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 mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:05 PM Page iv mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:05 PM Page 1 July mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:05 PM Page 2 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?’ mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:05 PM Page 4 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