Read Online His Uncle's Favorite by Lory Lilian - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lory Lilian
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positive opinion of the colonel in so short a time! Or could she? After all, she apparently liked Wickham from their first acquaintance. Why could she not like Robert, who was an honourable gentleman with a happy demeanour and the son of an earl?
***
Elizabeth continued to talk to the colonel, but from time to time, her eyes returned to Mr. Darcy. He remained in the corner, and she began to feel uncomfortable whenever she felt his stare. What was he thinking? And why did he keep looking at her in such a way? Something obviously upset him, and she did not much care what it was except that his behaviour made her uneasy.
She went to pour herself another cup of tea, and she noticed the earl close to her. They smiled at one another, and he thanked her once again for her lovely performance.
“I hope you are having a pleasant evening, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Indeed we are, your lordship. We are truly grateful for your invitation. This party was a pleasant diversion for my aunt and my sister…and for me, of course.”
“I hope we shall meet again soon. I hope you have not been disappointed with my sons.”
“Not at all, sir. I enjoy their company, and I especially appreciate a gentleman who secures a dance for a ball a week early.” She smiled, and the earl laughed.
“Well, a man never should be timid about securing a beautiful lady’s company and a place on her dance card.”
She looked at the earl with surprise and curiosity, not daring to inquire further.
“Are you unwell, Miss Elizabeth? Did I say something wrong?”
“No, no…it is just that…a friend of mine told me the same thing some time ago, just before the ball at Netherfield. He asked me for a dance a week before the ball and—”
“Truly? That is quite unusual. I used to tell my boys that when they were younger, but I doubt my words of wisdom are as well known among strangers. “
Elizabeth forced a smile. “Well, they might be, after all. Or perhaps he heard you speak of it. Mr. Wickham told me he grew up at Mr. Darcy’s estate and—”
“Wickham? George Wickham, you mean? Do you know him?”
“Yes indeed. We met in Hertfordshire. He was in the militia and—” She looked at the earl carefully, trying to guess his opinion of that gentleman. With no little surprise, she felt the earl move her a few steps away as he spoke in a quiet voice.
“If he asked you to secure him a dance, I imagine you were on friendly terms.”
“Yes we were; in truth, I can say we were very good friends.”
“I am glad to hear that. I hope he is doing well, but let us speak about this on another occasion. That little rascal George Wickham was always a favourite of mine, but these boys seem not to like him much, so we had better not mention his name here for the moment.”
She wondered whether she should take him seriously, but a moment later when the colonel approached them and the earl suddenly changed the subject, she had her answer.
The rest of the evening passed in pleasant conversation on a variety of subjects. The only one who remained silently apart was Mr. Darcy, who seemed determined to watch from afar.
It was quite late when the guests finally took their leave.
The earl offered his arm to Mrs. Gardiner, and the colonel was ready to do the same for Elizabeth. It was an unexpected surprise, then, that Mr. Darcy stepped away from his sister and invited Elizabeth out, leaving the colonel to care for Miss Darcy.
Careful not to slip on the frozen path, Elizabeth held his arm tightly, her eyes lowered, reflecting that it was the first time—except for the requirement of dancing—that he had offered her his arm since they met.
“Miss Elizabeth, I am pleased I had the chance to see all of you tonight—such a pleasant surprise! And I am certain Bingley will be equally pleased when I tell him of this dinner party. I should meet with him in a few days.”
He released her hand, helped her enter the carriage, then bowed to them—and smiled.
Uncertain
***
Elizabeth continued to talk to the colonel, but from time to time, her eyes returned to Mr. Darcy. He remained in the corner, and she began to feel uncomfortable whenever she felt his stare. What was he thinking? And why did he keep looking at her in such a way? Something obviously upset him, and she did not much care what it was except that his behaviour made her uneasy.
She went to pour herself another cup of tea, and she noticed the earl close to her. They smiled at one another, and he thanked her once again for her lovely performance.
“I hope you are having a pleasant evening, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Indeed we are, your lordship. We are truly grateful for your invitation. This party was a pleasant diversion for my aunt and my sister…and for me, of course.”
“I hope we shall meet again soon. I hope you have not been disappointed with my sons.”
“Not at all, sir. I enjoy their company, and I especially appreciate a gentleman who secures a dance for a ball a week early.” She smiled, and the earl laughed.
“Well, a man never should be timid about securing a beautiful lady’s company and a place on her dance card.”
She looked at the earl with surprise and curiosity, not daring to inquire further.
“Are you unwell, Miss Elizabeth? Did I say something wrong?”
“No, no…it is just that…a friend of mine told me the same thing some time ago, just before the ball at Netherfield. He asked me for a dance a week before the ball and—”
“Truly? That is quite unusual. I used to tell my boys that when they were younger, but I doubt my words of wisdom are as well known among strangers. “
Elizabeth forced a smile. “Well, they might be, after all. Or perhaps he heard you speak of it. Mr. Wickham told me he grew up at Mr. Darcy’s estate and—”
“Wickham? George Wickham, you mean? Do you know him?”
“Yes indeed. We met in Hertfordshire. He was in the militia and—” She looked at the earl carefully, trying to guess his opinion of that gentleman. With no little surprise, she felt the earl move her a few steps away as he spoke in a quiet voice.
“If he asked you to secure him a dance, I imagine you were on friendly terms.”
“Yes we were; in truth, I can say we were very good friends.”
“I am glad to hear that. I hope he is doing well, but let us speak about this on another occasion. That little rascal George Wickham was always a favourite of mine, but these boys seem not to like him much, so we had better not mention his name here for the moment.”
She wondered whether she should take him seriously, but a moment later when the colonel approached them and the earl suddenly changed the subject, she had her answer.
The rest of the evening passed in pleasant conversation on a variety of subjects. The only one who remained silently apart was Mr. Darcy, who seemed determined to watch from afar.
It was quite late when the guests finally took their leave.
The earl offered his arm to Mrs. Gardiner, and the colonel was ready to do the same for Elizabeth. It was an unexpected surprise, then, that Mr. Darcy stepped away from his sister and invited Elizabeth out, leaving the colonel to care for Miss Darcy.
Careful not to slip on the frozen path, Elizabeth held his arm tightly, her eyes lowered, reflecting that it was the first time—except for the requirement of dancing—that he had offered her his arm since they met.
“Miss Elizabeth, I am pleased I had the chance to see all of you tonight—such a pleasant surprise! And I am certain Bingley will be equally pleased when I tell him of this dinner party. I should meet with him in a few days.”
He released her hand, helped her enter the carriage, then bowed to them—and smiled.
Uncertain
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