She rested her fingers on the back of his hand. “Fitzwilliam, I know you refer to your recovery, but please understand that you areexactlythe man I wish for.”
The storm in his eyes when he looked up at her pierced her soul. “I do not know what to say,” he whispered. Covering her hand with his, he said, “My lady, when we were at the lake after your fall and at Rosings after mine, we both freely expressed ourselves. In so doing, there was little misunderstanding between us. Thus, I beg you to be honest and tell me, please. Did you…did you ever think of me?”
Her heart was full of him. Unbidden tears clouded her vision. She blinked them away, not wanting anything to come between them. When a tear trailed down her cheek, he used the pad of his thumb to brush it away.
“Do not weep, Elizabeth. I have overwhelmed you. I apologize. Please do not cry.”
“No! Do not apologize.” She smiled tremulously. “Not a day passed that I did not worry about you. Besides your health, there were times when I read an item in the circulating paper or when a particular subject came up for discussion that I longed to share with you. I wondered”—she bowed her head—“if you ever thought of me?”
From the door, a man loudly cleared his throat. “Miss Bennet. How wonderful to see you at Pemberley.”
Startled, she slid away from Mr. Darcy. Then, she peered behind her to discover who dared to interrupt this precious moment.Colonel Fitzwilliam!
Was that Mr. Darcy who growled in frustration? Or me?
“Richard, I did not expect you back from your ride so soon.”
“I see that.” There was a mischievous glint in the colonel’s eye, along with a devilish grin. “You two shall have to pursue your tender courtship later, Darcy. Georgie ran upstairs to ready herself for visitors when we spotted Bingley’s carriage entering the park. Even from a distance, we could hear his younger sister ordering the coachman to travel faster. You should expect their arrival within the next quarter hour.”
It felt like the bottom fell out of Elizabeth’s stomach.Miss Caroline Bingley at Pemberley? Ugh!
“You are getting dust on the floor, Richard. Perhaps you need to follow Georgiana’s example before Mrs. Reynolds sees the trail of dust you are leaving behind you.”
Darcy struggled to stand. Instead of offering help, the colonel remained in place until his cousin gained his balance. With a wink at Elizabeth, he left.
“Blast!” Darcy watched him walk away, then turned toward her. “Before the Bingleys and Hursts arrive, I wanted to ask you?—”
The housekeeper hurried into the room. “Mr. Darcy, sir. A carriage has been spotted entering the park.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds.”
Elizabeth was barely able to restrain her laughter. “It seems, Fitzwilliam, that whatever it is you would like to ask should be done directly, or I fear that my aunt and uncle will return, and your sister will be here along with the colonel even before the Bingleys arrive.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up, showing the dimple in his left cheek. “You are likely correct. My dearest Elizabeth, would you accept a courtship, a very short courtship from me?”
Without hesitation, she stepped closer to him. “Yes.”
“With the goal of marriage?” His smile grew when she moved even closer.
“Of course.” Leaning forward, she rested her hands on his chest.
“Might we seal our bargain?”
“How?” Elizabeth whispered.
“Like this.” Lowering his mouth to hers, she felt his breath on her lips just before….
“Darcy, I …ah…oh! It appears my timing is not as perfect as I always claim,” Colonel Fitzwilliam smirked.
Regretfully, Elizabeth dropped her hands and stepped back.
“I shall, well, nevermind.” Turning on his heel, Darcy’s cousin vacated the room as quickly as he entered.
“I shall make him pay,” Darcy reassured her, his sigh of frustration as great as hers when one maid after another began bringing in refreshments for the newcomers. The precious moment was lost.
Darcy owed his cousin.Richard rode out to meet the Bingleys. Stopping the driver, Richard told him there were sheep in the road ahead, then directed them to pull into an area overlooking the lake until the sheepherders had an opportunity to clear their path.
By the time the carriage arrived, Georgiana and the Gardiners returned to the drawing room and introductions were made.
