Darcy stepped up beside his friend while the ladies were distracted admiring the ring and murmured, “Nice surprise. I have to say, I am stunned you didn’t tell me about it.”
Charlie sent him a laughing glance. “I don’t have to have your permission for everything I do, do I, old chap?”
Darcy laughed. “No. I don’t suppose you do.” He clapped Bingley on the shoulder. “Congratulations. I don’t think you could have chosen a better partner for yourself.”
Although he almost hated to break up the chatter, Darcy lifted his voice above the melee. “We’d better go in to eat before the food gets cold. Mrs. Reynolds, I think this occasion calls for a bottle of champagne, don’t you?”
“Absolutely,” agreed Mrs. Reynolds, and she scurried off to retrieve it as the rest of the group slowly made their way to the dining room, the women already discussing possible wedding plans.
The night was effervescent, full of food and good cheer. Joy was the order of the day, and nothing was said or done that could deflate the mood or lower the energy.
After dinner, Jane was obliged to call Mrs. Bennet and inform her of the change in her circumstances, and was then ordered by her mother and the two sisters left at home to send a picture of the ring. A piercing shriek could be heard through the telephone when that picture came through, and then there was a great commotion before Lydia picked up the phone.
“Oh, Lord,” said she, “Mamma’s gone and fainted again. I don’t suppose you know where she keeps the smelling salts?”
This statement had the effect of sending all three sisters at Pemberley into a fit of giggles, before they managed to direct Lydia to them. Those smelling salts saw more action in the Bennet household than a blockbuster movie did. It was just normally Lizzy or Jane tending to their mother, not their irresponsible little sister.
Mrs. Bennet did eventually revive, and the call was soon disconnected so their mother could call Lady Lucas and relate the good news. Lizzy had no doubt that news of Jane’s engagement would have spread through the whole of Hertfordshire by morning.
When the evening was over, and the lovers had reluctantly parted, the two sisters lingered in Jane’s room to chat as they were getting ready for bed.
Lizzy sprawled on Jane’s bed, her hands propping up her chin as Jane brushed her long blonde locks with one hand and admired the flash of her engagement ring on the other.
“I am so happy, Lizzy. I wish you could have such happiness. If only there could be such a man for you!”
Lizzy smiled warmly at her sister and hugged her own secret joy a little closer to her heart. “If you gave me fifty such men, I could not be as happy as you. Until I had your disposition and your goodness, I could not experience your joy. Perhaps, in time, I may meet with another William Collins.”
“Oh, Lizzy! You are being ridiculous!”
Lizzy smiled slightly. “Yes. Yes, I am. But I am truly happy for you and I would not want to distract you from your joy in any way.”
“I do not think it possible.”
Lizzy laughed. “No, I think not.” She patted the bed beside her. “Stop admiring your gorgeous diamond for a moment and come tell me how Charles proposed. I have not had the story yet, and I insist I be the first to hear it.”
Jane did so, gladly, and it was many hours before the sisters could drag themselves away and find slumber.
Chapter 13
The next morning, content in the knowledge of her sister’s happiness and Darcy’s love, Lizzy turned her attention fully to the work to be accomplished in Pemberley’s ballroom.
Despite all the distractions, the work was progressing nicely. She braced her legs wide and consulted the plans in front of her, pivoting slowly to take in the buzz of activity surrounding her.
Mary was above her on the scaffolding, working on the fresco. Painters and plasterers called to each other on the floor and from platforms around the edges of the room. Lizzy nodded with satisfaction. It might be almost unrecognizable at the moment, but the ballroom was taking shape around her. In a few weeks, the room would be restored to its former glory.
In that instant, the ballroom’s double doors flew open with a thud. Lizzy started at the sharp noise and turned on her heel just in time to see a formidable elderly woman stride through them, looking like she meant business. Whoever this was, she did not look happy. Not at all.
Lizzy started toward the lady, hoping she could cut her off before she interrupted the work going on.
Then the woman thumped her cane against the floor and ordered in a booming voice, “Stop this madness at once!” and Lizzy knew it was too late.
*****
It wasn’t unusual for Darcy’s office phone to ring in the middle of the morning, but it was unusual for it to be Mrs. Reynolds on the other end of the line when he picked up.
He was instantly concerned. “How can I help you, Mrs. Reynolds?”
She answered hesitantly, “I’m afraid we’ve had an unexpected visitor, Mr. Darcy, and I’m unsure how to handle it. She’s made some rather…unreasonable… demands.” Mrs. Reynolds only called him Mr. Darcy when things had gone horribly wrong.
He was on his feet immediately, packing up his briefcase, and grateful that he was the boss and didn’t answer to anyone but Bingley for his schedule. “Who is it?”
She paused, as if reluctant to answer. “Your aunt, sir. Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
Darcy had to restrain himself to keep from saying something he shouldn’t. Of all the… he really didn’t want to deal with his aunt after the week he’d just had. First Wickham, now her. He just couldn’t catch a break. “I’ll be there as soon as I can, Mrs. Reynolds. Try to stall her if you can. Offer her some tea or something.”
“I tried, too, sir, but I’m afraid she insisted on being taken to Lizzy immediately.”
He paused in shoving some paperwork into his briefcase. “What does she want to see Lizzy for?”
“I don’t know, but she was in a high state. I didn’t dare interfere any further.”
“It’s okay,” Darcy reassured her. “Lizzy can hold her own against Lady Catherine. I hope.” He reiterated his assurance that he would be there within ten minutes and then hung up the phone, grabbing his briefcase as he headed out of his office door.
He drove like a maniac all the way back to Pemberley and parked at the door nearest the ballroom. It had been unlocked and left open for the myriad of workers coming and going as work on the ballroom progressed. Mrs. Reynolds met him there, wringing her hands worriedly.
He had noticed his aunt’s car still parked in the drive on his way in, so he knew Lady Catherine hadn’t taken off in his absence. “Is she still in the ballroom?” he asked Mrs. Reynolds without preamble.
“Yes.”
He strode passed her, down halls that were normally ringing with noise from the workers and that were now eerily silent.
As he drew closer, he could make out his Aunt’s voice echoing with outraged authority. “Miss Bennet, I am not a woman to be trifled with! This ballroom belongs to me and my family and I will not have you defile it with your foul “renovations!”” The thud of her cane against the floor echoed her sentiments.
“I assure you, Lady Catherine, that I have no intention of defiling such a beautiful space. Darcy himself asked me to undertake work here, as I believe the ballroom belongs to him.”
Darcy could imagine Lady Catherine’s scowl.
“I cannot believe that my nephew would allow such riff-raff to walk among these hallowed halls, much less destroy them as you have. Pemberley shall never recover from this treason!”
“I am a highly qualified general contractor, your ladyship. We are in the midst of renovations. What you see now is nowhere near the finished product.”
“You are a general contractor? I think not! A lady such as you claim to be would never belittle herself by taking on such a job.”
Lizzy’s voice was patient, but Darcy could make out the edge in it. She was on the verge o
f losing her temper. He lengthened his stride and burst in the room just as Lizzy was opening her mouth to respond.
“Aunt Catherine,” he declared. “What a surprise to find you here! To what honor do we owe this visit?”
Lizzy shot him a relieved glance at the same moment that his aunt leveled a glare in her direction. Still, his aunt presented her cheek for him to kiss, slightly mollified by his arrival.
Lady Catherine answered, “I was just explaining to this insolent chit that you never would have approved of this madness.” She gestured at the work going on around her. “When William Collins informed me of her plans for this place, I had to set off at once to stop it. I could never forgive myself if I allowed her to cause any damage to my dear Anne’s pride and joy.”
“I promise you Aunt, Lizzy has no plans to damage Pemberley in any way. She is here to improve upon it.”
Lady Catherine sputtered. “Then it is true? You have hired her!”
“I have.”
“I cannot believe you would dishonor your family and your home in this way!”
“I feel it is quite the opposite, Aunt Catherine. I believe my parents would be honored by the way I’ve chosen to restore Pemberley.”
“It galls me to think that you have invited this… this… slut into Pemberley’s hallowed halls!”
Lizzy’s sharp intake of breath at the insult barely registered in his brain as Darcy saw red.
“Careful, Aunt,” he warned, his voice dangerously low. “That is my future wife you’re talking about. I suggest you choose your words wisely.”
Lady Catherine looked shocked, and momentarily flustered. She thumped her cane against the floor. “You would never marry such a low born hussy.”
Darcy met Lizzy’s eyes, which had taken on a sudden sheen. “I would and I will.” He transferred his gaze back to his aunt. “I respect Lizzy and the work she has done, not only here at Pemberley, but throughout England. She is a true professional. But more than that, I love her, and I would be proud to call her my wife.”
All the fight seemed to drain out of Lady Catherine. She sagged heavily against her cane as she fought for words.
Darcy spoke before she could find any. “Thank you for stopping by, Aunt Catherine. Your visit has been…interesting. Mrs. Reynolds will see you out.” He nodded at the housekeeper, who came forward and took Lady Catherine’s arm.
She resisted the pull on her arm briefly, and Darcy worried that she wasn’t finished, but finally she turned to follow Mrs. Reynolds. She swept out the door with as much dignity as she could muster, calling back over her shoulder, “I have never been treated thusly in all my life!”
The doors banged closed behind her with a note of finality.
Darcy turned back to find Lizzy gazing up at him in wonderment, her eyes bright with unshed tears.
“Darcy-” she began.
He cut her off. “This wasn’t how I planned on doing this, Lizzy. I don’t even have a ring. But here goes.” He took her hands in his and got down on one knee. “Lizzy Bennet, you are one of a kind and exceptional. You challenge me to be a better person every day and I love you more than I could ever tell you. I would be honored if you would be my wife. Will you marry me?”
The first tear broke and slid over her cheek as she nodded. Grinning widely, he got back to his feet and wiped the tears from her face with his thumbs before gathering her to him and pressing his lips against hers.
That kiss was life-changing, earth-shattering, ground-breaking amazing, because Darcy’s doubts were gone. His heart had taken a nose-dive off a precipice the first time he had met her. But this, this was something more. Something permanent.
This was his future wife he held in his arms. All his todays, all his tomorrows, all his yesterdays were wrapped up in her. All his dreams and hopes, they were merged with hers. Inside him, he felt something shift and fall into place. The final piece of the puzzle fit. And the picture it completed was glorious.
Epilogue
Darcy paused outside his room at Pemberley with his hand on the doorknob. He could have sworn he had just seen Lizzy sneaking into Caroline Bingley’s room.
It was the night before their wedding was to take place in Pemberley’s newly renovated ballroom, and the large house was filled with guests. Darcy heard the whisper of a door being closed and the soft click as the latch caught and decided to investigate.
Without announcing his presence, he twisted the knob on Caroline’s door beneath his fingers and wasn’t surprised when it turned easily. Unlocked. He slid the door open a crack.
There was a lot of rustling going on inside. He opened the door wider, enough to get a peek of Lizzy’s brown curls and confirm the room’s present occupant, and then slipped inside, closing the door after himself.
He snuck a few steps closer and leaned against the wall, raising one eyebrow as he watched her strip the sheets from the bed. “Just what do you think you’re doing?” he asked, amused.
She jumped a foot off the ground and whirled on him. “Shh!” Her glare was unrepentant. “You’re going to get me caught.”
“Looks to me like you already are.”
She waved off his concern. “By someone who matters.”
He stepped up and grabbed her around the waist, tugging her against his chest. “I matter,” he growled in her ear, nuzzling her neck.
She giggled and tried to push him away. “Yes, dear.”
He let her take a step away. “Are you going to tell me what you’re up to?”
She had gone back to the bed and was making short work of making it back up again. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m short sheeting her bed, of course.” She cast him a side-long glance. “Well, are you just going to stand there, or are you going to help me?”
Darcy barked a short laugh and went around to the other side of the bed to help her finish. “Remind me never to get on your bad side. You’ve got a long memory.”
She gave him a cheeky smile and a wink. “You’re not the only one with a resentful temper.”
He just laughed and shook his head at her. They finished arranging the decorative pillows on the bed and stepped back to admire their work.
After a brief moment, Lizzy gave a satisfied nod. “That will do it.” She tugged on his arm. “Come on, let’s get out of here before someone sees us.”
He followed her out the door into the hall. Once the door was safely latched behind them, locked once more, he caught her by the arm and tugged her into one of the alcoves lining the hall.
“I think I deserve a reward for my help,” he said.
“Oh?” she said, one eyebrow raised, although she was smiling widely in anticipation.
“Definitely. I could have gotten into a lot of trouble helping you out. I think that was breaking and entering.”
“It can’t be breaking and entering when it’s your own house.”
He raised both his eyebrows at her and she relented good-naturedly, rather sure she would like what he was suggesting anyway.
“Fine. What reward do you want?”
He grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist, waiting until she stepped closer. “Just a kiss will do.”
“Just a kiss, huh?” she teased. “I suppose I can grant you that much.”
She stretched up on to her tip-toes, intending just to give him a light peck on the lips, but the kiss quickly grew. By the time they broke apart, they were both breathless.
Darcy leaned his forehead against hers as he caught his breath. “I cannot wait to marry you tomorrow, Lizzy Bennet.”
Her smile was soft, tender. “Me either.”
He reluctantly set her away from him and dropped his hands to his sides. “I guess we should head off to bed. We have to be up early tomorrow.”
“Yes. I guess so.”
Reluctantly, they emerged from the alcove and separated, pausing at their respective doors to say goodnight. As Darcy closed his bedroom door behind him, soon to be their bedroom door, he almost thought h
e heard Lizzy giggling. But he dismissed that as his brain playing tricks on him and set about getting ready to turn in for the night.
After he had brushed his teeth and changed into his pajamas, Darcy turned back his covers and climbed into bed. Or, rather, tried to. He threw back his head and laughed as he realized what had happened.
She’d short-sheeted his bed, too.
Keep reading for an excerpt from An Unexpected Lady by Lelia M. Silver!
Chapter 1
What an inauspicious beginning, Kitty Bennet mused as blood-curdling wails rent the air of the humble parsonage in Kent. Young William Collins had not ceased crying since the moment he had come into the world. Now, two weeks later, poor Charlotte looked positively bedraggled, and the rest of them were hardly faring any better. The only one who seemed at all well-rested was Mr. Collins, which Kitty suspected was in large part due to his ability to escape the parsonage under the guise of attending to church duties. More than once, she had been sent to fetch Mr. Collins from the church, only to find him asleep on a pew. If she had known what awaited her, she would have been sorely tempted to refuse Charlotte’s request that she attend her during her confinement.
She gazed longingly out the window at the inviting gardens and warm spring sunshine. Two years ago, she would not have hesitated to abandon Charlotte for the fun of the outdoors. But time spent in her sisters’ good company, without Lydia’s bad influence, had changed her. She felt the weight of responsibility all too clearly now of the role she had assumed by agreeing to attend Charlotte.
A sudden silence caused hope to flutter briefly in her breast. Silence, blessed silence! Kitty never thought to be so grateful for the hush. Her temples throbbed from the constant caterwauling, and lack of sleep had only amplified her headache. The pins that held her mass of curls in a neat chignon were like needles jabbing her scalp.
From above stairs, the wailing started up again. She flinched at the obnoxious sound. She could stand the pressure on her head no more. She tore the pins from her hair, allowing it to cascade around her shoulders. The relief was instant, and she hurried upstairs to put the pins away on her dressing table and find the nurse.
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