Returning to Mr. Darcy

by Sheena Austin

  Darcy interrupted her thoughts. “Do you need help with your seat buckle? It would seem you were wrestling a bear.”

  She blew out a frustrated sigh. His closeness brought out her inner klutz. She didn’t know whether she was coming or going. “No, I’m very capable of handling it myself.” She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and steadied her hands. Hearing the click of the seatbelt, she let out a sigh of relief.

  “Victory! Lizzie one. Seatbelt zero.” Darcy laughed as he applauded. “I love a persistent woman.”

  She blurted without thinking. “Then you’re going to love me.” She turned red when she realized she had said that.

  “Oh my God. Please, pretend I didn’t say that.”

  He took her hand and helped her out of the car. “Never. I shall remember it always.”

  She moaned internally. Great. I need a couple of drinks to get through this night for sure, if I am going to keep my cool around hot stuff, Darcy.

  Dragging her feet, she walked inside the restaurant with Darcy. She surveyed the area, and it was empty. They were greeted by an enthusiastic older gentleman. “Mr. Darcy. It’s very nice to see you. It’s been a long time. Who is your lovely lady companion?”

  Elizabeth blushed. She wasn’t used to being called lovely or being put on the spot. Darcy wrapped his arm around her waist. “This is the lovely Elizabeth Bennet.” She turned bright red. She wanted to punch him for wrapping his arm around her, but she honestly liked it.

  The older gentleman smiled and winked. “Well, you are very lucky that you will have the restaurant to yourself. Come and follow me, I have a special table for you both.”

  Once seated, Elizabeth grew more anxious at the thought of being alone with Darcy. “Where is your ladies’ room?”

  “Over by the bar. Can I get you something to drink before you leave?”

  “Water, please.” She rushed to the bathroom, leaving Darcy without a word. God, I hope he doesn’t follow me like last time. Once inside the restroom, she thanked God it was a single bathroom, and she locked the door behind her. She pulled out her phone to make a call to Jo. Her face dropped when she saw her phone was dead. “Are you serious? I should have made that water a vodka.”

  She looked in the mirror, and she didn’t like her reflection. She looked run-down and exhausted. She fixed her hair and swiped on some lip gloss from her purse. I might as well make the best of it. She took a few deep breaths and relaxed. Darcy can’t be all that bad. I’ve got pepper spray just in case he tries anything. The image of her pepper-spraying Darcy made her shake her head. She could think the worst of people and overthink things. Chill out, Lizzie. It’ll be cool. Just eat some food, drink some wine, and go home.

  When she returned to the table, Darcy got up and smiled at her. “I was afraid you ran away.”

  She wasn’t sure what he was doing. She froze in panic. “Lucky for you, there was no window in the bathroom,” she nervously laughed.

  “It’s okay, Elizabeth. I won’t bite,” he said as he pulled out her chair, and as she sat down, he pushed it in for her.

  “You’re not used to being out with a gentleman, are you?” he asked as he sat down across from her.

  “No, unfortunately, I’m not,” she mumbled. To avoid further interrogation and embarrassment, she studied the menu. Her stomach rumbled as she tried to decide what she wanted. She hid her face behind her menu, but she could feel Darcy’s eyes studying her. His laugh at her stomach growling made her feel more self-conscious.

  She decided on the chicken parmesan and attempted to use her Jedi mind trick to bring over a waiter. As if reading her mind, the waiter appeared with a basket of breadsticks and a bottle of red wine.

  She poured herself a glass while Darcy placed his order. She took a long sip to avoid conversation. If Jo were there, she would probably smack Elizabeth for acting like a damn nervous fool. She would probably say, “Lizzie, stop acting like an ass, and make a move on his fine ass.” She snorted, thinking this. She forgot for a brief moment that Darcy was sitting across from her.

  “What is so amusing, Miss Bennet?”

  The wine took over. She was definitely a lightweight. “I’m acting like an idiot, Mr. Darcy,” she said as she grabbed a piece of breadstick and took a bite.

  Darcy took her free hand and touched it. “Miss Bennet, you are not acting like an idiot.”

  Her knees felt like jelly and her heart did some flips. “Okay, more like an awkward teenager.”

  Darcy laughed. “Nonsense. I typically do not associate with awkward teenagers. That would throw me into jail.”

  She snorted. “So, Mr. Darcy has jokes.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Does that surprise you, that I do have a sense of humor?”

  She shook her head. “Actually, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of you. You are a stranger, after all. And I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”

  “Let alone take rides from strangers. I could be an ax murderer. However, luckily for you, I am not.” He winked.

  She laughed. “Lucky me.”

  Her stomach growled again, and Darcy laughed. “Hungry?”

  “Famished, I could eat a horse.” She smiled, and thankfully their food arrived.

  “Thankfully, there are no horses around.” He threw his head back in laughter.

  She stuck out her tongue and without hesitation dug into her food. He stared at her for a moment. She blushed; she was eating like a pig. “Sorry.”

  “What are you apologizing for? I’m happy to see that you are not one of those women who are afraid to eat in front of a man.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I can’t stand those type of women. If a man can’t accept my eating habits, then he isn’t worth my time.”

  He shook his head. “You are something else, Miss Bennet. What, I am unsure of, but I would love to find out.”

  “Could you please stop gawking at me and eat? You’re making me blush.” She dug back into her food.

  He dug into his lasagna, and they were both quiet for a while.

  Darcy broke the silence when Elizabeth moaned. “I take it that you are enjoying your dinner.”

  “I’m having a foodgasm over here. Thank you again for bringing me here.”

  “It is my pleasure. So, does this mean you forgive me for the other night?”

  “No, but if dessert is involved then I might reconsider.”

  “A woman after my own heart. The tiramisu is to die for.”

  Her mouth watered. “Luckily, that is my favorite dessert.”

  “Great.” He waved over to the waiter.

  “Yes, Mr. Darcy, how can I help you?”

  “Two tiramisus, please.”

  The waiter left, and Elizabeth stared at Darcy. “Are you trying to bribe me?”

  “No, but if food is the way to your heart, then I should take you out more often.”

  She laughed. “I think Charles would not like that very much.”

  Darcy’s lips pressed into a thin line, and his eyes grew dark.

  Shit, I totally fucked it up mentioning Charles. “I am very sorry. I ruined such a lovely evening.”

  He placed his hand on hers again. “Elizabeth, I really wouldn’t worry about Charles. He does not deserve you. I didn’t want to tell you this, but that first night we met, he was very friendly with another woman.”

  She pulled her hand away from his. She got up from the table, but the wine caused her to grow dizzy. She sat back down, and he was immediately by her side. He held her. “I am truly sorry, Elizabeth. Trust me, I am not trying to hurt you at all.” He pressed his lips against hers and kissed her with such tenderness.

  Every nerve in her body was on fire. Logic went out the window and she returned his kiss. She pulled away when she heard someone clear their throat. She looked up and saw it was the waiter, returned with their dessert. “Saved by the tiramisu,” she said, too loudly.

  Darcy returned to his seat. He looked disappointed by the interruption. “I am sorry, I was
out of line, Elizabeth.”

  Words eluded her; all she could say was, “It’s okay.” But was it really? Am I just as bad as Charles by kissing another?

  “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to go home, Mr. Darcy. I’ve drunk too much and I’m not feeling well.”

  He shook his head solemnly and waved to the waiter. “Check please, and we’d like to take our dessert to go, please.”

  After paying the check, they left, and inside the car, Elizabeth and Darcy rode in silence. I can’t believe Darcy fucking kissed me! If the waiter hadn’t interrupted us, I don’t know what I would have done.

  “Elizabeth, I hope you do not hate me. I do hope we can see each other again.”

  She bit her lower lip. “Sure, but no more kissing me, okay? I need to figure out this Charles thing and I can’t be making out with you. It’s not fair to you.”

  He cleared his throat. “I promise to be on my best behavior. If I am completely honest with you, I would like to be more than friends.”

  Her heart flipped. “Me too.” Shit, why did I just admit that? I’m just bad as Charles, aren’t I? Calm down, Lizzie. Don’t incriminate yourself any further.

  Darcy shifted and cleared his throat again. “You’re very quiet Elizabeth. I didn’t mean to put you in an awkward position.” He placed his hand on hers and rubbed her hand with his thumb.

  Every nerve in Elizabeth’s body went berserk. Mayday, Mayday, Retreat, Retreat, Lizzie. His hot British accent is going to get me into trouble. She retracted her hand as if he burnt her.

  “I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I shouldn’t have touched you. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. But you’re too hot for your own good, you know that? Your touch just does things to my mind and body that I can’t explain.” She rambled.

  Darcy threw his head back in laughter.

  Elizabeth grew annoyed. Now he’s laughing at me! The nerve. “What’s so funny, Mr. Darcy? Do I amuse you?”

  “No, well yes. However, I have never been called ‘too hot for my own good’, that is a new one. I’ve been called many things and I assure you that is not one of them.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “Look, you mess up my brain. I need to figure out Charles and I can’t go jumping into anything right away. I just hope you are patient.”

  He looked at her and smiled. “I promise to give you time, and I will wait. I am a patient man.”

  ****

  Twenty minutes later, Elizabeth arrived home to Charles’ car parked in the driveway. Adrenaline coursed through her as she walked to the door, ready to put him in his place. She didn’t know whether it was the wine or the kiss, but she was through with Charles and his shit. She was crushing on Darcy hard. Gravel crunched under her heels, and she imagined the rocks being Charles’ head. She took a deep breath as she prepared to come face-to-face with him. With shaky hands, she fumbled with her keys.

  Once inside, Elizabeth shouted as she walked through the house, “Charles, I’m home!” She heard music coming from their bedroom and saw a candlelit dinner set up in the dining room. Did Charles have the nerve to think this would smooth things over? She wasn’t about to let him off the hook so easily by being wined and dined. Then she grew more furious when she saw half eaten food on the plates.

  She didn’t take off her coat, Elizabeth sprinted her way upstairs. There were noises coming from their room, but she suspected it was only the television. As she pushed open the door, her eyes focused on the bed, where Charles was busy with some blonde. His body made that familiar thrust that used to be only for her, and the look on his face clued her into just how close he was to falling over the edge of release.

  Elizabeth’s chest ached. Her heart was demolished as she watched Charles in their bed with another woman. Fury rattled inside her as she demanded, “What is this?”

  Charles looked over his shoulder, recognition lighting in his eyes. He jolted off the blonde and ran his fingers through his hair. “Darling, it’s not what you think.” He stood in front of her, not even attempting to hide his nakedness.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! What do you mean it’s not what I think? It obviously is what I think, because you are fucking some slut!” Elizabeth approached the bed to see who she was. Taking a handful of hair that was covering the woman’s face, she instantly recognized their neighbor, Maria.

  Her eyes glazed over, red creeping into her vision. Adrenaline burst through her veins, her body vibrating. Her heart pounded in her ears as she lunged forward to throw Maria out of bed.

  Charles blocked her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Darling, don’t do anything rash. Let’s be civilized and talk this over.” He tried his boyish smile, but it failed.

  “Excuse me? Talk this over!” she yelled. “You know what, forget this.” She fled down the stairs, grabbed Charles’ keys from the bowl and ran outside into the rain that mixed with her tears. Elizabeth ran to Charles’ red Corvette, slammed the car door shut, and jammed the keys into the ignition.

  She peeled out of the driveway and reached an empty highway. Tears blurred her vision. Everything whizzed by as she hit well over a hundred miles per hour. She berated herself, asking how she could be in love with him, how she could have been so blind. She searched for a tissue, taking her eyes off the road for a split second. With her attention back on the highway, headlights from an oncoming semi blinded her. She didn’t have time to react or to turn the wheel as the tractor-trailer began hydroplaning into her lane.

  Her body went cold all over right before they crashed into each other head-on.

  The impact snapped her neck back and then flung her forward, her head slamming against the airbag.

  She felt like she was floating in slow motion. Her chest burned. Pain erupted throughout her body. Every nerve was on fire. Elizabeth couldn’t move or unbuckle herself; her arms were crushed to her side. She groaned in pain, only to choke on the mixture of burnt chemicals from the airbag propellant and coolant from the cracked radiator.

  She was trapped inside the belly of the beast. She struggled with every ounce of will to loosen herself, but when she heard a loud hiss, followed by flames engulfing her car, her will to survive slipped away and she gave up. Her life didn't flash before her eyes; instead anger burned inside her. She was angry she’d spent her life on earth wasted, trying to keep Charles satisfied.

  She felt pathetic and ashamed for not standing up to him. She didn’t want to face her mother or Jo and tell them what happened. She pleaded with God. Thoughts of Mr. Darcy started taking form in her mind. Was it regret that she had been fooled by Charles, or sadness that she friend zoned Darcy?

  Before she went limp, a voice whispered in her ear, “It’s going to be all right.”

  The last thing she felt was strong arms pulling her out of her car. She thought that surely it was the Angel of Death coming to take her away.

  She welcomed it, because now the pain would end.

  ****

  After dropping off Elizabeth, Darcy rode home in silence. Mixed emotions swirled through his mind. Real smooth, Darcy. She could have slapped you and I wouldn’t blame her. She makes me lose all reason. But who wouldn’t; she’s gorgeous, smart, and funny. That damn Charles is lucky I don’t punch him and kick him to the curb. He didn’t regret kissing Elizabeth, and he didn’t want to see her leave. Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t see the red Corvette coming from behind. The Corvette nearly hit him, and he swerved to the right and onto the side of the road. He didn’t catch who was driving. Adrenaline pumped throughout his body. He was shaking and furious. Jesus, what a lunatic! That was a close one!

  CHAPTER THREE

  Derbyshire

  1818

  Anne found herself sitting outside of Pemberley with her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, devising a plan to fatten their pockets. As they sat inside of their dilapidated carriage, her mother grated on her nerves.

  “It is because of you that we are here, and that I must constan
tly remind you that it is your fault our fortune is being depleted. You’re gambling and your bastard child you carry has brought shame and debt to our family. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that Elizabeth sees you in Darcy’s embrace—our livelihood depends on it. You must somehow convince Fitzwilliam that the child is his and to be rid of Elizabeth.”

  “Mother, I know what I must do. I want to be rid of Elizabeth as much as you do.”

  Lady Catherine glowered. “Do you? How far are you willing to go, Anne?”

  “Yes, I will go as far as needed.”

  Lady Catherine handed Anne a tiny vial of amber liquid. “You must somehow put this in his brandy; it will drug him, so you can seduce him and bed him. Then you can claim the child is his.”

  Anne strained a smile to appease her mother, all the while silently plotting to herself. She nodded, allowing her mother to think she was the mastermind behind all of this.

  “Now go, and do not fail, or we both will be in the poorhouse, and have to live amongst the disgusting, lowly peasants.”

  Without another word, Anne got out of the carriage; she squared her shoulders and puffed out her chest, preparing herself and convincing herself she was one step closer to having Darcy all to herself.

  ****

  Fitzwilliam Darcy, affectionately known as Darcy, found his cousin Anne in his study waiting for him. Her visit was unexpected, unannounced, and unwanted. Darcy held little regard for his cousin, who made no attempt to hide her contempt for Elizabeth Bennet, the woman who had stolen his heart.

  Prior to Darcy meeting Elizabeth, his aunt, Lady Catherine De Bourgh, adamantly insisted that he was to marry her daughter, Anne. Darcy knew they both disliked Elizabeth for her lack of fortune, finding her common and beneath them. Since Anne turned sixteen, he’d been detestably aware of Lady Catherine and Anne’s plan of having him and his fortune of ten thousand pounds a year. Their lavish lifestyle had wasted away their own fortune, and they depended on luring him to marriage even now that he’d found love.