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“Mr. Bingley. What a surprise.”
Elizabeth opened the front door as Mr. Bingley stepped inside. By the looks of his rosy cheeks and damp hair, he’d recently bathed, and now smelled all fresh and delicious. Poor witless Bingley. He shouldn’t make himself so delectable when visiting a household full of vampires.
Bingley flashed a shit-eating grin, completely unaware that Elizabeth was contemplating him for an afternoon snack. “I have come to call on your elder sister. My friend Darcy has finally given me permission to marry her.”
Elizabeth arched a brow. She supposed Bingley was off the menu then. Her sister probably wouldn’t appreciate it if Elizabeth ate her suitor.
Damn.
“I didn’t know you needed your friend’s permission to marry anyone,” she said wryly.
Mr. Bingley squinted while scratching the back of his head. “Well, I’m a bit of a twit, so there’s that.”
“What a coincidence,” Elizabeth laughed. “Jane is a twit, too, so you two will be perfectly matched.”
Bingley averted his gaze while shuffling his feet. “Well, yes, except for the fact that she’s a vampire.”
Elizabeth led him to the drawing room and motioned for him to have a seat on the settee. Bingley sat down and clenched his knees until his knuckles whitened, while his gaze flitted about the room.
“So you’re okay with Jane being a vampire?” Elizabeth asked while pouring him a cup of tea.
Bingley shook his head. “Not really, but what choice do I have? Wee Willy has had a perpetual stiffy since I last danced with Jane, and no amount of horny chambermaids have been able to sate my desire. I’m afraid I must marry your sister.” That seemed to be a good enough reason for her sister and Bingley to get married. After all, Jane would be lucky to have any man wish to marry her, especially one as rich as Bigley.
“Wait here. I’ll go get her.” Elizabeth stepped outside the parlor entrance just as Jane came barreling down the hall toward her. “Jane, Mr. Bingley is here.”
“I know. I can smell his delicious blood a mile away,” she said before snarling at Elizabeth and shoving her against the wall. “Move out of the way!” Jane rushed into the parlor and slammed the door behind her.
* * *
Elizabeth stood outside the parlor door for several minutes, hoping that her heightened vampire hearing would enable her to listen to her sister and Bingley’s explosive passion. Sadly, everything that was said between them was proper and dull. They truly were twits!
Finally, she returned to her room in a huff and dusted off her long blue friend she had aptly named, “Little Wickham.”
Just as she was about to get started, Jane burst through the door. Why did her sister always have such lousy timing?
“Elizabeth!” Jane clasped her hands together. “Wonderful news!”
Elizabeth heaved a frustrated sigh. “I already know Bingley asked you to marry him.”
Jane gnawed on her lip while batting pale lashes. “Did you know Mr. Darcy has just arrived as well? He’s waiting to speak with you in the drawing room.”
“Really?” Elizabeth threw Little Wickham to the floor and jumped out of bed. “Maybe Lady Catherine was right. Maybe he really does want to marry me, despite what he knows about the family.”