Attempting Elizabeth by Jessica Grey Read Free Book Online Page B

dowry. I’m not sure if I was more shocked or amused by the thought of the two of them together.
    Mrs. Younge regained her composure as the butler came in to announce Mr. Wickham. He was followed into the room by Wickham himself. Mrs. Young and I both stood and curtsied (something else that Georgiana’s body just did by itself without me thinking about it) and Wickham bowed.
    We all sat back down. Wickham sat next to me on the settee and looked at me earnestly. “I do hope you are feeling well today, Miss Darcy. I fear our walk yesterday was a bit long and damp. I had not a moment’s rest last evening so concerned was I that you may have taken a chill.”
    I blinked for a moment, surveying him. How stupid did this guy think that Georgiana was? Apparently quite. Did this kind of syrupy flirting work with her? Then I remembered that Georgiana was only fifteen. I’d probably fallen for worse at fifteen. God, I’d probably fallen for worse up until two months ago with Jerkface Jordan.
    Wickham was really attractive. I’m not sure what I’d expected him to look like. He’s always decently handsome in the movies, and the book does say he has every manner and appearance of a gentleman. But somehow I’d expected something more obvious in his appearance to proclaim him a rake. Like a big red cursive R on his chest, kind of like Hester Prynne’s A in the Scarlet Letter . This is why I focused on British Lit for my Masters. My fellow Americans can be so...literal.
    Wickham had dark blond, slightly curly that was styled in such a way as to make him seem just a bit windblown, although I would bet it took at least an hour to achieve. He had light, silvery blue eyes, under rather heavy brows, a straight nose and a very sensual looking mouth. I was sure it was that mouth that had got him this far in life. His bottom lip was slightly fuller than the top one. He could probably get women to do whatever he wanted by just curling his lips slightly into a teasing smile. Which of course was set off perfectly by his dimples.
    He wasn’t extremely tall, but had broad enough shoulders, though he was generally slim. He looked great in a waistcoat and cravat. But then, I was partial to the whole cravat thing.
    Everything about him screamed danger. But poor Georgiana—and really if you think about it, even Elizabeth and most definitely Lydia—was too young and inexperienced to know it. Being as I was unfortunately intimately familiar with his brand of smooth talker, I could smell the sleaze a mile away.
    Mrs. Younge coughed discreetly and I suddenly realized that I’d been silent for too long. “Oh. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Wickham, but I do not find that I have developed a chill at all. I am quite well.”
    This seemed to satisfy him, though I did catch the questioning glance he shot Mrs. Younge who responded with a slight shrug of her shoulders. I folded my hands in my lap and attempted to appear properly interested in the man who was holding my fragile young heart in his dastardly grip.
    “I hope our walk did not fatigue you , Mr. Wickham, although I doubt it could. You seem to be very strong and...robust.” I batted my eyelashes—only twice, I didn’t want to overdo it. I saw something flare in Wickham’s eyes. Georgiana likely would have taken it for interest or desire, but I could see it for what it was. Victory.
    “Thank you, my dear, for the compliment. I assure you I am not at all fatigued from our walk.”
    “That is good to hear, Mr. Wickham. I would hate to think that anything so trifling as our walk could fatigue a man such as you.” I wondered if I’d pushed it too far, but neither Wickham nor Mrs. Younge expected Georgiana to have any knowledge of flirting or double entendres. It seemed I was safe.
    “Perhaps then, Miss Darcy, as neither you nor Mr. Wickham seem the worse for yesterday’s little stroll, we could take another one today. The weather is so fine.” Mrs. Younge offered.
    I turned to look at her