by Maria Grace
Darcy swallowed back the cotton wool catching in his throat. “Miss Elizabeth is quite well. She is with Georgiana, probably at Pemberley Manor right now.”
Bennet’s eyes flashed with unmistakable anger as he rapped his cane on the floor. “Lizzy has come back? I explicitly told you she was gone to live in London with her aunt and uncle. How dare you—”
“I have made her an offer of marriage. And she accepted.”
“You did what?” Bennet braced himself against the arms of the chair and slowly rose. “How could you do such a thing?”
“I love her very dearly.”
“Balderdash! You were just jilted by a very suitable woman, one of your circle and status. You are in the throes of melancholy and seeking a quick way to ameliorate your feelings.”
Darcy stood, towering over Bennet. “I assure you; I am not melancholy over her defection. If anything, I am relieved.”
“Relieved at being jilted? Do not be ridiculous.”
“Only too late did I discover she had kept a secret from me that, had I known, would have prevented me from ever making her an offer.” That was all he needed to know on the matter.
“And now you feel guilty for what transpired with Lizzy the night you were injured. You are trying to make amends for it, despite her assurances that it is forgotten? There is no good to be served in that.”
Bennet knew about that? Darcy squeezed his eyes shut. “Why do you keep trying to make me out as insincere?”
“Not insincere. Ill-considered, short-sighted—”
“Why do you refuse to believe I love and admire your daughter and want her to be my wife?”
“I have said it before: she is not suitable for a man of your station. In marrying you, she would be quitting the sphere to which she was born. Is that not enough? Her mother and I have taught her better than that.”
“Is that not a mean estimation of your own daughter?”
“Be reasonable. She has not the education a woman of your sphere would have, nor the connections. Her manners, though genteel, are surely not up to the scrutiny of the ton, nor is her wardrobe. And I am in no position to be able to supply it. Then there is the matter of her very pert opinions—”
“Trust me, I know a great deal about those. I am under no illusion about that.” Those opinions were her best feature.
“You know her dowry will do very little toward replacing what you will lose when your sister marries.”
If she has not ruined herself with her foolishness—but now was not the time for that discussion.
“Close to nine thousand pounds is what she will cost you. That is a very great deal of money.”
“I am able to do maths. Elizabeth is entirely worth it.”
Bennet cradled his forehead in his hand. “Your family will not approve.”
“It may take some time for them to fully embrace her, but they are already coming to see her value. And consider for yourself, sir. Is there any other means by which your favorite daughter might be installed at so easy a distance to yourself?”
“My comfort should not come before her happiness.”
“I will make her happy and do my best to protect her from those in my sphere who would seek to do otherwise.”
Bennet sank back into his chair and scrubbed his face with his hands. “She loves you, you know. She has for a very long time. But love is such an ephemeral thing to back a marriage upon. I cannot approve.”
“She has been my friend for a very long time. I believe that is what all manner of advice givers recommend as the basis for marriage. In fact, I did not know what I felt toward her was love until she left Pemberley, and I was utterly lost without her.”
Bennet stared off through the window, head bobbing just slightly.
Pray let him speak—soon!
“It is irregular. It is not what is done.”
“I understand all of that. But do I have your consent?” Darcy clenched his teeth and held his breath.
“I could not part with her to a lesser man.”
Epilogue
A month later, Elizabeth strolled the vicarage garden with Georgiana. Beds of sweet peas, dahlias, and lilies bade them welcome, tempting them to linger with the sweet perfume floating on the sun-warmed summer breeze.
“I still cannot believe my come-out ball is the day before your wedding,” Georgiana said.
“I admit the timing is a mite unusual, but in some ways, it is convenient. Many of the guests for the ball are also invited to the wedding breakfast. It is to their benefit to be able to attend both events while only having to travel once. You must admit, it is very expedient.”
“I know I do not deserve it.”
“Pray do not begin that discussion again. Yes, you made a mistake, a very grave one of which we cannot yet know all the consequences. We all acknowledge that. But you have thoroughly repented of the matter, and I am certain will demonstrate far better judgment in the future. So then, let us be done with it. It is in the best interest for you and your entire family that you have a proper come-out celebration before you are away to the continent.”
Georgiana kicked a small rock out of the path. “Would I be ungrateful to say that I do not look forward to spending all those months in Anne’s company.”
Who could blame her? “You might consider that your fair penance for all that has transpired.”
“You mean that society would not believe Anne would travel with me if I have been ruined.”
“Effectively, yes. While Aunt and Uncle Gardiner were able to quash the one murmur from the scandal sheets, it is important that we do what we can to make sure their explanation is as believable as possible.”
“I owe your aunt and uncle a great deal.” Georgina picked at her skirts. “I am sorry to be so much trouble to all of you.”
Patience, she needed patience now. How many times had they repeated this conversation? “Do not wallow in self-pity. Stop talking about how bad you feel and demonstrate your dedication to learning from it by becoming the woman your mother wanted you to be.”
Georgiana sniffled—pray let her not break into tears again!
Darcy approached from the manor, his strides long and sure, without his riding boots. Perhaps now he would finally be able to leave the woes of this spring behind him and move into a new season. “I had been told I would find you here. Mrs. Reynolds wishes to consult with you about some flower arrangements.” He looked at Georgiana.
“I am certain she can manage them very well without me ….”
“She has specifically asked for you.” He glowered.
She squeaked and hurried off to the house.
“That is a very effective look you have.” Elizabeth chuckled as she slipped her hand in his arm. He laughed, too—how often he did that now. “I wonder that Mrs. Reynolds did not send a maid to fetch her.”
“I might have intercepted that message.” He set off toward a little bench in the shade of the trees that bordered the garden.
“You wanted to be out of the house.”
“I wanted to be with you.”
“Away from the bustle of preparations and guests arriving?” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I imagine guests do not evoke happy memories just now.”
“Hardly.” They reached the bench, and he gestured for her to sit with him.
“It will not be the same as the house party.”
“Of course not. You will be here, helping to manage it all.”
He was teasing her! Actually teasing. “I rather thought something else might be foremost in your mind.”
He caught her gaze and looked into her eyes. The corners of his lips pulled up in a tiny smile. “Of course, it is.”
The fuzzy edges of his voice tickled the back of her neck, sending delightful shivers down her spine. Heavens, he was handsome, and the way he looked at her—how could she not return his smile?
Musk and sandalwood and something uniquely him filled her senses—scents that fluttered her heart. Gentle fi
ngers cupped her cheek and drew her closer, so close their lips touched. Gentle and playful at first, but, as though he could not bear any misunderstanding, urgency and need crept in, reminding her of the depth of his feelings, ones to which he was only just learning to give voice.
“That is much better. It is good to see you have not forgotten.” She caressed his cheek, still smooth from his valet’s careful attentions.
He pressed into her touch. “A houseful of guests come to attend our wedding breakfast tomorrow will not allow me to forget, I assure you.”
“Our wedding breakfast? And I thought they were here to attend Georgiana’s come out and Jane’s wedding breakfast.” She laughed. “Who would have thought they might also wish to come to ours?”
“You do not mind sharing the day with them?”
“I hardly want to be the focus of all our guests’ attentions. I have heard tales of both of your aunts—”
“Indeed.” He bit his lower lip and quirked his brow. “It appears I am the one who seems to be acquiring the better connections.”
“I can only imagine Colonel Fitzwilliam’s face when he hears you say such a thing.”
“He is usually the one saying things designed to shock and astonish. It will be pleasing to turn the tables on him.” Some of the smile left his eyes.
“I know he has been your good friend. I hope he is able to reconcile himself to our marriage.”
“He is proud and prejudiced, like the rest of my family—as I was. But he, more than the rest, I expect to come around to my way of thinking.”
She draped her arms around his neck. “So, if you were proud and prejudiced, what are you now?”
“Impatient to be married—I have wasted far too much time. I do not wish to wait a day longer than necessary to have you installed permanently at Pemberley.” He stroked her cheek with his knuckles.
“In sixteen short hours, you shall have to wait no longer. My pert opinions will be your constant companions.”
“Of that I shall not repine, for your fine eyes will be there to accompany them.” He kissed her forehead.
“So, I am tolerable because you like my eyes?”
“You are far more than merely tolerable. I find I cannot do without either your opinions or your eyes. My dearest, loveliest Elizabeth, I must have all of you, always.”
Thank you!
Thanks for reading Fine Eyes and Pert Opinions. I hope you enjoyed it.
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Other books by Maria Grace:
Novels:
Fine Eyes and Pert Opinions
Remember the Past
The Darcy Brothers
Given Good Principles Series:
Darcy’s Decision
The Future Mrs. Darcy
All the Appearance of Goodness
Twelfth Night at Longbourn
Jane Austen’s Dragons Series:
A Proper Introduction to Dragons
Pemberley: Mr. Darcy’s Dragon
Longbourn: Dragon Entail
Netherfield: Rogue Dragon
The Queen of Rosings Park Series:
Mistaking Her Character
The Trouble to Check Her
A Less Agreeable Man
Sweet Tea Stories:
A Spot of Sweet Tea: Hopes and Beginnings (short
story anthology)
Snowbound at Hartfield
A Most Affectionate Mother
Inspiration
Darcy Family Christmas Series
Darcy & Elizabeth: Christmas 1811
The Darcy’s First Christmas
From Admiration to Love
Regency Life (Nonfiction) Series:
A Jane Austen Christmas: Regency Christmas
Traditions
Courtship and Marriage in Jane Austen’s World
How Jane Austen Kept her Cool: An A to Z History of Georgian Ice Cream
Behind the Scene Anthologies (with Austen Variations):
Pride and Prejudice: Behind the Scenes
Persuasion: Behind the Scenes
Non-fiction Anthologies
Castles, Customs, and Kings Vol. 1
Castles, Customs, and Kings Vol. 2
Putting the Science in Fiction
Available in e-book and paperback
Free ebooks
Available at Maria Grace’s website:
RandomBitsofFascination.com
Rising Waters: Hurricane Harvey Memoirs
Lady Catherine’s Cat
A Gift from Rosings Park
Bits of Bobbin Lace
Half Agony, Half Hope: New Reflections on Persuasion
Four Days in April
By Austen Variations:
A Very Austen Advent
Scenes Jane Austen Never Wrote: First Anniversaries
March Madness Mashups
Anniversary February
Jane Bennet in January
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About the Author
Five-time BRAG Medallion Honoree, Maria Grace has her PhD in Educational Psychology and is a 16-year veteran of the university classroom where she taught courses in human growth and development, learning, test development and counseling. None of which have anything to do with her undergraduate studies in economics/sociology/managerial studies/behavior sciences. She pretends to be a mild-mannered writer/cat-lady, but most of her vacations require helmets and waivers or historical costumes, usually not at the same time.
She writes gaslamp fantasy, historical romance and non-fiction to help justify her research addiction.
Her books are available at all major online booksellers.
She can be contacted at:
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Acknowledgments
So many people have helped me along the journey taking this from an idea to a reality.
Debbie, Diana, Anji, Julie, Ruth and Susanne thank you so much for cold reading and being honest!
My dear friend Cathy, my biggest cheerleader, you have kept me from chickening out more than once!
And my sweet sister Gerri who believed in even those first attempts that now live in the file drawer!
Thank you!
Don’t miss this free story from Maria Grace.
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