. Deep ruts in the few inches of snow, early for the time of year, provided a clear trek to the township proper. By the drooping sun, Gardiner estimated they would arrive before dark, a necessity of great value owing to the new moon. Relaxing his posture in the bench, he managed to find a short nap before his carriage slowed before one the grandest homes in town.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Startled awake by his footman, Gardiner shook off the fog of slumber by focusing on the chap&#8217;s cherry nose. He wished to give his staff permission to warm themselves at the inn, but business must always come first. With a sharp rap of his required walking stick, Gardiner kept his balance on the icy stoop with a hand on the door jamb. Before too long, the man with sharp, eagle-like nose he recognized as the Colonel&#8217;s personal man answered the door.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;I am here to see Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.&#8221; Edward Gardiner attempted to enter the home as he anticipated an easy welcome, but Pratt would not allow it.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;The Brigadier is not available for civilians at this time. Please make an appointment.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;See here, Brigadier is it now, tell him Mr. Edward Gardiner is here to see him and will not leave until I have satisfied the three hundred miles suffered.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;As I say, Mr. Gardiner, the Brigadier&#8211;&#8220;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;PRATT!&#8221; A great booming voice bellowed from behind the door just off the main entryway.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Pratt winced and motioned to close the front door, but Mr. Gardiner had his fingers now around the door jamb and he took a step inside. Ready to bully his way in, Gardiner entered unscathed as the seasoned army corporal chose his battles well. It would not please his superior to ruff up a man with a limp.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Mr. Gardiner waited patiently as the thin, wiry man disappeared into the office and it felt like an inordinate amount of time before Pratt opened the door and walked past him without a word. Turning his head back and forth after the man who just left the room in front of him and then back to the entryway, resentment over having to travel so far reclaimed Mr. Gardiner&#8217;s mood. Marching into the study with all of the pomp a man with a gimpy leg could muster, he hoped his taller posture intimidated. But there was no need.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Behind the very large desk in the center of the room sat a man with only a haunting resemblance to the healthy and stout colonel Mr. Gardiner knew. Thinning patches\u00a0 along the ginger hairline of Mary&#8217;s beau reflected the candlelight combating the dusk&#8217;s advances. Wearily, the man looked up with blood-shot eyes, the tell-tale sign of a man wretched in love.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;My god! Have you taken ill? Is that why you do not write my niece?&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Brigadier Fitzwilliam leaned back in his chair away from his desk, looking his adversary up and down. &#8220;My correspondence is no one&#8217;s business but my own. You&#8217;ve traveled too far I&#8217;m afraid to play postmaster.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;I traveled too far to see a grown man in a fit of tantrum, that&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve traveled to far for. So go on, give me your excuses. Please number the times you would like my niece to lay her heart bare for a rogue the likes of you before you will cast off your superiority and make your match.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;My superiority? You think I find Mary unworthy?&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;You explain your position to me. I understand your family has had some financial difficulties&#8211;&#8221; Mr. Gardiner paused as he caught Richard&#8217;s nostrils flare, an involuntary response of his surprise at Gardiner holding such intelligence, &#8220;don&#8217;t be daft, it&#8217;s all over London that the Fitzwilliams cannot pay their bills.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Richard Fitzwilliam did not take too kindly to not knowing his enemy&#8217;s position. How could Gardiner of all people already know? His mind tallied the possibilities, but each seemed as unlikely as the next.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;So I am here to drag you to Pemberley where you will kindly satisfy both my niece and my wife, and the ten thousand is yours.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Violently shaking his head, Richard closed his eyes for a moment to consider if he heard correctly. &#8220;And will that satisfy you?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;That remains to be seen.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;How so? Worried I might not treat her as I should? Worried I might abandon her to fight some war?&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Mr. Gardiner smiled as he used his walking stick to assist his trek towards the door. &#8220;My only concern is that you meet me at the inn tomorrow morning to begin our journey and that not a penny of my money finds itself into the hands of your father or brother.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;That is a promise I can easily keep.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;I know, son, that&#8217;s why I rode three hundred miles to fetch you and we are traveling nearly two hundred more. With fresh horses I&#8217;ve arranged, we should arrive by Christmas.&#8221; Mr. Gardiner showed himself out as the newly promoted army leader sat dumbstruck. Without so much as a trick, the hot-tempered Brigadier of His Majesty&#8217;s Riders just agreed to travel to his cousin&#8217;s estate to wed his true love on the morrow.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">As Gardiner took his first step back out in the blistering cold, he heard one word.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Optima;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">&#8220;PRATT!&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-vwgeihj elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"vwgeihj\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You&#8217;ve been reading <em>A Winter Wonder<\/em><\/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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-hicuziy elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"hicuziy\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-mwdsbpf\" data-id=\"mwdsbpf\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-xwpycdc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"xwpycdc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/a-winter-wonder-o04p65hc4lph4puyzl5zd1iset3z3zoaz8j5i2176c.jpg\" title=\"a winter wonder\" alt=\"a winter wonder\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-uwugwnl\" data-id=\"uwugwnl\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-wurbwit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"wurbwit\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Confronting her first trials at Pemberley, Elizabeth takes on the tenant Christmas party, sidestepping her mother\u2019s meddling, and finding a way to support the needs of all of her family members. But finding time alone with her husband, Mr. Darcy, in a house full of people is a challenge, even at an estate as large as Pemberley! As old secrets bear fruit, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth stand united and find support in each other. With a babe on the way, and surprise visitors, there may just be more than one winter wonder to behold.<\/p><p>The fifth season in the Seasons of Serendipity, a historical family saga that imagines how the story of Pride and Prejudice might have changed had Mr. Bennet died of illness before Mr. Collins arrived.<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>A Winter Wonder, Seasons of Serendipity\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">a Pride and Prejudice novella variation series<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Release Date: July 3, 2015<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Droid Sans', sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">232 pages in print.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-gmxqeua elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"gmxqeua\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-mcyifih\" data-id=\"mcyifih\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-zevyfzj elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-1635 elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"zevyfzj\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>+ 23 additional Pride &amp; Prejudice variations are available at these fine retailers . . .&nbsp;<\/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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bifkmbg elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bifkmbg\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-edycdog\" data-id=\"edycdog\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-xzlfnvy elementor-view-default elementor-position-block-start elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"xzlfnvy\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrkindlebooks\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-icon\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Shop Amazon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-amazon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrkindlebooks\" target=\"_blank\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop Amazon\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-hjtvxir elementor-view-default elementor-position-block-start elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"hjtvxir\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrkobobooks\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-icon\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Shop Kobo\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-envira\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrkobobooks\" target=\"_blank\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop Kobo\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-vurxnyp\" data-id=\"vurxnyp\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ydqgvrw elementor-view-default elementor-position-block-start elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"ydqgvrw\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrapplebooks\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-icon\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Shop iTunes\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa fa-apple\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/rrapplebooks\" target=\"_blank\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop 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Scribd\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fmdtqkn elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fmdtqkn\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-zyvdqgs\" data-id=\"zyvdqgs\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-tbzndrx elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"tbzndrx\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Keep reading more by clicking below!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abckorl elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"abckorl\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pagination_type&quot;:&quot;prev_next&quot;,&quot;classic_columns&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.classic\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-classic elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-2936 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-a-winter-wonder category-readingroom category-seasons-of-serendipity-readingroom tag-a-happy-assembly tag-death-comes-to-pemberley tag-elizabeth-bennet tag-fan-fiction tag-fanfiction tag-fanfiction-net tag-longbourn tag-mr-darcy tag-pemberley tag-pride-and-prejudice tag-pride-and-prejudice-fan-fiction tag-pride-and-prejudice-sequel tag-pride-and-prejudice-series\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-1-a-winter-wonder\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-2735\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-1-a-winter-wonder\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapter 1 A Winter Wonder\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-1-a-winter-wonder\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chapter 1 A Winter Wonder\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-2942 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-a-winter-wonder category-readingroom category-seasons-of-serendipity-readingroom tag-a-happy-assembly tag-death-comes-to-pemberley tag-elizabeth-bennet tag-fan-fiction tag-fanfiction tag-fanfiction-net tag-longbourn tag-mr-darcy tag-pemberley tag-pride-and-prejudice tag-pride-and-prejudice-fan-fiction tag-pride-and-prejudice-sequel tag-pride-and-prejudice-series\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-2-a-winter-wonder\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-2735\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-2-a-winter-wonder\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapter 2 A Winter Wonder\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-2-a-winter-wonder\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chapter 2 A Winter Wonder\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-2946 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-a-winter-wonder category-readingroom category-seasons-of-serendipity-readingroom tag-a-happy-assembly tag-death-comes-to-pemberley tag-elizabeth-bennet tag-fan-fiction tag-fanfiction tag-fanfiction-net tag-longbourn tag-mr-darcy tag-pemberley tag-pride-and-prejudice tag-pride-and-prejudice-fan-fiction tag-pride-and-prejudice-sequel tag-pride-and-prejudice-series\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-3-a-winter-wonder\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-2735\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-3-a-winter-wonder\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapter 3 A Winter Wonder\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-3-a-winter-wonder\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chapter 3 A Winter Wonder\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-2949 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-a-winter-wonder category-readingroom category-seasons-of-serendipity-readingroom tag-a-happy-assembly tag-death-comes-to-pemberley tag-elizabeth-bennet tag-fan-fiction tag-fanfiction tag-fanfiction-net tag-longbourn tag-mr-darcy tag-pemberley tag-pride-and-prejudice tag-pride-and-prejudice-fan-fiction tag-pride-and-prejudice-sequel tag-pride-and-prejudice-series\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-4-a-winter-wonder\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-2735\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-4-a-winter-wonder\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapter 4 A Winter Wonder\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-4-a-winter-wonder\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chapter 4 A Winter Wonder\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-2952 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-a-winter-wonder category-readingroom category-seasons-of-serendipity-readingroom tag-a-happy-assembly tag-death-comes-to-pemberley tag-elizabeth-bennet tag-fan-fiction tag-fanfiction tag-fanfiction-net tag-longbourn tag-mr-darcy tag-pemberley tag-pride-and-prejudice tag-pride-and-prejudice-fan-fiction tag-pride-and-prejudice-sequel tag-pride-and-prejudice-series\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-5-a-winter-wonder\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-2735\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-5-a-winter-wonder\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapter 5 A Winter 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tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-2735\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/a-winter-wonder-header.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-6-a-winter-wonder\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapter 6 A Winter Wonder\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-6-a-winter-wonder\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chapter 6 A Winter Wonder\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-load-more-anchor\" data-page=\"1\" data-max-page=\"3\" data-next-page=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2955\/page\/2\/\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-pagination\" aria-label=\"Pagination\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"page-numbers prev\">&laquo; Previous<\/span>\n<a class=\"page-numbers next\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2955\/page\/2\/\">Next 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We know it as being &#8220;on a budget.&#8221; \ud83d\ude42 I felt so bad for Kitty<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":380,"featured_media":2735,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[70,42,68],"tags":[48,51,26,46,45,44,50,22,49,23,47,54,53],"class_list":["post-2955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-winter-wonder","category-readingroom","category-seasons-of-serendipity-readingroom","tag-a-happy-assembly","tag-death-comes-to-pemberley","tag-elizabeth-bennet","tag-fan-fiction","tag-fanfiction","tag-fanfiction-net","tag-longbourn","tag-mr-darcy","tag-pemberley","tag-pride-and-prejudice","tag-pride-and-prejudice-fan-fiction","tag-pride-and-prejudice-sequel","tag-pride-and-prejudice-series"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Chapter 6 A Winter Wonder - Elizabeth Ann West<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read Pride and Prejudice Fan Fiction, new stories of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. 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