Page 17 of Pride, Prejudice & Wicked Pleasure

They each performed a quick survey of the other. It seemed he was not disappointed to find Lizzy in place of Abby. With no information, Lizzy could only judge him to be handsome in countenance with an easy smile.

“Where are my manners?” he asked, striding toward her. He bowed. “Nicholas Trenwith.”

Lizzy took in his hair, a dusty flaxen colour, worn in a modish carefree style, his eyes of muted blue, his slim nose, and rakish grin, but detected nothing that reminded her of Abby. Perhaps he was a distant relation. She bobbed a short curtsy.

“Elizabeth Bennet.”

“Are you a houseguest here?”

She wondered why he made that assumption. Given her appearance, it was not likely.

“I was assisting Mrs. Trenwith yesterday with some books and returned to finish the work.”

“Capital. Mother is never short of projects but rarely has assistance. You must be new to Hunsford. I have never seen you before.”

“Do you know everyone in Hunsford, then?” Lizzy could not resist, for he seemed rather delighted with his assertion.

Her reply had him taken aback, but only momentarily, and his smile broadened. “I think I see why Mother invited you here.”

Lizzy raised her brows.

“Please take it as a compliment for it was meant only as such. Mother likes women of wit.”

“Then I fear I shall disappoint. I do not consider myself witty or clever.”

“Perhaps you are being too modest—a noble quality but unnecessary for the likes of me.”

“I am confident in my sincerity and have no interest in feigning attributes I do not possess.”

Her statement gave him pause as he wondered if she had taken offense at what he had said, while Lizzy wondered that Abby had made no mention of a son.

“Nicholas! I knew it would not take you long to sniff out the presence of a pretty lady,” remarked Abby from the entry. She approached the two and spoke to Lizzy. “I take it my stepson has introduced himself already?”

“We had the pleasure,” Nicholas answered.

“Nicholas arrived yesterday from London and will be staying awhile, but my dear Lizzy, I would not have expected you to come in this weather! Mrs. Singh has laid out some clothes for you to change into. Fortunately, you are similar in height to my daughter, and she only a bit more slim. Once you are dry, you will take some tea.”

Lizzy noticed that a dark-skinned maid awaited at the door. Protest would have been futile, and she welcomed a pair of dry stockings. But the prospect of Nicholas taking tea with them was disappointing for she had hoped to speak to Abby in private. Upstairs in a guest chamber, the maid assisted her out of every article. The replacement garments were much more elegant, the weave of the fabric being more fine and the cut more flattering.

To her relief, when she returned to the drawing-room, she found only Abby, though it was possible Nicholas might join them at any point.

“You look lovely, my dear,” Abby said. “That spring muslin becomes you well.”

“The print of faint yellow flowers is exquisite,” Lizzy acknowledged as she sat across from Abby.

Abby poured the tea and wasted little time before stating, “I am not one to beat about the bush as it were, but I think for your sake, and that of your cousin and friend, that it is best you make this visit your last. It would not do for you and the Collinses to have Lady Catherine’s displeasure. Pray, do not take this gesture as a form of rejection, for you know I hold you in good esteem, but I will not have it upon my conscience if you or the Collinses should lose her ladyship’s respect.”

Lizzy marveled at Abby’s prescience and could not decide if she were disappointed or relieved that the decision to continue their acquaintance was no longer her burden.

“Mr. Collins has been most earnest in earning her approbation,” Lizzy said.

“No doubt, and I have no reason to put all that good effort to waste.”

“But I do not come to this end of this gladly. Meeting you will surely be one of the most memorable occasions of my stay here .”

“I did not horrify you yesterday with my collection of art and literature?”

“It was…intriguing,” Lizzy replied with a blush.