While
attempting to suppress his own desire to dance with Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy
flees the Netherfield ballroom only to stumble upon a half-dressed Lydia Bennet
in the library. After being discovered
with her in a compromising position, Darcy is forced to make her an offer of
marriage.
Fearing
the Bennets will attempt a similar “trick” with their brother, Mr. Bingley’s
sisters convince him to leave Hertfordshire without any intention of
returning. After Elizabeth refuses Mr.
Collins, a heartbroken Jane Bennet accepts his proposal.
Having
resolved to propose to Jane, Bingley returns to Longbourn; but when he learns
of her betrothal, he makes an offer to Elizabeth instead. She accepts, with the hope that Jane will
change her mind if Bingley remains at Netherfield.
Meanwhile,
Sir William Lucas is aware that Wickham had actually compromised Lydia in the
Netherfield library and blackmails him into proposing to Charlotte Lucas, who
is in danger of becoming an old maid.
Hertfordshire
has become a tangled web of misbegotten betrothals.
Although
Darcy yearns for Elizabeth, he feels honor bound by his promise. Elizabeth is also developing feelings for the
master of Pemberley, but he has never seemed so far out of her reach. How can Darcy and Elizabeth unravel this
tangle and reach their happily ever after?
Read an excerpt
Darcy tripped spectacularly, falling full
length on top of the half-dressed girl.
The girl squealed. “Ow!
You oaf! Get off! Move your hands!” Darcy hastened to comply, quickly removing
his hands from anything that might resemble a female body part. “Get your hands off me!” the girl shrieked
completely unnecessarily.
Darcy scrambled backward, attempting to
find purchase and regain his feet.
Then he froze at the most horrible sound
in the world: the opening of the library door.
A female form entered the library from the hallway, silhouetted by
candlelight from behind. “Lydia?” a
voice called. Darcy had no trouble
identifying its owner. Of all the women
at the ball, it had to be Elizabeth Bennet.
“Here, Lizzy!” the half-dressed girl
called to her sister.
Oh,
no, no, no! Why did she say anything at
all? Why
could they not pretend the library was uninhabited?
