“Good god, Lizzy, your hand is trembling.”
She looked up to him soulfully.
Darcy needed to say something, but all eloquence abandoned him. He must say something. Something true. “I often make mistakes.”
Elizabeth tilted her head when Darcy did not continue.
He smiled at her.
She took his arm again. “Thatshould give me confidence in marriage to you?”
“Yes.”
“You would have ruined your sister’s life! Look how happy she is!”
“I know! I would have!”
Elizabeth, she smiled at him. “Quite emphatic agreement.”
“I can admit my failings.” Darcy could not stop smiling. Elizabeth’s face had softened. “We both are fortunate Georgiana reached the age where I can only counsel her.”
“If I marry you, then I would be under your power, like Georgiana before she came of age. It is easy…easy for you to say you shall treat me as an equal when I am not under your power. Butwillyou?”
“I am a stubborn and determined man, and I strive to better myself. I do not often make thesamemistake once I have been taught my error.”
“I will not depend upon your whim.”
“Do not depend upon my whim. Depend upon my promise, my oath, my word of honor — one need not only make the promises in the marriage vows. I swear, solemnly, as a gentleman, as a Darcy, as a man ardently in love. I will never demand your silence. I will never treat you as my object, a possession. My wife; my helpmeet; my dearest partner. That is who I wish you to be.”
Her face. She was melting for him.
Darcy smiled. “You can trust my oath because I amtoogentlemanly.”
Elizabeth giggled. “I told you to cease seducing me.”
“I want to make you laugh. I adore that sound above all others. Ifyoufind that seductive, it is your matter.”
“Whenwe disagree…” Elizabeth swallowed. She paused for a long time. She knew the significance of thatwhen wewhich had slipped from her pink lips. “You will not force me to act as you wish.”
“I will never force you to act in any way you do not wish. That is my word, my oath.”
“I am terrified.” She placed her hand on her stomach.
“Fear is a passion as much as love — perhaps your passion and not your head is what makes you hesitate.”
Elizabeth smiled softly. “My philosophy is that the passions and the reason must be united, not opposed.”
“Do not fear. We will be happy.”
She shook her head, inclining her body closer to his. “Have you certainty?”
A magnetism existed between him and Elizabeth. Darcy smiled into her eyes.
“I shall despise you forever if you are lying to me — I expect equality.”
“In our marriage, in our lives — when we raise our children — always. Except when we argue philosophy. Then I shall crush you with my excellent reason.”
“Ha! You have lost often enough to know that is an empty boast.” She laughed.
