A Husband for Elizabeth: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Carlson Sophia

Author:Carlson, Sophia [Carlson, Sophia]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: none
Published: 2018-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

He could marry Elizabeth. He could rebuild her childhood home from the ground up if he desired. Restore its overgrown gardens, buy back the lands around it. Restore Longbourn in her honor.

Darcy hardly noticed the passers-by as he walked down the crowded London street. He must be mad, thinking of Elizabeth and marriage, when he had hardly considered marriage at all. Although he could not now imagine living without her. The house belonged to her as much as it had come to belong to him. They could share their life together between Derbyshire and Hertfordshire.

But would she accept him?

He would have to persuade her. Court her gently so she wouldn’t run from him. Convince her that he would make the sensible, comfortable husband she desired. He wanted children, but he would not force her to his bed no matter how much his blood heated at the thought. He would prove to her that her fears were unfounded; not all husbands were overbearing or considered their wives a mere convenience.

He would prove to himself he was worthy of Elizabeth Bennet after all.

"Lizzy!"

She looked up and saw Kitty running towards her. Elizabeth waited for Kitty to halt beside her.

"I had hoped to see you today," Kitty said. "Are you on your way back to Netherfield?"

"Yes."

"May I join you?" Without waiting for an answer she continued, "I have not had the chance to thank you for the assembly. I had the most lovely time!"

"I am so glad, but I really did nothing. You were the one who danced and smiled and completely enthralled everyone."

"I could not have done so if you had not helped me with my gown and hair and told me I must smile. And, of course, allowed Mr. Darcy to stand up with me for the first dance. I have no doubt that was what made the others take notice and decide I would be worth their while."

"That sounds so callous! That is not the whole of it, at all."

Kitty merely smiled. "Perhaps, but is that not how it works in Society? When someone of consequence notices one, others follow suit?"

"Sometimes, but not this time. I think it was because before you looked as if you did not want anyone to notice you. This time you looked much more friendly. As if you would not growl if someone dared to approach you."

"Is that how I looked before? I suppose that is how I felt. But not any more."

They walked towards Netherfield. Elizabeth glanced at Kitty. "Did Mr. Malcolm stand up with you?"

Kitty gave a little laugh. "No, but I decided that it did not matter. I am rather tired of waiting for him to notice me." Nothing in her expression indicated this was not perfectly true.

"He did notice you. When you were dancing with Mr. Darcy, he said he thought you were very pretty and that he did not know you could dance like that. He worried that you would not want to stand up with him since he did not dance very well himself.

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