Free His Good Opinion: A Mr. Darcy Novel by Nancy Kelley Page A

been used to consider poetry as the food of love."

    Elizabeth smiled at him, and Darcy's heart stopped, stuttered, and then raced. "Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will drive it entirely away."

    That she could express such a ridiculous belief caught his attention; that she could make it sound reasonable made him smile. Here is a young lady I would gladly meet in conversation, were it not for the presence of her mother.

    A moment later, Mrs. Bennet spoke again, and Darcy cringed for an instant before realizing that she merely thanked Bingley, however obsequiously, for keeping Jane at Netherfield Park during her illness. "I do apologize that you must have Lizzy too, but they are so close, you know; when she heard Jane was ill there was nothing for it--she must walk to Netherfield Park that very hour."

    Darcy glanced over at Elizabeth, who blushed warmly under her mother's criticism. Little did either woman know that it was this considerate nature of Elizabeth's that had first recommended her to Darcy. The friendship he had witnessed between the sisters that first evening at Longbourn had called to mind his relationship with his own sister, and he knew that were he in Elizabeth's position and Georgiana was ill, he would do whatever lay in his power to ease her discomfort.

    Bingley obviously agreed. "Of course she must," he said warmly. "I assure you, Mrs. Bennet, neither of your daughters are a burden on my household. We are glad to have them here until such time as Miss Bennet is fit to travel home."

    "Yes, indeed, Mrs. Bennet. Jane and Eliza are very welcome here," Miss Bingley said, though Darcy could easily hear the lie in her words.

    "Well, I cannot thank you enough for such hospitality. I suppose, though, we must be getting back to our own home. Would you be so good as to have your servant call the carriage?"

    The two younger Bennet sisters had, until this time, been talking between themselves off to the side of the room. Apparently, their mother's words were a signal for the youngest to step forward and speak in a manner entirely too bold. "Mr. Bingley, when are you to give a ball here at Netherfield Park?" She gazed up at him through flirtatiously lowered lashes. "For you promised you would, sir--indeed, you did--and it would be quite shameful if you did not keep your word."

    Bingley was far more cordial in the face of such impropriety than Darcy would have been. "I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement, and when your sister is recovered, you shall if you please, name the very day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing while she is ill."

    "Oh! Yes--it would be much better to wait until Jane was well, and by that time most likely Captain Carter would be at Meryton again," Miss Lydia replied, her broad, jovial tone indicating her complaisance with the suggestion. Darcy thought he could see a hint of excitement brewing in the mother's eyes, which he found even more distasteful, but Miss Lydia was not done speaking. "And when you have given your ball, I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel Forster that it will be quite a shame if he does not."

    Before anyone could answer that, a servant appeared to announce the Bennets' carriage was ready. Darcy rejoiced to see them leave; he did not think he had ever been forced to suffer through a more inane conversation in his life.

    Miss Elizabeth followed her family to the door and then went upstairs to sit with Jane, so the breakfast room was free of Bennets for a time. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst took advantage of this and began discussing with great animation the vagaries of their visitors.

    Even Bingley, mild-mannered though he was, could not argue with many of the statements his sisters made. The family had shown themselves to be entirely unrefined, and Darcy was glad to see his