Page 9 of Sweet on Mr Darcy

“Horace? You met the dog?” Miss Darcy looked properly shocked as she giggled in amusement.

“They must have met more than the dog, for I doubt Horace told them his own name,” Lady Priscilla observed.

“The appearance of the gentleman was interesting enough for one morning, but his dog certainly gave him a great deal of exercise!” Elizabeth told the tale. “Horace is naught but a little pug, but he quite obviously regards the entire coast as his personal domain, and kept the runner chasing him in every direction but that which the gentleman seemed intent to go. One moment, the animal was chasing waves most aggressively, the next, he was tripping up his master, tangling his legs so that the gentlemen fell far too many times for his dignity to survive.”

“But he never lost his enthusiasm!” Jane stopped walking and laid a hand upon her sister’s shoulder, her own shoulder heaving with giggles she desperately attempted to suppress. “Not even after falling half a dozen times! Not even after taking a soaking to rescue Horace from an unjudicious attack upon the water!”

“No!” Lady Priscilla could not believe it. “He remained composed the entire time?”

“Entirely.” Elizabeth linked elbows with Jane and once again stepped forward. “We did not get the runner’s name, but we were introduced to Horace when the creature presented himself to Jane for her admiration.”

“I have always got on well with dogs,” Jane said agreeably. “A pug is too small an animal for such vigorous exercise. I am certain that was why he attempted to hide in my skirts. He wished for me to save him from the insensible gentleman.”

“Did he?” Miss Darcy giggled.

“He did, and I gave the gentleman a stern talking to, that he requires a much larger dog for such exertions. Horace obviously loves the shore, but he requires a lead to ensure he does not get swept out to sea, and a brisk walk is all such a small dog needs.” Jane giggled. “Nothing seemed to sober the gentleman’s enthusiasm for his purpose, however.”

“Once he had obtained possession of his dog again, he proceeded to elucidate to us about running for exercise for five whole minutes!” Elizabeth exclaimed.

“Without any introduction?” Lady Priscilla asked.

“Only the introduction to the dog,” Elizabeth replied with a straight face, making all the other ladies burst into giggles afresh.

Mrs Younge suddenly caught up to them and demanded to know what was being discussed. “It cannot be anything proper, standing here laughing on the shore in the open with no prudence at all.”

“We are making plans to sneak out at midnight to go and see a pugilistic match at the garrison,” Lady Priscilla said sarcastically, causing Miss Darcy to look rather alarmed. “Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, please accompany your father and sister when they call upon Darcy Cottage today.” Lady Priscilla turned her back on Mrs Younge entirely. “Georgiana and your sister can find a quiet place to read, and the rest of us can find some pleasant method of passing an hour or two.”

“We would be very pleased to pay a call upon you this afternoon, though we ought to part now, so that Lizzy and I may inform our family and everyone can make whatever other plans they are designing for the day,” Jane answered as she and Elizabeth curtsied to Lady Priscilla, and the ladies parted for their homes.

Chapter Five

Friday 19 June 1812

“Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy, Mr Bennet, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Miss Mary Bennet, and Mrs Younge, madam,” The very proper and distinguished butler of Nethercourt House announced the group to the drawing room.

An elderly woman, old enough to be Mr Bennet’s mother, sat in a large and comfortable chair. A white and red comforter spaniel, also known as a King Charles Spaniel, nestled as close to her side as possible, its nose and paws buried in her skirts. The animal perked up the moment the visitors entered and quickly jumped down to greet them, prepared to be admired, especially by Elizabeth.

“Why Belle, you are getting so white around the eyes, though your tail shows you to be as happy to see me as ever!” Elizabeth knelt upon the floor to greet the gentle animal that she had played with often in her youth. Belle was a bitch that never went into season, and was therefore impossible to breed. She was given as a present to Lady Barry eleven years before, when the lady still lived at Netherfield Park.

“Lizzy-girl, how dare you refer to our young lady’s age so impertinently! May I remind you that you have three younger sisters grown up? You will not be a spring miss for very long yourself,” the old woman chided as Elizabeth curtsied and then approached her old friend to kiss her upon the cheek. “Now why have you brought all of these interlopers with you? I thought we were to read one of those outrageous gothic novels that ought to be outlawed.”

“I assure you, Lady Barry, I meant no disrespect to my dear friend, Belle,” Elizabeth promised as the spaniel greeted the other guests with enthusiasm, as if she had been friends with them all of her life. “Our new acquaintance, Mr Darcy, said that you knew his late wife and wished to pay you the respect of a call before he and my father visit the library with Miss Darcy and my sister.”

“Good morning, Lady Barry.” Mr Darcy bowed to their hostess. “I recall my wife’s great affection for you and your late daughter, Mrs Hagerman, and I wished to introduce you to our daughter, Georgiana.”

Georgiana looked positively terrified as she curtsied. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Barry.”

Lady Barry raised a brow at Elizabeth, then gave Miss Darcy a long inspection. “Indeed, Miss Darcy, the pleasure is mine. Your dear, sweet mother was my daughter Isobel’s closest friend. You have your mother’s looks about you, and your father’s height, I see. It was kind of Darcy to let me look at you.”

She turned to Mr Darcy. “I heard that you are in Ramsgate for your health. You must manage whatever your condition is and return to good health at once, Darcy. This dear girl is too young to do without both her father and mother. I have met your boy but once, years ago, and I suspect he would rather not finish raising her on his own.”

“I fear the condition of my heart is too far gone to be healed so quickly by sea air, Lady Barry, but I assure you that I am well enough to see the task of raising Georgiana to completion, or so I hope,” Mr Darcy answered her with amusement.

“Pathetic excuse for illness! Take the sea air every morning on the promenade. It works for everyone who visits Ramsgate.” Their hostess regarded him with amused contempt.

“Except for you, it seems.” Mr Bennet could not allow the opportunity for impertinence to pass. “You have been in Ramsgate for years and appear no better than when you left Meryton.”

“You may lecture me upon my health when you have attended to the health of your daughter’s dowries, Bennet.”