Free Darcy and Elizabeth What If? Collection 3 by Jennifer Lang Page A

Would he be happy now that he was about to embark upon a career in the militia . . . and pursuing Miss King, if the gossip from Meryton could be believed?
    Elizabeth found she did not care. She had not been sure, at first, if she should believe Mr Darcy, but she had no reason to doubt him, especially as he had offered his cousin as a witness to the truth of things. And when she thought of Mr Wickham, she realised she had reason to doubt his version of events. He had spoken to her, a stranger, about personal matters almost as soon as he met her. He had said he would never speak ill of Mr Darcy, and had then done so. He had said he was not afraid of meeting Mr Darcy, and he had then avoided him. All of these things pointed out his deceitful nature, which was hidden under easy manners and a charming smile.
    What a fool he must have thought me! Elizabeth told herself, vexed to think how easily she had been taken in.
    And what of Mr Darcy? He was a perplexing man. He was proud and superior and he did not trouble to make himself agreeable to strangers, but beneath his haughty exterior there lurked a man of feeling and sense.
    And a man who was willing to learn.
    She felt a warmth steal over her as she thought, He is willing to learn, in order to please me .
    To have the power of influencing such a man was something indeed. And she had already used her influence for good. Only that morning, when she awoke, she had been thinking ill of Mr Darcy as she remembered her sister’s unhappiness, but he had changed his ways and now meant to give his blessing to her sister’s union with Mr Bingley. Elizabeth had no doubt that an engagement would soon be announced.
    Mr Darcy had not mended his ways where Mr Wickham was concerned, but then, he had not needed to because he had been right all along. It was Elizabeth who had to rearrange her thoughts.
    She realised, ruefully, I have had to learn from him. I believed everything Mr Wickham said. How foolish I have been!
    But Mr Darcy had not berated her for it. He had, instead, explained matters to her in a quiet and gentlemanlike manner.
    He once said that his good opinion, once lost, is lost forever , thought Elizabeth. I am lucky I did not lose his good opinion by my defence of Mr Wickham.
    A warm feeling again stole over her as she thought, I do not believe I could ever lose his good opinion. I believe he loves me!
    The thought brought a smile to her face.
    ‘You should not be doing that, Lizzy. You are a guest here,’ said Charlotte, as Elizabeth finished mending the pillow case and took a petticoat out of the sewing basket.
    ‘I hope I am not too grand to help a friend,’ said Elizabeth.
    ‘Thank you. I want to finish all the mending as quickly as possible so that I can turn my attention to making a new gown. Mr Collins is certain there will be a wedding here soon and, as the clergyman’s wife, I want to look my best.’
    ‘Oh? Who is about to marry?’ asked Elizabeth with interest.
    ‘Miss Anne de Bourgh. She has been promised to Mr Darcy since her cradle and as he has brought forward his visit this year, it seems as though he is about to make the engagement official.’
    Elizabeth bit her tongue as Charlotte continued to talk of Mr Darcy’s marriage to Miss de Bourgh as a settled thing. But at last she could bear it no longer. She put down her sewing and said, ‘Mr Darcy will never marry Anne de Bourgh.’
    Charlotte looked at her in surprise.
    ‘Why not?’ Charlotte asked.
    ‘Because, only this morning, Mr Darcy proposed to me,’ said Elizabeth.
    Charlotte was stunned. It was a full minute before she could speak.
    ‘Mr Darcy proposed to you?’ she asked incredulously.
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘But . . . when . . . where . . . ?’
    ‘In the park. I was taking my morning walk as usual when he joined me.’
    ‘But are you sure you are not mistaken?’ asked Charlotte. ‘He meant, perhaps, that he was to marry Miss de Bourgh?’
    ‘Charlotte,’ said Elizabeth, putting a hand on