Properly Humbled by Knowles Harriet & a Lady

Author:Knowles, Harriet & a Lady
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tall, Dark and Darcy
Published: 2023-10-20T00:00:00+00:00

As she neared Oakham Mount, her thoughts turned back to Mr. Darcy, since she had quite vented her mood — and given herself a headache — by continuing to relive the dreadful offer of the morning. Mr. Collins was not worth a moment more of her time, and Mr. Darcy appeared in her mind’s eye to take her thoughts in a more interesting direction.

She sat on the bench, and stared out at the fields as they lay spread beneath the pale autumn sun. A small wisp of smoke still rose from the corner of Mr. Stephen’s field, the last where the stubble had been burned, and now the land would rest over the winter.

Managing an estate was an enormous undertaking. It took the efforts of her father and the steward, as well as the ten tenant farmers, to yield enough money to keep those families, and the Bennets, each year.

And she knew her father was more indolent than he should be, relying far too much on the steward, in her view. And, she must remember the duties of the mistress of the estate, although she and Jane took on the work, as Mama felt it beneath her.

But Mr. Darcy’s estate was much larger, she knew that. And, though he wasn’t at Pemberley, she had seen the amount of correspondence he undertook while she had been staying at Netherfield when Jane was unwell. How many families were tenants at Pemberley? How did he manage to see them all? She had heard that the estate covered a vast area — who managed the duties of the mistress while he was unmarried? And however would one woman manage it even when he did marry?

She shook her head; what a strange notion to be thinking of. The man was handsome, to be sure. But he was proud and disdainful, and it ought not to worry her in the slightest how his estate was managed.

He was extremely well-favoured, though. Elizabeth grimaced, she didn’t want to acknowledge that she felt a little flutter of excitement when he was near.

But being handsome enough to cause maidenly hearts to swoon was certainly not going to be enough for her to think herself attracted to him. Mr. Darcy was arrogant and looked down on all the families of the town. He might be a diligent master of his estate, and she’d acknowledge she felt respect for that aspect of his character. But she’d never forgive him his insult at the assembly. Not handsome enough to tempt him! She huffed in anger. How dare he refuse to even ask her for a dance?

She sighed; he had said last night at the ball that he’d be honoured if she agreed to dance with him. She felt her lips lift — he was a very good dancer. And she had felt the heat shoot up her arm as he took her gloved hand in his own during the dance.

No, she had refused Mr. Collins. That was quite enough for one morning. She

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