Read The Plight of the Darcy Brothers for Free Online Page B

getting a bit old in the back for that.” Geoffrey frowned but still grabbed Mr. Bennet's legs enough to make him stumble a bit, only to be caught by Kitty. Mrs. Bennet was no help, because she was busy attempting to pick up the child she assumed was the silent Georgiana Bingley.
    “My goodness! How did we raise our children, Mr. Bennet?”
    “I'm not quite sure who is responsible for this, but I may venture that our grandchildren may, in fact, shoulder some of the blame. Or all of it.” He looked at Geoffrey sternly, but it was a very hard composure to maintain when facing off with a boy whose skin was the shade of berries.
    “Lizzy?” His daughter had appeared at the front door, chasing the children, who had run out at the sight of the carriage. Her own expression was not so pleasant. He immediately patted his grandson on the head and turned his attention to his favorite daughter. “Lizzy, whatever is the matter?”

    Despite all of their advice otherwise, Mary insisted on telling Mr. Bennet herself, with him sitting down in Bingley's study and receiving her properly as if at Longbourn. Darcy shrugged privately at Elizabeth's harsh look at this turn of events, saying only in a hushed voice, “It is only right. I would expect nothing less of my own children.”
    So, behind closed doors, Mary Bennet told the entire story. Or, she could have told him complete hogwash, because no one would venture close enough to the door to listen in. Bingley tried, but his wife held him back. The Maddoxes, their presence for the moment unannounced, had remained above stairs. So Elizabeth and Jane were left to tell their mother, along with Kitty, in the sitting room.
    “Ruined! She is ruined!” Mrs. Bennet cried, and they said nothing, because it was an accurate assessment. “Oh, we never should have sent her to that dreadful country. All of that time— only to be taken advantage of by some—some papal rogue! And now he cannot be found!” She called for another handkerchief,having used up her current stash of them. “Kitty, you are ruined as well! Oh, we should have married you to that officer!”
    “Mama!” Kitty looked to her sisters for help.
    “Kitty,” Jane said, sitting down next to her sister protectively. “All is not lost.”
    “For Mary, it is. She will die an old maid now. No man in England will have her,” Mrs. Bennet said, adding, “Oh, Mary!” even though her daughter wasn't in the room—but that was irrelevant. Surely Mary was, at the moment, enduring Mr. Bennet's rarely used but considerable censure. “Oh, thank goodness, this did not happen at Longbourn, or all the neighbors would be talking. Oh, but they will soon enough! Oh, Mary!”
    The last time Mrs. Bennet had wept over a daughter had been when Lydia ran off with Wickham. But Mary, by all appearances, had not acted wantonly, despite the obvious results. Her self-admonishments only made her a more pathetic and helpless figure, one that they could not help but be protective of—even Mrs. Bennet, who was crying out for her daughter's desperate situation.
    Her sobbing was only interrupted by the arrival of Mr. Darcy, who was not noticed until he tapped on Lizzy's shoulder and whispered in her ear, “The door is open.”
    “Does Papa want to see anyone?”
    “I believe it would be best if you were to see him. I've— called in the doctor.”
    “The doctor?”
    He let her make her own assessment, as she ran into Bingley's study, where Dr. Maddox was taking Mr. Bennet's pulse. Her father was full of barely contained indignation as Mary slipped out of the room.
    “Papa,” Lizzy said, kneeling before him and taking his hands, which were shaking with rage.
    “I do not need a doctor!” he said. “I have every reason to be furious.”
    Elizabeth looked at Dr. Maddox, who was looking at his pocket watch. When he was done with his count, he pulled away from his patient and said, “He is in a very agitated state.”
    “That I know!” said Mr.