Reproach (Part One): A Month To Love, #1

By Abbey North

No good deed goes unpunished.
While visiting Charlotte at Hunsford, Lizzy rejects Mr. Darcy's proposal. Fate conspires to throw them together the next day as they rush to stop Charlotte and Richard from making a huge mistake. Their mission proves futile, but they reach a new understanding. Both believe their flight to follow their friends remains a secret, but secrets have a way of leaking…



Scandal dictates Darcy must propose, and Lizzy must accept. She refuses to rush into a hasty marriage and negotiates for nuptials four weeks from the proposal. That gives her a month to fall in love with her betrothed. Can she see past her objections to Darcy to fall in love with the man who will be her husband?



This is part one of a completed three-part serial. While Abbey normally writes sensual JAFF, this story is strictly SWEET.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abbey North JAFF Books
• Release date: Jul 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201175559

Book preview

Blurb

WHILE VISITING CHARLOTTE at Hunsford, Lizzy rejects Mr. Darcy’s proposal. Fate conspires to throw them together the next day as they rush to stop Charlotte and Richard from making a huge mistake. Their mission proves futile, but they reach a new understanding. Both believe their flight to follow their friends remains a secret, but secrets have a way of leaking...

Scandal dictates Darcy must propose, and Lizzy must accept. She refuses to rush into a hasty marriage and negotiates for nuptials four weeks from the proposal. That gives her a month to fall in love with her betrothed. Can she see past her objections to Darcy to fall in love with the man who will be her husband?

This is part one of a three-part serial. The other parts will be released quickly. While Abbey sometimes writes SENSUAL JAFF, this story is strictly SWEET.

Chapter One

LIZZY LOOKED AT THE note, barely comprehending the words written in Charlotte’s fine handwriting. The page appeared jumbled for a moment, as though Charlotte had written to her in cuneiform instead of English. She blinked, making herself read it slowly.

Dearest Lizzy,

Please do not think ill of me, but I can bear Mr. Collins no more. He is not the one who holds my heart, nor is he the one whom I intimated upon your arrival is so wonderful. That gentleman is of finer quality than Mr. Collins could ever hope to be. We have tried to deny our passions, but we fell together. It is crazy and foolish, but we are running away. I fear you shall not see me or Richard again.

Your good opinion matters to me, and I am loath to tarnish it, but I cannot live with a man who makes me so unhappy after finding true love. I am a most practical woman about such matters, as well you know, so I hope that convinces you of the earnestness of my devotion, and the seriousness of thought I have put into choosing this path.

With Love,

Charlotte

Lizzy closed her eyes, recalling the conversation she’d had with Charlotte shortly after arriving at Hunsford. They had been in Charlotte’s personal parlor, and she had asked, Are you happy?

Charlotte had given her a big smile, and there had been no cause to doubt her sincerity when she said, Oh, much happier than I have ever been. I enjoy running my own household.

To Lizzy’s eyes, it had seemed she was much more enthusiastic about other things than household management. Forgive me for being indelicate, but is your marriage what you expected?

Charlotte’s eyes had dimmed slightly. Oh, very much as I expected.

And how do you find him?

Love is an amazing thing, Lizzy. I never thought I would find it, but then it was thrust upon me. It was an explosive meeting, with passion flying, and our hearts entwined as one. I could not resist destiny, much as I tried.

Lizzy had blinked. I am surprised to find Mr. Collins is a man of such passions.

Charlotte had given her a strange smile. It does defy belief, does it not?

The subject had faded then, and Lizzy had naturally assumed Charlotte meant her husband was the one who had shown her that love. Now, it seemed that it must’ve surely been Colonel Fitzwilliam instead. There was only one Richard in the vicinity, at least to Lizzy’s knowledge.

Her dear friend had abandoned convention and run off with the second son of an Earl, who had once mentioned he must marry for wealth rather than love. They must have truly been taken