Read Online Darkness Falls Upon Pemberley by Susan Adriani - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Susan Adriani
Ads: Link
for their livelihood and well-being. I could not bear to put them at such a risk.”
“And what if you were not in health?” Fitzwilliam asked.
Darcy swallowed thickly. “If my he alth was failing due to illness or if I were injured…” he began hoarsely. “If there was absolutely no other option—no glimmer of hope for my recovery—then I suppose that would be a different matter.”
Fitzwilliam raised one brow. “You would consent, then? To become what Miss Bennet is—what Georgiana and I are—if that was the only option left to you, aside from death?”
The master of Pemberley was silent for a long while. “If I were truly dying, Richard, and I could be with Elizabeth—always, and never be parted from her—then yes,” he said, meeting his cousin’s eyes. “I would give you my consent.”
T en
“Leave it alone, Georgiana, I will not discuss such things with you.”
Darcy ’s tone was harsh as he led his horse from the stable and into the yard, where he wasted no time climbing into the saddle and quick-shortening the reins. He had no patience for questions, particularly from his sister, who’d boldly broached a subject she should know nothing about: namely, Elizabeth Bennet. Clearly, he would have to have a discussion with Richard later about loyalty and discretion.
Georgiana rushed forward, blocking his path and startling his ho rse. The stallion tossed its head and squealed as it side-stepped toward the gravel drive and tugged against the reins, dangerously close to rearing.
“ Georgiana,” he snapped, struggling to keep the skittish animal under control. Most of Pemberley’s horses didn’t appreciate having vampyres in their midst. There were a half dozen or so who, for the most part, tolerated Georgiana’s and Richard’s presence—and a few who even acquiesced to being ridden by them—but this particular horse wasn’t one of those. He was fast, though, and high spirited—exactly what Darcy’s foul mood required this morning.
“ I’m sorry, Fitzwilliam, but I’m worried about you. Everyone is worried about you.” She clasped her hands together and gazed up at him with dark, serious eyes—eyes that used to be blue, like their late mother’s.
Darcy regarded her for a long moment, his irritation slowly ebbing. “ I know,” he muttered, turning his head aside and squinting toward the eastern fields, where he planned to spend the next hour tearing across the estate on horseback, exercising his demons. “It wasn’t my intention to make you worry. Pray forgive me.”
“ You know I will do whatever you ask of me,” she assured him in a quiet voice. “Anything at all…”
“ Georgiana…” he warned.
“ Please, Brother. I would never judge you. No one will, so please, will you not simply tell me what I may do for you so that you’ll be happy again?”
“ Nothing,” he said tightly, his temper flaring once more. He knew full well that she was one of the few who could help him—and would, for that matter—but her assistance in that quarter was absolutely out of the question. Not only did he not want such a thing to weigh upon her young conscience, but Darcy’s responsibilities to the people of Pemberley and his sense of familial duty rested far too heavily upon his shoulders to simply allow his personal desires to take precedence over his accountability.
Not to mention the more he thought about actually exploring such an option, the more anxious and agitated he became. The more anxious and agit ated he became, the more inclined he was to reject that option altogether. It wasn’t immortality he wanted in any case, but Elizabeth.
Darcy clenched his jaw. In only a few short months Richard appeared to have embraced his accidental vampirism with startl ing ease and acceptance. In fact, his sunny attitude and sense of humour were so reminiscent of Elizabeth’s good-natured disposition that Darcy could no longer bear to be in his company for
“And what if you were not in health?” Fitzwilliam asked.
Darcy swallowed thickly. “If my he alth was failing due to illness or if I were injured…” he began hoarsely. “If there was absolutely no other option—no glimmer of hope for my recovery—then I suppose that would be a different matter.”
Fitzwilliam raised one brow. “You would consent, then? To become what Miss Bennet is—what Georgiana and I are—if that was the only option left to you, aside from death?”
The master of Pemberley was silent for a long while. “If I were truly dying, Richard, and I could be with Elizabeth—always, and never be parted from her—then yes,” he said, meeting his cousin’s eyes. “I would give you my consent.”
T en
“Leave it alone, Georgiana, I will not discuss such things with you.”
Darcy ’s tone was harsh as he led his horse from the stable and into the yard, where he wasted no time climbing into the saddle and quick-shortening the reins. He had no patience for questions, particularly from his sister, who’d boldly broached a subject she should know nothing about: namely, Elizabeth Bennet. Clearly, he would have to have a discussion with Richard later about loyalty and discretion.
Georgiana rushed forward, blocking his path and startling his ho rse. The stallion tossed its head and squealed as it side-stepped toward the gravel drive and tugged against the reins, dangerously close to rearing.
“ Georgiana,” he snapped, struggling to keep the skittish animal under control. Most of Pemberley’s horses didn’t appreciate having vampyres in their midst. There were a half dozen or so who, for the most part, tolerated Georgiana’s and Richard’s presence—and a few who even acquiesced to being ridden by them—but this particular horse wasn’t one of those. He was fast, though, and high spirited—exactly what Darcy’s foul mood required this morning.
“ I’m sorry, Fitzwilliam, but I’m worried about you. Everyone is worried about you.” She clasped her hands together and gazed up at him with dark, serious eyes—eyes that used to be blue, like their late mother’s.
Darcy regarded her for a long moment, his irritation slowly ebbing. “ I know,” he muttered, turning his head aside and squinting toward the eastern fields, where he planned to spend the next hour tearing across the estate on horseback, exercising his demons. “It wasn’t my intention to make you worry. Pray forgive me.”
“ You know I will do whatever you ask of me,” she assured him in a quiet voice. “Anything at all…”
“ Georgiana…” he warned.
“ Please, Brother. I would never judge you. No one will, so please, will you not simply tell me what I may do for you so that you’ll be happy again?”
“ Nothing,” he said tightly, his temper flaring once more. He knew full well that she was one of the few who could help him—and would, for that matter—but her assistance in that quarter was absolutely out of the question. Not only did he not want such a thing to weigh upon her young conscience, but Darcy’s responsibilities to the people of Pemberley and his sense of familial duty rested far too heavily upon his shoulders to simply allow his personal desires to take precedence over his accountability.
Not to mention the more he thought about actually exploring such an option, the more anxious and agitated he became. The more anxious and agit ated he became, the more inclined he was to reject that option altogether. It wasn’t immortality he wanted in any case, but Elizabeth.
Darcy clenched his jaw. In only a few short months Richard appeared to have embraced his accidental vampirism with startl ing ease and acceptance. In fact, his sunny attitude and sense of humour were so reminiscent of Elizabeth’s good-natured disposition that Darcy could no longer bear to be in his company for
Similar Books
