Read Online B00CO8L910 EBOK by KaraLynne Mackrory - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: KaraLynne Mackrory
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her temperament. I am sure when you explain your reasons, she will not see my reluctance to accept as hurtful — ”
“Miss Bennet” — Darcy’s voice was grave as he interrupted her — “do you think that I would disapprove of her writing to you?”
“Indeed, I do, sir!” Elizabeth was skeptical of his performance and filled with exasperation as she exclaimed, “You made your opinion quite clear last autumn when you found the inhabitants of Hertfordshire, and indeed those in residence at Longbourn, to be quite below your notice. I should think you would not approve of your sister corresponding with someone from that district.” Elizabeth paused to draw breath, attempting to remain in control of herself. “Do you deny it?”
Darcy remained silent as he considered his response. He knew now his behavior while in her neighborhood left much to be desired. He felt the beginnings of shame as he knew there was some truth to the sentiments she was attributing to him. No wonder she detects nothing of my regard!
“I will not deny that I felt . . . uncomfortable for much of my stay in Hertfordshire last autumn.” He cleared his throat, trying to ignore the raised brow of his companion. “There were reasons for my reticence though.”
“I suppose the behavior of my younger sisters and mother was your reason. Their behavior at the Netherfield ball, I admit, was lacking in propriety.” Elizabeth was loath to admit that their behavior was ill mannered, but she knew it to be true and wished to show she was fair-minded.
“I will not comment on that, not after you have met and been subjected many times to the abominable manners of my aunt in Kent. Indeed, compared to me, you have no reason to be embarrassed by your relations.”
Elizabeth turned to look out the window for a few minutes as she considered his response. His exoneration of her family derailed her righteous indignation. He had not denied the truth regarding her family’s behavior nor his opinion of it but instead graciously redeemed them by his confession regarding his own relations.
With more charity, she acknowledged, “It seems we, neither of us, can acquit our relations.”
Mr. Darcy offered a half smile. “Miss Elizabeth, regarding your writing to my sister, if you will allow me to explain to you something of our past, you will understand better my mood last September as well as my fervent approval of your acquaintance with her.”
Elizabeth was startled by the evident conviction in his voice and discomposed when he leaned towards her as he spoke, his scent enveloping her senses in the process. She nodded, indicating he should continue.
He looked towards the sleeping passenger before dropping his voice yet lower and leaning in further. “Last summer, an old friend of some standing with my family, whose acquaintance with us I had reason to believe was at an end, intruded upon our lives in a most grievous way. A young lady I am very close to was hurt sadly by this acquaintance in a manner I am not capable of speaking about without much pain . . . ” Darcy cleared his throat, glanced hastily towards Miss Lucas and then continued. “This young lady was not yet sixteen at the time.”
Elizabeth paled, recognizing the pain evident in his voice as he spoke. She mouthed silently, “Georgiana?”
Darcy nodded solemnly. “I was not yet recovered completely from those events when I accompanied Bingley to your county last autumn. I am afraid that my reluctance to socialize may have given the wrong impression, and by the time I had realized it, I was not willing to change that assumption as it suited my mood quite well to be left alone. I only see now how it has damaged opportunities for myself that I would rather not have had stunted.”
She was not too naïve to recognize that he was speaking of her and her opinion of him. And yet, she was still reeling from his earlier revelation and too overwhelmed with sympathy for his sister, her new friend, to
“Miss Bennet” — Darcy’s voice was grave as he interrupted her — “do you think that I would disapprove of her writing to you?”
“Indeed, I do, sir!” Elizabeth was skeptical of his performance and filled with exasperation as she exclaimed, “You made your opinion quite clear last autumn when you found the inhabitants of Hertfordshire, and indeed those in residence at Longbourn, to be quite below your notice. I should think you would not approve of your sister corresponding with someone from that district.” Elizabeth paused to draw breath, attempting to remain in control of herself. “Do you deny it?”
Darcy remained silent as he considered his response. He knew now his behavior while in her neighborhood left much to be desired. He felt the beginnings of shame as he knew there was some truth to the sentiments she was attributing to him. No wonder she detects nothing of my regard!
“I will not deny that I felt . . . uncomfortable for much of my stay in Hertfordshire last autumn.” He cleared his throat, trying to ignore the raised brow of his companion. “There were reasons for my reticence though.”
“I suppose the behavior of my younger sisters and mother was your reason. Their behavior at the Netherfield ball, I admit, was lacking in propriety.” Elizabeth was loath to admit that their behavior was ill mannered, but she knew it to be true and wished to show she was fair-minded.
“I will not comment on that, not after you have met and been subjected many times to the abominable manners of my aunt in Kent. Indeed, compared to me, you have no reason to be embarrassed by your relations.”
Elizabeth turned to look out the window for a few minutes as she considered his response. His exoneration of her family derailed her righteous indignation. He had not denied the truth regarding her family’s behavior nor his opinion of it but instead graciously redeemed them by his confession regarding his own relations.
With more charity, she acknowledged, “It seems we, neither of us, can acquit our relations.”
Mr. Darcy offered a half smile. “Miss Elizabeth, regarding your writing to my sister, if you will allow me to explain to you something of our past, you will understand better my mood last September as well as my fervent approval of your acquaintance with her.”
Elizabeth was startled by the evident conviction in his voice and discomposed when he leaned towards her as he spoke, his scent enveloping her senses in the process. She nodded, indicating he should continue.
He looked towards the sleeping passenger before dropping his voice yet lower and leaning in further. “Last summer, an old friend of some standing with my family, whose acquaintance with us I had reason to believe was at an end, intruded upon our lives in a most grievous way. A young lady I am very close to was hurt sadly by this acquaintance in a manner I am not capable of speaking about without much pain . . . ” Darcy cleared his throat, glanced hastily towards Miss Lucas and then continued. “This young lady was not yet sixteen at the time.”
Elizabeth paled, recognizing the pain evident in his voice as he spoke. She mouthed silently, “Georgiana?”
Darcy nodded solemnly. “I was not yet recovered completely from those events when I accompanied Bingley to your county last autumn. I am afraid that my reluctance to socialize may have given the wrong impression, and by the time I had realized it, I was not willing to change that assumption as it suited my mood quite well to be left alone. I only see now how it has damaged opportunities for myself that I would rather not have had stunted.”
She was not too naïve to recognize that he was speaking of her and her opinion of him. And yet, she was still reeling from his earlier revelation and too overwhelmed with sympathy for his sister, her new friend, to
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