Mr. Darcy’s Rush to Wed by Mead Arabella & Lady A

Author:Mead, Arabella & Lady, A
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

22

Elizabeth found it difficult to sleep after her encounter with Mr. Darcy. It puzzled her that he had been so pleasant and she could only wonder whether he was sincere or trying in some way to upset her. She was relieved to find that she saw nothing of him the following day and on Thursday he decided to take Georgiana away for the day to visit an old retainer of theirs who had moved back after their retirement and was living about thirty miles away from Rosings. Georgiana had not appeared very happy about the plan. But Elizabeth was secretly delighted as it meant she was free to go and visit Charlotte.

The parsonage at Hunsford was only a twenty-minute walk from Rosings and it was another lovely day. Elizabeth enjoyed the walk, glad to be once more away from the depressing atmosphere of Lady Catherine’s home.

“Oh Lizzy, it is good to see you,” greeted Charlotte as she walked up the path to the Parsonage.

“And you, Charlotte,” said Elizabeth.

“My dear cousin.” Mr. Collins held open the front door. “You are most welcome to our humble home.”

“It is kind of you to invite me.” Elizabeth did not know what she had been expecting but the parsonage had a very pleasing aspect, was simply decorated, and was a lot more cheerful than Rosings.

“I must give you a tour,” said Mr. Collins. “Lady Catherine has been most helpful in giving her opinion on how it should be decorated. It was so kind of her to give us so much of her time, wasn’t it, Mrs. Collins?”

“It was indeed,” agreed Charlotte. “She is a very attentive neighbour.”

“You see the staircase, Miss Bennet, naturally it is nothing like the one at Rosings, or at least like any of the ones at Rosings, of which I believe there are at least seven. However, do you not think this one is suitable for a man in my position? When I walk down it, I think that I walk well and I…”

Elizabeth stopped listening. She had hoped that marriage might have improved Mr. Collins and in his own home he would behave differently from when he was at Rosings but it was not the case. He really was as silly as ever. Her visit was going to be spoilt if he was going to be so tiresome.

“You see up here, my dear cousin… we have six bedrooms,” said Mr. Collins as he led them up the stairs. “I am so glad that is six, because as Lady Catherine informs me, three or five is an unlucky number. Of course Mrs. Collins and myself do not require all six, but as Lady Catherine has told us, in time the Lord might bless us with a child.”

Elizabeth stared at Charlotte, who merely raised her eyebrows and gave every indication that she was listening carefully to her husband.

“My dear, I think we should talk about this another time. Have you seen the time? Are you not due at the vicarage?”

Mr. Collins’ face was a study of horror.

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