Pride and Prejudice (The Wild and Wanton Edition) by Annabella Bloom Read Free Book Online Page A

character; could perceive no reason as to why Sir William should persuade him when his good friend Mr. Bingley had not. Had something changed since that first meeting?
    Elizabeth touched her face, seeing the ghostly reflection of herself in the window. The blue light caused her features to pale. Many had told her she was pretty, not so beautiful as Jane, but more blessed than others. Though conscious of her looks and figure, she did not obsess about them as some women were wont to do. She much preferred to apply her thoughts to the gaiety of friends, the fanciful worlds in novels, and the application of her mind.
    Her lips parted and she reached for the window, tracing the reflection. The cool glass slid beneath her fingertips. Bringing the chilled fingers to her mouth, she closed her eyes, and whispered, “Mr. Darcy.”
    A small shiver of pleasure and longing passed over her, even as part of her wished to deny the attraction. Any feelings she harbored were certainly owed more to the mystery of the brooding gentleman than any comprehensible logic. When she opened her eyes, she detected a shadow to move beyond her reflection. Instantly, she stepped back, banishing the fanciful thoughts from her as she hurried once more into the sanctuary of bed.

CHAPTER SIX
    M R. BENNET’S PROPERTY consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, in default of heirs male, on a distant relation. Their mother’s fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but ill-supply the deficiency of his. Her father had been an attorney in Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds. She had a sister married to a Mr. Philips, who had been a clerk to their father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade.
    The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton, a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted to go there three or four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt and to a milliner’s shop just over the way. The two youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions for their minds were more vacant than their sisters’, and when nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening. However bare of news the country might be in general, they always contrived to learn some from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighborhood. It was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the headquarters.
    Their visits to Mrs. Philips were now productive of the most interesting intelligence. Every day added something to their knowledge of the officers’ names and connections, and their lodgings were not long a secret. At length, they began to know the officers themselves. Mr. Philips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a store of felicity unknown before. They could talk of nothing but officers; and Mr. Bingley’s large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign.
    After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr. Bennet coolly observed, “From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced.”
    Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer. However, Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning to London. The very mention of the Captain’s name set the two girls to giggling, a condition they were not easily cured of.
    “I am astonished, my dear,” said Mrs. Bennet, “that you should be so ready to think your own