Read Online B00CO8L910 EBOK by KaraLynne Mackrory - Free Book Online

actions were interrupted at the sound of Georgiana calling from the entrance. The young lady rushed down the steps and pressed a letter into Elizabeth’s gloved hand before giving her an enthusiastic hug.
    Elizabeth gasped as Georgiana’s sudden affection seemed to expel the air from her lungs. Chuckling, she returned the embrace and smiled warmly at her new friend even as her eyes began to glisten at the thoughtful gesture.
    “I have been hurrying myself in the hope of not missing you. Will you do me the honor of reading that letter?”
    “Of course.” She pulled her friend aside and squeezed the young girl’s hand. “I had hoped to have the chance to thank you again for your kindness last night. You are a dear girl.”
    With adoration, Georgiana said, “I hope that I can count you a friend, Elizabeth.”
    Elizabeth was touched and yet looked swiftly to her brother standing near the carriage. Should he not approve of her acquaintance with his sister, he need only tell her. When Darcy’s eyes met hers, she turned back to his sister quickly. “Of course you may call me friend. I already consider you one.”
    After effusive good-byes, she could already see Mr. Darcy was displeased with her sudden familiarity with his sister, noting his stony countenance as he assisted her into the equipage.
    She would be surprised to know he was far from feeling displeasure at seeing his sister and the woman he loved display such open affection for each other. The scene had thrown his emotions into such disarray that he was barely able to command his hand merely to assist Elizabeth into the carriage and not bring it to his lips to kiss it affectionately and repeatedly.
    Earlier that morning he thought Elizabeth and Miss Lucas might prefer the privacy of the carriage and arranged to ride alongside on horseback. After that remarkable farewell, he decided a ride might be good for him as well. And so it was that, for the majority of the next three hours, Mr. Darcy attempted to regulate his feelings. He was beginning to think three months would be a terribly long time to wait to declare himself. His task was not an easy one given what he witnessed both that morning and the previous evening.
    While he had enjoyed listening to his sister play one of his favorite pieces on the piano, he sensed Elizabeth. He dismissed the feeling, having spent much of the evening meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman — as his wife — could bestow, even imagining her next to him as Georgiana played. It was a happy fantasy and one that surprised him at how authentic it could feel. When Darcy opened his eyes and looked around the room as Georgiana neared the end of the song, to his utter enchantment, he spied Elizabeth in the doorway of the room with her eyes closed and her cheeks shiny. Hoping to avoid the embarrassment of having discovered her thus, he schemed that he would exit the room only to return again a few minutes later. Then it might appear as if he were simply rejoining his sister.
    Whispering his praise to Georgiana and promising to return shortly after attending to some business, he purposely left the music room from another door. As he exited, his butler handed him Bingley’s letter. How fortuitous that he had intercepted its delivery to the music room.
    Now riding next to the carriage, Darcy swallowed and pulled at his neck cloth as he noticed that Elizabeth had removed her gloves and bonnet due to the unseasonably warm spring day. Her hair was in a thick plait that ran nearly the entire length of her back. He could see she was in the process of re-pinning the braid in a simple coiffure at the base of her neck. He found the vision too intoxicating, and he urged his mount forward a pace ahead of the carriage.
    Forcing his thoughts down more gentlemanly avenues, he recalled returning to the music room the night before. By design, he appeared at the same door at which he first saw her,