Read Online The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Victoria Kincaid - Free Book Online Page A

her statement could be construed as encouraging behavior which brushed the edges of propriety, but she could not bring herself to discourage actions that pleased her so much. Her heart was beating so rapidly she thought he might hear it.
    When she glanced down, she realized he had unbuttoned her glove at the wrist and was removing it finger by finger. She gave a shaky laugh. “I had not realized that I was granting you license to indulge in further forward behavior.”
    Now less concerned about her disapproval, Darcy continued his intimate attack on her hand. “You need only say the word and I will stop.” His voice was low and hoarse as he kissed her palm and the inside of her wrist. Shivers of pleasure ran up her arm and down her spine. He glanced up at her. “Does that feel good?”
    Good is a completely inadequate word. “Yes, it feels….” She could not imagine a way to complete that sentence which would not lead to impropriety, but he seemed reassured. Removing her other glove, he lavished the same attention on that hand. When finished, he simply held her hands in his and gazed into her eyes. The weight of his gaze was creating excessive warmth throughout her body. Beads of perspiration – which had nothing to do with the temperature of the day – dampened the collar of her gown.
    Darcy gave a little shake of his head, as if willing himself to behave. After one more kiss to her palm, he tucked one hand under his arm – without restoring her gloves – and they resumed walking. Something had shifted subtly in their relationship, she realized – her acceptance of his actions had become a tacit agreement to his attentions. Part of her objected that she must not permit him to go too far, but another part welcomed, even cherished, his tender affection.
    When he bid her adieu back at the door to Mrs. Radnor’s house, he kissed her hands gently and lingeringly before slowly restoring her gloves to their rightful place. A shudder of pleasure surged through her body. He lowered her hands, but did not break the gaze that was locked with hers. His nearness was intoxicating; she did not want him to leave. At that moment she knew that if he wanted to kiss her – here on the street—she would let him. What is happening to me?
    “May I call on you tomorrow?” His voice was low and husky. She nodded, not sure that her voice would work at all.
    When he released her hands, she immediately felt bereft. He walked her into the home’s foyer where she was greeted by Mrs. Radnor’s butler. Darcy gave a short bow to her, turned, and exited the house. As she watched his departing figure, she mused that when she had agreed to a “new beginning” to their relationship, she had not actually anticipated ever developing sentiment greater than friendship. Now she was not certain what she felt.
    Nodding hello to the butler, she slowly climbed the stairs toward her bedroom on the second floor. Then a thought struck her so forcefully she stopped halfway up the steps. Since she had met him, Darcy had often been in her thoughts, albeit frequently in a negative light. After Darcy left Netherfield but before she saw him at Rosings, she had dwelt on the injustices Darcy had done Wickham. But she now realized that she had focused her thoughts far more on Darcy’s ill manners than Wickham’s pleasing flirtations. Now she recognized that her reaction to him had always been personal – and intense. Certainly her conversations with him had challenged her like no others. She enjoyed lively conversations with Jane and her father, but neither was inclined to exert great effort in teasing out or questioning her opinions. Not like Darcy.
    Originally she had believed her impertinent reaction to Darcy was the result of his satirical view of her, but she had been wrong about his opinion of her. Was she also wrong about her reaction? Was it rather because her heart had recognized a kinship and connection with him that her mind had not seen? Shaking