Darcy vs. Bennet by Victoria Kincaid

Author:Victoria Kincaid
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mr darcy, elizabeth bennet, sharon lathan, jane austen fan fiction, pride and prejudice variation, darcy and elizabeth, jane austen variation, abigail reynolds, linda berdoll
Publisher: Victoria Kincaid

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Elizabeth laughed at some bon mot of Richard’s, and Darcy ground his teeth together—again. Following dinner, the party had inhabited the Rosings drawing room for nearly an hour. His aunt had insisted Darcy sit near Anne while Richard had been free to seat himself next to Elizabeth. That unfortunate development was compounded by Richard’s complete inability not to amuse Elizabeth. Pleasant conversation and jokes seemed to fall from his cousin’s lips with no effort. How did he come by such a felicity with words when Darcy seemed perpetually tongue-tied?

As Elizabeth laughed again, Darcy reminded himself forcefully that she would hardly transfer her affections on the basis of a few jokes. Nor would Richard attempt to engage her affections when he knew of Darcy’s feelings. But his cousin was free to act when Darcy was not. Hence the grinding of his teeth.

Deliberately, Darcy returned his attention to his aunt and noticed her eyes on him. He met her gaze with a bland expression; she must not suspect his attachment to Elizabeth.

“Miss Elizabeth!” Aunt Catherine addressed her in imperious tones, interrupting the conversation.

Elizabeth slowly turned her countenance to the lady, which undoubtedly irritated his aunt. “Lady Catherine?”

“Do you play and sing?”

“A little.”

Elizabeth was being exceedingly modest. Darcy had greatly enjoyed her performances, but he restrained the impulse to blurt this out.

“Then some time or other we shall be happy to hear you.” The wave of Aunt Catherine’s hand made this statement practically a royal command. “Our instrument is a capital one, probably superior to any you have played.” Elizabeth pursed her lips, no doubt biting back some pert remark. “Do your sisters play and sing?”

“One of them does.”

Aunt Catherine feigned great shock. “Why did not you all learn? You ought to all have learned. The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as yours.” Good heavens, does my aunt have no sense of propriety? Darcy grabbed the arms of his chair, restraining the impulse to intervene. “Do you draw?” she asked Elizabeth.

“No, not at all.” Elizabeth’s frank responses did not suit the tone most would use when replying to Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Sitting opposite Darcy, Collins wiped sweat from his forehead, observing the exchange with growing horror.

“What, none of you?”

“Not one.”

Elizabeth’s unrepentant attitude provoked a nervous tic in Aunt Catherine’s right cheek. “That is very strange. But I suppose you had not the opportunity. Your mother should have taken you to Town every spring for the benefit of masters.” Aunt Catherine leaned forward in her chair. “Do you not agree, Fitzwilliam?”

Caught up in his admiration of how Elizabeth defied his aunt, Darcy had not expected to be drawn into the conversation. He opened his mouth to deliver a forceful defense of Elizabeth’s upraising but remembered at the last minute that he could not appear partial to her.

“Indeed, London masters would have been instructive.” Would Elizabeth forgive him for taking his aunt’s part in this ridiculous argument?

“Indeed!” Lady Catherine crowed triumphantly.

Elizabeth’s face was blank; had he angered her? His stomach clenched at the thought.

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