Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange (books for students to read .txt) ๐
Read free book ยซMr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange (books for students to read .txt) ๐ยป - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: Amanda Grange
Read book online ยซMr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange (books for students to read .txt) ๐ยป. Author - Amanda Grange
โShe did,โ he admitted, โbut I thought that was just
because it would have been rude to refuse.โ
โPerhaps it would have been rude of her to refuse
you.โ
โYou think she only danced with me to be polite?โ he
asked in consternation.
โI would not go so far. I think she enjoyed dancing
with you, and talking to you, and flirting with you. But
I think she enjoyed it no more than with other men, and
now that you are not in Hertfordshire โ โ
โI must go back,โ he said, standing up. โI knew it.โ
mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 106
1 0 6
A M A N D A G R A N G E
โBut if she is indifferent, you will only give yourself
pain.โ
โIf she is indifferent.You do not know that she is.โ
โNo, I do not know it, but I observed her closely, and
I could see no sign of particular regard.โ
โYou observed her?โ he asked in surprise.
โYour singling her out was beginning to attract attention. Others had noticed besides myself. If it had been
gone on much longer, you would have been obliged to
have made her an offer.โ
โI would have liked to have made her an offer,โ he corrected me, then faltered. โDo you think she would have
accepted?โ
โOf course. It would have been a good match for her.
You have a considerable income, and a beautiful house.
She would have been settled near her family.There is no
question of her refusing. But should you like to be married for those reasons?โ
He looked doubtful.
โI would rather be married for myself,โ he conceded.
โAnd so you will be, one day.โ
He sat down again.
โShe was too good for me,โ he said morosely.
โHardly that, but if her affections are not engaged,
what is the point of marriage? You will meet another
girl, as sweet as Miss Bennet, but one who can return
your feelings in full measure. London is full of young
ladies.โ
โBut I have no interest in other young ladies.โ
mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 107
M r . D a r c y โ s D i a r y 1 0 7
โIn time, you will have.โ
Bingley said nothing, but I was easy in my mind. He
will have forgotten her before the winter is over.
I am pleased he has expressed a desire to see Georgiana again. He has known her very much longer than
he has known Miss Bennet, and a new acquaintance cannot be expected to hold the same place in his affections
as an old, particularly when he sees how much Georgiana has grown.The match would be welcome on both
sides, and I flatter myself that it would be a happy one.
mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 108
mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 109
December
mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 110
1 1 0
A M A N D A G R A N G E
Thursday 5th December
Bingley came to dine with me today. He has been busy
this last week, but he arrived punctually this evening and
was very much taken with Georgiana.
โShe is turning into a beauty,โ he said to me. โAnd she
is so accomplished,โ he added, when she played for us
after dinner.
She is. I had almost forgotten what it is to listen to
excellent playing, and I could not help an inward shudder
when I thought of Mary Bennetโs playing and compared
it to Georgianaโs. Elizabethโs playing was sweet, it is true,
though it was not so accomplished as my sisterโs, but there
was still a quality about it that made me want to listen.
Friday 6th December
Caroline called to see Georgiana this morning, and I
entertained her until my sisterโs music lesson was over.
โCharles was very taken with Georgiana last night,โ she
remarked. โHe said that Georgiana was one of the most
beautiful and accomplished young women of his
acquaintance.โ
I was well pleased. Caroline seemed pleased, too. I
think she would not be averse to a marriage between
them.
โAre you going to visit your aunt in Kent before
Christmas?โ she asked.
โNo, I think not, though I will probably visit her at
Easter.โ
โDear Lady Catherine,โ said Caroline, removing her
mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 111
M r . D a r c y โ s D i a r y 1 1 1
gloves. โHow I long to meet her. Rosings is a fine house,
by all accounts.โ
โYes, it is, very fine indeed.โ
โSuch a pleasant part of the country.โ
โIt is.โ
โI suggested to Charles that he should look for a house
there. I would be happy to live in Kent. But he felt Hertfordshire was better placed.A pity. He would have avoided
certain entanglements if he had settled elsewhere.โ
โHe is free of them now, however.โ
โYes, thanks to your intervention. He is lucky to have
such a friend. I would find it a great comfort to know
that such a friend was looking after me,โ she said, looking
up at me.
โYou have your brother.โ
She smiled. โOf course, but Charles is still a boy. One
does so need a man at times, someone of depth and
maturity, who is used to the ways of the world and
knows how to live in it.โ
โHave you no plans to marry?โ
โI would, if I met the right gentleman.โ
โNow that you are in London you will have more
chance of meeting people. Bingley means to arrange
some balls, I know. I have encouraged it.The more pretty
faces he sees over the next few weeks the better. And for
you, it will extend your social circle.โ
โIt is not so very constrained.We dine with more than
four-and-twenty families, you know,โ she remarked satirically.
mr darcy_internals 1/30/07 4:06 PM Page 112
1 1 2
A M A N D A G R A N G E
I was reminded of the Bennets, as she intended I
should be, but if she knew the exact form of my thoughts
I doubt she would have been so pleased. No matter what
I do, every conversation seems to remind me of them in
some fashion. It is fortunate that I have stopped thinking
about Elizabeth, otherwise the Bennets would never be
out of my mind.
Saturday 7th December
Bingley occupies himself with business and is in good spirits, though now and then I catch a wistful look in his eye.
โYou are sure she felt nothing for me?โ he asked this
evening, when the ladies had withdrawn after dinner.
I did not need to ask whom he meant.
โI am sure of it.
Comments (0)