Women of Pemberley by Rebecca Ann Collins Read Free Book Online

when their families became acquainted; he had been at Winchester and only came home for holidays. Then he had gone away to Cambridge and had spent some time in Europe before returning to London. It was not long after the deaths of William and Edward had devastated their family.
David had just entered Parliament and when Emma and he met again in London; he was the most sought after young man in town.
Emma Bingley's beauty had been universally admired. Like her mother, she was a rather reserved young woman, with a reputation for graciousness and gentility. David Wilson had courted her assiduously throughout the season with extravagant compliments, saying on one memorable occasion, when they had met at a ball, at which he had monopolised her, "My God, Emma, you were always pretty, but now, you are beautiful!"
They had met often during the months they had spent in London and had a good deal of fun together. His parents seemed to like her and had invited her to stay at their country house in Kent. When he proposed, she had had no reservations about accepting him.
James Wilson, who was some seven years older than David, had occasionally been present, but had seemed more interested in the company of her parents, she recalled. David used to think him dull and given to good works. "He takes his position as the eldest in the family very seriously indeed," he had said.
That there was some truth in his description, Emma could not deny. James did take his position in the family seriously, especially after his father's death. As for being dull, there was no more truth in that accusation than in several others her husband was wont to throw around, as she was to learn later.
More recently, she had realised how utterly unfair David had been to his brother.
J
    At Pemberley, in the days after Julian's party, much discussion centred around Mr James Wilson, their unexpected guest.
Not many people had paid much attention to David Wilson's quiet, serious-minded brother, whose legal and Parliamentary work kept him occupied for most of the year. When he could get away from London, he was known to prefer Standish Park--his family property in Kent--which accounted for his unfamiliarity with the Pemberley families, who had seen him rarely since Emma's wedding.
His sudden appearance at Pemberley with Emma had ignited their interest. Apart from his generosity in conveying Emma and her daughters to the party, for which he was universally praised, Elizabeth was inclined to agree with Jane's original judgement, which was now supported by several of the gentlemen.
Fitzwilliam recalled meeting him as a much younger, new member of Parliament, during the heady days of the passage of the Reform Bills. "I remember him as intelligent and thoughtful even in those days; he made a quite remarkable speech on the need for wider representation in Parliament as part of Britain's claim to be a democracy. Many of the older Tories were horrified."
"And so were a few old Whigs, I bet," quipped Anthony Tate. "I was most impressed by his arguments against excessive protection. I hope he will not object if I borrow some of his ideas for my next editorial on the subject."
Darcy, who gave approbation rarely, and then not in a fulsome way, was generous with his praise. "In the short time he spent at Pemberley, I found him to be a man of sound principles and good judgement. Even better, he was not opinionated and arrogant--and having once suffered from that condition myself, I am quick to diagnose the contagion in others. Mr James Wilson is, happily, free of such folly. He is certainly the kind of man with whom I would be happy to be better acquainted."
"Darcy, this is high praise indeed," said Fitzwilliam.
"Indeed, it is," said Mr Gardiner, "and I am inclined to agree with Mr Darcy. I shall certainly look forward to our next meeting."
Listening to the gentlemen, Elizabeth was amazed at the general approval that James had received, but her sister was not surprised. "I have said all