Read Online Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) by Linda Wells - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Linda Wells
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as he saw Darcy’s eyes roll. “She was lying in wait for you?”
“She sounded like one of the parrots, Marry Anne, Marry Anne, Marry Anne . If I was as weak-minded as her pastor I would have given in simply to escape her voice.” He sighed while Lord Matlock chuckled. “And then there were the demands for Georgiana. I know that I am not the most prepared parent in the world, but the thought of subjecting her to Aunt Catherine as her example is impossible.”
“No, I believe that your aunt would have put a stop to such a scheme before that could happen.” He paused and looked at Darcy speculatively. “Would you prefer to have Georgiana come to live with us?”
Darcy hesitated and then shook his head. “No, no, Father entrusted her to me. I will not give her up. Besides, she is all that I have.” He smiled sadly for a moment, revealing the man he used to be, then replaced his emotion with a smooth mask.
Lord Matlock noticed that he had nearly perfected the ability to hide every expression behind this new talent, and wondered if it was a good thing. His nephew had changed since his father’s death. “Well, you cannot hide here in the corner all night.”
“I cannot dance, Uncle.”
“You can smile and greet the ladies, though.” He gave him a push. “I know how you do not enjoy the exercise, but next Season you will have no excuse. Now get out there.” Darcy unhappily ventured forth into the crowded drawing room where several men stepped forward to introduce him to their daughters. Darcy bore it all with seeming equanimity. The compliments, the smiles, every comment he made was met with laughter and cries of delight. He was not fooled. The conversation was dull, stilted, and uncomfortable, certainly not something that should inspire such excitement. He turned away from another eager debutante and heard her high-pitched giggling in the background, and slowly made his way back into his corner to hide.
Were none of them taught that to laugh with false amusement is unattractive? Just one of them I would like to see greet me with a genuine smile. I cannot remember the last time . . . He stopped his musings as the image of a girl suddenly appeared in his mind. Lizzy. A soft smile came to his lips and his eyes warmed. He remembered a musical laugh. Where are you now? He wondered and tried to recall the name of her estate. L . . . it began with an L, I am sure . . . He had almost sounded it out when a woman approached and greeted him in French. Startled he turned and focused on her, forced to pay attention to translate the conversation. The woman slipped into Italian. He smiled, she was displaying her education. When he returned the conversation to English and began to ask her of poetry, she hesitated. He frowned, and soon she was gone, only to be replaced by another girl and her mother. It was a long evening, and when it was over, the expression in his eyes and set of his lips clearly communicated his displeasure with the experience.
“Darcy, you really must improve your manners. What has become of you?” Lady Matlock said as the last of the guests departed. “You have lost your smile.”
“Surely you cannot be surprised Aunt Helen, nobody likes to be hunted.”
She laughed and patted his face. “Until you are caught nephew, I suggest that you become accustomed to it.” His frown deepened. “I know that you cannot attend any balls, but we will host another dinner in a fortnight, your cousins will be present for it and both look forward to seeing you.”
“No, I will attend to business, take Georgiana to a few sights, then we will return to Pemberley. I am no good mood for courting.” He smiled slightly. “Perhaps next year.”
She sighed. “Perhaps.”
25 MAY 1808
I visited my club today and I wonder if I should end my membership. If it were not for the fact that Darcys have been
“She sounded like one of the parrots, Marry Anne, Marry Anne, Marry Anne . If I was as weak-minded as her pastor I would have given in simply to escape her voice.” He sighed while Lord Matlock chuckled. “And then there were the demands for Georgiana. I know that I am not the most prepared parent in the world, but the thought of subjecting her to Aunt Catherine as her example is impossible.”
“No, I believe that your aunt would have put a stop to such a scheme before that could happen.” He paused and looked at Darcy speculatively. “Would you prefer to have Georgiana come to live with us?”
Darcy hesitated and then shook his head. “No, no, Father entrusted her to me. I will not give her up. Besides, she is all that I have.” He smiled sadly for a moment, revealing the man he used to be, then replaced his emotion with a smooth mask.
Lord Matlock noticed that he had nearly perfected the ability to hide every expression behind this new talent, and wondered if it was a good thing. His nephew had changed since his father’s death. “Well, you cannot hide here in the corner all night.”
“I cannot dance, Uncle.”
“You can smile and greet the ladies, though.” He gave him a push. “I know how you do not enjoy the exercise, but next Season you will have no excuse. Now get out there.” Darcy unhappily ventured forth into the crowded drawing room where several men stepped forward to introduce him to their daughters. Darcy bore it all with seeming equanimity. The compliments, the smiles, every comment he made was met with laughter and cries of delight. He was not fooled. The conversation was dull, stilted, and uncomfortable, certainly not something that should inspire such excitement. He turned away from another eager debutante and heard her high-pitched giggling in the background, and slowly made his way back into his corner to hide.
Were none of them taught that to laugh with false amusement is unattractive? Just one of them I would like to see greet me with a genuine smile. I cannot remember the last time . . . He stopped his musings as the image of a girl suddenly appeared in his mind. Lizzy. A soft smile came to his lips and his eyes warmed. He remembered a musical laugh. Where are you now? He wondered and tried to recall the name of her estate. L . . . it began with an L, I am sure . . . He had almost sounded it out when a woman approached and greeted him in French. Startled he turned and focused on her, forced to pay attention to translate the conversation. The woman slipped into Italian. He smiled, she was displaying her education. When he returned the conversation to English and began to ask her of poetry, she hesitated. He frowned, and soon she was gone, only to be replaced by another girl and her mother. It was a long evening, and when it was over, the expression in his eyes and set of his lips clearly communicated his displeasure with the experience.
“Darcy, you really must improve your manners. What has become of you?” Lady Matlock said as the last of the guests departed. “You have lost your smile.”
“Surely you cannot be surprised Aunt Helen, nobody likes to be hunted.”
She laughed and patted his face. “Until you are caught nephew, I suggest that you become accustomed to it.” His frown deepened. “I know that you cannot attend any balls, but we will host another dinner in a fortnight, your cousins will be present for it and both look forward to seeing you.”
“No, I will attend to business, take Georgiana to a few sights, then we will return to Pemberley. I am no good mood for courting.” He smiled slightly. “Perhaps next year.”
She sighed. “Perhaps.”
25 MAY 1808
I visited my club today and I wonder if I should end my membership. If it were not for the fact that Darcys have been
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