To Conquer Pride by Jennifer Altman

Author:Jennifer Altman [Altman, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-26T02:00:00+00:00

***

The clock in Pemberley’s entrance hall chimed the hour as Darcy paced past it for the third time. Any moment, she would be here! Tugging at the lapels of his jacket he withdrew his watch, peering at the time before snapping it closed and returning the item to his pocket.

Glancing up at the sound of approaching footfalls, Darcy spied his housekeeper descending the sweeping staircase and hastened in her direction. “Mrs. Reynolds. I trust the bedchambers are all in order? There have been no last-minute complications?”

Darcy could see the glimmer of amusement in the older woman’s eyes, but she was quick to assure him that the entire house was in a state of readiness—indeed, had been for many days. Darcy received this information with a distracted nod. Leaving the housekeeper to carry on with her responsibilities, Darcy continued to pace in a tight circle, his fingers idly drumming against the edge of his coat.

“Was there anything else, Mr. Darcy?”

Lifting his head, Darcy noted that Mrs. Reynolds still stood at the foot of the stairs, gazing at him with interest.

“What? Oh, no, no. Pray, return to your duties.” His hand moved in the direction of his inner pocket, closing around the cool surface of his watch. Withdrawing the timepiece, he pressed the clasp, holding it up to the light.

A sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a cough emanated from his housekeeper’s throat, and Darcy straightened his shoulders. Executing a rigid bow, he turned, walking briskly in the direction of the drawing room.

Crossing the threshold, his gaze roamed the stylishly appointed salon. The terrace doors were open to the outside garden and a warm breeze stirred the air. Breathing in the sweet scent of peonies and lavender, he was instantly reminded of Elizabeth, and he could not help but smile. For a whole week, she would be here, under his roof, just as he had imagined countless times!

Making his way to the far side of the room, he gazed out into the sunny garden. Seven days. It was not much time. Not if he hoped to show Elizabeth that he had become a man worthy of her regard. Darcy sighed, dragging his fingers through the thick hair at the base of his neck. Much as he hated to admit it, women had always been a mystery to him. He had spent his entire adult life trying to avoid the marriage-minded misses who flocked to him for all the wrong reasons. Now, when he finally happened upon a woman whose affection he desperately wanted to win, the irony was not lost on him that he had not the slightest notion of how to go about it.

And this week would be his final chance. If he could not earn Elizabeth’s favor here at Pemberley, where he felt most like himself, there was no hope for it at all.

A sudden noise drew Darcy to the tall front windows where a carriage was just beginning its long approach.

His last opportunity was about to begin.

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