Sneak Peek: Allow Me to Tell You

I’m currently revising a section from the ending of my novel, and as I was reading it one last time, it brought tears to my eyes. I must admit, I do like the journey D&E go through in this novel. I think they find out a lot about themselves as well as each other.

Are you ready for the third excerpt from the first chapter? I hope you enjoy it!!!

If you haven’t been following along so far, you can read the first excerpt here and the second one here.

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Darcy stood at her shoulder as she unfolded it. He could barely restrain his impatience as she began to read. From where he was standing, he could only vaguely make out the words. Not that he needed to read them. They were stamped into his mind. He followed along with her, alternating his gaze between the page and her face, imagining her joy when she reached the end.

In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. As you may imagine, it was with some difficulty that I have allowed myself to overcome the scruples that had long prevented me from making such a declaration. I have battled with the inferiority of your connections and your relations, whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own. Moreover, there were other causes of repugnance. The situation of your mother’s family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison to that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly, betrayed by your mother, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father. Pardon me. — It pains me to offend you, but you must realize that the disadvantages of your family must certainly prevent me —”

“What is the meaning of this, sir? A tryst? A letter? Step away at once, Elizabeth.”

The clergyman’s voice shattered Darcy’s reverie. He had been too intent on the letter to notice Collins coming up to them.

Elizabeth looked irked by the interruption. “By what authority do you demand this of me, Mr. Collins?”

“I need not spell it out for you, I am sure. A young lady’s reputation is like a spider’s thread, delicate and easily broken. It behoves me to look out for you. I am the male responsible for you in the absence of your father. As a clergyman, you are one of my flock. I cannot allow a single sheep to wander off the path and place itself in peril. I—”

“I am not a sheep, Mr. Collins.”

“Ah, but I am a shepherd.” With lightning speed, Collins reached out and plucked the letter from her fingers.

“I will hand it to Lady Catherine. Her ladyship will judge whether the rules of propriety have been broken, and act accordingly.”

What nonsense was this? “Desist at once, Collins!” Darcy’s tone was firm and full of authority. “How dare you take my letter? Kindly hand it back. It is my property.”

“I cannot, Mr. Darcy.” Collins’ voice held a stubborn note. He held the letter behind his back. “Her ladyship needs to see it.”

“She does not.”

“If there is something improper going on, I cannot conceal it from her.

“Enough of this. You have no right to that letter.”

Darcy lunged forward to take it from him, but Collins took off. It was amazing how capable the clergyman’s short little legs were when he was determined. Darcy had barely registered that he was not going to give him the letter, when he had already set off at a trot.

Darcy was taken by surprise, but he was not at all concerned. It was a long way to Rosings, and he could easily outrun Collins and take the letter from him. Collins did not have the fortitude to run all the way. Predicting the path he would take, Darcy loped through the trees. Collins may know the grounds well, but not as well as Darcy did. He had played hide and find around here with Richard and Anne when they were younger. He took a shorter way, intending to head Collins off as he reached the path to Rosings.

It only occurred to Darcy several moments later that he could no longer hear him.

Puzzled, Darcy turned to discover the parson was running in the opposite direction. Elizabeth was running after him valiantly, holding onto her skirts to prevent them from dragging through the mud. Only now did Darcy understand why Collins was so sure of himself. Lady Catherine’s carriage was in the lane next to the parsonage, very close to where he and Elizabeth had been standing. The two of them must have been visible through the trees, and Collins had been sent to fetch Darcy.

Too late, Darcy realized Collins’ intentions. In a last desperate bid to stop him, Darcy raced across the lane. Grabbing hold of the clergyman’s sleeve, he reached out to retrieve the letter. Unfortunately, the scoundrel was aware that Lady Catherine had lowered the carriage windows to give instructions to Mrs. Collins, who was watching her husband in astonishment.

With startling accuracy, Collins managed to toss the letter into Lady’s Catherine’s carriage. It fluttered above her head briefly and she drew back, startled.

“What is this?” she said, her voice heavy with disapproval. “Why are you throwing objects at me, Collins? What is the meaning of this vulgar display?”

“A thousand apologies, your ladyship, but there is an urgent matter— if you would please take a look at the letter—” He pulled himself up straight. “Your ladyship, I must report a terrible indiscretion. I have caught Mr. Darcy handing a love note to my cousin.”

Elizabeth made a choked sound and turned on her cousin furiously. “How could you do such a thing?”

Collins merely smiled and rocked on his heels.

Meanwhile, Darcy looked on in dismay as Lady Catherine took the letter and began to read it.

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Hope you enjoyed reading this excerpt. 🙂  Let me know what you think of Mr. Darcy’s proposal. 😀