The Darcy Cousins by Monica Fairview

Author:Monica Fairview [Monica Fairview]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Jane Austen Fan Lit
Published: 2010-11-26T05:00:00+00:00

MONICA FAIRVIEW

captured Mr Channing's heart. She had attracted his attention--if his intense glance this afternoon was any indication--but she had some way to go before she could have a real place in his affections.

She could not even begin to be complacent.

Clarissa was there before her. Which was another complication she was growing tired of; for just as Channing rarely showed up without his cousin, it seemed equally rare to see Channing without Clarissa. Of course, she knew it could not be helped. They attended the same occasions and knew the same set of people, and they could not expand their circle of acquaintances very much yet because of their limited appearances.

She could not understand why Clarissa hovered around Channing. Her cousin gave no serious sign of attachment, yet she pursued him the instant he appeared on the scene as though her life depended upon it. And perhaps it did. For whenever she tried to approach the topic of Channing to her cousin, Clarissa turned uncharacteristically reticent. Which did not bode well, to Georgiana's mind. For surely if the younger woman had nothing to hide--no deep attachment, no dreams for the future--she would have simply answered Georgiana's questions without hesitation.

Guilt reared its ugly head--and the possibility that, in winning Channing for herself, she might be causing harm to her cousin. Yet why should she feel guilty? Georgiana had never made a secret of wishing to attract Channing's notice. She had told Clarissa of her intentions from the start. And Clarissa had agreed to help her.

As she considered this, all feelings of guilt ebbed away. One could argue that, if they were competing for the same gentleman, it was entirely Clarissa's fault. She knew Georgiana had an interest in 212

THE DARCY COUSINS

Channing. The shoe, one could say, was on the other foot. Clarissa was trying to steal Channing from her. It was blatantly unfair of Clarissa to compete with her.

Well, Georgiana had no intention of withdrawing her suit.

Time alone would tell who was going to be the winner.

With that in mind, Georgiana headed straight for the little group that was gathered in the corner. Clarissa was there, as were Channing and Mr Moffet. She discovered, to her surprise, that they were talking about novels.

"I like Waverley very much indeed," Clarissa was saying, "though if the mysterious writer of the novel is Sir Walter Scott, he has no business writing novels, when he is already a famous poet."

"One would think you would have preferred him not to write the novel. Do you prefer poetry then, over novels? That is quite singular, surely, for a young lady."

"As a young lady, I am willing to read anything that is good."

"Not a political work, I would wager," said Mr Moffet.

Both gentlemen laughed, Mr Moffet's perfect lips curling with pleasure at his own wit.

"I would not qualify Waverley as a political work," said Clarissa with a deliberate smile, though Georgiana had seen the quick flash in her eyes.

"We were not speaking of Waverley," said Mr Moffet with kindly condescension.

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