Read Online Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice by Linda Wells - Free Book Online
Authors: Linda Wells
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buns. “Will you make Miss Cargill a tray?”
“That is what I was about to do.”
Judy left the kitchen and caught up with Parker on the stairs. “Now . . . what was that jealous old bird about? I thought that she was going to start spooning your porridge in your mouth.”
“Please.” He said tiredly.
“Another bun, Mr. Parker?” Judy said liltingly and nudged him. “Come on, out with it!”
“I danced with her a few times over the years.” He shook his head when she laughed. “What is so funny?”
Separating from him, she went to the door to the mistress’s chambers as he stood with the handle in hand for the master’s. “I do not know; you must have quite a way about you, to leave such a lasting impression. I never saw it myself.”
“Get to work Miss Orchard.” He said with a straight face.
“Judy is good enough for me, Mr. Parker.” She bobbed him a curtsey and disappeared inside of the room.
Elizabeth was just choosing a dress for walking when Judy appeared. “That was interesting.”
“Madam?”
“I have never heard you tease Parker before.” Elizabeth smiled when Judy’s mouth dropped open and held out a dress. “I think that this one will do.”
“This one, madam?” Judy was still blushing, but she held out the white gown doubtfully. “I thought that you were going walking?”
“I am, and I intend to return here thoroughly dishevelled with my hem six inches deep in mud.” Seeing Judy’s face fall, she laughed. “I am sorry, but there are just some things that a woman must do to remain attractive for her husband. And one of them is remembering what attracted him to her in the first place.”
“Walking in the mud?” Judy stared.
“No.” Elizabeth laughed and patted her arm. “Teasing him.”
Chapter 3
“T here you go, Lizzy.” Darcy helped her up onto the horse. “Very good.”
“One ride with Mr. Ferguson and suddenly you feel that you must tour the grounds daily?” Elizabeth said a little nervously as he watched her settle her seat and adjusted her stirrup. Darcy put the reins in her hands and gave her leg a reassuring pat.
“One ride with Mr. Ferguson and I found that I did not hurt so badly anymore, and . . . I remembered how wonderfully freeing it feels to be on horseback.” He walked over to his mount and swung up into the saddle. “If there is one thing that you and I need, it is time to be on our own.”
“It looks like rain.”
“Stop making excuses, Elizabeth. The Mistress of Pemberley rides.” He spoke sternly and was clearly not going to accept no for an answer.
“This is not Pemberley . . .” She squealed when he gave her horse a little pat and she began moving. “Will!”
Darcy just laughed and nudging his mount, confidently moved ahead of her. “Keep up! Unless you would like to stare at my back the whole way.” Elizabeth was about to reply in kind when she noticed the rather nice way that Darcy’s thighs grasped his horse, and the impressive sight of his straight back and broad shoulders. Darcy turned his head when he did not hear an answer and stopped. “What thoughts are flying through your mind?”
“I was just admiring your form.” Elizabeth lifted her chin and continued past him.
Darcy watched her go and took note of her bottom bouncing so very pleasantly on the saddle. “I must say the same of yours, dear.” Elizabeth looked over her shoulder and met his eye, “Ahhh, I think that we may be racing before the day is through.” Darcy easily caught up with her and they wandered out of the estate and on their way down the roadway. “It has been some time, but I believe that this path leads to the coast. There is a little fishing village where I spent many mornings, watching the boats going out.”
“Your father was not with you the last time you visited?”
“No, I was on my
“That is what I was about to do.”
Judy left the kitchen and caught up with Parker on the stairs. “Now . . . what was that jealous old bird about? I thought that she was going to start spooning your porridge in your mouth.”
“Please.” He said tiredly.
“Another bun, Mr. Parker?” Judy said liltingly and nudged him. “Come on, out with it!”
“I danced with her a few times over the years.” He shook his head when she laughed. “What is so funny?”
Separating from him, she went to the door to the mistress’s chambers as he stood with the handle in hand for the master’s. “I do not know; you must have quite a way about you, to leave such a lasting impression. I never saw it myself.”
“Get to work Miss Orchard.” He said with a straight face.
“Judy is good enough for me, Mr. Parker.” She bobbed him a curtsey and disappeared inside of the room.
Elizabeth was just choosing a dress for walking when Judy appeared. “That was interesting.”
“Madam?”
“I have never heard you tease Parker before.” Elizabeth smiled when Judy’s mouth dropped open and held out a dress. “I think that this one will do.”
“This one, madam?” Judy was still blushing, but she held out the white gown doubtfully. “I thought that you were going walking?”
“I am, and I intend to return here thoroughly dishevelled with my hem six inches deep in mud.” Seeing Judy’s face fall, she laughed. “I am sorry, but there are just some things that a woman must do to remain attractive for her husband. And one of them is remembering what attracted him to her in the first place.”
“Walking in the mud?” Judy stared.
“No.” Elizabeth laughed and patted her arm. “Teasing him.”
Chapter 3
“T here you go, Lizzy.” Darcy helped her up onto the horse. “Very good.”
“One ride with Mr. Ferguson and suddenly you feel that you must tour the grounds daily?” Elizabeth said a little nervously as he watched her settle her seat and adjusted her stirrup. Darcy put the reins in her hands and gave her leg a reassuring pat.
“One ride with Mr. Ferguson and I found that I did not hurt so badly anymore, and . . . I remembered how wonderfully freeing it feels to be on horseback.” He walked over to his mount and swung up into the saddle. “If there is one thing that you and I need, it is time to be on our own.”
“It looks like rain.”
“Stop making excuses, Elizabeth. The Mistress of Pemberley rides.” He spoke sternly and was clearly not going to accept no for an answer.
“This is not Pemberley . . .” She squealed when he gave her horse a little pat and she began moving. “Will!”
Darcy just laughed and nudging his mount, confidently moved ahead of her. “Keep up! Unless you would like to stare at my back the whole way.” Elizabeth was about to reply in kind when she noticed the rather nice way that Darcy’s thighs grasped his horse, and the impressive sight of his straight back and broad shoulders. Darcy turned his head when he did not hear an answer and stopped. “What thoughts are flying through your mind?”
“I was just admiring your form.” Elizabeth lifted her chin and continued past him.
Darcy watched her go and took note of her bottom bouncing so very pleasantly on the saddle. “I must say the same of yours, dear.” Elizabeth looked over her shoulder and met his eye, “Ahhh, I think that we may be racing before the day is through.” Darcy easily caught up with her and they wandered out of the estate and on their way down the roadway. “It has been some time, but I believe that this path leads to the coast. There is a little fishing village where I spent many mornings, watching the boats going out.”
“Your father was not with you the last time you visited?”
“No, I was on my
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