A Lady's Reputation by Amy D'Orazio

Author:Amy D'Orazio [D'Orazio, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781951033033
Publisher: Quills & Quartos Publishing
Published: 2019-07-29T04:00:00+00:00

The day after the party at Lessing Grange dawned slowly, gathering clouds obscuring much of the burgeoning light. Elizabeth woke early and took a brief stroll through the cutting garden, a place she had quickly come to regard as a particular favourite.

The distance covered was minimal, and her pace was slow. She often found herself not moving at all, doing nothing more than staring at some flower or the ground beneath her. Her thoughts tended to the previous night. She needed to determine why it had vexed her so and what she might do about it. That her feelings for Mr Darcy were changing—nay, had already changed—could not be disputed. But was it mere possessiveness, some odd sense of ownership over Mr Darcy’s smiles and stares, or could it be something more?

Thoughts of flirting with Mr Darcy came to mind. Should she flutter her eyelashes at him over breakfast? Drop her handkerchief perhaps and touch his arm in a familiar manner? The mere idea made her laugh and no doubt would make him laugh too.

She did not know how to flirt. Was smiling sufficient? Should she flatter him and make comments on Pemberley? Oh, it all sounded so wretched and false! These were the very things she had always prided herself for not doing.

I trust it will come to me in the impulse of the moment. On that weak resolution, she returned to the house, her stomach reminding her she had eaten little the night before.

Scattered raindrops promising many more to come began to hit the windows of the breakfast room when Elizabeth entered. Darcy was found within, looking outside. He turned at the sound of her entry and gave her a smile.

For some strange reason, his evident gladness to see her sent panic coursing through her. Her gut clenched, and she was suddenly unaccountably breathless. For a moment, she clasped her hands together tightly, stopping just short of wringing them. When she realised what she was doing, she quickly dropped her hands to her sides as they commonly were. But somehow, they felt strange hanging there, too loose and too…hanging.

“Good morning. I trust you slept well.”

“I did.” She attempted a smile, but it felt rather forced, and she still had not the least notion what to do with her arms, hanging there so stupidly. She brought her right hand up to touch her hair. “And you, sir?”

He gestured towards the sideboard where a number of tempting choices awaited. She went over and selected a few items for her plate, grateful to have some occupation for her troublesome limbs.

Mr Darcy said, “As is my rather unfortunate habit, I found that retiring late caused me to sleep restlessly and wake early. I expect it will be some time before the others stir from their chambers.”

He pulled a chair out for her, the one immediately next to his at the head of the table. She sat, and he did likewise. His plate was empty, though the coffee cup appeared newly filled.

“I have rarely spent so enjoyable an evening.

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