Read Online Charlotte Collins: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Jennifer Becton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jennifer Becton
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visit had been brief and Maria had returned home quite put out and had been rather off ever since.
They sat a little longer listening to the tentative birdsong of early spring. Maria shifted on her chair and sighed.
"Shall we not pay a call on the Cards? It is dreadfully dull here."
Charlotte put down her mending and studied Maria. She appeared ready to fly from the cottage with the least provocation. Perhaps an afternoon out would improve her spirits.
"I can see you will give me no peace unless I agree."
Maria grinned. "You are quite right."
"Then we shall go, and since the weather is so fine, we will walk through the fields instead of the road."
"Charlotte, you know how to ruin anything that is remotely amusing."
"I find walking an amusement in itself."
"I do not know why."
"It is good exercise, it improves the spirits, and it is enjoyable to see the countryside."
"I can see the countryside just as well from the seat of a carriage or from walking the road on foot."
"Indulge me, Maria. I have not had a good walk through the countryside in quite some time. It is much pleasanter to walk with someone than to walk alone."
Maria agreed reluctantly to her sister's proposition. It was a short distance to the Cards' home, and Charlotte took great pleasure in the journey, enjoying the breezy spring weather. Maria complained incessantly. "My hair will be in such a state after walking in this wind."
"It is but a gentle breeze."
"My dress will be covered in mud."
"We have crossed no puddles."
"What if it rains?"
"It is not going to rain. The sky is blue and not a cloud in sight. Now do be quiet and leave me in peace."
The Cards' home was called Crumbleigh and was one of the finest estates in Westerham. Mr. Card had inherited Crumbleigh and a substantial fortune, making him one of the richest of their acquaintance. Maria always said it was a shame that all that money was wasted on such a man as Mr. Card, who was kind and obliging almost to a fault. She was at a point in her life when she believed that masculinity was defined by egotism, hardheadedness, and difficulty. While Charlotte appreciated both kindness and masculinity, she had rarely found them combined in the proper ratio in one man.
Mrs. Card received them cordially in a large, sunny sitting room.
"How glad I am to have visitors. And what a fine day for a long walk."
Privately, Charlotte thought that it must have been quite some time since Mrs. Card had indulged in a long walk, fine weather or no.
"That is precisely what I told my sister."
Mrs. Card smiled and then summoned the maid. "Go and tell my son that we have visitors." Then she turned to Maria. "Jonas will be very glad to see you. He has been quite dull these past few days."
"I am sorry to hear that. Has he been ill?" Charlotte asked.
"No, indeed. I believe he is in need of society. Young men these days seem to thrive more on society than sport. I believe that the two of you will do the trick."
Mr. Card arrived and was attired in a deep brown coat, tan breeches, and a creamy white cravat tied in a barrel knot. He appeared stylish yet sober and refined. He smiled as he greeted the assembled ladies and announced, "What a fine day! Shall we all not stroll through the gardens?"
"What a jolly idea," Maria said sourly.
Mr. Card's eyes widened to an almost impossible degree. "You do not wish to see the gardens? They are quite nice."
"Perhaps we could find a quiet bench and have a nice chat while Mrs. Card and Charlotte stroll. I am quite sick of strolling, and we must still walk home."
Mr. Card beamed. "There is a very pleasant bench in the rose garden, and I would enjoy sitting with you."
The four walked through the house, the women's dresses whispering as they walked, while Mr. Card's boots punctuated the quiet with gentle taps on the polished stone floors.
Charlotte had always loved Crumbleigh, although she could have wished for a less disintegrated-sounding name. She could remember visiting
They sat a little longer listening to the tentative birdsong of early spring. Maria shifted on her chair and sighed.
"Shall we not pay a call on the Cards? It is dreadfully dull here."
Charlotte put down her mending and studied Maria. She appeared ready to fly from the cottage with the least provocation. Perhaps an afternoon out would improve her spirits.
"I can see you will give me no peace unless I agree."
Maria grinned. "You are quite right."
"Then we shall go, and since the weather is so fine, we will walk through the fields instead of the road."
"Charlotte, you know how to ruin anything that is remotely amusing."
"I find walking an amusement in itself."
"I do not know why."
"It is good exercise, it improves the spirits, and it is enjoyable to see the countryside."
"I can see the countryside just as well from the seat of a carriage or from walking the road on foot."
"Indulge me, Maria. I have not had a good walk through the countryside in quite some time. It is much pleasanter to walk with someone than to walk alone."
Maria agreed reluctantly to her sister's proposition. It was a short distance to the Cards' home, and Charlotte took great pleasure in the journey, enjoying the breezy spring weather. Maria complained incessantly. "My hair will be in such a state after walking in this wind."
"It is but a gentle breeze."
"My dress will be covered in mud."
"We have crossed no puddles."
"What if it rains?"
"It is not going to rain. The sky is blue and not a cloud in sight. Now do be quiet and leave me in peace."
The Cards' home was called Crumbleigh and was one of the finest estates in Westerham. Mr. Card had inherited Crumbleigh and a substantial fortune, making him one of the richest of their acquaintance. Maria always said it was a shame that all that money was wasted on such a man as Mr. Card, who was kind and obliging almost to a fault. She was at a point in her life when she believed that masculinity was defined by egotism, hardheadedness, and difficulty. While Charlotte appreciated both kindness and masculinity, she had rarely found them combined in the proper ratio in one man.
Mrs. Card received them cordially in a large, sunny sitting room.
"How glad I am to have visitors. And what a fine day for a long walk."
Privately, Charlotte thought that it must have been quite some time since Mrs. Card had indulged in a long walk, fine weather or no.
"That is precisely what I told my sister."
Mrs. Card smiled and then summoned the maid. "Go and tell my son that we have visitors." Then she turned to Maria. "Jonas will be very glad to see you. He has been quite dull these past few days."
"I am sorry to hear that. Has he been ill?" Charlotte asked.
"No, indeed. I believe he is in need of society. Young men these days seem to thrive more on society than sport. I believe that the two of you will do the trick."
Mr. Card arrived and was attired in a deep brown coat, tan breeches, and a creamy white cravat tied in a barrel knot. He appeared stylish yet sober and refined. He smiled as he greeted the assembled ladies and announced, "What a fine day! Shall we all not stroll through the gardens?"
"What a jolly idea," Maria said sourly.
Mr. Card's eyes widened to an almost impossible degree. "You do not wish to see the gardens? They are quite nice."
"Perhaps we could find a quiet bench and have a nice chat while Mrs. Card and Charlotte stroll. I am quite sick of strolling, and we must still walk home."
Mr. Card beamed. "There is a very pleasant bench in the rose garden, and I would enjoy sitting with you."
The four walked through the house, the women's dresses whispering as they walked, while Mr. Card's boots punctuated the quiet with gentle taps on the polished stone floors.
Charlotte had always loved Crumbleigh, although she could have wished for a less disintegrated-sounding name. She could remember visiting
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