Snowflakes at Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Jennifer Kay

Author:Jennifer Kay [Kay, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2021-12-10T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Elizabeth

Will you do me the great honor of accepting my hand?

The words reverberated through Elizabeth’s mind and for a moment she sat frozen, not convinced she had heard correctly. Mr. Darcy was proposing to her? Unpolished, poorly-dowered, overly-opinionated her? It was scarcely believable, and yet every word had been clear. More than that, every action since he had greeted her at the Twelfth Night assembly painted a clear picture. She simply hadn’t allowed herself to acknowledge it before. Somehow, she had won the affection of one of the most sought-after gentlemen in England.

That gentleman was waiting for a response, anxiety mingled with affection in his eyes, and Elizabeth wet suddenly dry lips, knowing she could not keep him in limbo. But words would not come, and at last she settled for nodding, noting the way that his face lit up at the slightest bob of her head. As she continued to nod, a grin formed and his dimples made an appearance. Goodness, he was handsome. And he was to be her husband!

“Yes,” she whispered, finding her voice at last. “Yes!”

He twisted further towards her and stripped off his glove, then reached out to cup her cheek. “Elizabeth.”

It was part prayer and part caress, and the emotion of it struck Elizabeth’s heart with the force of a hammer. She felt tears well up in her eyes and the joy on his face shifted to concern. “Elizabeth, don’t cry.”

Blinking the tears away, she leaned her face into his warm palm. “I am well,” she whispered. “Simply overwhelmed. I had no expectation of receiving a proposal from you, particularly not just now.”

Mr. Darcy chuckled. “And here I thought I was so obvious that Miss Lucy could see it. Georgiana certainly did. She’s been giving me knowing looks since the first time you visited.” He paused. “I hope it is a pleasant surprise?”

“Oh, yes!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “The most pleasant. I do not know what I have done to deserve such happiness.”

Mr. Darcy’s thumb caressed her cheek. “I would very much like to kiss you,” he said, the low rumble of his words causing a pool of heat to gather in her lower stomach. “It is unfortunate your chaperone would most likely protest.”

Elizabeth’s eyes dropped to Lucy, who would undoubtedly dislike being squashed between them. And gracious, she could not kiss a man in front of her impressionable cousin! All other impropriety aside, Lucy was sure to make some comment in front of her siblings, and that was something Elizabeth could not countenance. “That seems likely, indeed,” she said, still struggling to think normally. “I suppose we should not be too upset, seeing how it was my chaperone who brought us to this place.”

One of Mr. Darcy’s eyebrows quirked up. “This exact place, yes,” he agreed, gesturing around them with his free hand. “As for our current understanding, I will not give her credit for that. Why do you suppose I called on you yesterday?”

His meaning sunk in slowly and despite the fact that they were already engaged, Elizabeth’s face heated as she gleaned their significance.

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