B00BKPAH8O EBOK Read Online Free Page B

Darcys’ equally excellent equipage was
not yet made fully ready for departure, so Mary drew Elizabeth aside. “I regret
that my obligations have left us with so little time to talk whilst you were
here,” she said.
    “I regret it as
well, for I would have liked to hear more about your situation at Netherfield.
Does it still agree with you, Mary?”
    “Every
situation has its little vexations and grievances, I believe. Yet on the whole,
I am satisfied. And it has allowed me to study music more seriously than I
might have otherwise, which is a great pleasure to me.”
    “Oh, yes, how
you have raved about your Monsieur Hubert! Do you suppose he could be persuaded
into taking on a student as far north as Derbyshire? I thought perhaps five was
a bit too young to commence music lessons, but Mr. Darcy insists that, as
Bennet shows such an interest in the piano-forte, he should not be denied the
advantage of early instruction. There is some justification for optimism, I
suppose, since a good measure of natural talent can be found on both sides of
the boy’s family, with his Aunt Mary and his Aunt Georgiana being so
musically inclined.”
    “I will be
happy to propose the idea to Monsieur Hubert. I only wish I had been so
fortunate as to have such a fine music master in my youth. How much more I
might then have accomplished! But enough about me; I meant to ask after your
children, Lizzy. I trust they are all three well and strong.”
    “I thank you,
yes!” said Elizabeth, her countenance brightening at the enquiry.
    “I am very glad
to hear it.”
    “They are,
thank heaven, fine, healthy boys,” Elizabeth continued. “Bennet is quite the
apple of his father’s eye, and it is much the same with Edward and James. You
see, Mary, I live in a household of men, and I must make the best of it.
Fortunately, I would as soon sit atop a saddle these days as any other place,
so I shall stand some chance of keeping up with them as they grow older.” She
turned her address to her husband, who had that moment entered the parlor.
“There is nothing – or almost nothing – like the thrill of a good ride. Is not
that your opinion as well, Mr. Darcy?”
    “So I believe I
have said on more than one occasion, my dear. Now, if you will make your
good-byes, we can be on our way.”
    A lingering
look passed between the two, and Elizabeth reached out to briefly rest a hand
against the side of her husband’s face. Then, seeming to remember herself, she
withdrew it again, embraced her sister, and said farewell.
    Mary watched
them go from the porch, conscious for the first time of a twinge of envy
surfacing from somewhere deep within her soul. Never had she craved great
wealth and its comfortable trappings; these things did not tempt her to covet
her sister’s situation. No, it was that stolen glimpse of tenderness she had
seen upon Mr. Darcy’s face when his usual mask of reserve dropped for a moment
as he regarded his wife. What must it be like to be looked at in such a way by
such a man? Mary could not help but wonder. She could only suppose that it was
a thing very much to be prized.
    A chill wind
penetrated her shawl, reminding Mary where she was. She quickly discarded her
musings as profitless, and returned to the house with her jaw firmly set.
Tomorrow, at first light, she decided, she would take up her duties at
Netherfield again. What must be done might as well be done at once.

 
     
     
    4
    Netherfield
     
    “Oh, Miss
Bennet!” Mrs. Brand, the housekeeper, burst forth in her high-pitched, thready
voice upon seeing the governess entering the house. “What a relief that you are
come back to us at last, and I do not care who hears me say it. We’ve not
managed the children even tolerably well in your absence. Bless me, how
troublesome they are sometimes! The girls are not too bad, but young Michael is
always up to some pretty piece of mischief. I confess that I have very little
notion what to do with him, and I daresay Miss