Page 88 of Till Death Us Do Part: Book 2
Darcy said, “I beg to differ, daughter. It is extremely funny, but not for the reason you think.”
She somewhat sulkily snapped, “Why is it funny? Are you going to go talk to him?”
Her mother, quite unaccountably, started laughing again, but then eventually said, “If we do, you will have to marry him. It is the done thing.”
Confused as she could be, Caroline asked, “What do you mean, Mama?”
“Did I ever tell you the first words your father ever spoke about me—nottome, mind you—butaboutme?”
“No.”
Darcy laughed. “You do it. I am not certain I can without more punch.”
Mrs Darcy lowered her voice to where she sounded like a bad impersonation of her husband and intoned, “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.”
Young Caroline vacillated between disbelief and the idea that her parents were playing a joke on her (which would hardly have been the first), and mortification, while both her parents just laughed.
Seeing her consternation, Mrs Darcy grew more serious, took her daughter’s hand, and said gently. “We never told you about our difficult beginning, Caroline because you did not need to know—but itwasquite difficult—horrendous, in fact. Neither of us were the slightest bit interested in each other. We eventually married and then fell in love, but that is a story for another time and place.”
Caroline said, “That sounds backwards.”
“Yes, by English standards it is, but it is quite common in India. I will not say it is better or worse than our usual, but do not fall into the trap of thinking a wedding is the end of a romantic story.A wedding is hardly even the beginning.”
Caroline, noticing the truth of her parents’ affection, felt like that might be quite wise.
Darcy added gently. “This whole business of falling in love before marriage sounds good in theory, but it is devilishly difficult in practise if you try to follow the rules of propriety.”
Caroline scoffed. “You think?”
Elizabeth smiled. “Enough of that! Shall we go give your young man a piece of our minds? Which shall it be—stern father or shrill mother?”
Caroline snapped, “He is notmy young man!” which unfortunately sent her parents into another fit of giggles.
“Pardon me!”
The three had been speaking to each other so intently that they had not noticed a handsome young man approaching. In looks, he was everything a young man ought to be, handsome and elegant, although with an odd haircut and slightly oddly dressed. That was not the only thing strange about him. He walked oddly, he bowed oddly, and when he spoke—
Darcy’s eyes lit up, and he enthused. “Aha! You are American!”
The boy looked embarrassed, and a bit nervous, but resolute when he responded.
“Yes sir. I must apologise that I can’t quite get the hang of introductions ‘round here. Am I being what you-all call ‘proper’ introducing myself, or should ah go fetch me some tar and feathers?”
Darcy and Elizabeth found themselves laughing at the odd young man, with his odd accent they could just barely understand.
Darcy took pity on him saying, “You are doing fine, young man. The key to behaviour with Americans is low expectations. We all think you are practically savages—which I assume you think of us as well—so it all evens out.”
The young man laughed, while Caroline, feeling sorry for him, snapped, “Papa! Be nice!” then she turned to the man and said, “My father is only teasing.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I shall introduce us. This is my husband, Fitzwilliam Darcy. I am Mrs Elizabeth Darcy. You should call me Mrs Darcy or Lunkhead.”
“No, no, you always get that backwards. I am the muttonhead,” her husband teased. “And of course, this is our eldest daughter, Caroline.”
Not entirely certain what to say, but vacillating between anger and amusement, Caroline said, “I am named after Mama’s oldest friend, Mrs Caroline Baker.”
The young man perked up. “Baker! What a coincidence! I am in England to meet a distant cousin—a Mr Daniel Baker. I understand he is an expert in railroads, and my father wants me to learn from him. He is also to introduce me to society—hopefully more smoothly than tonight’s debacle, which, as you surely noticed, has not been going well.”
Caroline looked confused by that declaration, but she had no idea what to say.
