Almost Persuaded: Miss Mary King Read Online Free Page A

a lowly footman—for now. I do not think it shall
always be so.”
    “Oh! Do you
intend to leave the militia?”
    “I am finding
my life to be less than it should be. I have begun to consider that
a life in the law better suits me. To settle in a small town—much
like Meryton, to practise law, to marry and raise a family
satisfies all my notions of happiness.”
    Mary pressed
her hand to her chest. Her eyes widened.
    “By your
expression, you are surprised to hear me speak this way.”
    She sucked in
a quick breath. “I confess I have never really thought of you as a
country lawyer, sir.”
    “The fact that
you have given any thought at all to me is a cause for hope. All
this time in Meryton, I have admired you from afar—thinking someone
like you would never acknowledge someone like me.”
    Mary was pleased by his admission, for she had taught
herself to believe he was the one who would never give her any notice. Now
hearing him speak otherwise rendered it next to impossible to
suppress her enthusiasm. “Sir, I have noticed you—ever since the
day I espied you and your friend Mr. Denny in Meryton. I believe
you were making the acquaintance of the Bennet sisters.”
    “Ah! The
Bennet sisters of Longbourn. I confess they are quite lovely, and I
am always happy to be diverted by them. However, there are times
when a man seeks something other than diversions and pleasantries
from the fairer sex.”
    Mary raised
her brow.
    “Please do not
mistake my meaning. The Bennets are agreeable to one’s eyes, but
save the two eldest daughters, they offer little in the way of
serious conversations. I believe the youngest one, Miss Catherine,
is the silliest creature in all of England, followed closely by the
next youngest, Miss Lydia, who seems to take her lead from the
former.”
    “If I may
correct you, sir—Miss Lydia is the youngest. Miss Catherine is next
to her.”
    “Forgive me if
I have trouble sorting the two of them out—especially when walking
along with you. How might I possibly be expected to give a care for
the names of other women?”
    “I believe the
youngest is quite enamoured of you, sir.”
    “No more than
she is fond of any of my cohorts, I assure you. The young lady is
generally regarded as a harmless distraction. She likes the
attention, and it costs me nothing to pay her little compliments
and flatter her vanity from time to time. It is all in good fun,
and I am persuaded she perfectly comprehends my intentions.”
    “And what have
you to say of your other favourite, Miss Elizabeth Bennet? I
confess to observing the two of you engaged in a rather lengthy
intercourse during her aunt’s dinner party. You were quite
enthralled.”
    “I confess I
held her in high esteem, but that was only when I first made her
acquaintance. I have since been given cause to think differently of
her. I find it difficult to reconcile how a woman in her situation
would spurn the hand of the heir of her father’s estate, and
thereby subject her mother and sisters to such a perilous fate
should Mr. Bennet meet with an early demise.”
    “Sir, I take
it you are speaking of the Bennets’ cousin, Mr. Collins. The
refusal of a gentleman’s hand is a rather sensitive matter. How can
you be privy to such information?”
    “Information
of that nature is not difficult to discern, especially given a
mother of Mrs. Bennet’s temperament. It would not surprise me one
bit if everyone in Meryton has heard the tale by now.”
    Mary dared not
doubt the gentleman’s assertion. To know Mrs. Bennet was to know
precisely how she would suffer the loss of a potential son-in-law.
Intrigued, Mary pressed on. “I should think Miss Elizabeth’s stance
would have pleased you and deepened your respect for her.”
    He shook his
head. “On the contrary—it shows she is imprudent, dare I say
foolish. A striking contrast to you, I might add.”
    “You flatter
me, sir.”
    “You deserve
to be flattered, Miss King.”
    The idea of
his being