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

insulted everything he believed in.

    Much to his displeasure, his peace was soon interrupted yet again by a lady he did not recognize. "May I sit by you, Mr. Darcy?" the matron said on her approach. He nodded coolly, and she sat. "Thank you, sir. I am Mrs. Long."

    The impudence of her manner disgusted him, and he turned slightly away. That, however, did not deter her. "My, this room is not quite large enough for the number of couples, is it?" She opened her fan to cool herself. "How unfortunate that there are so few gentlemen present. I see several young ladies sitting out the dance."

    Darcy pressed his lips into a thin line. He knew from her tone that one of these young ladies was a relation to her. Courtesy dictated he should offer to lead said young lady out, but he stubbornly refused to be so blatantly manipulated.

    The silence stretched on, and eventually she changed the subject to one he could not avoid answering. "I do hope you find Netherfield Park to your liking. Your friend will, I believe, be staying in Hertfordshire for a while?"

    "I find nothing lacking in my accommodation. As to Mr. Bingley's plans, you will have to inquire of him." The terseness of Darcy's reply at last quieted the babbling woman. She remained by his side for a few more minutes, before making up the excuse that a friend beckoned her from across the room.

    Soon after, Bingley joined him in between the dances of a set. "Come, Darcy, I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance."

    Darcy crossed his arms. He should have known Bingley would not let him sit quietly. "I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable." He frowned. "Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with."

    Bingley's jaw dropped for an instant before he snapped it shut. "I would not be so fastidious as you are for a kingdom! Upon my honor, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty."

    Darcy gave a cursory glance around him and found nothing to contradict his own opinion. He nodded at the eldest Bennet girl, a graceful, fair-haired maiden. " You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room."

    "Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld!" The beatific smile on his friend's face was a familiar one--Bingley was in the habit of believing himself in love with every pretty woman. "But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you."

    "Which do you mean?" Darcy turned around and leveled a disinterested gaze at the young lady seated behind him. Where her sister was fair, she was dark--plain brown hair, brown eyes, and skin he could tell received too much sun. Her features altogether lacked symmetry, but above all, it was her eyes that bothered him. They caught his gaze, and something in her expression discomfited him. He turned back to Bingley and said, "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humor at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men."

    Even as Darcy said the words, he knew they were ungenerous. There were far more ladies present than gentlemen, and every young lady had taken her turn without a partner. Eager to end the conversation, he said, "You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."

    Bingley laughed and returned to Miss Bennet, and Darcy finally gained the peace he desired. With the exception of a few remarks from Miss Bingley, no one spoke to him. The evening drew to a close a short while later, to Darcy's relief and Bingley's dismay. The carriage ride back to Netherfield was short, and soon