Read Online Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds - Free Book Online Page B

not his desire. She removed the necklace and threw it on
the table, not wanting it against her skin any longer. She should have listened
to her first instinct and said nothing; had he wanted thanks, he would have
given it to her himself.
    She
did not wish to take the risk of encountering her husband again, so she spent
much of the afternoon curled up in the window seat with a book.
    The
novel could not hold her interest. She was angry he had spoken to her in such a
way, and both hurt and disappointed he had rejected her overture.
    If
her efforts of the last few days were for naught, what was she to do next?
    She
wished desperately for Jane or even Charlotte to confide in; they had always
understood Darcy better than she did, and would believe she meant well. But
there was nothing for it but to make her own decisions. For now she would
follow his lead whenever they met.
    There
was no point in attempting to avoid him at dinner; she would only be delaying
facing him till breakfast. She chose a different necklace when she dressed for
dinner, selecting for her own comfort a topaz cross she had owned as Elizabeth
Bennet.
    He
was waiting for her outside the dining room when she came down.
    Unsmilingly
he escorted her to her chair, but paused once she was seated.
    She
looked up at him, and he laid his fingers lightly on the side of her neck.
    "I
preferred the other necklace," he said.
    "I
do not like duty gifts." She was uncomfortably aware this was the first
time since their quarrel he had touched her. The warmth of his fingers against
her skin felt almost shocking.
    "I
should not have said that earlier; I have been regretting it," he said
with a straight, serious look. "I would not wish you to feel you cannot
approach me. I hope you will wear the necklace again. It was not given out of
duty."
    "Why
else?" she said, the hurt which had been brewing in her all afternoon
coming to the surface. "I know I am a disappointment to you; you need not
pretend otherwise."
    He
took his seat at the head of the table. "I will not attempt to disguise
that our circumstances are not what I had hoped for, but it is not you who
disappoints me."
    "It
is kind of you to say so," she said uncomfortably, not knowing how to
respond to a statement so patently untrue.
    "I
took the liberty of writing to your aunt and uncle to extend the invitation for
them to visit us here."
    "You
did?" exclaimed Elizabeth, startled. Recovering herself, she said with
what she hoped would be a teasing inflection, "I hope you will not regret
it, sir. At least they are travelling without their children; my nieces and
nephews might be more than even the most patient of men could bear."
    "They
seemed well-behaved enough when I met them in London."
    "If
so, it was no doubt a fluke, a temporary whim of the moment on their
part."
    He
seemed to realize he was being teased, and smiled slightly. "However you
would have it, madam, they are invited."
    "Yes,
I see that when your mind is made up to a matter, there is no arguing with
you." She returned his smile a little shyly.
    "While
we are on the subject of my stubbornness, Elizabeth, I should mention I have
found a horse for you. Perhaps you would permit me to introduce you to her in
the morning." There was a challenge in his voice.
    "I
would be happy to be introduced, " she said, staking her own ground in the
matter.
    He
seemed willing to accept this, and turned the conversation to household
matters, as if there were no difficulties between them at all. Elizabeth was
willing to pretend to this as well, out of sheer relief for the cessation of
hostilities. She only hoped it would last.
    The
horse was a lovely chestnut, small as he had promised, but with elegant lines.
Elizabeth reached out to pat her neck, and the mare whickered softly, turning
large dark eyes on her. "Hello, pretty girl," Elizabeth said,
stroking her.
    "She
arrived yesterday, but I wanted her to settle in before you met her," said
Darcy. "I have it on good authority she is