Nothing but the Deepest Love: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Madeline Kennet

Author:Madeline Kennet
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2016-11-03T04:00:00+00:00

Safe from the Storm

“See that gentleman coming toward us,” Mr. Wickham said. “That is Mr. Darcy. I would be grateful if you would allow me to give the impression that there is an understanding between us, so that he will not suspect my engagement to his sister. You must do this for her sake. All will be lost if he guesses what we intend.”

Elizabeth saw a tall, handsome, and respectable-looking gentleman striding purposefully toward them. So this was Mr. Darcy. A great relief flooded over her. The very man for whom she had been hoping. He must have been in London, read her uncle’s letter this very morning and set off for Ramsgate at once. How wonderfully efficient of him.

But how humiliating that Mr. Wickham, whom she now felt free to repudiate, took up her arm and tucked it firmly into her own without waiting for permission. Mr. Darcy shouted, “Wickham, “I want a word with you,” and she felt the grip upon her arm tighten before she could pull it away and refuse to provide any assistance.

“Darcy, what a pleasant surprise to see you here.” Mr. Wickham said brazenly. “Will you allow me to introduce you to my fiancée, Miss Bennet?”

“You have two fiancées? Mr. Darcy gave him a scornful look. “How ungentlemanlike, but I would not expect better from you. I am here, however, to inform you that my sister no longer wishes to be engaged to you. She has told me everything. I know what you were planning, and I can guess your real reasons for wanting to marry her.”

He turned upon Elizabeth next. “You are not needed here,” he said harshly. “You may have your fiancé back after I am done with him although I recommend against it. You are better off without him.”

His acceptance of an engagement between them was mortifying. She wanted to declare the falsity of it, but any attempt to dissociate herself from Mr. Wickham would only waste time. She contented herself with the satisfaction of pulling her arm away and deserting him without a word. Perhaps she might reclaim her character with Mr. Darcy at another time, but for now the important thing was that Georgiana was safe. Nothing else mattered. Certainly not the little bit of her dignity which she lost by slinking away without protest in order to allow him to get on with his business, which he was obviously very capable of managing.

He was handsomer than she had imagined, Elizabeth thought as she walked away. Georgiana had not said that he was so good-looking. Much better looking than Mr. Wickham, whose boyish looks were nothing by comparison to Mr. Darcy’s strong chin, firm mouth and determined eyes. Those characteristics had a great appeal to her. He was clearly a proud man, but it seemed a proper sort of pride, and she felt a great interest to know what he was like when he was not angry.

She was intending to go directly home and let her aunt and uncle

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.