Requirements for Love: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (Love in London with Mr Darcy) by Heather Moll

Author:Heather Moll [Moll, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Excessively Diverted Press
Published: 2025-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Darcy had a concert to attend last evening and had then spent all of Thursday morning returning calls he had put off. Visits to friends, to the wives of friends, to friends of his family, friends of friends who might become his own friends if he kept up the acquaintance. It was exhausting.

And it all meant he had not a moment alone to speak to Elizabeth since he nearly kissed her last night.

He had almost committed himself. Elizabeth had not encouraged him, flattered him, or flirted with him. She had been herself, charming and lively, and had made a deeper impression on his heart. She had had reason to dislike him before, from his own pride and selfishness or her own misunderstanding, but last night, he was certain, she would have kissed him back if he had not remembered himself.

He had been tempted to marry her last November, but that would have been a terrible mistake because she disliked him, and he was unworthy of her. But now, living in his house for a week had changed everything. He loved her, and she might love him enough to accept him if he offered his heart and his hand.

“Darcy!” called a voice as a hand caught his arm. “I called your name three times.”

Bingley was laughing at him for his inattention. He must have descended from his carriage and walked right past his friend on the pavement. He apologised, and Bingley asked him if he was going to Lady Linden’s card party tonight.

“No, Captain Peck is spending the evening to help enliven Miss Elizabeth’s captivity. You are welcome to join us.”

“I must take Caroline to the opera,” he said with a frown. “I would rather go to the card party or your house, I assure you.”

Darcy wondered if Miss Bingley had demanded her brother escort her to more amusements in return for resuming her acquaintance with Miss Bennet. “Miss Elizabeth was glad to see her sister yesterday. It was good of you to arrange her visit.”

His friend grinned. “I will mention that when I call on Miss Bennet tomorrow.”

They parted ways, with Darcy going into the house that Bingley just left to pay a fifteen-minute civil call. He tried to be attentive, but his mind was on other things. Bingley would marry Jane Bennet and be wildly happy with his beautiful, gentle bride. They would return to Netherfield and live three miles from her embarrassing family, but was that not a small price to pay for a woman who loved him and brought him joy?

In a week, Elizabeth would be enough recovered to climb into a carriage and return to her uncle’s home. Was he going to let her go without telling her he loved her? Was the inappropriate behaviour of her parents and younger sisters worth it to have a wife like Elizabeth Bennet? He was more certain that she was worth any trial.

By four o’clock, his round of visiting was over and Darcy returned home. While approaching his own door, he saw Colonel Fitzwilliam had his hand raised to knock.

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