A Demon in Dallas (15 page)

“You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr Bingley will be very glad to see you, and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls, though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.”

Jane Bennet inhaled a sharp breath, and her hand lifted to cover her mouth, but Elizabeth merely chuckled. She was well versed in her father’s humour, which was much like her own.

“I desire you will do no such thing,” Mrs Bennet returned. “Lizzy is not a bit better than the others, and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving
her
the preference.”

“They have none of them much to recommend them,” replied he, “they are all silly and ignorant like other girls, but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.”

“Mr Bennet, how
can
you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves.”

“It is a wonder she has any nerves left,” remarked Elizabeth to her sister.

“You mistake me, my dear,” said Mr Bennet. “I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least.”

“Ah, you do not know what I suffer.”

“But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood.”

“Four thousand?” enquired Jane, her eyes wide with surprise.

Elizabeth smiled mischievously at her sister. “If that is what mamma says, then it
has
to be true.”

“Do you think he will be handsome?”

Elizabeth averted her eyes from her sister’s inquisitive gaze. “I had not thought on the matter.”

“It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them,” said Mrs Bennet regretfully.

“Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all.”

Elizabeth and Jane shared in their father’s joke. Mrs Bennet made no reply.

Mr Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character.
Her
mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married, its solace was visiting and news.

When Elizabeth Bennet’s sisters Lydia and Mary entered the sitting room, Elizabeth returned to her embroidery, leaving them to speculate about Mr Bingley. It was decided by Lydia that he would indeed be handsome, and Jane wished that he were kind. Mary thought them all puerile. Although Elizabeth endeavoured to forget about her earlier fancies, she added that
she
hoped Mr Bingley would have a sharp mind and one that would stimulate her. Though when her own mind betrayed her, producing images of the way her
body
could be stimulated, she felt heat return to her cheeks and tried to hide the blush from her sisters. They were silly notions anyway. Elizabeth would never act upon her deepest desires. To do so would surely ruin her.

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About the Author

Amy Armstrong is a Brit that loves chocolate, prosecco, and sunshine. She lives and breathes paranormal romance and urban fantasy, but is also a fan of the classics and pretty much anything else she can get her hands on, including but not limited to contemporary romance, thrillers, horror, dark fantasy and young adult fiction.

Amy writes stories filled with heart, heat and passion. She loves to read about strong woman, but believes heroes come in all different shapes and sizes. She is happiest when writing or soaking up the sun with a pina colada in one hand and her kindle in the other. Her family and friends are an important part of her life and she loves meeting new people with similar interests. She is a full time, multi—published author and loves to hear from readers. She writes M/M romance under the pen name Lavinia Lewis.

Email:
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Amy loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at
http://www.total-e-bound.com
.

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