Willow Hall Romance: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Series
Page 44
Marcus chuckled. “Must we stay for the full evening?” He had asked several times. He was most anxious to get his wife alone, but she had shaken her head at each inquiry, just as she was doing now.
“A hostess does not desert her guests.” She stepped a little further into his embrace. “Even if the incentive to do so is as wonderful as her husband.” The word sent a shiver through her from her head down to her toes. Her husband — a man of wealth with a grand estate, just as Mama had wished, but beyond that, he was a man who loved her, not for her beauty, but simply for herself and treated her with the respect she had always craved. She tipped her head as she smiled up at him. Tears hung on her lashes. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?” he asked.
“For loving me.” She blinked rapidly to keep the tears in their place.
“How could I not,” he pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. “Are you certain you cannot desert our guests even for a few moments? I should very much like to kiss my wife.”
She giggled. “I think we might be able to slip into the garden for a few moments.” She arched a brow. “I know which paths are not well lit.”
“Have I told you how brilliant you are, Mrs. Dobney?” he asked as he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and led her onto the terrace.
“No, I do not believe you have,” she replied. “Down this path.” She pulled him off to the right and around a corner behind a bush.
He pulled her into his embrace. “You, Mrs. Dobney, are brilliant.”
She smiled. “Not many have ever called me that.”
“I suppose not everyone can be as wise as I,” he tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes. “If they saw what I see, they would agree.”
“Are you going to kiss me?”
” Are you eager to return?” he teased, caressing her cheek with his thumb.
She shook her head. “No, just to be kissed.” She lifted to her toes and pressed her lips to his. Kissing, she had decided, was one of her favourite things to do. She loved how he pressed her against his firm body and deepened the kiss until the world around them faded into the night, and she was left with only the pleasure that his love brought her. Lydia had found her happy beginning.
And a beginning it was, for there were many events to take place in the next year. Mary Ellen and Richard, who had stood in the chapel in front of Philip along with Marcus and Lydia earlier that day, would return from Brighton to an estate not far from Aldwood Abbey. Jane and Bingley would eventually decide on an estate closer to Pemberley. Lucy and Philip would add a healthy baby girl to their numbers, and this child would soon after be joined by five others — sons for Marcus and Darcy while Bingley would welcome twins — both a son and a daughter, and Richard would become the overprotective papa of a beautiful daughter. But before those children could make their debut, Miss Darcy would make hers in the circles of London with Elizabeth to stand at her side and Lydia’s advice about finding a good husband in her head.
While the Dobneys, Fitzwilliams, Bingleys, and Darcys enjoyed the happiness of these events, there were others who were reaping their fair rewards.
Captain Harris would feel the consequences of his gossip for years to come, but with a penitent heart, he would eventually prove himself not fully unworthy of even Lydia’s good opinion.
Caroline Bingley was far more fortunate than she deserved. For within a se’enight of her arrival at Mr. Hadaway’s house party, she met a man who promptly petitioned Hurst for permission to offer for her, and through this gentleman’s instruction, she came to view her actions in a new, humiliating light.
Lady Catherine would eventually come to accept that Darcy was married to someone who was not her daughter and would speak most civilly to Elizabeth whenever they were in company at Matlock. However, Darcy never again travelled to Rosings, and Lady Catherine never darkened Pemberley’s door. To admit she was wrong was not easily done, and accepting Elizabeth at Matlock was as far as she was capable of moving toward reconciliation.
And just one year later, when children were filling the nurseries of our couples, Harris was earning his forgiveness, Caroline was beginning to be restored to her family, and Lady Catherine was ruling her domain at Rosings, a letter arrived on a sunny day when the Abbots, Dobneys, Fitzwilliams, Bingleys, and Darcys were gathered in the garden at Willow Hall.
Bingley opened the missive and, after a quick perusal of the contents, shared it aloud with all who were gathered.
Sir,
It is my duty to inform you that one of your uncle’s ships on its journey to India was caught in a storm. Most of the cargo and crew made it through, but not all. Among the dead is counted a Mr. George Wickham.
Bingley gave Richard a crooked smile. “A fitting ending, I should say.”
“Aye, aye,” agreed Richard, looking around at the group that was gathered who would never again have to worry about the likes of Wickham. He smiled and raised his glass of lemonade in salute. “It is a very happy ending indeed.”
Before You Go
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Acknowledgements
There are many who have had a part in the creation of this story. Some have read and commented on it. Some have proofread for grammatical errors and plot holes. Others have not even read the story (and a few, I know, will never read it), but their encouragement and belief in my ability, as well as their patience when I became cranky or when supper was late or the groceries ran low, was invaluable.
And so, I would like to say thank you to Zoe, Rose, Betty, Kristine, Ben, and Kyle, as well as the readers who read all those Thursday posts on my blog. I feel blessed through your help, support, and understanding.
I have not listed my dear husband in the above group because, to me, he deserves his own special thank you, for without his somewhat pushy insistence that I start sharing my writing, none of my writing goals and dreams would have been met.
Leenie B Books
Novels ~ Novellas ~ Shorts
~*~
Oxford Cottage: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
For Peace of Mind: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
Teatime Tales: Six Short and Sweet Austen-Inspired Stories
Listen To Your Heart: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
~*~
The Choices Series: Pride and Prejudice Novellas
(available as a bundle and individually)
Her Father’s Choice (book 1)
No Other Choice (book 2)
His Inconvenient Choice (book 3)
Her Heart’s Choice (book 4)
~*~
A Dash of Darcy Collection
Finally Mrs. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
Waking to Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
Discovering Mr.Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
~*~
A Dash of Darcy Companion Story Collection
A Very Merry Christmas: A Pride and Prejudice Novella (A sequel to Waking to Mr. Darcy)
Not an Heiress: A Pride and Prejudice Novella (A sequel to Discovering Mr. Darcy)
~*~
Willow Hall Romances
And Then Love: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Prequel (book 1)
The Tenant’s Guest: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novella (book 2)
So Very Unexpected: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novel (book3)
At All Costs: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novel (book 4)
Better Than She Deserved: A Pride and Prejudice Novelette (sequel 1)
~*~
Touches of Austen Collection
His Beautiful Bea
~*~
Other Pens
Through Every Storm: A Pride and Prejudice Novella
Henry: To Prove Himself Worthy (A Mansfield Park Continuation)
About the Author
Leenie Brown has always been a girl with an active imagination, which, while growing up, was a both an asset, providing many hours of fun as she played out stories, and a liability, when her older sister and aunt would tell her frightening tales. At one time, they had her convinced Dracula lived in the trunk at the end of the bed she slept in when visiting her grandparents!
Although it has been years since she cowered in her bed in her grandparents’ basement, she still has an imagination which occasionally runs away with her, and she feeds it now as she did then ─ by reading!
Her heroes, when growing up, were authors, and the worlds they painted with words were (and still are) her favourite playgrounds! She was that child, under the covers with the flashlight, reading until the wee hours of the morning…and pretending not to be tired the next day so her mother wouldn’t find out.
In addition to feeding her imagination, she also exercises it ─ by writing. While writing has been an activity she has dabbled in over the years, it blossomed into a full-fledged obsession when she stumbled upon the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction. Leenie had first fallen in love with Jane Austen’s work in her early teens when she was captivated by the tale of a girl, who like her, was the second born of five daughters. Now, as an adult, she spends much time in the regency world, playing with the characters from her favourite Jane Austen novels and a few that are of her own creation.
When she is not traipsing down a trail in an attempt to keep up with her imagination, Leenie resides in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia with her two sons and her very own Mr. Brown (a wonderful mix of all the best of Darcy, Bingley and Edmund with a healthy dose of the teasing Mr. Tilney and just a dash of the scolding Mr. Knightley).
Connect with Leenie Brown
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Table Of Contents
Dear Reader,
And Then Love
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
The Tenant's Guest
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
So Very Unexpected
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
At All Costs
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Epilogue
Before You Go
Acknowledgements
Leenie B Books
About the Author
Connect with Leenie Brown