Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange (bts books to read .txt) 📗

The only place Darcy could share

his innermost feelings…

…was in the private pages of his diary…Torn between his sense of duty to his

family name and his growing passion for Elizabeth Bennet, all he can do is

Mr

Pride and Prejudice:

It's Darcy's turn to tell

his side of the story...

struggle not to fall in love. A skillful and graceful imagining of the hero’s point

What readers are saying about

4

of view in one of the most beloved and enduring love stories of all time.

.Darcy’

Mr. Darcy’s Diary:

“A delicious treat for all Austen addicts.”

“Amanda Grange knows her subject…I ended up reading

the entire book in one sitting.”

“Brilliant, you could almost hear Darcy’s voice…I was so sad

when it came to an end. I loved the visions she gave us

of their married life.”

s

“Amanda Grange has perfectly captured all of Jane Austen’s

Diary

clever wit and social observations to make Mr. Darcy’s Diary

a must read for any fan.”

Mr. Darcy’s

1“A gift to a new generation of Darcy fans

and a treat for existing fans as well.”

—Austenblog

D i a r y

Fiction

$14.95 U.S.

$19.95 CAN

£7.99 U.K.

ISBN-13: 978-1-4022-0876-8

www.sourcebooks.com

ISBN-10: 1-4022-0876-6

GRANGE

UPC

EAN

A M A N D A G R A N G E

mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:05 PM Page i

Mr. Darcy’s

Diary

A M A N D A G R A N G E

Copyright © 2007 by Amanda Grange

Cover and internal design © 2007 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Cover photo: Portrait of Commander Hugh Clapperton (1788-1827) 1817

(oil on canvas) by Raeburn, Sir Henry (1756-1823)

© Philip Mould Ltd, London/Bridgeman Art Library

Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by

any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval

systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or

reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously.Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not

intended by the author.

Published by Sourcebooks, Inc.

P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois

60567-4410

(630) 961-3900

FAX: (630) 961-2168

www.sourcebooks.com

Originally published in Great Britain by Robert Hale, London © Amanda Grange

2005

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Grange, Amanda.

[Darcy's diary]

Mr. Darcy's diary / Amanda Grange.

p. cm.

ISBN-13: 978-1-4022-1540-7

ISBN-10: 1-4022-1540-1

1. Darcy, Fitzwilliam (Fictitious character)--Fiction. 2. Bennet,

Elizabeth (Fictitious character)--Fiction. 3. Diary fiction. 4.

England--Fiction. 5. Domestic fiction. I.Title.

PR6107.R35D37 2007

823'.92--dc22

2006100788

Printed and bound in the United States of America

VP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:05 PM Page iii

Mr. Darcy’s

Diary

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mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:05 PM Page 1

July

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2

A M A N D A G R A N G E

Monday 1st July

Have I done the right thing in establishing Georgiana in

London, I wonder? The summer is proving to be very

hot, and when I visited her this morning, I found her

lacking her usual energy. I think I will send her to the

coast for a holiday.

Tuesday 2nd July

I have instructed Hargreaves to look for a suitable house

in Margate, or perhaps in Ramsgate, for Georgiana. I

wish I could go with her, but it is proving difficult to find

a new steward to replace Wickham and I cannot spare the

time.

Wickham! It is strange that one name can summon up

such contradictory feelings. My father’s steward was a

man I admired and respected, but his son is a man I hold

in contempt. I can hardly believe that George and I were

friends when we were children, but George was different

then.

I sometimes wonder how it is that a boy who had

every advantage, who was blessed with good looks, easy

manners and a good education, and who was the son of

such a respectable man, could turn out so badly.When I

think of the dissipation he has indulged in since his

father’s death…

I am glad I have not heard of him recently. Our business dealings last year were unpleasant. When he asked

me for the presentation of the living my father had

intended for him, he resented my refusal to give it to

mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:05 PM Page 3

M r . D a r c y ’ s D i a r y 3

him, although he knew full well that he had relinquished

all claims to it, and that his character made him entirely

unsuited for the church.

Fortunately, a sum of money settled the matter. I

feared he would approach me again when it ran out, but

I have finally convinced him that he will get no more

help from me. For the sake of the friendship we once had

I have given him much, but I will not help him any

more. The only man who can help George Wickham

now is himself.

Saturday 6th July

Hargreaves has found a house for Georgiana in Ramsgate, and Georgiana’s companion, Mrs Younge, has been

to inspect it. She finds it suitable, and so I have taken it.

Ramsgate is not too far away, and I will be able to join

Georgiana whenever my business allows. I feel sure the

sea air will revive her and she will soon be in good spirits again.

Tuesday 10th July

I had not realized how much I would miss my sister. I

have grown used to calling on her every day. But she is

in good hands, and I am persuaded she will enjoy herself.

I dined with Bingley this evening. He is still in town, but

he will be travelling north to see his family next week.

‘I think, you know, Darcy, that I shall take a house for

the winter,’ he said after dinner.

‘In town?’

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4

A M A N D A G R A N G E

‘No. In the country. I have a mind to buy an estate.

Caroline is always telling me I should have one, and I

agree with her. I mean to rent a property first and, if I

like it, I will buy it.’

‘I think it is an excellent idea. It will stop you racketing all over the country,’ I said.

‘Exactly what I think. If I had a house half as fine as

Pemberley I would not always be going from one place

to another. I could invite company to stay with me,

instead of travelling the length and breadth of the country to find it,’ he returned.

‘Where do you mean to look?’ I asked him, as I