Read Online Darcy & Elizabeth: A Season of Courtship (Darcy Saga Prequel Duo) by Sharon Lathan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sharon Lathan
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arrival of Mr. Bingley and Mr.
Darcy. Seconds after that the two gentlemen entered the room, and instantly
upon laying eyes on her betrothed, Lizzy forgot the cautions from concerned family
members.
He entered a step behind Bingley,
paused when just over the threshold, and bowed politely before sweeping his
gaze across the room until finding Lizzy. Warmth infused his blue eyes, his
stoic features relaxed minimally, and a small smile lifted the corners of his
firmly set mouth.
Lizzy’s heart performed a strange
fluttering dance before settling into a rapid pace. Then, in the subsequent
minute, her heartbeat slowed until she feared it would cease pumping entirely.
After that fleeting glance, Mr.
Darcy had smoothly looked away, his face once again the mask of cool
indifference she was far too familiar with. Mr. Bingley was greeting her
parents with his typical boyish hesitancy between frequent loving gazes toward
Jane. Conversely, Mr. Darcy appeared cut from stone as he stared fixedly toward
the far wall and remained silent.
Lizzy was baffled. Had she imagined
his affectionate regard? Fear tightened her lungs, and uncertainty twisted a
knot in her belly. Could he have changed his mind? Had he rethought her brazen
actions while in the garden, seeing them now as an indication of her
unworthiness? Was he here to undo the arrangements settled upon scant hours
ago? Fighting the panic, Lizzy redirected her scrutiny from his blank
expression to the rest of his body. As always he was impeccably dressed and
groomed. Even in her alarm, Lizzy noticing what a handsome figure he presented.
However, the finely cut garments did not hide the tense stillness of his
posture. How was she ever to decipher the body language of a man so skilled in
rigid control?
Provided I am allotted the
chance, that is.
Anxiety rose another level. Then
her eyes fell upon his left hand.
Two fingers curled tightly around
the edge of his jacket, the fabric being rhythmically kneaded into tiny
wrinkles, while the other two fingers and thumb twitched and tapped against his
thigh. It was a peculiar gesture she had noted a time or two before, without
consciously tying the mannerism to an emotional state. Could it be a nervous
habit? His hands involuntarily acting in defiance of the tight rein placed upon
the rest of his body?
“I pray the unexpected inclusion of
Mr. Darcy for dinner is not a burden. He insisted on paying his respects to my
future family, his desire such that he risked censure for lacking a proper
invitation. For Darcy this is a major indication of his goodwill!”
Bingley’s declaration and
accompanying laugh startled Lizzy. She lifted her eyes just in time to
encounter Mr. Darcy’s penetrating stare before he jerked and swiveled his gaze
toward Bingley and then Mrs. Bennet, when she replied with conviction, “Oh! We were expecting Mr. Darcy for dinner, naturally! Why, Lizzy made that clear, passing
the information to Hill as soon as she returned to the house this morning. My apologies,
Mr. Darcy, if you were not properly invited. Oh my! Lizzy can forget the proper
way of things, although I am sure she will catch on quickly as to how the
mistress of a fine manor should conduct herself in due time. Have no worries,
Mr. Darcy, in that regard. Our Lizzy is a bright girl and—”
“I believe, my dear, that Mr.
Bingley’s statement is due to his unawareness of the situation rather than Mr.
Darcy not knowing he was expected for dinner.”
Darcy cleared his throat and
visibly collected himself as he turned to address Mr. Bennet. “Indeed, I must
apologize to Mr. Bingley for misleading. As it happened, our reception at
Netherfield this afternoon was…unfavorable for imparting news of this nature.
Afterward, I confess that announcing my great fortune while amongst all of you
seemed appropriate.”
“Plus, you are enjoying Mr. Bingley’s
confusion and relish the drama of his shock when he hears our news. Is that
correct, Mr. Darcy?”
“I
Darcy. Seconds after that the two gentlemen entered the room, and instantly
upon laying eyes on her betrothed, Lizzy forgot the cautions from concerned family
members.
He entered a step behind Bingley,
paused when just over the threshold, and bowed politely before sweeping his
gaze across the room until finding Lizzy. Warmth infused his blue eyes, his
stoic features relaxed minimally, and a small smile lifted the corners of his
firmly set mouth.
Lizzy’s heart performed a strange
fluttering dance before settling into a rapid pace. Then, in the subsequent
minute, her heartbeat slowed until she feared it would cease pumping entirely.
After that fleeting glance, Mr.
Darcy had smoothly looked away, his face once again the mask of cool
indifference she was far too familiar with. Mr. Bingley was greeting her
parents with his typical boyish hesitancy between frequent loving gazes toward
Jane. Conversely, Mr. Darcy appeared cut from stone as he stared fixedly toward
the far wall and remained silent.
Lizzy was baffled. Had she imagined
his affectionate regard? Fear tightened her lungs, and uncertainty twisted a
knot in her belly. Could he have changed his mind? Had he rethought her brazen
actions while in the garden, seeing them now as an indication of her
unworthiness? Was he here to undo the arrangements settled upon scant hours
ago? Fighting the panic, Lizzy redirected her scrutiny from his blank
expression to the rest of his body. As always he was impeccably dressed and
groomed. Even in her alarm, Lizzy noticing what a handsome figure he presented.
However, the finely cut garments did not hide the tense stillness of his
posture. How was she ever to decipher the body language of a man so skilled in
rigid control?
Provided I am allotted the
chance, that is.
Anxiety rose another level. Then
her eyes fell upon his left hand.
Two fingers curled tightly around
the edge of his jacket, the fabric being rhythmically kneaded into tiny
wrinkles, while the other two fingers and thumb twitched and tapped against his
thigh. It was a peculiar gesture she had noted a time or two before, without
consciously tying the mannerism to an emotional state. Could it be a nervous
habit? His hands involuntarily acting in defiance of the tight rein placed upon
the rest of his body?
“I pray the unexpected inclusion of
Mr. Darcy for dinner is not a burden. He insisted on paying his respects to my
future family, his desire such that he risked censure for lacking a proper
invitation. For Darcy this is a major indication of his goodwill!”
Bingley’s declaration and
accompanying laugh startled Lizzy. She lifted her eyes just in time to
encounter Mr. Darcy’s penetrating stare before he jerked and swiveled his gaze
toward Bingley and then Mrs. Bennet, when she replied with conviction, “Oh! We were expecting Mr. Darcy for dinner, naturally! Why, Lizzy made that clear, passing
the information to Hill as soon as she returned to the house this morning. My apologies,
Mr. Darcy, if you were not properly invited. Oh my! Lizzy can forget the proper
way of things, although I am sure she will catch on quickly as to how the
mistress of a fine manor should conduct herself in due time. Have no worries,
Mr. Darcy, in that regard. Our Lizzy is a bright girl and—”
“I believe, my dear, that Mr.
Bingley’s statement is due to his unawareness of the situation rather than Mr.
Darcy not knowing he was expected for dinner.”
Darcy cleared his throat and
visibly collected himself as he turned to address Mr. Bennet. “Indeed, I must
apologize to Mr. Bingley for misleading. As it happened, our reception at
Netherfield this afternoon was…unfavorable for imparting news of this nature.
Afterward, I confess that announcing my great fortune while amongst all of you
seemed appropriate.”
“Plus, you are enjoying Mr. Bingley’s
confusion and relish the drama of his shock when he hears our news. Is that
correct, Mr. Darcy?”
“I
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