Free Mr. Darcy's Daughter by Rebecca Ann Collins Page B

coat
and how his portrait came to be in the Pemberley collection. While she could
not recall the portrait in great detail, both Laura and Lizzie had supported
her husband's contention that its subject bore a strong resemblance to their
guest.
    Cassy
was keen, if this were true, to uncover the connection between them.
    To
this end, she arranged for her husband to take her to Pemberley on the
following day, being Sunday, while their son Darcy and Mr. Carr made plans with
Thomas for a day's fishing further up the river. Lizzie and Laura, always happy
to see their grandparents, went with their parents to Pemberley.
    Mr.
and Mrs. Darcy were delighted, on returning from church, to find the Gardiners'
carriage at the entrance and their visitors waiting for them in the saloon. Mrs.
Grantham, the housekeeper, had already produced tea, cakes, and fruit, which
the girls were addressing with some enthusiasm.
    Mr.
Darcy, who on first seeing the vehicle had feared that there was bad news from
Lambton, was overjoyed when Richard informed him that his father was quite
comfortable and indeed there was good news from Rushmore Farm.
    "I
believe Will Camden has finally got a genuine buyer," he said and Mr.
Darcy, ever anxious that the wrong people should not get their hands on the
Camdens' farm, asked quickly, "It is not one of those dreadful buccaneers
from Birmingham, is it?"
    "Not
at all, sir," said Richard, preparing to tell all as they walked out onto
the terrace, leaving the ladies together to finish their tea.
    Hardly
waiting for the tea things to be removed, Cassy urged her mother to accompany
her upstairs to the long gallery. Elizabeth was intrigued, and as her daughter
told her of the arrival of young Darcy's friend Mr. Michael Carr and his
interest in Rushmore Farm, she agreed that such an intelligent and clearly
eligible person should certainly be encouraged to remain as long as possible in
the neighbourhood.
    "It
is an excellent thing for the girls to meet eligible young men, even if nothing
comes of it. It is important for their self-esteem that they know how to deal
with them. Your father has always said that Anne-Marie Bingley would never have
accepted that dreadful bore, Mr. Bradshaw, in the first place, had she been
introduced to a few more interesting young men, instead of being wholly
absorbed in her work with the wounded soldiers at the hospital. Now your little
Lizzie is of an age when young men will take some notice of her and she of
them, presumably, and the more acceptable young fellows she meets, the more
easily will she make the right choice, when the time comes," said
Elizabeth.
    Cassy
agreed absolutely with her mother. "That is exactly my contention, Mama.
Richard thinks I am matchmaking, but this is not true."
    Elizabeth
was sympathetic and understanding. "Of course it isn't. I know that, but
I'm afraid, my dear, men will think that. I remember, very clearly, each time
we accepted an invitation to a ball, Papa assumed that at least one of us would
come back engaged. We were merely appraising the prospects, so to speak; at
least I was. Your dear Aunt Jane and Mr. Bingley fell headlong in love at their
very first meeting and neither would look at another person, thereafter.
    I
do not believe young Lizzie will be in that sort of danger."
    Cassy
assured her mother that this was not the case at all. Lizzie, she said, was as
yet totally disinterested in the prospect of matrimony. Indeed she only went to
balls and parties to please her friends, who begged her to come, and
occasionally to partner her brothers.
    Cassandra
was eager to steer the conversation and her mother in the direction of the
gallery, determined to discover the identity of the man in the green coat, but
sadly, when they got there, her mother was no help at all. "Dearest, I
have no idea who he is, some sort of stable boy, I would say from his clothes,
but as to his name... your Papa might know. See, it was done by the same artist
who painted this portrait