Read Online Pemberley Ranch by Jack Caldwell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jack Caldwell
Ads: Link
three outsiders made their goodbyes and moved towards the door. Just as Charles was opening it, Darcy turned to Beth.
“Ah, Miss Beth, I almost forgot the message I wanted to give you the next time we met.”
“Oh?” Beth’s eyebrow rose, expecting a renewal of her banishment from Pemberley.
“I’ve let my riders know that you have permission to ride across Pemberley if you take a fancy to cross the Long Branch again.”
The unexpected civility shocked the girl. “Oh! I… I thank you, Mr. Darcy. That’s kind of you.”
He shrugged. “You won’t be a bother to anyone, so it’s quite all right. I’ve described your horse to my men, so they’ll keep an eye out for you, to make sure you don’t get into any trouble.” A strange expression lit his face. “I’m sure your horse—Turner, isn’t it? Turner is itching to run all over creation after the winter we’ve had.”
The condescension in the first part of his reply destroyed whatever pleasure she felt at his kindness, but the second part puzzled her. Why would he care about her horse? “Yes, you’re right,” she said. “Turner is nothing if not spirited.”
Darcy almost grinned, as if he knew a secret. “Yes, I would suppose so—a paint named Turner.”
Beth had a sinking feeling in her stomach. “What?”
“Turner. Named after J.M.W. Turner 2 , the British landscape artist, right?”
Beth’s jaw dropped as Lily laughed. “Ha, ha, ha! Someone finally got your silly joke, Beth! You should see your face!”
An amused Darcy escorted his charges out the door with a parting shot. “Interesting name. A rather controversial choice for a young lady, given that he died in his mistress’s house, wouldn’t you say?” Without waiting for a response, he was out the door.
Beth stared at the closed door while Mrs. Bennet demanded who Beth knew that was keeping mistresses, and Kathy and Lily giggled in each other’s arms. Jane walked over and put her arm around her sister.
“Have you finally met your match, Beth? Mr. Darcy’s very clever.”
“Insufferable, you mean!” Beth proclaimed. She turned to the room, determined to think of his tall form no more.
2 Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 1775–19 December 1851) was an English Romantic landscape painter, watercolorist, and printmaker, whose style can be said to have laid the foundation for Impressionism. Although Turner was considered a controversial figure in his day, he is now regarded as the artist who elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivaling history painting.
March
T HE SHORT PERIOD BETWEEN winter and summer in Central Texas—called “spring” in many parts of the country—finally arrived in Rosings, encouraging its denizens to leave their houses for reasons other than chores and church. Wednesday was the traditional shopping day for the Bennets, both in Meryton and Rosings. Fanny Bennet was never one to pass up the opportunity to see and be seen, gossip and be gossiped about, and inquire in intimate detail about any new item available for sale in any shop without the least intention of purchasing any of them. Since she was never a great reader, it was her favorite diversion besides visiting with her married daughter.
Mrs. Bennet may have wished for all the finery in the world, but she was as tight as any good farm wife. Her mother had been a spendthrift, and after living hand-to-mouth until her marriage, Fanny Gardiner swore she would never have to worry for money again, and she made sure of that when considering a potential husband. Tom Bennet had proved to be not only acaring companion but also a dutiful provider, and she trusted him utterly with their finances. She managed to live within her allowance, praying that Tom’s promises of a better life would come true someday.
However, this Wednesday was different, as it was left to Beth and Mary to shop for the week’s provisions. Mrs. Bennet had come down with a cold and taken to her bed at her son-in-law’s
“Ah, Miss Beth, I almost forgot the message I wanted to give you the next time we met.”
“Oh?” Beth’s eyebrow rose, expecting a renewal of her banishment from Pemberley.
“I’ve let my riders know that you have permission to ride across Pemberley if you take a fancy to cross the Long Branch again.”
The unexpected civility shocked the girl. “Oh! I… I thank you, Mr. Darcy. That’s kind of you.”
He shrugged. “You won’t be a bother to anyone, so it’s quite all right. I’ve described your horse to my men, so they’ll keep an eye out for you, to make sure you don’t get into any trouble.” A strange expression lit his face. “I’m sure your horse—Turner, isn’t it? Turner is itching to run all over creation after the winter we’ve had.”
The condescension in the first part of his reply destroyed whatever pleasure she felt at his kindness, but the second part puzzled her. Why would he care about her horse? “Yes, you’re right,” she said. “Turner is nothing if not spirited.”
Darcy almost grinned, as if he knew a secret. “Yes, I would suppose so—a paint named Turner.”
Beth had a sinking feeling in her stomach. “What?”
“Turner. Named after J.M.W. Turner 2 , the British landscape artist, right?”
Beth’s jaw dropped as Lily laughed. “Ha, ha, ha! Someone finally got your silly joke, Beth! You should see your face!”
An amused Darcy escorted his charges out the door with a parting shot. “Interesting name. A rather controversial choice for a young lady, given that he died in his mistress’s house, wouldn’t you say?” Without waiting for a response, he was out the door.
Beth stared at the closed door while Mrs. Bennet demanded who Beth knew that was keeping mistresses, and Kathy and Lily giggled in each other’s arms. Jane walked over and put her arm around her sister.
“Have you finally met your match, Beth? Mr. Darcy’s very clever.”
“Insufferable, you mean!” Beth proclaimed. She turned to the room, determined to think of his tall form no more.
2 Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 1775–19 December 1851) was an English Romantic landscape painter, watercolorist, and printmaker, whose style can be said to have laid the foundation for Impressionism. Although Turner was considered a controversial figure in his day, he is now regarded as the artist who elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivaling history painting.
March
T HE SHORT PERIOD BETWEEN winter and summer in Central Texas—called “spring” in many parts of the country—finally arrived in Rosings, encouraging its denizens to leave their houses for reasons other than chores and church. Wednesday was the traditional shopping day for the Bennets, both in Meryton and Rosings. Fanny Bennet was never one to pass up the opportunity to see and be seen, gossip and be gossiped about, and inquire in intimate detail about any new item available for sale in any shop without the least intention of purchasing any of them. Since she was never a great reader, it was her favorite diversion besides visiting with her married daughter.
Mrs. Bennet may have wished for all the finery in the world, but she was as tight as any good farm wife. Her mother had been a spendthrift, and after living hand-to-mouth until her marriage, Fanny Gardiner swore she would never have to worry for money again, and she made sure of that when considering a potential husband. Tom Bennet had proved to be not only acaring companion but also a dutiful provider, and she trusted him utterly with their finances. She managed to live within her allowance, praying that Tom’s promises of a better life would come true someday.
However, this Wednesday was different, as it was left to Beth and Mary to shop for the week’s provisions. Mrs. Bennet had come down with a cold and taken to her bed at her son-in-law’s
Similar Books
