Free My Dearest Mr. Darcy: An Amazing Journey Into Love Everlasting by Sharon Lathan

William!"
    He took the proffered letter and sat back with a contented sigh, his father-in-law's writing always amusing. Lizzy rang for refreshments, it having been over two hours since lunch and the baby demanded nourishment. She stood by the window, rubbing her belly while their son somersaulted, and watched Darcy's face as he read.
    He smiled, laughed, and grunted precisely as she knew he would during certain sentences, adding an occasional comment. "Brave am I? Yes, that is true... Poor Mr. Daniels!... Pathetic? Well, I suppose so... 'Not too much' he says! The man tortured and terrified me... Hmmm... You are welcome, Mr. Bennet... There shall be the test, my love. I will have you and our son stand across from the library door and see where he goes first... Ha! 'Greater sense and wisdom.' From the mouth of your father. Surely you cannot argue with that?" He grinned up at his wife, who ignored the query.
    Mary's correspondence arrived three days later. Lizzy sat on the terrace, fanning herself and praying for a breeze, no matter how faint. Darcy was at the stables. On occasion Lizzy would accompany him for a spell, but today he planned to assist with breaking a horse, and Lizzy absolutely refused to watch. The process terrified her and she fretted all day while he was at the endeavor. Darcy knew her fears and generally evaded elaborating on his planned activities, but if she pointedly inquired, he would not lie. He deplored worrying her but could not resist the lure of the corral. Lizzy recognized his love for the work so attempted to hide her anxiety and disapproval, learning it best to not ask his agenda for the day.
    Therefore, it was painfully obvious when he was to train! If Darcy's docket included riding about the farms, or visiting a fishery or mill, or checking on the breeding proceedings, he was open in sharing, giving her a complete rundown of his time so she would know precisely where he was and when he expected to return. If, on the other hand, he remained mum or became vague, she knew it meant a day of vigorous and dangerous exercise with a wild horse.
    Such had been the case this morning. He woke her early, the sun barely illuminating the room. Lizzy groaned and vainly attempted to ignore the sweet kisses being rained along her shoulder and the insistent hands roaming freely. Her husband, however, was in a mood and, as was generally the case, finagled matters to arrive at the outcome he wanted. Afterwards, just as a blissfully content and tingly Lizzy was drifting back into sleep, she asked groggily, "What are your plans for the day? Are you staying with me or going for a ride?"
    She could tell instantly by the silence and slight stiffening of his body that the news was unfavorable. Darcy was a terrible liar and even after all this time had yet to arrive at a plausible alibi. "I shall be riding, yes, then I... have business with Mr. Thurber and... um, well, boring... issues to attend to, and... I do not know when I shall return, but certainly for dinner, my love, so do not worry. I love you."
    Now, staring at the rippling water of the lake, Lizzy sighed deeply and gave up on her prayers for a cooling wind. A sudden burst of restlessness consumed her and, grabbing her bonnet, she rose to her feet, deciding that a walk among the trees was essential. She pivoted to the door, nearly colliding with the maid.
    "Forgive me, madam. I was bringing these to you." She held out two envelopes. "The post just arrived."
    "Thank you, Abigail. Could you please inform Mrs. Reynolds that I will be walking the north trail to the rock pond?"
    The trail leading to the pond skirted the edge of the forest. The canopy of leaves coupled with the perpetually damp loam of the floor created a significantly cooler atmosphere. Lizzy immediately perked up under the shade, rejuvenated to the point of adequately relinquishing the unrelenting angst over Darcy's employment. Sitting on one of the artistically arranged and sheltered rock benches