In the Library at Netherfield Park: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Romance by Amelia Wood

Author:Amelia Wood
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms
Published: 2020-05-11T04:00:00+00:00

SOMEONE HAD SEEN THEM, but not from a window. Wickham had watched Darcy follow Elizabeth to the garden. Unable to resist a chance to hear what they said, he hurried after him. Wickham was sure he would hear Darcy berate Elizabeth about her family’s behaviour. He was also sure he would hear Elizabeth respond to Darcy with disgust and contempt. How delightful to know Darcy would marry a woman who actively despised him and was not afraid to show it. The great Darcy, married to a woman who embarrassed him and who could not see him except with contempt; it was almost too perfect. And Wickham would not be satisfied until he saw it for himself. Lydia was a faithful confidant, but it was not the same as seeing Darcy’s misery and disgust with his own eyes.

The lawn did not offer many opportunities to hide. Wickham looked about him and saw Elizabeth standing against a tree as Darcy crossed the grass towards her. A path ran not too far away, lined with bushes that would allow Wickham to get close enough to hear what they said without being observed. He ducked low and ran along the bushes until he was some feet away from the couple.

As Elizabeth confronted Darcy about his low opinion of her, Wickham smiled. Darcy prided himself on being too honest to deny such a direct accusation.

But when she accused him of not finding her attractive, Darcy’s response was puzzled. When he spoke of his ungentlemanly behaviour in the library, Wickham’s ears felt as though they were on stalks. It could not be — the proud and proper Darcy would not sully himself to compromise a young lady and a gentleman’s daughter, would he? Wickham felt a strange rush of admiration. Who would have thought he had it in him? But his grudging respect was soon followed by displeasure. He did not want Darcy married to a woman he desired. He did not deserve it. Wickham had only forced him and Elizabeth together because Darcy had made such a point of finding her unattractive.

Unless Darcy had been trying to convince himself, he found her unattractive to fight his desire for a woman he knew he could not marry. It was not an uncommon response in people who wanted someone they knew they could not or should not have. Wickham, a man of the world, should have considered that.

Cursing his stupidity, he realised they were no longer talking. Unable to control his curiosity, Wickham leaned down and peered through a gap between the bushes to see what they were doing.

His jaw dropped when he saw them locked in a passionate clinch. Darcy looked as though he might eat Elizabeth alive. This was no man paying court to a woman he did not desire. He looked as though he barely restrained himself. And for Darcy of all people to behave like this was the most shocking thing of all. Darcy, who always found a lady wanting, was kissing a young woman as though he could not get enough of her.

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.