As Good as a Lord: Pride and Prejudice

By P. O. Dixon

Elizabeth had intended to tell no one about Mr. Darcy's proposal. At length, she confided in her dearest sister, Jane. It was meant to be their secret, but secrets have a way of getting found out. 

What happens when Mrs. Bennet learns that her headstrong daughter has refused the hand of a second respectable man in less than six months? 

Darcy is determined to put his disastrous proposal to Miss Elizabeth Bennet behind him by filling the empty space in his life that can only be occupied by a wife. A chance meeting with Elizabeth at Pemberley gives him pause. Elizabeth may be the only woman in his heart, but she is not the only woman in his life. 

Will Darcy adhere to his original plan to find another, or will he follow his heart? 
 

Grab your next Darcy and Elizabeth romance story inspired by Jane Austen's timeless classic Pride and Prejudice today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Regents and Cotswold Book Group
• Release date: Sep 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781516384761

P. O. Dixon

Bestselling historical fiction author, P. O. Dixon, is a great admirer of Historical England and its fascinating days of yore. She, in particular, loves the Regency period with its strict mores and oh so proper decorum. Her ardent appreciation of Jane Austen's timeless works set her on the writer's journey. Visit podixon.com and find out more about Dixon's writings.

Book preview

Chapter 1 ~ Secrets

Fitzwilliam Darcy rubbed both hands over his face. Will I learn to love again? Is there another woman for me, one who is better suited than Miss Elizabeth Bennet is? Can I open my heart to her and if not my entire heart then enough to marry her and carry her off to Pemberley to share with me the rest of my days?

A proud man accustomed to having his way, Darcy sat opposite his cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, as the stately carriage pulled away from the changing station in Bromley. After putting off his plans to return to London several times, the events of the prior day had rendered further delay pointless.

How could I have been so mistaken about her feelings for me? I went to her and offered my hand in marriage with every expectation of a favorable reply, only to have my offer spurned with undue malice and unmitigated contempt.

Learning the heart of her animosity towards him was rooted in falsehoods leveled against him by the likes of George Wickham—a childhood friend whom he now abhorred—and knowing she held that scandal in such high esteem was cause for him to realize he never really knew her at all. He brushed a hand across his face once again, wishing to rid himself of the unpleasant memory.

He likened his fate to having dodged a bullet, but that did not make it any less painful. The truth was, despite his objectionable, ill-worded, and poorly conceived proposal, he cared deeply for Elizabeth. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

The colonel, who had been observing his cousin in silent wonderment, said, Come now, old fellow. Surely you are not lamenting the unpleasant scene with our aunt this morning. Soon enough she will accustom herself to the truth and learn to accept it.

I should have told Lady Catherine years ago that I had no intention of honoring her favorite wish that Anne and I would marry. Not that she would have listened. His aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh had an uncanny knack for hearing only that which conformed to her own view of things. However, Darcy continued, if I am to be honest I would have to say that my present attitude has nothing at all to do with our aunt’s wounded expectations.

The colonel sat up straight, his interest piqued. Pray would it have anything to do with the lovely Miss Elizabeth Bennet?

His cousin knew him very well. They were, after all, the closest of friends. However, Darcy had gone out of his way not to give a hint of his preference for Miss Elizabeth to anyone—not until he had entirely made up his mind to offer his hand to her. Apparently, I hid my feelings a little too well as far as Miss Elizabeth is concerned and not well enough so far as my cousin is. Perhaps Richard knows nothing and is merely baiting me, as he is wont to do.

Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Darcy said, his eyes questioning. Why would you suggest my mood has anything to do with her?

Don’t think I did not notice your hasty departure from Rosings last night when you realized she would not be joining our party. I could only assume you went to see her. The colonel arched his brow. Or am I mistaken?

I would rather not say where I went or what I did last evening.

As that is not a denial of my assertion, I shall then assume I am correct in thinking you went to see the lady.

What you do or do not think is none of my concern, just as where I went and what I did is none of yours.

You are rather testy, Cousin. Well, you shall keep your secrets.

Thank you for respecting my privacy.

You will not mind if I ask of your plans when we arrive in town, I pray? It is the height of the Season, after all, and with that comes a fresh wave of young debutantes in want of husbands. Are you prepared for the onslaught, or do you mean to eschew those gaieties at which you might find yourself on display?

On the contrary. I intend to throw myself into the London scene upon my return—to smile at every simpering debutante and dance with them to their hearts’ content.

Surely one of the young women will attract my fancy now that I am resolved to fill the empty space in my life that can only be occupied by a wife.

A feeling of resignation mixed with regret washed over him. I begin to consider that the greatest part of me will always love Elizabeth. However, she does not love me, and thus I must start anew. It is time I choose a wife.

Thus resolved, Darcy closed his eyes as if wishing to block out the world, but his innermost concerns would not be repressed. I may not love her at first. I dare say it will be impossible as my heart belongs to another. However, if I choose prudently, as I indeed intend to, then surely love will follow.

Some weeks later, Hertfordshire

Each night that passed found Elizabeth more restless than the one before. Troubling thoughts of what had unfolded in Kent haunted her days and invaded her dreams at night. Making matters worse, she and her dearest sister, Jane, had been reunited for weeks. Still, she had not breathed a word to her about what actually happened in Kent. Would Jane even believe her? Elizabeth could hardly believe it herself.

Mr. Darcy offered his hand in marriage—to me!

Besides the obvious reason of no one believing her, Elizabeth had kept her silence on the matter for other, more compelling, reasons as well. For one, her mother, Mrs. Francis Bennet, would be livid if she were to learn that Elizabeth, the second eldest of five daughters whose marital prospects were wanting, had spurned yet another marriage proposal. Mrs. Bennet’s ensuing vexation would throw the entire household into utter turmoil for weeks, if not months.

Mrs. Bennet’s scathing protests when Elizabeth rejected her cousin, Mr. William Collins, last autumn would be nothing compared to how she would bear the news that her daughter had refused the hand of a gentleman with ten thousand pounds a year.

Elizabeth’s second reason really had to do with protecting her sister Jane from being hurt. If she were to tell Jane that one of the principal reasons she refused Mr. Darcy’s hand was because of the part he had played in separating her from Mr. Bingley, it would only give rise to hurt feelings, the likes of which Jane had spent the past weeks endeavoring to overcome.

She would never forget how heartbroken Jane was when Charles Bingley left Netherfield, a neighboring estate. Jane had gone to London shortly after that with the hope of seeing the young man, but his sisters and Mr. Darcy himself had thwarted her efforts.

I have no wish to deny that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success.

Such was Mr. Darcy’s adamant avowal when Elizabeth confronted him with the truth she had gleaned from an earlier conversation with Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy’s cousin. The colonel’s account alone had been enough to bolster Elizabeth’s dislike of the proud Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Nothing he had said since arriving at the parsonage that fateful evening served to sway her in that regard. His confession of admiring her most ardently gave her pause, yet his admission of liking her against his will put an end to that.

Towards him I have been kinder than towards myself.

Those nine words might undoubtedly have cemented her heart against him were it not for the letter he’d handed her that next day. Despite the impropriety in such a gesture, he had sought to address the two harshest accusations she had leveled against him in refusing his hand. The weightier of her accusations against him regarded his supposed misdeeds towards a Lieutenant George Wickham and the other appertained to his part in separating her sister Jane and his friend Charles Bingley. By the former, he painted a more telling portrait of the man whom she’d once believed to be everything that was good. In truth, Wickham was everything but good. He had persuaded her and anyone else who would listen that he was a victim of Mr. Darcy’s cold, cruel nature when it was Wickham himself who was no more

Reviews for As Good as a Lord

[Elin Eriksen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An engaging and funny fast read.

Enters when Elizabeth has returned from Kent.
Mrs Bennet, who suffers no qualms listening at private conversations nor was she opposed to utilise the information she gained...
Suddenly had the urge to accompany Elizabeth and the Gardiner's to the north.
Darcy was fighting his attraction to the woman who spurned him, by throwing himself into the marriage mart with vigour. Inviting Lord Davenport and his two beautiful daughters to visit Pemberley for the summer. Mrs Bennet however, had an accident, forcing her and her daughter to stay until Mrs Bennet had recovered, add miss Bingley and Lady Catherine to the mix and the catfight was on...

Personally, I am not fond of either of ODC romantically involved with anybody else, not even a hint...
Combined with the generous amount of rehash in the reflections, this book is not my favourite but it is well written and entertaining.