Synopsis

Will a dire family secret lead to Fitzwilliam Darcy’s ruin?

Darcy’s heartfelt conversation with Miss Elizabeth Bennet leads to their engagement. But just when his future could not appear brighter, a dreadful revelation casts a cloud of gloom over him, threatening his hopes and plans.

And when an ominous shadow of suspicion falls upon his beloved sister, Georgiana, Darcy is compelled to determine the truth. Does her angelic countenance conceal a deviant, even dangerous, nature?

In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Darcy and Elizabeth face several grim obstacles, including the sudden death of a family member. Will these challenges drive them apart?

The Darcy Secret contains adult situations with themes of violence and a graphic description of a fox hunt.

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Excerpt

I pointed to a narrow path veering off from the main one. “Do you mind if we turn there?”

“No, though that track extends for a mile at most.”

“That is acceptable.” Once assured of our privacy, I situated Elizabeth upon a fallen log, knelt before her upon one knee, and took her hands. The allure of her amber-flecked irises halted me mid-breath, but I pushed forwards. “My bright and beautiful Elizabeth, you are the only lady I could ever marry. My heart is yours, and I cannot conceive of a future without you. Will you do me the honour of agreeing to be my wife?”

Moisture glistened within her fine eyes. “I thank you for your offer, and I am happy to accept it.”

With my pulse surging, I stood and helped her to her feet. I removed my handkerchief and dabbed at the tears staining her cheeks. Mere inches separated us, and she had never tempted me more. “May I kiss you?”

Elizabeth peeked at me through her eyelashes. “Yes.” She stretched a bit taller, and in doing so, claimed a bigger piece of my heart.

I held her shoulders and met her full lips in an ethereal touch. She rested her hands upon my chest. Before I could lose myself in her enticing softness, I pulled away to peruse her sweet smile. Her eyes remained closed. Our second kiss lasted quite a while longer. She moaned, inflaming me, yet I managed to wrest myself away. Her eyelids fluttered open, and her slightly swollen lips curved up. I sighed. “My love for you continues to soar to new heights. I do not believe it can be contained.”

“I never dreamt mere kisses could be so…powerful.” Her weight shifted from one foot to the other. “My legs feel odd—rather like jelly.”

I gripped her upper arms. “You should sit down again.”

She shook her head. “Let us walk instead. If I feel the need, I shall lean upon you.”

“I am at your service.” I wrapped her arm round mine, and we set off.

“My lips still tingle.” Elizabeth ran a forefinger over her pink flesh. “Do yours as well?”

“Yes.”

“I am glad.”

I pulled my gaze from her alluring smile lest the temptation to capture her mouth again prove too strong.

The remainder of my time with her passed in a fuddled state. On several occasions, I fought the niggling concern that I had been caught inside a blissful daydream disguised as reality.

Later, on the ride home with Bingley, one realisation hampered my elation: Elizabeth had never said she loved me.

The more I pondered the issue, the stronger my yearning became to hear those words from her. But in time I adopted a more reasoned perspective. While my love for Elizabeth had taken root within me so long ago that my life before meeting her seemed distant and insignificant, her affection for me had developed more recently. No doubt she could not yet identify the sentiment as love. But she would love me—she must.

About the Author

Award-Winning Author Kelly Miller is a native Californian and Anglophile who made her first visit to England in 2019. When not pondering a plot point or a turn of phrase, she can be found playing the piano, singing, and walking her dogs. Her books have won first place honors from: Chanticleer International Book Awards, Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, Indies Today Book Awards, and Incipere Book Awards to name a few.

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