Page 12 of Once He Made a Beginning

The colonel led the young lady to where Darcy and Anne sat and gave up his own seat to her—the seat which happened to be closer to Darcy’s than even Anne’s. What on earth is Richard about? Mr. Darcy wondered.

Before sitting, Miss Bennet addressed Anne in the usual way and then turned to Mr. Darcy. Her eyes lowered, she dropped a quick curtsy and greeted him.

Why is she being so demure?Darcy silently screamed. It was as if she did not want to make eye contact with him. How could she have gone from being charming and agreeable with his cousin to shy and unassuming in the span of a few moments?

Darcy merely nodded his greeting to the guest. After she took her seat, he opened his book to the page he had left off earlier that day.

Noticing this, the young lady said, “I see you are reading Shelley, Mr. Darcy. Is he a favorite of yours?”

What does she know about Percy Shelley?he wondered. And how does she know what book I am reading?

It then dawned on him that the young lady must have espied the author’s name earlier. Perhaps that explained why her eyes were lowered. But really, what did it matter to him? On the other hand, she was making an effort to be civil. The least he could do was return her civility in kind.

What would be the harm?

“I take it you are familiar with this author?” Mr. Darcy asked, feigning interest in whatever the young lady had to say.

“Indeed, he is a favorite author of mine, as a matter of fact.”

“I am surprised to hear you say that, Miss Bennet. It is uncommon to meet a young lady who willingly confesses to reading material of this nature.”

“Are you referring to his propensity to be provocative?”

“I suppose that is one way to put it.”

What is it about this young woman?Darcy wondered and not for the first time of late. And why do I suspect she is merely espousing an opinion that is not truly her own purely for the sake of provoking me? Where on earth did she come from and why on earth is she robbing me of my peace?

“I believe it is time to return to the manor house for dinner. Will you accompany me, Miss Bennet? I understand the Collinses will join us at my mother’s behest,” Darcy heard Anne say to the visitor.

Dinner with the Collinses!Darcy silently screamed. He felt himself cringe. It was one thing to endure Miss Bennet’s company, for despite himself he could not help but be drawn to her even though she unsettled him like no other woman he had ever known.

It was a different matter altogether to be forced to dine with his aunt’s vicar, Mr. Collins. Oddly enough, the Collinses were a source of discomfort to Darcy, too. It was as though they simply appeared in their midst from nowhere. But as a consequence of Collins being Lady Catherine’s vicar, it stood to reason that Darcy’s knowledge of him and his wife was lacking.

As for Mrs. Collins, Darcy supposed she was tolerable enough, although he could not understand why she chose to marry such a fool. He could only owe it to her want of a secure life, which made her very sensible in Darcy’s estimation. He wondered sometimes if Mrs. Collins’s sensibilities were qualities that Miss Bennet possessed. Somehow, he doubted it. He did not even know the young lady, yet he found it inconceivable that she would marry a man whom she did not esteem merely for the sake of security.

He scoffed. I am convinced that nothing short of the greatest love would induce the likes of her to marry.