Seven Days with Mr. Darcy
A Pride and Prejudice Anthology
Rose Fairbanks
Seven Days with Mr. Darcy
Rose Fairbanks
Published by Rose Fairbanks
©2020 Rose Fairbanks
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews, without permission in writing from its publisher and author.
Several passages in this novel are paraphrased from the works of Jane Austen.
Contents
Also by Rose Fairbanks
Part I. The Gentleman's Impertinent Daughter
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
Mr. Darcy's Impertinent Daughter
Part II. Letters from the Heart
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Jane Austen Re-Imaginings
Part III. Pledged
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Reunited
Part IV. A Sense of Obligation
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Domestic Felicity
Part V. The Secrets of Pemberley
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue
The Secrets of Donwell Abbey
Part VI. Mr. Darcy's Bluestocking Bride
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lady Darcy's Bluestocking Club
Part VII. Eavesdropping
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Copyright
Also by Rose Fairbanks
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Rose Fairbanks
Also by Rose Fairbanks
Jane Austen Re-Imaginings Series
(Stand Alone Series)
Letters from the Heart
Undone Business
No Cause to Repine
Love Lasts Longest
Mr. Darcy’s Kindness
Mr. Darcy’s Compassion
Courtship at Rosings
Mr. Darcy’s Grieving Wife
When Love Blooms Series
Sufficient Encouragement
Loving Elizabeth Series
Pledged
Reunited
Treasured
The Loving Elizabeth Collection
Friends and Follies: A Loving Elizabeth Companion Series
Restored (Coming 2021)
Pride and Prejudice and Bluestockings
Mr. Darcy’s Bluestocking Bride
Lady Darcy’s Bluestocking Club (Coming 2020)
Impertinent Daughters Series
The Gentleman’s Impertinent Daughter
Mr. Darcy’s Impertinent Daughter (Coming 2021)
Desire and Obligation Series
A Sense of Obligation
Domestic Felicity (Coming 2021)
Christmas with Jane
Once Upon a December
Mr. Darcy’s Miracle at Longbourn
How Darcy Saved Christmas
Christmas with Darcy: Books 1-3
Men of Austen
The Secrets of Pemberley
The Secrets of Donwell Abbey (Emma Variation, Coming 2021)
Regency Romance
Flowers of Scotland (Marriage Maker Series)
The Maid of Inverness
Paranormal Regency Fairy Tale
Cinderella’s Phantom Prince and Beauty’s Mirror (with Jenni James)
I
The Gentleman's Impertinent Daughter
Impertinent Daughters Book 1
A Pride and Prejudice Novella Variation
Rose Fairbanks
Copyright
The Gentleman’s Impertinent Daughter
Rose Fairbanks
Published by Rose Fairbanks
©2014 Rose Fairbanks
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews, without permission in writing from its publisher and author.
Several passages in this novel are paraphrased from the works of Jane Austen.
Chapter One
September 30, 1811
“Come, Brother, let us rest ourselves for a moment,” Georgiana Darcy beseeched her elder brother. The two settled on a nearby bench.
“I am sorry Sweetling. It is very warm, and I should be more attentive to you. Would you like to go home?” Fitzwilliam Darcy looked at his sister with concern. The sun was shining unseasonably hot for late September.
“No, I am well.”
“I do wish you would come with me to Hertfordshire, or allow me to stay behind with you. I do not like leaving you after your ordeal just yet.”
They had arrived in London only two days before, after celebrati
ng the customary Michaelmas feast at Pemberley, their country estate. After the betrayal of the summer and the hustle of the harvest, Darcy looked forward to enjoying a holiday but hated to leave his dear sister behind.
“Really, William, it was not an illness. I have simply had low spirits because of my foolishness.”
Georgiana lowered her voice. “I would enjoy the countryside, but I will take the cowardly way out and avoid Mr. Bingley’s sisters since you offered. You know how difficult it is for me to make new friends and I do not trust my judgment in regards to their sincerity anymore. Therefore I would be trapped with the ladies all day and make you feel guilty for any enjoyment you experience. No, you go. You work so hard. Mrs. Annesley and I shall see you at Christmas.”
After a short pause she added, “Now, I think I shall watch the ducks just down there.”
Mr. Darcy watched his baby sister leave. She had grown into a beautiful young lady while he was unawares. Early in the summer, she had been taken advantage of, her heart broken asunder, by his childhood best friend and very own father’s godson. Swept away by romance she believed herself in love and consented to an elopement.
Learning the man in question only desired her stout dowry of thirty thousand pounds and revenge on her brother made her feelings of guilt even worse than when she understood the gravity of the scandal her actions would have caused. She had not recovered her spirits and was still filled with shame and melancholy.
I was charged to protect her, and I have failed her.
Nearby he heard something wholly unexpected, a full, hearty laugh from a woman. It had been years since he heard a woman laugh so openly, not since his mother’s death. And the tone of this particular laugh was delightful and enchanting. Women of his circle rarely laughed unless they were belittling someone. It was a sad way to live, to be so bitter and angry.
His eyes sought out the owner of the musical laughter and saw a young woman surrounded by four children under the age of ten.
Surely she is much too young to be their mother but dressed too fine to be a governess. Though apparently, she takes little care of her wardrobe, given the way she romps with the little mites. Refreshing, a young lady not interested in fashion.
He had never seen a woman with such obvious zest for life before. This lady had an inner happiness and was unafraid for the world to see it.
“Again, Cousin Lizzy! Again!” the smallest lad cried demandingly as she took him in her arms and spun around. Setting him down in laughter, two older women approached her.
One stayed with the children, and the other walked with the young lady towards a bench near his. Darcy was shocked by the tugging in his heart. He felt regret in the assuredness of never witnessing a similar scene at his own home. Will my own children be happier than I was?
He had no intention of eavesdropping, but a very familiar name caught his attention. “All Mr. Collins could speak of was his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” said the younger lady, ‘Cousin Lizzy.’
She continued, “Thankfully Mama directed him away from Jane to start with, as Mama believes Jane must be saved for an illustrious match given her beauty. Not that I feared she would accept him anyway. You know Jane and I have vowed to never marry but for love and we could barely tolerate his sycophantic ways.
“Whatever came over my friend, Charlotte, to accept him I truly will never understand. But I thank you for allowing me to visit; Mama was becoming unbearable.”
“Of course, dear. We are always happy to have you. And shall you return to us in January?” the older woman asked.
Cousin Lizzy snorted. “You know very well I never want another London Season. I do not care for Town at all but for the theatres, museums, and bookshops. After turning down Mr. Collins, Mama has despaired of me ever marrying and has decided to send Kitty in my place. I am not sure if Mary should feel disappointed at being overlooked or relieved!”
She laughed and then sobered a little. “Truly, I believe Mama is correct. No man shall have me for none respect me. I have practically no portion, a vulgar family, no connections and am certainly not handsome enough to tempt one otherwise.”
“Now, Elizabeth, you have not met very many men and are only twenty. This smacks of bitterness.”
“Oh, Aunt Gardiner, I just feel as though I do not fit in anywhere, never valued for myself. I am impertinent and wild and do not wish to change.”
“Some gentlemen prefer outspoken ladies with frankness, and you are never improper or mean; indeed there is a playful sweetness about you. And wild? I have never seen evidence of that.”
“Well, I did walk three miles to Netherfield in the mud to check on Jane last month.” Glancing down at herself she told her aunt, “I arrived looking very much like this now, and I know Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst held me in contempt for it. But Jane was ill and needed me, and the carriage was not to be had. I have yet to have the patience to truly master riding, and so I walked.”
Darcy had been fascinated by the conversation before, but he recognized the name of the estate she mentioned as the very one leased by his best friend. The very place he intended to travel to on the morrow. Hearing her care for her sister resonated with his heart.
If I ever marry, I would want her to be a true sister to Georgie, with affection like this young miss has for her sister.
He then stole a look at her, given the fact that she knew his best friend and believed his sister hated her. He had no difficulty agreeing with her assumption. Caroline Bingley hated most people.
Elizabeth’s face was bright and animated by the exercise and conversation. Her eyes were vibrant and danced in the sunlight.
Her aunt replied, “I would never call those actions wild, though perhaps unwise. As for Mr. Bingley’s sisters, I am sure you can handle them with all the grace and poise you exhibit in the hostile environment of London drawing rooms. Some of the ladies I must visit are terribly dreadful, and you are never improper.
“Additionally, you explained Mr. Bingley took the sudden lease at Netherfield instead of going to a fashionable resort for the month of August. His sisters were likely to be displeased by everything out of sheer disappointment.”
Patting her niece on the hand, she continued, “Now, let us speak of better things. Will you come with us on the lake journey next summer?”
“Yes, you know not how I anticipate it.”
“Excellent. Among other stops, we plan on visiting my childhood home in Lambton.”
Darcy could scarce believe his ears. This young lady knew his best friend, his aunt’s parson, and her aunt grew up a mere five miles from his estate. Additionally, she would be visiting the area the following summer.
“You will want to see Pemberley, I am sure. I believe Derbyshire to be the finest of all the counties and Pemberley’s house is my favourite. But the grounds! Lizzy, we will have to drag you away.”
Elizabeth laughed at this, “I do look forward to it then! Tell me more about Derbyshire. Does uncle still plan to buy an estate there soon?”
Darcy frowned; although both ladies were dressed finely, she apparently was in trade. It mattered not; surely he had no intentions towards a stranger. Though when I arrive at Netherfield, she will no longer be one…
“Yes, we could have earlier, but the continued war with Napoleon makes him want to wait so he can better manage his affairs from afar.”
“I think it so brave of you and uncle to have taken the Import/Export opportunity.”
The lady chuckled. “Not everyone agreed with us at the time! Did you ever know your great-grandfather at all? Although son to a gentleman, he disliked Town and chose to become a country lawyer. The usual lot of second sons did not appeal to him. Your uncle came so late to your grandfather’s life the law practice was already promised to Mr. Phillips after your other uncle’s unexpected death. Still, your grandfather railed at his son entering trade.”
She paused for a moment and added, “I think we both know that your uncle is far happier in his curren
t profession than he would be as a country attorney.”