Mr. Darcy's Diary, Amanda Grange [elon musk reading list TXT] 📗

as:

“When you were a baby, my sister and I decided you

would go into the army”, or “When you were a child, I

decided you would go into politics”.’

‘I do assure you, she means it.’

‘And Anne?’ I asked.

‘Yes, she too expects it. It is why she has never married.’

‘I had thought it was because she was so young…’

‘She is eight and twenty, as you are. Have you forgotten that you were in your cradles together, and that all

three of us played together when we were children?’

I had forgotten. She used to trail after my cousin and

me. No, not trail after us. She could run almost as fast as

I could. My cousin, being five years older, could outstrip

us both.

‘Do you remember how she beat us to the top of the

oak tree?’ he asked. ‘She was not meant to climb it. She

tore her frock, and was confined to the nursery on bread

and milk for a week.’

‘I remember. I also remember how you took her a

cold beef sandwich and slice of pie, wrapped up in a

handkerchief. I thought you would surely fall as you

climbed across the roof to her window. Did you ever get

caught for stealing from the kitchen?’

mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 266

2 6 6

A M A N D A G R A N G E

‘No. Mrs Heaney blamed it on the dog.’

‘Poor Caesar! I had forgotten about Anne’s exploits.

She was much more lively as a child, when her health

was good,’ I remarked.

‘And when she had Sir Lewis to defend her. He found

out about Lady Catherine’s orders that she be confined

to the nursery, and he went there himself to give her half

a sovereign.’

‘Did he indeed?’ I said with a smile.

I could imagine it. Sir Lewis had always been very

fond of Anne, and she in turn had been very fond of her

father. It had been a sad blow to her when he had died.

‘I have often wondered…’ began my cousin.

‘Yes?’

‘Have you noticed that her cough is always worse

when her mother is by?’

‘No.’

‘And not only her cough, but her shyness. She is much

more spirited when she is with me.’

‘She is never spirited with me,’ I said in surprise.

‘But then, she is in awe of you.’

‘Of me?’

‘You are quite a figure, Darcy, particularly when you

are out of sorts. Let the weather be bad, and your boredom turns you into an ogre.’

I was about to tell him he was talking nonsense when

I recalled Bingley saying something similar.

‘I am sorry for it. But Anne need suffer no further. I

will visit Rosings and tell her that a marriage between us

mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 267

M r . D a r c y ’ s D i a r y 2 6 7

is out of the question.’

‘There is no need. Lady Catherine is in London, and

Anne is with her. I saw them both this evening, before I

came here. Lady Catherine means to call on you before

she returns to Rosings.’

We finished our meal, and after sitting with me for an

hour Colonel Fitzwilliam left. He is remaining in London for the next two weeks, and has promised to call on

Georgiana every day to make sure she is well and happy.

Saturday 4th October

Lady Catherine called this morning, bringing Anne with

her. I was about to enquire after their health, when my

aunt began without preamble.

‘You must put an end to this nonsense at once, Darcy,’

she said, as soon as she had seated herself.

I did not know what she was talking about, but before

I could say anything, she went on:

‘I heard from Mr Collins that you were about to propose to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Sit down, Anne.’

Anne promptly sat down.

‘Knowing such a report to be a grotesque falsehood,

I visited Longbourn in order to have Miss Elizabeth

Bennet deny it. The audacity of the girl! The perverseness! Though what else can one expect with such a

mother and an uncle in Cheapside? She refused to give

the lie to the report, though I knew it must be false. I

have never met such an impudent girl in my life. She trifled with me in the most vulgar way. When I told her

mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 268

2 6 8

A M A N D A G R A N G E

that she must contradict the report, she replied only that

I had declared it to be impossible, so it needed no contradiction. Of course, it is impossible.You are too proud

a man to be drawn in, whatever arts she employed.To ally

yourself with such a family! And through them, to ally

yourself with George Wickham, the son of your father’s

steward. He, to call you brother! It is not to be thought

of. To put an end to her schemes, I told her you were

engaged to Anne, and do you know what she said to

me?’

‘No,’ I said, not knowing what to make of Elizabeth’s

speech, but hoping – for the first time having reason to

hope – that she was not firmly set against me.

‘That if it was so, you could not possibly make an offer

to her! She is lost to every feeling of propriety. Honour,

decorum and modesty all forbid such a match! And yet

she would not tell me the rumour was false. She thought

nothing of the disgrace she would bring to a proud

name, or the pollution she would inflict on the shades of

Pemberley. Pemberley! When I think of such an ignorant

girl at Pemberley! But of course it is impossible.You and

Anne are formed for each other.You are descended from

the same noble line.Your fortunes are splendid. And yet

this upstart, without family, connections or fortune,

would not give me an assurance that she would never

marry you.’

My hopes soared. She had not decided against me! If

she had, she would have told my aunt. Then there was

still a chance for me.

mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 269

M r . D a r c y ’ s D i a r y 2 6 9

‘Well?’ Lady Catherine demanded.

‘Mama – ’ began Anne timidly.

‘Be silent, Anne,’ commanded my aunt. ‘Well, Darcy?’

she demanded.

‘Well?’ I asked.

‘Will you assure me that you will never ask this

woman to be your wife?’

‘No, Aunt, I will not.’

She glared at me.

‘Then you