Read Online The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Lydon Simonsen
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“At my brother’s insistence,” Georgiana said, smiling weakly, “before being allowed to go to Ramsgate, I had to promise to study my German and practice my pieces on the pianoforte for at least two hours every morning. Mrs. Younge would sit with me in the parlor, but I thought it was unfair as there was nothing for her to do. So we agreed that during that time she could go to the shops or down to the pier and enjoy the sea air. Somehow, Mr. Wickham discovered I was in Ramsgate, and after learning that Mrs. Younge was my companion, befriended her. At this point, she was completely innocent.”
“If you wish for me to listen to you,” Darcy said, preventing his sister from continuing, “please do not refer to Mrs. Younge as being innocent. If she is to be believed, she talked to a man not of her acquaintance, and if for no other reason, she failed in her primary duty to protect you.”
“I understand,” his sister said. “But before I go on, I must step back. While you were at Cambridge and I remained at Pemberley, I would often go out onto the lawn and sketch with Mrs. Bridges. One day, Mr. Wickham came by and admired my sketch, and he asked for one of my chalks and drew a very funny picture of Mrs. Bridges. And we laughed because it was very funny. The next day, he brought me a sketch of himself, which was also funny. There was no third day because Mrs. Bridges insisted I remain in the classroom and draw, saying that Mr. Wickham was neglecting his duties. Other than seeing him about the property, we had no further contact.
“And now to the heart of the story,” and taking a deep breath, Georgiana plunged in. “One morning, Mrs. Younge encountered Mr. Wickham on her walk, and it was then he revealed that he had grown up at Pemberley and asked if he might call on me. She asked, and I agreed. Well, it was a very pleasant hour, and he suggested that I join him for a walk around the harbor the next day, which I did, and continued to do for another three days. I must confess I was flattered by the attention, especially when he bought me a jewelry box decorated with seashells. After that day, the weather turned against us, and he now called at the house, and much to my surprise, he professed his love for me. Not having been introduced to society, I did not realize that this was a common ploy used by men who were in search of women who would inherit a fortune.
“Finally, he asked if we might go for a carriage ride without Mrs. Younge. I agreed, but as soon as I did, I knew that I would not. I realized that I should have written to you to ask for your permission before I had ever agreed to receive him. It was my intention to do so, but it was not necessary. That morning, while Mrs. Younge was doing my hair, she repeated stories Wickham had told her about providing endless hours of amusement for me while we were at Pemberley, including walks in the garden and our reading poetry together, neither of which had ever happened. And I realized what a fool I had been, and without saying anything to Mrs. Younge, I waited for Wickham in the parlor for the purpose of telling him he must never come again. That is when you arrived, and you know the rest.”
Yes, he did know the rest. He had missed his sister’s company and was looking forward to visiting her, and in order to surprise her, he had not written to inform her that he was coming to Ramsgate. When he went into the parlor, the first person he saw was not Georgiana, but Wickham, and he had no doubt why he was there. He grabbed him by his coat, pushed him down the stairs and into the foyer before throwing him into the street. Hearing the commotion, Mrs. Younge came to see what was happening and encountered her employer in full fury. He very quickly got the whole of the story, and giving her only enough time to gather her belongings, demanded she leave immediately.
Georgiana was correct. Despite tears and protests, he had refused to hear what she had to say. He
“At my brother’s insistence,” Georgiana said, smiling weakly, “before being allowed to go to Ramsgate, I had to promise to study my German and practice my pieces on the pianoforte for at least two hours every morning. Mrs. Younge would sit with me in the parlor, but I thought it was unfair as there was nothing for her to do. So we agreed that during that time she could go to the shops or down to the pier and enjoy the sea air. Somehow, Mr. Wickham discovered I was in Ramsgate, and after learning that Mrs. Younge was my companion, befriended her. At this point, she was completely innocent.”
“If you wish for me to listen to you,” Darcy said, preventing his sister from continuing, “please do not refer to Mrs. Younge as being innocent. If she is to be believed, she talked to a man not of her acquaintance, and if for no other reason, she failed in her primary duty to protect you.”
“I understand,” his sister said. “But before I go on, I must step back. While you were at Cambridge and I remained at Pemberley, I would often go out onto the lawn and sketch with Mrs. Bridges. One day, Mr. Wickham came by and admired my sketch, and he asked for one of my chalks and drew a very funny picture of Mrs. Bridges. And we laughed because it was very funny. The next day, he brought me a sketch of himself, which was also funny. There was no third day because Mrs. Bridges insisted I remain in the classroom and draw, saying that Mr. Wickham was neglecting his duties. Other than seeing him about the property, we had no further contact.
“And now to the heart of the story,” and taking a deep breath, Georgiana plunged in. “One morning, Mrs. Younge encountered Mr. Wickham on her walk, and it was then he revealed that he had grown up at Pemberley and asked if he might call on me. She asked, and I agreed. Well, it was a very pleasant hour, and he suggested that I join him for a walk around the harbor the next day, which I did, and continued to do for another three days. I must confess I was flattered by the attention, especially when he bought me a jewelry box decorated with seashells. After that day, the weather turned against us, and he now called at the house, and much to my surprise, he professed his love for me. Not having been introduced to society, I did not realize that this was a common ploy used by men who were in search of women who would inherit a fortune.
“Finally, he asked if we might go for a carriage ride without Mrs. Younge. I agreed, but as soon as I did, I knew that I would not. I realized that I should have written to you to ask for your permission before I had ever agreed to receive him. It was my intention to do so, but it was not necessary. That morning, while Mrs. Younge was doing my hair, she repeated stories Wickham had told her about providing endless hours of amusement for me while we were at Pemberley, including walks in the garden and our reading poetry together, neither of which had ever happened. And I realized what a fool I had been, and without saying anything to Mrs. Younge, I waited for Wickham in the parlor for the purpose of telling him he must never come again. That is when you arrived, and you know the rest.”
Yes, he did know the rest. He had missed his sister’s company and was looking forward to visiting her, and in order to surprise her, he had not written to inform her that he was coming to Ramsgate. When he went into the parlor, the first person he saw was not Georgiana, but Wickham, and he had no doubt why he was there. He grabbed him by his coat, pushed him down the stairs and into the foyer before throwing him into the street. Hearing the commotion, Mrs. Younge came to see what was happening and encountered her employer in full fury. He very quickly got the whole of the story, and giving her only enough time to gather her belongings, demanded she leave immediately.
Georgiana was correct. Despite tears and protests, he had refused to hear what she had to say. He
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