Better Than She Deserved

by Leenie Brown

  “Kiss me? I think not!” she said, attempting to snatch her bonnet back from him. On being unsuccessful in reclaiming her hat, she shot to her feet. She was not going to sit within kissing distance. “You left me.”

  “Yes, but I have already explained about the note. I have secured an estate, and it just awaits its mistress and the few new pieces of furniture that I have ordered to be completed.” He placed the bonnet on the bench and rose to stand in front of her. Her arms were folded protectively across her middle, and her eyes accused him of hurting her.

  “Do you know what they said when you left?”

  He drew a deep breath. He had a pretty good idea what it might have been. “No, what did they say?”

  “They said you had gotten what you wanted from me and that is why you left. They said you did not want me. You only wished to seduce me.”

  Tears had gathered in her accusing eyes, and it took a great deal of determination on Rhett’s part not to just pull her into his arms and apologize for the pain he knew he had intentionally caused. “I thought they might,” he said.

  “You knew they would whisper such things about me and still you left?”

  The horror of such a thing etched across her face was his undoing. As much as he knew he should remain strong and feign nonchalance, he could not. He took one large step towards her and wrapped her in his arms. “I am sorry,” he whispered. “I needed to be certain that you understood how it felt to be treated so meanly.”

  She attempted to extract herself from his embrace.

  “It is precisely what you did to your brother and the Misses Bennets, and it is beneath you to behave so. You are a far better woman than that.”

  “I am not.” The tears she had been fighting for nearly a week finally would be held back no longer, and she allowed herself to be held firmly against his chest as she wept for the pain she had caused her brother as well as the Bennets and even Darcy. “I have been abominable.”

  “Yes, my darling, you have been,” Rhett said as he rubbed her back and pressed kisses in her hair. “But you are better than Miss Blevins or Miss Whimple.” He pulled back just enough to see her face. “That kind little girl is still inside you.” He smiled. “I am rarely wrong about these things.”

  Despite her tears, she laughed. “I cannot see her.”

  He bent his head and kissed her lightly. “I can, and I would be most delighted if she would do me the honour of becoming my wife.” He kissed her once again. “I love you, Caroline. For all my life, I have loved you. Please, marry me.”

  Her eyes overflowed once again as she happily nodded her consent, and he claimed her smiling lips, not in a light kiss as he had before but in a kiss that demanded she return his affection and give herself to him. And she did. She wound her arms around his neck and allowed her body to meld to his.

  He was not what she had expected to want in a husband. She had wished for a man of position and wealth. She had wished for an estate and carriages. She had wished for others to look at her and be envious of her situation. She sighed as he deepened the kiss.

  She knew that others would be envious of her, but not because her husband was rich — though he was — or because his estate was grand — which she hoped it was — but because she had a husband who loved her enough to teach her a lesson — which, she knew, was better than she deserved.

  Epilogue

  “A trip with nothing at which to look is very dull,” Caroline protested for the fourth time about the windows being draped in Rhett’s carriage. They had married the very day Rhett had arrived at Maplewood. Apparently, he was indeed prepared to cart her off to the nearest parson, or more precisely, to cart the nearest parson to Maplewood to perform the duty of marrying them. The dinner Louisa had planned, suddenly became an impromptu wedding celebration.

  Caroline had protested not having a gown specifically for her wedding or the opportunity to have wedding clothes made before they married.

  Rhett, then, just as now, merely smirked and replied, “Do you think I have not considered that?”

  He was pleased with the progress Caroline had made in turning away from her selfish attitudes and actions, but he was no fool. Change took time, and if not tended to properly, the small improvements that had been made would be lost.

  It would be some time before his wife would be allowed to make more than the smallest of decisions without his input. It was not that he enjoyed being authoritative, per se, but he knew Caroline had been given free reign for much too long, and he would be hanged if he was going to allow it to continue. So, a bit of discomfort now would set the course for a very happy and relaxed later.

  When they had returned to town the day after their wedding, Caroline had found that her wedding clothes — her very beautiful wedding clothes — had been ordered. Before Rhett had left Burton Hall, he had learned the name of Caroline’s modiste from Hurst. Then, while he was in town retrieving a special license, it was a simple matter to have a friend’s wife assist him in ordering all that was deemed necessary.

  Caroline and Rhett had remained in town after their arrival just long enough for the clothes to be completed and the few items Rhett had ordered for their new estate to be delivered and set in place.

  Then, having had a letter from his housekeeper, Mrs. Nicholls, that all was ready to receive a new mistress, he had instructed Caroline to make ready to leave in the morning.

  Caroline sighed and leaned back. There was no point in arguing the issue. Her husband refused to argue.

  The seat on which she sat was immensely comfortable. Rhett’s taste in vehicles was as good as his taste in fashion. He liked to have the best — that was he liked to have the best as long as he could have the best at the best price. Caroline was learning quickly that her husband was very exacting about many things — never overbearing, but particular that business and household affairs be conducted properly. He checked on her progress with the books, he liked to see the menus before they were approved, and he preferred to keep to a schedule as closely as possible.

  Caroline smiled as Rhett slipped an arm around her and tugged her close. She was also learning that her husband enjoyed being near her and touching her. And she adored the way the right side of his mouth would tip up, as it was now, whenever she was delighted by something that he had done for her.

  If Rhett were completely honest, he would have to admit that along with knowing he needed to continue his re-education of his wife, he delighted in caring for her and watching her eyes light with surprise. He only hoped that those lovely eyes would light with delighted surprise when she saw her new home, though he suspected, they would not.

  Caroline had attempted to ferret out of him the location of the estate as well as the name, its size, and how many staff it boasted. He had refused to tell her anything of use. Instead, he would only tell her that it was well named and within a short distance in some direction from town, it was not overly grand, but it was impressive, and that its staff was exactly what it should be.

  His thumb stroked her arm where his hand lay draped over her shoulder. They were drawing near their destination, and he needed to begin preparing her for their arrival. “Do you trust me to do what is best for you — for us?”

  Caroline turned her head, her eyes wide with concern. “Is it a dreadful place, and you have only said it was lovely to lure me away from town?”

  He smiled and shook his head. “No, it is lovely, though not as lovely as you.” He winked and kissed her nose, causing her to giggle. “Do you trust me?”

  Caroline bit her lip as she considered the question. He had shown her the error of her ways in a most effective, though excruciating, fashion. He had chosen clothes for her that were flattering and stylish. He had shown her the things he had ordered for their new home and his selections were almost exactly as she would have made. She trusted him to know what was best, yet there was trepidation about his methods. “Is it another painful lesson that I must learn?”

  He shrugged. “It is
not precisely a lesson so much as a constant reminder.” And it would likely prove painful, at least, at first.

  The carriage had turned from the main road and so, leaning across his wife, he removed one of the window coverings so that she might see where she was. It would be best for her to fly into a fit here in the privacy of the coach rather than in front of the staff.

  Caroline’s mouth dropped open. “Netherfield?”

  “It is lovely, is it not?” he asked hopefully.

  Her shoulders drooped, and she shook her head. She would not have in a million lifetimes expected to be arriving in Hertfordshire as the mistress of Netherfield. In fact, she had rather hoped she would never have to visit Hertfordshire again.

  Rhett watched her wilt. Why was it that lessons and improvements were so very hard to teach? Why could not the pain of the lesson reside solely with the party requiring the instruction? Why must it also prick at the heart of the teacher?

  He pulled her back to his side. “I love you,” he said as he wrapped her in his embrace, “and I could think of nowhere better for you to demonstrate to the world that you are better than the Miss Blevins and Miss Whimples of the ton.”

  And he was right, as he nearly always was. Caroline, after the initial shock of seeing her new home and the uncomfortable reintroductions to people both on staff and in the neighbourhood to whom she had not been kind, rose to the challenge he placed before her.

  Within a fortnight, she had hosted a dinner for the Bennets, the Philips, and the Lucases. After which, knowing that at least one letter had been sent to Derbyshire singing his wife’s praises, Rhett finally allowed her to write her letters of apology to those she had harmed.

  Michaelmas came and went. Mr. and Mrs. Rhett attended the assembly in Meryton. The Bennets returned from Lydia’s wedding with greetings from Caroline’s friends and relatives in Derbyshire.

  In November, Caroline, with Rhett’s encouragement, threw open the doors of Netherfield and hosted what would become a yearly ball.

  In December, Caroline and Rhett returned to town both to celebrate Christmas with Louisa and Hurst and to prepare for the season.

  The Bingleys and Darcys accepted invitations to dinner twice during that season, and witnessed first-hand and with great surprise Caroline’s transformation.

  And, well before spring was pushing away the dreariness of winter, Caroline no longer required the strictures Rhett had placed upon her. Slowly and with a heart that both rejoiced in his wife’s improvement and grieved the loss of providing such constant care, he lifted them only to find, to his delight, that his wife sought his advice and wished to tell him about her day.

  It was after all these things, in the early hours of the morning after returning from a soiree, that the Rhetts prepared for bed and began, as they always did, a discussion about the events of the evening.

  “Did you see Miss Whimple?” Caroline asked as she settled into bed next to her husband. “She is still pursuing Mr. Hadaway.”

  Rhett chuckled. “As I hear it, Hadaway’s mother does not approve of Miss Whimple’s lack of fortune, and Hadaway is not one to disappoint his mama.”

  Caroline snuggled into his side. “Mrs. Stark is spending a good deal of time watching the dancing while her husband is constantly losing his money at the card tables.”

  Again Rhett chuckled. “Yes, well, it does appear from the roundness of her belly that Mr. Stark got what he wanted from Miss Blevins before he found himself obliged to marry her.”

  Caroline swatted his leg. “Such talk, Mr. Rhett!” She giggled. “Do you know that he intended to offer for me at Hadaway’s house party?” She propped up on her elbow and looked down at him. “The day you left, Mr. Stark had asked Hurst for permission to speak with me alone.” Her brows furrowed. “You do not look surprised.”

  He smiled sheepishly. “I may have had something to do with that.”

  “You?”

  He nodded and pulled her down to lay her head on his chest. “It was a calculated gamble, but one I felt fairly confident I would win. You see, I was to leave that note with Hurst, and Hurst was to allow Mr. Stark to offer for you since Stark would in the next year or so have exactly what you had always wished for in a husband — a grand estate and a fortune.” He kissed the top of her head. “Not that he would have retained that fortune for any great length of time, as you can tell by how well he succeeds at the card tables — which is likely why he accepted my money to make an offer.” He gave her head another kiss as his hand began slowly stroking up and down her arm.

  Caroline gasped. “You paid him to offer for me?”

  “Yes, because… ”

  “I know why.” Caroline interrupted, and her husband replied with a smile and silence. Caroline had become familiar with her husband’s methods of instruction and was certain she could guess his reason. “You wished for me to have to choose between a man who had wealth but did not yet have an estate and a man who had the things I had deemed necessary for a husband to possess. Is that correct?”

  Rhett nodded. “You are correct, although you forgot to mention that the first gentleman’s fortune came from trade and the second’s family had been finding their wealth in the land for generations.”

  She pushed up so that she could look at him. “You could have been wrong. I was so distraught when you left. I thought I had no other prospects.”

  He brushed a wisp of hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “You would not choose him. He is coarse. He speaks too loudly and too much, not to mention his manners when eating are in need of refinement.”

  “You are very certain of yourself, are you not?” She accused with a smile.

  Rhett shrugged. “I am, but not without just cause.” He lifted off his pillow and kissed her before flopping back down to his position of repose. “You know there is one other thing of which I am very certain.”

  “Is it that I love you?” Caroline said, leaning down to return his kiss.

  “Yes, well, there is that,” he said, catching hold of her and flipping their positions.

  “Then is it that you will be a father before the summer is done?” Her eyes sparkled as his mouth dropped open, and he pushed up to look at her belly and run a hand over it.

  “I had no knowledge of that,” he said, leaning down to kiss her. “But I am glad.”

  “Then what is this thing of which you are so certain?”

  He smiled and smoothed her hair back with his right hand before pausing to rest it on her cheek and kissing her once again. “Of this one thing I am very certain — I love you, and I always will.”

  Happy tears gathered in Caroline’s eyes at her good fortune in having secured such a husband. “And you are never wrong about these things?”

  He shook his head. “No, and I am even less likely to change my mind.”

  Before You Go

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  Acknowledgements

  There are always many who play some part in the creation of a story. There are some who have read it as I was writing and listened while I worked out a plot point. and others who I suspect will never read it. And so, I would like to say thank you to Zoe, Rose, Ben, and Kyle. I feel blessed through your help, support, and understanding.

  I have not listed my dear husband in the above group because, to me, he deserves his own special thank you, for without his somewhat pushy insistence that I start sharing my writing, none of my writing goals and dreams would have been met.

  Leenie B Books

  Novels ~ Novellas ~ Shorts

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  Oxford Cottage: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

  For Peace of Mind: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

  Teatime Tales: Six Short and Sweet Austen-Inspired Stories
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  Through Every Storm: A Pride and Prejudice Novella

  Listen To Your Heart: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

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  The Choices Series: Pride and Prejudice Novellas

  (available as a bundle and individually)

  Her Father’s Choice (book 1)

  No Other Choice (book 2)

  His Inconvenient Choice (book 3)

  Her Heart’s Choice (book 4)

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  A Dash of Darcy Collection

  Finally Mrs. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella

  Waking to Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella

  Discovering Mr.Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella

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  A Dash of Darcy Companion Story Collection

  A Very Merry Christmas: A Pride and Prejudice Novella (A sequel to Waking to Mr. Darcy)

  Not an Heiress: A Pride and Prejudice Novella (A sequel to Discovering Mr. Darcy)

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  Willow Hall Romances

  And Then Love: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Prequel (book 1)

  The Tenant’s Guest: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novella (book 2)

  So Very Unexpected: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novel (book3)

  At All Costs: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novel (book 4)

  Better Than She Deserved: A Pride and Prejudice Novelette (sequel 1)

  About the Author

  Leenie Brown has always been a girl with an active imagination, which, while growing up, was a both an asset, providing many hours of fun as she played out stories, and a liability, when her older sister and aunt would tell her frightening tales. At one time, they had her convinced Dracula lived in the trunk at the end of the bed she slept in when visiting her grandparents!

  Although it has been years since she cowered in her bed in her grandparents’ basement, she still has an imagination which occasionally runs away with her, and she feeds it now as she did then ─ by reading!