More to Love by Robin Helm

Author:Robin Helm [Helm, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-02-12T05:00:00+00:00

Darcy and Bingley arrived at Oakham Mount half an hour before sunset and were rewarded for their punctuality by the sight of ladies approaching the bottom of the hill. After the gentlemen dismounted, tying the reins of their horses to a nearby tree, they walked down the incline to meet the ladies.

Once they regained the crest of the slope, Darcy and Elizabeth walked towards the trees, leaving Jane and Bingley to talk a good distance away.

She glanced up at him. “Should we be so far from Jane?”

“We shall stay within sight of your sister and Bingley. Come.” He held out his hand to her. “I wish to show you something.”

“A surprise?” Her voice held excitement as she put her hand in his. “For me?”

“Yes. For you. For us.”

A few steps farther, just beyond a massive oak tree, Elizabeth found his gift – a lovely carved bench, embellished with roses on the sides of the armrests. The seat was strewn with comfortable cushions, and small tables sat on either side.

She stopped short, holding her breath, dropping his hand.

“You do not like it?” he asked as he searched her face.

“’Tis wonderful,” she whispered, looking up at him. “No one has ever done such a lovely thing for me before.”

He offered her his arm, speaking quietly. “Perhaps no one has ever adored you as I do.”

They walked to the bench in silence and sat down.

“Did Miss Lucas visit?” he asked, releasing her arm with reluctance.

“She did,” answered Elizabeth, eyes glistening.

Is she trying not to cry?

“She refused?”

Elizabeth smiled, and his heart soared.

“No, indeed. My friend is very happy for me. She said she noticed weeks ago that you looked at me a great deal, so she was pleased to say she was right. Charlotte has agreed to help us.”

Darcy attempted to return her smile, but his heart was heavy as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the letter. He held it out to her.

“Yesterday, I told you Beckett left a note for you, but it disappeared. This morning when I returned to Netherfield, I found it on the salver. Someone must have taken it and decided to put it back.”

“I do not want it,” she said. “I have made up my mind.”

“Please take it. I wish for you to read it.”

“Why? I told you it would make no difference to me.”

He tried to memorize her face at that moment. “If you refuse to read it, you will never know whether or not it would have changed your answer to me.”

She took the letter from his hand, placing it in her lap. “I think you wish me to read it for you. Not for me.”

Darcy’s lips formed a crooked smile. “Perhaps you are right. I have no inclination to wonder throughout our marriage if you would have chosen him rather than me. I will marry you either way; however, I would like to know.”

She raised her eyebrows. “You would marry me, even if I said I preferred Mr. Beckett?”

He nodded solemnly. “I would, unless you changed your mind and wished to call off our arrangement.

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