What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? Read Online Free PDF

face, unlike her pinkish one, was lightly tanned. ‘I just got back from Longbourne. We… I went down to check on the
Pemberley
.’
    The
Pemberley
, Lizzy knew, was the Darcy family’s yacht.
    ‘Oh.’ Surprise crossed her face. ‘Did you plan to enter the regatta this year?’
    He shook his head. ‘No, I haven’t the time. Harry’s keen, though. He and my father have signed up for the yacht races, and I wanted to make sure the
Pemberley
’s up to the task.’ He stretched out his hand to Mr Bennet and smiled. ‘It’s good to see you again, Father.’
    ‘And you, Mr Darcy, and you.’ He clasped Hugh’s hand and beamed. ‘But it’s “Mr Bennet” now, you know. I’ve retired. I’ve been put out to pasture and now my flock has a new shepherd.’
    ‘I’m sure everyone in the village misses your sermons a great deal,’ Hugh said. He glanced at Lizzy. ‘And your scones.’
    She bit back a smile.
    ‘Well, just between you and me,’ Mr Bennet said, and leaned forward with a conspiratorial smile, ‘I quite enjoy being retired. More time to bake.’ He straightened. ‘Ah, where are my manners? Might I offer you refreshment? A blueberry scone, perhaps?’
    ‘Oh, no, thank you,’ Hugh said quickly. ‘I admit,’ he added, and cast Lizzy an uncertain smile, ‘that I’d hoped to borrow Elizabeth for a few moments, if I might.’
    Her heart leapt. Hugh had come here to Litchfield Manor to see
her
.
    ‘Well, Lizzy’s a grown woman,’ Mr Bennet said. ‘No need for my permission, unless perhaps you plan to ask her to marry you!’ He chuckled.
    ‘Daddy!’ Lizzy muttered, horrified.
    As he registered their twin expressions of embarrassment, her father cleared his throat. ‘Well, then. Perhaps I’ll just leave you two to talk.’
    Mortified, Lizzy watched him go. Why on earth had he brought up the subject of marriage, and in front of Hugh, of all people?
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she began, and grimaced in apology. ‘I dearly love my father, but he often doesn’t think…’
    ‘It’s fine.’ His eyes crinkled as his smile deepened. ‘His tact is second only to his scone-baking skills.’
    Lizzy laughed. ‘That’s very diplomatic of you, Mr Darcy.’
    His smile faded, and a serious expression took its place. ‘I wonder if we might, perhaps, take a walk? I’ve something to tell you, Elizabeth, something that’s rather important.’
    ‘Of course.’
    They began walking across the field that led to the apple orchard, silent as their feet followed the dirt track. The field was bordered on one side by a stone wall choked with brambles and wild carrot. The drone of bees and the distant rumble of a tractor were the only sounds.
    ‘Are you home to stay?’ Lizzy asked after a moment, as the silence stretched and lengthened.
    ‘No. I’m on holiday. I’ll be leaving again at the end of the month.’
    ‘Oh.’ Only one syllable, Lizzy reflected, yet it carried a world of disappointment.
    ‘And what of you?’ he asked. ‘Are you back from London to stay? The last I remember, you were working for a publisher in…’ he frowned. ‘Clerkenwell, I believe.’
    She smiled. ‘You have a very good memory. Yes, I was with Aphrodite Books for five years, but…’ She shrugged. ‘I was made redundant and couldn’t seem to land another job, so I decided to let my flat go and come back home.’
    Of Mark Knightley, and her pleasant but short-lived relationship with him, she said nothing.
    ‘I’m sorry.’ He glanced over at her. ‘But I’m glad you’re back.’
    ‘Me, too. Glad you’re back, too, I mean.’
    ‘Will you stay, do you think?’
    She considered. ‘I don’t know. I don’t think so. There’s nothing here for me, really, unless I want to manage a hotel or sell 99s and Magnums from a refurbished ice cream van.’ Her smile was wry. ‘And my sister Emma has things well in hand at home.’
    ‘She’s very organised, isn’t she?’ he agreed, and returned her smile. ‘I’ll put out some