Excerpt
The wine had flowed, the food was eaten, and Anna had opened her gifts. The evening was coming to a close with everyone relaxed and laughing. Anna was still admiring the beautiful ruby necklace she’d received from her parents and the matching earrings Ben had given her. The younger members of the family were now making their way upstairs to bed, leaving Anna and Ben with their parents and aunt to finish off the wine and cakes.
“Anna, have another one.” Ben offered her the plate.
“I couldn’t eat another bite!” she said, laughing.
“You finish them,” Elizabeth suggested with a smile. “You know you will anyway.” She glanced over at her husband, sitting quietly opposite her. “You’ve not said much, Will.”
He gave her a small smile. “I was just pondering the events of twenty years ago when Anna was born.”
Elizabeth’s smile faded slowly, and Georgiana’s gaze alternated between her brother and sister-in-law.
“Now, Will, don’t go getting all gloomy on us.” Georgiana poured him another drink and held out the glass. “It was twenty years ago, and you and Elizabeth have had many long, happy years since.”
Ben and Anna looked at each other questioningly, then both shrugged their shoulders. Will sipped at the glass his sister had given him.
“You were only twenty then yourself, Georgie,” he said wistfully. “Where does the time go?”
Elizabeth patted his leg. “Feeling old, my dear?” She chuckled. “Well, if you want to reminisce, I think you should choose something a bit more cheerful. How about my first visit to Pemberley?”
“Oh yes,” Anna exclaimed. “Would you tell us about that?”
Will cleared his throat. “I don’t think there’s much of that I’d care to tell or dare to repeat, Elizabeth.”
“Oh, you mean how you sent me flying into the rose garden?” Elizabeth looked at him in a way that said she knew exactly what he meant.
Georgiana smiled at them. “Oh yes, I remember that.”
“Thank you, dear,” Will said sarcastically. “I had wished to forget that particular moment.”
Anna leaned forward eagerly. “But I’d like to hear it.”
“Your father looked so handsome,” Elizabeth told her. “And so embarrassed!”
“But what happened after that? Where was this garden? Did you fall in love instantly?” Anna sighed.
“I can’t believe you’ve never told your children that story, Will,” Georgiana said before adding in a suggestive tone, “I should think Ben might be interested in it especially.”
Will stared at her. “I can’t believe you even know that story! I didn’t tell you.” He looked over at his wife who glanced away quickly.
Ben raised his eyebrows at his parents. “Is this something I would be interested in?” When his mother blushed and turned away, he grinned as he realized why they must have kept it quiet. “Ah, I understand.”
“I don’t.” Anna looked at them, puzzled. She met four pairs of staring eyes. “Oh.” She blushed.
