Desperate Hearts: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Read online

  Desperate Hearts

  A Pride and Prejudice Variation

  by Anna Kate Suton

  ©2016 Anna Kate Suton All Rights Reserved

  Cover design by the Author

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored into, or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, printing out, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book except in the case of a brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either from Jane Austen’s novels or from the author’s own imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and purely coincidental.

  Dedication

  To all the authors of the Jane Austen fan fiction (JAFF) books that have given me such pleasure to read, and inspired me to write this story.

  To Emerian Rich, Brenda J. Webb, Jen Red, and DarcyandLizzy.com readers for their encouragement, support, and help.

  And of course to Jane Austen herself, who continues to entertain and inspire all of us.

  Prologue: A merry walk in Meryton

  “I am glad that you decided to join me this morning, Darcy. Both Sir William Lucas and Mr. Bennet recommended the Meryton Book Shop when they called on me to welcome me to the neighbourhood. And Miss Bennet mentioned something about her father’s excellent library and all the first-edition and special-edition volumes he has purchased here. I am pleased that you found something to your liking.” Charles Bingley was looking very pleased with himself at having drawn his friend Fitzwilliam Darcy out of Netherfield for a ride to Meryton and a walk around the village.

  Darcy shrugged. “I have to admit that for a little backwater it does have an excellent book shop. I had planned to order this book, a parody of New York history written by a new American author under the pen name of Knickerbocker, when I am next in town, and here it is right now.”

  “And I am sure that your sister will be quite pleased with that folio,” Bingley said.

  “Indeed. Georgiana will enjoy the music, but I am always giving her music. I wanted to find something different for her birthday, and I believe she will be delighted with this collection of drawings of animals from The New World,” Darcy smiled, patting the package he was carrying.

  “Louisa’s birthday is also coming up soon and I should like to find something to please her.” Bingley commented.

  To which Darcy replied, “I have noticed no particular fondness for books on your sister’s part. What do you propose to find in Meryton that would meet your sister’s high standards? Certainly she would find it insulting for you to gift her with gloves or a shawl purchased from a country shop?” Darcy and Bingley exchanged knowing grins.

  “Sir William also recommended the confectioner, and Louisa is excessively fond of sweets so I should like to get a box for her,” Bingley told him. “Given that he was so accurate about the book shop I am going to trust that he is equally correct about the confectioner. Says the man is from Switzerland and creates the most divine sweets that are much in demand by the local ladies.”

  “Which brings to mind: what is this party we’ve been invited to tomorrow evening and why would we wish to attend?” Darcy asked his friend as they strolled down the street.

  Bingley, who loved social events in the countryside, knew he would have some work to do to convince Darcy that country society is not something savage to be avoided at all costs.

  “Darcy, it is a small gathering at Lucas Lodge hosted by Sir William. He is the mayor of Meryton, you know, and everybody who is anybody in the neighbourhood will be there. You met him at the assembly last week, remember? A very amiable fellow. There will be cards, music, good food, and most likely some dancing.” Bingley added this last item cautiously for he knew how much Darcy disliked dancing. Or so he said. “C’mon, it will be fun, and there will be plenty of pretty ladies. The Bennets will be there, you know,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

  Darcy grumbled that that was not enough to tempt him and hoped that would be an end to it. He had not quite decided whether Sir William was in fact amiable or simply a preening peacock and a crushing bore. But Bingley would not be dissuaded and continued on happily, much to Darcy’s annoyance. “Well, I am looking forward to it. Especially to seeing Miss Bennet again. I plan to take the opportunity to speak to her father for his permission to court the lady.”

  “I believe you will have an opportunity to encounter Miss Bennet sooner than you expected,” Darcy said as he nodded toward the confectioner’s shop. There inside the very shop the two gentlemen were about to enter were none other than the two eldest Miss Bennets, making a purchase.

  The gentlemen tied their horses to a rail and then Bingley all but flew into the shop, with Darcy following somewhat more sedately. “Miss Bennet! Miss Elizabeth! How delightful to see you again!” Bingley cried out to them.

  Upon hearing their names, Jane and Elizabeth turned and, seeing who called out, dropped curtsies to the two gentlemen who in turn bowed to them.

  “What do you recommend, Miss Bennet? I imagine you are more familiar with the specialties of this shop than I am, and I would like to present a box of sweets to my sister Louisa for her birthday two days hence.” Bingley was practically glowing as he moved closer to Jane.

  Jane bestowed her radiant smile on the man and answered directly. “If Louisa favours marzipan, then you simply must bring her some of Mr. Hutter’s. I daresay you will not find their equal, even in London. He is an absolute genius about creating lovely and fanciful shapes. Just look at these miniature roses.”

  “And do not overlook the jordan almonds, Mr. Bingley. They are quite excellent.” Elizabeth added.

  “Very well” Bingley smiled widely. “I shall buy her a box of both – according to your recommendations!” He gave his order to the sales clerk, who carefully placed the candies into a pretty presentation box and wrapped it up with an equally pretty ribbon.

  “And you, Mr. Darcy? Do you desire a box of bonbons? Or would the sweets clash with your disposition?” Elizabeth asked, arching one eyebrow.

  Darcy looked at Elizabeth with surprise. “I have already purchased a birthday gift for my own sister, Miss Elizabeth. At the book shop,” he said and indicated the sizeable paper-wrapped package he carried. “As to sweets, you and your sister are surely all the sweetness anyone could want.”

  Elizabeth took the box of sweets that she herself had purchased as the clerk handed it to her, glad that her back was turned to Darcy so he could not see her smile as her face reddened. She then turned to Jane. “Are we ready to go back to Longbourn or was there another shop you wished to visit? We have our ribbons, mama’s cologne, papa’s tobacco, and our jordan almonds. Is there something else or shall we begin our walk?” she asked her sister.

  Jane looked first at Bingley and then at her sister. “I am quite ready to return home.”

  “Excellent,” said Mr. Bingley. “May we accompany you?” he asked.

  “Thank you. We would like that very much” Jane replied. “Perhaps you and Mr. Darcy can stay and partake of Cook’s lovely ginger cake with our family?”

  Bingley answered before Darcy could comment. “We would be most honoured – and Darcy is very fond of ginger cake, you know.” He held out his arm and Jane placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. “May I carry your parcels for you, Miss Bennet?” he asked, noticing that she carried a basket with several small packages in her
other hand.

  “Thank you Mr. Bingley” Jane smiled at him as she handed him the basket.

  And so they walked off, leaving Darcy and Elizabeth to follow. Darcy offered Elizabeth his arm.

  “Are you sure it would not be a punishment to walk with me, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked playfully, raising one eyebrow as she looked at Darcy, who immediately flushed a most flattering shade of red.

  “I beg your pardon, Miss Bennet? Why would you think that?” he asked her.

  Elizabeth could barely hide a smirk. “You once made it quite clear that in reference to dancing you found me barely tolerable. I simply wondered if the same criterion also applied to walking.”

  Darcy gazed at her. He had been “accidentally” crossing paths with Elizabeth every morning when he took Paris out for his rides and Elizabeth walked the fields. This took a bit of management skill, not to mention patience, as Elizabeth rarely walked the same path or began her walks at the same hour two days in a row. With a little luck and the judicious use of his spyglass, however, Darcy had managed to track her down and join her each morning. After spending several mornings together rambling the Hertfordshire countryside he could finally tell when she was teasing him – or as he preferred to think of it, flirting with him. He gave her what he hoped was a flirtatious smile before responding. Then, losing nerve, he looked down at his boots.

  “Miss Bennet, you know perfectly well that we have already settled the issue of my unguarded comments at the Assembly. As you know, they were not directed towards you, but were simply a momentary expression of frustration with Bingley for pushing me into attending the assembly when I was so fatigued. Clearly I was not being as careful, or as observant, as I should have been. Had I been either one, I could never have uttered such blatant falsehoods.” He took a breath; this was likely the longest speech he had ever delivered to a lady. Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled. She so enjoyed watching this very proper, very amiable, and very handsome man turn into a stammering schoolboy.

  When Darcy looked up at her he was greeted with a rather skeptical smile and a gentle blush, both of which he found quite becoming. “That is true,” she said. “But you must admit that you have never properly atoned for your mistakes.” Elizabeth’s smile was about to turn into a laugh.

  Darcy’s expression took on a pained look. “Please, Miss Bennet, I have most sincerely apologized. How must I now atone to you for my blunders so we can finally put this matter to rest?”

  Elizabeth was by now laughing openly at Darcy’s discomfort. “Well, sir,” she teased. “I believe you might begin your atonement by offering to carry this basket for me. And then we shall consider what other commissions we can devise for you to redeem yourself.”

  How could I have ever been such a fool as not to notice her lovely eyes and pretty face, even at a public assembly? Darcy silently asked himself.

  “Whatever you wish, Miss Bennet, I will undertake to do until I have earned your complete forgiveness.” Darcy took the basket of parcels from Elizabeth and again offered her his arm. This time she placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. They stopped for a moment outside the confectioner’s shop to retrieve Darcy’s horse, and, with him holding the reins, they followed Jane and Bingley, who was holding the reins of his own horse.

  Bingley might be thinking himself at this moment to be the luckiest man in town, Darcy mused. But he would be mistaken. He looked again at Elizabeth, this time with the beginning of a dimpled smile on his face. “Will your family be attending the party at Lucas Lodge tomorrow evening, Miss Bennet?”

  One: Lucas Lodge the following evening

  As they were at the recent assembly, once again the Netherfield party was the last to arrive. Jane and Elizabeth were both quite anxious to see their favourites, so even while circulating and conversing with their many friends, they watched the doorway to the parlour – surreptitiously, or so they thought.

  “They will be here, Lizzy. Mr. Bingley assured my father that they would attend this evening,” Charlotte Lucas whispered to her friend. “Watching for their entrance will not bring them here any sooner!” Charlotte and Lizzy shared a laugh at how obvious she had been in her impatience to see Mr. Darcy again.

  “Yes, I know it will not bring them here sooner. I just want to get the first glimpse of him as soon as he walks into the room.” Elizabeth looked at her friend shyly, a blush colouring her cheeks. Charlotte smiled knowingly at her friend.

  “Why don’t we have some punch, Lizzy? Perhaps when we return to your watch position they will be here.” Elizabeth agreed and they made their way to the refreshment table at the other side of the room.

  As she took a cup of punch from the serving maid, Jane came up beside her. “Look, Lizzy! Here they are! Doesn’t Mr. Bingley look dashing in dark grey? It sets off his light colouring so well.” Jane was speaking to her sister but her attention was on the front entrance to the spacious room where the Bingleys, the Hursts, and Mr. Darcy were being introduced to Lady Lucas and the two adult Lucas sons, John and James. Even while the introductions were being made, Darcy’s and Bingley’s eyes were scanning the room.

  As soon as courtesy permitted, the two broke away from the rest of their party and headed towards the other end of the room where they had spied the Bennet sisters. Bingley made his way hastily while Darcy moved rather more slowly so as not to draw attention to himself. Jane and Elizabeth began to walk casually towards the newcomers, so Bingley met Jane in the middle of the room, where he took her hand, bent over it, and kissed it. “How wonderful to see you again, Miss Bennet,” he enthused, still holding her hand as he was unwilling to release it. Jane did not seem to mind.

  Elizabeth caught Darcy’s eye and could feel the corners of her lips beginning to turn up into a smile, an action mirrored on Darcy’s face. When they were close enough to speak to one another, Darcy bowed to Elizabeth, who returned a curtsy. He noticed that Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him, which usually indicated that she was about to make a teasing – or, as Darcy preferred to think of it, flirtatious – comment to him. He was not disappointed.

  “Mr. Darcy! You do seem to enjoy making an entrance, sir. Or do you simply lose track of time in making your preparations, and so end up arriving later than everyone else?” She took a sip of her punch and looked at him expectantly over the punch cup.

  “It is not me who makes us late, Miss Elizabeth; I do not enjoy making myself an object of attention. Bingley, Hurst, and I were ready to leave Netherfield almost an hour ago. It is in fact Miss Bingley who enjoys making a grand entrance, and who are we mere men to deny her this pleasure?” His smile grew as he spoke to Elizabeth, glowing in the realization that he had her full attention in this room full of her neighbours.

  “It is as I suspected, Mr. Darcy. You do have a warm heart filled with patience and generosity beneath that cold exterior. I do wish that we here in Meryton could see your warm heart more often.” Elizabeth slowly blinked her eyes closed and then slowly reopened them. Like a cat, Darcy thought, watching her intently. Too intently apparently; he was dismayed to realize that his body was beginning to betray his attraction to this lovely woman. Oh dear.

  The first time such a thing had happened at an inopportune moment to a teenaged Darcy while in the company of a delectable female, he had consulted his more worldly elder cousin, Lionel Fitzwilliam – now Colonel Fitzwilliam – about what to do. His cousin had smirked in sympathy and suggested that Darcy had three choices: jump into a pool of cold water, go stand by the window looking out, or redirect his thoughts to someone who is the antithesis of delectable. With no convenient access to a cold pool of water, and the closest window being on the far side of the room, Darcy conjured up images of the imperious, supercilious, and predatory Caroline Bingley. With such thoughts, in just a few moments the hairs on the back of his neck may have been standing upright, but another part of his anatomy had relaxed back into its normal resting place.

  Elizabeth noted his flushed colouring and ragged breathing w
ith curiosity. “Are you quite well, Mr. Darcy?” she enquired.

  Darcy flashed her a weak smile, hoping that she had not discerned the source of his discomfort. Once he had recovered himself, Darcy responded to Elizabeth’s comments: “I merely swallowed this punch the wrong way. All is now well. You may see my warm heart any time you please, Miss Elizabeth! I would be most happy to show it to you. You have only to ask.” Darcy blushed again . “I do not like to expose my heart to everyone I meet, but I believe I can trust you not to take advantage of it.”

  “Then others have done so, Mr. Darcy? How so?”

  The smile left Darcy’s lips. “I hope you will excuse me, Miss Elizabeth, but I do not think this is the proper time and place to speak of such things. Let me just say that I have more than once been betrayed by someone I trusted. Do you not find that literature is full of such betrayals? Surely this is a reflection of life being full of them too. Perhaps in another time and place we may have a conversation on this subject. Tonight, however, it is too maudlin a topic to bring into this gathering. Listen! I hear the music for The Juice of Barley starting up. I believe you mentioned that it was one of your favourite dances. Would you do me the honour of standing up with me in this first dance?” Darcy looked hopefully at Elizabeth, and was rewarded with her smiling assent. He took her hand and led her to the area of the room where the furniture had been pushed to the side and the rug had been rolled up, and now couples were lined up to dance.