Mr. Darcy's Secret Read Online Free PDF

your reasons for staying away. And in any case, I expect Lady Catherine will be making her usual visit to Pemberley after Christmas," she said. "She has many friends who welcome her visits; I look forward with great anticipation to her coming to Derbyshire. We have so much to discuss."
    Mr Darcy turned away at that moment to address Lord Rackham as if he had not heard her speak. Elizabeth felt mortified by his rude manners and, deciding that she must answer in the affirmative, declared that they were looking forward to a visit whenever Lady Catherine wished to call.
    "I know how much she and her daughter look forward to coming to Derbyshire," continued Lady Rackham. "It is a pity that Miss de Bourgh suffers so much with poor health, but I am sure the Derbyshire air does her good. Of course, in the old days when Mrs Darcy was alive we had such splendid gatherings at Pemberley. She and Lady Catherine were the celebrated sisters of their day, such noble blood, with all the elevation of rank--the epitome of fine, aristocratic connections. But with Lady Anne Darcy's untimely death it all came to an end."
    "It must have had a devastating effect upon the family," ventured Elizabeth.
    "The consequences of that poor lady's death cannot be underestimated--the cost to Pemberley, I do not think we have ever fully appreciated until now. That her influence in all matters is no longer felt is a true detriment. As Lady Catherine said, its history is taking a turn I am certain she would not have endorsed."
    Lady Rackham scrutinised Elizabeth with such an expression of hauteur that she felt as if she had personally been accused of causing the lady's demise. Her none too subtle hints seemed to be suggesting that if Mr Darcy's mother had still been alive Elizabeth would certainly not have taken her place. Too shocked to immediately respond, it was with some relief Elizabeth heard that they were all being asked to take their seats for dinner. Holding on to her husband's arm and feeling his reassuring presence as they entered the room, Elizabeth reminded herself that she knew there were always going to be those people connected with Lady Catherine whom she was never going to please. By agreeing to marry Mr Darcy, she had known that there were going to be many trials ahead. Rising above them was a matter she had to overcome.
    The dinner passed in the usual way with much consumption by the gentlemen and little from their partners, who were all engaged in the pursuit of talking too much to be eating. At the correct time the ladies withdrew from the table leaving the gentlemen to their drinks and speculation on the sport that was to follow the next day. How Elizabeth wished she could stay with them, even though shooting was not a subject that held much interest. The thought of more searching questions and sneering remarks filled her with dread. She knew it was a matter of time before she would be singled out for the usual probing inspection and it was not long before Mrs Eaton sought Elizabeth's company. They had only met once before but that lady had established herself as a gossip and inquisitive to the point of offensiveness. Elizabeth was on her mettle.
    After making enquiries about how Mrs Darcy had been enjoying the hospitality of the people in the surrounding district, the subject of Pemberley, Georgiana, and of Mr Darcy's mother arose again.
    "Miss Georgiana is growing into a fine young lady," said Mrs Eaton. "I expect she'll have her coming out soon and we shall see her being courted. I cannot believe she is of an age for dancing with all that that entails." Shaking her head, she sighed. "To think all that time has passed, and that poor girl never knowing her mother. I cannot bear to think of her never experiencing the warmth of maternal love."
    "It is true, a mother's care is of a special kind," Elizabeth commented thoughtfully, "but surely it does not follow that there is necessarily any neglect if a child receives love from a devoted parent