Mr. Darcy's Daughter by Rebecca Ann Collins Read Free Book Online

involvement of Mr. Barrett.
    "Was
he?" Cassy was interested.
    "Yes,
ma'am, he sat with her and read some out loud, in the parlour; oh, it was
lovely, ma'am. He has such a fine voice. Miss Josie was ever so pleased,
because he said it was so good, it should be put in a book. Miss Josie could
not stop talking about it for days and days, ma'am."
    "And
what happened after that?" Cassy asked, for it was plain the maid had more
to tell and Cassy was keen to hear it.
    "Nothing,
ma'am," said Susan, pulling a face. "Mr. Barrett had to return to London
and we heard no more of it. Miss Josie wrote him a letter to his office in
London, I know she did, because I took it to the post, but I never heard if he
replied, ma'am. But this morning, when he called on the master and was invited
to return to dine tonight, the mistress was so pleased, she was up out of bed
within an hour and wanted her clothes pressed and her hair washed and curled;
she is coming down to dinner for the first time in weeks, ma'am." Susan
was plainly excited by the prospect.
    Cassy
shook her head, still puzzled by the apparent speed with which Josie's recovery
had been effected. Mrs. Tate's maid, Nelly, appeared on the stairs and Susan's
conversation seemed to dry up suddenly.
    When
Cassy returned to the parlour, Rebecca invited them to dinner.
    "I
am sure Julian will want you to stay," she said, smiling, and to her
husband's surprise, Cassy accepted with some alacrity. She was very keen to
meet Mr. Barrett, whose appearance had caused so much activity and interest in
the household.
    Julian
Darcy arrived home earlier than usual. So happy was he to find his wife
downstairs taking tea, he rushed out again immediately, returning with a bunch
of Spring flowers, which he presented to her. Mrs. Tate, beaming with pleasure,
summoned Susan to fetch a vase and arrange the flowers, which were then given
pride of place on the centre table, which had been cleared of all its clutter.
    Julian
looked ecstatic, but Cassy could not help noticing that her brother's joy was
not exactly matched by the response of his wife. Josie, she noted, had smiled
and thanked her husband softly, but with no more enthusiasm or warmth than she
would any stranger who may have brought her flowers.
    Cassandra
was beginning to wonder whether the malaise afflicting Josie and Julian was
rather more deep-seated than any of them had believed. She said nothing to her
husband though, not even when they went away to dress for dinner, and he
expressed some surprise that she had so eagerly accepted the invitation to
dine.
    "I
would not have thought you would want to return there tonight," he said,
but she smiled and replied that she had been so very glad to see Josie
downstairs and Julian was obviously so happy, it had seemed appropriate to join
them and celebrate the occasion.
    Richard
nodded and said no more.
    "You
do not mind, do you, dearest?" she asked, and he said no, he did not.
    "For
my part," he claimed, "it should afford me an opportunity to observe
my patient without intruding upon her. It is possible that she has realised
that it is in her power to change her situation. I sincerely hope that it is
the beginning of her recovery."
    Josie
was already downstairs when they arrived at the Darcys' house.
    Dressed
in a most becoming gown of a peach-toned silk, which lent colour to her pale
cheeks, with her pretty hair brushed and looped up into a very attractive
style, the hostess looked remarkably well. Few would have believed she had been
an invalid for weeks.
    When
Cassy commented upon her changed appearance, Josie smiled and said it was all
her Mama's work and Susan's. Cassy could well believe it. When Mrs. Tate
appeared, she looked so pleased with her daughter, she could not stop talking
about how well she looked.
    As
for the maid Susan, she was so excited, she could barely attend to her duties
and once or twice Cassy caught her exchanging a knowing glance with her
mistress, as if they shared a