Read Online Second Glances: A Tale of Less Pride and Prejudice Continues (Tales of Less Pride and Prejudice) by Alexa Adams - Free Book Online
Authors: Alexa Adams
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fortune huntress.”
“Indeed, she does not seem to be one concerned with wealth at all. She made no attempt to conceal the very small nature of her dowry, and when I brought up Teggington, she pressed me not a bit for those details which would determine its size and status.”
“But she did inquire into my antics as a child?”
Mr. Brooks looked confused. “Not at all! I shared with her a few stories, but only those that showed you in the best light.”
“Like my digging a trap for you to fall into?”
“I spoke of how you came to my rescue when I had broken my leg!”
“Which she interpreted as an example of lifelong foolishness.”
Mr. Brooks said consciously, “I did not mean it in such a manner. I am sorry, James.”
“I know you did not, Simon. You always mean well. Nevertheless, I am now confronted with something of a predicament. How am I to convince her I am in all seriousness, when she will not believe her own senses? Perhaps I will speak to Darcy, for he may know the way to win her. After all, he succeeded with her sister, did he not?”
“Yes, but he is Darcy, after all. Can you imagine the lady who would reject him?”
Sir James laughed. “I don’t know; if he had made a muddle of a first impression upon his wife, as I have on Miss Bennet, then perhaps his gentlemanly status would have undergone similar attack.”
Chapter 9
A ball – once the music stopped, the champagne consumed, and the guests dispersed – lives on in the conversations of those who attended. Such events cannot be complete until thoroughly discussed. It carried on that night in Curzon Street, Georgiana and Kitty waiting only until they had rid themselves of excess finery to meet, by appointment, in the private parlor adjoining the latter’s chambers, neither lady having the slightest inclination for sleep. Kitty was effusive in her praise of Mr. Brooks, more than compensating for her earlier lack of attention by regaling Georgiana with a precise account of anything in their conversation that could possibly be of interest to her, but never once did she mention Sir James. Georgiana listened attentively, as Kitty passed from Mr. Brooks to the decor, expressing her admiration for the flowers, and then drifting from this or that lady’s gown to the fare, all without once touching upon the subject of greatest interest to her audience, until finally her patience expired.
“Yet what of your partners, Kitty? You danced every set, and twice with Sir James, and yet you say nothing of him?”
Kitty blushed, “I was fortunate to have many amiable partners.”
“Many amiable partners!” repeated Georgiana, disbelievingly. “Is that all you have to say, when one of the most eligible bachelors in town paid you such particular attention?”
“Is he?” she asked nervously. “I assumed he was well to do, but I know nothing of his fortune. Surely he is not as rich as Mr. Darcy?”
“I do not know for certain,” replied Georgiana, musingly, “but I imagine he is similarly situated. Teggington is not as valuable an estate as Pemberley – about 7 or 8,000 pounds a year, I believe – but he has rather vast shipping interests. He was always intrigued by such matters, and Fitzwilliam says he has amassed quite the fortune.”
“Oh dear!” cried Kitty. “It only makes everything all the worse!”
Unsure of how to respond to this odd pronouncement, Georgiana could only ask: “What does?”
“You would not understand!” was the tearful reply.
“That may be true, but I thought we had no secrets from each other?”
Kitty said nothing.
“Whatever it is that has been bothering you, Kitty, I cannot force you to confide, but are you sure it would not be a relief to do so? It will not be harder for you than it was for me to acknowledge my mistake in regards to Mr. Wickham. Whatever you have to say, it cannot be that bad,” Georgiana said softly, her head turned downwards.
“Oh! Forgive me, dear Georgie,” Kitty gushed,
“Indeed, she does not seem to be one concerned with wealth at all. She made no attempt to conceal the very small nature of her dowry, and when I brought up Teggington, she pressed me not a bit for those details which would determine its size and status.”
“But she did inquire into my antics as a child?”
Mr. Brooks looked confused. “Not at all! I shared with her a few stories, but only those that showed you in the best light.”
“Like my digging a trap for you to fall into?”
“I spoke of how you came to my rescue when I had broken my leg!”
“Which she interpreted as an example of lifelong foolishness.”
Mr. Brooks said consciously, “I did not mean it in such a manner. I am sorry, James.”
“I know you did not, Simon. You always mean well. Nevertheless, I am now confronted with something of a predicament. How am I to convince her I am in all seriousness, when she will not believe her own senses? Perhaps I will speak to Darcy, for he may know the way to win her. After all, he succeeded with her sister, did he not?”
“Yes, but he is Darcy, after all. Can you imagine the lady who would reject him?”
Sir James laughed. “I don’t know; if he had made a muddle of a first impression upon his wife, as I have on Miss Bennet, then perhaps his gentlemanly status would have undergone similar attack.”
Chapter 9
A ball – once the music stopped, the champagne consumed, and the guests dispersed – lives on in the conversations of those who attended. Such events cannot be complete until thoroughly discussed. It carried on that night in Curzon Street, Georgiana and Kitty waiting only until they had rid themselves of excess finery to meet, by appointment, in the private parlor adjoining the latter’s chambers, neither lady having the slightest inclination for sleep. Kitty was effusive in her praise of Mr. Brooks, more than compensating for her earlier lack of attention by regaling Georgiana with a precise account of anything in their conversation that could possibly be of interest to her, but never once did she mention Sir James. Georgiana listened attentively, as Kitty passed from Mr. Brooks to the decor, expressing her admiration for the flowers, and then drifting from this or that lady’s gown to the fare, all without once touching upon the subject of greatest interest to her audience, until finally her patience expired.
“Yet what of your partners, Kitty? You danced every set, and twice with Sir James, and yet you say nothing of him?”
Kitty blushed, “I was fortunate to have many amiable partners.”
“Many amiable partners!” repeated Georgiana, disbelievingly. “Is that all you have to say, when one of the most eligible bachelors in town paid you such particular attention?”
“Is he?” she asked nervously. “I assumed he was well to do, but I know nothing of his fortune. Surely he is not as rich as Mr. Darcy?”
“I do not know for certain,” replied Georgiana, musingly, “but I imagine he is similarly situated. Teggington is not as valuable an estate as Pemberley – about 7 or 8,000 pounds a year, I believe – but he has rather vast shipping interests. He was always intrigued by such matters, and Fitzwilliam says he has amassed quite the fortune.”
“Oh dear!” cried Kitty. “It only makes everything all the worse!”
Unsure of how to respond to this odd pronouncement, Georgiana could only ask: “What does?”
“You would not understand!” was the tearful reply.
“That may be true, but I thought we had no secrets from each other?”
Kitty said nothing.
“Whatever it is that has been bothering you, Kitty, I cannot force you to confide, but are you sure it would not be a relief to do so? It will not be harder for you than it was for me to acknowledge my mistake in regards to Mr. Wickham. Whatever you have to say, it cannot be that bad,” Georgiana said softly, her head turned downwards.
“Oh! Forgive me, dear Georgie,” Kitty gushed,
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