Her Spirits Rising to Playfulness


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Contents
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Introduction
 
 
 
 
 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
 
 
 Chapter 15
 
 
 Chapter 16
 
 
 Chapter 17
 
 
 Chapter 18
 
 
 Chapter 19
 
 
 Chapter 20
 
 
 Chapter 21
 
 
 Epilogue
 
 
 
 
 Featured Book!
 
 
 P. O. Dixon Books
 
 
 About the Author
 
 
 Acknowledgments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Introduction
 
 
 
 
 
 When the spirited Miss Elizabeth Bennet overhears Mr. Darcy’s harsh rebuke of her elder sister, she’s driven to seek revenge.
 
 Taking fate into her own hands, Elizabeth embarks on a daring mission of subterfuge and cunning, determined to make the proud and brooding Mr. Darcy fall in love with her. But as their heated battle of wills intensifies, Elizabeth realizes that carrying through with her scheme is easier said than done.
 
 Will Elizabeth get what she wishes for and make Mr. Darcy fall in love with her, or is she playing a dangerous game? One in which she risks losing the last thing in the world she wants to gamble—her heart.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Her Spirits Rising to Playfulness - A captivating tale of love and vengeance colliding that will keep you guessing until the end.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 “I may have lost my heart, but not my self-control.”
 
 
 
 — Jane Austen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 One
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 NETHERFIELD PARK, AUTUMN 1811
 Elizabeth Bennet sauntered slowly through the grounds of Netherfield Park by herself, the sun’s warmth against her chin and her loose bonnet brushing her shoulders. She was unmoved by the beauty surrounding her. The peaceful chirping of birds was nothing more than faint background noise in her mind. Her thoughts were elsewhere. Spending time with people who disliked her as much as she disliked them was a test of her endurance. Solitary rambles afforded her a much-needed reprieve.
 Elizabeth suffered a combination of vexation and dread when she thought about having to endure yet another evening with those who disapproved of her. She had already put up with so much of their thinly disguised disdain since her arrival. In mere hours, she must face yet another night in their presence.
 First, there were the Bingley sisters to contend with. The two had been all politeness and civility to Elizabeth’s elder sister, Jane, inviting her to Netherfield for tea while the gentlemen dined with the officers. Neither they nor Jane could have foreseen the visit becoming such an extended stay. But by her mother’s contrivance, Jane fell ill and had to remain at Netherfield while recuperating.
 After learning about Jane’s prognosis, Elizabeth arrived the next day to care for her sister. The Bingley sisters had been so kind to her when she first came. They were eager to please, and their decorum and knowledge were admirable. Nevertheless, Elizabeth had occasionally wondered at them, and now she could not help but think she was being judged. She was aware of every curious glance cast her way. They carefully scrutinized each movement she made with an arched eyebrow. A rebuking assessment of her character marked each departure from their company.
 Were Elizabeth to rely solely upon their brother’s friend, Mr. Darcy, she would say with certainty she was not only being judged but also deemed severely wanting. She could never forget his initial assessment of her the first time they met at the Meryton assembly when she overheard him remark to his friend that she was barely tolerable and not handsome enough to tempt him. Every time she noticed him looking at her since, she surmised he was doing so merely to bolster his original opinion.
 And then there was Mr. Bingley himself, the amiable gentleman from the North who had recently let Netherfield, or, as otherwise referred to by her eager matchmaking mother, a single man with a large fortune who stood in dire need of a wife. Fortunately, the gentleman was half in love with her elder sister, which must undoubtedly bode well for Jane’s future felicity.
 Elizabeth stepped lightly along the path, gazing at the manor house before her. She exhaled, deciding that visiting the library would be an excellent way to distract her mind and find something else to occupy her thoughts.
 When she arrived at the library doors, she was immediately enveloped by its warm embrace of knowledge. The scent of old leather bindings and aged paper filled her nostrils. A serene smile graced her countenance as she meandered among the shelves. She gracefully ran her slender fingers along their spines, intently seeking any book to capture her curiosity.
 The Netherfield library was scant at best. Most of the books were old and dusty, with covers worn with age. Only a few were new and inviting. A particular book caught Elizabeth’s eye, and she pulled it from its place on the shelf. As she read, she found herself completely lost in a world of words where endless possibilities awaited around every corner. Her worries faded away until all that remained was vivid imagery spreading across page after page of beautiful prose.
 Stretching her arms over her head, Elizabeth emerged from her reverie sometime later. What had been a dull afternoon has become quite interesting indeed!
 By now, she was sure Jane must be wondering where she had gone for so long. Elizabeth closed the book and was about