A Happy Accident: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Amelia Wood

Author:Amelia Wood
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Read, Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms
Published: 2019-12-09T05:00:00+00:00

13

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, a fierce argument broke out between Elizabeth and Darcy.

“I am perfectly well,” she insisted.

Darcy frowned and folded his arms as she leaned against the bedpost, almost oblivious to the way her nightgown was exposed.

“You are not perfectly well. Need I remind you that you had a fall only two days ago. No one would recover from it that fast. Look at you. You can hardly stand.”

“I assure you I can.”

“Then release the bedpost.”

Elizabeth hesitated for a moment then she raised her chin defiantly and let go of her support. She wobbled slightly but she regained her balance in a moment. She looked at Darcy triumphantly.

“There. You see? I can manage perfectly well.”

Darcy shook his head. “No. It is out of the question. Mason said you were not to move about much. I cannot allow it.”

“Allow it?” Elizabeth’s face flushed indignantly.

“A poor choice of words, perhaps,” he said hastily.

“More than perhaps.”

They glared at one another and Elizabeth suddenly recalled another time in another room where they had stood across from one another and spoke heated words. She flushed slightly and looked away.

A similar thought appeared to have struck Darcy. He did not speak for a moment but when he did, it was in a gentler tone.

“Forgive me. I can be overbearing when I am concerned for someone I… when I am concerned for a guest,” he added. He paused. “How about I help you to the parlour for a few hours. It will be a change of scenery for you. But I insist you promise me that the moment you feel even the smallest discomfort you will tell me at once. Do you agree?”

Elizabeth smiled. “I am sure I will feel some discomfort but it does not follow that it will be necessary for me to retire at once if I do.”

“That depends on the discomfort, of course. But I would still like to know if you do not feel well so I might support you. I hope you will trust me to tell me.”

Elizabeth lifted her face to look at him. Through the proud set of his head, she noticed something else; a flush of vulnerability. Darcy seemed to hold his breath as though he feared her response.

“I trust you,” she said in a small voice.

Something flickered in Darcy’s eyes. He cleared his throat and nodded.

“Very well. I will send the maid to dress you,” he added, trying to avert his gaze from where her nightgown opened at the throat. Elizabeth gasped and covered herself, her face flaming. She nodded.

“Thank you.”

“I will wait outside so I might escort you to the parlour,” he added. Elizabeth was about to tell him that would not be necessary but she stopped herself. She could not deny she liked the idea of Darcy waiting for her and willing to care for her. There was something about it that gave her a warm flush of security. Perhaps this was what he would have been like as a husband. They might have been married now and perhaps expecting their first child.

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