Her Husband's Gifts: A Darcy & Elizabeth Pride and Prejudice Sensual Variation

By Cora Aston

A childish prank forced them to marry. Now, Elizabeth and Darcy must make the most of their union, only Lizzy is convinced her husband could never love her.
Is convinced that it is really Anne, the daughter of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, whom he loves.

But with the holiday season comes a chance to truly begin their marriage...if only they can escape the machinations of those with ulterior motives...and if Darcy and Elizabeth can finally admit to each other the depths of their affection.

Her Husband's Gift is the second passionate short story in the After the Wedding Series, vignettes reimagining what may have happened with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth at Pemberley after they married. These stories will not necessarily be told in chronological order or even feature the exact same Darcy & Elizabeth. Each short will include a tastefully written steamy sensual scene which enhances the exploration of marital intimacy between ODC. The author will make sweet versions available on her website. Variation #1 in this series is Her Husband's Affection. If you crave tales depicting the passion, angst, and temper of ODC as they navigate tumultuous but loving marriage, you will enjoy the After the Wedding shorts.

Download now for an emotional, romantic tale of the passions and struggles of marriage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A Longbourn Lady
• Release date: Dec 17, 2017

Cora Aston

I suppose I should talk about myself in the third person, but I'm not going to. (Smile.) I'm a wife, a mother of four, and a lifelong tinkerer. I've dabbled in many different crafts and hobbies including jewelry making, baking, sewing, drawing.... And, of course, I am a lifetime avid reader of romance. ​ Escaping into the 'simpler' time of Jane Austen when gentlemen were required to court a lady with marriage in mind, and we didn't have to wheedle our daughter's into ditching the ripped black goth jeans in favor of a skirt....sigh. Bliss, right? ​ I've also always loved to write, and now I am combining two of my joys and hoping to share them with you. Like everything worth doing, this is a journey, and I'm happy to share it with you. JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: smarturl.it/coraaston

Book preview

Chapter 1

I will see him punished, Mr. Bennet said, his face drawn tight with fury.

Elizabeth sank into a chair, knees having finally given out after recounting the entire story. Mr. Darcy or Mr. Wickham? she asked in an attempt to inject some levity into the situation.

Her father fixed her with a long, awful look. Normally a genial man with a subtle sense of humor, at the moment he appeared more the avenging angel. Or devil. Elizabeth had known her father would be displeased, but she had been unprepared for the shock of his vengeful intent.

Both, he clarified.

"Only if I fail to locate Mr. Wickham first."

You absolve Mr. Darcy of all blame?

She considered her answer carefully. Had Mr. Darcy been caught kissing her, and most passionately? Yes. Had he come to the library with the intention of kissing her, or much less compromising her? Certainly not. That mischievous, ill-bred friend of his had thought it a fine lark to lock them both in the library at Lady Catherine’s house party. Afterwards leading a party of the worst gossips and stiff-necked society gents to ‘discover’ them. By that time both she and Mr. Darcy had been missed . . .

. . . and by that time, several months of past misunderstandings had been resolved and they discovered in the resolution a deep, mutual affection, which warranted further exploration. True, he had kissed her. There had been no intent to harm her reputation, and if they had not both been so engrossed in the other that it took both Wickham’s cough and Lady Catherine’s shocked exclamation to part them . . .

It was only a kiss, Papa, she said, knowing full well the import of a ‘mere’ kiss.

Only!

Elizabeth sighed and straightened her shoulders. At least her mother had retired to the bedroom to enjoy her hysterics in the company of more sympathetic ears. Well, this is not the first scandal our family has weathered and, I daresay, it will not be the last. Perhaps I should stay with the Gardiners until more salacious news draws attention from this petty shame.

You will not. I shall call on Mr. Darcy, and I am certain when I am through speaking with him, the situation will be satisfactorily resolved.

She pleaded, argued, reasoned, and shouted for two hours. Mr. Bennet was moved by neither logic nor an attempt to emulate her mother’s hysterics.

I refuse to wed a man forced, she said flatly. That is final. So even were you to gain his agreement in this mad scheme, it would be for naught. I do not understand you, Papa! You were perfectly willing to allow me to refuse Mr. Collins.

You did not kiss Mr. Collins, Elizabeth. And you admit Mr. Darcy did not force his attentions on you.

Her mouth thinned. You would have me married to a man who resents me?

Neither did you force your attentions on him. He liked you well enough to kiss you. He will like you well enough to wed. In this manner, the young learn there are consequences for poor actions.

Elizabeth fled the house after an hour of pacing, unable to sit and await her father’s return. She half-feared he would drag Mr. Darcy back to Longbourn with him. The entire situation was Wickham’s fault. Well, this would be the last practical joke he played on an unsuspecting innocent if she had anything to say about it. She marched along the path to Meryton, determined to seek him out at the tawdry little tavern he frequented and demand he not only apologize but admit to everyone he had set his former friend up. After all, her reputation was already in tatters, so what harm could entering a tavern do?

Why had he done it? It made no sense why he would wish to compromise Elizabeth. They had enjoyed a merry, if somewhat mutually disdainful, acquaintance. Elizabeth thought him a dandy and a rake and he admitted to having the opinion that the second eldest Miss Bennet was naught but a bluestocking destined to become a spinster. After months of bickering, they had settled into a comfortable like-dislike, mostly because they both tacitly agreed each was safe from the marriage-minded machinations of the other. Wickham was handsome, an officer, and a wild charming wit besides. He had often admitted to finding Elizabeth’s acerbic company soothing. He could be sure she would never attempt to entrap him into marriage.

So knowing how he felt about entrapment, why had he done the same thing to Darcy? Darcy, with whom she had also spent months in bitter bickering but with the sort of intensity which, were it any other pair, she would have sworn heralded deeper feelings. It made no sense.

Vibrations under her feet warned her moments before the staccato canter of horse’s hooves. Elizabeth paused and turned. She did not believe in coincidence or that a horse should be heading her way at such a speed so soon after she departed her home.

The chestnut stallion came into view, slowing to a walk as its master pulled alongside Elizabeth, where he stopped and dismounted.

Mr. Darcy. Her tone was all stiff politeness. She did not quite have it in her to turn her back on the man and stride off. He had not deliberately ruined her reputation and, as her father said, Elizabeth had been more than willing to receive his kiss. She met