The Tracker's Secret: Sunderverse (Mate Tracker Book 2) by Ingrid Seymour (rm book recommendations TXT) 📕

suspect, that

they are not, then I shall suggest that we remove to London with Bingley and persuade him to remain there. A

winter in town will cure him of his affections, and leave

him free to bestow them on a more deserving object.

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M r . D a r c y ’ s D i a r y 9 7

Wednesday 27th November

Bingley left for London today.

‘Caroline, I wish to speak to you,’ I said, when he had

departed.

Caroline looked up from her book and smiled.

‘I am at your disposal.’

‘It is about Miss Bennet that I wish to speak.’

Her smile dropped, and I felt I was right in thinking

that her affection for her friend was on the wane.

‘There were several allusions made at the ball, suggesting that some of Bingley’s new neighbours were expecting a marriage to take place between him and Miss

Bennet.’

‘What!’ cried Caroline.

‘I thought it would distress you. I can see nothing in

Miss Bennet’s manner that makes me think she is in love,

but I want your advice.You know her better than I do.

You have been in her confidence. Does she entertain

tender feelings for your brother? Because, if so, those

feelings must not be trifled with.’

‘She has none at all,’ said Caroline, setting my mind at

rest.

‘You are sure of this?’

‘I am indeed. She has talked of my brother a number

of times, but only in the terms she uses for every other

young man of her acquaintance. Why, I am sure she has

never thought of Charles in that light. She knows he

does not mean to settle at Netherfield, and she is simply

amusing herself whilst he is here.’

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‘It is as I thought. But Bingley’s feelings are in a fair

way to being engaged.’

‘I have had the same fear. If he should be foolish enough

to ally himself with that family, he will regret it for ever.’

‘He will. I think we must separate them, before their

behaviour gives rise to even more expectations. If it does,

there will come a time when those expectations must be

fulfilled, or the lady’s reputation will suffer irreparable

harm.’

‘You are quite right. We must not damage dear Jane’s

reputation. She is such a sweet girl. Louisa and I quite

dote on her. She must not be harmed.’

Mr Hurst interrupted us at that moment.

‘Coming to dine with the officers?’ he asked. ‘They

invited me to go along. Sure you’d be welcome.’

‘No,’ I said. I wanted to finish my conversation with

Caroline.

Hurst managed an idle shrug and called for the carriage.

‘I propose we follow Bingley to London. If we stay

with him there, he will have no reason to return,’ I said.

‘An excellent plan. I will write to Jane tomorrow. I will

say nothing out of the ordinary, but I will let her know

that Charles will not be returning this winter, and I will

wish her enjoyment of her many beaux this Christmas.’

Thursday 28th November

Caroline’s letter was written and sent this morning,

shortly before we departed for London.

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M r . D a r c y ’ s D i a r y 9 9

‘Heard the damnedest thing in Meryton last night,’

said Mr Hurst as the coach rattled along on its way to

London.

I did not pay much attention, but on his continuing I

found myself attending to him.

‘The Bennet girl – what was her name?’

‘Jane,’ supplied Louisa.

‘No, not her, the other one.The one with the petticoat.’

‘Ah, you mean Elizabeth.’

‘That’s the one. Had an offer from the clergyman.’

‘An offer? From the clergyman? What do you mean?’

asked Caroline and Louisa together.

‘An offer of marriage. Collins.That was his name.’

‘Mr Collins! How delicious!’ said Louisa.

‘It seems that Mr Collins is another admirer of fine

eyes,’ said Caroline, looking at me satirically.‘I think they

will deal well together. One is all impertinence, and the

other is all imbecility.’

I had not known, till I heard this, how far my feelings

had gone.The idea of Elizabeth marrying Mr Collins was

mortifying, and painful in a way I had not imagined. I

quickly rallied. Hurst must be mistaken. She could not

lower herself so far.To be tied to that clod for the rest of

her life…

‘You must be mistaken,’ I said.

‘Not mistaken at all,’ said Hurst. ‘Had it from Denny.’

‘It is not a bad match,’ said Louisa, considering. ‘In

fact, it is a good one.There are five daughters, all unmarried, and their estate is entailed, I believe.’

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‘Entailed on Collins,’ said Mr Hurst.

‘All the better,’ said Louisa.‘Miss Eliza Bennet will not

have to leave her home, and her sisters will have somewhere to live when her father dies.’

‘And so will her mother,’ said Caroline gaily. ‘How

charming to be confined with Mrs Bennet for the rest of

their lives!’

I had never liked Caroline less. I would not wish such

a fate on anyone, and certainly not on Elizabeth. She suffers for her mother. I have seen it. She blushes every time

her mother reveals her foolishness. To be forced to

endure such humiliation for the rest of her life…

‘But I wonder why he did not ask Jane,’ said Louisa.

‘Jane?’ enquired Caroline.

‘Yes. She is the eldest.’

Caroline looked at me. I knew what she was thinking.

Mr Collins had not asked Jane, because Mrs Bennet had

led him to believe that Jane was shortly to be married to

Bingley.

‘I dare say, with the estate entailed, he thought he

could have his choice,’ Caroline said.‘Miss Eliza Bennet’s

pertness must have appealed to him, though I am not

sure she will make a suitable wife for a clergyman.What

say you, Mr Darcy?’

I said nothing, for fear of saying something I should

regret. I could not possibly allow myself to admire Elizabeth, so what did it matter if another man did? But I

found that my hands were clenched and, looking down,

perceived my knuckles had grown white.

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M r . D a r c y ’ s D i a r y 1 0 1

She looked at me, expecting an answer, however, and

at last I said, more to satisfy my own feelings than hers:

‘It might