Read Online Mr. Darcy's Forbidden Love-kindle by Brenda Webb - Free Book Online

child as the impetus for his liaisons with other women, although I refuted that justification . In any event, he said that because of his seeming abandonment of her, my mother had sought solace with another man—an old friend that he refused to name and who fathered Georgiana. Apparently the letter Gisela acquired names my sister’s father, and she swears that if I attempt to sever the marriage, she will make this information public.”
    William turned, his voice rising as he walked towards Mr. Bennet. “My parents’ deaths were a cruel blow from which Georgiana is just now recovering. As her sole guardian, I refuse to let anything else destroy her.”
    “So you have no relationship with this woman—your wife ?”
    “Our arrangement specifies that she live at her own residences, an estate in Derbyshire and a townhouse in London that she inherited from her late husband, Lord Grantham. It stipulates that there will be no children from our marriage. I, in turn, pay all expenses for the residences and give her an allowance. She has my name, not my respect or my love.”
    “And now? Surely you want a son to inherit Pemberley?”
    “Georgiana and her children are allowed to inherit Pemberley. That is how it has always been.”
    The older man studied William intently. “It seems you have taken upon yourself burdens that were not yours to bear, all in order to protect your family. I can respect you for that, but I do not feel you were entirely honest with my daughter or me. Why were you silent regarding your marriage when you arrived in Meryton? ”
    William stared wistfully at the sun now rising over the horizon. “The question never arose, but had it, I would not have lied.” He turned to face his accuser. “From the moment I met your daughter, I was captivated by her intelligence and unaffected manner. Against my better judgement, I convinced myself that we could be friends. Yet, when you and I talked at the ball, it was obvious that you had already recognized deeper feelings—feelings I had not acknowledged. And I knew that if you had discerned my admiration, then she most likely had or would. Rather than hurt her, I determined that I must leave Meryton immediately. That was the purpose of my being out so late yesterday—to finish the survey.”
    “Oddly, I believe you.”
    “I am gratified that you do, for it is the truth.”
    “And you do not want Elizabeth or anyone else to know what you have told me.” 
    William blinked several times, trying to control his widely swinging emotions. “Above all, I do not want her to know.” 
    “May I ask why?”
    William grew solemn. “I believe that she may harbour feelings of… gratitude for my help last night. And because she is so very young, she may mistake those feelings for more. I have found her to be very kind, and if she knew the truth about my situation, she would likely pity me—want to befriend me.”
     
    “She may never suspect you are married. No mention of it was made at the ball, and as far as I know, it has not been made public. Even my wife, who knows all the gossip, believes you are single.”
    “Bingley and his family are most likely the only ones in Meryton who know, though my marriage and the circumstances surrounding it are well-documented in the gossip sheets of London. However, like the rest of the ton , Caroline Bingley prefers to think that I am available, and she perpetrates the lie that I am hers for the taking—thus people believe I am single. Apparently she is under the delusion that I shall eventually be free, and she will be my choice.”
    Charles groaned audibly and shook his head.
    “I apologise, Charles.”
    “It is the truth, Darcy. Much as I hate to admit it, Caroline is just that foolish.”
    “In any event, she will not spread that fact here, nor will Louisa, so hopefully there will be no need to inform Elizabeth of my unusual marriage.”
    “You were leaving before this unfortunate incident. Is that still your