By Force of Instinct Read Online Free PDF Page B

Georgiana came to my parents’ attention, and the truth is that there was nothing Darcy or anyone else could have done to prevent it, but my father simply refuses to believe that,” he said with a sigh.
    she felt a surprising moment of sympathy for Darcy—if the incident was, as she suspected, the intended elopement with Wickham, he would find it bitter indeed to be blamed for failing to prevent it completely. she saw an image of his white face after her outburst the previous day, and she could not help thinking that the timing could not have been worse for him, coming just after her refusal and accusations of cruelty to Wickham. Despite the tenor of his proposal, one could only assume that he would be feeling disappointment, and he was certainly entitled to injured feelings from her unjust accusations. And then yesterday, I had to attack him again, when he 25

    Abigail Reynolds
    was attempting to be civil under impossible circumstances, she thought, not without pain. He must think me most unfeeling, and he would without doubt be within his rights! An unhappy sense of shame filled her.
    “Miss Bennet? Are you well?” asked a worried colonel Fitzwilliam, concerned by her long silence and troubled look.
    elizabeth returned abruptly to the present. “I am quite well, thank you, sir; I was just thinking how difficult this must be for Mr. Darcy. she is all that remains of his family, is she not?” she hoped fervently that this explanation for her reaction would satisfy him.
    “yes, she is.” colonel Fitzwilliam paused, then added with a worried look,
    “I could wish that my father would be a bit more thoughtful of him. I do not believe that I have ever seen Darcy quite as unhappy as he has been these last few days.”
    she winced, knowing that Lord Derby was not the only one who should have been more careful of Darcy’s feelings. By the time this visit is ended, I wonder whether there will be any part of my character that I find acceptable, she thought bleakly.
    The colonel continued, “It would be far simpler if he were to marry, but that is a subject in which he apparently has no interest.”
    “Indeed,” murmured elizabeth, aware that her cheeks were staining with a slight blush. At least this suggests that he is unaware of Mr. Darcy’s proposal, she thought. With an air of mischief, she added, “I believe he is much pursued, though, by marriageable young ladies.”
    colonel Fitzwilliam rolled his eyes. “It is quite embarrassing to see, Miss Bennet, how many women throw themselves in his way, saying nothing but what they believe he wishes to hear and flattering him shamelessly!”
    “yet he remains unwed.” now that she felt secure in her secret, she could indulge her curiosity.
    “sometimes I despair of Darcy ever finding a wife who would satisfy his exacting standards! Had I his opportunities, I should not be so difficult to please.” He said this with a sidelong glance at elizabeth, who coloured becomingly.
    This is a complication that I certainly do not need, she thought. Firmly returning the conversation to Darcy, she said, “His standards must be exacting indeed!”
    “Very much so, I fear,” said the colonel ruefully. “It is frustrating to know 26

    By FoRce oF InstInct
    that he can have any woman he pleases, yet will choose none.”
    Unable to resist, elizabeth replied, “Assuming, of course, that the lady in question accepts him.”
    He gave her a look of amused disbelief. “Why would any woman refuse him? Quite apart from his wealth and lineage, he is of good character, honest, generous, loyal to a fault, well-educated and intelligent. What more could a woman desire?”
    “civility and good manners?” elizabeth said with an arch look, remembering that even Mr. Wickham had given Darcy credit for a similar set of virtues, but only among those he found his equals in consequence.
    He laughed heartily. “It is true, Miss Bennet, Darcy will never be at ease among a crowd, and he will forever