The Dread Mr. Darcy by Valerie Lennox

Author:Valerie Lennox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: V. J. Chambers
Published: 2018-08-18T13:22:47+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

“And where is Miss Fairchild today?” said Anne, sipping at her tea.

“Oh, I had thought it more proper not to come alone, but I have dispensed with all of that,” said Elizabeth. Generally, that wasn’t something she would have said aloud, just as she generally would not have come alone to call on someone. But the truth was, she was a spinster, it hardly mattered what she did, and no one could tell her what to do. She had been coming to call every other day for nearly a fortnight, and yet she always seemed to miss Darcy. Either he wasn’t there, or he was still abed, even late in the afternoon. It wouldn’t have been proper for her to call specifically on him, so she couldn’t do that, but she was getting frustrated, and she found she hardly cared about propriety.

Since seeing him that one night, she found she thought of little else but him. She wanted to look upon him, wanted to touch him, wanted him to touch her. She was growing frenzied inside.

Anne looked shocked. “Dispensed with it? What are you saying?”

“I think it might be embarrassing for Miss Fairchild, because she may sense that you are growing rather annoyed by my constant visits. I decided not to subject her to that. I am a spinster. I belong to no one. I shall simply come alone.

Anne choked. “Why, that is ridiculous, Miss Bennet. Of course I am pleased to see you. I so rarely get any other callers, and I welcome anyone who does come by.”

“It’s all right, Miss de Bourgh,” said Elizabeth. “If you are annoyed, you may tell me. In all honesty, I am only coming by so persistently because—”

“Miss Bennet?” said another voice, a male voice.

She looked up to see that Darcy had walked into the room. Her heart stopped. Her lips parted, and she took him in. He still seemed a bit pale and thin, but he looked beautiful just the same, and she wished she could throw herself across the room and into his arms. She didn’t move though. She just gazed at him.

He smiled. “I’m pleased to see you. Miss de Bourgh told me that you visit often, and I’m sorry I haven’t managed to be available to see you before.”

“It’s all right.” Elizabeth was breathless. “I’m pleased to see you as well.”

He sauntered into the room and sat down on a couch opposite her. “Have you been well?”

“I have been…” She laughed a little. “It hardly matters. I feel quite excellent at this very moment.”

“You look well.” He didn’t seem to take his eyes off her. “You are indeed a pleasant addition to my day.”

Anne looked back and forth between them. “Well, I must say that I am glad to see you up and about, Darcy. If I had known mentioning Miss Bennet’s frequent visits would get you out of bed, I might have tried it a week ago.”

Darcy chuckled. “Oh, now, Anne, saying things like that will have Miss Bennet thinking I changed my day just to see her.

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