A New Mamma for Miss Darcy by Katy Green

Author:Katy Green [Green, Katy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-22T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Unaware of the impression she’d made on Mr Darcy, Elizabeth was having dinner with the Gardiners. Also at the table was her beloved sister, Jane. They all had a lot of news to share. Jane had been staying with the Gardiners and she had explored London’s sights. Then it was Elizabeth’s turn to tell them all her news. They were all eager to hear about her stay in Kent, and they were particularly eager to hear of every detail about Miss Darcy and her father.

‘Poor little mite,’ said Mrs Gardiner. ‘It must be very hard for her.’

‘It is,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I am glad Mr Darcy took my advice and got rid of Pinner, and I know Annie will be well looked after by Susan, but I would like to know more about Nancy.’

‘And who is Nancy?’ asked Mrs Gardiner.

‘Nancy is Annie’s nursemaid at Pemberley. I want to know what sort of person she is. I think she must be kind because Annie likes her, but even so, I would like to be certain that the little girl is being well cared for.’

‘Will Mr Darcy not see to that?’ asked Mrs Gardiner.

‘Yes, as far as he is able, but a man doesn’t have the same understanding of these things,’ said Elizabeth. ‘Annie is such a dear little thing that I can’t be easy in my mind until I know that she is happy. Or at least as happy as she can be, in the circumstances.’

Jane looked at her probingly. She knew her sister well. But Elizabeth returned her probing look with a slight shake of the head. Now was not the time to say everything she had to say.

The conversation moved on. But later that night, when Elizabeth and Jane were getting ready for bed, Jane said, ‘There is something more, Lizzy. Something you didn’t like to say at the dinner table. What can it be, that you didn’t want to mention it to our aunt? You know we can tell her anything.’

‘Yes, I know that,’ replied Elizabeth. ‘But in this case I’m not completely sure she would approve of what I’ve done. I might tell her some day, but I’m not ready to do so yet.’

‘But you can tell me,’ said Jane encouragingly.

‘Yes,’ said Elizabeth. ‘Though I’m not sure you’ll believe it!’

‘You make it sound very mysterious,’ said Jane.

‘Mysterious? Perhaps odd is a better word. You see, Jane, Mr Darcy proposed to me.’

Jane was speechless.

‘He proposed to you?’ she asked, stunned. ‘But you hardly knew him, and he hardly knew you.’

‘I know. He didn’t want a wife so much as a new mamma for his daughter.’

‘Oh. I see. But why choose you? I love you dearly, Lizzy, and any man who wins you will be lucky, but Mr Darcy is from such a different walk of life that he would surely choose a lady from a grand family.’

‘It wasn’t Mr Darcy who chose me, it was Annie. She really is a dear, Jane. She would be grateful to any woman who showed her kindness, for it’s obvious she still misses her mamma.

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