Mr. Darcy's Bite Read Online Free PDF Page B

face that she believed that as Mr. Darcy’s wife, she would give birth to a litter of pups, but she explained that that would be impossible.
    â€œA werewolf can only sire human children, and they can never become werewolves themselves. In the womb, they develop an immunity to whatever transmits the characteristics of the werewolf.”
    â€œHow do you know this? How can you be so sure of such a thing?”
    â€œBecause there is a medical doctor in Edinburgh who has been married to a she wolf for thirty years and has spent many hours researching his wife’s condition. All the werewolves have a gathering at an estate in Scotland every July, and all of this information is shared.”
    For the next hour, Anne shared with Lizzy all that she knew about werewolves. Lizzy learned that they had the ability to recognize one another on sight, a trait that allowed them to assist members of their community in moving safely about the country and beyond, and that the length of their transformation depended on how deep the initial wound had been. For some, the change lasted as long as five days, but never less than two.
    â€œIf I understand you correctly, the wife of the werewolf would not have any such immunity, and if bitten, she would become a werewolf as well.”
    â€œThat is correct, and because of that, William is rarely in the house during his transformation. It is only in the worst weather that he remains indoors in a room accessible through a hidden panel off the study. During that time, he has no contact with anyone other than Mercer and Mr. Jackson, and it is only when he is in his altered state that there is any danger to a human from a bite. But rather than discussing William, why don’t we go see him. Mr. Ferguson, the gardener, has cleared an area high on the ridge where he and Nell romp during the day.”
    â€œMr. Darcy romps?” But then a picture of an enthusiastic Mr. Darcy nearly jumping over the tea table at Longbourn came to mind, and Lizzy decided that it was possible that Mr. Darcy actually did romp.
    â€œThen that settles it. We must go up to the clearing, and I shall speak with Mr. Jackson immediately. We shall take the phaeton, and, yes, I do know how to drive one. So, my dear, go change into your traveling clothes. We are going on an adventure.”
    ***
    â€œHow appropriate that Mr. Darcy was transformed on the eve of All Saints’ Day,” Lizzy said to Anne as they traveled up toward the clearing. “That is when ghosts, goblins, and witches come out.”
    â€œSurely, you do not believe in such irrational drivel,” Anne said.
    â€œUntil yesterday, I did not believe in werewolves either.”
    Anne looked at Lizzy with the most quizzical expression. It was as if she was saying, “How absurd for you to believe in such superstitious nonsense.”
    â€œAs far as ghosts are concerned, the dead cannot rise without the assistance of a higher power,” Anne began, “and there are no such creatures as witches and goblins. They have been invented by people who use them to explain that which is not easily understood. On the other hand, werewolves are a combination of two living beings.”
    Before continuing, Anne shortened the reins as the road grew steeper and more rugged. “Have you read about Mary Anning, the young girl in Lyme, who discovered a crocodile-like skeleton unlike anything known in our time? What happened to these creatures? The answer is that they became something else.”
    â€œHow silly of me to put werewolves in the same category as ghosts and goblins,” Lizzy answered, and she placed her hand on Anne’s. “If everyone had such devoted friends, the world would be a better place.”
    They soon came to an area where the phaeton would be obscured from any travelers by a boulder and huge trees with moss hanging from their branches, creating the perfect hiding place for the conveyance. After giving each of