Expecting His Proposal: Darcy and Elizabeth Short Stories, #1

By P. O. Dixon

"A Darcy and Elizabeth Short Story which fashions many of Jane Austen's own timeless words into another engaging path to happily ever after!"

In this diverting Pride and Prejudice short story, what if Darcy had not wounded Elizabeth's pride by insulting her at the Meryton assembly and had danced with her instead? What if Elizabeth had refused to hear a negative word formed against Darcy by his former friend, George Wickham? What if Elizabeth had been so agreeably engaged with thoughts of the master of Pemberley that by the time his visit to Kent was drawing nearer to its end, she was indeed expecting his proposal?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Regents and Cotswold Book Group
• Release date: Feb 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524264673

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 ~ A Favorable Answer

Rosings Park, Kent

The frequency of Elizabeth’s encounters with Mr. Darcy during her rambles within the park excited her hopes beyond measure. Their meetings were not at all by chance either, for he always turned back and walked with her. Their meetings were by his design—he wanted to spend time with her, away from the inquiring eyes of others. His scheme suited Elizabeth just fine.

He never said a great deal, and not wanting to give the impression of being just another doting female who was always speaking, and looking, and thinking for his approbation alone, Elizabeth sought to guard her discourse as well. How sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention he must be. How he must thoroughly despise the persons who so assiduously court him. Elizabeth was far too clever to behave accordingly.

When he did talk, he asked odd, unconnected questions—about her pleasure in being at Hunsford, her love of solitary walks, and her opinion of Mr. and Mrs. Collins’s happiness. In speaking of Rosings, he seemed to expect that whenever she came into Kent again she would be staying there too. The implications of his words could only mean one thing.

Her dear friend Charlotte, in whose home Elizabeth was a guest, had once or twice suggested to Elizabeth the possibility of Mr. Darcy’s being partial to her. Elizabeth always laughed, for it would not do to allow her friend to know just how keen she was on the idea.

Elizabeth proceeded slowly along the path. She was growing a bit concerned that the time was quickly approaching for Mr. Darcy to be away from Kent, and still, he had not proposed to her. Her confidence that it was only a matter of time waned with each passing minute. What on earth was I thinking that I might attract such a man?

She was no stranger to the fact that Mr. Darcy supposedly was promised to his cousin Miss Anne de Bourgh. Indeed, her curiosity to know more about the young woman who held the position she often had wished was her own was one of the things that persuaded her to accept Charlotte’s invitation. Even though it would mean spending weeks in the company of her odious cousin, Mr. William Collins, whose hand Elizabeth had wisely spurned, it would be well worth it.

Whenever Elizabeth found herself in the company of Mr. Darcy and his cousin at Rosings, she often looked at Darcy to see how affectionately he regarded Miss de Bourgh, but never once could she discern any symptom of love. On the other hand, Elizabeth had felt herself the happy recipient of a great deal of his attention.

He had given hints of admiring her in Hertfordshire as well. Never expecting she might ever see him again after he and his friend Charles Bingley hastily returned to London soon after the Netherfield ball, Elizabeth’s surprise in seeing him in Kent was palpable. Her delight in being the recipient of his ardent attentions once again was even more so.

She could not think of Darcy’s leaving without giving some thought to his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam’s leave-taking as well. Elizabeth had often been in company with both gentlemen over the past weeks. No doubt in his cousin’s company, Darcy’s attentions to her were nowhere near as unguarded as when she and Darcy were alone and he showed her those hints of his true character others did not often see.

Where Darcy was reserved, which some regarded as haughty and aloof, the colonel was eager to please. Though not as handsome as Darcy and certainly not as rich, the colonel, being the second son of an earl, was very much the gentleman—amiable and well-bred—with no problems at all recommending himself to everyone. I am certain the colonel charms people everywhere he goes. Indeed, he was the kind of gentleman whom most women dreamed of calling their own.

In fact, it was the colonel who found himself by her side whenever they were in each other’s company, and Elizabeth had begun to feel that he might fancy himself in love with her and might offer for her. How unenviable would she feel if put in the position of having to consider the proposal of the one man when it was the incidental touches, the stirring debates, the longing looks, and the rich baritone voice of the other that had made a lasting impression upon her heart.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire, the brooding Adonis-like man with dark hair and dark eyes who too often crept into her dreams since the night they first danced together at the Meryton assembly and whose hands lingered upon hers a bit too long as they moved through the two dances at the Netherfield ball.

Perplexing man! How fortunate am I that I never gave him cause to suspect the true depth of my regard for him, else he might then have treated me with an equal measure of indifference as he affords Miss de Bourgh.

After congratulating herself that no one need ever know how much her heart had been engaged by the prospect of capturing Mr. Darcy’s fancy, she began to consider that all in all, she had no cause to repine. Her trip had indeed been very pleasant. The five weeks that she had now passed in Kent had made a great difference in the countryside, and every day everything she saw and heard reminded her why she loved the springtime. She was on the point of turning back, when she caught a glimpse of Mr. Darcy pacing in the lane just up ahead. She halted her steps and observed him. From where she stood, she detected he was absorbed in deep thought despite his animated gestures. Whatever was troubling him, Elizabeth was determined to discover, and she set off to meet him.

Startled, he quickly tucked the paper he was studying so diligently into his pocket. Miss Elizabeth!

Mr. Darcy, I saw you walking back and forth, looking as though you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Pray whatever is the matter?

The fact is I do have a great deal on my mind. I’ve been walking in the grove some time in the hope of meeting you this morning. His demeanor then became more urgent. "In vain I