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

is as you say, and

Elizabeth really wishes to marry you, then you may have

my consent and my blessing. But I want to hear it from

her own lips. Send her to me.’

I left him and went to Elizabeth. She saw from my

face that he had given his consent.

‘He wants to speak to you.’

She nodded, and left the room.

Mrs Bennet, who had been talking to Jane and Bingley, looked up at this.

‘Where has Lizzy gone?’ she asked Jane.

‘I do not know,’ Jane replied, though from her face I

could tell she had guessed.

‘She has made an excuse to leave the room, being

tired of talking to that disagreeable gentleman, I suppose,’

said Mrs Bennet, not taking the trouble to lower her

voice. ‘I do not blame her. Now, Jane, you must have a

new dress for your wedding. What colour do you think

it should be? I was married in blue,’ she said,‘in quite the

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most beautiful dress, not like the fashions nowadays. It

had a wide skirt, and a pointed bodice. We must make

sure you have something equally fine. Satin, I think, or

Bruges lace.’

Jane cast me an apologetic look at the start of this

speech, and then attended to her mother, but I scarcely

heard Mrs Bennet’s effusions. I was wondering what was

happening in the library. Elizabeth seemed to be gone for

a very long time.What was her father saying to her? Was

it really taking her so long to convince him of her feelings for me?

‘I have often observed, that the finery of the weddinggown has no bearing on the happiness of the marriage,’

said Mary, looking up from her book.‘Such things are all

vanity, set to entrap the incautious female and lead her

down the path of temptation.’

‘Oh, hush Mary, be quiet, no one asked you,’ said Mrs

Bennet, annoyed. ‘When you find a husband, you may

prose on the nature of wedding gowns as much as you

like.’

Mary was silenced.

‘When I marry, I will have a satin underskirt and a

gauze overskirt,’ said Kitty,‘and I will not run off with my

husband and live with him in London first.’

‘Kitty, be quiet,’ said Mrs Bennet. She turned to Bingley with a smile. ‘What will you wear, Mr Bingley? A

blue coat or a black one? Wickham was married in his

blue coat. My dear Wickham!’ she said with a sigh.‘Such

a handsome man. But not nearly as handsome as you.’

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I caught Bingley’s eye. It was probable that, if Wickham had had five thousand a year, he would have been

allowed to be as handsome as Bingley.

‘I will wear whatever Jane wishes,’ he said.

Where was Elizabeth? I felt my impatience growing.

At last she returned to the room and smiled.All was well.

The evening passed quietly. I received a cold nod from

Mrs Bennet when I left, and I wondered what her reception of me would be on the morrow. I saw lines of strain

around Elizabeth’s mouth, and I knew she was not looking forward to her interview with her mother.

‘By this time tomorrow it will be done,’ I said.

She nodded, then Bingley and I departed.

‘Her father gave his consent?’ asked Bingley, as we

returned to Netherfield.

‘He did.’

‘Jane and I have already set a date for our wedding.We

were wondering what you and Elizabeth would think of

a double wedding?’

I was much struck by the idea.

‘I like it. If Elizabeth is agreeable, then that is what we

will do.’

Wednesday 8th October

Bingley and I were at Longbourn early this morning.

‘Mr Bingley,’ said Mrs Bennet, fidgeting as she welcomed him. She turned to me, and I felt Elizabeth grow

tense. But her mother merely looked at me in awe and

said: ‘Mr Darcy.’

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There was no coldness in her tone. Indeed she seemed

stunned. I made her a bow and went to sit beside Elizabeth.

The morning passed off well. Mrs Bennet took the

younger girls upstairs with her on some pretext, and

Elizabeth and I were free to talk. When luncheon was

served, Mrs Bennet sat on one side of me, and Elizabeth

on the other.

‘Some hollandaise sauce, Mr Darcy?’ said Mrs Bennet.

‘I believe you like sauces.’

I cast my eyes over the table, and saw no less than six

sauce-boats. I was about to refuse the hollandaise sauce

when I caught sight of Elizabeth’s mortified expression

and I determined to repay Mrs Bennet’s new civility

with a civility of my own.

‘Thank you.’

I took some hollandaise sauce.

‘And béarnaise? I had it made specially.’

I hesitated, but then put a spot of béarnaise sauce next

to the hollandaise sauce.

‘And some port-wine sauce?’ she said.‘I hope you will

take a little. Cook made it specially.’

I took some port-wine sauce and looked at my plate

in dismay. I caught Elizabeth’s eye and saw her laughing.

I took some béchamel sauce, mustard sauce and a cream

sauce as well, and then set about eating my strange meal.

‘You are enjoying your luncheon?’ asked Mrs Bennet

solicitously.

‘Yes, thank you.’

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‘It is not what you are used to, I suppose.’

I could honestly say that it was not.

‘You have two or three French cooks, I suppose?’

‘No, I have only the one cook, and she is English.’

‘She is your cook at Pemberley?’

‘Yes, she is.’

‘Pemberley,’ said Mrs Bennet. ‘How grand it sounds. I

am glad Lizzy refused Mr Collins, for a parsonage is

nothing to Pemberley. I expect the chimney piece will be

even bigger than the one at Rosings. How much did it

cost, Mr Darcy?’

‘I am not sure.’

‘Very likely a thousand pounds or more.’

‘It must be difficult to maintain,’ said Mr Bennet.‘Even

at Longbourn, it is difficult to keep up with all the repairs.’

We fell into a discussion about our estates, and I found

Mr Bennet to be a sensible man. He might be negligent

where his family are concerned, but his duties in other

areas are carried out responsibly.

I have to forgive him the former