Chances Come, Ney Mitch [snow like ashes series TXT] 📗

all the rest behind or ahead of this moment.

Heartbreak could find me tomorrow. But for today, for this moment, I would merely find joy.

Accepting all that would and could occur when falling in love, I was determined.

All was open. All was possible.

However, all could come to nothing.

Or at the very worst, it all would end in calamity. For love, despite the beauty of the emotion, could wreak so much havoc. Heartache was said to be something so fatal, that it could kill someone.

I did not wish to die from sensibility. However, with all of that being said, I thought of my poor father once more. And I truly returned to my gust for life.

After all, it was merely life and life only. What would be the worst that could happen if I fell in love and nothing came of it? There would be slight embarrassment, but that was nothing that I could not survive and endure. I would rise again and recover, then be as I once was. No true man or woman ever died from heartache. And neither would I.

Therefore, come what may, I decided to fall into my affections, and enjoyed the idea of letting oneself go, despite the consequences.

Chapter 9 God Help Us

In the span of a couple of days, we moved into Grosvenor Street, where Mr. Darcy showed us our rooms. When I had entered mine, I twirled around and was overjoyed.

“We are at Grosvenor Street. We are in Grosvenor Street!”

Then I remembered myself, and I turned to see Jane and Darcy staring at me.

“We are happy, and we cannot censure ourselves.” Jane smiled at Mr. Darcy. “It is just our way.”

“I shall remember how to be a proper lady tomorrow, I promise,” I replied, smiling.

Mr. Darcy gave us a wry smile. “I enjoy your enthusiasm. I was hoping that you would be delighted here. Miss Bennet, allow me to show you into your room. It is merely the one that is next to Miss Elizabeth’s room.”

“Mine is next to hers,” Jane responded, quite giddy in fact. “Oh, that is very good! Let us see it. At your pleasure of course.”

“Of course. Let us go now.”

Mr. Darcy took Jane and me into her room and Jane marveled at it.

“I love it!” Jane gasped, going to the bed immediately and sitting down on it. “Oh, I love it so very much.”

“I think that we both are very happy,” I said to Mr. Darcy, giving him an arched look. “Where shall Kitty stay? Can I be presumptuous and ask if she may be near us as well? We should like to be able to keep close watch on her.”

“Afraid that she will get stolen from underneath our noses?” Darcy asked, amused.

“In this mad mad mad mad world, anything is possible,” I answered with faux drama.

“Never fear. In this manner, we both think the same. Her room is right next to yours. My sister will stay in the room on the other side of Kitty’s. This way, Miss Bennet will be in the middle of you all.”

“That is perfect,” Jane said. “I can make my nightly inspections of their safety before I retire to bed.” Mr. Darcy narrowed his eyes. “Oh, take no offense to that, sir,” Jane rushed out. “It is something I did at Longbourn as well, after our father died. I always wanted to make certain that my sisters were in bed. It has become a habit of mine.”

“Oh! Well, that makes a great deal of sense. That is very good of you.”

“I thank you for letting us stay,” Jane responded. “Will we see anything of your cousin, or is he gone off to his regiment?”

Mr. Darcy hesitated at his response.

“He will be doing a mixture of both things. He shall be overseeing his regiment, but he also shall be stopping off here every now and again, to be amongst family.”

“Then that means that we shall soon have the pleasure of your sister coming,” I deduced.

“Precisely. My sister will be arriving the day after Kitty is meant to come. I have also fitted up a room for Mrs. Gardiner to remain in if she ever desires to stay.”

“I thank you, and I look forward to meeting Miss Darcy.”

Jane walked to the other side of the room, to enjoy a view of the window. As she did, I remained close to Mr. Darcy. In truth, I did not like the idea of being far away from him. Yet, he took advantage of that opportunity, for soon after Jane walked away, Mr. Darcy leaned into me.

“Why did Miss Bennet ask most pointedly about the Colonel visiting?”

“She was perhaps just being polite.” I read his expression. “Do you worry about something?”

“I have a frightening truth to tell you.”

“What is it?” I whispered, alarmed.

“Something that I shall wait till we are alone to talk of. Once we get a minute, I will divulge all. Yet, rest assured that no one is harmed. This is merely a romantic issue.”

“And by that, are you referring to the fact that your cousin fancies my sister?”

He looked directly at me.

“When have you ever known me to be blind?” I retorted, arching my eyebrow. “We shall speak of this later.”

“Quite right.”

After Jane and I spent time admiring her room, we separated to get dressed for dinner. Both of us were assigned our own servant to help us, and my servant’s name was Jenny. As she helped me get dressed and style my hair, I asked her what Mr. Darcy would be doing at present. She responded that he usually was in his study, for he never changed for dinner. I admitted to her that I would prefer to finish getting dressed quickly, for I had something urgent to tell her master. She styled my hair simply and then showed me to Mr. Darcy’s study. I knocked on his door and his clerk opened the door to me. I asked him if he would address Mr. Darcy on my behalf and