Arranged to Darcy Read online

  Arranged To Darcy

  A Pride & Prejudice Regency Variation

  Rebecca Preston

  Illustrated by

  Kellie Dennis

  Edited by

  Kimberly Huther

  Copyright © 2017 Rebecca Preston

  All rights reserved.

  Cover design by Kellie Dennis

  Edited by Kimberly Huther, of Wordsmith Proofreading Services

  Similarities to real people, places or events are purely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Mailing List

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  About Rebecca Preston

  Also by Rebecca Preston

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  Chapter 1

  Elizabeth Bennet surveyed the room with trepidation. She and her sisters were only there at the behest of her mother, who insisted they attend whether they wanted to or not. Of course, Kitty and Lydia had prepared for the ball by flitting around the room, chatting excitedly about who they might see there. They teased Jane that Mr. Bingley would most certainly be in attendance, which irritated her to no end.

  Mary and Elizabeth had both begged their mother to let them stay home. They weren’t interested in socializing with the Bingleys, or anyone else for that matter. But Mrs. Bennet insisted, so they were both standing in a corner, watching their sisters flirt with every available man in the room.

  “Why do you suppose Mother insisted we be here tonight?” Elizabeth asked Mary, though she didn’t expect her sister to know. “Why must be we attend every event?”

  Mary shook her head. “I am certain she has her reasons.”

  Elizabeth grunted softly. “Oh, yes, she has her reasons.”

  “I’d like to go home,” Mary continued. “I’m in the middle of a very interesting novel and would like to finish it tonight.”

  Elizabeth scanned the room for her mother. “There she is. I’m going to ask her when we can go. Surely, she won’t insist we stay now that we’ve made an appearance.”

  Much to Elizabeth’s dismay, Mrs. Bennet didn’t let them leave the ball. She insisted they stay until the rest of the family was ready to go. The two girls stood in the corner, waiting with as much patience as they could muster.

  Once they crossed the threshold of Longbourn, they headed to their rooms without looking back until Mr. Bennet called to them.

  “We must meet in the drawing room, as I have an announcement to make. You can retire afterward.”

  “Oh, dear.” Elizabeth shook her head, but did as her father asked. She and Mary looked at each other, but said nothing. They reluctantly followed the rest of their family into the drawing room, where Lydia and Kitty seemed to be the only ones of the five Bennet daughters with any energy left. They were regaling their mother with stories of the ball and the interesting people they had talked to.

  “We saw you dancing with Mr. Bingley, Jane,” Lydia teased her eldest sister. “You’re quite taken with him. I understand why.” She lifted her small hands and clasped them together in front of her chest, a dreamy look in her eyes. She looked up at the ceiling for a moment and then cast her eyes upon Elizabeth. “And you, dear Lizzy, I did see you dancing. With Mr. Darcy, of all people, whom I believe you said would never have the chance to spin around the floor with you.”

  Elizabeth blushed furiously and shook her head, frowning at her sister. “I was being polite, Lydia. Don’t think more of it than it is.”

  “It’s interesting that you danced with Mr. Darcy, Lizzy.” Mr. Bennet gave her a warm smile. The look on his face brought Elizabeth to attention and she tilted her head to the side.

  “Oh? Why is that?”

  “What I have to announce concerns you. And Mr. Darcy.”

  Elizabeth clenched her jaw and steeled herself. If her father had anything to announce that involved both her and Mr. Darcy, it couldn’t be anything she wanted to hear. She didn’t think much of the man, as he was arrogant and pompous beyond comprehension. She was introduced to him by Charles Bingley, who was showing interest in her sister, Jane. She had immediately found him to be of distinctly low moral character, and was less than pleased about having been asked to dance by him at the ball that evening. But she couldn’t say no, as her mother was watching and would disapprove if she turned the gentleman down. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, master of Pemberley, the nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, was an honest and intelligent man, but had an ego that reached a heavenly level. His feelings of self-importance caused him to look down on those he considered inferior to him. It was the first thing Elizabeth had noticed about him. She hadn’t enjoyed a moment of their dance that evening, having to bite her tongue the entire time to keep herself from telling him what she thought of his outlandish behavior.

  He had been cordial enough but now, to be teased about it by her younger sister, she considered it to be one of the worst experiences of her life.

  “I can’t imagine what you could have to announce that would involve both myself and Mr. Darcy.” She dropped herself on the settee, looking into the fireplace and admiring the flickering flames. They had such freedom; they could dance on their own and not be worried about affairs of the day. “He’s a prideful man. His arrogance knows no bounds.”

  Her father looked at her with loving eyes. “I’m sorry to hear you say that, my dear Lizzy. You will be married to him within the month.”

  Elizabeth felt all the blood in her face drain and her stomach turn over. She suddenly felt faint. Her reaction was quiet compared to that of her sisters, who immediately raised their voices with questions and concern. Jane was at her side immediately, sitting and taking her hand. She patted it gently.

  “Lizzy, are you all right? It will be all right, dear. It will be all right.”

  “Mr. Bennet, when was this decided?” their mother asked, both shocked and delighted at the same time. She didn’t seem to notice the dismay on her daughter’s face. “You’ve kept this important event to yourself?”

  Mr. Bennet shook his head. “No, Mrs. Bennet, only tonight did this arrangement come about.”

  “Why would Mr. Darcy want to marry me?” Elizabeth asked breathlessly. “We have no money, no station in society.”

  “We are a well-loved family, Lizzy,” Mr. Bennet protested. “And it will be quite profitable for our family for you to wed this young gentleman. And he spoke highly of you when we discussed this earlier this evening.”

  Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. “He did? What did he have to say about me?”

  Jane squeezed her hand, looking at her sympathetically. “Oh, Lizzy.” She glanced at her sister, shaking her head.

  “He sa
id that you’re a fine young woman with good breeding and manners. He believes you to be strong-willed, but competent in many ways.” Her father went to the bar and poured himself a glass of brandy. “I believe those are accurate assumptions of your character, my dear.”

  Elizabeth pulled in a deep breath. She could refuse to marry Mr. Darcy, but she had her family to think of. His income would be a boost to them all, especially since, upon their father’s death, the deed to Longbourne would be taken up by Mr. Collins, whom everyone expected to somewhat ruthlessly take possession of the manor and force her, her mother, and her sisters to leave. This might prove difficult, should any of them still be unmarried. And what might happen to their mother? Mr. Bennet’s death was not approaching quickly, but it was best to be secured in case such a thing happened unexpectedly. She turned the idea over in her mind several times, trying to picture herself married to Mr. Darcy.

  “You have decided for me,” Elizabeth murmured, lowering her head.

  “I apologize, my dear,” Mr. Bennet responded, approaching to stand in front of her. “It’s for the best. Mr. Darcy is a gentleman with money and class. He’ll be a good husband for you.”

  “He’s a disagreeable, arrogant man. And I don’t love him,” Elizabeth said weakly. “I don’t even like him.”

  Her mother came to sit on the other side of her, putting her arm around her shoulders. “You’ll learn to love him, my dear. Think of what it means to this family. You’ll be in a position to provide assistance should it be needed, if something tragic were to happen.”

  Lizzy put her hands over her face, trying to keep back the tears. Her future… bleak, dark, unhappy. Bound to a man who looked down on nearly everyone, spoke very little, had few positive opinions, and enjoyed insulting those he didn’t understand. Elizabeth loved her father, but it was hard to believe he had sacrificed his own daughter for the money that could be made because of it.

  “Don’t weep, my dear,” her mother whispered. “You’ll be happy. Eventually. You’ll learn to love him. I’m quite sure of it.”

  Her sisters gathered around her, embracing her and whispering comforting words in her ears.

  It was going to be a difficult evening for Lizzy. She wasn’t going to get any sleep at all.

  Chapter 2

  Elizabeth was seated at her dressing table, touching up her hair and staring at herself in the mirror. She wasn’t particularly anxious to attend the ball that evening at Sir William Lucas’ home. The only reason she was going at all was to see her sisters. Jane had been spending more time with Charles Bingley and his sisters. She didn’t care for the two sisters, but knew that an appearance at the party was the only way she would be able to connect with Jane and gather information about her well-being. Mary hadn’t been forthcoming when they spoke of it, except to say that she was concerned about the whole affair and something seemed odd to her about it. She asked Elizabeth to consider it, and this would be the first opportunity she had to do so.

  But in the time since her forced betrothal to Mr. Darcy, her opinion of him hadn’t changed. He was still the sour, bitter man she thought him to be initially. She longed for a positive outlook from him. He was a handsome man and would produce beautiful children, she was sure of that. So far, however, children were the furthest thing from either of their minds. He was too arrogant and self-centered to care for children. If they were to have any, she was certain she would be the one raising them. She wouldn’t allow a nanny to take care of them. Her children would be her own to raise. With a man like Fitzwilliam Darcy, she was sure he wouldn’t be participating any more than he absolutely had to.

  Elizabeth looked into her own eyes in the mirror, thinking about the past few weeks. She and Darcy hadn’t related to one another as well as she would have liked. In fact, her opinion that he was a pompous and prideful man held steadfast as she discovered more about him in the weeks since their betrothal.

  She wanted to relate to him. She wanted to talk to him and have meaningful conversations with him. She knew that he was intelligent and had gone on many adventures in his short time on earth. But he was less than willing to have those conversations with her. She often wondered why he had agreed to marry her. She had nothing to offer him as far as money or title was concerned. All she had to give was good conversation and companionship, neither of which he seemed interested in.

  She sighed, longing for a positive feeling in her bones, a positive thought in her mind. She pushed back and stood up, smoothing her dress down. She went outside and saw Darcy standing by the carriage, waiting for her.

  As she rode in the carriage next to Darcy, she knew it was doubtful her sisters were waiting to see her. She could picture Jane dancing with Mr. Bingley, a bright smile on her face, a longing look in her eyes as she gazed up at him. She knew Lydia and Kitty were happily socializing with their friends, and dancing with anyone who signed their cards. Mary might be dancing but it was more likely she was standing in a corner, drinking tea and watching everyone around her with curious eyes. If anyone wrote a book about the goings-on at the local parties, it would be Mary. With all the reading she did, Elizabeth was sure writing would be easy for the girl.

  “Will you dance with me at the party tonight, Lizzy?” Darcy asked, using an unfamiliarly kind tone of voice.

  Elizabeth looked at him with surprise on her slender face. “Dance with you? You’re to be my husband. I’m most certainly dancing with you, if I dance with anyone.”

  Darcy nodded. “I don’t want to look foolish to the Bingleys or any of the other members of society.”

  She should have guessed that his request to dance with her hadn’t come from a desire to be close to her or get to know her better. He didn’t want to look foolish, and that sounded more like him than anything else. She tried to hide her sneer and nodded.

  “No, of course you don’t want to look foolish. Neither do I. We shall dance every dance if that’s what you wish.”

  He shook his head. His lack of a smile indicated he had taken her seriously. “I don’t wish to dance every dance. I must have my time to speak with Charles. Damn those sisters of his. They’re bothersome, and terrible gossips.”

  “Perhaps he won’t be standing with them and you’ll be allowed to chat freely with him.”

  “I’ve noticed in the past that they tend to stick close to him during those times when they’re not dancing. He dances nearly every dance.” Darcy looked at Elizabeth. “Most often with your sister, I’ve noticed.”

  Elizabeth looked up at him through narrowed eyes. “You don’t say that with a pleasant tone, Mr. Darcy.”

  Darcy looked away from her, scanning the horizon as though he saw the most interesting artifacts in the distance. When he didn’t reply, she pressed her lips together in frustration and vowed not to speak to him for the rest of the night.

  It proved to be a very difficult vow to keep. After the dancing had exhausted most of the party-goers, they all gathered in the billiards room to have tea or brandy and partake of small biscuits filled with a delicious jam. Elizabeth seated herself on a comfortable couch, content with her cup of tea, her biscuit, and her sister Jane at her side.

  Jane leaned toward her, whispering in Elizabeth’s ear though her eyes were on Darcy across the room speaking to Charles Bingley. “Our gentlemen speak to each other, Lizzy. What do you suppose they’re saying?”

  “I wouldn’t know, Jane. I can’t tell you anything about my fiancé, for I don’t know him myself.”

  “You’ve had several weeks to learn the nuances of the man, Lizzy, and still you know nothing?”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “He doesn’t speak to me any more than he speaks to anyone else. Mr. Bingley knows him much better than I do. Why do you suppose he deigned to marry someone as lowly as myself?”

  “You mustn’t speak of yourself in such a manner. You’ll learn his nature. It’s taking time. That’s all.”

  “I tire of trying.”

  “It’s too soon to say such a thing.”
Jane sighed, patting her sister’s hand. “You have yet to be married. I do believe Mr. Bingley fancies me, Lizzy.” Her voice was low, but excited nonetheless. Elizabeth gave her a soft grin.

  “Surely you don’t think this is news to me. Nor to anyone who sees you dancing with him. You’re alight with pleasure whenever you’re near him. It’s obvious.”

  Jane shook her head. “I do admire him so, Lizzy. He’s so handsome and witty. He holds the most intelligent conversations with me. I have truly never felt like this before.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I know, Jane.”

  “He complimented with me with several dances tonight.”

  She nodded again. “I saw you dance with him often. You smile twice as wide when he has you in hand. Still, you must be cautious. I’m unsure about his sisters. They do seem a bit odd to me.”

  Jane frowned slightly, looking confused. “They’re fine ladies. What bad do you have to say of them?”

  Elizabeth thought for a moment before answering. She didn’t want to offend Jane, who never saw anything but good in everyone. She had never personally heard Jane speak ill of anyone in her entire life. “I must say what’s on my mind, dear Jane, though I can’t tell you what opinion to have of them. You certainly do spend more time with them than I do.”

  “You’re unhappy, Lizzy. It’s a shame; you seemed to enjoy dancing with him tonight.”