Free To Refuse Such a Man: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by P. O. Dixon

teasing game.
    He slid down from his tall stallion and strode to Elizabeth’s mount. Placing his hands around her tiny waist, he lowered her to the ground. Allowing scant space between them, he removed one hand from her waist and lifted her chin with his finger. His eyes daring, he peered into hers.
    “Shall I take it that your reading experiences have prepared you for all you need to know about what happens between a man and a woman?”
    Elizabeth gulped. Her heart slammed against her chest. Biting her lower lip, she said, “No—”
    Leaning closer, he whispered in her ear. “Good, for that will be my job.”
    His warm breath against her skin stirred her entire being.
    His eyes feasting on her face, he moistened his lips. “Come,” he said tenderly, taking her hand in his. “Let us walk the remainder of the way.”
    Strolling along, Elizabeth could scarcely calm her racing heartbeat . What in the world was I thinking to be teasing him? I ought to know by now that such a man is not to be toyed with. The way he stared at her sent piercing sensations coursing through her body that lingered still. Even the touch of his hand caused her stomach to flutter. Elizabeth did not know whether to be pleased with herself knowing just how much Mr. Darcy was in her power or deeply concerned with the knowledge of just how much she was surrendering herself to his.

Chapter 9 – ‘Tis as Good as a Lord
    Soon after, Elizabeth entered the house and handed the awaiting servant her bonnet. Her mama approached her directly. “Lizzy, my wonderful child, pray where on Earth have you been all this time? I had expected you to return from your morning ramble hours ago.”
    The sight of her mother recalled Elizabeth to the evening before.
    When her mother went up to her dressing room, Elizabeth followed her and made the important communication. Its effect was most extraordinary, for on first hearing it, Mrs. Bennet sat quite still, unable to utter a syllable. At length, she began to recover. She fidgeted about in her chair, got up, sat down again, wondered and blessed herself.
    “Good gracious! Lord bless me! Only think! Dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it! And is it really true? Oh! My sweetest Lizzy! How rich and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have!
    “I am so pleased—so happy. Such a charming man! So handsome! So tall! Oh, my dear Lizzy! Pray, apologize for my having disliked him so much before. I hope he will overlook it. Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Everything that is charming! Ten thousand a year! Oh, Lord! What will become of me? I shall go distracted.”
    This was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted and all her hopes of an alliance with Longbourn’s heir forgotten. Elizabeth, rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself, soon went away. But before she had been three minutes in her own room, her mother followed her.
    “My dearest child,” she cried, “I can think of nothing else! Ten thousand a year, and very likely more! ‘Tis as good as a Lord! And a special license. You must and shall be married by a special license. Oh! I do not know how I shall ever sleep tonight. There is so much to entertain!”
    Elizabeth hoped that, by now, her mama had accustomed herself to the news, thus sparing Mr. Darcy the prospect of an unseemly spectacle. “I—I was caught in the rain and I sought shelter at —”
    “—You certainly do not look like someone who was caught in the rain. Your clothes are as dry as can be. Oh! Never mind all that. Run upstairs and change into something more fitting for your future husband. He has ten thousand pounds you know, and I shall expect him to call on Longbourn at any moment. Put on the lovely dress that I had Sarah place on your bed. You must look your best for Mr. Darcy, else he might change his mind.”
    Mrs. Bennet continued, “I am most eager to share our family’s happy news with all my neighbors.