His Good Opinion: A Mr. Darcy Novel Read Online Free

his desire to purchase an estate of his own, but Darcy privately wondered if his friend's easy personality gave him the drive for such an undertaking. If there was an estate to be let, it was doubtful he would ever feel it necessary. "What is the estate called?"

    "Netherfield Park. It is but half a day's ride from London. Will you join me, Darcy?"

    Darcy's smile slipped. In his amusement, he had forgotten Bingley's question. "I am afraid I have business that keeps me here for the present, Bingley."

    He knew his friend too well to think this would dissuade him, and he was not disappointed. Bingley laughed and said, "You must rest sometime, Darcy. I leave for Netherfield on Sunday next, but I shall return the week following and will persuade you to join me."

    "You have my permission to try, but I do not promise that you will succeed."

    "That is as much as I can hope for today. I have business of my own to attend to, so I bid you farewell. I shall see you again Monday fortnight."

    Darcy breathed a sigh when Bingley was gone. Though he hated lying to his friend, Georgiana's reputation demanded it. He had a notion that Bingley would make a fine husband for her, but even a man of his easy humor might be swayed by an aborted elopement.

    As to leaving London to rusticate in Hertfordshire, that was utterly out of the question. Georgiana had not regained enough confidence for him to leave her alone. His heart ached when he saw her shy timidity, so different from the warm, happy child she had been not too long ago.

    Richard, however, took a different view on the matter and let Darcy know his feelings over port two days later. "You cannot stay always in town, William. You know you will go mad in a matter of weeks if you do not return to the country."

    Darcy tugged on his ear. His impatience with town life was indeed growing, but he would not relinquish his responsibilities. "If I remove Georgiana to Pemberley so soon, she will never be at ease in Society. She will see my actions as proof I do not trust her."

    Richard snorted. "She already believes that."

    Darcy looked up, startled. "She thinks what?"

    "Watch her when we rejoin the ladies. She shies away from your gaze, thinking you only watch her because you doubt her judgment. Can you not see she is afraid of disappointing you again? That fear only increases the longer you stay, watching her like a mother hen."

    Darcy did not want to believe it, but when they entered the drawing room, he saw immediately what Richard meant. Georgiana glanced away from Mrs. Annesley to him, met his gaze, and then looked away. Her speech faltered for a moment, and he suddenly felt like an imbecile.

    He turned to Richard and said in a low voice, "What shall I do?"

    "Do not go to Pemberley if you feel that it is too far, but do leave London. I will keep watch over Georgie so long as I am not needed elsewhere; you know she looks on me differently than she does you. You are the brother who is nearly a father to her. I am merely the beloved cousin."

    Darcy contemplated for moment. "Bingley did ask if I cared to winter with him in Hertfordshire."

    Richard shook his head and slapped Darcy on the shoulder. "Go! For God's sake man, go."

    Darcy nodded decisively. "I will."

    He told Georgiana the next morning, and she took the announcement with quiet resignation. "How long will you remain with Mr. Bingley and his sisters?"

    "Of that I am not certain. Bingley, I know, plans to remain all through the winter, but I would like to be back in town for Christmas." Darcy and his father had always striven to make Christmas special for Georgiana, and in recent years it had become one of the few times of the year brother and sister were together.

    "Very well, I will see you in December. Do greet them for me."

    Georgiana's dispassionate response to his departure assured Darcy he did the right thing. If she could regard his absence with such calm, then his presence in London was not needed.

    A short trip