Read Online Pride and Prejudice (Clandestine Classics) by Jane Austen, Amy Armstrong - Free Book Online Page A

before we came away. But, however, he did not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses on her, and very pretty they were.”
    “And so ended his affection,” said Elizabeth impatiently. “There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!”
    “I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love,” said Darcy. The intensity in his eyes when he made the remark was directed solely at Elizabeth and it gave her pause.
    “Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.”
    Darcy only smiled, and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again. She longed to speak, but could think of nothing to say, and after a short silence Mrs Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr Bingley for his kindness to Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy. Mr Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be civil also, and say what the occasion required. She performed her part indeed without much graciousness, but Mrs Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward. The two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole visit, and the result of it was, that the youngest should tax Mr Bingley with having promised on his first coming into the country to give a ball at Netherfield.
    Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance, a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attention of the officers, to whom her uncle’s good dinners, and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. She was very equal, therefore, to address Mr Bingley on the subject of the ball, and abruptly reminded him of his promise, adding, that it would be the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it. His answer to this sudden attack was delightful to their mother’s ear.
    “I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement, and when your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing when she is ill.”
    Lydia declared herself satisfied. “Oh, yes—it would be much better to wait till Jane was well, and by that time most likely Captain Carter would be at Meryton again. And when you have given your ball,” she added, “I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not.”
    Mrs Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations’ behaviour to the remarks of the two ladies and Mr Darcy. The latter, however, could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of her , in spite of all Miss Bingley’s witticisms on fine eyes . Though he knew he should not encourage his feelings towards Miss Bennet, he found himself inexplicably drawn to her. She had a sharp mind and often sharper tongue, and he yearned to know her more intimately. The kiss they had shared had lingered in his thoughts since it had occurred. Even though he knew he was wrong to want it, he wished to taste the pleasure of her mouth once again, and then quite often.
    When he retired to his chamber that night she was still on his mind. He tossed and turned in bed, but sleep eluded him. As he thought of her soft lips and her big brown eyes, his cock grew hard. With a groan, he slid his hand inside the sheets and wrapped it around his engorged member. It ached with the need for release. With firm, even strokes he pleasured himself, all the while