Mr. Darcy's Diary, Amanda Grange [elon musk reading list TXT] 📗

gallery at Pemberley.As for your Elizabeth’s

picture, you must not attempt to have it taken, for what

painter could do justice to those beautiful eyes?’ she said

in a droll voice.

I ignored her drollery, and imagined a portrait of Elizabeth hanging at Pemberley. I imagined another portrait

hanging next to it, of Elizabeth and myself.The thought

was pleasing to me and I smiled.

‘It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression, but their colour and shape, and the eyelashes, so

remarkably fine, might be copied,’ I mused.

Caroline was not pleased, and I found that I was glad

to have vexed her. She was about to reply, when we were

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met from another walk by Louisa and Elizabeth herself.

Caroline was embarrassed, and well she might be. I,

too, was uncomfortable. I did not think Elizabeth had

overheard Caroline, but even if she had, it would not have

disturbed her. She had not been perturbed when she had

heard an uncharitable remark from me at the assembly.

As I looked at her, I was suddenly conscious of the

fact that she was a guest in the house. I had been so busy

thinking of her in another way that I had forgotten that

she was staying with Bingley. I felt an uncomfortable

pang as I realized that she had not met with any warmth

or friendship during her stay. To be sure, she had met

with politeness to her face, but even politeness had been

lacking as soon as her back was turned. I had never felt

so out of sympathy with Caroline…or in sympathy with

Louisa, for she at least had taken the trouble to ask Elizabeth if she cared for a walk, which I had not. I berated

myself for it. I was not averse to admiring her eyes, but I

had done little to make her stay at Netherfield more

enjoyable.

Louisa’s next words undid my charitable feelings

towards her, however. Saying: ‘You used us abominably ill

in running away without telling us that you were coming

out,’ she took my free arm and left Elizabeth to stand alone.

I was mortified, and said at once:‘The walk is not wide

enough for our party.We had better go into the avenue.’

But Elizabeth, who was not in the least mortified at

being used so ill, merely smiled mischievously and said

that we looked so well together the group would be

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spoilt by a fourth. Then wishing us goodbye she ran off

gaily, like a child who suddenly finds herself free of the

schoolroom. As I watched her run, I felt my spirits lift. I

felt as though I, too, was suddenly free, free of the trammelled dignity of my life, and I longed to run after her.

‘Miss Eliza Bennet behaves as badly as her younger

sisters,’ said Caroline mockingly.

‘She does not behave as badly as we do, however,’ I

returned, annoyed.‘She is a guest in your brother’s house,

and as such she is entitled to our respect. She should not

have to suffer our neglect, nor suffer our abuse the

minute her back is turned.’

Caroline looked astonished and then displeased, but

my expression was so forbidding that she fell silent. Bingley might complain about my awful expressions, but

they have their uses.

I turned back to look at Elizabeth, but she had already

passed out of sight. I did not see her again until dinnertime. She disappeared immediately afterwards, to see to

her sister, but when Bingley and I joined the ladies in the

drawing-room we found her with them.

Caroline’s eyes turned to me straight away. I could see

that she was apprehensive. I had spoken to her sharply

earlier in the day, and had not said a word to her since. I

gave her a cool glance and then turned my attention to

Miss Bennet, who was well enough to be downstairs, and

who was sitting next to her sister.

Bingley was delighted to see that Miss Bennet was

feeling better. He fussed around her, making sure the fire

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was high enough and that she was not in a draught. My

expression softened. I could feel it doing so. He was

treating her with all the care and attention she deserved,

and I was reminded of why I like him so much and am

happy to call him a friend. His manners might be so

easy-going as to make him a target for anyone who

wishes to sway him, but those same compliant manners

make him an agreeable companion and a warm host. It

was evident that Elizabeth thought so, too. I felt that, after

our sparring, we had found common ground.

Caroline pretended to pay attention to the invalid, but

in fact was more interested in my book, which I had

taken up when we had decided not to play cards.

‘I declare there is no enjoyment like reading a book!’

she said, ignoring her own in favour of mine.

I did not reply. I was out of sympathy with her. Instead,

I studiously applied myself to my book; which was a pity,

as I would have liked to watch Elizabeth. The firelight

playing on her skin was a sight I found mesmerizing.

Discovering that she could not make me talk, Caroline then disturbed her brother with talk of his ball,

before taking a turn around the room. She was restless,

and longing for attention. I, however, did not give it to

her. She had offended me, and I was not ready to forgive

her her offence.

‘Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my

example, and take a turn about the room.’

I could not help myself. I looked up. I saw a look of

surprise cross Elizabeth’s face, and I wondered if my

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words to Caroline had affected her behaviour, pricking

her conscience about her treatment of her brother’s guest.

But no such thing. She simply wanted my attention, and

she had been clever enough to realize that this was the

way to achieve it. Unconsciously, I closed my book.

‘Mr Darcy, will