Pride, Prejudice & Secrets by C.P. Odom Read Free Book Online Page B

it feels like to be sick, and it has to come as an especial shock to you since you somehow avoided all those childhood ailments that afflicted the rest of us.” She touched Elizabeth’s forehead and felt relieved that her temperature appeared no greater than yesterday.
    “You said that before, and I can no longer argue about not getting sick. I freely admit it: I am ill, and it feels dreadful.”
    “And Mr. Darcy’s physician said you are to drink lots of cool liquid, so I have a pitcher of lemonade here, sweetened with sugar the way you like it.”
    “Mr. Darcy!” Elizabeth said with a start. “Then…then it really happened? It was not a dream?”
    “No, it was not a dream, Eliza,” Charlotte said, her voice light. “You see? I really was correct when I said he was in love with you.”
    “And he offered marriage? That was not a dream either?”
    “Now, dear friend, you must drink deeply before I answer any more questions. Yes, sit up and drink it all; you need the liquid.”
    When Elizabeth finally handed the empty glass back to her, Charlotte said, “Yes, he did offer marriage and you accepted. I have to confess that I was shamelessly eavesdropping, and I heard it all through a crack in the door.”
    I do not believe I really accepted, Elizabeth thought in dismay. I am not sure exactly what did happen, but I do not think I said anything like, ‘Yes, I will marry you.’ But Charlotte is so sure; what did happen?
    “Now, I can see you are apprehensive about not being sufficiently thankful at the time,” Charlotte said cheerfully, “but I assure you Mr. Darcy understood you were not feeling your best. He demanded the best treatment for you and sent for his own physician from London. Then he stayed after I put you to bed, pacing the floor and telling me how important you were to him. He was a most attentive lover, Eliza, and I am simply overjoyed at your good fortune. Yes, he is a rich man, but that is not nearly as important as how much he esteems you. It is all so wonderful!”
    And how do I tell my closest friend that my only thought right now is to find a way to break this unwanted engagement? Elizabeth thought dully, conscious of the way her thoughts seemed dreadfully slow and impaired by her illness. I have somehow become committed to Mr. Darcy without any intention or true understanding! How could I ever live with such a prideful and objectionable man? Everything seems more dreamlike than real. I do remember nodding to Mr. Darcy, only it seemed like he resembled Mr. Wickham. Is that what I did — dream I was accepting Mr. Wickham?
    “Now, here is a note Mr. Darcy sent last evening,” Charlotte said. “You were already asleep, so I did not wake you, but you can read it when you feel up to it. Unfortunately, he had to depart unexpectedly, and he will not be able to call on you. That is not so bad since I should not have allowed him to visit until you felt better, and he told me he would write after he calls on your father.”
    Elizabeth said nothing, numbly accepting the note as well as a quick embrace from her friend. Hardly had Charlotte closed the door behind her before Elizabeth broke the seal on the note and read:
    Thursday, April 9, Rosings
8:30 in the evening
    My dearest Elizabeth,
I cannot express my happiness in being able to so address you in such familiar terms, and you shall always have my deepest and most grateful thanks for the honour you do me in accepting my hand in marriage.
    That said, however, it pains me to inform you that certain events require me to depart Rosings unexpectedly in the morning rather than on Saturday due to a quite unpleasant quarrel with my Aunt Catherine. As you are probably aware, my aunt has long asserted within the family that my cousin Anne and I would marry when we were of age. She insists it was the plan of her and her sister since we were born, and though such has never been the intention or desire of either Anne or myself, my aunt has consistently