Someone Like You: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Esther Walsh

Author:Esther Walsh [Walsh, Esther]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Not in Amazon Library, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting
Amazon: B08HJ36RFG
Goodreads: 55274182
Published: 2020-09-06T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Darcy spent the day on the highest, most exposed part of the estate, helping to rebuild walls that marked the boundary between Pemberley and the Forestry Commission land. He wasn't a dry stone waller, that was a very skilled job, and he was paying premium rates to bring in scarce artisans. Instead was acting pretty much as a labourer all day, enjoying the physical exertion and the friendly banter with the other men. As the light began to go, and the clouds closed in once more, they decided to call it a day and set off for their warm homes.

William climbed into the Landrover just as it started to hammer down with rain. As he drove, the cloudburst thinned to drizzle, and through the mist, he could see a small car pulled half onto the verge with its bonnet up. He pulled the Landrover in behind the car and jumped out. Up here, he was going to be the only passer-by for some time, the nearest phone was miles away, and no one should be out here on a day like this.

"Hello there!" he called. "Can I do anything to help?" As he rounded the front of the car, he got such a shock that he couldn't help an involuntary "Oh!" from escaping his lips.

Elizabeth looked up, recognising the voice but taking a moment to register the identity of this figure clad in giant wellies, a muddy blue boilersuit and a battered cricket cap.

"William!"

"Elizabeth, what on earth are you doing here?"

"The car has broken down. It belongs to my cousin. Apparently, if you wiggle a spark plug, it gets going again."

"It's going to take more than a waggled spark plug to get this going," Darcy said, looking at the engine but unable to resist a glance at Elizabeth. She was soaked from head to foot, muddy, and her wet shirt clung to her skin. She shivered, and William noticed that the cold was having a very noticeable effect on her nipples. He coughed and tore his eyes away.

"How come you are here?" William asked, gesturing at the misty surroundings.

"I'm supposed to be having a holiday with my cousin, but she had to work. But the room was paid for, so I decided to come anyway."

"Where are you staying?"

"At the Lambton Arms."

"Oh, right."

"What are you doing up here?" she asked.

"I live here," he said. "You are on my land. Look, you can't do anything just now. Hop in and come back to my house to get dry. I will send a couple of the lads up to tow the car to the garage."

He leaned over her and shut the bonnet, then pocketed the keys. He opened the passenger door of his Landrover for her and shooed his dog into the back. Lizzy climbed in and was enthusiastically sniffed at by the time William got to the driver's side.

"Stop that, Meg!" he said. "Just push her away; she is only being friendly."

"It's okay, I like sheepdogs," Elizabeth declared through chattering teeth. "I always think they look like they are smiling.

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