A Wife for Mr. Darcy

like it. Mr. Collins will say something about Lady Catherine, which will cause Mrs. Crenshaw to remember something what Lady So and So said, and so it goes. And when Mr. Collins ain’t talking, he’s humming. It is irritating, but it does give us fair warning that he’s coming, and we make ourselves scarce.”
    Before leaving, Tom asked if he might say hello to Mrs. Hill in the kitchen, and the sisters exchanged glances, knowing that the person he really wanted to say hello to was Betsy, their kitchen maid.
    After he left, Lizzy said, “Love is in the air. Tom and Betsy, Mr. Collins and Charlotte, Mr. Bingley and you.”
    “And Lizzy and Mr. Darcy,” Jane said, completing the list. After reading Mr. Bingley’s note and tucking it in her pocket, she told Lizzy that they had been invited to dine at Netherfield Park. “Mr. Bingley is to send his carriage at 3:00. I think I shall put on one of my better frocks. Will you do the same?”
    “There is no need for that. Once Mr. Bingley sets eyes on you, he will not see anyone else. It will be as if I am not there at all.”
    “Well, let us dress up anyway.”
    “Whatever you say, as I am in a most agreeable mood.”

    As soon as Bingley and the Darcys entered the foyer of Netherfield Park, the now voluminous Mrs. Crenshaw attempted to embrace her brother. Also there to greet the party from London was Athena. Although the little imp made a perfect curtsey and welcomed Miss Darcy to Netherfield Park, Georgiana would trust her only as far as she could throw her.
    When Charles informed his sister that Jane and Elizabeth would be dining with them, Mrs. Crenshaw could barely contain her enthusiasm.
    “Oh, that is such good news, brother. Mr. Collins has gone to Lucas Lodge to visit Miss Lucas, who has completely recovered from her illness. I must confess I am glad that he will not be at table with us. He talks a good deal and rarely gives the other party a chance to say anything, but he is a pleasant man and, for the most part, has been good company.”
    Georgiana and Will looked at each other. This was a complication they did not need. Once Mr. Collins realized he was under the same roof as the nephew and niece of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, they would become a captive audience. That was not going to happen if Georgiana had anything to say about it.

    As soon as the carriage conveying Jane and Lizzy pulled up in front of the manor house, Mr. Bingley was out the door and whispered in Jane’s ear. It was obviously something very special as Jane nodded her head in approval. After greeting Mrs. Crenshaw, Charles suggested they go into the drawing room, but told Lizzy that a friend of hers from town had asked that he deliver a letter to her and that he had placed it on the desk in the library.
    When Lizzy went into the library, it was very dark, with only the glow of embers in the fireplace providing any light, so she was startled when a man stepped out of the shadows.
    “Hello, Elizabeth.”
    “Mr. Darcy!” and she placed her hand over her chest to calm her heart. “You are not in London?” And she could hear the quaver in her voice.
    “No, I am not in London. Do you not know why I am here?”
    “I would rather not guess. Can’t you just tell me?”
    Darcy stepped forward and traced the outline of Elizabeth’s face with his fingers. “I am here so that I might tell you how much I love you—unconditionally, with no restraints, and with all my heart.” And then he kissed her, and all the passion of their first kiss at Pemberley returned, and she felt drawn into his very being, that is, until she heard someone coming down the hall, and that someone was humming.
    “Mr. Darcy, quickly,” and she took him by the hand and led him to a space between two bookshelves, and she put her finger to her lips and whispered, “It is Mr. Collins.”
    As the reverend went in search of a book, the lovers remained stranded. For fear that she would break out laughing at the absurdity of their situation, Lizzy buried her head in Mr. Darcy’s chest.
    Mr. Darcy reacted differently. He gathered Lizzy in a tight embrace and ran his hands down her back until they rested on her waist, and then he pulled her hips toward him. Without hesitation, she moved against him, and she felt a warmth in every part of her body. After pulling her sleeve down her arm, he kissed her shoulder with his lips and tongue, and she thought that there was nothing as wonderful as this. When they finally heard