{"id":6748,"date":"2021-05-28T23:08:46","date_gmt":"2021-05-29T03:08:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/?p=6748"},"modified":"2021-05-28T23:09:44","modified_gmt":"2021-05-29T03:09:44","slug":"chapter-21-happy-was-the-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 21 Happy Was The Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6748\" class=\"elementor elementor-6748\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6d5778c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6d5778c\" 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-3853f09\" data-id=\"3853f09\" 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-1dd5149 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1dd5149\" 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-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">More about the Darcy privilege&#8230; or at least what Fitzwilliam thinks about it! (PS previous chapter had an update to make the story clearer!)\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">-Love and safety to you all-<\/span><\/p><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\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-a9f1b58 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a9f1b58\" 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-b72e272\" data-id=\"b72e272\" 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-04bd503 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"04bd503\" 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\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Elizabeth-Ann-West\/e\/B005NPJOQI\/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/email-header.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6672\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/email-header.jpg 600w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/email-header-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\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\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f146064 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f146064\" 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-153692a\" data-id=\"153692a\" 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-0a58b1d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0a58b1d\" 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 21 - Happy Was The Day, A Pride and Prejudice Sequel Novel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10c8281 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"10c8281\" 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-weight: 400;\">The kitchens at Darcy House in London roared to life as the staff prepared the first formal dinner party in several years. Despite notice of only two days from the Master, Mr. Northam became determined to put on a spread as though the kitchen staff conducted such affairs weekly. Word that the new mistress of the house would be in attendance, with members of her family, inspired everyone from scullery maid to bread baker to put their best foot forward in their work. Despite the day beginning before dawn, Mr. Darcy did not come down to the kitchens to oversee the meal preparations until three hours to go for the appointed time.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Were you able to find enough oysters for the meal?&#8221; he asked, slightly offending the chef that had worked for the Darcy family for over a decade. But November was one of the most popular months for the delicacy, and being mid-Season, finding enough for a dinner party of eight people was a tall order on short notice.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Yes, sir, there is good fish and shellfish to be had, if one knows the right places to go,&#8221; Mr. Northam explained, going into detail how he had sent two lads and a senior assistant from the kitchen to Whitstable early yesterday morning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Darcy listened patiently while his chef explained the superior quality of sourcing oysters outside of London, for the largest specimens of the season would be gone. When the chef&#8217;s exaltation of the Whitstable oyster beds spoke of them dating to Roman times tested his nerves, Mr. Darcy finally interrupted the man.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;That is well, Mr. Northam. Is there any task I can aid you in for the success of this dinner?&#8221; he asked, and Mr. Northam gave his employer a sheepish expression. He looked around at the busy workroom around him, grinning at the hustle and bustle of the lower staff going in and out of the larders.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I believe the butler has asked for your input on the wine selections,&#8221; he said, receiving a grateful nod from Mr. Darcy.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Alert me if there is any change,&#8221; he commanded as he left the kitchens in search of the butler. Ordinarily, staff came to Mr. Darcy but hosting his first formal dinner party since his father died, Fitzwilliam found wondrous exercise for his nervous energies to seek his men out.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the landing from the basement floor, Mr. Darcy nearly ran a young messenger boy over. As he tried to side-step him on the worn stone stairs, the young man called out.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;For you, sir,&#8221; he said, offering a folded message.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darcy flipped the unsealed note open recognizing his aunt&#8217;s remarkably even handwriting.<\/span><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certain that our invitation was an oversight, your uncle and I will be over at 6 pm to discuss what we saw at the theatre last night, and to attend your dinner. We are anxious to meet this young woman your cousin has told us so much about.<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; Eleanora Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock.<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Groaning at the intrusion of his relatives, Mr. Darcy turned around to jog back towards the kitchens.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Mr. Northam!&#8221; he bellowed, allowing his frustration with the Earl and Countess of Matlock to release in the volume of his voice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bewildered chef hastened back to the front of the kitchens, a soup ladle still in his hands from the tasting of a reduction&#8217;s progress.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Sir?&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Plan for two more, and to be safe, a third. I have a feeling my cousin is tagging along with his parents, who are joining us for dinner.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Northam beamed with pride. It had been a dream of his since taking the assignment in London after his education on the Continent to feed the discerning palates of the aristocracy. The Darcy family seemed illustrious enough to grant him such an opportunity, but not one year into his service, the former Mrs. Darcy was struck down and a few years later, Old Mr. Darcy after that. The man who unexpectantly inherited all of his parents&#8217; possession after barely finishing school, showed no inclination towards society&#8217;s demands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working for the Darcy family had been pleasant, polite, and proper. But feeling the anticipation of a new chapter in the family&#8217;s life developing around them, Mr. Northam suddenly felt hopeful his talents in the kitchen could finally shine.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Yes, sir! That is not a problem sir and I will advise the housekeeper and butler to adjust the place settings,&#8221; he said.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Darcy scowled. &#8220;Do not move Miss Bennet&#8217;s place from next to mine.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;But sir,&#8221; Mr. Northam cautioned, as such an illustrious position was rightfully the Countess of Matlock&#8217;s place.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I will speak to them myself. This is my dinner party and I shall endure the upbraiding of my aunt.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Northam chuckled as Mr. Darcy gave a pert nod and left them once more. Spying his staff all frozen in their stations as the second appearance of the Master threw off their normal routines, he shouted orders to get them moving again. It would not do for anything to be ruined by scorch especially if the seating was not to be by custom. But one way Mr. Northam could help his employer was to dazzle the tastebuds of those in attendance. By the end of the first course, they won&#8217;t care where they are seated!<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upstairs, Mr. Darcy found his butler and housekeeper, both eager for his input on several issues. After a thirty-minute interview with each of them, including the place settings, he checked the time on the pocket watch he kept on a chain near his waist. He managed four steps up the stairs, focused on the time flying away from him until his guests were expected to arrive when a thunderous knocking came from the front door.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Darcy groaned. Then nodded to his butler to let his cousin in as no one else would dare to bang on the door in such a manner. Poor Mr. Edgars barely opened the door before Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam pushed his way inside, in full regimentals.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;This is your doing, Darcy!&#8221; he shouted, spying his cousin on the stairs. The colonel placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, the other out as though to drape a long piece of cloth over his arm, and spun slowly to give his cousin the full effect of his uniform. &#8220;She made me put on my sword!&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Darcy chuckled once and turned away. He needed to change his attire for the evening.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Your valet better tie your cravat tighter than Brummel&#8217;s in solidarity!&#8221; Richard called out and Mr. Darcy raised his hand to beckon for his cousin to follow him, instead of shouting at him from the foyer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conflicted between talking with his cousin, and the better spirits in the study, Richard made a command decision. Swaggering forward past the marble statues in the alcoves, he quick-stepped down the hall behind the stairs to interlope into his cousin&#8217;s private room. He looked at the two glasses and considered trying to juggle both of them and the decanter, then only took the one. If Darcy had wanted a drink, then he should have had the forethought to have glasses in his suite. His thievery complete, he took his time up the stairs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Green or brown, sir?&#8221; the valet held up two waistcoats for his Master&#8217;s approval.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Pull the gold-threaded ruby number from the back of his wardrobe. We&#8217;ll cut a dashing show in matching reds,&#8221; Richard interrupted as he barged into the suite without knocking. Even if he had wished to show his younger cousin respect, his hands were full.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The valet looked to Mr. Darcy for assent, and the wealthiest man of Derbyshire nodded.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Standing in his lawn shirt tucked into his trousers, with his sleeves still billowy and unpinned, Darcy waited for his cousin to pour himself a glass. Once Richard placed the decanter on the small, circular side table next to Darcy&#8217;s usual reading chair, the owner of the decanter swiped it and took a swig straight from the crystal bottle.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;There&#8217;s the idea,&#8221; Richard cheered and lifted his glass to drink to his cousin&#8217;s good fortune. &#8220;What&#8217;s this I hear that Miss Bennet hasn&#8217;t signed the papers?&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darcy wiped his mouth and gazed in the mirror to make sure not a dribble of the dark rum sullied his pristine white shirt. &#8220;How are you aware of that?&#8221; he asked.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Richard scoffed at his cousin&#8217;s na\u00efvet\u00e9 and drank more. Mr. Darcy stared at his reflection in the mirror and raised an eyebrow.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Mother is all a titter about it. You know Aunt Catherine wrote my father,&#8221; Richard explained as the valet returned with the requested garment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Darcy shrugged his broad shoulders as his valet lifted the coat into place, then stood still as the buttons were fastened.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I was not aware Lady Catherine wrote to the earl,&#8221; Mr. Darcy said, using a cool tone as he kept up the formalities of his relatives&#8217; aristocratic titles and not their relation to him.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Bash my beaver, it&#8217;s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lady<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Catherine now?&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Darcy&#8217;s valet held out a collection of cufflinks for him to choose and none of them suited his master&#8217;s mood. Darcy waved them away and the valet left to retrieve a second tray.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;The woman attempted to ruin, perhaps forever, my happiness. She will become an aunt to me again when she behaves with one shred of decency in regards to my best interests.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;But that&#8217;s the rub, ain&#8217;t it? Your preference didn&#8217;t sign the agreement,&#8221; Richard lifted his glass and swallowed the last gulp in an exaggerated movement. With a loud sigh of satisfaction, he set the glass back upon the table with more force than necessary, giving the thin, pedestal-legged table a good wobble. &#8220;Why do you think she didn&#8217;t sign?&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking again at the offered cufflinks, Mr. Darcy scowled. &#8220;I want my grandfather&#8217;s set, the silver,&#8221; he demanded. As his valet nodded and rushed off to fetch the preferred pair, Mr. Darcy stepped away from the mirror to face his cousin directly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Is that the preoccupation that brings your parents to intrude on my dinner plans?&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Richard lowered his jaw and brow line into an expression of suspicion.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Can you blame them? Country upstart throws off Aunt Catherine&#8217;s plans for you and Anne, you take her to the theatre for the world to see with no formal announcement in the papers . . .&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Darcy pinched the bridge of his nose and squinted his eyes shut. In his mind, he saw all of the missteps he had made in regards to his relations, but he had assumed his Fitzwilliam aunt and uncle would side with Lady Catherine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;And so they intend to run her off?&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;No,&#8221; Richard said, firmly, shocking his cousin into opening his eyes and look at him with hope. &#8220;They&#8217;re curious,&#8221; he said, cautiously.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Darcy said nothing, Richard filled the silence.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;You can surely understand their concern given the legacy to befall her,&#8221; Richard stated.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darcy laughed as his valet returned with the silver cufflinks embossed with a &#8216;D&#8217; on them, thick and sturdy without superfluous embellishments of gemstones.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Come now, Darcy, you know the rumors\u2014&#8221; Richard stood up and then stopped speaking as Darcy flashed him a gaze of pure wrath. He considered the presence of the valet and then chuckled. &#8220;Your staff even knows the rumors!&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I&#8217;m duty-bound to inform you, Colonel, that we do not discuss rumor in this household,&#8221; Darcy&#8217;s valet stated, carrying not only the household line but daring to speak to his social better. As he spoke, he fastened the cufflinks without looking up.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Richard stood and gawked at the valet daring to speak to him and then looked at his cousin to admonish his man. When Fitzwilliam did not, Richard sat back down in the chair and sulked until the man left to retrieve a change in coat that Mr. Darcy whispered to him. Once he was gone, Richard glared at his cousin.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;My surname is Darcy.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;It&#8217;s said the fortune comes from\u2014&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;If my mother chose to share details of the privilege with her sister, I was not made aware of it.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;So she tells you off, oh yes, I told my parents about that. Had to, to counter Aunt Catherine&#8217;s characterization.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darcy narrowed his eyes. &#8220;What characterization?&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;You don&#8217;t need to hear it,&#8221; Richard said, holding up his hand as the valet returned with a cravat. He then waited until his cousin was forced to look up at the ceiling while his man tied an ornate, tight knot just under his chin. &#8220;And now she doesn&#8217;t sign papers to become one of the wealthiest women in England. My parents question if she is a saint.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;She&#8217;s not a saint,&#8221; Mr. Darcy stated, with a smirk, knowing well the flaws and mischievous behavior his future wife exhibited. &#8220;She&#8217;s principled,&#8221; he said, as his valet finished and Mr. Darcy caught his eye, a nonverbal reminder that this conversation was to be protected by his silence. When the valet dashed out again to fetch the coat Mr. Darcy requested, he finally came clean with his cousin. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know much about anything Lamont spoke with her. I was meeting with Winde, the elder, and her father and uncle. And as I am not on the trust and cannot even order a farthing of it spent\u2014&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;You don&#8217;t know the terms?&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Darcy shook his head and his cousin seemed to grin with victory until Darcy dashed his cousin&#8217;s hopes.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Neither do you, Richard. No matter what Lady Catherine may or may not have told your father and anyone else, there&#8217;s no guarantee that my mother told even her the truth.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Richard frowned. &#8220;I find Aunt Anne lying to Aunt Catherine difficult to believe.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Darcy grimaced. The entire discussion filled him with unease as it was a constant reminder that his mother&#8217;s passing robbed her of so much time. He planned to talk with Elizabeth privately if he could manage it, before or after the dinner to learn what about the trust had offended her?\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Richard spoke again to seek a satisfying answer out of his closest relative by choice. &#8220;You think your mother would lie to her sister?&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Darcy sighed. &#8220;Are you always truthful with Henry Charles? Or Timothy?&#8221; he asked, naming Richard&#8217;s elder and younger brothers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;About important things.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Georgiana&#8217;s ordeal last summer?&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;No,&#8221; Richard scowled, pouring himself another drink.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Careful, that&#8217;s two before dinner,&#8221; Darcy cautioned, making his cousin even more out of sorts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr. Darcy&#8217;s valet returned with his coat, freshly brushed. &#8220;My father,&#8221; Darcy began, speaking around the tasks of the last of his dressing ritual. &#8220;He warned me that long ago my family decided, or rather my,&#8221; Darcy stopped to think for a moment and counted under his breath. &#8220;Third or fourth great-grandmother decided that the men in our family could not be trusted alone with the purse strings. That&#8217;s probably why there&#8217;s never been an entail,&#8221; Darcy added, as an afterthought. As he dismissed his valet and slipped on his shoes, he picked the decanter back up for one last taste.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pointing the elegantly cut crystal bottle at his cousin, he recalled nearly word for word what his father had said to him near his death about the whole thing. &#8220;The bankers run that money, the ladies write about it in their books and keep their little intrigues,&#8221; he said.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Intrigues?&#8221; Richard asked.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darcy shrugged. &#8220;Truthfully, I doubt the money is anything near to what Lady Catherine surmises it to be, after five or six generations of Darcy wives spending from it?&#8221; he asked, making his cousin laugh.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;But the rumor,&#8221; Richard reminded him and his cousin laughed.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Every family without a title wants to pretend they are descended from some long-forgotten dynasty,&#8221; Darcy pointed out, recalling Miss Bingley once trying to explain to him how her family was descended on her mother&#8217;s side to a distant cousin of King George.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;And through your mother, you are grandson to an earl, that does trace to King James.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I am reminded by our mutual aunt of that fact every Easter as you are.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Richard stared down at his drink and swirled the amber liquid side-to-side, watching the ellipse shift around the edges of the glass. &#8220;Do you think she doesn&#8217;t want to marry you after all?&#8221; he asked, not daring to look up at his cousin.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I dearly hope not. I hope it&#8217;s just a small misunderstanding,&#8221; Darcy said, opening the door and signaling they would go downstairs to wait for the guests.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Richard rose and began to walk toward his cousin, but Darcy cleared his throat as he held the decanter up. Sheepishly, Richard hustled back over to the table, grabbed his glass, and followed his cousin out.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;You know, the Navy truly missed out that you weren&#8217;t born a second son,&#8221; Richard teased.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;How so?&#8221; Mr. Darcy said as they walked briskly down the hall to the stairs.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;You keep everything so damned neat and tidy.&#8221;\u00a0<\/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-6d5e82d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6d5e82d\" 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-4e262b3\" data-id=\"4e262b3\" 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-5d011cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5d011cf\" 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\">Thank you for reading and for your comments below. \ud83d\ude42 -EAW<\/h2>\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-7d8aeb0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7d8aeb0\" 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-b016e00\" data-id=\"b016e00\" 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-34221d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"34221d0\" 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\">All books are slowly falling out of Kindle Unlimited and publishing back on all vendors! <\/h2>\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-92de78b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"92de78b\" 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-e906f19\" data-id=\"e906f19\" 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-6666783 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6666783\" 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\">Continue Reading...<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc13b4e elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"fc13b4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;pagination_type&quot;:&quot;numbers_and_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-6589 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-happy-was-the-day category-wip\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-1-4-happy-was-the-day\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6587\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png 940w\" 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\/wip\/chapter-1-4-happy-was-the-day\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapter 1-4 Happy Was The Day\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tAugust 5, 2020\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\t2 Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>I should like to tell you when this book will come out, etc. but I can&#8217;t tell you what I don&#8217;t know. I do know<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-1-4-happy-was-the-day\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chapter 1-4 Happy Was The Day\" 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-6597 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-happy-was-the-day category-wip\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapters-5-8-happy-was-the-day\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6587\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png 940w\" 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\/wip\/chapters-5-8-happy-was-the-day\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapters 5-8 Happy Was The Day\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tAugust 7, 2020\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\t4 Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Over 2,000 readers have devoured Chapters 1-4 between my site and fanfiction.net. I am astounded and humbled by the interest even though it&#8217;s been a<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapters-5-8-happy-was-the-day\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chapters 5-8 Happy Was The Day\" 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-6604 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-happy-was-the-day category-wip\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapters-9-10-happy-was-the-day\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6587\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png 940w\" 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\/wip\/chapters-9-10-happy-was-the-day\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapters 9-10 Happy Was The Day\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tAugust 13, 2020\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\t3 Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>What a week! These two chapters were an absolute brat in the writing process. I wrote them weeks ago, but I became stuck because in<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapters-9-10-happy-was-the-day\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chapters 9-10 Happy Was The Day\" 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-6620 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-happy-was-the-day category-wip\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapters-11-12-happy-was-the-day\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6587\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png 940w\" 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\/wip\/chapters-11-12-happy-was-the-day\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapters 11-12 Happy Was The Day\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tOctober 26, 2020\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\t7 Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>I am MOVED! And somewhat unpacked&#8230; the harder part was waiting for the novelty of returning home after 13 years away to wear off so<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapters-11-12-happy-was-the-day\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chapters 11-12 Happy Was The Day\" 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-6638 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-happy-was-the-day category-wip\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapters-13-15-happy-was-the-day\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6587\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png 940w\" 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\/wip\/chapters-13-15-happy-was-the-day\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapters 13-15 Happy Was The Day\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tNovember 17, 2020\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\t2 Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>I apologize for the week+ in between the chapters, but remember when I said somewhat unpacked? I am much more unpacked now. And one reader<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapters-13-15-happy-was-the-day\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chapters 13-15 Happy Was The Day\" 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-6644 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-happy-was-the-day category-wip\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-16-happy-was-the-day\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6587\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png 940w\" 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\/wip\/chapter-16-happy-was-the-day\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tChapter 16 Happy Was The Day\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tNovember 20, 2020\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\t1 Comment\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>There was a post I shared this week on Facebook called &#8220;Wash the dishes twice.&#8221; The premise is anytime there&#8217;s something difficult mentally to process,<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-16-happy-was-the-day\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chapter 16 Happy Was The Day\" 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=\"4\" data-next-page=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6748\/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<span aria-current=\"page\" class=\"page-numbers current\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Page<\/span>1<\/span>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6748\/page\/2\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Page<\/span>2<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6748\/page\/3\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Page<\/span>3<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6748\/page\/4\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Page<\/span>4<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers next\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6748\/page\/2\/\">Next &raquo;<\/a>\t\t<\/nav>\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<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>More about the Darcy privilege&#8230; or at least what Fitzwilliam thinks about it! (PS previous chapter had an update to make the story clearer!)\u00a0 -Love and safety to you all- Elizabeth Ann West Chapter 21 &#8211; Happy Was The Day, A Pride and Prejudice Sequel Novel The kitchens at Darcy House in London roared to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":380,"featured_media":6587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[86,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-happy-was-the-day","category-wip"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Chapter 21 Happy Was The Day - Elizabeth Ann West<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Chapter 21 of the WIP Happy was the Day by Elizabeth Ann West. A Pride and Prejudice sequel!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chapter 21 Happy Was The Day - Elizabeth Ann West\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Chapter 21 of the WIP Happy was the Day by Elizabeth Ann West. A Pride and Prejudice sequel!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Elizabeth Ann West\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-05-29T03:08:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-05-29T03:09:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"940\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"788\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Elizabeth West\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Elizabeth West\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"16 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Elizabeth West\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/307300e2e0f47a7aaf3e2361edaa426d\"},\"headline\":\"Chapter 21 Happy Was The Day\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-05-29T03:08:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-05-29T03:09:44+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2969,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/08\\\/1.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Happy Was the Day\",\"WIP\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/\",\"name\":\"Chapter 21 Happy Was The Day - Elizabeth Ann West\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/08\\\/1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-05-29T03:08:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-05-29T03:09:44+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/307300e2e0f47a7aaf3e2361edaa426d\"},\"description\":\"Chapter 21 of the WIP Happy was the Day by Elizabeth Ann West. A Pride and Prejudice sequel!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/08\\\/1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/08\\\/1.png\",\"width\":940,\"height\":788},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/wip\\\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Chapter 21 Happy Was The Day\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/\",\"name\":\"Elizabeth Ann West\",\"description\":\"author of Pride and Prejudice sequels, variations, and novels\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/307300e2e0f47a7aaf3e2361edaa426d\",\"name\":\"Elizabeth West\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/776cad57f1f3d2474d592dc7705e75c6ef95213b81229e07ce2e23b9c3308e32?s=96&d=mm&r=pg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/776cad57f1f3d2474d592dc7705e75c6ef95213b81229e07ce2e23b9c3308e32?s=96&d=mm&r=pg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/776cad57f1f3d2474d592dc7705e75c6ef95213b81229e07ce2e23b9c3308e32?s=96&d=mm&r=pg\",\"caption\":\"Elizabeth West\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/elizabethannwest.com\\\/author\\\/author\\\/elizabethannwest\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Chapter 21 Happy Was The Day - Elizabeth Ann West","description":"Chapter 21 of the WIP Happy was the Day by Elizabeth Ann West. A Pride and Prejudice sequel!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Chapter 21 Happy Was The Day - Elizabeth Ann West","og_description":"Chapter 21 of the WIP Happy was the Day by Elizabeth Ann West. A Pride and Prejudice sequel!","og_url":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/","og_site_name":"Elizabeth Ann West","article_published_time":"2021-05-29T03:08:46+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-05-29T03:09:44+00:00","og_image":[{"width":940,"height":788,"url":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Elizabeth West","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Elizabeth West","Est. reading time":"16 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/"},"author":{"name":"Elizabeth West","@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/#\/schema\/person\/307300e2e0f47a7aaf3e2361edaa426d"},"headline":"Chapter 21 Happy Was The Day","datePublished":"2021-05-29T03:08:46+00:00","dateModified":"2021-05-29T03:09:44+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/"},"wordCount":2969,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png","articleSection":["Happy Was the Day","WIP"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/","url":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/","name":"Chapter 21 Happy Was The Day - Elizabeth Ann West","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png","datePublished":"2021-05-29T03:08:46+00:00","dateModified":"2021-05-29T03:09:44+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/#\/schema\/person\/307300e2e0f47a7aaf3e2361edaa426d"},"description":"Chapter 21 of the WIP Happy was the Day by Elizabeth Ann West. A Pride and Prejudice sequel!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/1.png","width":940,"height":788},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wip\/chapter-21-happy-was-the-day\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Chapter 21 Happy Was The Day"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/#website","url":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/","name":"Elizabeth Ann West","description":"author of Pride and Prejudice sequels, variations, and novels","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/#\/schema\/person\/307300e2e0f47a7aaf3e2361edaa426d","name":"Elizabeth West","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/776cad57f1f3d2474d592dc7705e75c6ef95213b81229e07ce2e23b9c3308e32?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/776cad57f1f3d2474d592dc7705e75c6ef95213b81229e07ce2e23b9c3308e32?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/776cad57f1f3d2474d592dc7705e75c6ef95213b81229e07ce2e23b9c3308e32?s=96&d=mm&r=pg","caption":"Elizabeth West"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/elizabethannwest.com"],"url":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/author\/elizabethannwest\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/380"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6748"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6752,"href":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6748\/revisions\/6752"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}