River of Dreams: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by J. Dawn King

Author:J. Dawn King [King, J. Dawn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Quiet Mountain Press LLC
Published: 2023-04-10T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

D arcy’s worry grew as no living soul acknowledged their presence. When it came to survival, they were on their own. The air was frigid, and they were soaked. There was no food or drinkable water in sight. Who knew where they would finally come to rest?

He rubbed his hands over the boy’s arms and legs, even squeezing the lad’s bare toes into his palms. Elizabeth did the same to the other child. Yet, through all their distress, not one word of complaint had come from any of them.

The child on his lap peered up at him through heavy lashes, his rich chocolate eyes as large and luminous as Elizabeth’s. Peering closer, Darcy studied the boy’s face: dark brown brows perfectly arched, high cheekbones, elfin chin.

Darcy whispered, “Is your name really Johnny?”

“Bekah. I am Rebekah,” the child admitted, causing everything to fall into place.

A girl! A little girl in need of a hero. “How old are you?” Darcy asked.

“Five. Me and Jake is twins. I was born first. He was second. He’s bigger than me.”

“A girl!” Elizabeth smiled. “But you told us you were Johnny?”

“Mama said it was safer to be a boy.”

“I see.” Elizabeth glanced at him.

He understood. The world was not always a secure place.

The children said no more. Darcy’s protective instincts had been stirred the instant he saw them in the boat. Nevertheless, knowing the little one was a girl brought mental images of his sister when she was that age. His greatest desire was to be her protector, her knight in shining armor. He failed his sister at Ramsgate. He vowed to do all within his power to aid little Rebekah, her brother, and Miss Elizabeth.

Without thought, the fingers of his left hand unfastened the buttons of his coat.

“Sir, you also need warmth.” Elizabeth protested.

“Not at the expense of these children.”

Elizabeth helped him draw the wet garment off. Immediately, the November wind cut through the linen on his arms and neck.

After wringing out the water, Elizabeth helped tuck his coat around the children. His heart sank when a drop of rain landed on the bridge of his nose. Another drop followed. Turning toward Elizabeth, he drew her in until they touched from head to toe. Leaning over, in vain, he tried to shelter the others from the downpour.

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.