“But snakes cannot. You would be a mindless dolt to trust him again.”
“Perhaps.”
“If you hire another deceitful steward, I’ll not run over half the country trying to save you again.”
“How was it you thought to look for him before?” Bingley asked. “We all thought him dead. Why, you told me you buried him yourself.”
Richard lifted his shoulders. “Itlookedlike him. I cannot answer, truly, but something troubled me until I had the body exhumed.”
“You didwhat?” Bingley shuddered. “What a dreadful task! And how was it that you were able to confirm your suspicions?”
Richard glanced at his cousin, smothered a private smile, and answered casually, “I have an excellent memory for details.”
“Details? What sort of details could you find on a corpse that were not apparent at the burial?” Bingley wondered.
Darcy glared in warning, and Richard cleared his throat. He was spared the trouble of a response, however, for the man’s wife rescued him.
“Surely, Mr Bingley, you know that some individuals have distinctive characteristics. A man might have a mole on his chest, for instance, or a scar on his shoulder, or,” Elizabeth smiled at her husband, “a birth mark in the shape of a heart on his lower extremities.”
A choking noise sounded in Bingley’s throat, and his face turned red with the strain of containing his laughter. Darcy rolled his eye with a baleful look toward Elizabeth, who merely chuckled and whispered under her breath to Amália, “I shall be made to pay for that remark later!”
Amália laughed—not the trembling, hopeful response of an outsider now, but the hearty joy of one who has found her home. “It is fortunate for you that Mr Darcy is a forgiving man.”
“Oh! I hope he is nottooforgiving, else how shall I provoke him?”
“I am certain you will find some way, Lizzy,” Jane Bingley smiled. “Come, dear, I was hoping to take some exercise this afternoon. May we walk the shorter path round the lake? Lady Matlock, I would be so delighted if you might also join us.”
The gentlemen watched them go, and Richard stretched back out in his former place. “Mrs Bingley is a wise lady. I daresay she has the knack for keeping peace about your home, Bingley.”
“Indeed, she is an angel, but I suspect rather that she wished to share some glad tidings with the ladies before the family at large are informed.”
Darcy turned to his friend in surprise. “Congratulations, Bingley.”
“Thank you!” the gentleman beamed. “I suppose I ought to hope for a son this time, but I cannot bring myself to dislike the notion of another daughter. I could be content with an entire brood of girls, I think.”
Richard snorted. “You have not a disapproving aunt and a horde of jealous society ladies waiting for you to fail to produce an heir.”
“It takes more than one month, Fitzwilliam, but the more seriously you apply yourself to the effort, the greater your chances of success,” Bingley answered with a perfectly straight face, then sighed in purest bliss. “To think, after everything, that we have come to this! Darcy returned, you, Richard, retired from the Army, and all of us well matched. I never thought we might be so blessed.”
Richard pursed his lips and looked up at the sky. “A dream come true,” he murmured, almost to himself.
“No,” Darcy mused. “The dreamisthe truth. It was merely a shadow of what was to come, a promise of what is only dimly seen, and the hope of a new life. From this dream, I hope I shall never wake.”
ThirstyformoreofDarcy and Elizabeth overcoming the darkest odds? A love triangle, a heart change, and a family fighting together to save the ones they love. Lose yourself inTempted!
From Alix
Thankyouforindulgingwith me and spending a little time with Darcy and Elizabeth.
I hope you’ve had a delightful escape to Pemberley. I’d love it if you would share this family with your friends so they can experience a love to last for the ages. As with all my books, I have enabled lending to make it easier to share. If you leave a review forThese Dreamson Amazon, Goodreads, Book Bub or your own blog, I would love to read it! Email me the link [email protected]
Would you like to read more of Darcy and Elizabeth’s romance? I have an emotional rollercoaster for you to try next! Dive intoTemptedand see what happens when the gulf between Darcy and Elizabeth is wider than ever. Can these two find the love they were destined for?
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And now, keep reading for a preview ofTempted!
Stick around after that for a special bonus chapter of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Amalia’s story!
