Free Darcy & Elizabeth: A Season of Courtship (Darcy Saga Prequel Duo) by Sharon Lathan Page A

consideration
for organization and pleasing presentation that Darcy’s office possessed, the
room was functional and well appointed.
    Earlier that day, upon his first ever
visit to Mr. Bennet’s private sanctuary, Darcy’s frazzled nerves prevented him
from paying attention to his surroundings. On this night, with his happiness
and inner calm at a supreme level, he was free to gaze with interest at a room
he suspected Elizabeth passed substantial amounts of time in. In sharp contrast
to what he might have surmised, based on his previous state of anxiety, Darcy
realized with a start that the cluttered chamber was homey in an elemental way.
Mismatched furnishings, many of which were worn and scraped, somehow blended to
convey a sensation of comfort. The impressive volume of dog-eared books added
to the ambience. Even the cluttered desk was soothing, but that was more due to
familiarity since Darcy, despite his obsessive need for order, kept a cluttered
desktop as well.
    The biggest surprise, however, was
the eclectic assortment of books. And, as Darcy discovered when he crossed the
room to investigate—rather than sitting, as Mr. Bennet invited he and
Bingley to do—a large number were rare publications. It was enlightening,
and sobering, to recognize a kindred spirit in the elderly gentleman he had
once dismissed as foolish and minimally educated. Clearly Mr. Bennet was a man
who appreciated fine literature as well as educational books spanning a wide
range of topics. Presuming he had read many of the books in his library—a
logical conclusion based on the bent pages, finger smudges, and frayed bindings
noted on nearly each book—and that Elizabeth had probably read a goodly
number of them as well, Darcy’s opinion of his future father-in-law started to
shift.
    Better yet, the information helped
him formulate a plan.
    “Your library is impressive, Mr.
Bennet.” Darcy used the glass of brandy Mr. Bennet handed to him to indicate the
shelves as he spoke. “I see you have all of Mr. Wordsworth’s volumes, including Laodamia , which I have yet to acquire, and this collection of
Shakespeare is of a rare binding. I know because I have the same set, and it
was a costly acquisition that took me six months to track down.”
    “I am fortunate to have certain
connections at Oxford,” Mr. Bennet said with a soft laugh. “All those hours
passed in the library, when I should have been attending a boring lecture,
proved invaluable in establishing a lifelong friendship with the master
librarian.”
    “I attended enough boring lectures
to know the truth in that. Not all professors or subjects taught were useless,
of course. Nevertheless, I can attest to the ofttimes superior education
gleaned from a well-written and researched book.”
    “ The reading of all good books
is like conversation with the noblest men of the past centuries .”
    Darcy was not surprised Mr. Bennet
could quote Descartes. The philosopher’s writings were widely distributed and
discussed, if not universally embraced. He did wonder how far-reaching the
older gentleman’s delving into philosophy was—especially in how deeply
Elizabeth may have studied—so he returned the quote with another.
    “ Read not to contradict and
confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse;
but to weigh and consider .”
    Mr. Bennet acknowledged his
recognition of Sir Francis Bacon’s words with a commentary. “Bacon’s personal
life was questionable, and I will argue some of his liberal philosophies. Yet one
cannot deny he encouraged inductive reasoning. We are, to this day, seeing his
influence as England enters an age of scientific experimentation.” Mr. Bennet
cocked his head. “Do you embrace progress, Mr. Darcy? Does the possibility of
industrial advancements, with the potential for alterations to our society and
class structures, worry you?”
    “It is a double-edged sword to my
way of thinking,” Darcy answered carefully. He was