Accidental Affection: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Erin Butler

Accidental Affection: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Erin Butler

Author:Erin Butler [Butler, Erin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-08-14T18:30:00+00:00


Chapter Three

Darcy stared at the door again. “I do not believe my friend is returning.” He switched his gaze to Elizabeth and sighed. “Not that I should mind all that much. I find I like to be alone with you, but I am worried about what your parents will say. I would hate for them to deny me the opportunity before I have even asked for it.”

It was Elizabeth’s turn to look perplexed.

Darcy stood and retreated to the far corner of the room. “What will they think when they find out we have been alone together in the same room? I do not wish them to think ill of me.”

This, Elizabeth did laugh at. It was no secret that Mrs. Bennet did not care for Mr. Darcy at all. Even taking all that into account—and Elizabeth hated to admit this—but if her mother could somehow trap Mr. Darcy into marrying Elizabeth, she would. He had a fortune and he was single. That was all Mrs. Bennet cared for.

Darcy raised a brow at Elizabeth. “They do not like me, do they? I know I have not always acted as I should. I do try, but I find sometimes that it is hard to recommend myself.”

Elizabeth shook her head. He seemed to be doing a fine job of it now. If he kept talking as such—no, she would not let her heart believe it. “I do not know what you want me to say, Mr. Darcy. I am afraid I do not know what my father’s feelings are for you.” Mr. Bennet had probably never even thought of Mr. Darcy at all other than when his wife was blathering on about him. If she did tell Darcy that her mother did not care for him, would he even remember?

Memory loss or not, he was too smart. “Your mother thinks me proud, does not she?”

Elizabeth nodded once, eager to see what his reaction would be and even more eager to hear what he might say to his defense. The general consensus around town was that Mr. Darcy was a very proud man.

“I suppose I come off as such.” He stood up straighter and bored his stare into hers again. “It is not that, however. I feel as if I am ill-qualified to converse in society with any lightheartedness which others possess, such as Bingley. I am always overthinking things, quite to my own detriment.”

Elizabeth stared down at her entwined hands. That was not too much of a shock. She had seen both the proud and kind parts of Mr. Darcy in his stay here last year. Oftentimes, she could find him trying, such as the ball, and then there were other times when he just gave up. She had even found him staring at her more in more than a few instances, and she always wondered why he did so. Perhaps now she knew. Could he have been admiring her all this time, or were his current feelings toward her the result of his head injury? She did not think it was just that.



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