Most Truly: A Pride and Prejudice Novella: Love at Pemberley, #1

By Reina M. Williams

Colonel James Fitzwilliam is home. The war has left him weary, battle-scarred—and a free man of fortune ready to find a wife. He travels to Pemberley, his second home. There he meets Kitty Bennet. Her unexpected charms soon have him questioning his familial duty and his expectations. A fight looms on the horizon when his aunt—Lady Catherine de Bourgh—and his parents arrive with their own plans for his future.

 

Kitty Bennet has found happiness. At Pemberley, she has improved herself and formed true friendships with her sister Lizzy and Georgiana Darcy. Kitty is captivated by the gentlemanly Colonel Fitzwilliam. But she will not be silly over a redcoat again, and she will not risk her happiness—or his family's displeasure—for his attentions. Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy, Lizzy, and Georgiana have their say, and Kitty learns a new lesson—love will find you at Pemberley.

 

Heat level: Kisses Only

Length: 100 pages

 

Find Love at Pemberley in:

Miss Darcy Decides

Miss Bennet Blooms

Misunderstood

Or in a compilation--Love at Pemberley--in ebook or paperback!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rickrack Books
• Release date: Oct 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386388272

Book preview

Colonel James Fitzwilliam is home. The war has left him weary, battle-scarred—and a free man of fortune ready to find a wife. He travels to Pemberley, his second home. There he meets Kitty Bennet. Her unexpected charms soon have him questioning his familial duty and his expectations. A fight looms on the horizon when his aunt—Lady Catherine de Bourgh—and his parents arrive with their own plans for his future.

Kitty Bennet has found happiness. At Pemberley, she has improved herself and formed true friendships with her sister Lizzy and Georgiana Darcy. Kitty is captivated by the gentlemanly Colonel Fitzwilliam. But she will not be silly over a redcoat again, and she will not risk her happiness—or his family’s displeasure—for his attentions. Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy, Lizzy, and Georgiana have their say, and Kitty learns a new lesson—love will find you at Pemberley.

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. Any resemblance to places, establishments, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © Reina M. Williams 2013

Excerpt © Reina M. Williams 2013

Rickrack Books/rickrackbooks.com

Cover design by The Killion Group

thekilliongroupinc.com

Landscape photo via Fotolia © GBeanland

All rights reserved.

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

First Edition/November 2013

Dear Reader,

Thank you for downloading this novella. Most Truly is a book I didn’t plan to write. I have enjoyed Jane Austen’s books since girlhood, and read many of the re-imaginings of her story worlds over the years. I thought I was satisfied. But an idea tickled at my mind as I re-read Pride and Prejudice in this, the 200th anniversary year of its publication. I wanted to write about Kitty Bennet and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and, when the idea wouldn’t leave me alone, I wrote their story. I hope you have as much fun reading their story as I had writing it.

Reina M. Williams

November, 2013

Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. (Volume II, Chapter Seven)

Kitty, to her very material advantage, spent the chief of her time with her two elder sisters. In society so superior to what she had generally known, her improvement was great. (Volume III, Chapter Nineteen)

~Pride and Prejudice

Chapter One

IN THE TENSE, HAZY nights, her eyes had twinkled in his view, more present than the stars. It was not that he was in love with her. No, not love.

He shook his head and his mount answered with a muffled nicker. He’d been in danger of that emotion, to be sure. But he’d seen that his cousin Darcy felt more for Elizabeth Bennet than he, Colonel James Rotheby Fitzwilliam, ever could.

He slowed his horse to a walk and surveyed the woods of Pemberley—the finest wood he had seen, full and varied. Pemberley had been a second home to him, perhaps more of a home than his father’s house had been. James’s aunt, Lady Anne, had been more gentle than his own mother, and her husband, his uncle Darcy, had accepted him almost as another son, even to making him co-guardian of his only daughter, Georgiana, with her brother, Darcy.

James’s father had not had time for his younger sons beyond admonishing them. James now understood that his elder brother Henry had to be groomed for his inheritance, but as a boy James had not seen this fact and chose to disagree with everything his father said. Perhaps, for once, his father was right about James—he was ready to find a wife. Still, he did not appreciate his father hammering into him the soundness of his advice about it. And so James had escaped to Pemberley once again.

His back tensed and he spurred his horse faster. At thirty, he had had opportunity to marry before, but none had tempted him enough. Especially as a younger son, he had felt the lack of urgency, and coupled with his love of independence, he had every motive to avoid romantic entanglements.

He slowed as he descended the hill, following the winding road to the house. Pemberley’s solid stone facade rose on the hill, more woods lined behind, a bulwark of the comforts of the countryside. He crossed the bridge. Water splashed underneath, the new spring thaw contributing to the rush. He pulled his greatcoat collar closer and entered the stable yard.

ONCE HE HAD BEEN TO his room and changed, he walked downstairs to a parlor. It was a cozy room, for Pemberley, in which most was on a grand scale. The furnishings were stately and solid, as was Pemberley itself, and comfortable, with a soft rug spanning the floor, cushioned chairs and sofas inviting, as was the fire in the hearth, a classically molded mantel graced by a landscape of the woods. A similar room, a large drawing room, was closer to the dining room. He had thought to find at least Georgiana and Elizabeth here, for it was a snug place to read and write letters. But the small desk by the window was empty. A dark-haired woman with a pleasing figure stood at the other window.

Elizabeth? She appeared slighter than he recalled on last seeing her at Rosings nearly two years since, but...

She turned—not Elizabeth. But surely one of her younger sisters. In her letters, Georgiana had repeatedly mentioned Kitty Bennet as a frequent visitor to Pemberley, and a new friend. Her resemblance to Elizabeth was clear, from her hair to her figure. And the playful expression in her eyes... But there was something guarded that he had not known in Elizabeth’s expression.

No, sir, but I thank you for the compliment of mistaking me for my sister. Her tone was laughing, light.

He smiled. She seemed to radiate warmth, and he wanted to move closer to her, as a freezing man is drawn to a flickering flame. She returned his smile. Then she glanced down. There seemed something more to her than she appeared—he could not tell yet if it was a bit of flirtation or genuine abashment at speaking to a stranger.

Colonel Fitzwilliam, a cheerful voice said from behind him.

He bowed to the woman facing him, who he assumed was Kitty Bennet, and turned to greet Elizabeth. Yes, the two were similar, but indeed Elizabeth’s figure was more robust, and her expression more open. But both had similar brown hair and eyes, playful and bright.

You must call me James now, cousin, he said to Elizabeth. It was the first he had seen her since her marriage to his cousin Darcy just over a year ago. James had been on battlefields abroad.

Elizabeth smiled. Darcy walked in with Georgiana. Darcy took Elizabeth’s arm and shook James’s hand. They nodded to each other. No words were needed—there was an unspoken accord and brotherhood between them.

James, we are so glad you’re home. Georgiana kissed his cheek. Georgiana had grown taller and was slender, like her brother, with the same thatch of almost black hair, only Georgiana’s was long, worn up in fashionable curls. Not