‘I am so very glad to hear it,’ James replied, gently cupping her face in his palm.
‘Tobias has risen above all the obstacles placed in his path and is determined to settle down to a life of respectability. For a man with his disposition and with previous criminal tendencies, that will be a hard ambition for him to achieve. Temptation will seem…well, sometimes too tempting to resist, I dare say. However, his position here is secure now and it is up to him to make a success of it.’
‘Are you saying you will marry me?’
‘Yes, James, if you are in earnest then I will marry you with gladness in my heart.’
James whooped with delight, wrapped her in his arms and kissed her with all the passion of a man with a point to prove.
ᴥᴥᴥ
Tobias watched Susie and Tyrell from a position within the lengthening shadows cast over the garden by a lowering sun. His heart sank when they embraced, aware that could mean only one thing. He walked away, shoulders slouched, feeling like the bottom had fallen out of his world.
His original intention when encouraging Susie’s affections had been to tempt her away from Pemberley, much as his father had tempted her aunt Lydia all those years ago. Retribution on behalf of a father whom he had never known. But as he began to know Susie better and came to appreciate her goodness, intelligence and sweet temperament—to say nothing of her willingness to look upon him as an equal—treating her as a means of exacting revenge he was unsure if he even wanted no longer seemed important. What he didn’t take into consideration was that he would lose control of the situation and actually fall in love with the engaging chit.
He gave a mirthless laugh at the irony of the situation as he made his way back to his cottage and threw himself into the nearest chair. Instead of making off with the daughter of the house, he had secured his position here and seemed destined to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. Well, more or less. There was still a restless side to his nature that would never be completely quelled. At least he was out from beneath Covington’s control. That situation had never sat comfortably with him and he had been waiting for the opportunity to turn the tables on him. He had not anticipated doing so with Darcy’s approval. It was funny how things had a way of working themselves out.
Speaking of which, there was a very obliging young woman in Lambton, a widow who was more than willing to entertain him whenever he had an itch that required scratching. He could think of no better way to put Susie from his mind and left his cottage again with a view to riding into the village. There was also the next prize fight to arrange. He hadn’t been entirely honest with the Darcy boys when he said the previous had been the last. But with Covington out of the picture, Tobias could pocket all the profits from the book. It might technically be illegal but there would be an outcry if the fights were stopped altogether, so he had a duty of care to the local populace. Besides, if he didn’t arrange them, someone else certainly would.
Tobias raised an imaginary glass to Susie’s health and happiness as he rode along, glad that she had found her heart’s desire. She deserved to be happy. He would get over his obsession in time. Besides, it wasn’t in his nature to remain faithful to just one woman, not when there were so many of them ready and willing to welcome him into their beds.
‘Take the best possible care of her, Tyrell,’ he said aloud, ‘or you will have me to answer to.’
ᴥᴥᴥ
‘Well, my dear, what shall you do for entertainment now that the last of the girls is on the brink of a most suitable marriage?’
Lizzy smiled into the darkness as her husband climbed into bed beside her and pulled her into his arms.
‘Oh, I feel persuaded that I shall find another occupation that suits me. Spence insists that Amelia must come and stay with us and give the Covingtons the opportunity to discuss their future in private. I rather think we ought to permit it, if Amelia is willing. It will be awkward for her if she stays where she is, especially if Covington discovers that she helped us to uncover his wrong-doing.’
A rumbling laugh echoed through Will’s chest. ‘I have already advised you against interfering with our sons’ matrimonial ambitions, my dear, but it seems you didn’t listen. I can see that I shall have to find other ways to distract you.’
‘It was your methods of distraction that led to the production of five children,’ Lizzy pointed out in a reasonable tone.
‘True, but it wouldn’t do for me to lose my touch.’
She smiled into the darkness. ‘There is little chance of that happening.’
‘Even so…’
Lizzy snuggled closer, wondering for the thousandth time why fortune had chosen to smile upon her all those years ago, gifting her with this handsome, caring and oh so considerate gentleman as a husband. She twined her arms around his neck, ready to receive his kiss and all that would follow it.
She was the most fortunate woman alive, and would continue to count her blessings for the rest of her days.
The End
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About the Author
Thank you for reading Susie Darcy’s Tenacious Nature. If you want more from Pemberley check out Mrs Darcy Entertains and the rest of Pemberley: The Next Generation. All of the novels in these two series are self-contained and don’t need to be read sequentially.
I was brought up on the Isle of Wight, off the Hampshire coast of southern England, surrounded by castles, stately homes and history at every turn. I must have unwittingly absorbed the historic atmosphere because I write mostly about bygone days, living vicariously alongside my strong heroes and independently-minded heroines.
When not letting my imagination flow over a hot keyboard I spend my time walking my beloved dog – a rescued mutt of indeterminate pedigree – and make half-hearted efforts to hold back the years through regular visits to the gym.
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Regency and Victorian Series
Mrs Darcy Entertains Series
Miss Bingley’s Revenge
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s Dilemma
Miss Darcy’s Passion
Kitty Bennet’s Despair
Lydia Wickham’s Journal
Pemberley: The Next Generation Series
Emma Bingley’s Romantic Nature
Naomi Sanford’s Compassionate Nature
Bella Darcy’s Impulsive Nature
Eleanor Bingley’s Rebellious Nature
Rosie Turner’s Contrary Nature
Susie Darcy’s Tenacious Nature
Ducal Encounters Series One
At the Duke’s Discretion
With the Duke’s Approval
Portrait of a Duke
For the Duke’s Pleasure
In the Duke’s Estimation
Captivating the Duke
Ducal Encounters Series Two
Reunited with the Duke
Representing the Duke
Safeguarding the Duke
Acting for the Duke
Emulating the duke
Ducal Encounters Series Three
Conspiring with the Duke
Dedicated to the Duke
Impugning the Duke’s Honour
By Order of the Duke
The Forsters
Compromising the Marquess
Beguiling the Barrister
Finessing the Contessa
Romancing the Runaway
Victorian Vigilantes Series
Saving Grace
Heirs and Graces
With Good Grace
Fall From Grace
Social Graces
Elegance and Grace
Riley Rochester Investigates Series
Death of a Debutante
Death of a Courtesan
Death of a Prosecutor
Death of a Scoundrel
Stand-Alone Regencies
To Defy a Duke
The Duke’s Legacy
Duty’s Destiny
A Duke by Default
A Scandalous Proposition
Of Dukes and Deceptions
The Perfect Impostor
Forgotten Heiress
For Want of a Reputation
Christmas at Castleray
Ava’s Passion
Lady Mysterious
Divided Loyalties
Disinherited
Game of Dukes
Contemporary Titles
The Hunter Files
Unfinished Business
Risky Business
Lethal Business
Stand-Alone Contemporaries
Topspin
Downsizing
A Class Apart
Shalimar
Silver Lining
The Name of the Game