Only a Heartbeat Away

Also by P. O. Dixon

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A Lasting Love Affair

'Tis the Season for Matchmaking

A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Bewitched, Body and Soul: Miss Elizabeth Bennet

Darcy and Elizabeth Short Stories

Expecting His Proposal

Pride and Sensuality

Expecting His Wife

A Tender Moment

Darcy and the Young Knight's Quest

He Taught Me to Hope

The Mission: He Taught Me to Hope Christmas Vignette

Hope and Sensibility

Dearest, Loveliest Elizabeth: Pride and Prejudice Continues

Dearest, Loveliest Elizabeth: Pride and Prejudice Continues

Pride and Prejudice Everything Will Change

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So Far Away

Pride and Prejudice Untold

What He Would Not Do: Mr. Darcy's Tale Continues

Lady Harriette: Fitzwilliam's Heart and Soul

Standalone

As Good as a Lord: Pride and Prejudice

Love Will Grow: A Pride and Prejudice Story

Impertinent Strangers

Only a Heartbeat Away

Still a Young Man: Darcy is in Love

Everything Will Change

Miss Elizabeth Bennet: Where the Heart Lives Pride and Prejudice Variation

By Reason, by Reflection, by Everything: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Irrevocably Gone: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Designed for Each Other: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

A Night with Mr. Darcy to Remember: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Which that Season Brings: A Pride and Prejudice Christmas Novella

Together in Perfect Felicity: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

The Means of Uniting Them: A Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice Variation

Gravity: Shades of Mr. Darcy

Christmas Sealed with a Kiss: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

A Favorite Daughter: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Most Ardently, Most Unknowingly in Love

Christmas Time after Time: A Pride and Prejudice Variations Collection

Forever, for Always, for Love: A Short Story Collection

Wait for Love

To Refuse Such a Man

Something to Think Of

Somebody Else's Gentleman

After Last Night with Mr. Darcy

Mr. Darcy, the Heir of Pemberley

Abounds with Gaieties

Her Spirits Rising to Playfulness

Watch for more at P. O. Dixon’s site.

http://podixon.com/FreeBook/

Table of Contents

~*~

Chapter 1  ~  The Morning After

Chapter 2  ~  Constant Company

Chapter 3  ~  A Surfeit of Suitors

Chapter 4  ~  In Defiance of Everything

Chapter 5  ~  A Gentleman’s Air

Chapter 6  ~  A Lady’s Imagination

Chapter 7  ~  Sketching Her Character

Chapter 8  ~  Much Better Dance

Chapter 9  ~  What News from Longbourn

Chapter 10  ~  The Food of Love

Chapter 11  ~  The Palings of Rosings Park

Chapter 12  ~  The Last Man in the World

Chapter 13  ~  Longbourn’s Shame

Chapter 14  ~  Time and Consideration

Chapter 15  ~  Longbourn’s Redemption

Chapter 16  ~  A Heartbeat Away

Chapter 17  ~  Take No Leave

Chapter 18  ~  My Favourite Things

Chapter 1  ~  The Morning After

Hertfordshire, September 1812

The Bennet family sat around the breakfast table the morning after the Meryton assembly. All the ladies who had been in attendance were filled with exuberance as they extolled the events of the evening before. Elizabeth, the second eldest of five daughters, had suffered a sprained ankle the morning of the assembly and had been unable to accompany her sisters. Thus, she was resigned to a vicarious retelling of every single escapade, much to the delight of everyone, save her poor father.

Public assemblies, private balls—they were pretty much the same to the females of Longbourn Village: both afforded such expectations of merriment, from the planning of which dress to wear to the speculation on who would be there. Then, of course, there was the high-spiritedness of the event itself. The anticipation of this particular assembly was intoxicating, for the entire town was excited over the prospect of meeting the newest neighbour, a Mr. Charles Bingley, who had recently let Netherfield Park. A single man in possession of a good fortune meant but one thing to all the mothers with unattached daughters: the gentleman was in desperate want of a wife.

Mrs. Bennet barely contained her enthusiasm. "Oh, Mr. Bennet! We had such a delightful evening! I wish you had been there. And you too, Lizzy. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked. Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and he danced with her twice! Only think of that, my dear. He actually danced with her twice, and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time."

An exhaustive accounting of Mr. Bingley’s dance partners ensued, sorely challenging Mr. Bennet’s patience. "If he had any compassion for me, he would not have danced half so much! For God’s sake, say no more of his partners. Oh, that he had sprained his ankle in the first dance! Remembering the reason for his favourite daughter’s lack of enthusiasm in comparison with the others, he glanced at her. You will forgive me, my dear Lizzy. I would have been quite pleased to have you stand opposite the agreeable Mr. Bingley as well."

Feeling Jane’s pleasure, Elizabeth could not resist smiling. Dearest Jane, I would have enjoyed seeing you so agreeably engaged with Mr. Bingley.

Her youngest sister, Lydia, said, Mr. Bingley danced with me too! She snorted. He stared at me too.

Not to be outdone, Elizabeth’s next youngest sister, Kitty, said, He danced with all of us—save Mary. I am sure he would have danced with you too, Lizzy.

Mary, the middle child of a rather bookish constitution, adjusted her spectacles. I think dancing is much exaggerated. I heard myself referred to by Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood. I am apt to consider false modesty less than virtuous; however, I do believe mine was the greatest compliment.

Mrs. Bennet smiled falsely at Mary before resuming her praise of the amiable Mr. Bingley. Oh, Mr. Bennet! I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome! And his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their dresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. Hurst’s gown—

Mr. Bennet interrupted her again; this time with fierce protests against any description of finery. Compelled to seek another branch of the subject, his wife related the shocking rudeness of one of the other esteemed guests, Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy.

Elizabeth’s smile became a puzzled grimace. Excuse me, Mamma. Did I correctly hear you say Mr. Bingley’s friend is a Mr. Darcy? Would this be Mr. Darcy of Pemberley and Derbyshire?

Her mother looked at her with thinly disguised dismay. "Yes, but not a single one of us cares. The proud man walked here and there and fancied himself quite above his company. He is not someone you would have admired, Lizzy. There were many young ladies without dance partners, but it mattered not one bit to Mr. Darcy. You suffered no loss in not seeing him. I quite detest the man even if he does have ten thousand a year and is purported to own half of Derbyshire. I can assure you he owns the miserable half."

Can this be the older brother of the dear sweet young woman whom I have grown so fond of over these past months?

Her recent trip to Derbyshire with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner from London was such a joyful excursion. They had visited many fine estates, including Pemberley. The grounds and the house were remarkable. Elizabeth had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. She recalled thinking at that moment that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!

Escaping her relatives for a few moments of quiet solitude amongst the majesty of the grand estate had been paramount. Walking along one of the splendid paths, she had espied an angelic young woman sitting alone and painting a picture of the open meadow. Fair-haired, with a fine complexion and bright eyes, her welcoming smile encouraged Elizabeth to approach her. Elizabeth admired the painting and complimented the excellent choice of colours and lighting. A week after Elizabeth returned to Hertfordshire, she received the painting by express. Elizabeth, in turn, sent Miss Darcy a small parcel containing one of her favourite books. Thus, their mutual correspondence ensued, and a steady friendship was born. Though Elizabeth had not met the master of the estate during her visit, she recalled spending quite a bit of time admiring his likeness in the art gallery. What a handsome man he was. By the housekeeper’s account, he is the best man in the world—a generous master of excellent disposition.

Of course, she had said those who did not know him might think he was proud. Perhaps my mother merely misunderstood his character.

Mrs. Bennet complained of Mr. Darcy’s inattention to her daughters, how he would dance with no one other than the members of his own party, and how he had refused to converse with Mrs. Long despite sitting close to her for half-an-hour. When her mother could speak no more on her distaste for the unpleasant man, she directed her attention to her daughter Kitty and prevailed upon her to pass the platter of meats.

Jane placed her hand upon Elizabeth’s. Oh, Lizzy! Is it not a strange coincidence that your friend’s brother should find himself in Hertfordshire of all places? Though, I think it odd that Miss Darcy would not have mentioned his plans to visit in her frequent letters.

I cannot account for her omission except to say she does not often write of her brother’s comings and goings, especially since she does not reside with him, save her visits to Pemberley during the summer. Besides his being a complete stranger to me, she may not even be aware that he and I are in proximity.

Yes. I suppose that is it.

Mrs. Bennet quickly reclaimed her share of the conversation. Now that you mention it, Lizzy, I do recollect hearing you speak of young Miss Darcy a time or two. The older woman, who had known what it was like to be much admired for her beauty, if not her wit, shrugged. Not that it will do you any good in knowing the sister, for I fear the brother is much too enamoured of himself to give notice to you. How he can be the kind and amiable Mr. Bingley’s friend is a mystery to me.

Mrs. Bennet raised her porcelain cup to her lips and then set it down after taking a sip. I shall be delighted to entertain Mr. Bingley for dinner, but not his friend. He is the last man in the world I should wish to see ever again.

Later, when Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how much she admired him.

Mr. Bingley is everything a young gentleman ought to be. He is sensible, lively, and good-humoured. I never saw such happy manners.

Elizabeth was inclined to agree with her sister’s good opinion of Mr. Bingley, having discerned for herself how handsome he was when she and her sisters had the advantage of seeing him from an upper window a week or so before when he returned their father’s earlier visit to Netherfield. He had worn a blue coat and rode a black horse. The manner of his style of dress and his walk told her all she needed to know about his amiability.

The brightness in Jane’s eyes brought a smile to Elizabeth’s face, for Jane did not often show her true feelings to anyone. Jane is smitten!

Elizabeth said, We must not neglect to add that he is rich, and dare I say he is handsome.

Oh, Lizzy! You know neither of those things is of consequence to me. I must admit that I was flattered by his asking me to dance a second time.

I say it is a most befitting compliment. He would have been a fool not to have paid especially close attention to you, dearest Jane. The two sisters joined hands. Just think; should the two of you come to a mutual understanding, then you will no longer be obliged to accept the beau whom our excellent father has chosen.

Yes, but my good fortune would possibly come at the expense of your own future happiness. You will recall Papa saying that should either of us meet and fall in love and marry, then the one who remains unattached shall be the lucky bride of Mr. Caseman.

Elizabeth shuddered. Regardless of her parents’ expectations, she concluded long ago that if she were to marry, the gentleman would be one of her own choosing. If she should find herself choosing Mr. Caseman, then it would be so much the better for everyone.

You need not remind me of Papa’s favourite wish that one of us should marry the eldest son of his closest friend from university, but the terms of their mutual accord are so vague they might easily be comprehended as more of a strong suggestion rather than a strict edict. Papa has allowed enough latitude that we might both meet and choose our own husbands. I believe I shall have some time even after you and your Mr. Bingley are attached.

"He is not my Mr. Bingley—at least not yet."

~*~

A restless night filled with dread over what her sister likely suffered away from home and in the company of complete strangers, gave way to an anxious morning. Elizabeth received a letter from Jane imparting information of her ill health. Jane implored her to come to Netherfield. Coming face to face with Mr. Darcy under such circumstances as this cannot be a good thing. Meeting the Bingley sisters for the first time is hardly a compelling inducement either. Elizabeth sighed. I have no choice. My sister needs me.

It had all been her mother’s doing. When the invitation for Jane to dine at Netherfield with Caroline Bingley and Louisa Hurst arrived the day before, Mrs. Bennet had insisted Jane travel by horseback. Jane’s preference had been to take the carriage, but her mother proclaimed the horses could not be spared. Her father reluctantly agreed. Mrs. Bennet had eagerly sent her eldest daughter on her way with many cheerful prognostics of a rainy day. Not long after Jane left the house, her mother’s prayers were answered. Rain poured from the sky in