A Summer Shame Read Free Page A

wanted her sister-in-law out of her house post haste. For once, it was Mrs. Bennet's nerves aggravating the lady of the house, not the other way around.
     
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    Chapter Two
    An open barouche jostled and bounced its way down the winding path to Starvet House, carrying the party from London relieved at last to be on dry land. Lydia Bennet sat with her back to the driver, so it was Elizabeth who gasped first when she spied the ancient manor home situated on a vista of verdant rocky fields.
    “And this—this is only one of your homes?”
    “One of our homes, Mrs. Darcy. One of our homes,” Mr Darcy replied with a twinkle in his eye.
    Lydia wore a sour face, but soon curiosity bested her restraint. With an audible groan, she crossed her arms and turned in her seat. The grand scale of the home dissipated her desire to quarrel over her well-intentioned captivity. She brightened and asked a dozen questions of Mr. Darcy, much in the style of her mother.
    “How many rooms are there? How many servants? Oooh, I bet the ballroom is simply divine!”
    Mr. Darcy cleared his throat and adjusted his weight next to his wife. His lovely bride took over her sister’s inquisition. “Lyddie, this is not a social visit. I’m afraid you will be quite restricted in your activities.”
    “Restricted? But no one knows me out here! I thought that’s why you dragged me along on your wretched wedding trip in the first place!” After a pause, she muttered to herself “Who goes to Scotland for holiday anyway? It is so unfashionable.”
    “Miss Lydia, the local populace may not know you, but they and the servants most certainly know me. My family has owned this home for over a hundred years. It is best we keep to a low profile whilst we are in residence. After your condition is improved, we shall return to London and I will be happy to show you the diversions you require.”
    Lydia flashed Mr. Darcy a flirtatious smile which made Elizabeth narrow her eyes in jealousy. Would no one check her sister? “Diversions conditional upon your behavior while we visit Starvet House,” she added.
    The barouche came to a halt in front of the main oxblood doors, heavy with medieval styling. As the wooden portals creaked open, a team of footmen in plaid livery exited to hand the party down from the equipage. Miss Lydia was handed down first, though she managed to make a face and stick her tongue out at her sister before she accepted assistance. Mr. Darcy moved to exit the barouche to hand down his wife, personally.
    For a moment, Elizabeth and William locked eyes, lost in their own world. Elizabeth spotted the years of loneliness melting away from the fine lines near his eyes, and as she offered him a genuine smile, the gentleman returned one with equal delight.
    "It is so hot! Must we stand outside in this dust?" Lydia whined.
    The spell of arriving home for the first time as husband and wife shattered. The carriages with their trunks began to pollute the air with more dust as they too came to halt behind the barouche. Elizabeth clasped her husband’s arm as he escorted her up the worn, cobbled steps to Starvet House, checking her intense annoyance with her sister lest the servants think her cross.
    “Mr. Darcy, so happy to see your safe travels, sir. Oh, Mrs. Darcy, such a pleasure ma’am that you would come to our little corner of Haddington for your wedding trip! Cook has a leg of mutton, your favorite, Mr. Darcy, and your rooms are ready for you to rest.” Mrs. Buchanan fussed over the party on their entry.
    “Thank you, Mrs. Buchanan. Miss Lydia shall be retiring to her rooms, but I would like to briefly tour the gardens with Mrs. Darcy. We  would like refreshments delivered in twenty minutes’ time.”
    Lydia began to protest, but a Master of Pemberley look from Mr. Darcy immediately limited the girl in her lament. A maid appeared to escort Lydia up the grand staircase and Mr. Darcy led Elizabeth through the home to the back