Through the Window 2

  Through the Window

  A Pride and Prejudice Variation

  Book II

  Written by: Mary Jane Ballew

  © Copyright 2017 Mary Jane Ballew

  All rights reserved.

  Cover art and front-page artwork by Tiffany Detweiler http://www.tiffanydetweiler.com

  Edited by Diane Detweiler and JAB Editing

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without express written permission from the author,

  Disclaimer

  This is a work of fiction, based on the works of Jane Austen. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely a coincidence.

  Greetings,

  What do you suppose has become of our beloved couple after they stood before God and family in the church at Meryton to take their wedding vows? As we listen, we hear that their story has not come to an end, but rather has only just begun. When we look, Through the Window, we catch a glimpse into their daily lives, we can share in the moments of our beloved couple as their story is unfolding. Each moment has been captured and carefully written down to share here with you. Through the Window, is William and Elizabeth's story.

  So please find a comfy old chair, pour yourself a cup of tea and take a moment as we catch up with William and Elizabeth and learn of their struggles and triumphs, their joys, and sorrows, as they live, laugh, and love each moment of their life at Pemberley and beyond.

  In Book Two of Through the Window Series, we find that Darcy and Elizabeth have arrived in London and are busy planning Mary’s wedding to Mr. Godwin. Unbeknownst to Caroline, Elizabeth has a plan to help her find a husband so that Charles and Jane will finally be free of his sister. As Elizabeth considers potential prospects, Caroline struggles with a secret that may just keep her from finding love. As if that were not enough to keep our couple busy, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet come to London with Lydia, who has a secret of her own…

  Tables OF Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  Elizabeth stood looking out the window into the gardens. It had already been a week since they arrived at Windham House in London. She would never have imagined they would be so very busy as they had been since arriving in town. Already they had been to the dressmakers twice for Mary, the opera, the theater and dined twice with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Elizabeth leaned her head up against the window sill and sighed. Today she decided she was not going to go out to see or be seen by anyone. She wanted to have time exploring her home and the gardens that William had told her so much about. With that in mind, she went to find her husband in his study. “I thought I would go and take a walk through the gardens, would you like to come with me?”

  Darcy looked up from his desk. “I am afraid I will be unable to join you. I have an appointment with my steward this morning. He has some new business ventures he would like to go over with me.”

  Elizabeth furrowed her brow, “Mr. Addison has come all the way to London to meet with you?”

  “No, he has not come to town. Mr. Addison helps me run my affairs at Pemberley. Mr. Fletcher is my steward who helps me run my business affairs here in London,” he explained.

  Elizabeth was astonished. “You have two stewards?”

  “Yes, I do,” he told her as he got up from his desk. “And I am thinking of taking on a third. Mr. Fletcher is getting on in years, and I do not want to burden him. His son James has been helping him over the past year, and he is a very intelligent young man. He has some very interesting ideas, and I like him very much. I think with his father’s hand to guide him, he will do very well, and I believe my business investments will do well also.”

  “I had no idea it took so much to run your estate,” she commented.

  Darcy walked over and pulled her into his arms. “There is a great deal of work that goes into running my family home, and the house here in London, besides my various business holdings,” he told her. “And as I said, Mr. James Fletcher has some promising business ideas that I am eager to hear about. Unlike my father, I can see the wisdom and value in making my money work for me. I am not so bound by tradition as to believe old money is somehow of greater value than new money.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “I think that very wise of you, William,” she teased him. “After all, when I go to the shops to buy my ribbons and things, the shopkeepers do not care if the money is old or new. They only care that I have it.”

  Darcy loved to hear her laugh. “Of course you are right,” he said as he looked into her eyes. “Now, I should go, or else I will get so caught up in your very fine eyes that I will never meet with Mr. Fletcher.”

  Elizabeth reached up and kissed him on the mouth. “I would not want to keep Mr. Fletcher waiting,” she said as she wrapped her hands around his neck and gently caressed him. “Of course, if I could persuade you to come and join me in the gardens later when you return, we could continue one tradition I have become rather fond of.”

  Darcy furrowed his brow in confusion, “What tradition would that be?”

  She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his neck and whispered softly, “Our tradition of stealing a kiss or two in the gardens.”

  “Oh yes, that tradition,” he said with a smile. He very much enjoyed having her spread tiny kisses across his neck. “That is a very good tradition, Mrs. Darcy. One we must continue,” he whispered into her ear, his voice heavy with the growing desire her kisses were causing.

  Just as he was about to pull her closer, Elizabeth broke free from his embrace and laughed. “Remember darling, Mr. Fletcher is waiting for you.”

  Darcy saw the glint in her eyes and said, “You, my dear, are a flirt.”

  Elizabeth smiled mischievously. “I will be walking in the gardens should you decide to join me, Mr. Darcy,” she said just before she left him.

  Darcy smiled. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined how much he would come to love Elizabeth, or how very enticing to him she could be. He was amazed to find how she could stir such desire in him with a look or a word. There were times he felt like he could lose himself in her completely and still be the happiest of men to ever live.

  “Lizzy, may I speak with you a moment?” Mary asked Elizabeth just as she came out from Mr. Darcy’s study.

  “Of course, Mary,” she answered. Seeing the look on her sister’s face, she asked. “Is something wrong?”

  Mary sighed heavily and held up a letter. “Oh Lizzy, I have just received a letter from Mr. Godwin informing me that he has arrived in London, and he would lik
e to call on me tomorrow morning.”

  Elizabeth furrowed her brow. “And this news distresses you?” she asked trying to understand the state her sister was in.

  Mary shook her head. “No, not at all. I very much am looking forward to seeing Mr. Godwin again. No, the news that has me so distraught is that he wishes for me to join him for dinner tomorrow evening so that I might meet his mother and father.”

  “Mary, that is nothing to be distressed about,” she said feeling somewhat relieved. “I thought something dreadful had happened to Mr. Godwin.”

  Mary chewed her bottom lip. “I know this may seem a little thing for someone like you. But for me, it is not. I am so troubled, what can Mr. Godwin be thinking asking me to go and meet his mother and father so soon after we have arrived?” she cried.

  “Mary, we have been in town for very nearly a week,” she reminded her. “And your wedding is less than three weeks away. Of course, Mr. Godwin wants you to meet his family. He loves you. It is only natural that he should want you to meet his family before you marry,” Elizabeth told her.

  “I know you are right,” she sighed again. “I just wish I had more time. I have none of my new dresses from the dressmakers yet. I do not know what I will wear. Lizzy, you know very well all my dresses are somewhat worn and much older than anything the ladies of London are wearing,” she said. “What will his mother and father think of me? I want to make a good impression. I do not want them to think me unkempt.”

  “It will be all right,” she assured her. “I will ask Mrs. Smith to send word to the dressmaker and request that one of the dresses we chose for you be worked on and delivered tomorrow morning.”

  Mary thought for a moment. “Do you really think it can be done?”

  “I believe so, yes,” she assured her. “Especially when I offer them some incentive by way of compensation. Now, all we have to do is choose which dress you want to wear?” Elizabeth commented.

  Mary played with the letter in her hand. “I do not know which one would be best. Oh, Lizzy, which one do you think I should choose?”

  Elizabeth smiled. “I think the soft blue gown with the tiny bits of lace will be very lovely for meeting Mr. and Mrs. Godwin for the first time. And it has the added advantage of being one of the simpler dresses, so I believe it will not be an issue for the dressmaker.”

  “I do like that dress very much, and I believe it adds color to my cheeks. Mr. Godwin remarked when I last wore my blue frock that he liked it very much. He remarked that my complexion was brightened by the color.”

  “Then I think the blue gown is the right choice,” Elizabeth assured her. “I will go and write a note and speak with Mrs. Smith to see that she sends someone at once to the dressmakers.”

  Mary sighed. “There is one more thing, Lizzy,” she said. “Do you think perhaps you and Jane could come along with Mr. Godwin and me tomorrow? I do not want to impose on Mr. Bingley or Mr. Darcy; however, I would be more at ease knowing you and Jane are with me.”

  Elizabeth smiled. “Of course we can come with you, Mary,” she responded. “I do think you should write to Mr. Godwin though, to ensure his mother will be well enough to receive us.”

  “I will go and do so now,” she told her.

  “Once you have finished your note, bring it to me, and I shall give them both to Mrs. Smith,” Elizabeth said. “She can have one of the servants see that both are delivered this morning.”

  “Oh thank you, Lizzy,” she said as she turned to go back upstairs. “I knew you would know how to best proceed. I am so glad you are here with me.”

  Elizabeth watched her sister go, then went into the parlor to write a note to the seamstress. As she sat down to write her note, she realized the morning was slipping away from her. She would have to hurry if she still wanted to take a walk through the gardens before it got too late in the day.

  Georgiana was just finishing practicing the piece she had been working on when Richard came into the drawing room to speak with her. “That was very lovely, Georgiana,” Richard said as he came over and stood near the pianoforte.

  “Thank you for saying so,” she smiled as she looked up at him. “I have been working on it for some time now.”

  Richard smiled as he walked over to her. “It is a rather difficult piece to play. Much more difficult than anything else you have ever worked on, I think?” he said. He watched as she continued to play a bit more, then asked. “Is it Mozart?”

  “Yes, it is Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 13,” Georgiana said as she stopped playing and looked up at him.

  “Have you ever played this selection of music before?” Richard asked her.

  “No,” she said as she looked back down at the keyboard. “It is a more complex piece to be sure. However, I find that as I get older, my tastes have changed in what I like to play. I find my choices in music selections have refined a bit, and I like the challenge…” she began to say when he laughed. Georgiana narrowed her eyes, “Did I say something amusing?”

  He shook his head as he regained his composure. “No, not at all,” he told her. “I just thought that particular selection of music is, as you said, so complex. It is very different from anything else I have ever heard you play. I suppose I was just thinking of how grown up the music sounded for you to be playing it.”

  “I am getting older, Richard. I am no longer a child. It stands to reason that my tastes would mature as well,” she reminded him.

  “Yes, but in many ways, Georgie, you are still very young, so very…” he began to say, but she interrupted him.

  “So very what!?” she demanded to know taking offense at his implication. “So childish, was that the word you were going to choose to describe me?”

  Richard shook his head. “No. I merely meant that the selection, although beautiful, is rather mature for someone such as yourself. In many ways, you are still so young and naïve,” he said his voice filled with concern. “It is wonderful that you are now able to play in front of other people, even strangers with so much more ease than you once did. I will not deny that you have matured, but I do wonder if perhaps you are rushing things just a bit?”

  Georgiana could feel herself getting angry. “Why would you think that!?” she demanded to know. “What have I done to give you such cause for concern? Have I behaved in some way that might lead you to think I am in danger of making a rash or ill-advised decision?”

  Richard’s eyes narrowed, “I meant no offense, Georgie. I simply meant I know how difficult it can be for you. How very shy, and reserved you can be. I would not want you to feel as if you must keep up with the other ladies in the house. I think being younger as you are, might make you feel…”

  “I thank you for your concern, cousin,” Georgiana said interrupting him. She stood up and walked to the door. “but I think I know best what music to play. I am not afraid of the challenge,” she said before turning to go. As she placed her hand on the doorknob, she stopped suddenly and turned back to face him. Her eyes narrowed, and she wondered if he was talking about more than her music selections. “Richard, you were speaking of the music I had chosen to play, or was there more to what you were saying?”

  Richard furrowed his brow and considered what to say next. “Georgiana, I did not mean to upset you. I am simply concerned about you. I wonder if this notion of coming to London and having you come out into society is not too much for you? As I said, you are still very young.”

  Georgiana clenched her fists as she did her best to control her temper. “I suppose Kitty is fine to be in London society. I suppose you see no issues with her coming out or with her singing the more complicated pieces of music!?”

  “This is exactly my meaning; Miss Bennet is older than you. She has been out in society before. She will know how to navigate the more treacherous waters that may arise when she is in the company of young men,” Richard told her.

  “And I suppose you think because of my history with Wickham I will be unable to cope with situations that may come up
, is that it?” she asked him.

  Richard sighed. “Georgie, I just do not want to see you hurt again.”

  “Do you allow me any credit for maturing, or growing from my mistakes?” she demanded to know. “Do you think me so simple that I will fall at the feet of any young man who comes along and offers me compliments?”

  “No, I did not mean to imply that you would succumb to any unsavory characters, but rather that you might not know how best to deal with them,” Richard told her.

  “You do realize that I am not so very much younger than Kitty is?” she asked him again. Georgiana saw the look of doubt in his eyes, and for reasons she could not explain, it both hurt and angered her. She decided it was best to leave the room and not continue the conversation. She did not wish to remain and be insulted further. “Again, I thank you for your concern, cousin,” she said as she opened the door. “But I think I shall be just fine with both my music selections as well as my coming into society!”

  Richard stood there shaking his head. He was more convinced than ever of his young cousin’s inability to deal with all that had been put before her over the past weeks. He was sure she was feeling the pressure of having to come out and keep company with eligible young men. He was doubly sure that he should speak with Darcy and they should consider returning to Pemberley as soon as Miss Mary Bennet was married.