“I believe she is twenty-five years of age.”
“Is she pretty?”
“No, quite the opposite. She is very thin and her complexion is sallow. She pads her bodice to create the illusion of a womanly figure, but she does not really know how to do it, so – alas! – the padding is all too obvious. Her hair is brown, but not a dark colour like yours; it is more like your sister Mary’s hair, though not as thick as Mary’s. Her eyes…well, honestly, I am not certain. Brown, I imagine.”
“Accomplishments?”
“None, though Cook tells me that she has begun to learn the pianoforte.”
“We would know nothing of our neighbours were it not for the servants’ grapevine!” Elizabeth laughed.
“Very true; and from the same source, I have learnt that this Mr. Darcy is Miss Anne’s fiancé.”
“Oh! So he is engaged to his cousin!”
“Exactly. Though there is another nephew in residence, a Colonel Fitzwilliam, who is single.”
“Charlotte, you are beginning to sound like my mother. Perhaps there is something about being the Mistress of Longbourn – or even being the future Mistress of Longbourn – that prompts this sort of talk.”
“Just think how pleased your mother would be if you were to become engaged while here at Hunsford!”
“I think it highly unlikely. Now that we have decided on what I am to wear, what of Maria? Shall we find something in her wardrobe that does not allow anyone to see how pretty she is?”
Chapter Seven
It is just the parson and his wife, Darcy.”
“I am in no humour to be polite to Aunt Catherine’s parson, Richard. If he is anything like his predecessor, he will be a sycophantic oaf.” Mr. Darcy was irritated at this new burden his aunt had laid upon him.
“But his wife will come as well; surely she will be an improvement. Come now, you know that you must attend and you will.”
“Yes; I must and I will.” Darcy knew his duty well, but he did not have to be pleased at its execution.
As it turned out, it was not just the rector and his wife; there was also another gentleman, and two young ladies. The other gentleman was the parson’s father-in-law, Sir Lucas. The youngest of the two unknown young ladies was the younger sister of the parson’s wife. The older of the two young ladies was the wife’s dearest friend from childhood, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. The friend was also a cousin of the parson.
Accustomed from a very young age to grappling with the complexities of families and relationships, Mr. Darcy had no difficulty in assigning the newcomers into their correct slots: parson, wife, father-in-law, sister-in-law, friend. Friend? Mr. Darcy found his eyes fastened on the friend, Miss Bennet.
She was quite pretty, despite the simplicity and age of the gown she wore. Anne’s gown was far more elaborate, with lace dripping from the sleeves and more lace tucked into the bodice, but such attire only served to make Anne appear plainer in comparison. In contrast, the simplicity of Miss Bennet’s gown made her eyes sparkle all the more, her hair shine in the candlelight with additional luster, the curves of her body – Mr. Darcy stopped himself. With an effort, he tore his eyes away from her.
He glanced quickly at his aunt; happily she had not seen his preoccupation with the pretty stranger, as Lady Catherine had been busily interrogating her parson on his proposed sermon for the coming Sabbath.
As everyone got settled in the drawing room, Anne motioned for Mr. Darcy to sit beside her on the sofa she usually inhabited. Mr. Darcy pretended not to see the gesture; instead, he sat on a chair near Miss Bennet. “Will you be in Kent long, Miss Bennet?” he asked.
“Sir Lucas will leave tomorrow, but Maria and I will stay for a month.” Her voice was low-pitched and musical.
“How do you like it so far?”
She laughed. It was a sweet, merry sound. “We arrived yesterday, so I have little to report; though the grounds around the parsonage are very pretty.”
“Where are you from, if I may enquire?”
“You may, of course. I live in a little town called Meryton, in the county of Hertfordshire.”
“Meryton! Well, here is an odd coincidence. My good friend Charles Bingley leased an estate there last year and promptly married a local lady. His handwriting is atrocious, so I could not make out her name; but perhaps you know her?”
“I know her well, as she is my elder sister, Jane, and Charles is now my brother by marriage. So youarethe Mr. Darcy who was supposed to visit and did not!”
“Yes, I had thought to advise him as to estate responsibilities, as he requested, but my mother asked that I not leave home.”
