by P. O. Dixon
“Pray let us not forget that my dear husband, Mr. Hurst, also rode out to do what he might do as well.”
A thousand thoughts leaped through Elizabeth’s head. Who are these two to attempt to tell me what to do? Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy are at Longbourn fighting the fire. Is every able-bodied person from miles around there as well?
Elizabeth jerked her arm from Mrs. Hurst’s grip and resumed her flight down the stairs.
“What are you thinking, Miss Eliza? Mr. Darcy gave us strict orders that you must not be allowed to leave here tonight. There is nothing you can do!”
“Oh, leave me alone!”
Having failed in their efforts to prevent the second eldest Bennet daughter from fleeing the safety of Netherfield in the middle of the night, the Bingley sisters did manage to deter Elizabeth long enough to call for a carriage, and the three of them set off for Longbourn.
By the time they arrived, it was painfully apparent that considerable efforts to save the manor house had been abandoned in favor of sparing the nearby structures. Her heart breaking in two, Elizabeth’s attention was immediately drawn to her wailing mother. She sprang from the carriage unassisted and raced to her side.
“Oh, Lizzy!” the older woman cried, “my precious Lydia is trapped inside! Oh! I just know I shall never see my darling child again!”
Elizabeth embraced her mother tightly. Her heart pounding and her thoughts whispering a thousand prayers that the unfolding nightmare was just that – a horrible nightmare, she espied her father and her younger sisters, Mary and Kitty, huddling together.
The comfort in seeing the three of them was nothing in comparison to the frightening prospect of her mother’s lamentations. Surrendering to her fears, Elizabeth wept. No sooner than her prayers had been whispered, they were answered.
Loud cries of jubilation amid the perilous destruction erupted. Elizabeth spun around in the direction of the raging fire engulfing her beloved home to see a tall, dark creature emerging from amid the roaring flames dancing all around him.
She gasped!
Mr. Darcy stumbled from the burning building bearing her youngest sister’s slumped body in his arms.
Is she alive? Elizabeth wondered, still embracing her distraught mother. As soon as he was out of danger, Mr. Darcy lowered young Lydia Bennet to the ground a safe distance away from the burning building. Dropping to his knees, he cradled Lydia’s head while checking for signs of life.
Mrs. Bennet had also seen the brave gentleman emerge from the daring devastation with her youngest daughter in his arms. Freeing herself from her second eldest daughter’s embrace, she raced frantically to where Mr. Darcy and Lydia were and pushed her way through the concerned crowd just in time to see the gentleman comforting her daughter.
Elizabeth arrived on her mother’s heels. She wanted to fall to her knees in gratitude. Lydia is alive! What did it matter that the house was collapsing under the weight of the fire’s wrath and nearly all her family’s worldly possessions were gone? Her father, her mother, and all her sisters were alive.
Darcy surrendered Lydia to her mother’s arms. Standing, he scanned the destruction all around. Elizabeth could only imagine the nature of the thoughts racing through his mind. Did he realize that he might very well have perished while attempting to save a young girl so wholly unconnected to him? Did he know how indebted her family would be to him for the rest of their lives?
Seeing her elated mother cradling her daughter to her chest and sobbing tears of joy, Elizabeth wanted to go to Mr. Darcy and thank him for what he had done. Before she could, she espied Miss Caroline Bingley forcing her way to his side.
“Mr. Darcy!” Miss Bingley cried, “Thank heavens you did not fall victim to the fire. What on Earth were you thinking?” She gulped. “You’ve been injured!” Indeed, the gentleman had a gash above his brow, and his clothes were tattered and torn, evidencing other possible injuries.
“Come with me to the carriage,” Miss Bingley urged, seizing hold of his arm and coaxing him a short distance away from the others. “We must get you back to Netherfield at once to attend your injuries.”
“No!” Darcy protested, freeing his arm from the young woman’s grasp. Seconds later, he tumbled to the ground.
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Parting Thoughts
Dearest Reader,
I truly hope you enjoyed By Reason, by Reflection, by Everything. I really enjoyed writing the story. I love the excitement of writing a new Darcy and Elizabeth story with a heartwarming happily ever after ending.
As an author, I relish feedback. I’d love to hear from you. Tell me what you liked about the story, what you loved, even what you didn’t like. You may write to me at [email protected] and you may visit me on the web at www.podixon.com.
I'd like to request a favor. If you enjoyed reading By Reason, by Reflection, by Everything, please don’t keep it a secret. If you’re favorably inclined, I would very much appreciate a review. Reviews can be hard to come by and yet they mean everything in terms of making or breaking a book’s discoverability.
Thank you so much for reading By Reason, by Reflection, by Everything. I'm delighted you chose to spend your time with me.
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In sincerest gratitude,
* * *
P. O. Dixon
Acknowledgments
Heartfelt gratitude is bestowed to Miss Jane Austen for her timeless classic, Pride and Prejudice, which makes all this possible. What a joy it is imagining different paths to happily ever after for our beloved couple, Darcy and Elizabeth, and then sharing the stories with the world.
Special thanks to Ken, Betty, and Michele for helping to make this story a pleasure to read.
By Reason, by Reflection, by Everything
Copyright © 2017 by P. O. Dixon
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All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, in whole or in part, in any form whatsoever.
This book is a work of fiction. The characters depicted in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
* * *
Image Used in Cover Art: Village Life © nadiastar
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Did you love By Reason, by Reflection, by Everything: A Pride and Prejudice Variation? Then you should read Impertinent Strangers by P. O. Dixon!
Insults and Disdain. Intrigue and Desire.
An impertinent stranger is thrown into Fitzwilliam Darcy's path and, even though he declares her tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him, it is all he can do not to think of her.
Upon first making Mr. Darcy's acquaintance, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is quite fascinated with him. Then she discovers that the gentleman is haughty and above his company, and she wants nothing to do with him.
Still, the prospect of spending time in each other's company is beyond their power to resi
st. Will Darcy and Elizabeth stop lying to themselves and find in the other what's been missing in their lives?
Read more at P. O. Dixon’s site.
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Dearest, Loveliest Elizabeth: Pride and Prejudice Continues
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Pride and Prejudice Untold: Fifth Anniversary Commemorative Edition
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As Good as a Lord: Pride and Prejudice
To Refuse Such a Man: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
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Love Will Grow: A Pride and Prejudice Story
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Only a Heartbeat Away
To Make Her His Wife: Pride and Prejudice Variations Collection
Still a Young Man: Darcy is in Love
Pride and Prejudice Everything Will Change Collection
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First There is Love: A Pride and Prejudice Variations Collection
By Reason, by Reflection, by Everything: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Watch for more at P. O. Dixon’s site.