Darcy and Elizabeth: A Peculiar Courtship: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Alice Morgan

Author:Alice Morgan [Morgan, Alice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
ISBN: 9781720206958
Google: albzuwEACAAJ
Goodreads: 41794569
Publisher: Independently published
Published: 2018-09-10T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

Sitting completely alone in the family dining room, Darcy looked up from his morning coffee and papers when Elizabeth entered the room, wearing the same green ribbon that she won from Georgiana, prominently displayed on her favourite emerald green dress. Her eyes met his as she walked toward his spot at the head of the table.

"Good morning, Elizabeth. I thought you might sleep late this morning. I don't believe anyone else will wake for several hours."

Choosing to ignore the familiarity of his greeting which she had not yet given him explicit permission to use, she kept her good humour and smiled at him. Did her heart not beat a little faster when he spoke her name before her mind told her that it wasn't proper?

"I saw the sun begin to shine through my window and my desire to start the day was too great. Are there any walks you can recommend, Mr Darcy?"

"I believe there are one or two paths which you might find acceptable."

"If you could send me in the right direction, I will let you get back to your papers. I am sure these are only a few of the matters that await your attention."

Instead of answering her, he stood with the papers in his hand and gave them to one of the footmen waiting in the hallway. He walked back in, offered his arm to her. "Elizabeth, you can't believe I would give up this opportunity to spend time alone with you and show you my home. The papers can wait for another hour."

After picking up a piece of bread to take with her to hold her over until they returned, Elizabeth dutifully walked with him out the front door. She was not surprised when he led her to the stall that contained the only other being allowed to accompany them on their walks. With a simple nod of his head, he dismissed the groom that came to saddle his riding companion.

"Am I to have my second riding lesson?"

"I hoped that I could persuade you to join me. I want to show you one of my favourite places and it is much easier to reach on horseback."

Elizabeth surveyed the house around her, feeling suddenly very uncomfortable. "Are you sure that we should be seen riding off together? I don't want anyone on your estate to get the wrong idea." Rather, she didn't want them to get the correct idea.

"Elizabeth, my staff is very loyal to me. This is my home. I hope it will be your home very soon, as well. I don't want to spend your first days at Pemberley worried about what the servants will think of you spending time with me."

His words didn't ease her discomfort. She twisted her mouth in indecision.

"But if it will make you feel more comfortable, I will ride in a different direction from your walking path. Once the path goes down the hill, it will fork; wait for me there. When we return, I will make sure to continue to ride for sometime after in order to spread apart our return times.

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