A Perilous Journey: a Pride and Prejudice Variation by Anya Lawson

Author:Anya Lawson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Daisy Chain Publishing

CHAPTER 6

“I beg your pardon, Miss Bennet?” Darcy asked in confusion.

Elizabeth stepped closer to him with her arms crossed over her chest as she examined him for any signs of artifice.

“How can you be such a caring and decent man one moment, and so prideful and arrogant the next? Which is the real Fitzwilliam Darcy?”

Mr. Darcy faltered for one moment too long, which was just enough to inspire Elizabeth’s interest.

“Mr. Darcy? Have I proposed too difficult a riddle?” she asked.

The gentleman leaned against a crate and looked at Elizabeth with fascination.

“Do you not believe that it is possible for one many to have many different versions of himself? Perhaps the real me is the one you discovered in this cargo hold, while the one you met at the Meryton assembly is my mask.”

She shook her head and laughed softly. “Must I purchase a ledger to keep a tally of the many faces of Mr. Darcy? I am not sure I am clever enough to manage on my own.”

Much to her surprise, he reached out and very gently touched the sleeve of her dress.

“You see me, Miss Bennet. You have seen more of the real me on this voyage than many others I have known well, and for a long while. I can not explain why, but something compels me to only show you the truth of who I am, at all times.”

Elizabeth could not say why, but she truly believed him.

“Why are you telling me all of this, Mr. Darcy? What do you hope to achieve?”

When he reached out and took her hand in his, she shivered at his touch. What was transpiring between them in the cargo hold of this ship, on this journey?

“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever set eyes upon, Elizabeth Bennet. And before we drop anchor in New York, I will convince you to be my wife.”

Before she could answer him, they heard the sound of footsteps in the hall outside. All at once, she realized how it would look if they were discovered.

“We should go,” he whispered. “Can we speak again later?”

She nodded Elizabeth and slipped away from him, then made her way back to the steps that led out of the hold. She looked in both directions before she exited. Seeing no one, she took a step so large it made it appear she came not from the hull, but was simply walking about the ship for exercise. She did not make it more than a few steps, however, before she heard her name being called.

“Lizzy! Elizabeth Bennet, where in the world are you?”

Jane came around from the port side and when she saw Elizabeth, her eyes went wide.

“Lizzy! Where have you been? I have looked all over for you! I thought you fell into the ocean!”

When she charged at Elizabeth and took Lizzy in her arms, they almost fell to the ground. Elizabeth laughed as she shook her sister away from her.

“I only got lost, Jane. I would never go to the top deck without you, I am not mad.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.