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

that he

must leave Ramsgate at once. Furthermore, I told him

that if he ever attempted to see or speak to Georgiana

again I would ruin him.

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M r . D a r c y ’ s D i a r y 1 7

I am still angry as I write. That he could have done

anything so underhand. That he could have used

Georgiana in his schemes, his playmate of gentler

times.…He is lost to all decency. I am almost tempted to

expose him, but if I do so, Georgiana’s reputation will

suffer. I must hope that his experiences in this matter will

prevent him from ever doing anything like it again.

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August

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

Thursday 1st August

I have brought Georgiana back to London. She will stay

with me until I can find a new companion for her. After

the trouble with Mrs Younge, I am afraid to leave her, but

I know it must be done. I cannot be always in London,

and she cannot be always travelling with me. She must

attend to her studies. However, I mean to make sure I am

not deceived in a companion again. I will not only follow up references, I will visit former employers and satisfy myself as to their honesty, and the prospective

companion’s suitability, before leaving Georgiana in her

charge.

It is a comfort to me to know that as long as Georgiana is in London, she will have the protection of a

faithful butler and housekeeper.They have been with the

family for many years, and will soon alert me if anything

is amiss. I do not mean to send Georgiana away from the

city again, unless I can go with her.

Wednesday 14th August

‘I have discovered a lady who might suit Georgiana,’ said

Colonel Fitzwilliam when he dined with me this

evening.

As he is joined with me in Georgiana’s guardianship,

I had told him what had happened in Ramsgate.

‘Who is she?’

‘A Mrs Annesley. She comes from a good family, and

her time with my friends, the Hammonds, is coming to

an end.’

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M r . D a r c y ’ s D i a r y 2 1

‘Have you met her?’

‘Yes, on a number of occasions. I know the Hammonds have been very pleased with her.’

‘Then I will call on the Hammonds tomorrow and

see what can be arranged.’

Thursday 15th August

I called on the Hammonds and found Mrs Annesley to

be a genteel, agreeable-looking woman who impressed

me favourably with her breeding and her discourse. She

will take up her position with Georgiana next week. I

will remain in town for a few weeks to make sure she is

as suitable as she appears, and then I intend to make

several unexpected visits over the next few months to

satisfy myself that everything is in order.

In the meantime, Georgiana’s school friend will be

arriving soon. It will do her good to have some company

of her own age.

Friday 23rd August

Mrs Annesley arrived this morning. She and Georgiana

have discovered a liking for each other and I think the

relationship will prove to be a happy one. She is

delighted to know that one of Georgiana’s school friends

is to visit, and she has arranged a variety of outings for

the girls. I hope this will complete Georgiana’s recovery

from her affair with Wickham. I am persuaded that by

Christmas she will have put the whole incident out of

her mind.

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

Friday 30th August

Now that Georgiana is settled I feel confident about

leaving her whenever Bingley has need of me. It is fortunate, for if I let him choose his own estate he will

choose one with a flooding river, or rats, or an exorbitant rent. He will declare it capital and close with the

agent before he has realized what he is about, and then

he will ask me how he is to extricate himself from his

predicament. It is far better that I help him to begin

with, rather than having to rescue him at a later date.

I must confess I am looking forward to seeing him

again. I am tired of London, and looking forward to a

visit to the country.

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September

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

Monday 2nd September

I have had a letter from Bingley.

My dear Darcy,

I have found an estate in Hertfordshire that

sounds just the thing.Well placed, so that I can

travel to London when the mood takes me, or

to the north of England to visit my family, and

it is not too far from Pemberley so that I can

visit you easily, too. The agent recommends it

highly, but I know very little about this sort of

thing and I would like your advice. Will you

meet me there?

Monday 9th September

I left London today and met Bingley at Netherfield Park.

I had forgotten what good company he is; always ready

to be pleased and always cheerful.After my difficult summer, it is good to be with him again.

‘Darcy! I knew I could rely on you. How was your

summer? Not as trying as mine, I’ll wager.’

I said nothing, which he took to be an assent.

‘Caroline has been plaguing me these last three

months, but now that I have found an estate I hope she

will be satisfied.’

Bingley was, of course, delighted with everything he

saw. He said how splendid it was and asked no sensible

questions, but instead walked around with his hands

behind his back as though he had lived there for the last

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M r . D a r c y ’ s D i a r y 2 5

twenty years. He was pleased with the situation and the

principal rooms, and satisfied with what the agent, Mr

Morris, said in its praise. He asked nothing about the

chimneys, or the game, or the lake, or indeed anything

at all.

‘Is it sound?’ I asked Mr Morris.

He assured me it was, but I inspected it carefully all

the same.

‘Will it be easy to find servants in the neighbourhood?

My friend will