The Ashes of Longbourn Read Online Free Page B

were with him and that they could marry in Scotland.  He wished that she would be with him, giving him the strength to withstand this uncertain time with his sister.  Most of all, he prayed that Georgiana survived so that the two most important ladies in his life would meet.  He knew that they would each love the other.
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    Chapter 3
                  Elizabeth returned to Longbourn from Rosings to find her sister had returned from London just two days before.  And Jane was not alone.  Mr Charles Bingley had returned               to Netherfield Park. Jane could not contain her joy, as Jane traveled home in Bingley’s carriage, with a maid acting as chaperone. After Bingley called on her at their uncle’s home and made the arrangements to bring her home, there was little doubt in anyone’s mind that the couple would soon be engaged to marry.
                  Mrs Bennet was thrilled to see Bingley’s return and his daily calls which he paid to see Jane.  While she spoke freely of the great fortune of having such a fine young man besotted with her beautiful daughter, her youngest two daughters found more excitement in visiting Meryton and spending time in the company of the militia.  After learning of Wickham’s true nature, Elizabeth had no desire to be in the company of the man or his friends.
                  There were constant gatherings to attend, and the Bennets were normally in attendance.  The more time she spent in the company of others, the more she longed for Darcy’s arrival.  Elizabeth began to daydream of taking walks with Darcy on her favorite paths surrounding her home.  She could imagine the two of them sitting together, admiring the view from Oakham Mount, her favorite location to take in her neighborhood.  It was not uncommon for someone to have to repeat their words to her after finally garnering her attention.
                  As was to be expected, Elizabeth was often in the company of the militia at the gatherings.  Whenever they were in company of others, Elizabeth was polite to Wickham, as she was to all of the others from the militia.  She spoke at great lengths to Colonel Forster of their plans to move to Brighton within a few months.  When Elizabeth mentioned meeting Colonel Fitzwilliam, Colonel Forster was pleased to speak of his friend, as the two had known each other for many years.  He was especially pleased to tell her a few stories that she could tease Colonel Fitzwilliam with the next time they met.
                  The day after she arrived home, Elizabeth spoke to her father with regards to curbing her younger sisters and their flirting with the young men of the militia. Mr Bennet’s reply was that the militia was to be gone soon and there would be no further problems with them.  Nothing that Elizabeth had to say could convince her father to make any changes to the behavior of Lydia and Kitty.  There had even been talk of Lydia accompanying the militia as a personal friend to Colonel Forster’s young wife.  This was the most disturbing news, for Elizabeth knew that, once away from her family, Lydia would have no one to curb her behavior, which could lead to her disgracing their entire family.
                  To make matters even worse, Elizabeth was not able to communicate with her dearest aunt, Madeline Gardiner, as her aunt and uncle had taken their entire family on a very important business trip to Ireland, and would be gone for several months.  Her weekly letters would be ceasing, as the Gardiners would be traveling to many locations in Ireland.  They had invited Elizabeth to join them, which she declined as she waited desperately for the man she was losing her heart to return to her.  Taking her aunt into her confidence, Elizabeth explained her reason for remaining at Longbourn.