A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward Read Free Book Online Page A

visit from the rosy-faced, lumbering, and strange Miss Johnstone. To this day, she wondered how Miss Johnstone’s voice would sound if she did not mutter, head down, in an apologetic whimper, “Oh, the fortunate Mrs. Darcy… I knew him first, you know. He might have married me.” There had been no one like Miss Johnstone in Hertfordshire. And how many “souvenirs” of Pemberley had the lady managed to sneak out in her oversized reticule before Mrs. Reynolds caught on? By now a harmless game had developed, the sharp-eyed Mrs. Reynolds following the wandering visitor into nearby parlours to see her chubby hand snatch some small ornamental piece and later cueing Lizzy to retrieve and replace the item as she quietly showed the lady to the door. There was never a hint of shame, nor did that strange neighbour resist being shown out. But always the inevitable, “It might have been mine, you know. I saw him first.” Elizabeth had offered to let Delia do the search-and-retrieve act, but Mrs. Reynolds, noble soul, insisted that she did not mind at all, that in fact, it somewhat enlivened the day.
    â€œHow have I managed to get used to all this and even learn to enjoy it?” Lizzy asked herself. Darcy, that was how.

Chapter 6
    That afternoon, Colonel Fitzwilliam thanked Elizabeth for receiving him and tried to retail all the news from Kent. “Charlotte Collins sends her love. She keeps busy trying to adopt all Lady Catherine’s prescriptions for raising children. I believe she did not appreciate Lady Catherine’s returning health as much as Mr. Collins did.” Fitzwilliam took time to admire the fine work on the nearly-finished christening robe. Then he sat fidgeting until Elizabeth asked what bothered him.
    â€œI did not tell Darcy, but I do worry about Lady Catherine. During her illness, she called for him urgently, as if he were needed for something. Then after recovering, she spoke no more of him.”
    â€œReturning health brought returning stubbornness as well?”
    â€œPerhaps. She spoke of the de Bourgh estate as if it were falling into danger, and she wailed incessantly about Anne’s future, uncertain about her daughter on account of what she called the ‘wretched old age’ of both herself and Mrs. Jenkinson. She even asked me to consider marrying Anne.”
    Elizabeth’s eyebrows went up. “What a fine offer! And it is a pretty property for an earl’s second son.”
    He laughed. “Not so pretty to my mind. And I couldn’t help thinking she deliberately ignored Darcy—possibly even intending to spite him by alienating the estate from him. At least there was something, I felt sure, that she withheld. When I told her that truly Anne did look well and appeared in fine spirits, she looked away, coughed, and said it did not matter. That was not like her. At any rate, Anne is of age, but I have no intention of becoming the steward of her property—which is about all her husband will be.”
    Elizabeth nodded wisely. “Actually, since last year’s holidays, I have been half expecting to hear that you had proposed to Miss Bingley. She certainly smiled on you all through the ball, and I thought you got on well together.”
    Fitzwilliam snapped, “Did Darcy tell you that?”
    She started, surprised, and examined his chiseled features, again trying to find some resemblance to her handsome husband. “No indeed. He told me only that you carried letters for me.”
    Fitzwilliam apologised then, both for his ungallant reaction and for forgetting the letters, and he drew out the packet just as tea was brought in. Elizabeth stifled her wish to tease his secret out of him and let the subject of Caroline Bingley drop. She poured his tea and offered plum cake and fruit. After pouring her own tea, she opened Lady Catherine’s letter.
    A few moments later Darcy arrived, poured his own tea, greeted the Colonel, and