The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy Read Online Free PDF Page A

right after Darcy. “He is correct, you know. You have been a bear ever since you came back from the parsonage.”
    “Who said I went to the parsonage?” Darcy asked with some alarm in his voice.
    “Didn’t you? I assumed you went there once you had learned the reason why Miss Elizabeth did not dine at Rosings. You left in such a hurry. I could think of no other reason.”
    Darcy started to pace. “Yes, I was concerned. During my morning rides, I have become accustomed to meeting Miss Elizabeth on her walks in the park, but I did not see her this morning. When the Collinses said she was unwell, I thought I should go to the parsonage and inquire after her health.”
    “Very considerate of you. And how did you find her?” Anne’s question was met with silence. “Did you talk to her? What was said?”
    “She said she was well. She certainly looked well. I should have left it at that.”
    And then he said nothing. Anne was used to his taciturn nature. When things did not go his way, he often withdrew into himself. Trying to get him to talk when he was in such a mood was difficult, but not impossible.
    “And what were the consequences of your remaining?”
    “It was the damnedest thing,” Darcy said, staring off into the distance and, once again, became quiet.
    “Will, please tell me what happened. I can see something is wrong. Did she say something unkind?”
    Darcy laughed to himself. Everything she said was unkind from her terse greeting to her accusation that he was acting in an ungentlemanlike manner. That had truly stung. He knew his faults. He could be sarcastic, impatient, aloof, but not a gentleman? No, he would not concede that. It was true he could have chosen his words more wisely, but he had not gone to the parsonage with the intention of asking Elizabeth for her hand in marriage. His purpose in calling was to ask after her health because he would be returning to London in the morning. But as soon as he had entered the room, he was overwhelmed by her beauty, especially her dark luminous eyes and a mouth begging to be kissed, all framed against the last rays of the afternoon sun. It was then that all of the barriers he had erected gave way, and he knew how ardently he loved her. And the words just poured out of him, so much so that he could not remember all that had been said, although he did recall mentioning her inferior position in society, expected opposition from his family, and his lack of success in attempting to overcome his feelings for her. But was it not important for her to know how he had struggled? Was there any greater proof of his love than the fact that he had honored her with his offer of marriage?
    Darcy felt Anne’s hand on his arm. She was asking what had happened at the parsonage, but all he could manage to say was simply, “I made her an offer of marriage.”
    Anne took a deep breath. That was not the answer she had expected. Darcy had no idea how much his expressions revealed about what was going on in his mind. Once he had learned from the Collinses that Elizabeth would not be coming to Rosings for tea, he had emotionally withdrawn from his company. After muttering some excuse no one could understand, he quickly departed, and Anne was pretty sure where he had gone. But a proposal? That she would not have guessed, but it brought a smile to her face.
    Darcy motioned for her to sit down and then plopped into the chair vacated by Fitzwilliam. “There is no need to smile, Anne. There will be no announcement made. No congratulations given. Miss Elizabeth Bennet refused my offer.”
    “What?” Anne was stunned. The Darcys were one of the oldest families in the realm and belonged to a Norman aristocracy that held as much importance and prestige as many families with titles. And there were other factors. She knew from Darcy about the anxiety in the Bennet household because there were five daughters in need of husbands. From Mr. Collins, she understood the Bennet estate was entailed