Love Potion, Darcy's Mine: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (Novel Pride and Prejudice Variations) by Violet King

Author:Violet King [King, Violet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pemberley Playground Press
Published: 2023-10-26T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Lady Catherine de Bourgh was a staunch believer in the art of posture and the necessity of a fine kedgeree in the morning. Curried eggs were masterful for the digestion, and Lady Catherine prided herself on fine digestion nearly as much as she prided herself on maintaining a trim figure despite her advancing age. She was just finishing her last mouthful when a footman entered the room and, with a bow, announced, “Mr. Collins is here to see you, madam. He seems… agitated.”

How had Mr. Collins returned to Hunsford so soon? Lady Catherine frowned. And agitated? Well, Mr. Collins was often agitated. Had he persuaded one of his cousins to accept his proposal already? The gentleman had done better for himself than she had expected. Lady Catherine supposed she would have to endure her parson and protege’s youthful enthusing over his future bride, whoever of that gaggle of Bennet girls she might be.

“Show Mr. Collins in,” she ordered with a nod.

Bowing again, the footman withdrew. Lady Catherine placed her fork delicately on the edge of her plate and took a sip of her chocolate, savoring the rich bitterness on her tongue. Some sweetened their chocolate, but Lady Catherine found the bitterness enhanced the flavor.

Lady Catherine had barely taken a second sip when Mr. Collins burst into the breakfast room with a flourish of his coat, his hair standing on end and his eyes wide. He did not look the sort of agitated of a gentleman bearing good tidings, and his next words confirmed her suspicions. “My dear patroness! I came from Hertfordshire at once! There is terrible, terrible news.” He tugged at his cravat, which appeared hastily tied and stained with perspiration. “I must apologize for disturbing your breakfast, but it cannot wait! Why when I think of what has transpired, it is enough to bring on palpitations! Palpitations, I say!”

Lady Catherine leaned back in her chair, fixing Mr. Collins with a stare that had intimidated greater men into quaking silence. “Sit, Mr. Collins. Tell me what distresses you so.”

Mr. Collins dropped into the seat across from her, his face ashen. “It is Mr. Darcy, Lady Catherine! Your esteemed nephew. He has done something… unspeakable! A scandal, to be sure!”

“Fitzwilliam?” Her nephew was hardly the sort to involve himself in scandals. Lady Catherine sniffed, dabbing at her lips with her napkin. “What nonsense is this?” Though Mr. Collins possessed the laudable good sense that came from listening to her sensible advice, he was also prone to exaggeration and flights of fancy. “What scandal could he have involved himself in?”

Mr. Collins clutched at his chest. “It is horrible, Lady Catherine! Simply horrible! Mr. Darcy…” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Mr. Darcy…”

Lady Catherine’s temper flared. “Mr. Darcy what?” She thumped her walking stick against the floor.

Mr. Collins jumped and then sputtered, “Mr. Darcy—at Netherfield—he kissed my cousin, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” His expression turned sour. “Right there at the Netherfield ball, in front of everyone. It was indecent, shocking! The banns are not yet read, and Mr.

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