Discovering Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella (A Dash of Darcy) by Leenie Brown

Author:Leenie Brown [Brown, Leenie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leenie B Books
Published: 2017-04-17T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Richard leaned against the door frame, watching the scene before him unfold. He would interrupt if necessary, but for now, he was content to just observe. Anne stood beside him and would have entered the room, but his extended arm blocking her path and a shake of his head forestalled her.

Mr. Collins shifted his gaze from Darcy to Elizabeth and then back to Darcy once more before turning disapproving eyes on Elizabeth. “What have you done?”

The question was asked quietly, but, to Elizabeth, there was no mistaking Mr. Collin’s displeasure. She was about to tell him that she had done nothing, but he was not pausing to allow it.

“Do you not know your place?” He took Elizabeth by the elbow and attempted to draw her away from Darcy. “Your father will have to be told, of course, but no one else need know. There is no need for a man such as Mr. Darcy to marry you. My mother has a sister in Edinburgh. You can go stay with her.” He shook his head. “Trapping a man in his home. You are as wayward as your mother.”

Darcy tightened his grip around Elizabeth’s waist, pulling her towards him and away from Mr. Collins. “Mr. Collins!” The coldness of his voice caused Elizabeth to shiver, and Darcy paused for a moment to look down at her and smile. She was not the object of his displeasure, and he did not wish for her to feel as if she was. “Miss Elizabeth has not trapped me. I do not offer to marry her unwillingly or because of any imagined indiscretion.” He waited for the flapping of Mr. Collins’s lips to cease. “And you would do well not to speak of her mother in such a fashion.” He smiled again at Elizabeth’s upturned face. “It is entirely rude and unbecoming a man of your station.”

Mr. Collins took a step towards Elizabeth, but a raised brow from Darcy halted him. Richard pushed off the door frame. Things were about to get ugly if there was not some sort of intervention. Darcy was wearing his nothing shall move this mountain expression, and Richard feared Collins was not bright enough to heed such a warning.

Richard gave his coat sleeves a tug to straighten them and, then, cleared his throat, drawing attention to his presence. He nodded to Darcy and Elizabeth before addressing Mr. Collins. “Was there a reason, sir, that you were seeking my cousin and yours?”

Mr. Collins looked blankly from Richard to Darcy and back again. Richard shook his head and sighed. How his aunt had managed to select this buffoon as her parson was beyond him! “I believe you mentioned tea when I met you in the hall.”

Mr. Collins blinked. “Yes, yes, that is correct. Lady Catherine had asked me to tell Cousin Elizabeth that her presence was required.” He turned to Elizabeth, a dour expression on his face. “Come along. One mustn’t keep Lady Catherine waiting.”

Anne stepped around Richard. “I will see that Miss Bennet finds the correct room.

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