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Darcy and Diamonds

Page 22

by Caitlin Marie Carrington


  Elizabeth gasped, her delicate hand going to her throat. She tried to recover her cool equilibrium, and Darcy hid his smile. Sweet, clever girl…she still might like diamonds.

  “Very impressive,” she said. “What works of craftsmanship.”

  Darcy nodded, poking at one of them. “I know you are a very sensible woman and don’t care much for diamonds or jewels—” Lord help him, he had to clear his throat. “But I thought you might like to see some of the Darcy family jewels. This was my mother’s diamond tiara.”

  He picked it up and spun it on his finger.

  “Mr. Darcy!” Elizabeth shrieked, trying to grab it.

  “Oh, would you like to see it?” he teased.

  “I would like to see it not dropped on the floor!” she said.

  “Right, we’d best put it somewhere safe, then.” He picked it up and carefully placed it on her head.

  “Mr. Darcy!” Elizabeth’s pretty cheeks turned pink, and he hands raised as if to remove the tiara immediately. “What are you doing?”

  He ignored her question, for now. “And these were my mother’s earrings. I know, I know, entirely too many diamonds.”

  Elizabeth stared at him in wonder. “I am not putting those on.”

  “No?” He frowned. “Pity.”

  “Mr. Darcy, what is going on?”

  He leaned forward and took her hand in his, kissing it lightly before looking down at her lovely, confused face. “This is the second time I’ve done this. Let’s see if I can get it right tonight.”

  He took a deep breath and dropped to one knee.

  She gasped and stared down at him, trembling.

  Then he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the weighty ring with the sapphire on top.

  “Mr. Darcy—”

  “This was not my mother’s or my grandmother’s. I had this made for you, many years ago. And I have kept it, and always hoped that one day you might accept it.”

  Her hand trembled in his. “Mr. Darcy—”

  “Elizabeth, I may have diamonds and jewels, money and land—but all of that means nothing if I cannot spend each day with the woman I love more than anything in this world.”

  “Mr. Darcy—” She began to cry.

  “I want to wake in the morning and see your beautiful brown eyes. I want to walk arm-in-arm beneath the stars with you. I would give anything to have you as my true partner in life. Elizabeth, would you consent to be my wife?”

  Elizabeth closed her eyes and released a tremulous breath. For one moment, he feared the worst—that she would say no. That he had made the same mistake, all over again.

  Then she opened her eyes, and he saw love burning therein.

  She took a deep breath and smiled down at him. “I may not have the usual inducements of women to marry—but I have the very best. You, Mr. Darcy.”

  He felt a wicked, wonderful grin spread across his face, and he slid the ring onto her finger. Then he bowed low and pressed his lips against her warm, shaking hand.

  He stood, still holding her hand, and surprised her by pulling her suddenly toward him and into his arms.

  “Well, Elizabeth, you’ve made me the happiest man in the entire world.”

  She laughed, slowly placing her arms up and around his neck—but pausing once to stare in wonder at her ring.

  “And you have made me the happiest woman, Mr. Darcy.”

  He pulled her even closer, his forehead touching hers as he stared into her eyes. “How many times must I tell you? Stop calling me ‘Mr. Darcy,’ especially if we are to be married.”

  She laughed and pressed closer to him. She was warm and lithe and he could not wait to kiss her and make her his.

  “I suppose this matter is not up for debate?” she said, her brown eyes sparkling.

  He shook his head and placed his hands lightly on her face.

  “Very well,” she sighed. “I love you…Darcy.”

  He closed his eyes with pleasure as their lips glanced against one another.

  “I love you, Elizabeth.” He kissed her then, softly at first, until the heat grew lovely and unbearable between them and pulled back to gaze at her in wonder. “I’ll love you forever, you know. Forever and beyond.”

  She smiled and pulled him back to her. “I shall expect nothing less.”

  THE END

  Thank You for Reading

  I hope you enjoyed reading Darcy and Diamonds as much as I enjoyed writing it!

  If you loved the book, please consider leaving a review. Your reviews are invaluable to indie authors like myself!

  Thank you again for spending your free time with my little adventure for our dear couple.

  Happy reading!

  Caitlin

  Also by Caitlin Marie Carrington

  Sweet and Clean Variations

  Darcy and Diamonds

  Snowbound with Darcy

  Sensual and Intimate Variations

  Please note, my earlier works are sensual variations.

  As in: incredibly intimate, quite naughty…and guaranteed to keep your warm at night!

  While Darcy and Elizabeth do not anticipate their vows, they do plenty of other things. So if you you prefer clean variations and sequels, please do NOT read these books!

  But if you’re in the mood for something intimate…please enjoy:

  Saved from Scandal

  Mr. Darcy’s Perfect Storm

  Mr. Darcy’s Secret Desires

  Darcy and Elizabeth’s First Night

  Snowbound with Darcy

  Snowbound with Darcy:

  A Pride and Prejudice Variation

  What's worse than being trapped, alone, in the middle of a blizzard?

  Being trapped with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy!

  After Mr. Bingley's ball at Netherfield, Mrs. Bennet makes sure that she and her family are the last guests to leave. But when an early winter storm descends, the Bennets are trapped at Netherfield for the foreseeable future.

  Elizabeth is in despair. Not only will she be forced into close proximity with Caroline Bingley, the odious Mr. Collins, and her ridiculous mother and younger sisters…

  Now she'll has to contend with the proud Mr. Darcy, as well.

  But the weather is not the only unnatural occurrence, of late. Mr. Darcy is showing an interest in Elizabeth. Agreeing to be her partner. Revealing secrets about his history, only to her.

  If she didn't know better, she might think the taciturn man with the burning blue eyes and slow, secretive smile was beginning to like her.

  And even worse: she might be starting to like him back.

  Is Mr. Darcy really cold as ice - or will being snowbound with Elizabeth cause him to melt?

  Dear reader, is it cold outside? This wintry tale is guaranteed to warm you up! This Pride and Prejudice variation is as sweet as a cup of hot chocolate, and while the emotions between our dear couple are hotter than a roaring fire, they do not anticipate their vows and there are no sensual scenes. (At all!) What am I doing? Having fun…spending a weekend snowbound with my very sweet Darcy and Elizabeth!

  Buy Snowbound with Darcy on Amazon here.

  About the Author

  By day, Caitlin Marie Carrington juggles motherhood, her editing job, one surly cat and all the fun drama that life with small children (and one giant husband) entails.

  By night, she imagines new adventures for her favorite literary couple, Darcy and Elizabeth.

  Come hang out with me on Facebook for book excerpts, new releases and all the Darcy memes you can handle!

 

 

 
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