Darcy & Elizabeth: A Season of Courtship (Darcy Saga Prequel Duo) by Sharon Lathan Read Free Book Online

and sat on the chair near the low table, where his
breakfast would soon be placed. He bent to remove his boots, the ordinary task
occupying his hands while his mind sorted through everything that had happened.
Attempts to gain perspective and latch on to a logical vein were difficult with
his stomach growling like a caged tiger and Elizabeth permeating his being.
    “Elizabeth.” He whispered her name,
a broad smile splitting his face. Leaning his head back and closing his eyes,
Darcy succumbed to the irresistible euphoria.
    There was an aspect to his euphoria
that was unreal, like a beautiful dream so tangible that it stays with you even
after you wake. How long had he been in love with Elizabeth Bennet? How many hours
had he imagined kissing her? Was it possible to count the number of dreams in
which she was his? Was this just another dream that he would awaken from?
    His heart pounded in terror at the
thought. Reaching one hand to press trembling fingertips to his lips, he
relaxed. None of his dreams, as distinct and realistic as many had been, ever
felt like this. Her taste remained on his tongue, her lavender-scented hair
filled his nostrils, her passionate sighs rang in his ears, her adoring face
floated before his eyes, and the softness of her flesh tingled the nerve
endings on his hands. Darcy groaned and shifted in his chair, the irrefutably
genuine sensations affecting him physically.
    No, there was no doubt whatsoever
that today was not a dream. It was a God-gifted miracle that he could never
thank the Almighty enough for. He certainly would try, once he was fully able
to wrap his mind around the reality of the miracle and accept that his dreams
had come true.
    Elizabeth Bennet loves me.
    Months ago, when he first proposed
in his arrogance and selfish comprehension of love, he had not given much
thought to the importance of Elizabeth loving him in return. It still shamed
him to admit how little he understood his own heart or the mysteries of real,
soul-bonding love. Deep in the throes of ardent love for her, and sure that she
would not refuse him based on his numerous qualifications—Darcy winced
anew at that remembrance—he had not considered the emptiness, even
if she had said yes, of marrying her without first winning her heart. Every
word she had said to him, each sentence as clear today as it had been then,
convicted him of his sins. Her truthful condemnation had taught him many
things, not the least of which was the importance of mutual love.
    Until the summer day when she had
miraculously appeared at Pemberley, Darcy thought the lessons learned would
never benefit him personally. Still grieving, the concept of finding another
woman to take Elizabeth’s place in his heart was impossible to fathom. He
became convinced he had destroyed his one chance, and the logical, deserved
outcome was a life alone. Forever a man of faith, though perhaps not as
strongly as his grandfather, Darcy interpreted Elizabeth’s surprising
appearance at Pemberley as a message from God. Not that Elizabeth was destined
to be his or that he was being handed her on a silver platter. Indeed, he
immediately perceived that it was a chance. Nothing more. A chance to prove to
her—and most importantly to himself—that he had learned the
truth and was worthy of being loved by a woman of her caliber. If it took
months or years, so be it. If in the end he failed, somehow he would accept she
was better with someone else. The thought nearly killed him, but all that truly
mattered, he eventually realized, was her happiness.
    Her happiness—and to a large
degree Charles Bingley’s happiness—was what had prompted him to hunt down
Lydia and Wickham. Guilt drove him as well, the sure knowledge that whatever
might have prompted Wickham to seduce Lydia Bennet, whether a sensed awareness
of her sister’s importance to Darcy or not, the fact remained that it never
would have happened if not for his abominable pride allowing Wickham to