Read Online If Only In His Dreams by Melanie Schertz - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Melanie Schertz
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arrived. Alex walked into the room after a moment. “ Lady Anne , may I introduce you to my brother, Mr Alex Bennet. He is the Master of Longbourn. Alex, this is Mr Darcy’s mother and sister, Lady Anne Darcy and Miss Georgiana Darcy.”
Alex greeted the ladies properly. “Is Mr Darcy not with you?”
Lady Anne shook her head. “We came here first, as I wished to speak with Miss Elizabeth before we settle in at Netherfield.”
“Very good, would you prefer to speak with my sister in my study or in the rear sitting room?”
“I believe the use of your study would be appropriate enough. Miss Elizabeth, would you lead the way there?”
Once the study door was closed by Elizabeth, she turned to see Lady Anne had seated herself behind Alex’s desk, poised as if she were the queen of England.
“Miss Elizabeth, you can be in no doubt as to why I am here.” Lady Anne began.
“I assume that you are here at your son’s request so that we could spend time to become acquainted with each other.” Elizabeth stated clearly.
“Please, Miss Elizabeth, we are both ladies. We know the reason a young man of my son’s status in life would consent to marry someone so far lower and having no connections, and that reason is you have used your arts and allurements to confuse him. You have made him forget what he owes to his family and to future generations. You are a country nobody, what do you have to offer my son other than your comely figure and pretty charms?”
“ Lady Anne , if you continue to insult me in this manner, I will ask you to leave. I was not pleased when my brother made the agreement with your son for me to marry Mr Darcy, and I have only gone along with the agreement after speaking with your son at great length to know him better. But I have insisted that we have a long engagement, so that I may know him better. If you will always look down your nose at me and think so ill of me, I believe it is better that you inform your son of our agreement being dissolved and take him home to your estate so the likes of me do not poison his mind any further. I will not be treated so disrespectfully, and in my own family’s home, by someone I only met a few moments ago.” Elizabeth began to return to the door to open it for Lady Anne when she heard clapping coming from behind her.
“What is the meaning of this? Have you an addle mind which causes you to be cruel to others and you take delight in it?”
Lady Anne smiled. “My dear girl, I was checking to see the sort of mettle from which you are made. My son was correct, you are unlike any other woman I have ever met or seen my son with. I am a very protective mother, Miss Elizabeth. Many young ladies would give anything to be in your position, though you would give up my son for a perceived insult to you. Other ladies would have endured my behavior and groveled at my feet to continue a relationship with William.”
“As I said, I was furious at first when I learned of my brother and Mr Darcy making the agreement, for they did not consult me at all. Only after Mr Darcy and I spoke at great length did I reluctantly agree to it. I had chosen to marry for only the deepest love , so this agreement goes against my wishes. But I will abide my brother’s wishes, and I will attempt to be the best wife to your son.”
“And once married to my son, I am sure you will wish to spend a Season or more in Town, enjoying the delights that society has to offer.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I have visited my uncle and his family in London, and other than the cultural exhibits at museums and performances at the theater and opera, I found no delights in the city life. I am fond of long walks in nature, so you can understand why Town has no draw for me.”
Lady Anne was beginning to warm to this young lady. Perhaps William had chosen with his heart and mind rather than
Alex greeted the ladies properly. “Is Mr Darcy not with you?”
Lady Anne shook her head. “We came here first, as I wished to speak with Miss Elizabeth before we settle in at Netherfield.”
“Very good, would you prefer to speak with my sister in my study or in the rear sitting room?”
“I believe the use of your study would be appropriate enough. Miss Elizabeth, would you lead the way there?”
Once the study door was closed by Elizabeth, she turned to see Lady Anne had seated herself behind Alex’s desk, poised as if she were the queen of England.
“Miss Elizabeth, you can be in no doubt as to why I am here.” Lady Anne began.
“I assume that you are here at your son’s request so that we could spend time to become acquainted with each other.” Elizabeth stated clearly.
“Please, Miss Elizabeth, we are both ladies. We know the reason a young man of my son’s status in life would consent to marry someone so far lower and having no connections, and that reason is you have used your arts and allurements to confuse him. You have made him forget what he owes to his family and to future generations. You are a country nobody, what do you have to offer my son other than your comely figure and pretty charms?”
“ Lady Anne , if you continue to insult me in this manner, I will ask you to leave. I was not pleased when my brother made the agreement with your son for me to marry Mr Darcy, and I have only gone along with the agreement after speaking with your son at great length to know him better. But I have insisted that we have a long engagement, so that I may know him better. If you will always look down your nose at me and think so ill of me, I believe it is better that you inform your son of our agreement being dissolved and take him home to your estate so the likes of me do not poison his mind any further. I will not be treated so disrespectfully, and in my own family’s home, by someone I only met a few moments ago.” Elizabeth began to return to the door to open it for Lady Anne when she heard clapping coming from behind her.
“What is the meaning of this? Have you an addle mind which causes you to be cruel to others and you take delight in it?”
Lady Anne smiled. “My dear girl, I was checking to see the sort of mettle from which you are made. My son was correct, you are unlike any other woman I have ever met or seen my son with. I am a very protective mother, Miss Elizabeth. Many young ladies would give anything to be in your position, though you would give up my son for a perceived insult to you. Other ladies would have endured my behavior and groveled at my feet to continue a relationship with William.”
“As I said, I was furious at first when I learned of my brother and Mr Darcy making the agreement, for they did not consult me at all. Only after Mr Darcy and I spoke at great length did I reluctantly agree to it. I had chosen to marry for only the deepest love , so this agreement goes against my wishes. But I will abide my brother’s wishes, and I will attempt to be the best wife to your son.”
“And once married to my son, I am sure you will wish to spend a Season or more in Town, enjoying the delights that society has to offer.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I have visited my uncle and his family in London, and other than the cultural exhibits at museums and performances at the theater and opera, I found no delights in the city life. I am fond of long walks in nature, so you can understand why Town has no draw for me.”
Lady Anne was beginning to warm to this young lady. Perhaps William had chosen with his heart and mind rather than
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