Imperative: Volume 2, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice by Linda Wells Page B

lived this long.”
    “I thought that he was most affable.”  Sophie said with surety.  Her brothers exchanged glances.
    Robert smiled.  “He looked like he would strangle anyone who cut up the Darcy’s peace.  Did you see him watching them?”
    Sophie poured some cream over her porridge and looked at her brother curiously.  “What were you doing paying them so much attention?” 
    “I was not any different from the rest of the party, everyone was observing them.  Besides, how often do you get to meet the absentee landowner?”
    “Every five years, it seems.”  Mr. Kelly murmured.
    “Mr. Darcy was very quiet.”  Mrs. Kelly noted.
    Sophie disagreed.  “He spoke.”
    “Mostly to his wife.”
    Stephen nodded.  “Did you see how he always had a hand on her?”
    “He must have been afraid of her saying something, like someone I know.”  Robert grinned.
    “And what exactly does that mean?”  Sophie glared.
    “Only that the man who takes you will have his hand poised to clap over your mouth . . .”
    “Stephen, that is enough.”  Mr. Kelly said sternly. 
    “Good thing that the colonel has that sword . . .” Mitchell jumped in.
    Sophie spun to face him, “And why is that ?” 
    Stephen pointed his fork at her.  “You like him; maybe you have set your cap at last.”
    “That would be rich, Sophie and a soldier.  You hate them!”  Robert laughed.
    Stephen ignored his sister’s indignant gasp and spoke to Robert.  “That’s just because Godfrey Watkins joined the army and broke her heart.” 
    “Mrs. Godfrey Watkins . . . ugh.”  Mitchell made a face while his brothers laughed and Sophie’s face coloured.
    “Boys.”  Mrs. Kelly said tiredly. 
    “When are you going to marry the colonel?”  Adam asked, making the rest of the boys laugh harder.
    “Papa!”  Sophie cried.
    “That is enough.”  He looked around at them all.  “Colonel Fitzwilliam seems a good, genial, and undoubtedly admirable man.  I understand that he is the son of an earl, and it is common enough for such a younger son to be an officer, but I fancy that he earned his way up.  Nonetheless, such a man will probably not marry.”
    “Why not?”  Sophie immediately regretted her question when her brothers grinned at each other.  “I am just curious!”
    “Of course you are.”  Robert nodded emphatically.
    “His life is in flux, my dear.  He is susceptible to deployment and his income may not be enough to support a family.”  He noted her brow creasing and threw her a hint of encouragement, “But then again, he is the son of an Earl and who knows what provisions have been made for him.  I liked him, but I agree there was something on his mind.  The Darcys, as well, I felt were somewhat subdued.”
    Mrs. Kelly nodded, “You said that Mrs. Darcy’s sister was marrying yesterday. If they were close I can imagine that she was sad to miss it.”
    “They should have had a double wedding.”
    The family looked at Adam who was busily heaping marmalade onto his bread. 
    “When did the Darcys marry?”  Mr. Kelly asked his wife.
    “I did not hear.”
    “What about that girl we saw in the window?  Did anyone ask about her?”  Stephen asked.
    Mr. Kelly looked at his son.  “They were not volunteering information, so I did not pry.”
    “Maybe it was a maid?”  Mitchell offered
    Robert shook his head.  “That was no maid.  That was a well-dressed girl.” 
    “She is probably not out yet.”  Mrs. Kelly took a bite of her toast.
    Stephen disagreed.  “She looked old enough to attend a private party.” 
    “Would you please stop analyzing them!”  Sophie stood.  “Honestly, can you do nothing else but seek out fault or . . .  mystery in everything?  Why not be pleased to have met them.  They were kind, polite people and they are far above us, but they came to our dinner with almost no notice.  I think that you should all be ashamed at your speculation.”
    “Because the