A Gift to Remember Read Online Free PDF

but over the years found herself returning again and again to Austen’s famous tale, finding comfort in the story and, she supposed, viewing it as a kind of tangible connection to her late
mother.
    She slung a leg over her bike as the cab driver got back in his vehicle and disappeared. Alone on the cold street, the snow fell across her shoulders and she tentatively pushed off, knowing she
would have to ride with caution.
    Darcy stared in front of her and navigated the empty streets as snowflakes danced in front of her, happier now in the knowledge that she was in control of her own destiny and would be home
soon.
    In the words of Groucho Marx, she thought wryly:
I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it
.

Chapter 3
    Dreams are illustrations . . . from the book your soul is writing about you
. Marsha Norman
    The setting sun dropped languidly behind the lake at the rear of the Pemberley Estate. Here it was midsummer, and the heat added to the mood that now enshrouded Darcy as she
took a tentative step towards it.
    Although she was a lady and shouldn’t be inclined to so-called animal urges, it was difficult to curb the anticipation that soared through her chest at that moment. It seemed the faster
she breathed, the more her tight whalebone stays drove into her chest, constricting her fluttering heart. But none of her efforts to still herself would take hold. She could barely contain her
anticipation.
    Would he be here? she wondered
    She knew she was breaking all the rules just then – that she was facing damage to her reputation if anyone saw her alone with him. But still, she couldn’t seem to care about her
reputation. Not in light of the ecstasy she felt when she was in his presence, the heady sense of wonder. This shocked her, considering they hadn’t got off to the best of starts. And that was
saying the absolute least.
    She adjusted her parasol and quickened her pace as the lake came into full view before her. Suddenly, hearing the clattering of hooves behind her, she turned – and the breath caught in her
throat.
    There he was. His gaze met hers as he pulled his great steed to a stop and swiftly dismounted. His eyes seemed to bore into her soul and she placed a quivering hand against the bosom of her
empire-waist gown.
    A tentative smile flitted across her face even while his expression remained unreadable in the setting sun. It was he who made the first move. Taking a slow step in her direction, he then seemed
to make up his mind about something, and closed the space between them with his long, manly stride.
    Before she knew what was happening, he was in front of her, so close she could smell the intoxicating male aroma of the brandy he had been sipping after dinner and the pipe tobacco she knew he
kept in his coat pocket.
    ‘You’re here,’ he said simply.
    ‘I am,’ she replied, feeling a blush spreading from her neck to her cheeks. His gaze found her lips and at once she understood what would happen next. As if on cue, his eyes turned a
smoky shade of grey and determination crossed his face. He moved his head ever so subtly towards hers and her heart threatened to explode from her chest. He was going to kiss her! Mr Darcy was
going to kiss her!
    ‘Miss Archer . . .’ he said quietly.
    ‘Yes?’ she replied breathlessly as she met his eyes.
    Buzz . . . Buzz . . . Buzz . . . Buzz
.
    Confused, and unwilling to miss what he was about to say next, she shook her head, as if trying to shoo away an annoying insect. She looked around out of frustration, trying to figure out just
who was interrupting what had to be the most romantic moment of her life
    Buzz . . . Buzz . . . Buzz . . . Buzz
.
    Darcy sat up in bed and pushed her wayward curls out of her face, trying to work out where she was. The ringing phone was lying next to her on her pillow, where she must have left it after
texting Katherine the night before to confirm that she was safely home.
    She’d spent the rest of