Miss Bennet Blooms: A Pride and Prejudice Novella: Love at Pemberley, #3

By Reina M. Williams

Miss Mary Bennet is the last unmarried Bennet sister. She believes she will live out her days as a maiden aunt, seeking quiet in the libraries and parlors of her father's and brother-in-laws' homes. On a visit to Pemberley, the estate of Fitzwilliam Darcy, her sister Lizzy's husband, Mary begins to feel more is possible than her planned life of solitude. Among new friends and with new confidence, Mary opens to new feelings when she meets Mr. Nathaniel Bingley.

Nathaniel Bingley, at the insistence of his cousin Charles Bingley, finds himself at Pemberley. After Nathaniel's years in the West Indies studying its intense flora, he is ready to seclude himself to compile his work into a book. But Nathaniel could not say no to Charles, who was one of Nathaniel's few kind relatives after the deaths of his beloved parents. Soon, Nathaniel also finds it difficult to say no to his own feelings about the lovely Miss Mary Bennet. 

Can Mary and Nathaniel look beyond their plans and accept the grace of love at Pemberley?

Length: 70 pages
Heat level: sweet

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rickrack Books
• Release date: Oct 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386906896

Book preview

Reina M. Williams

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to places, establishments, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental and the work of the author’s imagination.

Copyright © Reina M. Williams 2014

Rickrack Books/rickrackbooks.com

Cover design by Christy C. of Gilded Heart Design

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any format without permission from the author.

First Edition/April 2014

***

Love at Pemberley, Book Three

Miss Mary Bennet is the last unmarried Bennet sister. She believes she will live out her days as a maiden aunt, seeking quiet in the libraries and parlors of her father’s and brother-in-laws’ homes. On a visit to Pemberley, the estate of Fitzwilliam Darcy, her sister Lizzy’s husband, she begins to feel more is possible than her planned life of solitude. Among new friends and with new confidence, Mary opens to new feelings when she meets Mr. Nathaniel Bingley.

Nathaniel Bingley, at the insistence of his closest cousin, Charles Bingley, finds himself at Pemberley. After Nathaniel’s years in the West Indies studying its intense flora, he is ready to seclude himself to compile his work into a book. But Nathaniel could not say no to Charles, who was one of his few kind relatives after the deaths of his beloved parents. Soon, Nathaniel finds it difficult to say no to his feelings, especially when he gets to know the pretty, intelligent Miss Mary Bennet. Can Mary and Nathaniel look beyond their plans and accept the grace of love at Pemberley?

Chapter One

Mary slid her needlework bookmark into Fordyce’s Sermons. She set the book on the small table, one of many which dotted the library at Pemberley. Each rustle of her gown as she rose, her every breath, sounded loudly in her ears. She was used to the quiet, sought it out. But here, at her brother-in-law Darcy’s estate, the quiet had a complete quality unlike that of her father’s home, Longbourn.

The mellow September sunlight drew Mary to the window. She fingered the silk drape, a similar gold to the sinking sun. The rolling landscape of hills and trees glowed, a tapestry of green. Soon the view would radiate instead a show of fiery colors: gold, red, orange. The palette shimmered in Mary’s imagination, bringing with it images of tropical flowers, their spiky leaves and showy orange, blue, red, and yellow a vibrant display unlike anything Mary had seen. And unlike anything she was likely to see, except in books.

She was the last Miss Bennet, expected to be the maiden aunt forever at home with her parents, save when they visited her married sisters. As they were on this occasion, to meet her newest nephew, Edward Fitzwilliam Darcy, who was now a month old.

Mary ought to be with the others now, but she had heard quite enough of her mother’s exaltations and complaints for one day. Dinner was still to come, though hopefully Jane and Charles would arrive with baby Charles, more distractions for Mama.

Mary shook her head. She too looked forward to seeing her sister, brother, and nephew again. Her last visit, to their home in the neighboring county, but a few months since, seemed a lifetime past. Or perhaps that was only the myopic vision Mary felt when confined at home, when secretly she longed to be out in the world. But duty bound her at home. Duty, and her fears and doubts.

Since her visit with Jane and her husband, Charles Bingley, Mary had glimpsed freedom, and she sought it, as she had quiet. Freedom from her own narrow views, from her long-standing role in her family.

The door of the library opened. Mary forced a polite smile and turned. A stranger stood with his hand on the door. His cheeks reddened, apparent even through his tanned skin. Mary clasped her hands together.

Excuse me. I did not mean to intrude. The stranger’s voice was pleasant and calm. He bowed slightly and stepped back. His hair was similar to Charles’s, light brown curls, a shade darker than Jane’s and Mary’s wavy hair.

I ought to join the party, if you wish for solitude. Mary walked toward him.

He studied her, his green eyes bright. You must be Miss Bennet. You are quite like your sister Jane. I am Nathaniel Bingley.

Mary inclined her head. It was bold, perhaps rude, of him to introduce himself. But she knew of him, knew him to be a gentleman, a scholar, a scientist. Mary had been too prim. I am pleased to meet you, sir. You are recently returned from the Indies? I had the pleasure of hearing some of your letters to Charles. Your work is most interesting.

Botany is not usually well-appreciated. I am pleased you find it of interest. His posture was still upright, though he had released the door. He stepped forward to meet her, leaving the door ajar, as was proper.

Your drawings of the local flora were captivating.

Thank you. He smiled.

Mary lowered her eyes. His smile, warm and sincere, rendered her mute.

"I am compiling my findings into a book. It will