A Compromise at Rosings Park

By Isabelle Mayfair

Elizabeth Bennet's stay at Hunsford Lodge is interrupted by a shocking marriage proposal from the man she dislikes most in the world; the proud and arrogant Mr Darcy.  After rejecting him, she is required to follow him into the woods to return the hat he left behind, before it is discovered that he had visited her.  She is shocked to see he is in far greater pain at her refusal than she realised and when she seeks to comfort him, he forgets himself and kisses her.

Unfortunately, Mr Collins, Elizabeth's cousin, witnesses it and not recognising Mr Darcy, is pleased to inform Mr Darcy's aunt, the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh of Rosings Park, that the pert Miss Bennet's reputation has been compromised.  It seems a fitting revenge for a woman who had rejected his own offer of marriage not so long ago.  
But when Mr Darcy reveals himself as the man who compromised Miss Bennet, and is therefore the man who is required to marry her and save her reputation, Elizabeth is far from grateful.  She, who always wanted to marry for love, is now obligated to marry a man she despises for his selfish disdain for others, and who has ruined the happiness of her most beloved sister.

Can Mr Darcy persuade her to give him a chance to prove himself worthy of her?  And in Elizabeth's pretence to her family of being a happily engaged woman, is it possible she is being fooled by her own charade into feeling more than she does?  Or are these growing feelings for Mr Darcy something more than that?

At Longbourn, a scandal involving her sister, Lydia, threatens the match and Elizabeth is suddenly confronted with the possibility that maybe she does not know Mr Darcy as well as she believed.  And that just maybe, he is the man for her after all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Isabelle Mayfair
• Release date: Oct 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386381631

Book preview

Chapter

1

I had not known you a month before I felt you were the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed on to marry. Elizabeth Bennet’s eyes flashed as she glared at the man in front of her. Mr Darcy’s cold, arrogant demeanour faltered as if she had slapped him. He took a moment to master himself. Elizabeth felt a momentary waver

of

pity

.

You have said quite enough madam, he said, quietly. Elizabeth could hear the suppressed emotion in his voice. I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only be ashamed of what my own have been. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness. He gave her a curt bow and strode from the room. Elizabeth remained standing until she heard the front door of the parsonage slam shut before sinking down into a chair, her heart hammering.

Mr Darcy had proposed to her. The proud, arrogant man who thought everyone beneath him. To think she had always believed he disliked her as much as she did him. And yet the whole time he had been in love with her. It was incredible. How could she have been so blind to his true feelings? She, who always prided herself on her perception and her superior insight into human character? To not realise that a man had been in love with her to the point of wishing to marry her was quite a blow to her good opinion of her talents.

His words rang in her ears; "Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? - to congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose condition in life is so decidedly below my own? I have no wish of denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success."

Elizabeth’s heart hardened against him. If she caused him pain, she was sorry for it as she would be for any man whose proposal she was obliged to refuse. But even at a moment when most men would have shown tenderness and vulnerability, he had still been as proud, arrogant and conceited as ever. He still showed a selfish disdain for the feelings of other people. They were nothing to him; merely toys for him to control. He spoke of feeling apprehensive and anxious about her response to the offer of his hand, but his countenance had shown real security. He had been in no doubt that she would accept him. He probably congratulated himself on raising her station in life, imagining how grateful she would be for his condescension…

Eugh! Elizabeth cried in frustration. She touched a hand to her face and was surprised to find it damp with tears. Then again, why would she not cry at such a moment? His words had hurt her deeply, and it gave her no pleasure to reject him in such a frank manner. But she would need to recover from her feelings before Charlotte and Mr Collins returned from dinner at Rosings Park. She checked the clock on the mantelpiece. It was almost eight. They could be home at any moment. Elizabeth crossed the room to look in the mirror. Her eyes were still bright with tears and her face was flushed with emotion. It was no good. As soon as they saw her, Charlotte would realise something had happened. She would need to go to bed and pretend to be asleep, so she could master herself before seeing them in the morning.

As she turned from the mirror to leave the room, she spotted something that made her heart sink. Mr Darcy’s hat lay on the chair where he had placed it when he came in. In his rush to leave her, he had forgotten it. She bit her lip in frustration. She couldn’t leave it there. Mr Collins would want to know why Mr Darcy had called upon her when she was home alone, and he would certainly inform Lady Catherine that her nephew had disappeared from dinner to visit Miss Bennet. And Elizabeth knew the intrusive old woman would waste no time in demanding to know what the visit had entailed.

No, there was only one option. Elizabeth looked out at the setting twilight. The first few stars were glinting in the purple evening sky. She would need to chase after Mr Darcy and return his hat before the others came home. Muttering to herself, she threw on her cloak, grabbed the hat, and ran out into the mild evening to

catch

him

.

A small path ran through the woods, which served as a shortcut to Rosings. Elizabeth guessed Mr Darcy would take it, not wanting to be seen by others on the main road to the Park. She gathered her skirts and ran. To her mingled relief and disappointment, she soon saw his tall figure striding ahead. He swiped at some plants with his cane. For a moment, Elizabeth’s step faltered. When he had stormed from Hunsford, she had very much hoped not to see him again. Now, minutes later, she was obligated to speak

with

him

.

Well, it simply had to be done. She would put the hat in his hand, and within minutes, she could be back in Hunsford, curled up in her own room where she could close the door against the outside world and have some time to think. She chased

after

him

.

Mr Darcy, she called. He stopped and looked around. She saw him hesitate when he realised it was her, then look away for a few moments before turning around to face her. Elizabeth again faltered when she reached him. Only moments ago, back at the parsonage, she had been thinking of him as the rudest, most conceited man she had ever known. Someone who didn’t care for her so much as he cared for winning what he wanted.

But the face on the man in front of her was not that of a proud man thwarted in his desires. It was the face of a man who was utterly crushed, who had lost someone he deeply loved and was wondering how he could get through his life without her. Elizabeth was shocked. She hadn’t thought she could have caused him so much pain. She hadn’t even believed him capable of it. A wound to his pride, maybe, but no deep feelings

beyond

that

.

She took a step towards him. He remained where he was, still not looking

at

her

.

You left without your hat, she said softly.

Mr Darcy swallowed. Thank you, he said quietly. "I am sorry you had to come out in such a cool evening to bring

it

back

."

I had to, Elizabeth replied without thinking. If Mr Collins saw it… She trailed off awkwardly. Well…good night, Mr Darcy. She dropped a quick curtsey and turned to leave. Her heart felt heavy. She never realised she could cause him to feel so much. There was no way she could have saved him from the pain of rejection without subjecting herself to a marriage she knew would bring her misery, and she certainly wasn’t going to sacrifice herself for someone else’s feelings. But the other things

she

said

…

Mr Darcy, she said. She turned with a vague thought of comforting him. He turned too. Elizabeth didn’t know how it happened, but his warm lips were on hers and his arms were wrapped around her. Without thinking, she entwined her own arms around his neck, giving herself over to the kiss. For a moment, she gave in to the feelings before reality came thundering back to her. She was kissing Mr Darcy. What was she thinking? She quickly pulled back and dropped another quick curtsey before turning to walk away as fast as she could. Mr Darcy stood alone on the wooded path staring after her for a long time before turning on his lonely way to Rosings.

---

Unknown to either of them, on a path running parallel to theirs, Mr Collins watched in astonishment as his cousin Elizabeth embraced a strange man in the woods. The man’s back was towards him so he could not see his countenance, but there was no mistaking the slim, light figure of his cousin in the man’s arms. Elizabeth, who had insisted on remaining home that evening, caring nothing for the displeasure of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Elizabeth, who had rejected his honourable proposal of marriage out of hand and showed no sign of regretting it and realising the error of her ways. The pert, clever Miss Bennet who pretended to be ill so she could receive an unknown gentleman in their absence, and who would shamelessly kiss that same man alone in the woods when it was almost dark. Mr Collins stood watching the embrace, transfixed with mingled shock and glee, before turning back the way he came. He was glad now there had been no room in the carriage when Miss Anne de Bourgh took a fancy to join them on their

Reviews for A Compromise at Rosings Park

[Elin Eriksen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fast paced and thrilling book with an FMS plot.

Enter at DHP and ventured off canon immediately.
Mr Darcy had left his hat and Elizabeth rushed after him to return it. Mr Darcy thanked her with an unexpected kiss that unfortunately was observed...
Forced into a marriage with the disagreeable Mr Darcy, Elizabeth was not happy and neither was I as Elizabeth was a tad too friendly with Mr Wickham.
I do not particularly like when either of ODC are paired with others romantically, even if it is but little.
The Lydia/Wickham debacle ensued with a twist, personally I would prefer it had taken another path to develop the relationship between ODC. I am tired of the incident as it rarely alters and therefore feels repetitive (even with a little twist). Although I probably could have overlooked that if I was not already a bit annoyed of Elizabeth's preference for Wickham...
Ends in a rather swift HEA.

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

I laughed. It was a little more happily ever after than Jane would actually approve of, I think. However it was nice to see certain people get a taste of karma without having to actually die... like in other fan fictions

[Kristin Stephens-Martinez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cute, but rather abrupt in places. I would have expected a little more time to pass for Elizabeth feelings to change.

[Christine Waring · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very enjoyable read and one that I will enjoy time and time again.

[Chelsea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was my first book by Isabelle Mayfair and I really enjoyed this story and how the characters were written. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.