Pride and Sensuality: Darcy and Elizabeth Short Stories, #1

By P. O. Dixon

"Falling in love with Mr. Darcy became so easy once she had made a start."

With his mind agreeably engaged on the pleasures that await him once he and his dearest, loveliest Elizabeth are man and wife, Darcy's patience wanes, and he begins to wonder if he will ever find time alone with his betrothed.

Elizabeth is not oblivious of the discomfort Darcy must surely suffer. Not only does she have the key to his heart; she knows how to use it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Regents and Cotswold Book Group
• Release date: Aug 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524211967

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

Foreword

Mrs. Philips’s vulgarity was another and, perhaps, a greater tax on his forbearance; and though Mrs. Philips, as well as her sister, stood in too much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which Bingley’s good humour encouraged, yet, whenever she did speak, she must be vulgar. Nor was her respect for him, though it made her more quiet, at all likely to make her more elegant. Elizabeth did all she could to shield him from the frequent notice of either, and was ever anxious to keep him to herself, and to those of her family with whom he might converse without mortification. And though the uncomfortable feelings arising from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure, it added to the hope of the future; and she looked forward with delight to the time when they should be removed from society so little pleasing to either, to all the comfort and elegance of their family party at Pemberley.

Pride and Prejudice

Volume the Third, Chapter 18

Part 1 – Such a Place as This

"If it is true that a young man’s ... shall we say ‘proportions’ are commensurate with the size of his fortune, then there is all the more reason to pity our poor Lydia, even if her husband is so very handsome."

Oh, how Elizabeth wished she were a magician that she might disappear. Better still, I would make Aunt Philips disappear. Any mention of the nefarious George Wickham in her betrothed’s presence was discomforting in and of itself. Of course, her aunt would have no way of knowing that Mr. Darcy had been the means of uniting Elizabeth’s youngest sister, Lydia, with the man who happened to be his worst enemy in order to save the Bennet family’s reputation after the careless couple’s shameful elopement. Even now, Mr. Darcy could barely countenance the sound of Wickham’s name.

Her aunt’s mentioning of Wickham’s unmentionables, regardless of the company, was unconscionable.

The second of five daughters, Miss Elizabeth Bennet could never boast of being on intimate terms with her aunt Philips. Elizabeth’s mother, Mrs. Frances Bennet, and her mother’s sister, Mrs. Agatha Philips, had always been as close as siblings could be. Now that Mrs. Bennet had been the means of affording her sister the honour of such venerable connections, Mrs. Philips was at Longbourn far more often than not. In fact, the only time that Mrs. Philips had not spent an evening with the Bennets of late was when the family had dined at Netherfield Park.

A woman of four and forty, who might once have been considered quite comely, Mrs. Philips imparted a knowing smile at Mrs. Bennet before continuing her speech. It follows that our Lizzy shall be a very happy wife, indeed, with no reason at all to repine.

Surely my embarrassment can be no worse. Elizabeth fought to suppress a grimace. Given Aunt Philips’s wont of vulgarity, I wonder that she makes no mention of the size of Mr. Bingley’s estate with hints of its relevance to matters ill-suited for mixed company.

True to form, Mrs. Philips’s eagle-eyed gaze swooped upon Elizabeth’s eldest sister. The same might be said of Jane, I am sure.

Elizabeth and Jane exchanged glances. Both young ladies coloured, but remained speechless. Experience had taught Elizabeth that any attempt to rein in her aunt when she prattled on that way only emboldened her instead. When Elizabeth looked at Darcy, she saw he was looking at nothing in particular. How she admired his ability to accomplish such an air of indifference, for she was certain that were she forced to suffer such foolishness from his aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh, she would not be nearly so collected.

Since the engagement, Elizabeth had suffered too many evenings such as this to count, and every one found her recalling Darcy’s poorly chosen words during his first proposal when his startling avowal of ardent love for her had been anything but endearing. That had happened many months ago in Hunsford, and as poignant as had been the occasion, they had agreed to put its remembrance behind them for all time. Elizabeth folded her hands in her lap and commenced studying the intricate patterns in the rug. Surely he must recall his own misgivings during such moments as this.

Indeed, his sentiments had been harsh. "The situation of your mother’s family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison to that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father.

Pardon me. It pains me to offend you. But amidst your concern for the defects of your nearest relations, and your displeasure at this representation of them, let it give you consolation to consider that to have conducted yourselves so as to avoid any share of the like censure is praise no less generally bestowed on you and your elder sister, than it is honourable to the sense and disposition of both.

Yet, even his good opinion of her beloved sister Jane had not been enough to persuade him of Jane’s inherent goodness.

I will only say farther that from what passed that evening, my opinion of all parties was confirmed, and every inducement heightened which could have led me before, to preserve my friend from what I esteemed a most unhappy connection.

Aside from his ignorance of Jane’s affections for his friend Bingley, what criticism had he levelled against her family that proved

Reviews for Pride and Sensuality

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

A lovely novella about an evening, during ODC's engagement periode.

Reflection-heavy but as the reflections where beautifully written and gave the novella depth, it gave me no cause to complain.

As the title indicates, the content was sultry but not explicit and very well written. A perfect little morsel of literary delight. I loved it.

Heartily recommend!