By Force of Instinct by Abigail Reynolds

Author:Abigail Reynolds [Reynolds, Abigail]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2011-01-16T23:20:24.210000+00:00

Abigail Reynolds

Her eyes widened in shock at his frankness on such a forbidden subject, her body stirred against her will by his daring. For a moment she wanted nothing more than to have him meet her needs, and her eyes betrayed her to him. In an effort to distract herself from her own response, she said lightly, “sir, you are very forward.”

“By heaven you are certainly a temptation, elizabeth,” he said with unmistakable depth of feeling. “Have you an idea yet of when you will be returning to Longbourn?” His voice clearly suggested that he saw more opportunity for them there.

elizabeth had considered this question at length the previous night, though not in this particular context; she had intended to stay in London another month altogether, but felt that the current circumstances called for an earlier return. However, in a realization somewhat galling to her independent spirit, she had acknowledged that the decision was not hers to make. “My plans are not fixed; I am at your convenience, sir.”

Darcy had never heard such deferential words from elizabeth, and something in her tone alerted him. “I fail to follow your meaning,” he said.

she sighed, feeling all the difficulties inherent in her situation of moving from the sometimes erratic authority of her father to that of a man accustomed to ready obedience. Without meeting his eye, she said, “you had spoken yesterday of planning to announce our engagement immediately.

I realize that it is likely to cause a stir in certain circles; it struck me that you might have preferences regarding my availability to meet the social demands that are certain to follow.”

“And do you have a preference in the matter?” he asked with discomfort and dissatisfaction, feeling the distance between them returning after the intimacy of their earlier moments.

“I would prefer to return home, and to allow the furore in London to pass,” she admitted somewhat hesitantly. “But I recognize that it may not be practicable.”

“elizabeth,” he said, his voice edged with frustration, “you are going to be my wife, not my chattel!”

elizabeth felt a lightening in her spirits at his words; perhaps he did intend their union to be different from some of the unequal friendships of his she had observed—she did not think that she could ever be as obliging as Bingley, even if she were to bring herself to try. she looked up at him play-132

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