Unwilling: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary by Elizabeth Adams

Author:Elizabeth Adams [Adams, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-04-01T21:00:00+00:00

~

The following day was Sunday and instead of attending services, the entire family slept very late and when Mr. Darcy arrived, Mary Bennet was the only family member who received him.

He made stunted small talk with Elizabeth’s sister while waiting for his betrothed to come downstairs. Thankfully, she arrived within a quarter hour and whisked him into the garden where she ordered tea. As she poured for him and offered him a small tray of muffins, he couldn’t help but think how lucky he was, that he had many more days just like this to look forward to. Even luckier; in less than a fortnight, they would be wed and he would not have to go home alone or even wake up alone. It was not something they had discussed, but he hoped she would consent to share a bed, at least some of the time. He thought he might like to sleep together every night, but he was practical enough to realize such a thing should probably be tried before it was decided upon.

He didn’t realize he had been looking in her direction without really seeing her for several minutes until she broke his reverie.

“What has your brow so puzzled, my dear?”

Immediately he brightened. She had never called him that before and seemed quite unaware of having said it herself.

“I was wondering if you snore,” he said.

She laughed and quickly set down her teacup. “What?”

He smiled. “It would seem odd for such a delicate person as you, but one never knows about these things.”

“I don’t know whether to be flattered you think I’m delicate or insulted by your thinking I snore!”

“Why would you be flattered? Are you not often thought of as delicate? I should think it would be quite ordinary by now.”

“You might be surprised.” She arched a brow and gave him that look he loved. “My mother is not as inclined to think of me as such. She says I am far too wild to be considered delicate.”

He scoffed. “As if she—,” he stopped, seeing her brow raised and her eyes a mix of censure and amusement. “I, ahem, I’m sure she’s mistaken. You are all that is lovely and delicate.”

At this, Elizabeth had to laugh. It was a soft, chiming sound, like the wind in the trees in autumn or the church bells at Christmas. Overcome with a sudden rush of affection for her, he blurted, “God, how I love you.”

Her retort about him recovering from his faux pas so nicely died on her lips along with her laughter, and she was left looking into his eyes as he regarded her with an intensity she’d seldom seen. She reached across the table and took his hand in both of hers, pressing it firmly and stroking his knuckles with her thumb.

The marmalade cat that made himself at home in their garden took that opportunity to mew loudly at their feet, breaking the moment. She laughed self-consciously and released his hand, busying herself with refilling his cup and then her own.

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