by Maria Grace
“If you do not offend him irreparably,” Darcy returned to his seat, “you may find him to be the most sympathetic of any man to your cause. After all, his father might well take offense if his younger sister is not made comfortable. I know of no other with such a reason to be kind to you.”
Aunt Catherine’s expression changed into something he had never seen before, and she closed her mouth.
“I think perhaps we have a great deal to discuss. May we use your study?” Fitzwilliam helped Anne to her feet and took Aunt Catherine’s arm.
Darcy watched them walk out and moved his chair closer to Elizabeth.
“I would say that is a propitious beginning.” Her eyebrows rose into a fine arch.
“You would?”
“I would say that any beginning that rendered Lady Catherine speechless bodes well.”
She looked so very serious as she spoke. Who could blame him for laughing heartily? “I am sorry. It appears that my family has once again intruded upon our Christmastide. But, as I am now out of aunts to interfere, perhaps next year we might rely upon your family to impose.”
“My dearest, I know you are joking, but you must bear in mind, I still have two sisters unmarried. I expect they are entirely as capable of providing an interesting Christmastide as your aunts. But let us not count our chickens before they are hatched. Your sister is unmarried, too.”
He groaned. “No more talk of unmarried sisters. Next Christmastide we will have a little one, a Christmastide blessing of our own. Let us dwell upon that.”
“Indeed Mr. Darcy. Indeed, we shall.”
∞∞∞
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Looking for the next in the Darcy Family Christmas Series? Find them at the links below.
Darcy & Elizabeth: Christmas 1811
The Darcy’s First Christmas
From Admiration to Love
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Other books by Maria Grace:
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 e-books
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
Sign up for email updates and receive a free copy of Sweet Ginger.
About the Author
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 has one husband and one grandson, earned two graduate degrees and two black belts, raised three sons, danced English Country dance for four years, is aunt to five nieces, is designing a sixth Regency costume, blogged seven years on Random Bits of Fascination, has outlines for eight novels waiting to be written, attended nine English country dance balls, and shared her life with ten cats.
Her books, fiction and nonfiction, are available at all major online booksellers.
She can be contacted at:
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Random Bits of Fascination
Austen Variations
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Acknowledgments
So many people have helped me along the journey taking this from an idea to a reality.
Debbie, Anji, and Julie 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.
RandomBitsofFascination.com
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