An Inconvenient Courtship (Regency Romance) by Dana R. Lynn

Author:Dana R. Lynn [Lynn, Dana R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Novella Short Story, Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Regency & Victorian Romance, London Society, England & Britain, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Hearts Desire, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Beautiful & Feisty, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Clean & Wholesome
Publisher: Clean Reads
Published: 2014-10-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Over the course of the next few days, Elizabeth continued to heal. Her headaches lessoned, and she was able to spend longer amounts of time downstairs. Although her head still felt a little tender, the swelling had disappeared. She joined the rest of the household for breakfast each morning, then spent several quiet hours in the library. Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy usually joined her there, as did her father. The first morning her father invited her to join him in a game of chess. She quickly agreed. The chance to use her mind to form strategies was a relief after spending so much time idly. It was a tense game, but in the end, she defeated her father. As she lay down his king, she looked up into Mr. Darcy’s fascinated eyes.

“Your strategy was impeccable, Miss Elizabeth,” he praised her.

Mr. Bennet stood. “I wish to catch up on my reading. Mr. Darcy, if you would be so kind to take my place, sir?”

Darcy accepted with alacrity, and another fierce battle ensued. Mr. Darcy defeated Elizabeth, but it was a hard won victory.

As they were clearing the board, he coughed nervously. Elizabeth glanced up at him, her brow raised in a question. She was surprised to find him looking unsure of himself. Curious, she gave him an encouraging smile.

“Miss Elizabeth,” he began, “it has been brought to my attention that on the night we were first introduced, I somehow offended you. Is that an accurate statement?”

Elizabeth lowered her eyes and bit her lip. That night seemed so long ago. She had almost let herself forget it. But now he had brought it up, with the apparent intention of clearing the air between them. The resentment she had felt at that first meeting threatened to flare up in her heart again, but she resisted it. The Mr. Darcy sitting across from her was so different from the man she met the first night. Surely, she should give him the chance to explain his remarks?

“Mr. Darcy, it sounds so petty now. On the night we met, you refused to dance with me because I was only ’tolerable,’ and you felt it was beneath you to dance with someone that other men had rejected.”

She watched him closely, waiting to see if his former hauteur would descend upon his handsome face. It would break her heart if he were to reject her now. She had allowed herself to become vulnerable to his charms, she saw. Instead of disdain, however, she saw confusion, as if he did not recall the moment in question. She nudged his memory further.

“You were speaking with Mr. Bingley, who was most insistent that you dance, if I remember correctly.” And of course she did remember. Clearly.

His brow cleared and comprehension dawned in his eyes.

“You heard me. I beg your pardon, Miss Elizabeth. Although my words were cruel, they were not the truth. I have recently acknowledged within myself and to my friends that you are the loveliest woman I know.

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