Surprise & Serendipity: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Sydney Salier

Author:Sydney Salier
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms
Published: 2020-06-23T04:00:00+00:00

12 Wedding Plans

Sunday, 1 December, 1811

When Elizabeth reached the top of Oakham Mount, she found Mr Darcy sitting on her favourite rock. His horse was tied to a tree nearby.

He stood up at her approach and bowed in greeting. ‘Good morning, Elizabeth,’ he said and gestured for her to take a seat. When she complied, he sat down next to her, far enough away for propriety, and in such a way that he could look at his fiancée.

‘Mr Darcy, what a surprise to find you here,’ exclaimed Elizabeth.

‘Is it?’ Darcy asked with a challenging smile.

‘Indeed, it is,’ replied Elizabeth trying to keep a serious expression.

‘I understood that I had been invited.’

‘But I did not expect you… for at least another ten minutes,’ Elizabeth grinned at him.

The teasing comment startled Darcy into a guffaw of laughter. ‘I pride myself on being punctual, Elizabeth.’

‘I suppose that is the kind of pride I can live with,’ she teased back.

‘Was there a specific reason why you issued the invitation?’

‘Since, due to our situation, everything is so rushed, I was hoping to… I guess… get to know you a little without pressure…’ Elizabeth trailed off, not quite knowing how to express her feeling of being caught in an avalanche, and wanting some breathing space.

‘Since the beginning of our acquaintance was less than felicitous, our interactions since then have all been fraught. Particularly this week. Although we cleared up our misunderstandings, you have not had a chance to actually get to know me. And yet we are to be married in less than three weeks.’

‘Just so. I believe you understand. I hope that you are not offended by my need to become better acquainted.’

‘Not at all. I admit that I am rather pleased.’ Darcy smiled a little wistfully. ‘You are the first lady of my acquaintance who has wanted to know me as a person. To me it is a relief that my future wife has an interest in Fitzwilliam Darcy rather than the Master of Pemberley.’

‘I have heard a great deal about the Master of Pemberley, but Fitzwilliam Darcy is still a relative stranger to me. I was hoping to remedy the situation.’

‘By all means. Which aspect of Fitzwilliam Darcy would you like to learn about first?’

‘Tell me of Pemberley. Since it is to be my home, I would like to know more about it. Not the size or the grandness, but why you love it as much as you do.’

Darcy stiffened when Elizabeth started to ask about Pemberley. Was she, after all, more interested in his estate than himself? But the rest of her question relieved his mind, and he berated himself for his suspicions. She was no grasping lady of the ton.

With a delighted smile, he waxed lyrical about his home.

Elizabeth listened while he extolled the virtues of Pemberley. The scenery, the walks through the woods, the gardens and his beloved library. He also spoke about the staff, particularly Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper, and the tenants.

Hearing about the things that were important to Darcy, established in her mind a picture of a man who loved both the outdoors and his books.

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