Every Appearance of Cordiality: A Pride and Prejudice Variation: Every Appearance, #2

By Eden Forster

Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet have found their way to each other despite his aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh's desperate attempts to keep them apart. Now they are engaged and intent on keeping it secret while they get to know each other even better.

Miss Caroline Bingley believes she is the only woman worthy of being the next mistress of Pemberley and no one will stand in her way. 

Upon learning of Mr. Darcy's engagement, will Caroline succeed in destroying the happiness the clandestine lovers have found? Or will the love Darcy and Elizabeth share keep growing stronger?

A heartwarming Darcy and Elizabeth story you're sure to enjoy if you love novellas. It's short. It's sweet. It's perfect for those times when you need a quick romantic diversion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eden Forster
• Release date: Mar 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386317555

Book preview

Introduction

Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet have found their way to each other despite his aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh's desperate attempts to keep them apart. Now they are engaged and intent on keeping it secret while they get to know each other even better.

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Miss Caroline Bingley believes she is the only woman worthy of being the next mistress of Pemberley and no one will stand in her way. 

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Upon learning of Mr. Darcy's engagement, will Caroline succeed in destroying the happiness the clandestine lovers have found? Or will the love Darcy and Elizabeth share keep growing stronger?

Prologue

~from Every Appearance of Composure, Chapter 10~

Hertfordshire, England - 1812

As she often did when endeavoring to escape her mother’s frequent hints that she ought to go to town and stay with her uncle and aunt Gardiner, with the goal of landing a husband, Miss Elizabeth Bennet was staying with her sister Jane Bingley nee Bennet when the news was received that Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy had accepted his friend Charles Bingley’s invitation to be his guest at Netherfield Park. She took some comfort in knowing that by the time of Mr. Darcy’s scheduled arrival she would be back at Longbourn Village. As much as she wanted to see the gentleman again, she did not want to be seen as forcing herself in his company.

No one in the Netherfield party could have expected Mr. Darcy to arrive a week earlier than originally planned. Not only that, but he arrived while all of the family was elsewhere. Jane and Bingley had gone into Meryton, and Elizabeth was out walking about the grounds.

Having been informed of this upon entering the house, Darcy did not waste a moment before setting out in search of her. Bingley’s invitation, though absent anything having to do with his new sister, in combination with his aunt’s last visit to town, had taught him to hope as he had never allowed himself to hope before that Elizabeth’s heart may have warmed towards him.

He wandered for nearly an hour and was about to give up and return to the house when he spotted her sitting under a giant tree cradling her knees to her breast. He immediately went to her.

Standing, she brushed off the back of her dress and curtsied. Mr. Darcy, she said.

Darcy bowed. Miss Bennet.

I thought you were planning to arrive next week.

No—well, yes, he said, his voice tentative. I decided to come earlier. The truth is I wanted to see you. I wanted to apologize to you for my aunt’s interference—again.

Again, indeed. His aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, in harboring her own idea of whom her nephew should wed (namely her own daughter, Miss Anne de Bourgh), had traveled to Hertfordshire no fewer than two times to carry her point.

Sir, you need not apologize. As unpleasant as her ladyship’s visit was, had she not come and told me all that you did on behalf of my family, I might never have known how indebted we are to you. Let me thank you again and again in the name of my family for all that you have done. The generous compassion you exercised in the recovery of my sister finds us forever in your debt.

He shook his head a little. If you will thank me, Darcy replied, let it be for yourself alone. My wish of giving happiness to you, in addition to other inducements, is what compelled me to act as I did. And as much as I respect your family, they owe me nothing, for I cannot deny that I thought only of you.

His open and honest words only partially confirmed what her heart longed to believe, but her uncertainty rendered her speechless. After a short pause, Mr. Darcy added, You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings as regards accepting my hand in marriage are what they were when we last parted, please tell me at once, and I shall remain silent on the subject forever. Her continued silence encouraged him. My feelings are as ardent now as they ever were. I love you.

Her heart now perfectly satisfied, her mind teeming with sentiments she theretofore never allowed herself to entertain, Elizabeth forced herself to reply, however ineloquently, that her own feelings had undergone a material change indeed. When he offered his hand to her in the ensuing moments, she responded as warmly as a young lady who deeply admired and esteemed a gentleman ought to.

As Lady Catherine de Bourgh had been an unwilling party in furthering their current understanding, Elizabeth could not help remarking, There are those—your aunt in particular—who will accuse me of accepting your proposal out of some misguided sense of gratitude as opposed to any true affection but let me assure you those people would be wrong. Elizabeth bit her lower lip and for a moment allowed herself to remember, just as she had done so often of late, the soft touch of his own. She said, "My feelings have been growing for some time. Your letter, for one, made a favorable impression on my heart. I am gratified that you would confide such a private matter to me. I am