Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star by Heather Lynn Rigaud Read Free Book Online Page A

the lawsuit isn’t real either.”
    Lydia and Kitty looked at each other with eyes as wide as saucers while Jane quickly redirected the conversation.
    The meal continued pleasantly; however, Elizabeth could not help but notice how quiet her neighbor was. He contributed almost nothing to the conversation, except to answer her sisters’ questions in a way that made it clear what he thought of them. While in contrast, the Bingleys were delighting the table with their stories. Elizabeth wondered if her family really offended Darcy, or if he was just quiet by nature.
    When the meal was over, Elizabeth escaped onto the rear deck to enjoy the spring day. She was still tired from her past week and craved some quiet time alone. She sat down on her favorite Adirondack chair and listened to the sounds around her. She could hear Mary playing the piano in the living room, entertaining the guests.
    Her mind was drifting when she heard footsteps come onto the porch. “May I join you?” Darcy’s voice asked formally.
    Go away , she thought. “Certainly,” she answered politely.
    Darcy took a seat beside her. “Your sister is very talented,” he said softly.
    “Thank you,” Elizabeth replied, careful to hide her surprise. “She is studying at Juilliard. We’re very proud of her.”
    “You should be. That must be quite an accomplishment for your family.” He studied her face a moment. “Is everyone in your family musically talented?”
    Elizabeth smiled politely. If she had a quarter for every time she had been asked this… “Not everyone. My mother, Lydia, and Kitty aren’t musical at all.”
    “What about your father?” Darcy asked, his voice low and indifferent.
    “My father is the one who started it all. He is a music professor at Vassar.”
    A flash of surprise passed Darcy’s face and quickly disappeared, but Elizabeth had seen it. Inwardly she grinned. Not quite the hicks you thought we were, hmm, Darcy? “Yes, he encouraged all of us in our careers. He’s been very supportive.”
    “You’re quite fortunate,” Darcy observed woodenly. His words were interrupted by a loud crash from the kitchen, which was immediately followed by angry screams from Kitty and Lydia.
    Elizabeth’s lips tightened as she grew embarrassed by the display. Her mother’s voice joined the fray, and she was relieved when the yelling stopped a second later.
    “Lizzy?” her mother called out to her, and she joined her a moment later on the porch. Mrs. Bennet observed that her daughter wasn’t alone and softened her tone as a result of it. “Sweetheart, your sisters had a little accident with the cake. Could you run to the store and get some dessert?”
    “Sure, Mom,” Elizabeth answered easily and stood to get her purse.
    “Elizabeth,” Darcy’s voice stopped her. “I think my car is blocking yours. Could I give you a ride?”
    Recognizing she was trapped, Elizabeth agreed, but she wasn’t fooled for a moment as to why Darcy was offering to help her. She had seen it in his face the moment her mother had asked her to run out. He didn’t want to be stuck with her family a second longer than he had to. The Bennets were simply too suburban middle class for the world-famous Fitzwilliam Darcy.
    Elizabeth was simmering inside but was determined not to show it as she followed Darcy to his car. Ignoring the luxury automobile around her, Elizabeth gave directions to Darcy. Then she asked the first thing she could think of. “So, why did you cut your hair?”
    Darcy’s eyes were hidden behind his sunglasses, but she could see the annoyance in the set of his lips. “You know,” he said softly, “I have written seven number one songs. I have traveled over four continents. I have performed before hundreds of thousands of people. I have met both the Pope and the Dalai Lama, and still, do people ask me about any of that?” His voice had risen slightly, “No, they ask me about my hair.”
    Elizabeth was slightly embarrassed, but she