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    Never So Bewitched By Any Woman
    Never So Bewitched By Any Woman
    Never So Bewitched By Any Woman
    Ebook144 pages1 hour

    Never So Bewitched By Any Woman

    By Isabelle Mayfair

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Elizabeth Bennet's stay in Gracechurch Street with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner becomes even more enjoyable when she meets the handsome, charismatic George Wickham who is staying in London with his friend Denny, before accepting a commission with the militia.  She also makes a new friend in Hyde Park, the young and innocent Miss Georgiana Darcy, who is waiting for her brother, Mr Darcy to join her in London.  But Elizabeth soon suspects Wickham is not all he seems, and while seeking to engage her affections, also has designs on her wealthy and naive young friend.  

    When her fears are realised, she knows she must protect Miss Darcy from an elopement with a man who cares nothing for her.  The only way she can do so is by reaching out to Mr Darcy, Georgiana's proud and arrogant older brother, who is currently in Bristol, searching for a suitable wife.  Elizabeth is forced to put aside her own dislike for the man and persuade him that his sister is in danger.  

    But as she gets to know him better, it soon becomes clear that she has been just as deceived by Mr Darcy's true character as she was by Wickham's.  Is it possible she has judged him too hastily?  And as for Mr Darcy, could it be that the pert, yet bewitching Miss Bennet is exactly the woman he has been searching for?  A Pride and Prejudice variation from the author of An Encounter at Pemberley.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherIsabelle Mayfair
    Release dateOct 14, 2017
    ISBN9781386021827
    Never So Bewitched By Any Woman

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    Reviews for Never So Bewitched By Any Woman

    4.5/5

    9 ratings1 review

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    • 4/5
      Fast paced and light-hearted book that was a pleasure to read.

      Elizabeth was visiting the Gardiner's in London when she was introduced to the handsome Mr Wickham. He told her his tale of woe but Elizabeth became sceptical when she discovered he was wooing her very young, new friend.
      To rescue her, she had to involve her aloof and disagreeable brother though...
      The plot had some weaknesses but as they are towards the end, to eloborate on them would spoil your read...

      Recommend.

    Book preview

    Never So Bewitched By Any Woman - Isabelle Mayfair

    Never So Bewitched By Any Woman

    Never So Bewitched By Any Woman

    Isabelle Mayfair

    Published by Isabelle Mayfair, 2017.

    This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

    NEVER SO BEWITCHED BY ANY WOMAN

    First edition. October 14, 2017.

    Copyright © 2017 Isabelle Mayfair.

    ISBN: 978-1386021827

    Written by Isabelle Mayfair.

    Never So Bewitched By Any Woman

    Isabelle Mayfair

    Contents

    Chapter 1

    Chapter 2

    Chapter 3

    Chapter 4

    Chapter 5

    Chapter 6

    Chapter 7

    Chapter 8

    Chapter 9

    Chapter 10

    Chapter 11

    Chapter 12

    Chapter 13

    Chapter 14

    Chapter 15

    Chapter

    1

    W e have an invitation, my dear, Aunt Gardiner announced over tea. The Dennys have invited is to dine with them tomorrow evening. Their youngest son is home on a visit, and is staying there with several of his militia friends before they go on to camp in Hertfordshire. They’ll be staying near Meryton. What a coincidence. Aunt Gardiner turned over the letter. "Their eldest son, Philip, will also be there. There will be plenty of young people for you to meet. What do you think,

    my

    dear

    ?"

    Elizabeth Bennet looked up from buttering toast and smiled mischievously at her aunt. I think if I dine with such a plethora of young men and I don’t return home engaged, my mama will disown me once and for all, she said. "I know this visit is for me to spend time with you and Uncle, and help you with the children, but we both know my mama has other designs. Please do not tell her of this dinner when you write to

    her

    next

    ."

    I shall not, promised Aunt with a smile. I know my sister too well. Do not concern yourself. I will tell her nothing more than how delighted the children were when you brought them to Gunter’s for ice-cream yesterday. Shall we accept the invitation?

    If my uncle is also in agreement.

    Do not worry about me, my dear, Uncle Gardiner called over from his chair by the window where he looked over the accounts for his business. He claimed the view over Gracechurch Street helped him concentrate. "I am all for an enjoyable evening, and the Dennys are delightful people. You will have a fine time, Lizzy, you may depend

    upon

    that

    ."

    Well, that’s all settled, then, said Elizabeth. "We are to dine with the Dennys. But I do need your help, Aunt. Papa gave me a sum of money to spend on new gowns while I’m here and I’ve already worn all the dresses I brought with me. Would you accompany me to Bond Street to help me find

    something

    new

    ?"

    I would be delighted.

    I suppose that’s a hint for me to get my purse out, said Uncle Gardiner with a fond smile at his wife. Aunt Gardiner laughed and

    denied

    it

    .

    I have plenty of gowns. And besides, we need to help our niece find a respectable husband, she added with a mischievous smile at Elizabeth. I for one do not want to face your sister if we send her home alone and unwed.

    And I do not want to face my brother if we do not send her at home at all, having packed her off to a husband who is unworthy of her, said Uncle with a wink at Elizabeth. Elizabeth laughed.

    Do not worry for me on that score, Uncle. Nothing but the very deepest love will ever induce me to wed, I am quite determined on that. So I am resigned that I shall live out my days as an old maid, relying on my sister Jane to provide me with a home and occupation. But that does not mean I cannot be finely dressed in the meantime.

    Arm in arm, Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner strolled down Bond Street. It was Mrs Gardiner’s favourite shopping area and she promised Elizabeth she was certain to find something she liked here. Elizabeth looked around eagerly at all the different faces

    hurrying

    by

    .

    Such a variety of people, she exclaimed. You could dine with a new family every day for many years without meeting the same people twice. And I thought Meryton provided a great scope for studying people’s characters.

    All these crowds can sometimes be a little tiring, Mrs Gardiner reminded her. There’s much to be said for the ease and peace of country living.

    Oh, I quite agree. I do miss rambling around the countryside at home, said Elizabeth absent-mindedly. Her attention was caught by a young woman across the street, walking beside a much older lady. She was little more than a girl, probably around the same age as Elizabeth’s sister Lydia, who was not yet sixteen. It was her manner of walking that caught Elizabeth’s eye. The girl was dressed in the finest attire and clearly came from great wealth and privilege. Yet she moved with her head down, as if she didn’t wish anyone to look at her. Her face flushed bright red when a young man passed and gave her a boldly admiring glance. How peculiar that one who looked as if she had been born to everything should look so shy and nervous.

    Her musings were interrupted by

    her

    Aunt

    .

    Ah, here we are, dear. Grafton House. If you do not find anything to delight you in Wilding & Kent’s, I shall eat my bonnet for supper.

    Elizabeth tore her eyes away from the intriguing young woman to smile at her aunt. Depend upon it; if I do not find anything to delight me, I shall season your bonnet myself.

    The proprietor smiled in recognition at Mrs Gardiner, and came forward to wait on her himself. Elizabeth was comfortably seated with a sketchbook of dress designs in front of her when the bell above the door rang. The young woman Elizabeth had seen outside entered. The older woman who accompanied her sailed straight past her and rapped impatiently on the counter top when the staff failed to immediately materialise

    before

    them

    .

    This is intolerable, she exclaimed. "Where is the service? Miss Darcy must not be obliged

    to

    wait

    ."

    The proprietor gave Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner and apologetic glance. I’m sorry about this, he whispered. Elizabeth waved

    him

    away

    .

    Please. It will take me some time to choose between these anyway. I shall not be offended. After he left, she leaned into her aunt and whispered in a tone of mock awe, "Miss Darcy must not, after all, be obliged

    to

    wait

    ."

    Mrs Gardiner covered her mouth with a gloved hand to hide her laughter when the older woman looked over. She scowled when she saw the two women exchanging looks of amusement. Your brother would be sorely disappointed if he knew how standards have fallen in what used to be the best establishments, she claimed in a voice they were intended

    to

    hear

    .

    Elizabeth looked at the girl to see how she would take this. Miss Darcy saw Elizabeth’s eyes on her and flushed an even deeper red. Elizabeth saw her lean towards the proprietor to whisper a mortified apology, as he led her away to a curtained area, designed to give the upper classes their privacy.

    What a terrible woman, she commented to her aunt. I wonder how that girl can stand it? Why does she not speak up and tell her exactly what she thinks of her rude behaviour?

    Not everyone has your spirit, my dear, said her aunt, mildly. "She may not be in the habit of speaking her mind as you are. Perhaps she was raised in a home where such behaviour was not encouraged? Now, how about green? I believe this deeper shade here would look most fetching

    on

    you

    …"

    Chapter

    2

    The following evening, Elizabeth found herself sitting beside Philip, Mr and Mrs Denny’s oldest son. His parents had intended for him to sit beside Lady Charlotte Buckingham, a wealthy heiress. Philip ignored their plans. He was intrigued by the young niece of the Gardiners, and wished to know her better. He could never marry her, of course. She was far too much his inferior in society for such a thing to be seriously thought of. But she was pretty and smiled a lot, and in spite of his parents insistence that he find a wealthy heiress to marry soon, he had no desire to tie himself down

    just

    yet

    .

    What do you think of London, Miss Bennet? he asked, giving her his most charming smile. Elizabeth looked at him. He was handsome and wealthy and everything her mother wished her to have in a match. And yet she had no desire for him. She had overheard him making sport of Lady Charlotte to his friends before they were led into dinner. Lady Charlotte’s wealth and station were sadly her only desirable qualities. She had neither looks nor personality to recommend her, but it did not mean it was right for Philip to ridicule the lady in such a way. It spoke of a poorness of character that Elizabeth had no desire to become more

    acquainted

    with

    .

    I like it very well, she said as abruptly as she could without being rude. Philip’s eyebrows raised at her short response. He was used to ladies

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