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Today I have decided to give you a snippet of a work in progress. I have begun three stories in the last month and have been unable to get far with any….until this one. I cannot guarantee that I will share any more of the story than this, nor can I promise that I won’t. We shall just have to see. 🙂 Darcy has met Elizabeth here, and spent time with her, her sister, and her aunt and uncle. He does not quite realize yet that he is falling for her. This has not been beta’d or read by any other eyes than my own before I posted it. All mistakes are mine. 🙂

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Darcy and Elizabeth

Friday evening, Darcy’s valet, Mr. Smith, bit back an exclamation of irritation with his master. Never, in all the years in the gentleman’s employ, had Smith seen such pernickety behavior from the normally stoic Mr. Darcy. His coat was not good enough, did he not have another? His cravat was crooked. His hair was too wild. On and on the complaints went. Smith was amused, at first. In general, his employer, though fastidious about his appearance, kept his opinions to himself as long as the valet was meticulous in his work. The only thing Smith could think of that would cause such a change was a woman. It did not take long, however, for Darcy’s choosiness to become annoying. Finally, after what felt to the servant like forever, the master was happy with his appearance. Smith had never been so happy to see the back of someone in his entire life.

Darcy was unaware of the difference in his behavior. He knew himself to be looking forward to the evening, more than he had looked forward to an evening out in a long time. It was not until he and his carriage were nearly to Gracechurch Street that Darcy realized that his excitement was manifesting itself physically. He had removed his gloves upon entering the vehicle and had proceeded to twist them into an almost-unrecognizable mess. Calm yourself, man. It is just an evening out with friends. Nothing to get overwrought about.

When the equipage finally stopped and the groom opened the door, Darcy stepped out and stood staring at the door to the house. Suddenly and unaccountably apprehensive, he began to wonder if he should turn around and reboard the carriage when the portal opened. Swallowing his sudden nerves, Darcy climbed the steps and entered the building.

Seeing Gardiner’s smiling face greeting him in the drawing room went a long way toward relieving Darcy’s emotions. He returned the man’s smile with one of his own as they exchanged greetings. Bowing to Mrs. Gardiner and taking a seat while he waited for the young ladies, Darcy began to relax.

It was only a few brief minutes before the door to the sitting room opened and Miss Bennet glided into the room. Everyone stood, Darcy included. He thought the lady was stunningly beautiful, though he realized that his opinion of her was dispassionate. He held no feeling for her, despite her grace and fine looks. He no more than completed this thought than her sister entered the room.

Miss Elizabeth took his breath away. She was stunning in an emerald green gown that enhanced the color of her eyes. When she smiled at him, his heart stopped beating for just a moment.

The End

Copyright 2017 by the author

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