Read Online His Good Opinion: A Mr. Darcy Novel by Nancy Kelley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nancy Kelley
Tags: Jane Austen Fan Lit
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with him, and that the man was Bingley somehow made it worse.
"I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen through I am afraid is pitiful," Bingley said.
Darcy crossed his arms. The easy familiarity in Bingley's tone rankled him, and for the first time, he was not inclined to disagree with his friend's ready self-deprecation. Indeed, you are quite pitiful, he agreed silently.
"That is as it happens," Miss Elizabeth said, and Darcy was gratified she did not immediately offer the commendation Bingley asked for. "It does not necessarily follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours."
Mrs. Bennet's shrill voice startled Darcy. "Lizzy, remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home."
Bingley continued on as if Mrs. Bennet had not spoken. "I did not know before that you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study."
"Yes, but intricate characters are the most amusing. They have at least that advantage."
Finally Darcy felt it necessary to break into their private conversation, though he could not say why. "The country can in general supply but few subjects for such a study. In a country neighborhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society."
At last, she turned those laughing brown eyes on him, and Darcy suddenly did not mind the topic of conversation in the slightest. "But people themselves alter so much, there is something new to be observed in them forever," she countered.
Her face was serious, but for a smile that played with the ends of her mouth. Darcy was so caught by the dimples that seemed to appear and disappear at will that he missed his opportunity to refute her latest assertion.
Instead, it was Mrs. Bennet who next added her voice to the conversation. "Yes, indeed! I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town."
Her vitriol took the whole room by surprise, Darcy in particular. He stared at her for a moment, and then, not trusting himself to say anything pleasant to her, he turned away. Not even the surprisingly intriguing conversation with Miss Elizabeth was worth tangling with her mother.
Mrs. Bennet, however, was incapable of perceiving the snub. Instead, she took his lack of response as a victory and continued on the same line of thought. "I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country for my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is not it, Mr. Bingley?"
Darcy barely restrained a snort. Her motives were patently obvious; she sought to turn her perceived victory over him into a promise from Bingley that he would remain in Hertfordshire indefinitely. I shall have to prise him from here--this is no company for a lady like Georgiana.
He was not unaware that he made assumptions on his friend's intentions, but the match between Bingley and Georgiana was so equal on both sides, that Darcy had come to regard it as something of a settled thing. Now that relationship offered yet another benefit, as Bingley's courtship of Georgiana would necessarily pull him away from Hertfordshire.
As always, Bingley managed to be polite without lying--diplomatic, Darcy supposed. "When I am in the country I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They each have their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either."
"Aye--that is because you have the right disposition. But that gentleman --" from the corner of his eye, Darcy saw her direct a glare at him--"seemed to think the country was nothing at all."
That was not at all what he had said, but he cared too little for Mrs. Bennet's opinion to explain himself. Let her misunderstand my every word, if it keeps her from directing her superciliousness at me.
"Indeed, Mama, you are mistaken," said Elizabeth. "You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there were not such a variety of people to
"I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen through I am afraid is pitiful," Bingley said.
Darcy crossed his arms. The easy familiarity in Bingley's tone rankled him, and for the first time, he was not inclined to disagree with his friend's ready self-deprecation. Indeed, you are quite pitiful, he agreed silently.
"That is as it happens," Miss Elizabeth said, and Darcy was gratified she did not immediately offer the commendation Bingley asked for. "It does not necessarily follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours."
Mrs. Bennet's shrill voice startled Darcy. "Lizzy, remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home."
Bingley continued on as if Mrs. Bennet had not spoken. "I did not know before that you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study."
"Yes, but intricate characters are the most amusing. They have at least that advantage."
Finally Darcy felt it necessary to break into their private conversation, though he could not say why. "The country can in general supply but few subjects for such a study. In a country neighborhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society."
At last, she turned those laughing brown eyes on him, and Darcy suddenly did not mind the topic of conversation in the slightest. "But people themselves alter so much, there is something new to be observed in them forever," she countered.
Her face was serious, but for a smile that played with the ends of her mouth. Darcy was so caught by the dimples that seemed to appear and disappear at will that he missed his opportunity to refute her latest assertion.
Instead, it was Mrs. Bennet who next added her voice to the conversation. "Yes, indeed! I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town."
Her vitriol took the whole room by surprise, Darcy in particular. He stared at her for a moment, and then, not trusting himself to say anything pleasant to her, he turned away. Not even the surprisingly intriguing conversation with Miss Elizabeth was worth tangling with her mother.
Mrs. Bennet, however, was incapable of perceiving the snub. Instead, she took his lack of response as a victory and continued on the same line of thought. "I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country for my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is not it, Mr. Bingley?"
Darcy barely restrained a snort. Her motives were patently obvious; she sought to turn her perceived victory over him into a promise from Bingley that he would remain in Hertfordshire indefinitely. I shall have to prise him from here--this is no company for a lady like Georgiana.
He was not unaware that he made assumptions on his friend's intentions, but the match between Bingley and Georgiana was so equal on both sides, that Darcy had come to regard it as something of a settled thing. Now that relationship offered yet another benefit, as Bingley's courtship of Georgiana would necessarily pull him away from Hertfordshire.
As always, Bingley managed to be polite without lying--diplomatic, Darcy supposed. "When I am in the country I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They each have their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either."
"Aye--that is because you have the right disposition. But that gentleman --" from the corner of his eye, Darcy saw her direct a glare at him--"seemed to think the country was nothing at all."
That was not at all what he had said, but he cared too little for Mrs. Bennet's opinion to explain himself. Let her misunderstand my every word, if it keeps her from directing her superciliousness at me.
"Indeed, Mama, you are mistaken," said Elizabeth. "You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there were not such a variety of people to
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