Alias Thomas Bennet by Suzan Lauder Read Free Book Online Page B

balls infinitely better,” Miss Bingley added, “if they were carried on in a different manner, but there is something insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of dancing were the order of the day.”
    “Much more rational, Miss Bingley, I dare say, but it would not be near so much like a ball,” Mrs. Bennet responded in a serious tone but with a twinkle in her eye.
    Darcy ignored Miss Bingley’s comment. “Bingley, a ball is just the thing to help establish you into your deserved place in the county’s hierarchy with the appropriate level of respect and deference.”
    Mr. Bennet nodded in agreement. “Indeed, Mr. Bingley, your hospitality will do much to generate friendship and ensure respect among the local gentry.”
    Bennet then turned to Darcy. “Mr. Darcy may not like dancing, but he can join me in watching the festivities from the side.” Darcy nodded, and the two men returned to discussing a book Bennet had shown him.
    Miss Bingley was frustrated; she could not dislodge Mr. Darcy’s interest from the book he was holding. She rose and walked elegantly past the gentlemen. Darcy, at whom this antic was aimed, remained inflexibly studious in his discussion with his friend. Mrs. Bennet watched the drama unfold as she attended to her work.
    Irritated by the lack of response, Miss Bingley resolved on one more effort and turned to Elizabeth. “Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example and take a turn about the room. I assure you, it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude.”
    Elizabeth was surprised but agreed immediately. Miss Bingley succeeded no less in the real object of her civility; Mr. Darcy looked up. He was as much awake to the novelty of attention from that quarter as Elizabeth herself could be and unconsciously closed his book. Mr. Bennet’s attention followed.
    “Mr. Darcy, won’t you join our little party? It is so refreshing to walk about the room,” Miss Bingley drawled.
    “I must decline your invitation because I can imagine but two motives for ladies choosing to walk about the room together, and my joining you would interfere with either of those.”
    “What could he mean? I am dying to know what could be his meaning! Miss Elizabeth, pray, can you understand him?”
    “I rarely comprehend Mr. Darcy; his logic baffles me,” said Elizabeth, looking directly at him. “Perhaps he will relent if we ask nothing at all about it.”
    “Do tell, Mr. Darcy!” Miss Bingley said with a flirtatious smile. Darcy chose to remain silent while watching the ladies calmly without expression. “Sir, you must tell me! I demand to hear your views on the motives of young women walking about a drawing room!”
    “I have not the smallest objection to explaining them,” Darcy responded as soon as she allowed him to speak. “You either have secrets to share or you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking. If the first, I should be completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.” Darcy was triumphant in his teasing as smiles and chuckles came from those who had been attending Miss Bingley’s efforts at flirtation.
    “Oh! Shocking!” cried Miss Bingley. “I never heard anything so abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech?” she asked Elizabeth, clearly considering her a co-conspirator in gaining Darcy’s attentions.
    “Nothing so easy if you have but the inclination,” said Elizabeth, with a mixture of sweetness and archness. “We can all plague and punish Mr. Darcy. Tease him, laugh at him, and challenge his opinions.”
    “But upon my honour, I cannot tease calmness of temper and presence of mind. As to laughter, we will not expose ourselves by attempting to laugh without a subject.”
    “Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at?” cried Elizabeth. “That is an uncommon advantage, and uncommon