“What is on your mind?”
“Chiefly,” Darcy smiled, “I have been engrossed in contemplation of the many ways that I have frequently been a fool.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed. “I knew that—” He lowered his voice, glancing about to make sure there were no servants, and that Lady Catherine was not hiding like a bat behind the curtains, “Will you at last come up to scratch and ask Miss Bennet for her hand?”
“Oh,” Darcy waved his hand vaguely, and with an intentional tone of nonchalance he said, “That, I believe I did that yesterday.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s eyes bulged, and then a wide grin crossed his face. He clapped Darcy on his shoulder. “Congratulations, man.”
“Ah, you see, she refused me.”
His cousin pulled back in startlement. Peered at Darcy closely. Pursed his lips. Then he laughed. “Gave you a proper set down, didn’t she? I’d thought well of her, but didn’t know she had it in her. You still have hopes, do you not?”
“She did suggest that if, after I have thought for an appropriate period, I ask again, her replymightbe more favourable.” Darcy grinned, unable to repress his happiness.
While Elizabeth definitely had notpromisedto agree, he did not think she would refuse when he asked her again, and hewouldask her, and he would be able to tell her that he truly wanted to marry her, and that she was right, and that until now he had been a fool.
“By Jupiter and Mars,” Colonel Fitzwilliam exclaimed. “By Zeus and Ares. I dare say she’ll manageyou. Better than I imagined. What did she say? I wish I’d been there to see it.”
“Mainly that she would only marry me if I could promise that I would not spend the rest of my life feeling guilty over having abandoned my plan to not marry again. I believe her words were ‘No sensible woman would marry a man so obsessed with the ghost of his previous wife.’ And other things.”
“Zeus and Ares!” Colonel Fitzwilliam grinned. “I so wish that I had been there to see it.”
“Do you think that I often feel culpable for matters that no reasonable person would?”
The instant Darcy asked that, he regretted having said so much from the mischievous grin that spread across his cousin's face.
“Oh, never mind. I shall simply take Elizabeth’s advice on such matters.”
“No, no — you must allow me to answer the question. At length, at great length.”
The next hour proved that Darcy had been correct in his regret, but oddly he enjoyed being teased more than he had imagined he would.
That afternoon Darcy walked across to the parsonage with Emily, who had mentioned Be-ne repeatedly. She was his excuse this time, though he would not dislike it if he had an opportunity to speak to Elizabeth at length. But itwas not yet time to ask her that question.
He found Elizabeth sitting out with her sisters in Mr. Collins's garden.
That poignant scent which came after a rain, as all the flowers and grasses slowly dried, filled the air.
Emily ran over to Elizabeth on seeing her, without giving Darcy an opportunity to say anything to explain his call. Soonshe had them all playing with the ball she’d brought, and the doll she’d had her father carry for her.
Elizabeth looked at him with warm eyes, and he sat around the stone table with her while Emily ran in circles, and happily ate the early berries that were offered by Jane. They all talked, but about nothing of importance. Darcy felt relaxed, more relaxed than he had thought he would be able to be around Elizabeth.
They spoke of how Jane had decorated the nursery, about Mr. Collins’s planned sermon, about how soon the babe would come. “I spoke with the midwife yesterday, and she said it might be any day,” Jane said. “I confess that while I can bear it so long as I must, it is difficult to be quitesolarge as I am at present.”
Later Darcy had a chance to briefly speak with Elizabeth alone, when Mary had returned indoors to start her studies once more, and Jane followed ten minutes later to do some small task indoors. From her manner Darcy suspected that Elizabeth’s sister was intentionally giving them a chance for a private interview. Private that is, except for the presence of Emily, who was occupying herself by hopping about and shouting, “Croak,” with every leap.
“Energetic creature,” Elizabeth said, pointing at the girl.
Darcy smiled and looked at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth then added, “You are in a better mood.”
“I do believe I am. I have been thinking a great deal, as you suggested.”
She raised a finger then. “I approve of your thinking, but your time of thinking cannot end until the day after tomorrow at the earliest.”
“You are strict in your strictures,” he replied.
