Mr. Darcy's Sweet Encounter (Mr. Darcy In Love Book 1) by Clara Winfield

Author:Clara Winfield [Winfield, Clara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-05-07T06:00:00+00:00

The assembled company was larger than Mr. Darcy had expected, but only by one person. A middle-aged woman was seated at the side of the room, alongside the ever-present Mr. Collins.

“This is Mrs. Bennet,” Lady Catherine announced. “She and her daughter will join us for dinner. They are staying with Mr. Collins. Mrs. Bennet, this is my nephew Mr. Darcy, and my niece Miss Darcy.”

Darcy bowed, and Georgiana curtseyed. Mrs. Bennet stood to curtsey deeply.

“Oh, Miss Darcy. It is such a shame my daughter is outside. She is taking the air with Miss de Bourgh. I am sure she will enjoy conversing with you when she returns.”

“I think we just saw the two of them on the hill, Mrs. Bennet,” Georgiana said. “I look forward to meeting Miss Bennet shortly.”

“Will you sit?” Lady Catherine said, gesturing to a pair of chairs. “I will ring for tea.”

“Perhaps in a while. I believe Georgiana would benefit from some exercise in the fresh air, after our lengthy carriage ride,” said Mr. Darcy. “If that does not inconvenience you, Aunt Catherine, of course? With your blessing, we shall take a walk across the lawn for half an hour and then return for tea.”

Lady Catherine looked mildly irritated for a second, but quickly smiled at her nephew. He was her favourite, and could do no wrong. “Of course. Come back soon, dear boy.”

The Darcys took their leave of Lady Catherine, Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet, and left the way they had come in. A footman accompanied them to a side door, leading onto the garden.

“Do you need your cloak, Georgiana?”

“No, I think it is a fine enough afternoon to walk without a cloak. My bonnet will provide ample protection from the sun.”

The two silhouetted figures they had seen earlier were no longer visible. Georgiana stopped and looked all around them.

“Oh, what a pity. I was hoping we would run into our cousin, and Miss… what was her name?”

“Miss Bennet, I believe.”

Mr. Darcy was relieved that they had no need to endure the company of Miss de Bourgh all the way around the garden. Conversation with their cousin was always stilted at best, and he preferred to listen to his sister’s delight at the natural world, and her observations. Or birdsong. Birdsong was always good.

As they reached the edge of the lawn, a patch of fruit trees loomed ahead.

“Oh, do let’s go to the orchard, Fitzwilliam. Some of the trees are in blossom. How splendid.”

They wove their way through the trees and stood for a while to watch fat honeybees dance around the cherry blossom.

“Isn’t it lovely?” Georgiana said, clapping her hands with glee.

“Yes,” Mr. Darcy said. “It isn’t a patch on the orchard at Pemberley, but it’ll do I suppose.” He smiled at Georgiana, who elbowed him softly in the ribs.

“Oh, stop. We all know Pemberley is the only house in the world for you. And it is magnificent. But sometimes it’s nice to see other sights too. Variety is the spice of life, after all.

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