Pride and Envy (Pride and Other Sins #1)

Prologue

He tossed and turned, remembering every bewitching part of her.

From the softness of the skin of her hand under his lips to the happy, bubbling sound of her laughter.

From the womanly curves her modest gown could not disguise to the almost masculine strength of her determined stride and her firm manner of speech.

From the riotous way her lustrous, dark hair curled when it blew out of her hairpins to her courage as she faced cutting words from haughty women, armed only with her own words.

And her words were clever and humorous—words that somehow never veered into unkindness.

Most of all, her sparkling eyes, which defied easy labelling as they seemed to change from hazel to amber to green to burnt umber.

No—most of all, the way she would proudly lift her chin as she faced down problems but then, when she felt safer, she revealed moments of vulnerability that drew him to her side. He wanted to celebrate her many virtues, but even more he wished to protect her from life’s hardships.

Unfortunately, he could not choose her. It was the most unfair thing in the world to have met a woman who was perfect for him in almost every way…and yet, she lacked the most basic things he required for an attachment.

He rose from his unkempt bed, kicking aside his twisted sheets. He sought relief by not just remembering her, but imagining her….

And then Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam laid down again and tried to empty his mind of every thought of Miss Elizabeth Bennet as he sought sleep.