Mr Darcy’s Valentine

Mr Darcy’s Valentine A SHORT AND SWEET PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION HEATHER MOLL Copyright © 2023 by Heather Moll Excessively Diverted Press All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental. ISBN: 978-1-7351866-6-5 [ebook] and 978-1-7351866-7-2 [paperback] Edited by Lopt & Cropt Editing Services Proofread by Regency Proofreading LLC Cover by Evelyne Labelle at Carpe Librum Book Design www.carpelibrumbookdesign.com For Andrew Because he hasn’t had a book dedicated to him yet, so of course he gets the Valentine one Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Join Heather’s Newsletter Coming Soon Acknowledgments About the Author Also by Heather Moll THE VALENTINE The rose is red, the violet’s blue, The honey’s sweet, and so are you. Thou art my love and I am thine; I drew thee to my Valentine. The lot was cast and then I drew, And fortune said it should be you. Gammer Gurton’s Garland: or, the Nursery Parnassus: A Choice Collection of Pretty Songs and Verses, 1784 Chapter One “Lizzy, I am amazed your mother still has so much to say on the subject of Mr Bingley,” Mrs Gardiner said with a sigh. The Gardiners had arrived to spend Christmas at Longbourn as usual, and their week was nearly over. “Jane bears it patiently, but it must wear on her spirits.” “Poor Jane! She says she is perfectly happy, but she is not herself. It will be good for her to return to town with you.” Elizabeth was glad for her sister to have a little relief from home and from her mother’s constant talk of “when would Mr Bingley be back down” and how “he must come down for the summer.” “You do not think she joins us in hope of seeing him?” her aunt asked with a worried look. “Our circles are so different that it is improbable they should meet at all, unless he comes to see her.” Elizabeth shook her head. “His sisters will keep him from her. Miss Bingley’s letter to Jane to assure her of their being settled in London for the winter was mostly praise of Miss Darcy.” Her attractions were dwelt on, and Miss Bingley had boasted of her hope of Miss Darcy becoming her sister. “She wrote also of Mr Bingley being an inmate of Mr Darcy’s house, so we know that all of his affection for Jane has been driven away by his host.” Elizabeth had never doubted that Mr Darcy had been concerned in the measures taken to separate Mr Bingley and Jane. Who was the principal designer of the plan, Mr Darcy or Miss Bingley, she could not say. But we all know Mr Darcy is an unfeeling man. His pride was the cause of all that Jane had suffered. He had ruined every hope of happiness for the most generous heart in the world. “Do you truly think that this Mr Bingley’s regard was genuine?” Mrs Gardiner asked. “It often happens that a young man so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks and, when accident separates them, so easily forgets her.” “I know that it was,” Elizabeth said firmly. “What remains to be known is whether his regard had really died away, or was suppressed by his friends’ interference.” “Either way, it speaks to the want of resolution on Mr Bingley’s part as much as it might be blamed on his friend. Mr Darcy may not be the villain you suppose he is.” “I never said he was a villain, but now we know the depths of selfishness that Mr Darcy is capable of. All of Meryton is talking of what Wickham had endured from Mr Darcy. Ever since Netherfield has been shut up, it is openly acknowledged.” No one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted on Jane, but Wickham was still suffering from Mr Darcy’s caprice and neglect. “We all have many reasons to dislike Mr Darcy.” Mrs Gardiner smiled. “Yes, but you dislike Mr Bingley’s friend so strongly because you favour Wickham.” Elizabeth blushed. It was only because Wickham was the most agreeable man she ever saw. “Why should I not enjoy his company? Even my father is partial to him. You said yourself that he is an interesting young man. Indeed, you have had several pleasant conversations with Wickham while you have been here for Christmas, and not all of the topics were about Derbyshire.” “I have had many conversations with him, Lizzy, because you are always reminding your mother to invite him.” This was a mortifying truth. “Perhaps I have been rather unguarded,” she said, with a conscious smile, “but you must not think me in love with him.” Mrs Gardiner gave her a thoughtful look. “Your strong preference for one another makes me a little uneasy. Do not involve yourself in an affection that the want of fortune would make imprudent.” “My dear aunt, this is being serious indeed. But do not imagine that he is always here. It is on your account that he has been so frequently invited this week.” “It is serious, and I hope to engage you to be serious likewise.” “I am not in love with Wickham,” she said, considering the point in her own mind. “No, I certainly am not.” She merely enjoyed being preferred by a handsome, agreeable man. “Oh, that abominable Mr Darcy! To have blasted Wickham’s prospects so shamefully!” “You take