Meryton Matchmakers Read online

  When Wickham took her hands, Darcy shifted uncomfortably. He’d rather not witness this if he could help it.

  “Lyddie, there were two people in all my life who knew my darkest secret. You were the third, and admitting it to you was not scary. It was not embarrassing. It was natural. It felt right. Just like knowing that going to Australia is the right thing to do, but only if you are with me. If you can’t go, then I’ll stay here and do something else.”

  She snorted. “Like what? Dig a ditch or something?” Darcy could tell she was moved by his words because she was blinking rapidly.

  “If that’s what it takes.” Wickham kissed her knuckles.

  “You’re being ridiculous,” she said with a wobbly smile.

  “So you’ll come?” he asked, his words light with hope.

  “No,” she said and wiped a tear from her face.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Australia?” Elizabeth said for what felt like the millionth time. She simply could not wrap her mind around how one minute Lydia was in Hollywood with George and the next they were moving to Australia.

  Lydia wagged the large diamond in Elizabeth’s face. “Yes, it’s what wives do. They go with their husband wherever the work takes them.”

  Mrs. Bennet burst out in tears. “Look at you. My first married daughter. Oh, how I wish I had been there.” She dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

  “It was very fast, Mother. No time to do all the unnecessary things like gathering everyone. It was spontaneous and lovely and better than I had ever dreamt.”

  Elizabeth stared up at the restaurant’s ceiling. It glittered like stars in a dark sky, as if the ceiling was glass and she were looking out onto the night, but it wasn’t. It was an illusion, just like this dinner.

  No one was more shocked when Lydia had texted, a group one nonetheless, proclaiming her newly married status and requesting their presence at one of New York City’s premier restaurants to say goodbye.

  “But Australia,” Elizabeth said again.

  “Geo has a top role on one of the soaps out there. We’re very excited.”

  “Only you and Geo just met each other a week or so ago. Doesn’t this seem…odd?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Hush, Lizzy.” Their mother threw a dinner roll at Elizabeth. “For a matchmaker, you aren’t very romantic, are you? I think it’s wonderful and exciting and so very very wonderful. Did I say that already?” she asked shrilly.

  Elizabeth leaned toward Jane. “Has she forgotten the part about them running off together without telling anyone where they went or what they were doing? I suppose it would be all right for the rest of us to do the same.”

  Kitty, sitting next to Jane, snorted with anger. “As if. I still can’t go on my camping trip, and I don’t even live at home.”

  Elizabeth faced their youngest sister, and once she had her attention, Elizabeth squinted her eyes at her. “Yes, Kitty, so why aren’t you really going?” Elizabeth suspected it had more to do with the handsome Captain Harville, the local cop and security guy, than their mother telling Kitty what to do. Though not as brave as Lydia, Kitty was not the shy sister to wait for life to happen.

  “Oh, Jane,” their mother called loudly across the table. “I know you must be feeling such disappointment this is not you and your Mr. Bingley.”

  “He’s not mine, Mother,” Jane said, looking around to see if any other patrons had heard.

  “Yes, but he could have been. It’s all right, though. All will work out.”

  Elizabeth pushed back from the table. “Excuse me a moment.” She rose quickly and hastily moved away from the large group that was her family and exited the room. Not needing the restroom, Elizabeth found herself at the bar. She slid on a stool and ordered a wine spritzer, more because she felt guilty taking up space at the bar and less because she needed something to help her cope with the evening. Not that her mother couldn’t make devout non-drinkers reconsider their stance.

  George took the stool next to her. “I believe I owe you an apology.”

  Elizabeth arched a brow. “Just one?”

  George had the grace to look contrite. “Perhaps several.”

  “Perhaps.” Elizabeth sipped her wine.

  “My intention was not to take advantage of you or bring harm to your company. I was targeting Darcy.” He bowed his head briefly. “I apologize if I have done that and for possibly leading you to believe my interest lay elsewhere.” His gaze met hers, and she was relieved to know then he wasn’t fooling her. He was sincerely sorry.

  “Are you crazy about Lydia? You see, that’s what really matters here, my sister’s happiness. All my sisters.”

  George looked down at the wedding band on his finger and smiled. “I have been alone a long time, Elizabeth. I never thought I would find someone to suit me. Who understood me. I never thought I deserved such a person. Then I met your sister and…” He laughed and shook his head. “This will sound silly, but when I met her, I knew she was the one.” He said the last two words in hushed tones.

  Elizabeth leaned closer. “How did you know?”

  George shrugged. “She got me right off the bat, and I understood her, too. It was like I could read through her words and knew what they really meant. She could read through mine. I suppose we saw each other’s dark underbelly and still liked one another.”

  “Yes, but…what’s it been? Twelve days?” The quick time in which Lydia and Wickham fell in love was the part that amazed her most of all. Amazed and scared her. Of all the men she’d met, none had wowed her enough to consider marriage in less than two weeks. Darcy had been the only one to propose, and truthfully, she still didn’t understand why.

  George's cheeks turned a light pink. “Yet it’s as though I've known her all my life. With affairs of the heart, isn't time irrelevant? Aren't there better ways to measure the love?”

  Now it was her turn to shrug. “You think I'd have a fast reply to that, but lately I've been questioning not only the idea of love, but my matchmaking skills as well.” What a relief to say the words aloud.

  “I'm sorry for any part I played in mucking up your company.”

  “You mean when you and Lydia saved the meet-and-greet with the auction?” She smiled and touched his hand, an olive branch toward putting the past behind them.

  “If I could do something to help? I'd offer a celebrity endorsement, but...”

  They laughed together and George gave her hand a quick, friendly squeeze before resting it on his knee.

  “Maybe after you get up and going in Australia.” What mess Meryton Matchmakers was currently in was Elizabeth's fault. She could no longer deny her part.

  “Should I be worried here?” Lydia said as she came up to them. She slipped an arm through George’s. Her tone indicated she was teasing and certainly not concerned.

  George kissed her temple before returning his attention back to Elizabeth. “Lyddie will miss you all desperately. Know you are welcome to come at any time.” He slid from the stool. “I should go back to the table. If we all leave, who will be left with your mother?”

  He smiled at Elizabeth, and she smiled back, a sense of peace about Lydia’s situation coming over her.

  Lydia took Elizabeth’s spritzer and sipped.

  “One of my friends will be by to apply for my job with Meryton,” Lydia said. “She’ll be a good fit. Better than me.” She handed Elizabeth her glass.

  “You were a perfect fit.” Elizabeth took her sister’s hand. “Are you going to be happy halfway across the world helping George with his career while you have none?”

  Lydia looked surprised. “Oh, but I will have one. Darcy got me a job doing makeup and cosmetics on the same soap where he got George the job. It’s all worked out perfectly, don’t you think?” Her diamond engagement ring and wedding band twinkled in the low light.

  “Darcy?” Elizabeth said, her internal alarm pinging wildly. “What’s he got to do with this?”

  Lydia’s mouth dropped open, and she quic
kly covered it with both hands. She flustered and hawed a bit before saying, “I wasn’t supposed to say anything, so keep it a secret, but all this came around because of William Darcy. He was our white knight.”

  “Did he force you to marry George?” Elizabeth’s heart beat erratically, making breathing difficult.

  Lydia curled up her lip in horror. “Of course not! Darcy and George repaired their relationship, and George has this second chance because of Darcy.” Lydia wagged her finger in Elizabeth’s face. “But you must never ever tell anyone you know this. It’s our secret. Promise me, Lizzy.”

  Elizabeth crossed her heart. “I promise.”

  Lydia sighed with relief. “George would be so mad if he knew I spilled the beans.” She widened her eyes. “Not a good way to start out our honeymoon.” She laughed, took Elizabeth’s drink, and then walked away.

  Elizabeth turned away to hide her shock in case Lydia looked back. What had William Darcy done? White knight, indeed. If she were given one guess to who Suzie Carmichael’s new investor was, she’d go with William Darcy. William Darcy who’d destroyed one sister’s hopes and dreams yet made another sister’s come true.

  What was she to do with William Darcy?

  What indeed? Escape to a Valentine’s party with Elizabeth, William, Jane, Chaz and the others. Can Jane forgive Chaz for up and leaving? Is something sparking between Elizabeth and William? Find out in Jane’s story Meryton Matchmakers Book 4

  Also by Kristi Rose

  The Wyoming Matchmaker Series

  The Cowboy Takes A Bride

  The Cowboy’s Make Believe Bride

  The Cowboy’s Runaway Bride

  * * *

  The No Strings Attached Series

  The Girl He Knows

  The Girl He Needs

  The Girl He Wants

  * * *

  The Meryton Matchmakers Series

  Meryton Matchmakers Book 1

  Meryton Matchmakers Book 2

  Meryton Matchmakers Book 3

  Meryton Matchmakers Book 4

  Meryton Matchmakers Book 5

  Honeymoon Postponed: A Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Adventure

  Matchmaker’s Guidebook - FREE

  * * *

  The Second Chance Short Stories

  Second Chances

  Once Again

  Reason to Stay

  He’s the One

  Kiss Me Again

  or purchased in a bundle for a better discount.

  The Coming Home Series: A Collection of 5 Second Chance Short Stories (Can be purchased individually).

  Love Comes Home

  About the Author

  Kristi Rose was raised in central Florida on boiled peanuts and iced tea. Kristi likes to write about the journeys of everyday people and the love that brings them together. Kristi is always looking for avid readers who are willing to do beta reads (give impression of story before edits) and advance readers who are willing to leave reviews. If you are interested, please sign up for her newsletter. Aside from her eternal gratitude, she also likes to do giveaways as well.

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