Christmas at Netherfield--A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Nora Kipling

Author:Nora Kipling
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780995805071
Publisher: Heart Candies Publishing

Chapter 8

Breakfast was a bleak affair, with the rains shuttering all but the most brave and travel-intent inside the walls of Netherfield. For all the holly boughs and other fine greenery hung about, and the red and gold silk papers hung to make the estate more festive, the misery of outside had sunk into Mister Darcy’s bones and nested there refusing to be moved. Perhaps it was the hurt he had seen on dear Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s face before she had blurted out some small slight to Caroline, and quit the library.

Caroline Bingley, who sat across from him and tapped her spoon against her egg delicately, had wailed at the insult to Mister Bingley at some length, even within earshot of Mrs. Bingley who must not have enjoyed hearing her own sister being spoken about in such a manner.

For his part, Mister Darcy didn’t think much of Elizabeth’s words, as he knew them to be what they were: a mere repartee from a woman whose honor had been slighted. Miss Bingley had needled at Miss Bennet until the latter had snapped back. Mister Darcy never punished a dog for biting at stable boy when it had been cornered and kicked. So now neither could he find fault in Miss Bennet for seeing and exploiting a weakness in Caroline Bingley. Miss Bingley, who had ever so much more than Elizabeth in status and fortune and treated Miss Bennet with no more care and kindness than a disliked chambermaid.

Mister Darcy sipped at his tea and thought on that for a long moment.

“Really, Charles, you must tell them that they are not to bring her to the ball. I insist on it. It is not appropriate after her unkind words for me and dear Mister Darcy,” Caroline said, smiling at Mister Darcy from across the table as she stuck her spoon into the heart of her egg. Yellow yolk bubbled up, oozing over the silver of her spoon.

Mister Bingley cleared his throat, an expression of discomfort on his face. He shot a hesitant look at his wife, who was smiling despite herself. Mister Darcy gave Mrs. Bingley great credit for adopting a neutral expression that was pleasant to look upon at all times when around Miss Bingley. It was not, after all, easy to tolerate the latter’s attitudes and affected behaviors.

“I do appreciate you sending the carriage after her,” Jane said in a low voice, reaching out to take her husband’s hand gently in hers. The action was one of great affection, and even though their breakfasts had more of the air of a family affair despite Mister Darcy being of no blood relation, it was still on the border of appropriate for the two of them to touch thusly in public. Mister Darcy did not mind, he was quite pleased that his best friend had found a true love match in Mrs. Bingley, but he could see from Caroline’s stiff shoulders that she still did not approve of Jane, and did not approve of the gentle hand touching between Jane and Charles.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.