Leap into Love – An Excerpt

Valentine’s Day may have come and gone, but here at Austen Variations we are still celebrating this leap year with our monthly theme on all things romance! And what better way to do it than with excerpts highlighting one of our favorite couple’s leap into love!

Today I’ll be sharing a passage from my Pride and Prejudice variation To Conquer Pride. It’s a scene that occurs towards the end of the book after (spoiler alert!) Darcy and Elizabeth become engaged, and one I haven’t posted anywhere before.

In addition to the excerpt, I’m also doing a giveaway! One ebook (U.S. and international), one signed paperback (U.S. only), and three audiobooks (U.S. and U.K). Five winners, total! To enter, please leave a comment below letting me know which format you’re interested in.  Winners will be drawn at random on February 29th and announced on the JAV Facebook page on March 1st.

Okay, are you ready to get romantic? Let’s go!

(Note: I did redact a small portion of the scene so as not to give too much away for those of you who haven’t read the book).

Excerpt – To Conquer Pride 

Reaching the outer corridor, Elizabeth hesitated. She knew she should return to her chambers, but her mind was still reeling from her conversation with Jane, and the desire to speak to Mr. Darcy was strong. Chewing the inside of her cheek, Elizabeth glanced down the passageway. Surely it was too soon for him to be asleep, and they were betrothed, after all. Besides, her aunt and uncle would wish to depart early on the morrow, so if she did not seek him out now, she would likely have little opportunity before they met again in Hertfordshire.

Squaring her shoulders, Elizabeth turned away from her rooms and began walking in the opposite direction. Passing Georgiana’s chambers, she continued on until she reached the last door at the end of the corridor, the one she knew led to Mr. Darcy’s apartment. For a moment her courage wavered, but before she could lose her nerve she lifted her hand, tapping softly upon the burnished wood. When there was no response, Elizabeth stepped back, unsure if she should knock again or submit to her reservations and turn back. But the decision was taken out of her hands when the knob twisted, and the door opened.

Mr. Darcy stared back at her, his eyes wide. Taking a step forward, his gaze swept up and down the corridor, before settling on Elizabeth’s face. “Elizabeth! Is anything the matter? You are not unwell, I hope?”

“No; I beg your pardon, I know I should have waited until morning. I… I only wished to speak to you… That is, to ask you…” Her voice faltered and she was certain her cheeks must be the brightest shade of scarlet.

She made to step away, but Darcy reached out, capturing her hand and gently guiding her across the threshold.

Entering the expansive chamber, Elizabeth’s eyes instantly fixed upon the enormous four-poster bed in the center of the room and her face burned.

Closing the door, Darcy briefly held a finger to his lips. “Wait here. I will return in a moment,” he murmured, and Elizabeth watched as he moved to the far corner of the room. Reaching the entrance to an adjoining chamber, he stopped, and to Elizabeth’s horror, addressed someone inside.

“Pierce, you may go down. I have decided to answer some correspondence before retiring.”

A gasp slipped from Elizabeth’s throat. Mr. Darcy’s valet, of course! How could she have been stupid enough to think he would be alone? Her eyes widened as a man’s voice answered from the next room.

“I can wait, if you would like, sir.”

“No, that will not be necessary,” Darcy answered evenly.

“Very well. I bid you a good evening then.”

Panic forced the breath from Elizabeth’s lungs, and she leapt for the door, wrenching it open. But before she could make her way into the corridor she heard the sound of another door closing and Darcy’s hand was on her shoulder.

“Don’t go.”

Darcy reached out, closing the door with a soft click. Elizabeth’s gaze lifted for a fleeting moment before flitting across the room. When she finally spoke, her eyes were on the carpet. “Pray, forgive me, Mr. Darcy. I used very poor judgment in coming here.”

Lightly touching his fingers to Elizabeth’s chin, Darcy tipped up her gaze. “Elizabeth, I wish you would call me by my given name, especially here. I would prefer not to be Mr. Darcy in my bedchamber.”

Elizabeth’s eyes grew round and a deep flush colored her cheeks. “Oh, God! Whatever was I thinking? It did not even occur to me that your valet… Do you think he heard me at the door?”

Darcy tilted his head, a grin tugging at his lips. “I do not believe so. You knocked very quietly. And even if he did, he would have assumed it was Georgiana coming to bid me a good night, as she often does.” His smile deepened. “Although I will say, we are both lucky that I happened to be closest to the door. If Pierce had been the one to answer, I am quite certain you would have given the poor man an apoplexy.”

Elizabeth’s hands flew to her cheeks and her eyes closed in abject mortification. “Mamma has always said my wild ways would get me into trouble one day, and now I can see she was correct.”

As Darcy watched, tears formed along her dark lashes and his heart melted. Gently wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he guided her into the adjoining parlor, settling her on a leather sofa in front of the hearth.

Elizabeth let him lead her, but refused to meet his gaze, instead staring into the empty grate. “What must you think of me?” she whispered. “Coming to your bedchamber in the middle of the night. Risking your reputation and my own…” Abruptly her eyes flew open. “You must have thought I came here to—”

Darcy flinched, holding up his hand. “Elizabeth. Pray, allow me to speak.” He paused, studying her face as he collected his thoughts.

“First, let me say that finding you outside my chambers was indeed unexpected. However, it was also one of the most delightful surprises of my life. As for what I thought you were doing here,” he continued, reaching for her hand and entwining his fingers with hers, “I was under the impression that you came to speak with me, as you clearly stated when I opened the door. It never occurred to me to think otherwise.

“Now, as far as reputations go, while I care very little about my own in these circumstances, I do care about yours. But as we are already betrothed, in the unlikely event that anyone should find out about this visit, I would happily marry you tomorrow.” Pausing for a moment Darcy felt a smile overtaking his features, and he leaned forward, his voice a low hum. “As for your wild ways, I must own that I am quite partial to them. Remind me to tell your mother so, the next time we meet.”

Elizabeth stared back at him. “Then, you are not angry with me?”

“Angry with you? Whatever for?”

“For… embarrassing you, in front of your servant. We cannot be certain your valet did not hear my voice.”

Despite his best efforts, Darcy’s gaze traveled her body. “Elizabeth, I can assure you, anger is the furthest thing from my mind right now. And as for Pierce, even if he did hear, he is paid to be discreet.” For a moment he paused. “Elizabeth, I do feel I should ask, what of your maid? Did she not see you leave your own bedchamber?”

For the first time since she entered the room, one side of Elizabeth’s mouth kicked up into her usual arch smile. “No, I dismissed her earlier in the evening. As my aunt and uncle are now in residence, I did not feel there could be any objection.”

The air filled with the deep rumble of Darcy’s laughter. “Well, we shall have to take care in returning you to your chambers, nonetheless.

                  [A short time later]                 

A deep groan reverberated in Darcy’s throat before he turned his head, capturing her lips. Within moments they were both gasping for air. Darcy was the first to pull away, holding Elizabeth at arm’s length as he attempted to regulate his breathing. “Oh God, Elizabeth, how I wish you were my wife already! But as you are not, I think you had better go. If you stay much longer, I am not sure I can be responsible for my actions.”

Elizabeth stared up at him, her expression one of complete trust, and Darcy could not resist the urge to pull her soft body against his chest, kissing her hair as his hands caressed the length of her back. His fingers swept the row of buttons that ran down the bodice of her gown, and he moved to study her face.

“How will you manage with all these buttons, now that you have sent your maid away?” he murmured, causing Elizabeth to flush.

“With difficulty, I suppose.”

The clock ticked as they studied one another’s eyes.

“Turn around.”

Elizabeth blinked.

“Turn around,” Darcy repeated. Elizabeth hesitated before slowly doing as he bid.

Darcy’s fingers grazed the nape of her neck, which was warm to his touch. Steeling his resolve, he deliberately gathered the silky material, working the long line of tiny buttons. Elizabeth shivered and Darcy stilled. When he had finally finished, neither of them moved. Then, very gradually, Darcy dipped his fingers beneath the neckline of the gown, drawing it past her collarbone and along the slope of her shoulder. Elizabeth gasped as the fabric slipped from her slim form, and Darcy’s eyes slid closed. He remained motionless, attempting to master his self-control before leaning down to feather light kisses along the curve of her body. Dear God. The feel of her flushed skin against his lips was electrifying!

His heart began to pound with longing, and it was with great difficulty that he lifted the edge of her sleeve. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he carefully turned her back around. “There,” he rasped. “That should make things easier.”

“Thank you.”

Squeezing her hand, Darcy rose, pulling Elizabeth to her feet. “Come. I think it is time you returned to your bedchamber. And let us pray no one sees you in this state, or your father will be well within his rights to call me out. His consent will be the least of our worries if I do not live to see our wedding day.”

Thank you for reading!

Until next time!

JA