The Ballad of Gregoire Darcy by Marsha Altman Page A

please don’t believe everything you hear from Brian or Mugin.”
    â€œI never do.”

    It was Mr. Bennet who greeted Mr. Darcy as he stepped out of his carriage. His father-in-law was sitting on a chair in the sun. “Mr. Darcy.”

    â€œMr. Bennet. I apologize for being late.”
    â€œI doubt Lizzy will be any less eager to see you.”
    â€œYes, well, I doubt I will be the main attraction today,” Darcy said as Mr. Bingley got out of the carriage.
    â€œMr. Bennet.”
    â€œMr. Bingley!” Mr. Bennet stood up a bit straighter. “So my wayward son has arrived.”
    â€œHow are you, Mr. Bennet?”
    The old man shook Mr. Bingley’s hand as firmly as he could. “Busy frustrating Mr. Collins every day. Your wife is…frankly, I don’t know where she is. But at least one of the children will shriek loudly enough to get her attention when they see you, which I’m sure will be soon enough—”
    â€œ Papa! ” Eliza Bingley came running out the front doors, her embroidery cloth and ribbons still in hand.
    Bingley picked up his younger daughter. “You’ve grown tall! You look more like your mother every day.” He kissed her cheeks. “Speaking of—”
    The quiet did not last long. Edmund was quick to follow, and then Charles, and finally Georgiana, until he was almost toppled over by all of his children. “I cannot carry you all! Edmund, there’s no reason to be pulling on my coat, I don’t—” He stopped when he saw his wife, emerging tentatively into the sunlight. “Mrs. Bingley.”
    She curtsied. “Mr. Bingley.”
    He pulled her into his arms. “Jane,” he whispered, his eyes tearing. “My beautiful Jane.”
    â€œI missed you,” she said. “Don’t ever go away again.”
    â€œI will do my very best,” was his reply.
    Fortunately, only the Darcy family was currently in residence, with everyone else in London or at Netherfield. So Mr. Bingley had to endure only so many reunions with everyone present before he could excuse himself to get something from his carriage. He took Jane with him.

    â€œI have a surprise,” he said. “Well, several, but this one I think will adequately distract the children for a little while.”
    â€œNow, why ever would you—Oh, my God.” Jane covered her mouth as Bingley uncovered the cage. “Is that thing alive?”
    â€œOf course he is. And he’s tame. Well, relatively, for a monkey.” He opened the little door and put out his arm, and the monkey instantly went up to his shoulder. “And he’s not dirty or diseased. We bathed him at the Maddox house. My sister would be glad to complain to you about it.”
    â€œCharles, you can’t be serious. ”
    He turned to the simian on his shoulder. “Monkey, what do you think? Am I being serious?” It squeaked in response. “Monkey, shake.” The monkey held out its tiny arm. “He just wants to shake your hand.”
    Jane looked at her husband, and then at the monkey, and then at her husband again. He did seem to be serious. She held out her fingertips and let the monkey grab them. “He has such tiny hands.”
    â€œHe likes you. Monkey, do you like Jane?” Bingley said. The monkey howled. “Well, you had better like her, because if you don’t get on her good side, you don’t get to stay with us.”
    â€œCharles—”
    He held the monkey in his arms. “Look at him. The children will adore him.”
    â€œHe’s a wild animal.”
    â€œHe’s not that wild. Are you, Monkey?” he said. In response, the monkey squeaked and grabbed his nose. “Ow, ow, that’s enough. I told you not to do that!”
    Jane broke into laughter, perhaps at the sight of a small monkey trying to capture her husband’s nose. “We’ll try it.”
    â€œA trial basis. I