Kara Louise: Only Mr. Darcy Will Do

“None. Your aunt said that Lydia is convinced he will return shortly and she most likely will take him back.” Darcy paused, his face clouding over. “But if he returns and the creditors come looking for him, his steward will send him packing.”

Elizabeth let out a melancholy sigh and again rested her head against her husband’s shoulder. There was nothing she could do to stave off the heartache that Wickham might inflict on her family. She knew, however, she could trust the measures her husband had taken in providing for Lydia and her mother in the event of Wickham behaving as they strongly suspected he might.

“Oooh!” Elizabeth suddenly exclaimed, jolting up out of her serenity. She lifted her head and placed her hand across her waist. “Butterflies!”

Darcy shook his head, looking from her to the area around them. “I see no butterflies, Elizabeth.”

“No, I felt them! That is how Jane described the first indications of movement! It is as if there is a butterfly fluttering about inside!”

Darcy placed his hand in the same area. “You felt the baby? Can I feel it?”

“I do not think you will be able to now. In due time, though, the poking arms and kicking legs will be sufficiently strong for you to detect.” She giggled and said, “There it is again.”

Darcy let out a deep sigh of contentment. Still holding Elizabeth on his lap and keeping his hand firmly against her stomach, he leaned his head against hers. “Do you mind if we stay up here a little while longer?”

Elizabeth tilted her head up and kissed the tip of his chin. Very softly Elizabeth whispered, “I will stay here with you as long as you wish—forever, if that is your bidding.”

Darcy looked down at her, his eyes piercing through to her very soul. His fingers went up and gently stroked her face, and she leaned into them, keeping her eyes upon him. He loved her. He loved her eyes. They had transfixed him ever since the very first time he saw her. They still had the power to stir him. Very gently he pulled her face closer and claimed her lips with his. Their kiss deepened, evidence of the ever-growing love they each had for the other. Their embrace tightened as if to ensure nothing would ever come between them.

Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy would never take their love for granted. They were far too mindful of the fact that had either one not given the other a second chance, their lives would now be dramatically altered. Instead of the abiding love that filled them, they would be consumed with something else… something far more unbearable than regret.

The End

I wish to thank Mary Anne Hinz, who has been a great help to me in initially editing each one of my books. I appreciate her and thank her immensely. She does a great job!

I certainly must thank Jane Austen, to whom I owe all my inspiration, and who gave us her original story and all the wonderful characters that continue to touch the hearts of people today.

Kara Louisegrew up in the San Fernando Valley and moved to the Midwest in 1991, where she enjoys the relaxed pace of the country. She began writing about nine years ago, first with a story inspired by her genealogical research. But that took a backseat when she discovered the writings of Jane Austen, in particular, Pride and Prejudice . She has written six novels based on Pride and Prejudice , answering the “what happened next” and the “what ifs” in Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s story. She has one married son and lives with her husband on their ten acres just outside Wichita, Kansas.

Visit her website at www.karalouise.ahhhs.net.

Draughtsis the British name for the game of checkers.