“You can and you must. You are not amiable enough to think of things in the moment, so plan accordingly. Do not say ‘you look lovely’ say…” He thought briefly, then said, “Your beauty and grace have captivated my heart and my admiration of you is like nothing I have ever known before. Every inch of you is perfection and I am in awe of your beauty. You have an effortless way of moving that is so graceful and elegant, I am often left speechless in your presence.”
With a smirk, he said, “So there, you have three. And if all else fails, think of a poem and tell her it seems as if it was written for her.”
“It all sounds rather overdone, in my estimation.”
Saye shrugged. “You had better think of something. Calling her Cousin Elizabeth will not be to your liking.”
Elizabeth satwith a glass of lemonade in hand, listening to Jane and Bingley make love to one another. All three of them were seated on a blanket under a tree, with Elizabeth as far off the blanket as she could manage without risking grass stains on her skirt. Bingley and Jane occupied the corner farthest from her, nuzzling together, whispering, and laughing softly. She hardly supposed they needed a chaperon three days before the wedding, and in broad daylight no less, but in truth she was glad to sit and think.
She had turned it over in her mind again and again, what Mr Darcy had said the evening prior.‘I was angry, at first, but my deep regard for you would not let it remain.’Was it possible that he loved her still? Could it be that the changes she saw in him truly were a result of what she had said? The idea that she, Elizabeth Bennet, had such a man as Mr Darcy in her power was astonishing. To imagine that he had altered something within himself for her? Even more astonishing.
Her eyes slipped towards Jane and Bingley and for a brief, mad moment, she imagined herself thus with Mr Darcy. Then she nearly laughed, the moment coinciding unfortunately with a sip of lemonade that made her sputter and spit. Happily, she recovered herself before anyone, even her companions, noticed.
Then again, I could probably choke to death before those two would notice,she mused, watching Bingley give Jane what appeared to be a kiss on the ear.I do not believe Mr Darcy would act like that, not in full view of an entire party of people, she decided.But I do not know that I would either. We have that much in common at least; our more tender feelings are held close.
Tender feelings for Mr Darcy. The very notion of that would have revolted her only a few weeks ago, but every time she spoke to him, everything they spoke about, revealed more of his good character. It had amazed her to learn he had first come into Hertfordshire, very likely heartsick with fear and sorrow for his own beloved sister, only a month after the near-disaster. Then to see Mr Wickham on the street! Such exemplary forbearance! She wondered that he had not thrown the man to the ground and pummelled him.
But it was not this which had occupied her thoughts since the night prior. She was lost in debating with herself whether he might still love her. At times it seemed impossible, but othertimes… She hardly knew what to think, particularly with the added complication of the colonel.
There was something amiss in Colonel Fitzwilliam’s attentions to her. Looking out over the picnickers, she saw that he had joined the group playing quoits. He made a fine figure tossing the rings, but nevertheless he held no appeal for her. Over the last days, if she was honest, she had begun to dread seeing him approach. His behaviour did not strike her as genuine. It was why she had left him and Mr Darcy previously; his boldness was truly almost repulsive.
He had not been so in Kent, so why was he that way now? It defied sense, just like refusing to go and attend to land you had just inherited also defied sense. But she had no explanation for it, unless he merely wished to stymie his cousin? That seemed too cruel. Round and round she went, finding explanations and discarding them and never once arriving at a satisfactory answer.
Mr Darcy had left Lord Saye and was walking towards her. Her heart leapt at the look of determination upon his countenance as he came, and her chest seemed to somehow empty of air. She took a large swallow of her lemonade to calm herself as the truth she had been trying to set aside continued to prick at her consciousness.As it happens, I just might wish to marry Mr Darcy after all. Quite ardently, in fact.
“Miss Elizabeth,” he said when he arrived at their party. His voice was a trifle too loud. Even Jane was startled from her love haze to look over at him.
He looked sheepish as he said, “I wonder if I might persuade you to take a walk?”
“A walk would be wonderful, thank you.”
He looked pleased as he extended one arm to help her to her feet.
“I can only hope,” she said conspiratorially, “that my two blanket-mates will not too long repine my absence.”
They both glanced to where Jane and Bingley had resumed their lovemaking, and Mr Darcy chuckled. “I think they will shift along without you.”
With no true direction, they set off, walking side by side. He asked whether she was having a pleasant day, and she assured him she was, then asked the same of him. They had not gone far before the colonel—who was beginning to remind Elizabeth of a horsefly—came trotting after them. “Where do you go, Darcy?”
Without looking at his cousin, Mr Darcy said, “Miss Elizabeth and I are taking a short walk.”
“An excellent notion! I do not doubt Miss Elizabeth has any number of favourite paths she might show us.”
Mr Darcy looked like he was clenching his jaw, but before he could speak, Elizabeth interceded, “I do, to be sure…but I am afraid I shall have to disappoint you, sir.”
The colonel’s grin dimmed very slightly. “Oh?”
“You see, I have just learnt of some important, um, wedding…things. Changes. And I must acquaint Mr Darcy with them at once.” She smiled. “You will understand, I am sure. Perhaps later we might all play lawn bowls.”
The colonel glanced between her and his cousin while Elizabeth willed him to move on. At last, he conceded. “That sounds excellent. I shall see you both in a bit, then.” He turned on his heel and moved back towards the quoits game.
Elizabeth looked up at Mr Darcy, wondering what he thought of her boldness and surprised by her own unexpected wish be with him, and him alone.
“Shall we go into the garden?” Mr Darcy asked. “I understand some of the roses are beginning to bloom.”
“By all means,” she agreed.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
