Page 72 of Desperately Seeking Mr. Darcy

I’m not part of this scene, but I’m here at Longbourn watching, only because I’ll take any chance to see Macey this morning after that kiss in the garden last night. We actuallykissed a lot more than just the one time. We basically made out until pretty late, and then I walked her back to the parsonage-turned-inn and kissed her one more time behind a tree before reluctantly letting her go. Then it took me hours to fall asleep. I kept thinking about the softness of her lips, the feel of her body against mine. Needless to say, I’m exhausted.

One thing I know for sure: That ex-boyfriend of hers needs to be throttled. Macey’s kisses were ... well, they were kind of perfect. Or maybe it’s because things feel so good with her. So real. Regardless, she absolutely knows how to kiss, and that guy is an idiot.

“Mr. Darcy,” she says, walking up to me once the scene is over. She curtsies, a knowing smile on her lips.

“Miss Bennet,” I say, grabbing her hand and bringing it to my lips, in front of everyone.

She gives me wide eyes.

“Mr. Darcy, Miss Bennet,” Lady Catherine says, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. “I must remind you that such displays are entirely unbecoming of your stations. Have you no regard for decorum or the example you set for others? This is not a tavern; nor are we common villagers lacking in propriety.”

“Yes, Your Ladyship,” Macey says. Looking at me like I’m going to pay for this later.

I can’t help myself. I just want to be with Macey, to touch her, to kiss her. Part of me wonders why it took me so long to realize my feelings for her. Every little thing about her—the way she laughs, the way she cares too much, even the way she second-guesses herself—makes me want to hold her closer. And now that I’ve let myself feel it, there’s no going back.

“Gentlemen, ladies,” Lady Catherine announces, her voice rising above the chatter in the small room. “We must adjourn to your respective houses for luncheon. Following that, we will reconvene here for our next scene. Do be punctual.”

She claps twice and walks out of the room, her skirt swishing behind her.

“Are you trying to get us in trouble?” a pink-cheeked Macey says to me once Lady Catherine has left.

“Maybe,” I say honestly.

“No romantic pursuits,” she reminds me.

“We broke that rule last night,” I say, giving her a wink. Her cheeks flush an even brighter pink.

“Have some decorum,” she says, repeating Lady Catherine’s words with a mock-serious tone.

“But I don’t want to have decorum around you,” I say, watching as the blush spreads down to her neck.

She shakes her head at me, but she’s smiling.

“Oy, look at the two of you,” Lydia says, her cockney accent slipping back into place. “Somethin’ goin’ on between Darcy an’ Elizabeth?”

“Yes,” Macey says, her face turning crimson now. “We’re about to get engaged.”

Lydia’s eyebrows shoot up. “For real?”

Macey quickly shakes her head. “No, in the reenactment.”

“Oh, right.” Lydia shrugs, losing interest almost instantly and wandering off.

“I’m going to miss her,” I say, a head nod toward the unpredictable woman.

“Me too,” Macey says. “Now, you need to go to lunch back at your own place, since you can’t seem to behave yourself around me.”

I smile slyly, and she shakes her head and then points to the door.

“Fine,” I say. “I’ll be seeing you later, Miss Bennet. I hope you won’t miss me too much.”

“I won’t,” she says, but the smile on her face tells me she definitely will.

“I DEMAND YOUR REFUSAL, MISS Bennet. Promise me you will never accept him,” Lady Catherine says, standing in front of Macey during the older woman’s final reenactment.

We’ve been outside in the gardens of Longbourn, watching their verbal sparring. I might be biased, but I’m pretty sure Macey is winning. Well, Elizabeth is.

“Did I just see some spit come out of ’er mouth?” Kitty asks quietly, leaning toward me as we stand off to the side, watching.

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