To Have and To Hold: The Meryton Brides: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Retelling, #1

By Kristi Rose

Love happens, but only if you believe. 

Friends to lovers?

Pastry chef, Lottie Lucas, has loved Pastor Bill Collins since they were children and they helped each other memorize their multiplication tables. But Lottie's tired of waiting for Bill to clue in that she's the one for him. When an opportunity to expand her growing cupcake line means she'll have to move out of Meryton, Lottie must decide which of her heart's desire to pursue.

Enemies to… Slightly tolerable?

Elizabeth Bennet, owner of Meryton Matchmakers, wants nothing more than for corporate raider, William Darcy, to butt out of her business. What possibly could the cold, standoffish loner know about love and affairs of the heart? If she can't convince William that Meryton Matchmaker's value extends beyond its small yearly profit, she'll not only lose her livelihood but her dream of helping others find love.

For fans of Lizzie Bennet Diaries and those who've dreamed of the million other ways Mr. Darcy could woo Elizabeth. A Pride and Prejudice retelling that shares stories of all those you've come to know and love (and hate). Enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, and opposites attract in this full bodied, heartwarming series.

This series was previously title Meryton Matchmakers. This book was called Meryton Matchmakers Book 1: Lottie Pursues Bill.

 

 

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristi Rose
• Release date: Jun 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781944513047

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Lottie stepped from the house and eased the door closed with a quiet click. The dewy air was cool but would soon enough be too warm for her to enjoy the walk to her café. The sun, still tucked behind the ending night, brought with it the hint of a summer heavy with oppressive heat. Last year they’d had two brownouts. What would this summer bring?

With stun gun in hand, she slung her bag over her shoulder and began her peaceful stroll to work. The stun gun was because Bill forced her to carry it just in case. She didn’t like to think about what just in case meant. Besides, what could happen in the small farming town of Meryton? Would she get spooked by a cow? Possibly. Instead of considering the scarier possibilities, she liked to think about the day’s menu and new cupcake creation. Her taste of late had run toward spicy and feisty.

Oh, that rhymed. She should use that as the theme of the day.

Morning, Lotts, Bill said stepping out from the pasture and onto the walkway beside her.

Holy cow! She jumped, tossing up the stun gun in surprise. It flew from her fingertips and landed somewhere in the grass. You scared me to death, Bill. What do you think you’re doing walking up on someone in the dark?

I announced myself. Apparently, you didn’t hear me.You know that stun gun has a flashlight. You should use it. I barely saw you.

That’s the point. I’m not trying to give my location away. Just enjoy the walk to work. It’s not like he hadn’t met her on the early walks before. It’s that she usually saw him before she heard him. Today, he had caught her completely unaware.

Bill flicked on a flashlight, the one she’d given him for Christmas that he carried on his keychain, and started searching the grass.

Lottie saw the little power-zapper in the grass and snatched it up. She flicked the switch and made it spark. This is the only light I need, she teased.

Bill chuckled, then said, Let’s hope you never need it. Care to share what you were thinking about so intensely you didn’t hear me walk up?

Believe it or no, I was thinking about cupcakes and today’s theme. How does spicy and fiesta sound?

Bill used his light to illuminate the sidewalk in front of them. Like trouble. Like I’ll eat more than one.

You say that like it’s a bad thing?

Gluttony. Your cupcakes make me gluttonous. So does your bread, your muffins, your scones—

Lottie laughed and bumped him with her shoulder. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a sweet treat now and again.

But you bewitch these sweet treats so a mere mortal such as myself can’t stop at one.

I was thinking a Cinco de Chili chocolate cupcake.Lottie knew Bill loved spices.

He shoo his head and said with mock protest. You will not tempt me. No, ma’am. I cannot be wooed to the dark side.

Says the man who has a juvie record. She clicked on the flashlight and shone it on his face.

Hey. He blocked his eyes. Those records are sealed, and you were sworn to secrecy. You pinky-promised. Besides, I think I turned out alright.

Lottie looped her arm through is and picked up their pace. She was responsible for opening the café, now that her father was reducing his hours, and she’d be late if she lallygagged with Bill any longer. Who would have thought you’d grow up to join the ministry.

You didn’t have my father. He sighed heavily.

She knew it wasn’t from the harshness of his childhood that led him to the Church. But from the kindness he’s been given outside his home. Had he not been shown gentleness, Bill likely would have had an entirely different life. One not so easy, enjoyable, and acceptable as the one he has now.

If it hadn’t been for the de Bourghs and the Church, I wouldn’t be walking my pretty friend to work. I’d be walking the yards. Doing time. Deep within me, Lotts, there’s a dark criminal. An evil—

She punched his shoulder. Oh, please. However do you get your fix? Are there mass graves of abducted dogs behind seminary school, or are you a cat burglar we haven’t heard of yet?

He snorted.

Deep within you, Bill, was a scared kid who’d lost his mother and was stuck with a father whose querulous nature was exacerbated by his grief following his wife's death. You’re no more evil than I am.

They nudged each other with their shoulders a couple of times and continued a few steps in silence.

Hey, I forgot to ask. How’s the sermon writing for Pastor Rasch going?

If I keep up the good work, I might get the church when he moves on up, Bill jerked his thumb toward heaven.

That’s the plan? You going into the church?

That’s the push, he corrected.

She inspected the path behind his shoes. Are those drag marks? Because he never talked about having his own church; she just assumed that was what he’d do. Isn’t that what every pastor wants?

I never saw myself standing at a pulpit screaming hellfire and damnation.

Neither did she honestly. She held the flashlight under her chin, the light casting upward in the same manner camp kids did to spook others. Hellfire and damnation, William Collins. A man of the cloth doesn’t want his own church? She drew out the last word, hoping to make it creepy. The world is coming to an end.

Precisely. He pulled the light from her hand. You’re freaking me out.

What do you mean precisely?

"I mean, I went to seminary school so that I could be a help to people, kinda like a tour guide from bad to good. And when the zombie apocalypse comes and I’m running for my life, trying to keep you safe, and blasting them away, I like knowing there’s something stronger than me out there. I like knowing I have someone on my team at all times."

Lottie drew out the awww until she was out of air. You’d try and save me during the apocalypse?

Bill stopped and faced her. Yeah. Of course, I’ll need someone who knows how to cook.

She whacked him on the arm as hard as she could. Give me that stun gun. I’m going to zap some sense into you.

Bill chuckled but held the device out of reach. Can I make a confession?

She nodded but knew he didn’t need the affirmation from her. They told each other everything.

"Have you seen the congregation? They’re so old!"

Bill! She shoved him harder. You could turn it around. Bring in the younger people.

He shrugged. Sounds like a lot of work. I like teaching at the seminary school. And as for the sermons? Let’s just say Pastor Rasch doesn’t appreciate my humor. I also really like the counseling work I do at Meryton. Interesting, too.

The streetlights that lined the sidewalk cast just the right glow that she could see the large smile on his face. What do you mean he doesn’t appreciate your humor? What did you do? She couldn’t wait to hear this story. By nature, Bill was a needler. He liked to poke the soft spots of others in a gentle way. He claimed that until one knew where their weaknesses lie they would never be fully strong.

A few weeks back he gave a sermon so boring I was reminded of Eutychus, he was the one who fell asleep listening to Paul preach and fell out a window. I kept leaning against the big plate window up front. You know, the one by the cross? Pushing at it with my shoulder. Nothing. If ever there was a time to be abandoned by the Lord. He shook his head. Later Rasch asked me what I thought. I told him it might behoove him to try something new. Raise his voice, maybe. Do a rap or something.

Charlotte laughed. And of course, he didn’t make any changes in his sermon. She would have heard about it immediately from her father, a strict and pious man in his own right. Besides, where would Rasch get a rap? I can't imagine he'd write it.

I wrote one about Jesus dying on the cross.

You did not. She couldn’t hold back her laughter.

I certainly did. Dr. Dre, Puff Daddy. They’ve done it. What a better way to spread the word than through a song that sticks. Know what I mean?

Of course, she did. This was not a new idea from him.

You’re a nut, she told him.

Takes one to know one. He flung an arm around her shoulder. Want some help making the donuts?

I don’t make donuts, and you know it. Her stomach flopped. She loved how his hand rested lazily on her shoulder. You know I always like the help. But what are you avoiding? What’s going on here?

If he tried to deny it, she would stick her elbow into his ribs. That always worked.

Bill wiped his free hand down his face. My fair lady is coming to town. She’s bringing her nephew, Darcy.

But you love when Catherine de Bourgh comes.

Yeah, but this time it’s about the matchmaker business, and I think it might not be good. I can’t decide what I should do. If I share my fears with the Bennet sisters, and I’m wrong, then I caused worry for no reason.

The sisters, Elizabeth and Jane, were her roommates. Was she expected to keep this from them as well?

Just be honest. When does she come?

Bill shrugged one shoulder. She wasn’t specific. She just said this week.

They arrived at the back door to Lottie’s family’s café. In business for over fifty years, Lottie had finally begged her dad to update the tired outdated menu. He’d conceded by adding two new items, her cupcakes for the day and an additional pastry of her choosing. Progress was slow and frustrating and Lottie was running out of patience.

She turned over the locks and stepped into the dark back room. It smelled like vanilla and sugar. Bill flicked on the lights, and the brightness forced her to cover her eyes.

I love coming here, he said while locking the door behind him. It smells like how home should smell.

She smiled up at him. That’s one of the best compliments I’ve ever been given.

They stared at one another, smiling. She wondered if he was thinking about all the escapades they shared as children. Or if maybe he remembered the quiet times in her tree house where he would read to her.

Unfortunately for Lottie, those memories were not the first thing she thought of when she saw Bill. Nope. Not since last week when she’d seen him working shirtless in the church garden. Now, that’s the first memory to spring to mind when she sees him. And with the memory always came the flip-floppy sensation in her stomach associated with love. Immediately following, however, was the flash of guilt. If he knew she had a crush on him he’d…well she wasn’t sure what he’d do. If he knew she’d had this crush seen they were teenagers, would he feel deceived?

But how much longer could she pretend to not have these feelings? She couldn’t spend forever hoping they’d go away. To make matters worse, Lottie’s best friend was a matchmaker. If Elizabeth knew how Lottie felt Elizabeth would make it her mission to bring Lottie and Bill together. Which would probably have him running scared.

What’s the theme for today? Did you say something about spicy? The apron he slipped over his head was the one with the bare, sculpted male chest printed on the front.

The time had come for Lottie Lucas to take charge of her destiny. Professionally and personally. But she’d have to tread cautiously with Bill. Confessing her desire to get to know him in the Biblical sense, for the rest of her life, had a high probability of freaking him out. Bill never spoke about marriage, he’d always skirted the issue.

Lotts? The theme? He waved a hand in front of her face.

Surprise. She gulped. "The theme is surprise."

CHAPTER 2

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man seeking a relationship (or spouse) would be in need of a wingman. Who better to fill that role than the staff at Meryton Matchmakers? Particularly when one is seeking something permanent with the opposite sex. Elizabeth Bennet knew this to be a truth that had stood the test of time.

How are the numbers this month? Elizabeth asked her sister over her laptop.

Only the top of Jane’s head showed as she was focused on her keyboard and was typing madly. She made a grand gesture of waving one finger in the air. Elizabeth waited.

Jane pressed one key with a loud click then looked up. Not good. Not bad. Sorta a lull. The printer behind Jane made a whirling sound, then spit out a paper.

Elizabeth was thankful every day she worked with her kind-hearted and easygoing sister. Even sharing an office with their desks pushed to face one another did not wear on their bond as sisters or their business relationship. Plus, the arrangement allowed them to communicate without so much as saying a word.

Sister-speak.

Elizabeth took the paper her sister passed over and scanned it. Is there a trend? Does love have a down season?

Apparently. Or, perhaps more precisely, we do. Jane crossed her arms.

Jane, the picture of beauty with peaches and cream skin and sun-kissed tresses, possessed a sharp business mind. It was she, after all, who’d drafted the initial business plan on cocktail napkins for Meryton Matchmakers the same evening Elizabeth pitched it to her four years ago over tapas and wine.

Jane said. Let’s spend some time this afternoon talking about marketing and troubleshooting some new ideas.

Elizabeth nodded. Nothing made her feel less effective and unimaginative than a marketing meeting where she’d struggle to produce one sound, quality idea.

A loud crackle came over the phone’s speaker system followed by Bill’s booming voice. All personnel to the conference room immediately, please. Be quick people.

Contracted as the spiritual advisor for the business, Bill was an on-call employee. Yet that didn’t stop him from popping in most days and hanging about. Mainly to talk about what had happened on Game of Thrones or some other show.

He was a good guy with a quick wit, even if his floppy bangs drove Elizabeth nuts. She wanted to take scissors to them. They didn’t help his cause to be taken seriously. Particularly when clients were present, and he wanted to be called Mr. Collins. It took a lot of will for Elizabeth to not break into a boy band song when he was around. But the wicked scar he had under those bangs kept her from needling too far.

What could he possibly want? Jane pushed away from her desk.

I’m half tempted to bring my laptop so I can scoop him with spoilers. If this is about some show— Elizabeth said.

Lizzy, you would never be so rude! Jane wouldn’t swat at a fly, much less try to one up it.

You’re right. I shall bring my phone. Just in case. She tucked her phone under her arm and grabbed a notepad and pen. At the very least she could get lost in creating a zentangle or make a to-do list. As much as Kitty and Mary enjoyed the water cooler chats, and some days she did as well, the numbers on the paper Jane had handed her earlier were weighing on her. She wasn’t in the mood to talk about the latest binge-watching- worthy TV show.

Be quick. His excited voice echoed throughout the rooms.

He’s using his Reverend Collins voice. This can’t be good, Jane said, her voice laden with worry.

He did sound…different. More business-like.

Though Bill’s employment was a direct result of his beloved Aunt Catherine’s demands, a condition of her investment, he was an integral part of the team. He was quick to recognize pairs who might present well on paper but in person would be a wreck together. Plus, Bill had a knack for defusing arguments between her younger sisters and making the others laugh.

Following Jane into the large central waiting room, Elizabeth glanced through the large glass divider that separated the room from the lobby. Their younger sister Kitty, their part-time receptionist, waved madly at them.

I’ll be along in a moment, Jane. Kitty’s having a fit. Crossing the room, Elizabeth opened the glass door and popped out her head. You need something, Kitty?

Do you think he wants me to come?

He being Bill.

Why not ask? There were no clients in the building, as it was the unholy hour of half-past eight in the morning, and people seeking love and the Matchmakers usually didn't come around until after ten. Well, the really anxious (dare she say desperate) occasionally came in right as they opened.

Making her way to Kitty’s desk, Elizabeth picked up the receiver and pressed the intercom. Do you want Kitty to come, Bill? She intentionally put her lips as close to the receiver to muffle and amplify her voice. She did enjoy vexing him so,