An Unlikely Ally For Mr. Darcy: Death Comes To Netherfield, #3

By Jacqueline Steel

With the cure to the cannibal disease in hand, the Bennet’s safely with the rest in the sanctuary of Netherfield all seemed to be looking up. Elizabeth pregnant with Mr. Darcy’s child, her only worry was his safety as he was heading out to administer the cure to the infected.

But then the stranger showed up. Seeking sanctuary within Netherfield. Acting suspicious, it was impossible to ignore him or his strange demands once he had destroyed the cure. Taken the means to make more of it. With his fantastic tales of a vampire, he held them hostage to use as bait in his mad scheme to finish off the vampire once and for all.

Elizabeth knew she should be afraid of the man. But all she could worry over was her husband Mr. Darcy. Out there alone with the vampire the man called Dracula.

The third part in the Pride and Prejudice Apocalypse Trilogy. Make sure to check out the first two stories.

Part one: An Unlikely Hero, an Unlikely Love

Part two: A Heroes Guilt for Mr. Darcy

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jacqueline Steel
• Release date: Apr 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386147640

Book preview

Chapter one

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The sun was shining. Elizabeth stared out of the window, thinking longingly about how life had been before the cannibals. She rested her hand on her stomach. Bringing a baby into the new world wasn’t something she wanted to do, and yet that was exactly what she would be doing, in time. A hand touched her shoulder. Without needing to look who it was she put her hand over Darcy’s, knowing his mind would be on similar things.

As they stood together, she wondered if the cure was really going to work the way they hoped it would. Even if it did, things would never be the same again. Not for her, and not for the many people who had been through so much due to what had happened to them. Sighing, she turned to look at her husband, able to see the pain of the memories he had in his eyes, and the only way he’d be able to assuage his guilt would be to help those who’d been changed by the illness.

How are you feeling?

Elizabeth shrugged. I’m normally fine at this point in the morning. It’s when I start to smell food that I have problems. She smiled. This is to be expected. I am pregnant.

Nodding, he smiled back. I know. He put one of his hands over hers, where it was still resting on her stomach, the pain gone for a moment. I never thought something like this could happen. How could something so wonderful come out of this darkness.

Father used to tell me that there would always be a sliver of light, no matter how dark things were. He’d take me out to look at the stars, and show me that light in the darkness, which has helped me more than I can put into words. Without that I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

Your father is a wonderful man.

He is. Her smile grew. I am so glad I have him in my life, and finding him alive... She shook her head. I never thought it was possible my family could have come through this the way they did. Fortunately, father was as prepared as he could be for something like this. Why he would have made the choices he had I don’t know, but if he hadn’t I know things would have been very different.

Some of us are willing to believe it when we hear stories of strange things happening. Luckily for your family your father was one of those people, as was Charles. If it hadn’t been for him I wouldn’t have been at Netherfield when things got bad, and I wouldn’t have been there to fall in love with the most wonderful woman I have ever met.

Darcy...

He touched her cheek. You’re blushing, my love. The amusement in his voice was good to hear. You might not want to believe it, Lizzy, but you are the light of my life. I couldn’t have done this without you. He kissed her lips gently. Thank you.

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Jane’s eyes were on the farm. It was possible, even from their window, to see that things were beginning to grow, and that was a good sign. She smiled to herself, grateful the hours of work they’d done hadn’t been for nothing. Someone would be checking on them each day, to make sure there were no weeds, or bugs, or anything else causing problems. A hand touched her arm gently, and she turned to look at her husband. Tell me what you’re thinking, Jane.

That we might actually be able to survive this. She stepped into his arms, Charles holding her gently against his body, and breathed in his scent. Everything about him made her feel safe. If we keep walking this path there is a chance things won’t end up being as bad as I thought they would be when it all started.

Charles nodded. We have the cure, which is a good start. If we can administer it to as many people as possible we should be able to fix some of the damage that’s been caused by this terrible illness.

Hopefully George got to my family in time. She sighed. Do you think they are alive now?

I do. From what both you and Elizabeth have said I think your father is one of those people who would have been prepared for whatever came next. If he was he would have survived this.

Even if Lydia was ill.

Even then. Jane felt Charles kiss the top of her head. You are going to see them all very soon. I truly believe that. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth will convince them to come here, because this is the best place for them to be right now, and when that happens they’ll be on their way back.

Nodding, wanting to believe what her husband said was true, Jane did her best to push aside all her worries. In her mind, she’d gone over so many possibilities, unable to stop herself, even though she hated it when she did that. The best thing she could do was wait to see what had happened, instead of letting her mind get the better of her. Stepping back, she looked up into Charles’ eyes, and couldn’t help smiling at the way he was looking back, the love he felt for her so obvious in his eyes. Maybe things wouldn’t have worked out the same way if it hadn’t been for the illness that had swept the country. Maybe they would never have been happy together.

Breakfast should have been started a long time ago. Jane brushed a hand through her hair. I should go downstairs and make sure everyone is doing as well as they can be.

I’m going to head down to the lab, and check how the next batch of the cure is doing. I want to have as much of it ready for Darcy as possible. Charles looked uncertain, just for a moment. I wish he wouldn’t insist on going out there alone, because I know that’s what he’ll do, but he’s right. The less people out there the better.

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The smell