Pride and Prejudice's Vampires by Ann Hassell

Author:Ann Hassell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: vampires, paranormal romance, historical romance, classics, regency romance, jane austen, pride and prejudice, mash up, mashup, regency era, mr darcy, elizabeth bennet
Publisher: Netherfield House Press

Chapter Nineteen

When they were gone, Elizabeth chose for her employment the examination of all the letters which Jane had written to her since her being in Kent. They contained no actual complaint, nor was there any revival of past occurrences or any communication of present suffering. But in all, and in almost every line of each, there was a want of that cheerfulness which had been used to characterize her style, and which, proceeding from the serenity of a mind at ease with itself and kindly disposed towards everyone, had been scarcely ever clouded. Elizabeth noticed every sentence conveying the idea of uneasiness, with an attention which it had hardly received on the first perusal. Mr. Darcy's shameful boast of what misery he had been able to inflict gave her a keener sense of her sister's sufferings.

As if nature itself felt her pain, the heavy clouds that had been gathering all day gave way to a downpour. The pattering of the raindrops against the windows usually gave her great pleasure with their soothing rhythms. Yet they offered no happiness today. Consolation could only come from the thought that Mr. Darcy's visit to Rosings was to end on the day after the next—and a still greater consolation came from the fact that in less than a fortnight she should herself be with Jane again and enabled to contribute to the recovery of her spirits by all that affection could do.

While attempting to settle her mind with such reassurances, she was suddenly roused by the sound of the doorbell, and to her utter amazement she saw Mr. Darcy walk into the room, his hair and clothing dripping from the rain.

In a hurried manner he immediately began an inquiry after her health, imputing his visit to a wish of hearing that she were better. She answered him with cold civility. He sat down for a few moments, and then getting up, walked about the room. Elizabeth was surprised but said not a word.

After a silence of several minutes, he came towards her in an agitated manner, and thus began, "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, colored, doubted, and was silent.

This he considered sufficient encouragement to continue. "I know this is wrong, that what I feel and hope is wrong and goes against all reason, against my very character. I have struggled for months now against such feelings. But I can bear the torment no longer. I came to Rosings only to see you, to tell you that it no longer matters…the degradation and inferiority of your birth, your family, your want of connections, nor any other obstacle that stands between us. Against my better judgement, I love you. I must ask for your hand in marriage."

As he spoke with eyes both softened and darkened by the tormented love he professed to feel, in spite

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