Suitably Wed: A Pride and Prejudice Variation: A Convenient Marriage, #3

By Meg Osborne

Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet have decided to marry for the most pragmatic of reasons: so that they might each avoid being forced into less amiable matches. In Elizabeth's case, the marriage is welcomed with open arms by her family, who happily forsake Mr Collins of Hunsford for Mr Darcy of Pemberley, yet in selecting Elizabeth for his bride, Darcy has succeeded in utterly alienating Lady Catherine de Bourgh. His cousins rally to his defence, but the marriage is beset by challenge, and once it becomes apparent that at least one party feels rather more strongly than they admitted, the practicality of the match is called into question. Can this couple acknowledge their true affection for each other once they are married, in a way they could not beforehand?

 

Lizzy's happy future with Mr Darcy is blighted only by the realisation that her sister, Jane, is miserable. Mr Bingley has suddenly departed Hertfordshire for London, and the match that seemed the most natural is all but abandoned. Elizabeth places the blame for her sister's heartbreak on Mr Bingley's shoulders, but is there another person behind the separation?

 

Suitably Wed is book three of A Convenient Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice variation novella series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meg Osborne
• Release date: Sep 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386863823

Meg Osborne

Meg Osborne is an avid reader, tea drinker and unrepentant history nerd.  She writes sweet historical romance stories and Jane Austen fanfiction, and can usually be found knitting, dreaming up new stories, or adding more books to her tbr list than she'll get through in a lifetime.

Book preview

Chapter One

I s everything to your satisfaction, sir?

Fitzwilliam Darcy dismissed his housekeeper with a curt nod. Everything was, of course, to his satisfaction - exactly so, for his staff knew him well, and kept his London townhouse in a state of perpetual readiness for his return. They had also been warned of his approaching arrival, and so had taken extra care to ensure the property would be welcoming. He smiled, faintly, recalling the fresh bouquet of winter flowers in the parlour, and the fires burning brightly in the few rooms he most favoured: notably, the study. That had no doubt received a particular airing that very day, and the newspapers and his personal correspondence left ready for his perusal on the desk.

He waited for the door close behind him before reaching for the small pile of letters. He could identify the handwriting of his steward at Pemberley, and laid that particular missive aside, not in any mood for business at present. Of his next two, he recognised Georgiana’s elegant script, and tucked that into the pocket of his waistcoat, to read at his leisure. The third he did not immediately recognise but broke the seal to discover a short note from his cousin. Richard and Mary had reached Philip's home and would be pleased to welcome him there at any time, as soon as Darcy wished it. He cracked a wry smile, reading Richard’s true intention behind the short summons. Do come, he implored. For in visiting my brother I am facing a trial and would welcome a distraction. It was not without self-interest that his cousin inquired after the health of Miss Elizabeth, and queried any potential timeline for Darcy’s own upcoming nuptials and the plans of their friends to be in London.

Darcy pulled a chair close to his desk, and slid his writing implements nearer, dashing off a quick, encouraging note to his cousin. He promised they would both be back in London within the week, and should Philip wish him to visit, both he and Elizabeth would be delighted to call on the Fitzwilliams at their earliest convenience. And you and Mary will both attend our wedding, I hope, so we shall see each other again very soon. He finished with a flourish, content that this promise would soothe Richard’s mood, and trusting that the newness of wedded bliss would more than make up for the trial of spending the month in such close proximity with the brother he loathed.

The first question, enquiring after Elizabeth’s health and the progress of their wedding plans, Darcy considered even after he had sealed the note and set it on a tray to one side, trusting that his valet would dispatch it before the afternoon was out.

He had left Hertfordshire that very morning, grateful that London was but half a day’s ride, and glad that he might make the journey between Bingley’s home and his own relatively quickly and painlessly. It would make organising things so much easier - not that there need be much organising. Elizabeth had stipulated that she did not wish for a lavish wedding, which he was more than happy to deliver. He had no great interest in fuss and finery, yet he was equally determined that they would not slink away to marry as if they were doing something shameful. Despite his aunt’s insistence, he would not apologise for his actions, nor for his desire to marry Elizabeth and not Anne. It would enable Elizabeth an escape from an impossible marriage, and - he could confess the truth to himself, in the silence and solitude of his own study - he loved her, more than he had ever loved any woman before. He could not quite believe how swiftly the feeling had overtaken him but he would continue to swallow it and conceal it from all view. He knew, if he had spoken to her of his esteem it would not have resulted in an engagement, but a refusal, for she would surely doubt his feelings, if not despise him for them. But the simplicity of a convenient marriage, when it would serve them both so amiably, could not be despaired of. She had accepted, and he trusted that she would grow to love him in time. That was a challenge he would happily accept, for the rest of his days, if he might one day win her heart as well as her mind.

Lost in a happy daydream of what life might be like once they were married, Darcy did not hear the knock on his door, so that it took a second and a third before he stirred, and welcomed whoever knocked with a muttered: Come!

Good morning, sir. A visitor. His servant bowed.

Here? Darcy’s eyebrows raised. Who on earth knew him to be at home today? He had told nobody, save for Charles. Even Elizabeth was only aware that he would be travelling between and betwixt London and Hertfordshire on occasion, but he had not thought it necessary to give her exact dates and times when he was himself unsure of them.

Who?

Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Already? Darcy could barely keep the amused grin from his features, as he hurried to join his cousin in the parlour. Richard! he accosted him. How came you to know I was here?

I called on the off-chance you might be, Richard said. It is not my first visit to your house this week, he admitted, with a self-deprecating laugh. Now, cousin, I know there are arrangements to be made, and as my dear wife seems perfectly content with her new sister, and my brother cannot be pressed to discuss a thing beyond business, if he is content to discuss a thing at all, I find myself utterly without occupation. Put me to what needs doing. I am at your service!

CHARLOTTE, HOW GOOD it is to see you again! Elizabeth’s friend had called at Longbourn and managed, with a little persuasion, to extract Elizabeth from the raucous bosom of her family on the promise of a walk to Meryton. Jane could not be pressed into joining them, for she was waiting on a very important communique from Netherfield, and thus would not surrender her position in the window for even a moment.

And you, Lizzy. Charlotte’s voice was strained, and the smile she offered her friend was a tentative one. I hear I must offer you congratulations.

Lizzy smiled.

Thank you. I trust you are not too scandalised by the news?

Scandalised? Charlotte’s eyes widened. Why ever would I be that? Surprised, I will allow. I had no notion of you sharing an affection with Mr Darcy. In fact, I laboured under the impression that your feelings for him were quite different.

Elizabeth laughed, unable to deny the truth of her friend’s comment.

What must have occurred in Kent for your feelings to have undergone so fundamental a shift? Charlotte asked. I have been patient until now, but Lizzy, you must put me out of my misery and tell me!

Elizabeth explained a little of the kindness Mr Darcy had shown her on arriving in Kent, how they had found some commonality of opinion that was as much a surprise to Elizabeth as it was to her friend.

And he offered me a way out, she confided, slowing to a stop. She took Charlotte’s hand in both of hers. Charlotte, I was suitably chastened by your words to me in Meryton shortly before Mary’s engagement. I feared you were right, and I was being abominably selfish in refusing Mr Collins. Worse still: I was not willing to surrender my future on account that my family might be shielded from poverty. Does that make me a terrible person?

Charlotte shook her head, patiently.

Lizzy, you must permit me to apologise. I spoke quite out of turn to you that day. It was no place of mine to interfere in your business, nor to lecture you on the best course of action. She shrugged, self-deprecatingly. As you can see I am certainly no expert in matters of the heart...or of matrimony. I confess I spoke to you out of my own fears. How you could refuse a man seeking to marry you, I could not imagine, never having had so much as an offer myself.

This sobered Elizabeth, and her excitement over her own rapidly approaching wedding softened slightly, as she acknowledged her friend’s sad smile.

But -

You need not pander to my pride, Lizzy. I am aware my situation is not uncommon, nor anything to be rejoiced in. If I were to receive an offer of marriage, I should accept it straight away, fearing all the while that I might never have another. You do not share my fate, as is proven by Mr Darcy’s proposal. Dear Lizzy, I wish you every happiness. And see, you were right after all: you might marry for love, and still, all will be well. I am genuinely happy for you.

Yes. Lizzy’s face fell. She had not confided quite all to her friend, and now, judging from Charlotte’s assessment of her own fortune, felt that she must.

"Charlotte, I

Reviews for Suitably Wed

[Chelsea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This volume takes place mostly in London and revolves mostly around Elizabeth and Darcy's short engagement and beginning of their marriage alongside Mary and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship deepens throughout this book and they admit their feelings before the end of this book only to come across a new problem in the form of Anne de Bourgh running off to elope. I look forward to finding out what happens in the next book and how the story continues since the end of this one left me hanging a bit.

[Judelbugs Rutter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’m enjoying this turn of events in an ulternate pride and prejudice universe