Second Chance to Marry: A Pride & Prejudice Sensual Variation (To Marry in Haste) by Penelope Mason

Author:Penelope Mason [Mason, Penelope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Naughty Bits (aka PWP)
Goodreads: 174061683
Publisher: Longbourn Lady
Published: 2023-06-04T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 5

Anger rose in Darcy's throat along with the shock of knowing that Wickham, that infernal cad Wickham who was like a diseased cat who couldn't be gotten rid of, was not only in Lambton, but had made threats.

Darcy did not wish to frighten or distress Elizabeth any further; it was clear from the tightness of her lips and the paleness of her face that she was already disturbed.

“What threats did he make?” Darcy asked.

He reached out to take her hands but she pulled away, lowering her gaze. Darcy watched her, his heart in his mouth because he could not conceive of what Wickham might have said to her that would cause her to pull away from him thus.

“Elizabeth?”

She didn't wring her hands, but from their twitching, Darcy supposed the inclination was present.

“I must apologize first,” she said.

Darcy stared at her. “Whatever for?”

“I believe I provoked him somewhat. I. . .” she faltered, still not looking at him.

Which was just as well, because he needed a moment to contain the conflagration of rage he felt at Elizabeth believing whatever encounter between her and Wickham was her fault.

“I saw him in town, and I was just so furious. I thought of nothing besides confronting him right away. I had to know why he'd said the things he'd said to you.”

Darcy sighed. “Oh, Elizabeth. Does it matter now?”

“We almost lost each other, forever. It matters. Though in hindsight, I was very foolish. I—” she fell silent again, obviously struggling.

“Elizabeth, just tell me.” He kept his tone gentle though he almost wanted to shake the information out of her. The sooner he knew, the sooner he could act.

She looked up. “He asked me to arrange a private meeting with your sister, and if I did not, then he would approach you with the story that he and I—” she stopped, started several times. “I am being silly, I know it. He threatened me that if I did not do this, he would tell you he had compromised me.” A blush of red stained her cheeks. “That there had been a child and I'd lost the child which was the reason I accepted his proposal, and then rejected it.”

Darcy could not speak for several long moments. Shock, revulsion, rage eclipsed mere anger. That Wickham would dare threaten not only Elizabeth, but Georgiana in so despicable a manner.

“I'm sorry,” she whispered. “I don't think he would have made such a threat against Miss Darcy if I hadn't accosted him. He lashed out, I can see that now.”

This would not do, he would not tolerate it. “You did nothing wrong.” His words sounded strangled, so he forced his voice to even. “Perhaps you were a little hasty, but you had every right to an explanation. You had no reason to think he would behave in such a manner. That is my fault.”

Elizabeth blinked. “How can it be your fault?”

Darcy gritted his teeth. “Because I've known his true character all along, and I said nothing. I should

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