a/n a very short chapter to find out why my stories are not appearing in the just in story list thank you
After the Wedding part 1.
Some minutes later, Elizabeth opened her eyes. She was at home, in a private drawing room. Her father was there, but there were other people that she didn't know.
"You are better, excellent. Let's go outside and leave soon. I want to be back in London." Did he ever? He needed to take his wife away, feeling many hounds circling the fox who was his wife. He knew that the Hurst men were dangerous; he was not blind; they had designs on his wife and were alone.
"Sir, it would be better if she stayed here for a day or two; she had a nasty nosebleed," Mr. Bennet insisted.
"William, Tommy is right." Lady Catherine said.
Darcy's head recoiled. "Aunt Catherine, observe some decorum, he is..."
She cut him off mid-sentence, "What he is is not your affair. I am too old to listen to anyone. Save your words." Her voice was pure ice. "I listened too well, gave up my dreams, and married an old man, nearly 60, when I was barely 17. He was an old man whose mind was a cesspool."
An unusually rosy-cheeked, spineless-Anne added, "Mama is right; she has the right to choose her path; we both deserve happiness." Anne stood straight, full of self-righteous indignation, holding Thomas Bennet's hand.
Darcy wanted to scream when he saw the trio's joined hands. His nausea worsened when he noticed Anne's ungloved hand. What was going on? Sad Anne shone with joy, and this could not be tolerated. Tommy and Cathy, indeed, the familiarity was making his stomach ill. He could taste the bile rising in his throat; they carried on like the newlyweds.
He looked at Richard and Bartlett, who were equally befuddled. His uncle and aunt refused to look at the younger men.
Aha, the older couple not only knew but were in cahoots. Of course, they all had noticed Anne's likeness to a younger Bennet. This would be a scandal of a large magnitude.
"No, my wife looks well enough," Darcy wanted to go.
"I don't need your concerns since you don't seem to have any," Elizabeth said, looking at her new husband. "I will have a glass of sherry."
Spineless-Anne ran to get her a glass; surprised looks followed her. "Here, my dear," she smiled, touching Lizzie's hand and lowering her voice. "Count on me, my dearest, always," she told her, still smiling sweetly. Then, to everyone's amazement, she gave Elizabeth an air kiss, who smiled back sadly.
At breakfast, Charles made a pest of himself; he stood by the bride as often as he could; Darcy was aghast. He caught Charles leaning forward to breathe her; he had not imagined. Why was Charles doing it?
"Charles, she is my bride; this is most improper. Go to your angel," he growled softly.
Charles' grin was not the usual vacuous; it was a predator's, "I don't think so; better get used to it. She is a beauty, so it begs the question, why didn't I see her before you, and where was she hiding? Alas, it is never too late. You know that life is a hunting ground, and, in this case, you are only the groundskeeper."
Who was this Charles? Darcy wondered; he had never seen this side of his friend. Knowing his charm, he wanted this new Charles away from his wife. Even more worrisome, Charles was yet to say, "Mrs. Darcy is an angel." It would seem that Charles considered her in a class of her own.
He did not imagine Charles' interest, considering how Miss Bingley had reprimanded her brother at least twice. "Charles, you are too obvious," and more of the same.
The tall and imposing Hurst men tried to move closer. Although not handsome, they were fierce looking and quite attractive. To his dismay, their eyes stayed fixed on Elizabeth; they would pounce on her given a chance; he was sure.
Darcy wanted to scream. The green-eyed monster had him on its grip. Unfortunately, in this instance, his fears were fully justified.
He knew that Bingley was right. It was like someone had kept his wide hidden inside a shadow, and he'd made her visible. He would keep her hidden, again, from every male. She was a nobody; thus, it should be easy. They needed to leave.