Alias Thomas Bennet Read Online Free PDF

to assist, her assailant released her, and she fell against the sideboard. He followed the man, but he was assaulted by his accomplice. The footman did not see the attacker’s face but said he was dressed as a gentleman.”
    “Who did this? Has the villain been caught?” Shelton cried as he crossed the hall in three long steps.
    “No, my Lord,” the butler called after him as he mounted the stairs. “But it is likely it was Lord Malcolm as he was the caller who was left with the mistress. He and his man departed on horseback while all hands were attending to the kitchen fire.”
    “Good God, no! Malcolm! That licentious scoundrel! What has he done to my Livvy?”
    Lord Shelton turned and leapt up the stairs to his wife’s chambers. The doctor met him outside as he rushed through the door, and taking Shelton aside by the arm, spoke in a quiet voice. “My Lord, I know you fear the worst, but my examination reveals it unlikely that Lady Shelton was violated. Her injuries appear to be from the fall and her struggle to protect herself.”
    Shelton released a shuddering breath as the physician continued. “Lady Shelton has suffered a severe concussive injury and has not regained consciousness, and she may have internal bleeding. It is best she be left to rest. I will remain for her care as long as I am able and will leave instructions to my assistant when I must be away.”
    Shelton moved past the physician towards his wife. She was lying abed with a severe cut on her head and angry bruises on her neck and arms. His face contorted in agony as he stood helplessly beside her. He reached a shaking hand to tentatively cover hers and whispered words of endearment as he struggled to keep his countenance in front of the servants. He remained that way for some time until he was seen straightening his back and turning to quit the room with a determined look upon his face. He strode resolutely to provide instructions to his man.
    “Ready a servant to take an urgent note to Pemberley and remain to collect a reply.”

Chapter 3:
Mr. Bingley and his friends meet the neighbours, and Mr. Bingley becomes smitten.
    October 1811
Hertfordshire
    Over the weeks that followed, Mr. Bennet made true his intention to be sociable with the gentlemen residing at Netherfield. He was invited to join a shooting party and accompanied the gentlemen on a tour of Mr. Bingley’s property to assess needed improvements. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet found they enjoyed one another’s company as they were well matched in intellect and shared many similar interests.
    Bingley and Darcy called a second time a week after the assembly ball, and the former quickly took up a position near Jane. When Darcy joined the lively discussion on books that Bennet was having with Elizabeth and Mary, Elizabeth was disgruntled that the man who had insulted her was so brash as to join their group. She abruptly made her excuses and left to sulk in the garden.
    The gentlemen called again a few days later, and this time, Darcy and Bennet removed to the library to peruse the volume that was the focus of their discourse. Seeing the easy camaraderie between the two men, Elizabeth became jealous of Mr. Darcy. Her rising indignation led her to follow them under the pretence of finding a book. Her real motive was to insinuate herself into the conversation and make a defiant point to her usurper that she deserved to be a prominent participant in any literary discussion at Longbourn. Darcy did not notice he had offended her; he was rather pleased with her company and impressed by her well-informed mind and skilled application to the debate.
    Unknown to Darcy, intellectual exchanges were common in the Bennet household. He found it refreshing to see the three elder Miss Bennets engage in lively debates on books and politics and was surprised to find they were as well informed as he.
    However, Elizabeth was not interested in showing anything other than disapprobation of Mr. Darcy’s presence.