What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? Read Online Free PDF Page B

queries when I get back to London if you like,’ he offered. ‘See what I can find.’
    ‘That’s very kind. I’d like that. Thank you.’
    They walked for several more minutes before Hugh cleared his throat and stopped. He took her hands in his. ‘Lizzy, before we go any further, there’s something important I need to tell you. There’s a reason I’ve come back to Cleremont.’
    She looked up at him expectantly, and although she kept her expression unremarkable, her heart gave a little lurch. After all these years, could it be…?
    Lizzy allowed herself a moment of blissful fantasy. She imagined that Hugh had realised, after nearly eight years, that bachelorhood wasn’t quite what it was cracked up to be, and so had come back to Litchfield to ask her to be his wife. She’d become the mistress of Cleremont eventually, with Hugh Darcy by her side, and the first thing she’d do was redecorate that godawful private sitting room upstairs…
    ‘Lizzy?’
    With a blink, she came back to the present. ‘Sorry.’ She smiled in apology. ‘You know me, always gathering wool.’
    ‘The thing is, Lizzy,’ Hugh said now, his fingers tightening in hers, ‘I’ve always cared deeply for you. And I always will.’
    She managed to nod, her heart racing. ‘I feel the same.’
    ‘I want you to understand that nothing will ever change that.’
    ‘Yes.’ She was giddy, positively giddy with anticipation. Could it be that her one, constant hope for the last eight years – that Hugh Darcy would realise and admit his love for her – was finally about to come true?
    ‘But life, as you know, brings change, and challenges, and when the unexpected happens, one must respond.’
    Lizzy nodded, her heart beating so quickly with excitement she feared she might implode.
    ‘I never planned for this to happen.’ His eyes searched hers. ‘It came completely out of the blue.’
    Well, not exactly out of the blue, surely
, Lizzy thought with a trace of surprise. They’d known each other since they were children, after all.
    ‘But honesty compels me to tell you, before you hear the news from someone else.’
    She blinked, momentarily nonplussed. Hear
what
news from someone else, exactly? Surely a marriage proposal should come from one’s husband-to-be, not from someone else…?
    ‘And so it pains me to tell you this, Lizzy, but the fact is, I…’ He stopped. ‘I’m engaged. I’ve asked Holly James to marry me.’
    Lizzy stared at him.
    All of the blood, the life, the joy, drained away from her with his words. She stared at him, not comprehending. What he said made no sense.
    ‘You – you’re getting married?’ she said. ‘To the department store heiress?’
    ‘Yes, I am.’ He looked, not happy, but subdued.
    All of Lizzy’s imaginings – Hugh’s proposal on bended knee, her blushing acceptance, the engagement ring they’d pick out, living together in Cleremont, raising their children and maintaining his family’s legacy – all of it vanished, gone in a moment with the utterance of one devastating sentence.
    ‘I see.’ She took her hands, carefully, from his. ‘Well, then, congratulations! I’m very happy for you… both.’
    She turned away and began to walk, slowly at first, and then more quickly, back to Litchfield Manor.
    ‘Lizzy – wait.’
    But she didn’t. She couldn’t. She kept walking, because to stop meant he’d catch up to her, and if he did, he’d see her crying. And that would never do.
    ‘Lizzy, please!’ He pelted up behind her and caught her by the shoulder and turned her around. ‘I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I just – I wanted to tell you myself, before you heard it from someone else.’
    ‘Don’t be silly.’ She swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘And please don’t apologise. I’m happy for you, really. I’m fine.’
    She managed another smile and turned away, away from the anguished confusion on his face, and fled.

Chapter 6
    Hugh had