Read A Spring Sentiment: A Pride and Prejudice Novella Variation (Seasons of Serendipity Book 2) for Free Online

some guidance from Lady Matlock. They are planning to see Fanny settled and then return to London for presentation to society before celebrating Easter in Derbyshire at Matlock.”
    “What a brave new world our Lizzie has fallen into.” Mr. Gardiner reached over for his wife’s hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. Mrs. Gardiner looked up at her husband and blushed, while her other hand reached down to touch her stomach. She couldn’t be sure, but the signs were that a fifth Gardiner child was on its merry way to the world. “Perhaps after they marry we will have a chance to visit Lambton.”
    “I fear we may have to wait until winter or next spring, Husband.” Mrs. Gardiner raised her glass of wine to take a drink.
    “Is it? Is it certain?” he asked hopefully.
    She shook her head. “Not yet, but soon.”
    Mr. Gardiner smiled and rose from the table. “You are as beautiful as the day we met, Madeline.” Leaving his wife to blush even more, Edward Gardiner felt light as he headed back to his dusty warehouses and the crates of goods he still needed to see dispersed throughout the country.
    

    Chapter Five
    “Mama! Please, be reasonable! The cottage is ready,” Elizabeth Bennet pleaded with her mother for what felt like the hundredth time in a week.
    “You don’t understand these things, Lizzie. You’ve yet to run your own household. Yes, a few more days, perhaps a week and the final details attended to, and Lydia will . . . “
    Her mother continued to fritter on, but Elizabeth had stopped listening as frustration began throbbing in her ears. Her heart raced, and she focused on taking a few calming breaths. For three weeks Elizabeth’s mother had dragged her feet, and now that she had been invited to Matlock for the Easter holiday next month, she desperately wanted to return to London to prepare her trousseau. Her future aunt, the Countess Matlock, had made it plainly clear that this holiday would begin her transformation from a small country squire’s daughter to the illustrious Mrs. Darcy.
    “. . . and Kitty will need new furnishings as the castoffs that are currently in the home are below our station--”
    “What station? You are a widow with five unmarried daughters.”
    “Tsk, tsk, you will soon be married to Mr. Darcy and he wouldn’t wish his mother-in-law to live in abject poverty. No, no, we will need finer linens and must commission a new set of silver.” Mrs. Bennet continued to chatter away about the expenses she planned to incur as Mr. Darcy’s mother-in-law.
    The frustration Elizabeth felt turned to boiling rage. She stood up from her seat and glared at her mother. Not trusting her mouth to say anything remotely gentle, she simply scowled and donned her spencer. She left her mother in the parlor with Jane and Lydia. Elizabeth’s feet carried her in the direction of Netherfield, away from town, without a conscious thought on her part.
    A carriage traveling much too fast for the roads hurtled past her, and Elizabeth stepped well out of the way. Instead of continuing along the road, she opted for a detour into the woods she now knew very well since moving to her Aunt Phillips’ home. Soon, she arrived in a peaceful glen and was cheered to see winter’s thaw had set upon the countryside. A babbling brook soothed her frayed nerves, and Elizabeth found a fallen log to serve as her bench. Turning her face up to the sunlight pouring between the still-bare tree branches just beginning to bud, she felt her anger and frustration also melt away.
    “Lizzie?”
    Elizabeth sighed as she recognized her sister Kitty’s voice. “Over here,” she called out, reluctant to cede her peaceful moment. When she looked down and opened her eyes, she stifled a laugh at the sight of poor Kitty fighting every low-lying tree branch determined to snag her cloak. Brushing her hands of the small bits of bark stuck to her palms, Elizabeth stood and modestly brushed the seat of her skirt. She met Kitty