Susie Darcy's Tenacious Nature Read online

  ‘I am so very glad to hear it,’ James replied, gently cupping her face in his palm.

  ‘Tobias has risen above all the obstacles placed in his path and is determined to settle down to a life of respectability. For a man with his disposition and with previous criminal tendencies, that will be a hard ambition for him to achieve. Temptation will seem…well, sometimes too tempting to resist, I dare say. However, his position here is secure now and it is up to him to make a success of it.’

  ‘Are you saying you will marry me?’

  ‘Yes, James, if you are in earnest then I will marry you with gladness in my heart.’

  James whooped with delight, wrapped her in his arms and kissed her with all the passion of a man with a point to prove.

  ᴥᴥᴥ

  Tobias watched Susie and Tyrell from a position within the lengthening shadows cast over the garden by a lowering sun. His heart sank when they embraced, aware that could mean only one thing. He walked away, shoulders slouched, feeling like the bottom had fallen out of his world.

  His original intention when encouraging Susie’s affections had been to tempt her away from Pemberley, much as his father had tempted her aunt Lydia all those years ago. Retribution on behalf of a father whom he had never known. But as he began to know Susie better and came to appreciate her goodness, intelligence and sweet temperament—to say nothing of her willingness to look upon him as an equal—treating her as a means of exacting revenge he was unsure if he even wanted no longer seemed important. What he didn’t take into consideration was that he would lose control of the situation and actually fall in love with the engaging chit.

  He gave a mirthless laugh at the irony of the situation as he made his way back to his cottage and threw himself into the nearest chair. Instead of making off with the daughter of the house, he had secured his position here and seemed destined to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. Well, more or less. There was still a restless side to his nature that would never be completely quelled. At least he was out from beneath Covington’s control. That situation had never sat comfortably with him and he had been waiting for the opportunity to turn the tables on him. He had not anticipated doing so with Darcy’s approval. It was funny how things had a way of working themselves out.

  Speaking of which, there was a very obliging young woman in Lambton, a widow who was more than willing to entertain him whenever he had an itch that required scratching. He could think of no better way to put Susie from his mind and left his cottage again with a view to riding into the village. There was also the next prize fight to arrange. He hadn’t been entirely honest with the Darcy boys when he said the previous had been the last. But with Covington out of the picture, Tobias could pocket all the profits from the book. It might technically be illegal but there would be an outcry if the fights were stopped altogether, so he had a duty of care to the local populace. Besides, if he didn’t arrange them, someone else certainly would.

  Tobias raised an imaginary glass to Susie’s health and happiness as he rode along, glad that she had found her heart’s desire. She deserved to be happy. He would get over his obsession in time. Besides, it wasn’t in his nature to remain faithful to just one woman, not when there were so many of them ready and willing to welcome him into their beds.

  ‘Take the best possible care of her, Tyrell,’ he said aloud, ‘or you will have me to answer to.’

  ᴥᴥᴥ

  ‘Well, my dear, what shall you do for entertainment now that the last of the girls is on the brink of a most suitable marriage?’

  Lizzy smiled into the darkness as her husband climbed into bed beside her and pulled her into his arms.

  ‘Oh, I feel persuaded that I shall find another occupation that suits me. Spence insists that Amelia must come and stay with us and give the Covingtons the opportunity to discuss their future in private. I rather think we ought to permit it, if Amelia is willing. It will be awkward for her if she stays where she is, especially if Covington discovers that she helped us to uncover his wrong-doing.’

  A rumbling laugh echoed through Will’s chest. ‘I have already advised you against interfering with our sons’ matrimonial ambitions, my dear, but it seems you didn’t listen. I can see that I shall have to find other ways to distract you.’

  ‘It was your methods of distraction that led to the production of five children,’ Lizzy pointed out in a reasonable tone.

  ‘True, but it wouldn’t do for me to lose my touch.’

  She smiled into the darkness. ‘There is little chance of that happening.’

  ‘Even so…’

  Lizzy snuggled closer, wondering for the thousandth time why fortune had chosen to smile upon her all those years ago, gifting her with this handsome, caring and oh so considerate gentleman as a husband. She twined her arms around his neck, ready to receive his kiss and all that would follow it.

  She was the most fortunate woman alive, and would continue to count her blessings for the rest of her days.

  The End

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  About the Author

  Thank you for reading Susie Darcy’s Tenacious Nature. If you want more from Pemberley check out Mrs Darcy Entertains and the rest of Pemberley: The Next Generation. All of the novels in these two series are self-contained and don’t need to be read sequentially.

  I was brought up on the Isle of Wight, off the Hampshire coast of southern England, surrounded by castles, stately homes and history at every turn. I must have unwittingly absorbed the historic atmosphere because I write mostly about bygone days, living vicariously alongside my strong heroes and independently-minded heroines.

  When not letting my imagination flow over a hot keyboard I spend my time walking my beloved dog – a rescued mutt of indeterminate pedigree – and make half-hearted efforts to hold back the years through regular visits to the gym.

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  Regency and Victorian Series

  Mrs Darcy Entertains Series

  Miss Bingley’s Revenge

  Colonel Fitzwilliam’s Dilemma

  Miss Darcy’s Passion

  Kitty Bennet’s Despair

  Lydia Wickham’s Journal

  Pemberley: The Next Generation Series

  Emma Bingley’s Romantic Nature

  Naomi Sanford’s Compassionate Nature

  Bella Darcy’s Impulsive Nature

  Eleanor Bingley’s Rebellious Nature

  Rosie Turner’s Contrary Nature

  Susie Darcy’s Tenacious Nature

  Ducal Encounters Series One

  At the Duke’s Discretion

  With the Duke’s Approval

  Portrait of a Duke

  For the Duke’s Pleasure

  In the Duke’s Estimation

  Captivating the Duke

  Ducal Encounters Series Two

  Reunited with the Duke

  Christmas with the Duke

  Representing the Duke

  Safeguarding the Duke

  Acting for the Duke

  Emulating the duke

  Ducal Encounters Series Three

  Conspiring with the Duke

  Dedicated to the Duke

  Impugning the Duke’s Honour

  By Order of the Duke

  The Forsters

  Compromising the Marquess

  Beguiling the Barrister

  Finessing the Contessa

  Romancing the Runaway

  Victorian Vigilantes Series
/>   Saving Grace

  Heirs and Graces

  With Good Grace

  Fall From Grace

  Social Graces

  Elegance and Grace

  Riley Rochester Investigates Series

  Death of a Debutante

  Death of a Courtesan

  Death of a Prosecutor

  Death of a Scoundrel

  Stand-Alone Regencies

  To Defy a Duke

  The Duke’s Legacy

  Lady Hartley’s Inheritance

  Duty’s Destiny

  A Duke by Default

  A Scandalous Proposition

  Of Dukes and Deceptions

  The Perfect Impostor

  Forgotten Heiress

  For Want of a Reputation

  Christmas at Castleray

  Ava’s Passion

  Lady Mysterious

  Divided Loyalties

  Disinherited

  Game of Dukes

  Contemporary Titles

  The Hunter Files

  Unfinished Business

  Risky Business

  Lethal Business

  Stand-Alone Contemporaries

  Topspin

  Downsizing

  A Class Apart

  Shalimar

  Silver Lining

  The Name of the Game