At Home with Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly Read Free Book Online Page A

Orangery shop where they were being tempted by yet more books.
    ‘See what?’ Warwick asked. He was distracted by a display of his own Regency romances which looked splendid next to a selection of Darcyesque novels.
    ‘Annie and Mrs Soames,’ Katherine said. ‘They seemed to be having an argument.’
    ‘That doesn’t surprise me,’ Warwick said.
    ‘It looked pretty heated to me,’ Katherine said.
    Warwick shook his head. ‘Poor Annie,’ he said, ‘I don’t know how she puts up with it.’
    ‘She told me that Mrs Soames didn’t want her leaving home at all. Annie was still living with her when she was thirty-one. I think Mrs Soames just wanted somebody to complain to on a daily basis.’
    ‘And a free dogsbody,’ Warwick said.
    ‘No doubt,’ Katherine said with a sigh.
    ‘Hey!’ Warwick said. ‘Would it be really touristy to have my photo taken next to my books?’
    ‘I think it would be highly unusual of you not to,’ she said, taking her camera out of her handbag.
    No sooner had Katherine taken the photograph than a lady in her early twenties approached Warwick.
    ‘Excuse me,’ she said. ‘Are you Lorna Warwick? I mean Warwick Lawton?’
    ‘I answer to both those names,’ Warwick said, a smile bisecting his face.
    ‘Oh!’ the lady cried. ‘Ellie! Come here – it’s Lorna Warwick.’
    Another young lady who’d been perusing the bookshelves, turned around and screamed.
    ‘Warwick!’ Her hand flew to her mouth and she raced across the shop and grabbed Warwick’s arm. ‘I love you!’ she cried. ‘Your books – I love your books!’
    ‘I saw him first,’ the other lady said.
    ‘I’m Ellie,’ the screaming lady said.
    ‘And I’m Mina,’ the first lady said.
    ‘Would you sign some books for us?’
    ‘I would be absolutely delighted,’ Warwick said.
    Katherine caught his eye and motioned outside as a small crowd started to gather around Warwick. He nodded and she headed out into the sunshine, smiling at Annie who had now joined Rose and Roberta, and hoping to high heaven that she didn’t bump into Mrs Soames in the garden. She would, no doubt, be in a terrible mood.
    ‘But when isn’t she?’ Katherine said to herself. She then spotted Robyn heading towards the greenhouses. ‘Robyn!’ she cried.
    Robyn turned and waved and Katherine caught up with her.
    ‘I’ve lost Warwick to some fans in the shop,’ she said.
    Robyn laughed. ‘He does seem to attract the girls now that his true identity is known.’
    ‘Yes, he really knows how to hold court. Just like Dame Pamela,’ Katherine said, ‘but I sometimes can’t help wishing that we could turn back the clock and not have all this adulation. It would be nice to come somewhere like this and just be an ordinary couple.’
    ‘There’s nothing ordinary about you two,’ Robyn said. ‘You’re special.’
    Katherine returned her smile. ‘You’re very sweet,’ she said. ‘Shall we sit down?’
    They found a bench made out of a roughly-hewn piece of wood. It was situated under a fine yew tree above the greenhouses with a spectacular view of the grounds and the neat, tree-dotted landscape beyond.
    Robyn opened her handbag and retrieved a rather battered copy of Pride and Prejudice – the one featuring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen on the cover.
    ‘This one seemed most appropriate for today,’ she said.
    ‘One of my favourites is the Longman Literature edition,’ Katherine said. ‘It’s got a beautiful blue cover, illustrated with swirling dancers and a lovely Regency lady at its centre.’
    ‘I have that one too,’ Robyn said. ‘Amongst many others.’
    ‘Of course,’ Katherine said and they laughed. ‘So, what did you think of the house?’
    ‘It’s left me breathless,’ Robyn said. ‘I think you could fit fifty Purley Halls into it – at least!’
    ‘Or two hundred Hawk’s Hills,’ Katherine said.
    ‘It wouldn’t suit me,’ Robyn admitted. ‘I love seeing these places but Horseshoe Cottage