"Noted. I will not attempt any poetry."
Idly I picked up a stone from the case. In the poor light it looked nearly black, but there was hint of purple and a bit of sparkle.
"That is fluorite. Blue john colloquially," said Darcy too avidly.
I quickly put the stone back where I had found it. I have learned from my experiences with Dora that the key to not receiving an impromptu hour long lecture from an enthusiast about their chosen subject is to not let them get them started in the first place.
"Geology can be interesting."
I nodded exaggeratedly in reply.
He was not discouraged by my sarcasm. "Here, look, it is fossilized coral. I found it in a rock outcropping in Derbyshire. From this evidence we can only assume Derbyshire was covered by the sea several millennia ago. Is it not fascinating?"
"It is." I took the fossil from him and squinted at it. I could not imagine Derbyshire under the sea. It was difficult enough to imagine Derbyshire at all.
"To think how old the world is makes one feel one's life is rather insignificant, yet precious all the same," Darcy said as he returned his prize to its proper place.
In that moment realized I was terribly fond of him. That I was attracted to him—that I admired him had been evident to me for some time now, but fondness had seemed too quiet, too sweet an emotion to apply to my feelings towards Darcy.
It did not blaze like passion, it was subtle, it was furtive, it coaxed you out into the fen slowly so you did not realize where you were until you were quite mired. Fondness made you shrug your shoulders at even the oddest eccentricities and say, "He is such a trial, but I amsovery fond of him." The poets never spoke of fondness, but they should. A sudden surety had come over me and I knew now that it was the most dangerous of all of Love's cousins.
I kissed his cheek.
"I am being dull, aren't I?" asked Darcy.
"No, indeed."
"You just kissed me as if I were your great aunt and I daresay you are listening with the same polite attentiveness you would give to a dotty old lady as well."
"I do not have a great aunt unless you count your great aunt. I would like to hear you call Margaret dotty to her face. And I've never been polite to you before, I hardly think I would start now."
"There is that. But no matter the reason, I would not have you kiss me politely."
He kissed me then in that overwhelming way he usually did. Fortunately, I still had enough wits about me to anticipate him.
Catching hold of the coverlet before he could yank it away I said, "No. You will not distract me. I want to see your collection."
"You've seen it."
"This was not the collection I was talking about."
"Yes, but this collection is much less shameful."
"I do not know about that," I teased, then more seriously, "Show me your naughty books."
"You won't even let me see your naughty bits, why should I?"
"Perhaps we can come to an agreement."
"Oh?"
"If you let me see—nay, if you let mereadone of your naughty books, I will let you see me unclothed with the candles alight."
"If you let me see—nay, if you let me visit your Garden of Delight while you are unclothed with the candles alight, I will let you read a book of my choosing from my illicit collection."
I knew he would choose the tamest book in his collection, but I also knew it was the best offer I was likely to get.
"All right, we have an agreement."
