Read Online Suspense and Sensibility Or, First Impressions Revisited: A Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery by Carrie Bebris - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carrie Bebris
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estate."
Darcy would hardly have equated the importance of overseeing Pemberley with that of selecting a waistcoat, but if that mode of thinking had led Mr. Dashwood to a fuller cognizance of his responsibilities as a landholder, he could not criticize the comparison.
"In my experience, a good steward is invaluable," he suggested. "Though your father is gone, perhaps your steward can educate you. He will likely be gratified by your interest in Norland."
"Or threatened by it."
"An honest man would not be so."
"Unfortunately, I’m not entirely confident that I’m dealing with an honest man." He took a swallow of port. "I spent some time this week reviewing Norland’s accounts for the period since my father’s death. I’d never looked at the record books before, so I had trouble making sense of them. When I went to our steward with questions, he became defensive."
Darcy frowned. "Do you believe he cheats you?"
"I don’t know what to believe. He has been at Norland since I was a boy. I never had cause to deal with him while my father was alive. I doubt, however, that my father would have retained a steward he didn’t trust."
"He might simply resent a young, inexperienced new master questioning his work. Though I had assisted my father for years, I encountered that prejudice among some of my older tenants when he passed away."
"Truly? You, Mr. Darcy?"
"Why should that surprise you?"
"You are a man born to run an estate."
"If you have inherited one, then so are you."
He smiled ruefully. "I suppose I am. You, however, know what you are doing, while I do not."
"Then you must change that."
Dash wood swirled the port around in his glass, his face pensive. "Mr. Darcy, I wonder if I might impose upon you to – that is, when you come to Norland, if you would take a look at the accounts and advise me as to whether everything appears in order?"
"Certainly. Not being familiar with Norland will limit my ability to detect inconsistencies, but I will determine what I can."
"I am most grateful for your help, sir."
Darcy hesitated, not wanting to insinuate himself further into Harry’s affairs than he’d been invited. But he was pleased to see the younger man taking an interest in his new responsibilities and wanted to encourage him. "If you like, Mr. Dash-wood, I would be happy to explain the records to you so that in the future you can make you own determinations."
"I would appreciate that very much."
He finished his port but declined Darcy’s offer of more. He appeared to have something further he wished to say Darcy waited patiently, letting him seek his words.
"I am most desirous of your good opinion, Mr. Darcy, and that of your family," he finally said. "For as long as I can remember, my mother has held great ambitions for me. She longs to see me distinguished in the world somehow, or at the very least to gain entree into the drawing rooms of every great family in England. I’ve never had any interest in politics or Parliament or any of the other schemes she’s set before me, nor in the debutantes she perpetually throws in my way as candidates for an advantageous alliance. The young ladies she presents harbor even more ambition than she does. They would not be satisfied as Mrs. Harry Dashwood until I made a great name for myself."
"Miss Bennet, however, is different. I think that if Norland meets with her approval – if I meet with her approval, as I am, today – that will be enough. She won’t spend the rest of my life trying to mold me into someone I don’t want to be."
Darcy was inclined to agree. Kitty might not possess the accomplishments and polish of most young ladies of the ton, but neither did she suffer from their social-climbing pretensions. Yes, she chattered about the possibility of meeting a young duke or earl, but, as Elizabeth said, her hopes were no more than the idyllic dreams of any girl. Realistically, she knew her slight dowry made a modest marriage probable, and she was prepared
Darcy would hardly have equated the importance of overseeing Pemberley with that of selecting a waistcoat, but if that mode of thinking had led Mr. Dashwood to a fuller cognizance of his responsibilities as a landholder, he could not criticize the comparison.
"In my experience, a good steward is invaluable," he suggested. "Though your father is gone, perhaps your steward can educate you. He will likely be gratified by your interest in Norland."
"Or threatened by it."
"An honest man would not be so."
"Unfortunately, I’m not entirely confident that I’m dealing with an honest man." He took a swallow of port. "I spent some time this week reviewing Norland’s accounts for the period since my father’s death. I’d never looked at the record books before, so I had trouble making sense of them. When I went to our steward with questions, he became defensive."
Darcy frowned. "Do you believe he cheats you?"
"I don’t know what to believe. He has been at Norland since I was a boy. I never had cause to deal with him while my father was alive. I doubt, however, that my father would have retained a steward he didn’t trust."
"He might simply resent a young, inexperienced new master questioning his work. Though I had assisted my father for years, I encountered that prejudice among some of my older tenants when he passed away."
"Truly? You, Mr. Darcy?"
"Why should that surprise you?"
"You are a man born to run an estate."
"If you have inherited one, then so are you."
He smiled ruefully. "I suppose I am. You, however, know what you are doing, while I do not."
"Then you must change that."
Dash wood swirled the port around in his glass, his face pensive. "Mr. Darcy, I wonder if I might impose upon you to – that is, when you come to Norland, if you would take a look at the accounts and advise me as to whether everything appears in order?"
"Certainly. Not being familiar with Norland will limit my ability to detect inconsistencies, but I will determine what I can."
"I am most grateful for your help, sir."
Darcy hesitated, not wanting to insinuate himself further into Harry’s affairs than he’d been invited. But he was pleased to see the younger man taking an interest in his new responsibilities and wanted to encourage him. "If you like, Mr. Dash-wood, I would be happy to explain the records to you so that in the future you can make you own determinations."
"I would appreciate that very much."
He finished his port but declined Darcy’s offer of more. He appeared to have something further he wished to say Darcy waited patiently, letting him seek his words.
"I am most desirous of your good opinion, Mr. Darcy, and that of your family," he finally said. "For as long as I can remember, my mother has held great ambitions for me. She longs to see me distinguished in the world somehow, or at the very least to gain entree into the drawing rooms of every great family in England. I’ve never had any interest in politics or Parliament or any of the other schemes she’s set before me, nor in the debutantes she perpetually throws in my way as candidates for an advantageous alliance. The young ladies she presents harbor even more ambition than she does. They would not be satisfied as Mrs. Harry Dashwood until I made a great name for myself."
"Miss Bennet, however, is different. I think that if Norland meets with her approval – if I meet with her approval, as I am, today – that will be enough. She won’t spend the rest of my life trying to mold me into someone I don’t want to be."
Darcy was inclined to agree. Kitty might not possess the accomplishments and polish of most young ladies of the ton, but neither did she suffer from their social-climbing pretensions. Yes, she chattered about the possibility of meeting a young duke or earl, but, as Elizabeth said, her hopes were no more than the idyllic dreams of any girl. Realistically, she knew her slight dowry made a modest marriage probable, and she was prepared
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