by Katie Bright
The Snowy Road to Pemberley
(A Pride & Prejudice Variation)
What would you do to help save the man that you loved? Fitzwilliam Darcy is a shadow of his former self. Slowly retreating away from the people and the world around him. After a string of bad luck, he now hides himself within the walls of Pemberley like a recluse with no end in sight.
When Elizabeth Bennet hears about Mr Darcy's hermit-like existence, she vows to travel up to Pemberley and help in any way she can. But instead of helping him to break free from his self-made retreat, she finds herself happily joining him there.
She set out to tear open the shutters, but can she open the shutters around Mr Darcy's heart? Or has his heart been locked away too long for Miss Bennet's love to penetrate the shadows of his loneliness?
The Snowy Road to Pemberley is a contemporary set Pride and Prejudice Variation novella.
∞ ∞ ∞
The Snowy Road to Pemberley
(A Pride & Prejudice Variation)
By
Katie Bright
∞ ∞ ∞
The Snowy Road to Pemberley (A Pride and Prejudice Variation) Copyright © 2019 by Katie Bright. All Rights Reserved.
All rights reserved. The moral right of Katie Bright to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents act 1988. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission in writing from the author.
Cover designed by Loungekitten
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. All poems, songs and odes within this book are written by the author and as such may not be reproduced in any form without the author’s express permission.
Katie Bright
Follow me on Twitter @katiebrightjaff
1st eBook Edition
Written in the United Kingdom
Dedication
To my family & friends, who have helped me along many of life’s difficult roads, you helped make the journey easier.
To everyone who is travelling upon their own bumpy path, I hope the sun shines upon you and your road becomes more even.
&
To Miss Jane Austen, whose own path was not without its bumps and potholes, you are an inspiration as always.
Contents
The Snowy Road to Pemberley
Prologue…
The Moment That Passed
Chapter One
The Eve of the Wedding
Chapter Two
Something New
Chapter Three
Caroline’s Parting Shot
Chapter Four
A Meeting of Minds
Chapter Five
The Snowy Hills of Derbyshire
Chapter Six
The Road to Pemberley
Chapter Seven
Seeking Darcy
Chapter Eight
Bubble Bath and Phone Calls
Chapter Nine
A Night Cap
Chapter Ten
Good Morning
Chapter Eleven
Up on the Rooftops
Chapter Twelve
The Carriage House
Chapter Thirteen
Cocoa and Memories
Chapter Fourteen
Kisses and Promises
Chapter Fifteen
Announcements
Chapter Sixteen
Cracks in the Foundations
Chapter Seventeen
Georgiana Arrives
Chapter Eighteen
Open Hearts
…Epilogue
The Sunny Road to Pemberley
About the Author
Prologue…
The Moment That Passed
There was a chill in the air that morning that you could taste on your tongue. As small clouds appeared in the air before her with each breath, Elizabeth Bennet scraped the frost off the windscreen of her car. It was too cold to walk to work today. At least that was what she had decided early this morning, as the frost nibbled at her toes through her warm slippers when she brought the milk in from the doorstep. Now with the windscreen nearly cleared, she could hear a car coming up the shingled drive to Longbourn.
Charles Bingley pulled up alongside her in his old Land Rover and wound down the window.
“Good morning Lizzy. Is Jane ready?” he asked.
“Yes, she’s waiting in the kitchen,” Elizabeth replied.
Today was the day that Jane finally moved into Netherfield, and it had been a long time coming. Although the wedding was a few months away, Jane was eager to take up residence in her new home. No doubt keen to be away from the prying eyes of their mother. But as Elizabeth constantly reminded her, their mother had two legs which worked perfectly and a telephone with Netherfield on speed dial, so there was no getting away from her really.
“Don’t be surprised if you have to make more than one trip,” she remarked.
“I didn’t think Jane had that many boxes.”
“You seem to be forgetting Charles, Jane isn’t the one in charge of the packing. Mamma is,” Elizabeth grinned.
“Lord, I’d forgotten about your mother,” Charles remarked.
“How on earth could you forget about her? Or are you getting in practice for after the wedding?” she teased.
“Maybe,” Charles said as he got out of the vehicle.
It was only then that she noticed that he wasn’t on his own. Fitzwilliam Darcy had gotten out too, he pulled up his muffler and rubbed his hands together even though he was wearing gloves.
“Good morning Elizabeth,” he greeted her.
“Good morning Darcy,” she replied. “Did you come to help Jane move into Netherfield?”
“Yes, I did. Aren’t you helping?”
“No, I have to go to work.”
“I see,” he replied.
“That’s a pity,” Charles said as he opened up the back of the Land Rover. “We could always use an extra pair of hands.”
“Well I’m afraid you’ll have to do without mine,” Elizabeth replied.
“You know Charles, you’ll have to buy a car that is warmer than this one. Especially now that you have your future wife to drive around instead of me,” Darcy added.
“There is nothing wrong with the old Landy, I’ve had her for years, she’s a classic,” Charles said patting it affectionately.
“A classic it may be, but you are aware that they have built newer models since?” Darcy teased him.
“Of course, but Jane wouldn’t expect me to give it up.”
“I’m not saying you have to give it up, I’m just saying that you should consider buying a new one too,” Darcy explained. “A few trips back and forth to Netherfield in this weather, I’m afraid, will make it lose its charm.”
“You could be right there,” Charles remarked. “I’ll go and see if Jane is ready.”
Elizabeth watched as he disappeared around the side of the house heading towards the kitchen, but Darcy did not follow. Instead, he took an ice scraper from the Land Rover and came over to her car. Then he started to scrape the ice off the driver’s side window, whilst Elizabeth started to work on the passenger side.
“How are you finding it, working for your uncle?” Darcy asked.
She wasn’t sure if he was just making an effort at polite conversation or if he was genuinely interested
.
“It’s a bit boring. There is lots of paperwork to file away, and ledgers to find.”
“I see he hasn’t heard of the paperless office,” Darcy remarked.
“Oh, I think my Uncle Philips may have heard about it. But he has yet to act upon it. I don’t mind really, it’s just something to tide me over until I decide what I want to do with my life.”
“That sounds like a big decision to make.”
“I suppose it is really, but I can always change my mind, I generally do.”
She watched as he struggled with the frost on the window and offered him the spray bottle of de-icer. The truth was she didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life, which was a sad state of affairs for a woman in her twenties. She was constantly reminded by everyone about the wealth of opportunities on offer to an intelligent young woman such as herself, but they only succeeded in confusing her more. She used to be so decisive, yet now she would ponder over the slightest thing. It was true that George Wickham had shaken her self-belief a little. The way he had fooled her so easily, was still a bone of contention with her. And quite why she had judged Darcy so harshly, was another.
“I want to thank you for finding Lydia,” she said to him.
“There is no need to. How did you know it was me?” he asked.
“My sister can only truly keep her own secrets and no one else’s.”
“My only regret is that I couldn’t stop her from marrying him,” Darcy replied.
“She’s happy enough. Lydia was never that keen on university. But when she disappeared without a trace, I think we all expected the worst. The fact that you found her and that she was safe is more than enough. It would never have occurred to her to phone, or even to text and say where she was. Running off with George Wickham was all that was on her mind. She didn’t care if her family thought that she was dead in a ditch somewhere.”
“Yes, I could see on your face that day you thought she was gone. I must confess, that my only objective in finding her was to set your mind at ease,” Darcy explained as he toyed with the scraper in his hand. “Elizabeth, if you still feel…”
But he was interrupted by Mrs Bennet calling from the kitchen path.
“There you are, Darcy. Well come along, those boxes won’t lift themselves, now will they?” Mrs Bennet remarked as she pulled her cardigan around her against the cold.
“Darcy was just helping me to clear my car windows,” Elizabeth explained.
“Well Lizzy, you can manage that yourself. It’s only a little car and your back windscreen, won’t take you long.”
“No Mamma,” she replied as her mother disappeared back down the path.
Darcy handed her back her bottle of de-icer and was about to say something, the words starting to form on his lips.
“DARCY, come along,” Mrs Bennet shouted as she reappeared on the path.
“Elizabeth,” he nodded politely in farewell.
“Darcy,” she replied as he walked away.
And the moment was gone.
∞ ∞ ∞
Chapter One
The Eve of the Wedding
Five years later…
The frost on the windscreen of Elizabeth’s little car was starting to form as she locked up her uncle’s office in Meryton. The low winter sun had long disappeared, and the star-filled clear sky overhead told her that worse frost was to come. The cold weather had come along with Christmas and even though the decorations had long since been packed away, the icy temperatures hadn’t left.
As she walked over to her car, someone tooted their horn to her. Elizabeth waved to Mary, who tooted her horn again as she drove by on her way home. They were the only two still living at home. House prices in Meryton had seen off any chances of either of them owning their own home. They had entertained buying or even renting somewhere together. But then Mary met Humphrey at the local choral society, and she knew that it was only a matter of time before they would be looking for somewhere of their own.
Jane and Charles had offered her respite over the years, and the longer she lived under her mother’s matchmaking eye, the more tempting the gatehouse cottage or converted stable block looked. But she knew how important the holiday lets were to the upkeep of Netherfield, and she didn’t want to deprive them of the income.
She got in her car and turned on the heater to full. The frost soon disappeared, no scraping would be necessary tonight. Then with a flick of her indicator and a look in her mirrors, she pulled out onto the road and headed the mile or so home.
“Is that you Lizzy?” her mother called as she hung her coat and scarf on the hall stand before she kicked off her shoes and slipped her feet into her soft warm slippers.
“Yes Mamma,” she called back.
“Did you bring that bottle of wine for dinner? Jane and Charles will be over with the children any minute.”
“I have it here,” she replied as her father came into the hall reading the local evening paper.
He kissed her on the cheek.
“Oh, it’s cold out I see. Do you want a drop of something to warm your cheeks?” he asked her.
“No, thanks Papa.”
“Well, I might well do. After all, it is gone six and the grandchildren are stopping a few nights,” he teased.
“Oh, they are well behaved enough, after all, there is not much a two and three year old can get up to,” Elizabeth replied.
“True, true. I, however, can get up to no end of mischief and your mother wouldn’t like that,” he teased. “So, what did you get?” he asked as he took the bottle of wine from her.
“Something sparkling, I thought it might cheer Mamma up.”
“I do hope so, I’ve heard about nothing except that wedding since I woke up,” he said rolling his eyes.
“Well I’m surprised that I merited an invite,” she added.
“What are you two talking about out there? Come in the lounge where I can hear you,” Mrs Bennet called.
“Ah, the royal summons Lizzy, we’d better not keep her waiting.”
“No Papa or else she might send out the hounds,” she teased.
“Nonsense, your aunt went home hours ago.”
“Papa!”
When they entered the lounge, Elizabeth headed straight for the fire to warm herself, trying not to disturb any of the several small dogs who were asleep in front of it. Since three of her sisters had left, her mother had replaced them with a litter of various small dogs. Although none of them were named after any of the girls, Elizabeth could recognise Lydia’s traits in a few of them.
“I see I don’t warrant a kiss or a greeting then,” her mother said as she sat on the sofa, fussing with one of the dogs who had decided to fall asleep on her lap.
Elizabeth bent over and kissed her mother on the cheek.
“Lizzy, your lips are freezing,” she complained.
“Well, it is cold out Mamma.”
“Yes, well I can do without catching a chill. I didn’t have that flu jab for nothing you know. And your niece and nephew are coming over soon. You want to make sure that you’ve warmed up before you kiss them.”
“Yes, Mamma.”
She sat on the arm of the sofa and enjoyed the warmth of the fire as it thawed out her limbs and toes. Then once she was warm enough, she sat down properly and was lazily joined by one of the dogs who plopped herself down on her lap and waited to be tickled. Elizabeth obliged, tickling her gently behind the ears until a soft snuffling snore could be heard from her, as her paws twitched in her sleep.
Mrs Hill came into the lounge, buttoning up her coat. She held her handbag over the crook of her arm as she finished the final button.
“Well the food is in the oven and the hot chocolate is on the Aga for the little ones,” Mrs Hill explained. “I’ll be late in the morning, I just got a phone call from my Jack. Our Denise has gone down with a cold and I’ll have to get her something from the chemist. It’ll be shut now.”
“But won’t the chemist over in
Firthton be open?” Elizabeth asked.
“Most probably, but I don’t like to travel that far when the roads are icy. I’d rather do it in the morning when I can see where I’m going.”
“Well, what do you need? We might have some in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom,” Mrs Bennet added. “Mary!” she called.
“What is it?” Mary called from another room.
“See what we’ve got for a cold in the bathroom,” her mother replied.
“Did you say we’ve got mould in the bathroom?”
“No, oh why won’t she come in here? Then I wouldn’t have to lose my voice shouting all the time. Come along Mrs Hill, we’ll look ourselves,” Mrs Bennet said as she put the dog down on the sofa next to her and got up.
“Really, there is no need Mrs Bennet.”
“Nonsense, I don’t want you going down with anything, otherwise I’d have to do the cleaning myself,” she replied as both ladies left the room.
“I think I’ll head upstairs to pack,” Elizabeth said to her father.
“Better had when the coast is clear,” he smiled.
As she moved the dog off her lap, she noticed that all the others started to get up from in front of the fire and filled the entire sofa her mother had been sitting on.
“Don’t worry, she can always sit on the floor,” her father grinned as she left the room.
With her suitcase opened on top of her bed, Elizabeth sorted out the clothes she would need for the wedding. She had been packing for no more than a few minutes when she heard a car pull into the drive. She went over to her window and pulled back the curtains to see a relatively newish Land Rover parked up, as Jane and Charles carried two little children in their arms. The children were wearing dressing gowns and slippers, ready for bed. Whilst her father carried their overnight bags, her mother fussed about them hurrying them into the warm house.