Page 76 of Without Pride and Prejudice
“I guess it was too much to ask that she was really sorry,” Monroe quipped.
“I think in a small way she is, but she is my mother’s pet.”
“Ugh. Your mum. Have you talked to her?”
“Not yet, but she has left me several colorful messages.” I would deal with her later.
“I won’t be able to avoid her, will I?” Monroe bit her lip.
“I’m afraid she is part of the package. If this changes your mind, I understand.”
Monroe tsked. “Are you kidding me? I trifled with Lady Catherine, which means I can certainly trifle with the dowager duchess.”
I chuckled, loving her spirit. “They are cut from the same cloth. Which reminds me: Do you wish to go back to the park? I have no doubt Agatha will allow us to resume our roles.”
She placed her hands on my cheeks and squished them in Monroe style. “I wouldn’t do that to Macey. And honestly, I feel like I experiencedPride and Prejudicemore intimately than I ever expected.”
Monroe had spoken of it often. I’d never heard anyone speak of a dream in such detail before. It had obviously left quite an impression on her.
“Besides, I don’t want to pretend to be anyone besides Monroe and Fitz anymore,” she added.
I concurred. For the last thirteen years, all I’d ever wanted was to be Monroe and Fitz.
“But ...” Monroe grinned. “I do want to dance with you at the ball in one of the dresses I made.”
“I do like those dresses.” Pulling her close, I wrapped my arms around her and laid us down on the bed.
Monroe giggled as we came face-to-face. “Yes, I saw you peeking when I changed in the back seat of your car.”
“Guilty,” I confessed, not ashamed in the least.
“So, will you dance with me at the ball, Your Grace?”
“You realize that will be your title one day too, my love?” I reminded her, needing to know she was on board for the wild ride ahead of us.
She gave me a wary smile. “Wow, this is getting real. I like real. But I love you even more.”
“This is excellent news.” I leaned in to kiss her.
“What about that dance?” She wasn’t letting it go.
“It would be my honor to escortyouto the ball.”
She smiled. “Very good. Now you may kiss me.”
That was the plan for the rest of my life.
“She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her.”
MONROE
IT FELT WEIRD DRIVING THROUGH the gates of Pride and Prejudice Park on Sunday afternoon—so much had happened in a week’s time. Here I thought I would just be living out my dreams; instead, I got a reality that was much better than anything I could ever have imagined.
Fitz’s fingers curled around mine as he drove us up the long drive. He wore a cravat for my pleasure and kept his cheeks perfectly stubbly, just the way I liked them. We drove past many of the townspeople dressed in Regency period clothing, walking up the lane to attend the “wedding” and the ball afterward. It was fun that the park included them in the festivities.
Watching them walk gave me flashbacks from my vivid dream and my trips into Meryton—I still found it so strange a dream could seem so real. I swore some of the people in the lane looked familiar, but that couldn’t be. Maybe I’d just seen them around town the last couple of days when Fitz, Dad, and I had been out walking. We’d rented a cute little cottage after Dr. Taylor cleared me to be released from the hospital on Friday afternoon. Since Dad was still in town, I didn’t want to return to the park, even to stay the night, and miss spending time withhim—especially considering I would move to the UK in the near future. How soon, I didn’t know. There were things we needed to work out, like a visa allowing me to have permanent residency here and all the logistics of selling my place back home. But that was a worry for another day.
For now, I wanted to focus on being in this place with Fitz. I’d come here hoping I’d discover my inner Elizabeth, and maybe I had—just in a different way than I expected. I admired Elizabeth for her free spirit, for following her heart, and for not seeing what was right in front of her—the man who valued her mind and heart. Her story was one of two imperfect people who learned and grew together in mutual admiration, respect, and love, even bucking the societal constraints of their day. Though I no longer wanted to be Elizabeth, I had to give her credit for the lessons she and Darcy had taught me. And for that, I would always love her.Pride and Prejudicewould continue to live in my heart—and maybe even my own version too. After all, life was always sweeter without pride and prejudice. I think Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy would agree.
