A Most Civil Proposal – C P Odom (1)

She closed her book and looked out the window to see the familiar, red-coated figure of Colonel Fitzwilliam handing down a tall young lady from the carriage steps. It could only be Mr. Darcy’s sister, whom Jane had described so admiringly. She cringed inwardly as she remembered how easily she had believed Mr. Wickham’s description of Miss Darcy’s exceedingly proud manners.

She dispatched her cousins to the nursery and informed her aunt that their guests had arrived. She reached the sitting room moments before the visitors were announced, and this time she was more prepared when Darcy’s eyes instantly found her as he stepped into the room.

She returned his smile and crossed the room to greet him, surprised and gratified to feel an honest pleasure at his arrival. Of course, it did not hurt that his eyes darkened in intensity when he first caught sight of her or that his gallantry continued as he bent to kiss her hand before turning to his sister. “Elizabeth, may I present my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy? Georgiana, this is my betrothed, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” Georgiana and Elizabeth made their curtsies. “I am pleased to meet you, Miss Elizabeth.

My brother has told me much of you,” Georgiana ventured in a voice so soft that Elizabeth had to strain to hear. “And he has told me much of you also,” Elizabeth responded with a smile. She turned to greet Colonel Fitzwilliam, pleased to again see his friendly face. “My dear Miss Bennet,” he exclaimed, “it is wonderful to see you again!

Darcy told me the good news, and I invited myself along to give you my most sincere congratulations.” “Thank you, Colonel, but I must correct you. The title of Miss Bennet belongs to my elder sister, Jane.” She gestured to her sister, who was standing close at hand, and made the introductions. The Colonel bowed deeply. “I am most pleased to meet you, Miss Bennet. Please accept my abject apologies, and allow me to offer you my congratulations on your own recent engagement.” Jane was pleased at his gentle manners and nodded her head in acceptance.

While Darcy introduced Colonel Fitzwilliam to her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth took Miss Darcy’s arm, tucking it in hers before giving Darcy one of her impish smiles that he loved so much. “If I might be allowed to borrow your sister for a few minutes, sir?” she asked archly. “I believe everyone else except for Colonel Fitzwilliam is well acquainted, and I have no doubt that both of you may adequately entertain my aunt.” Then she took Georgiana over to a couch, and the two girls sat down together while Darcy and his cousin sat down near Mrs. Gardiner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. A Most Civil Proposal Copyright © 2013 by C. P. Odom All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any format whatsoever.

For information: P.O. Box 34, Oysterville WA 98641 ISBN: 978-1-936009-21-3 Graphic design by Ellen Pickels 1kitap1.com/en To my wife, Jeanine, who lit up my life and gave me the reason to write. And to my first two reviewers, Carol and tJean, who helped me learn and made me look better than I was. 1kitap1.com/en Prologue Wednesday, April 8, 1812 “Will that be all for tonight, Mr. Darcy?” Fitzwilliam Darcy, lost in the turmoil of his thoughts, turned from the window to find that his valet had completed preparations for the morrow.

“Yes, Jennings,” replied Darcy absently, “thank you. That will be all, and I wish you good night.” “Will you be rising as usual tomorrow?” “Yes. As usual.” Darcy turned back to the window. “Then I wish you good night also, sir,” said his valet, and the click of the closing door followed shortly. Darcy again tried to concentrate. He was coming to the conclusion that it was nigh impossible to determine just how his well-ordered and well- planned life had descended into the tumult and uncertainty that plagued him at present.

As recently as the previous day, he had been firm in the belief that his emotions were well in hand, that his detachment was still in place, that he was . . . safe. Safe from the bewitchment of Elizabeth Bennet, secure in his position in society, and fixed in his confidence as the master of his own fate. And now? Now he knew that safety had been only an illusion and that he had actually stepped well over the edge of the precipice before being fully aware of the danger.

At what point had it happened? Was it during his walk with her in Rosings park the day before? Perhaps — or perhaps not; it did not matter. He knew only that his present resolve to speak to Miss Bennet on the morrow was as real as his previous resolve to ignore her had been imaginary. He snorted. Speak to her? No, it was much more significant than that. He would make an offer of marriage to her despite the humiliation and strife that would result.

He, the master of Pemberley, and she, the daughter of a country gentleman of small fortune and no connections! But it did not matter any more, and he could not determine when that point had been reached. The mistress of Rosings, his aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh would not be pleased.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: 24ffbf6e5698d3fd
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 1,448,677 bytes (1.382 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• ISBN: 9781936009213
• Pages: 299
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 576.02 minutes
• Total Words: 115,204
• Total Characters: 644,361
• Average Words per Page: 385.3
• Average Characters per Page: 2155.05

Most Frequent Words

darcy (1062), elizabeth (934), said (570), bennet (276), miss (270), georgiana (241), even (239), bingley (232), now (216), time (214), jane (214), mrs (209), know (201), see (201), sister (197), much (196), one (194), fitzwilliam (190), gardiner (186), well (180), thought (176), back (162), though (162), made (158), wickham (158), man (156), darcy’s (154), room (149), looked (149), never (146), first (141), since (138), quite (136), good (135), smile (134), eyes (133), sir (132), family (129), father (127), lady (126), believe (126), himself (125), still (122), also (121), hand (119), last (117), felt (116), face (114), herself (114), continued (114), make (113), way (109), told (108), two (107), cousin (107), husband (107), smiled (106), ever (104), brother (104), look (102), door (102), knew (100), aunt (100), least (99), love (97), marriage (94), elizabeth’s (94), many (93), turned (93), came (93), asked (91), house (90), lydia (90), william (88), uncle (87), think (87), colonel (86), soon (86), left (86), long (85), come (83), mother (83), young (82), take (81), completely (80), day (79), like (79), night (78), head (78), manner (78), wife (77), say (77), nothing (77), tell (76), home (75), yet (74), against (74), letter (74), rather (73), able (72).

PDF Download