Read Online Falling for Mr. Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory - Free Book Online

cousin.
    Jane was serene as always, and Elizabeth could tell she was inclined already to like the man as she never seemed capable of finding fault in anyone. She sat, contented, with an embroidery sampler, waiting patiently. Mary was dutifully reading her favorite book of sermons and uncharacteristically fidgeting with her dress. Elizabeth paused a moment to consider this strange behavior in her younger sister. Mary never cared about her appearance and usually ignored any guests with a distinct preference for her books. It was not as if she was showing eager anticipation for their cousin to arrive, but Elizabeth could tell that she had a shade of nervous excitement about her.
    Lastly, Elizabeth turned her gaze to her father, who was reclining lazily in his chair with the newspaper held up to his face. As if detecting her perusal, he lowered his newspaper at the corner and winked.
    When their guest’s carriage could be heard on the gravel drive, Mr. Bennet stood to walk out and welcome him, as the ladies sat up properly in anticipation of their greeting. Within a few minutes, they could hear their father’s voice in the entryway with another male voice, and a few minutes more brought the sound of the men’s boots coming towards the morning room.
    Mr. Bennet stepped into the room with Mr. Collins and began the introductions. Elizabeth immediately scrutinized her new cousin. He was not a handsome man. He wore his flat brown hair a little long on the side in an attempt to disguise his loss of hair by brushing it across his forehead. She noticed he had rounded cheeks and a flap of skin that dangled under a weak chin every time he bobbed his head. Mr. Collins looked gravely solemn in his ridiculous all-black parson’s suit, which appeared to be a bit small, especially around his midsection where the buttons and stitches whined with his every move. Elizabeth smiled to herself in anticipation of the great amusement she expected to have from watching such a character as her cousin.
    Mr. Bennet presented his wife, who curtsied briefly with a stoic expression on her face as Mr. Collins gave an overly low bow, causing his waistcoat buttons to protest. Her father then began to introduce his daughters in order of age. When Mr. Collins fixed his eyes upon Jane, his hand brought a soiled handkerchief out of his pocket to dab at the sweat on his brow, and then held it to his chest over his heart as he smiled greasily to her and bent for another low bow. Jane politely curtsied, and Mr. Bennet moved towards Elizabeth.
    “You will excuse my second eldest daughter, Elizabeth, if she does not rise. She has only lately sprained her ankle and cannot stand at the moment,” Mr. Bennet explained.
    Mr. Collins bobbed his head in understanding, causing his neck flap to dance wildly and bowed again. With every bow, Elizabeth held her breath with amusement — and a small amount of fear that his clothing would actually lose a button in the process. Mr. Bennet then proceeded to introduce Mary, Kitty and Lydia. The first smiled calmly at her cousin, and the last two gave obligatory curtsies and whispered to each other while stifling laughs. When Mr. Collins bowed lastly to the youngest girls, a soft, gaseous noise erupted from him and he straightened quickly, coloring bright red, while Lydia and Kitty burst loudly with laughter. Covering her own incredulous smirk, Lizzy quickly chastised her younger sisters.
    As soon as the room recovered its reserve, Mr. Collins opened his mouth to speak for the first time beyond the small greeting he had given each cousin upon introduction. He had a nasally voice that clashed with the serious expression on his face. “My dear, dear cousins. It is an honor finally to meet you all. Your reputed beauty and grace have gone before you, and I assure you, they have most grievously done you a disservice.” At this, Mrs. Bennet huffed, and Mr. Collins rushed to add, “That is, to say, your beauty has far surpassed the