{"id":257535,"date":"2026-07-13T15:36:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T12:36:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1kitap1.com\/en\/darcys-wedding-wager-sylvia-johnston\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T15:36:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T12:36:29","slug":"darcys-wedding-wager-sylvia-johnston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1kitap1.com\/en\/darcys-wedding-wager-sylvia-johnston\/","title":{"rendered":"Darcys Wedding Wager – Sylvia Johnston"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Elizabeth sat next to Darcy, and picked at her food, her stomach in knots. Mr. Bennet and his wife addressed each other only when necessary and in overly polite tones. Lady Matlock complained of a headache, but continued to sit at the table declaring it was a most dreadful evening in between the interminable courses. Lady Catherine persisted in addressing her remarks solely to Darcy.<\/p>\n

She scarcely deigned to do more than glance at Elizabeth, unlike Caroline Bingley, who stared at Elizabeth with ill-concealed malice in her lovely eyes. Only Bingley and his Jane persisted in attempting something resembling normal dinner conversation. \u201cSo, when are you leaving for Pemberley?\u201d Bingley asked, reaching for his wine. His cheerful voice only served to make the tension in the air more pronounced.<\/p>\n

\u201cTomorrow,\u201d Darcy replied tersely. \u201cImpossible,\u201d Lady Catherine said. \u201cI don\u2019t see why, madam,\u201d Mr. Bennet replied. \u201cIn fact it will be quite the best thing.\u201d \u201cLook at her. She\u2019s pale and has no appetite. Girl\u2019s health is compromised,\u201d Lady Catherine answered, her voice cold. Feeling more and more as if she was in some sort of nightmare, Elizabeth watched Darcy\u2019s face turn hard and implacable. \u201cShe is my wife. She will come with me. Tomorrow.\u201d \u201cOf course she will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caroline gave a high, tinkling laugh. Her face was flushed, her eyes over-bright. \u201cThe terms of the will state they must live together for six months after the wedding. Or he will not fully inherit Pemberley. Everyone knows he would do anything to possess it. And of course there was the wager. So he has won everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was dead silence. \u201cWhat wager?\u201d Mr. Bennet demanded. \u201cWhy, the wager\u2014\u201d \u201cThis is not the time,\u201d Darcy told her in a low voice. \u201cI want to hear about the wager.\u201d Mr. Bennet\u2019s voice was starting to rise. \u201cPapa!\u201d Jane said. \u201cQuiet!\u201d Jane turned pale, but said nothing more. \u201cWhat wager?\u201d Mr. Bennet turned back to Caroline.<\/p>\n

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Hurst stared at the cards as if he thought they would bite. \u201cDamn it, Darcy. You\u2019re more drunk than I thought! You never lose!\u201d \u201cThat or he is in love,\u201d Charles Bingley drawled. He raised a negligent brow in Darcy\u2019s direction. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen you play so poorly.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s hardly love.\u201d A scowl marred Darcy\u2019s dark brow.<\/p>\n

He motioned to the passing waiter and ordered another bottle of the establishment\u2019s excellent claret. The three men sat in a private room in one of Meryton’s most notorious gaming hells. They had been playing since early evening and now, at past three in the morning, seemed unlikely to quit. Several empty bottles sat on the table. And the three men had removed their coats. Hurst looked rumpled, Bingley had lost none of his splendid elegance, and Darcy looked untouched by the amount of alcohol he\u2019d consumed.<\/p>\n

Only the rather wild look in his usually cool gray eyes betrayed the fact that he was perhaps less than sober. \u201cWell, I won\u2019t question my luck,\u2019\u2019 Bingley said. He was a tall, broad- shouldered man with blond hair and a pair of lazy blue eyes. \u201cHowever, I do question the wisdom of consuming a fourth bottle of claret. No plans tomorrow, I take it?\u2019\u2019 \u201cNo,\u201d was Darcy’s curt reply.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat could one possibly do in this county?\u201d Suddenly Bingley lost his indifferent pose and sat straighter. An alert expression popped into his eyes. \u201cDamn! The will! I\u2019d nearly forgotten. It was read today.\u2019\u2019 \u201cWhat will?\u2019\u2019 Hurst asked. \u201cMy father’s,\u2019\u2019 Darcy said. He watched the waiter set the bottle down, then reached for it and poured himself another glass.<\/p>\n

\u201cI assume you are drinking yourself to oblivion in celebration, then?\u201d Bingley inquired. Darcy raised his glass. \u201cYes, most certainly in celebration to the terms of the will.\u201d \u201cNot too favorable? But you\u2019re rich enough. Don\u2019t know why you need more,\u201d Hurst said. \u201cSo you didn\u2019t get Pemberley?\u201d Bingley asked. Darcy laughed shortly. \u201cOh, yes. It is mine. But there are certain conditions attached.\u201d He was surprised to find his voice as articulate as it was. Bingley leaned forward. \u201cSuch as?\u201d \u201cSuch as I marry within six weeks and my bride and I must reside for the next six months in the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hurst\u2019s mouth dropped open. \u201cGood God!\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d Darcy grinned sardonically. Bingley stared at him. \u201cHow very interesting. The old man found a way to make you settle down after all.\u201d Darcy looked away. \u201cLeg-shackled! Good God!\u201d Hurst said again. \u201cSo, who is the fortunate woman to be?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.<\/em><\/p>\n

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