His Good Opinion: A Mr. Darcy Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

too is a pleasant, well-bred girl. I would not mind getting to know her better."

    "Nor I," agreed Mrs. Hurst.

    To the dismay of everyone but Bingley, becoming better acquainted with the elder Bennet girls came at the cost of time spent with the entire clan. Over the following weeks, they dined with the Longbourn family three times. By the end of the fortnight, Darcy was quite out of patience with the entire family, with the singular exception of Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

    His good opinion of her took him quite by surprise. At the second dinner between the two families, he noticed a blush of mortification creep across her face after one of her mother's more brazen attempts to attach Bingley to her older sister. Darcy found himself in sympathy with the lady, who obviously did not approve of scheming for a husband.

    The third time the two parties met, he paid more attention to Miss Elizabeth and noticed the many glances she exchanged with her father. While Darcy still believed the gentleman should stir himself to control his family, he found himself on this occasion more struck by how uncommonly intelligent Miss Elizabeth's eyes were. When lit with laughter as they so often were, they were quite fine indeed.

    Fine? Was it not just last week that you expressed yourself unmoved by her supposed beauty, Darcy? That thought followed him throughout the next week, until they once again dined at Longbourn. He watched Elizabeth for some minutes, trying to see the flaws in her appearance which he had so recently disapproved of, but he could not. When the Bennets joined them at Netherfield a few evenings later, he admired the easy, graceful way she carried herself and realized he could deny his attraction to Miss Elizabeth Bennet no longer.

    Mortifying though such an attraction was, it did make future social obligations less odious. They were promised to a party at Lucas Lodge, an engagement Darcy had not looked on with much pleasure; however, as he scanned the room when he arrived, his gaze soon lit on the lady in question and he found it difficult to look elsewhere.

    This will not do, Darcy. Despite the stern reminder to himself, he found his way near her. She was in conversation with Colonel Forster of the local militia, and though Darcy wished to join in, he knew not what to say. He had never been very good at speaking with those he did not know; he faltered and stumbled as he attempted to find a subject that would please them both. In truth, he had never been bothered enough to learn, but for the first time, he wished he possessed greater skill in conversing with young ladies.

    Elizabeth smiled up at the Colonel, and her charm dazzled both men. "Colonel Forster," said she, "I believe it quite shameful that you have not entertained yourself."

    The military man returned her smile. "Do you, Miss Eliza?"

    "Indeed, sir. For as the commander of the militia, you are, of course, one of the leading personages in the area, and you must take the position Society has seen fit to bestow upon you."

    "And what kind of entertainment would you have me offer? A card party?"

    She shook her head, revealing for a moment the graceful curve of her neck. "Oh no, sir, for anyone can give a card party. No, from one of your standing nothing less than a ball would suffice."

    "A ball!" Colonel Forster offered her his arm and they walked out of Darcy's earshot.

    The impropriety of his own behavior in eavesdropping struck Darcy then, and he stayed where he was, at least for a time. He never let Miss Elizabeth out of his sight, however, and he was pleased when, some minutes later, she came back his direction in the company of Charlotte Lucas.

    The soft cadence of Miss Elizabeth's voice drew Darcy closer. He thought he heard a hint of amusement, and he looked over at her to find those intelligent eyes fixed on him. "Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at