To Win a Frozen Heart: A Darcy & Elizabeth Pride & Prejudice Variation Novel by Clara Winfield & A Lady

Author:Clara Winfield & A Lady [Winfield, Clara]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2018-01-20T16:00:00+00:00

At last, the carriage arrived at Longbourn. Elizabeth was very glad to be at home once more.

The door opened, ready for Elizabeth to disembark. But it was not the driver who held it open. Instead, a soaking wet Mr. Darcy unfastened the latch, and offered assistance in getting Elizabeth down from the steps. She took his hand, and descended to the ground.

The sight of Mr. Darcy in wet clothing made her catch her breath. It had been expected, of course, but the visual impact was quite something. He had pushed his dark hair back a little way from his face, presumably to keep the rivulets of water out of his eyes. His jacket had grown dark with the dampness too, and clung to his torso. Altogether, he had the appearance of somebody who had jumped into a river for a prank.

“Mr. Darcy…” Elizabeth began, but she could not finish the sentence. She felt her cheeks burning, and forced herself to look away. If she looked at him for a moment longer, she would find herself quite unable to formulate a sentence.

“Miss Bennet,” Mr. Darcy began. But he did not finish his sentence either.

It was then that Elizabeth realised he was still holding her hand.

She drew it away at once, taking care to look at the ground and not meet his eye. Looking into his eyes seemed to render her quite foolish, and that would not do at all.

By this time, the front door had opened. One of the Bennets’ footmen came out to meet them, followed by Kitty, who shrieked when she saw the state of Elizabeth.

“Oh, good grief!" Kitty yelled. "What on earth has happened to you two? You look like half-drowned weasels!”

“It is raining, Kitty," Elizabeth said, dryly. “Astonishingly, we find ourselves covered in the aforementioned rain. Is that not extraordinary?”

“Very funny. Is the carriage leaking?”

“No. I was… walking.”

“And Mr. Darcy was walking alone with you?” Kitty looked scandalised.

“No, of course he was not. Kitty, would you mind taking these new gloves to my maid, and letting her know that I shall need her attention shortly?" Elizabeth handed the sodden paper parcel to Kitty.

Kitty did as she was asked, chuckling to herself about Elizabeth’s ruined bonnet.

Mr. Darcy gave a short bow. “If you have everything you need, Miss Bennet, I must return my sister to Netherfield.”

“Of course.” Elizabeth curtsied, feeling her cheeks warming again. "I am most obliged to you for your kindness in bringing me home, Mr. Darcy.”

“Please, do not mention it. It is only a pity that I could not persuade you to accept a ride before you were caught in the rain, and not afterwards. Since you were inevitably bound to agree with me in the end, it would have been far better to have done so from the beginning."

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him. He frowned back at her.

What a condescending man he was. Any gratitude she had felt evaporated on contact with his pompous, superior tone of voice.

He had known she would agree in the end? How arrogant.

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