Fitzwilliam Darcy by Mary K. Baxley

Author:Mary K. Baxley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: jane austen, pride and prejudice, fitzwilliam darcy, darcy pride and prejudice sequel elizabeth bennet fitzwilliam darcy regency regency romance romance
Publisher: Mary K. Baxley

~*~

After several brandies and much talk, at least on Fitzwilliam’s part, Darcy bid his cousin goodnight on the stairs before retiring to his bedchamber. Once inside his room, his man quickly approached. “May I assist you in removing your boots and coat, sir? And do you wish anything before retiring for the night—perhaps a cigar?”

“No. I wish to be alone,” Darcy answered. “I shall see you in the morning at my usual hour. I will have a hot bath and a shave before removing to the breakfast parlour.”

“Very well, sir. I shall see you promptly at six, then.”

When the door was firmly shut behind his valet, Darcy released an exasperated breath and fell into a nearby chair close to the fire where he began to remove his boots. Slipping them from his feet, he threw them aside, grumbling under his breath. Then, in sheer vexation, he leaned back and stared into the burning logs piled high for the night. As he sat there gazing at the flames glowing brightly, images of Elizabeth’s bright smiles and laughing eyes, taunting and teasing, appeared before him.

Darcy narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “It should have been me sitting beside her at cards and sharing in her lively banter. It should have been me,” he said in a half-daze as once again his anger and frustration returned in full force. He reprimanded himself for his lack of social skills, something he had never before cared about—until now, when he truly needed them.

Finally, unable to bear the deprivation of his situation a moment longer, he rose from his seat and removed his coat and waistcoat and then threw them over the back of his chair. In nothing but his breeches, shirttail, and stocking feet, he paced back and forth in an agitated manner, cursing himself for allowing Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam’s mild flirtation over dinner and cards to bother him. He knew his cousin was not intentionally trying to goad him, and yet, he had allowed Fitzwilliam to do exactly that.

At long last he strode over to his bed and plopped down upon it. Crossing his feet at his ankles and tucking them under himself, he rested his elbows upon his knees. Sitting there, disgruntled, he began to bitterly berate himself, not only for his own inability at conversing freely, but for allowing himself to be drawn to Elizabeth more and more, even going so far as taking another walk with her this very afternoon when he had sworn after their last meeting that he would never be alone in her company again. It was too perilous, and yet when visions of her loveliness came to the forefront of his thoughts, he was powerless to abstain.

He knew full well that he was displaying his preference for her, and yet he could not help himself. On several occasions, while strolling through the park, he had desired for her to let down her guard just once and share the same smiles and brightened eyes that she so willingly bestowed upon his cousin.

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