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

or sibling--a father or a brother may also bestow much affection, and in my opinion, show quite as much attachment."
    "Mrs Darcy, I did not mean to imply that there was ever any absence of care for Miss Georgiana. Indeed, I would say that generally speaking there was more than enough attention lavished on Miss Darcy. No, I believe love has never been wanting in her case. And to speak plainly, she certainly didn't suffer for want of love from one particular quarter."
    Elizabeth met Mrs Eaton's eyes and bore all the study of her careful observation. With great alarm, she suddenly felt on her guard; surely this lady had no knowledge of Georgiana's unfortunate past affair with the scandalous Mr Wickham. If she had prior knowledge of the sad business Lizzy was unsure, but she felt relieved that Mrs Eaton did not allude to the comment again as she continued without a pause for breath.
    "I daresay you've heard tell of old Mrs Darcy's lady's maid. She was like a second mother to Miss Georgiana until she went away."
    The turn in the conversation took her aback, but Elizabeth assured her that she knew of no such lady. "Indeed, I know very little about Mr Darcy's mother, I must confess."
    "The poor lady was very fond of Rachel Tissington, I can tell you. When Mrs Darcy died giving birth to Miss Georgiana, her maid lavished as much love on the babe as if she were her own. I daresay if things had not turned out quite as they did, she'd have seen her grow up into the young woman she is today."
    Elizabeth instinctively knew that Mrs Eaton was referring to some unpleasantness and desperately sought to change the subject. But her companion was undeterred.
    "Between you and me, that's what started it--tending for the babe and longing for a child--as it often does with the lower orders. I am not one to gossip, I can assure you, Mrs Darcy, but when a penniless servant girl is set up for life in a cottage of her own and finds a husband and a baby within a few short months, it is bound to be commented on. Well, it is a blessing Mrs Darcy knew nothing of it, that's all I can say. I am sure it would have broken her heart."
    Elizabeth could scarcely hide her astonishment. Unperturbed, Mrs Eaton continued, "Master Tissington was celebrating his birthday on the day you arrived, I believe." Mrs Eaton smiled at Elizabeth. "Well, it was all some years ago now. He's growing into a tall, handsome young man, not a bit of the farm boy about him, they say."
    Lizzy had long since formed a very poor opinion of Mrs Eaton on the last occasion of their meeting, but this outburst confirmed her very worst suspicions. How she could have attracted the affable Mr Eaton, Lizzy could not think. On reflection, she decided that it was highly likely that Mrs Eaton's fortune might have prompted Cupid for she was certain it could not have been her charms.
    "Well, it's happened before and it will happen again, I daresay, and I don't suppose the boy will ever learn anything of his true heritage. 'Tis a terrible place for gossip, but some very spiteful people say that Master Tissington's father is of noble descent. You might think so, for his mother certainly puts on airs in her little cottage at Birchlow."
    Elizabeth felt her heart beating so fast she was sure it might burst. Every feeling of indignation and protest at this woman's horrid, unfeeling intimations filled her with a sense of disgust. It was fortunate that Lady Rackham chose that moment to call upon one of the ladies to play upon the pianoforte or the temptation to tell her what she thought of her uncivil and distasteful discourse might have been effected.
    Not long after that the gentlemen joined them, Mr Darcy seeking her out and immediately putting her at ease merely by being there. But despite the reassurance of her husband's company, Elizabeth felt out of sorts. On the journey home in the carriage she could not help recalling Mrs Eaton's words. There had been something so underhand in her manner of communication,