Excessively Attentive – Jessica Schlenker

Her next meeting with Bingley was sure to be fraught with nervousness and awkwardness, no matter how much she should wish otherwise. “When did William tell you?” “During dinner,” Elizabeth replied, the faintest blush on her countenance. Jane arched an eyebrow in reply, and Elizabeth blushed more deeply. “Oh, all right – he stopped by my room to check on Georgiana last night, after all of you left.

He said he would leave Georgiana here with the Fitzwilliams, but he had to return to his townhouse. He had matters of business to attend to early this morning, ones he had left unfinished when mère summoned him to Rosings.” “Surely Mr. Bingley and I were not all you two spoke about last night,” Jane teased. Elizabeth blushed and would not answer.

“What do you think of Wickham being William’s brother?” Elizabeth asked finally. “I think it is admirable that the elder Mr. Wickham willingly took responsibility for him,” Jane responded, “despite the fact that – according to your uncle – the late Mr. Darcy would have ensured he was raised in a gentleman’s household either way.” “I hope that Wickham is aware – now – that there is a possibility his actions could taint Georgiana, if the family acknowledges him to be a relation.”

Jane felt amused that Elizabeth already fretted over Georgiana, but she did not reply for a few minutes. “I do hope – now that your cousin knows Wickham is his brother, that is – that Wickham may yet be salvaged. He at least seems to be aware he has faults – is that not a place to start?

I should not want him to be desperate.” Elizabeth smiled at her sister in the mirror as she pulled the brush through her hair. “I remember thinking, the day you and William walked out with me, and then had this mysterious conversation you did not tell me all of, that I would be the one to hope my recovery would be enough to redeem him, and you would be the one to trust in it.” Jane laughed, and Elizabeth began to set the pins to hold Jane’s hair up in the style for the morning.

“Now, perhaps you can tell me more of the conversation you had with William – he made a comment last night, before dinner, that he said something to you that you had not passed along to me.” Jane smiled slightly. “I am not sure I should tell you – it is not as if he seems to be afraid of pressing his suit.” “We did have a slight…

Copyright ©2008, 2026, Jessica Schlenker Cover design ©2026, Jessamine Heggins Cover paintings “Lady Maria Conyngham”, Sir Thomas Lawrence, ca. 1824-25. & “London, a view of Greenwich with the Royal Observatory and Greenwich Hospital”, Jan Griffier the Younger, ca. 1738-73 Second Edition, First Paperback Printing & Kindle © 2026, Jessica Schlenker All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. ISBN 978-1-943801-10-7 Evening Primrose Press [email protected] OceanofPDF.com To my children, Cassandra and Alexander. You were but a distant hope and a wish when this story first started.

I am grateful for you every day. OceanofPDF.com Other Works by Jessica Schlenker So Gradually: A Pride & Prejudice Tale Solitude – Freehold: Defiance Spider’s Web – Freehold: Resistance The First Magic – Imagine THAT! All That is Gold with Michael Williamson: Skjaldmóðir – Fantastic Hope and Skjaldmóðir, revised version, Baen.com Fire in the Grass – Crucible (Valdemar) Medley – Tempest (Valdemar) OceanofPDF.com Chapters One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen Twenty Twenty-One Twenty-Two Twenty-Three Twenty-Four Twenty-Five Twenty-Six Twenty-Seven Twenty-Eight Twenty-Nine Thirty Thirty-One Thirty-Two Thirty-Three Thirty-Four Thirty-Five Thirty-Six Thirty-Seven Thirty-Eight Thirty-Nine Forty Forty-One Forty-Two Forty-Three Forty-Four Forty-Five Forty-Six Forty-Seven Forty-Eight OceanofPDF.com One “My dear Mrs. Collins!”

Mr. Collins cried as he entered the house. “The wondrous Lady Catherine de Bourgh has seen fit to notice our family and Miss Bennet on only their second day in the area!” “And how has she done so, Mr. Collins?” asked Mrs. Collins. “She has expressly invited us all to tea, in an hour’s time!” Mariah Lucas’ response was to squeak and fan herself, while Sir William made comments about being so greatly honoured and his eldest’s most fortunate alliance. Mr. Collins urged the guests to retire and change, but to not be shamed for their lack of finery, for Lady Catherine “preferred the distinctions of class to be preserved.”

Elizabeth was unsure how Mr. Collins construed this as a positive trait, but the turn of phrase recalled a moment in Meryton Assembly, with Mr. Darcy declaring to Mr. Bingley that he would not give notice to young women slighted by other men.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

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• Unique ID: 875cb2c4e8ea5d7d
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• Title: –
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• ISBN: 9781943801107
• Pages: 354
• Language: English (en)

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• Estimated Reading Time: 565.99 minutes
• Total Words: 113,198
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