Darcy's Winter Ball

by A J Woods

  “Dearest Elizabeth—not only are you more than handsome enough to tempt me every day for the rest of my life—you are enough of everything, in every way, to drive me to madness should I be denied the privilege of your hand, or of always, always being your very first reader.”

  “Then, Mr. Darcy,” she said, “I must tell you that I love you, as well. And I shall not deny you any longer.”

  He leaned in close, and she felt the whisper of his breath against her cheek, just before his lips touched hers in the first of many, many, blessed kisses.

  Epilogue

  When it arrived, the parcel was wrapped in unassuming brown paper, like any ordinary gift.

  But this was not a simple pair of gloves, or a wrap to drape over her shoulders on a chilly winter’s morn. Nor was it something finer, such as a string of pearls, or a token of similar value.

  This was far grander than any of those things.

  And when Elizabeth, with shaking fingers, pried away the paper, her heart fluttered in a way usually reserved for romance.

  But this was also not romance.

  This was the culmination of a dream.

  Made of her own heart and mind, it was so much more than any normal gift, and yet, as she paused to enjoy the special moment, she relished the knowledge that it might not have been possible had she taken a different path, or failed to see behind the once prideful exterior of the man who helped bring it to life.

  Tossing the parchment aside, Elizabeth lay the leather-bound volume upon her lap—not an easy feat with the way her abdomen had grown in anticipation of their first child—and opened the front cover.

  The drawing room full of family and dear friends, there to celebrate with her on that memorable day, faded into the background. All she could see was the beautiful print on the second page, which held a tenderly composed message to the man who stood next to her, gazing into her eyes with a different sort of pride than she had encountered when first they’d met…

  Her loving husband, Fitzwilliam Darcy.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you so much for giving this story a try!

  Reviews are very important to authors because they help readers find new books to enjoy. Whether or not you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased the book.

  If you would like to be the first to receive information on new releases, please sign up for my newsletter. Mailings are infrequent, and you are always welcome to unsubscribe if you wish to do so. Your email address remains private and will not be shared.

  All the best from a very thankful author,

  A.J. Woods

  About the Author

  A.J. Woods has loved Jane Austen since her first reading of Pride and Prejudice in seventh grade. She has a degree in English Literature and enjoys movies and quality time with her family.

  A.J. loves hearing from readers, and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAJWoods.