Read Online Mr. Darcy Came to Dinner by Jack Caldwell - Free Book Online
Authors: Jack Caldwell
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side of the story.”
“What? Walk right in and demand to know whether Mr. Darcy disregarded the terms of his father’s will? Jane, you know better than that!”
Jane was not chastised by her father’s reprimand. “There are other, more proper ways. For example, we could let Mr. Darcy know that Mr. Wickham is airing grievances against him. I think it would be a kindness, and it would give Mr. Darcy the chance to defend himself before his reputation is ruined with all our neighbors.”
Elizabeth thought it was too late for that. Her father had a different objection.
“Well, we cannot do it now. Mr. Macmillan and Mr. Jones are with him at present. They arrived just as I sat down for breakfast.” He darkened. “I suppose I ought to warn Cook to put out more food.”
Suddenly, there came a commotion at Longbourn’s front door. Mr. Bennet arose in annoyance. “Who could be coming here in such weather? I had best see to it.” However, before another step could be taken, Mrs. Hill threw open the door to the book room.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam and Miss Darcy to see Mr. Darcy, sir.”
Elizabeth flew to her feet. Colonel Fitzwilliam’s identity was a mystery, but Miss Darcy could only be Mr. Darcy’s proud sister! Her eyes darted to Jane, but she appeared as astonished as the rest.
“I do not understand,” Jane said. “Mr. Darcy’s letter could not have reached her yet.”
The three left the book room instantly and beheld the visitors in the hall. Colonel Fitzwilliam, wearing civilian clothes, was a man of about thirty years of age with a grim countenance but, in person and address, was most truly a gentleman, particularly in the manner with which he assisted the young lady beside him. This had to be Miss Darcy. Tall and larger proportioned than Elizabeth, her figure was one of womanly grace. She was less handsome than her brother and obviously agitated. The colonel espied them and walked forward with a respectful, yet earnest manner.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam at your service, sir,” he said to Mr. Bennet. “Allow me to present my cousin and ward, Miss Darcy. We are relations of Mr. Darcy. We are sorry to burst upon you like this, with no warning or introduction, but we have received the most distressing express and hurried to Hertfordshire to see with our own eyes Mr. Darcy’s condition. I trust you will forgive us.”
Mr. Bennet assured the colonel of their welcome while Elizabeth watched Miss Darcy closely. The lady had said not a word. Her eyes were red, and her body was shaking. Elizabeth’s heart went out to the girl, and she and Jane moved quickly to comfort her.
After a hurried introduction, Miss Darcy finally managed, “Tell me, is my brother well? Please say that he is!”
The raw pain and fear in that simple statement almost overwhelmed Elizabeth. On close inspection of her face and voice, Miss Darcy proved to be younger than her figure suggested, and there was good sense reflected in her face. Elizabeth would have thought the girl’s manners perfectly unassuming and gentle were she not so concerned over her brother.
“He is being well cared for, Miss Darcy, never fear. Father, let us take our guests to Mr. Darcy without delay.”
Mr. Bennet agreed, and in short order, the little party was at the parlor door. Elizabeth espied a grimace come over her father’s face as he suffered to knock on a door in his own house. It went unnoticed by the others, however, and all other thoughts disappeared as Bartholomew opened the door, and Mr. Darcy’s relations rushed to enter before the valet could announce them. The Bennets followed at a more sedate pace, and Elizabeth’s tender heart was captivated at the sight of a sobbing Miss Darcy half on the bed, embracing her brother, and an ashen-faced Colonel Fitzwilliam standing close by.
The sound of her father’s voice alerted Elizabeth that the physician and the apothecary were still in attendance. The noise had attracted others, and Mrs. Bennet, the
“What? Walk right in and demand to know whether Mr. Darcy disregarded the terms of his father’s will? Jane, you know better than that!”
Jane was not chastised by her father’s reprimand. “There are other, more proper ways. For example, we could let Mr. Darcy know that Mr. Wickham is airing grievances against him. I think it would be a kindness, and it would give Mr. Darcy the chance to defend himself before his reputation is ruined with all our neighbors.”
Elizabeth thought it was too late for that. Her father had a different objection.
“Well, we cannot do it now. Mr. Macmillan and Mr. Jones are with him at present. They arrived just as I sat down for breakfast.” He darkened. “I suppose I ought to warn Cook to put out more food.”
Suddenly, there came a commotion at Longbourn’s front door. Mr. Bennet arose in annoyance. “Who could be coming here in such weather? I had best see to it.” However, before another step could be taken, Mrs. Hill threw open the door to the book room.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam and Miss Darcy to see Mr. Darcy, sir.”
Elizabeth flew to her feet. Colonel Fitzwilliam’s identity was a mystery, but Miss Darcy could only be Mr. Darcy’s proud sister! Her eyes darted to Jane, but she appeared as astonished as the rest.
“I do not understand,” Jane said. “Mr. Darcy’s letter could not have reached her yet.”
The three left the book room instantly and beheld the visitors in the hall. Colonel Fitzwilliam, wearing civilian clothes, was a man of about thirty years of age with a grim countenance but, in person and address, was most truly a gentleman, particularly in the manner with which he assisted the young lady beside him. This had to be Miss Darcy. Tall and larger proportioned than Elizabeth, her figure was one of womanly grace. She was less handsome than her brother and obviously agitated. The colonel espied them and walked forward with a respectful, yet earnest manner.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam at your service, sir,” he said to Mr. Bennet. “Allow me to present my cousin and ward, Miss Darcy. We are relations of Mr. Darcy. We are sorry to burst upon you like this, with no warning or introduction, but we have received the most distressing express and hurried to Hertfordshire to see with our own eyes Mr. Darcy’s condition. I trust you will forgive us.”
Mr. Bennet assured the colonel of their welcome while Elizabeth watched Miss Darcy closely. The lady had said not a word. Her eyes were red, and her body was shaking. Elizabeth’s heart went out to the girl, and she and Jane moved quickly to comfort her.
After a hurried introduction, Miss Darcy finally managed, “Tell me, is my brother well? Please say that he is!”
The raw pain and fear in that simple statement almost overwhelmed Elizabeth. On close inspection of her face and voice, Miss Darcy proved to be younger than her figure suggested, and there was good sense reflected in her face. Elizabeth would have thought the girl’s manners perfectly unassuming and gentle were she not so concerned over her brother.
“He is being well cared for, Miss Darcy, never fear. Father, let us take our guests to Mr. Darcy without delay.”
Mr. Bennet agreed, and in short order, the little party was at the parlor door. Elizabeth espied a grimace come over her father’s face as he suffered to knock on a door in his own house. It went unnoticed by the others, however, and all other thoughts disappeared as Bartholomew opened the door, and Mr. Darcy’s relations rushed to enter before the valet could announce them. The Bennets followed at a more sedate pace, and Elizabeth’s tender heart was captivated at the sight of a sobbing Miss Darcy half on the bed, embracing her brother, and an ashen-faced Colonel Fitzwilliam standing close by.
The sound of her father’s voice alerted Elizabeth that the physician and the apothecary were still in attendance. The noise had attracted others, and Mrs. Bennet, the
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