Alone with Mr. Darcy: A Pride & Prejudice Variation Read Online Free PDF Page B

muttered.
    ***
    Darcy closed his eyes, knowing perfectly
well that, despite his exhaustion, it would be insufficient to allow him to
fall asleep only inches from Elizabeth Bennet. He did not even wish to sleep;
that would mean missing this extraordinary experience. Naturally, he had done
the only gentlemanly thing and turned to face away from her, but even his
inability to see her did not lessen the impact of having her beside him.
Despite his headache and his earlier confusion, the evening together had only served
to draw him deeper into her thrall.
    He had been Master of Pemberley for five
years, ruling over tenants and servants, and dictating the use of the estate.
But he had never felt as powerful as he had when Elizabeth confided her
difficulties with her friend Charlotte. Even if he could do nothing to help,
the mere fact she had trusted him so far was an unexpected gift. And her sweet
persistence in caring for him could easily become addictive.  At
Netherfield, she had tempted him, but it was nothing to this.
    The sound of her even breathing was like
music. She was still awake, of course; no doubt it would take her some time to
overcome her discomfort with the situation enough to fall asleep. But she was
there beside him – Elizabeth Bennet, whom he had never expected to see
again.
    How strange it was that she, of all the
people in Meryton, had been the one to discover him by the side of the road! It
must have been a sign. 
    But that raised the ticklish question of why he had been on that road in the first place. There was nothing to draw him to
Meryton; Elizabeth was the only person there whose presence would have tempted
him, but he had already forsworn her. Had something changed? He could not
imagine anything which would have made him suddenly decide she would be a
suitable bride after all. That could not be it. 
    Perhaps he had gone on Bingley’s behalf,
on some errand he could not even imagine. What could he do for Bingley at
Netherfield?  Nothing, and from what Elizabeth had said, he was not even
on the correct road for Netherfield. It made no sense. 
    
An involuntary smile curved his
lips. Only one thing made sense, which was that Elizabeth was with him. That
was just as it ought to be.

Chapter 3
     
     
    Elizabeth awoke with unusual stiffness and
curled closer to Jane to share her warmth. But the body next to hers did not
smell of Jane’s rosewater, but of wood smoke, wet leather, and something
essentially male. Her eyes flew open, revealing fine white linen over a
distinctly masculine chest. Good Lord! She was entwined with Mr. Darcy! If her
heart pounded any harder, it might burst her chest.
    She could not allow him to discover her in
this utterly compromising position. She would have to remove his arm that
surrounded her, holding her to his warmth, without awakening him. With the
utmost care, she slowly raised her chin until she could see his face. And his
eyes. Watching her.
    Her throat constricted. Why was he looking
at her in that manner? So intent, so serious, so…she did not even have words
for it, but it made her feel quite odd. And he had not released her. What must
he be thinking of her? 
    Sitting up so quickly it made her dizzy,
she scrambled backwards away from him. The shock of cold air once she was a few
feet from the hearth shook away any last vestiges of sleep, leaving her insides
quaking over what had just happened. If anyone had discovered them, she would
have been ruined or forced to marry Mr. Darcy. Which would be worse? At least
he would be as invested in keeping the incident a secret as she was. He would
not wish to be tied to a simple country gentleman’s daughter. But even if no
one else ever found out, she would still know, and nothing would ever be
the same.
    With shaking hands she smoothed her
skirts, though they were wrinkled beyond any hope of presentability. Even her
plait had become partially undone, though her hair ribbons had miraculously
stayed in place. Nell must