“Miss Elizabeth, please pardon my interruption of your solitude,” Darcy gave a half bow.
“You did in fact intrude on my reverie,” Elizabeth began, “however, that does not mean your company is unwelcome.”
At first, she saw a look of contrition on Mr. Darcy’s handsome countenance. The transformation of his face from apologetic to radiating more light than the rising sun was instantaneous as he heard and processed her words. Mr. Darcy was wearing the widest of smiles revealing two dimples she had never seen on his face before.
‘Oh my,’ Elizabeth thought. ‘Dimples!If I thought him handsome before, that is nothing to how he is when he smiles.’ At that instant, she knew she would like to be the one who caused him to smile more often.
“If you are not in a hurry and are willing to spend some minutes with me, I would like to say some things,” Darcy requested, “however, I do not want to endanger your reputation, so if you prefer, I will leave you to yourself.”
“We are out in the open, not trying to hide away to have a secret assignation so I believe my reputation is safe in your hands,” Elizabeth averred.
Darcy approached deliberately and once Miss Elizabeth seated herself on one end of the boulder, he sat on the opposite side to her.
“There is something I want to ask, but before I do, I want to make an admission which may affect your answer.” Elizabeth nodded her permission for him to proceed.
“I am sure you remember I joined Miss Bingley and the Hursts in returning to London after the ball, do you not?”
“I do, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth responded with some confusion not knowing what he was getting at.
“You already know Miss Bingley’s letter to your sister was full of fiction, none of which was supported by anyone, least of all me. In fact, her hubris in using my sister’s name in her prevarication was the last straw which caused me to break with her on a permanent basis. What you may not know is she told Mrs. Hurst and me that Bingley had agreed she could permanently close the house and for us to follow him to London—also false.”
Elizabeth did not know all of the details, but it fit with what she had guessed. “Please carry on, I am not sure what it is you wanted to tell me yet.”
“Before we departed, Miss Bingley enlisted my aid in convincing Bingley not to return to Hertfordshire, and to my shame I agreed with her.” Darcy did not miss the look of anger which crossed Miss Elizabeth’s face. He decided it was now or never so he forged ahead. “After Sir William spoke of the expectations at the ball, I looked at your sister closely andconvincedmyself she felt no affection for my friend.”
“Why would you have to convince yourself of something obviously not true?” Elizabeth demanded.
“Because of my feelings for you.”
Elizabeth was thrown, he had given the very last reason she had expected to hear. “Please explain.”
“Even at the assembly after my vile words, I immediately saw I was wrong and found youso much more than handsomeenough to tempt me. By the time you arrived at Netherfield Park to care for Miss Bennet with your incredibly fine eyes glowing from the exercise, I knew I was in love with you.”
Again Elizabeth was at sixes and sevens. Had she heard correctly, did Mr. Darcy just state he was in love with her? She used her hand to signal him to continue. She did not trust herself to speak yet.
“I now freely admit it was improper pride which caused an epic battle between my heart and my head. I, a gentleman farmer, thought myself above you, when if anything, you Miss Elizabeth are superior to me in every way which is important. Yes, I have wealth and connections, but I digress. Knowing Bingley and Miss Bennet marrying would throw me in your company far too often to resist my love for you, I agreed to assist Miss Bingley for purely selfish reasons.”
“Something must have changed. You seemed very supportive yesterday unless you were disguising your true feelings about the engagement.”
“Disguise of any sort is an abhorrence to me. The truth is I had a change of heart when I returned to Darcy House. I admitted I was deluding myself that Miss Bennet did not have a tender regard for Bingley. I knew then I could not, and would not, try to sway my friend. Of course, I had no knowledge he was already betrothed to your excellent sister. At the same time, I decided I was the world’s biggest fool not to pursue the woman I love for prideful and nonsensical reasons. There was but one thing I had to do before I would allow myself that pleasure.”
“W-what was that?”
“One of the things I had used to convince myself was if I married a lady with no fortune or connections, my sister’s marital prospects would be harmed. I discounted that when I had my revelations but I could not be so selfish as to proceed without conferring with Giana. I did, and she told me what a fool I had been to leave you without declaring myself and echoed my opinion that any man who would eschew her as his wife because of who I married was not worth her time.
“The Monday we met at Bingley’s house, I admitted all to him after I had refused to support the harridan, and I mentioned my reaction when Bingley handed me the vile letter.”
That he had pushed his own desires to the side to canvas his younger sister’s opinion did nothing but increase Elizabeth’s esteem of Mr. Darcy.
“You were worried I would condemn you for intentions you had, ones which you admitted to yourself were wrong and then did not follow through as you had intended. I would never judge you or any other for what you considered, rather than for your actual actions.”
“That is very similar to what Bingley said when I admitted all to him.” Darcy revealed his dimples again.
He was most gratified. As he had spoken he saw Miss Elizabeth’s features soften. The more he spoke the more pleased she looked.
“What was the question you wanted to ask me if I did not send you on your way after your disclosures?” Elizabeth asked with an arched eyebrow.
“As much as I love you, and I do love you most ardently, I am fully cognisant of the fact I have not always shown my character to advantage around you and your family. What I want more than anything—if you agree that is—is for you to get to know the true me. To that end, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would you honour me by granting me an official courtship?”
