Darcy's Winter Delight: A Steamy Pride and Prejudice Variation

By V. L. King and Violet King

One snowed-in night reveals the depth of Elizabeth's desire and all Mr. Darcy will do to fulfill it...

When Lady Catherine's misguided marital advice leads Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy to flee Rosings, the loving couple find themselves in a cottage, snowed in, together. One night will reveal the depths of Elizabeth's desire and all Mr. Darcy will do to fulfill it. But what of Elizabeth's secret?

Find out in Darcy's Winter Delight, a steamy Pride and Prejudice variation guaranteed to keep you hot and bothered, turning pages, to a very happy ending.

If you love steamy Pride and Prejudice variations, start reading Darcy's Winter Delight now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pemberley Playground Press
• Release date: Feb 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393916314

Book preview

1

Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy sat across from Lady Catherine, cradling a cup of lukewarm tea as she shifted on the finely upholstered yet unyielding chair of the lady’s ostentatious drawing room. Portraits stared down in flat-eyed judgment. Every surface was covered in finery: elaborate plaster molding along the ceiling, lace clothes over the tables scattered with statuary that seemed caught in a perpetual state of flight. Elizabeth wished to flee with them, but marriage required certain niceties; honoring her husband’s family - now her family - amongst the height of them.

One cannot doubt the propriety of your courtship, considering it is nearly spring, and you have shared no indication that you might be with child, Mrs. Darcy. Lady Catherine took a sip from her tea.

Elizabeth clenched her teacup and tried, without success, not to imagine it was Lady Catherine’s neck.

Aunt Catherine, Elizabeth said, smiling with all of her teeth. "I cannot imagine how any might suspect the slightest impropriety of my husband."

Lady Catherine pressed her lips together as she always did when Elizabeth acknowledged their current relation. It was one of the few pleasures Elizabeth could claim of this visit.

If Elizabeth had been given leave to do as she wished, she would have stayed with Charlotte. While Mr. Collins had only grown more obsequious since Elizabeth’s marriage, his mingled awe at Elizabeth’s rise and his gratitude at how her elevation affected his own status made it easier to dismiss him in short order. Elizabeth did not have the same freedom to dismiss Lady Catherine. Aunt Catherine.

Where was Fitzwilliam? He had left the previous afternoon for Town on an affair of business with the promise to return straightaway.

I do so wish to hear the laughter of babes again, soon, I hope. Your mother certainly was blessed with a fecund womb. You are aware of the process—?

Well aware. The last thing Elizabeth wanted was an explanation of the process from Lady Catherine.

And you are facing your heads to the north when you perform the act? I was certain to have the headboards of your rooms placed in the correct direction, you understand, considering the favoring of your mother’s womb for female offspring.

Elizabeth shut her eyes. It explained why hers and Mr. Darcy’s beds in the guest rooms were placed at an odd slant. We shall be happy with any child with which God graces us, Elizabeth said, smothering a sigh. How much longer must she endure this visit? Triple drat on Fitzwilliam for abandoning her here to make small talk with Lady Catherine.

Of course. But Fitzwilliam needs an heir, and a man always pines for a son.

We have taken all care, Elizabeth said. She and Fitzwilliam had made love with the headboards at their heads, feet, rears, and on one occasion to the side while her husband held her against the wall and…

Elizabeth sighed, this time out loud.

Do not despair, Lady Catherine said. I am certain there will be news soon. Very soon, if I am not mistaken. Her gaze pinned Elizabeth who realized Lady Catherine’s discussion of Elizabeth’s future children was not due to fear of barrenness, but an attempt to draw a confession from Elizabeth before she had revealed her condition to her husband!

Lady Catherine continued, If there is no news soon… Again, the sharp gaze. Lady Catherine rivaled her statues in focused stares. We shall have the doctor over to bleed you and—

Under no accounts would Elizabeth allow herself to be bled. Her mother had birthed five children with neither bleeding nor limiting her food, and she had recovered far more swiftly than Lady Lucas who had endured both. If Fitzwilliam suggested such a thing, she would refuse, blast the consequences.

What if Fitzwilliam tried such things? What if he forbade her morning walks? Elizabeth did not