Mr. Darcy's Obsession by Abigail Reynolds Read Free Book Online Page B

say?"
    "Even more wicked, and delightful. The actresses stayed afterwards."
    Richard gave a silent whistle. "I should have liked to see such a sight. Or to have enjoyed it myself."
    Henry laughed and raised his glass. "Take another lesson, Darcy. Our father has not raised any Puritans."
    "So I see." Darcy knew Richard was trying to protect him by playing the rake, but he had no taste for this game. "Yes, I certainly see what you mean."

Chapter 5
    This was the worst visit to Rosings Park Darcy could recall, and there had been many unpleasant ones. The only time Darcy ever enjoyed Rosings was when Elizabeth was there. He should have followed her when she left and proposed; then she would be in his bed tonight helping him laugh at all the nonsense.
    After a tense dinner, Richard invited him back to his room. The door had barely closed behind them when Richard tore off his cravat and flung it over the bedrail. "Finally. That damned thing has been choking me all night."
    Darcy slumped into a richly upholstered chair. It was uncomfortable, like all the furnishings at Rosings. "The conversation, if you care to call it that, was asphyxiating enough. Present company excepted, of course, though I was afraid that if your father mentioned Lady Mary one more time, I might have had to pull you off him. Does he know?"
    Richard's valet appeared silently from the dressing room and cast a mildly reproachful look at his master as he picked up the discarded cravat and folded it. Richard turned his back to him, shrugged off his tailcoat into Robbins's waiting hands, and said, "Completely oblivious, as far as I know, and I prefer to keep it that way. It would make no difference in any case."
    "Is it certain, then, that she will marry Henry?"
    Richard grimaced. "They are still negotiating with her father. And no, there is nothing I can do to stop it. She does not wish to marry Henry, but her father will never consent to allow her to marry me, and she will not act without his consent. So Henry will make her miserable, and I will be the friend who offers her what little solace I can." He began to unbutton his waistcoat. "It was bad enough when the best I could hope for was to partner her for a dance, to allow our hands to touch briefly, and the occasional clandestine meeting. Watching her with Henry... it does not bear thinking on."
    "I am sorry. Perhaps the negotiations will come to nothing; it has happened often enough before."
    "One can but hope. I have long since resigned myself that she will marry another man, but I would prefer it not to be Henry. Robbins, damn it, where is my robe? A man could freeze to death in here." Richard took the poker and stirred the fire with unnecessary vigour until the flames leapt high.
    Robbins came up behind him, holding out the quilted moss-green robe. "Here it is, sir. My apologies."
    Richard nodded to him and pulled the robe around himself. "Is there no brandy here?"
    Robbins bowed. "I will fetch it immediately." If he was perturbed by his master's unusual ill temper, it was not apparent as he took a bottle from a small cabinet and poured the amber liquid into two snifters.
    Richard took the proffered glass and moodily swirled it. "They were in fine form today, both my father and Henry, blast and damn them both. You were fortunate to get off so lightly when you refused to marry Anne."
    "It was quite enough for me. I do not know how you tolerate it."
    Richard shrugged. "You should not allow them to bait you so. Tell them what they want to hear, and that will be the end of it. What does it matter if they think you have mistresses on every street corner? I say what they want to hear, and do as I please."
    "If your damned brother had not tried to besmirch Georgiana, I might have done so as well. If he so much as looks at her, I will call him out."
    "He only does that to annoy you. She is not his sort; he prefers women who are well versed in bedroom arts."
    "Charming," Darcy muttered beneath his breath. "Will you