Page 59 of Without Pride and Prejudice

Mr. Darcy actually chuckled. “You always surprise me, Miss Bennet.”

I hoped that was a good thing, but I was too nervous to ask, seeing as I’d already pushed the envelope. “You did not answer my question.”

“I keep hunting dogs, but my sister Georgiana has a pet cat.”

“I like her already. I have a cat. Or I used to.” My voice hitched. I missed my little Mr. Darcy. He was the best kitty in the world.

“What happened to your cat?”

What could I say? I’d left him behind on earth or in another dimension? “Sadly, I do not know.”

Mr. Darcy patted my hand. “I am sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.” This was getting weird, especially considering I’d named my cat after him.

“Miss Bennet,” Mr. Darcy said in a rush. “May I have the honor of introducing you to my sister?”

Yes! Yes! Yes! I’d struck gold. “I would be delighted to meet her.”

Mr. Darcy flashed me a rare smile—a Fitz smile, the smile he reserved just for me.

I had to suppress my ache for Fitz. Someday I was going to need therapy over this—my book boyfriend come to life, looking like my best friend and the man I loved. It was really trippy.

“You have much in common with her. She plays and sings almost as well as you.”

“You think I play and sing well?”

“I have never met your equal.”

That was romantic, right?

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy.” I blushed.

“You are most welcome, Miss Bennet.”

Just when I was feeling confident, we rounded the last bend and saw Meryton ahead. The market square was bustling with people entering and exiting shops, carrying packages. Groups of people gathered, sharing the news of the day. There was a certain charm and quaintness to it. I loved the well-worn cobblestone streets and the symmetrical facades of the shops with large windows to display goods.

“Oh, look! Some of the officers from the regiment have arrived,” Lydia called.

I cringed and prayed Mr. Wickham wasn’t among them. “She really needs a puppy,” I lamented.

Mr. Darcy didn’t laugh like I’d hoped he would. He was probably thinking she wouldn’t make a good sister-in-law. He wasn’t wrong.

“Lydia, Kitty, do not run off,” Jane called after them in vain. She turned and gave me a pained expression.

“Headstrong girls,” I said, for my pleasure. No one else found it as comical as I did in my mind. “Shall we head to the milliner’s shop?” I suggested. I hoped someone knew where that was, because I had no idea.

Thankfully, Jane pointed us in the right direction. Unfortunately, it put us in the path of Mr. Wickham. And dang it, he totally looked like Tony. There he was among severalofficers, decked out in his bright-red regiment coat, complete with gold buttons. Even in this time period, he was handsome. Not that I was attracted to him, but it was no wonder he’d caught Elizabeth’s eye, especially considering the ease with which he conversed with his fellow officers. It was all very mind-bending. Seriously, I needed a therapist to sort all this out.

“Wickham,” Darcy seethed under his breath while Mr. Bingley gave his friend a knowing look.

“Who is Wickham?” I asked, as if I didn’t know.

“You need not worry about him,” Mr. Darcy said, which was disappointing. I’d hoped he would confide in me—not only because it meant he trusted me, but because it would make it a lot easier to explain to my family why we all needed to stay away from the rogue.

Because Mr. Darcy was wrong about one thing: I needed to worry about Wickham.

“I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them.”

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