“That is…an unusual idea,” she replied thoughtfully. “I shall consider it.”
“And I may call upon you?”
She agreed that he might, and soon learnt that Mr Darcy had a way of sweeping aside any obstacle put before him. Every question of hers, however minor, was answered with a sincerity and thoroughness few would expect from such a taciturn man. With her agreement, it was arranged that she should spend an afternoon with Mrs Annesley, from which she emerged thinking that there would be a great number of rules to learn, but that with such assistance available it might not be insurmountable. And with every intelligent sentence he spoke, every moment he indulged her sisters in their choice of conversation and activity, and every tender, beseeching look he cast upon her, she felt herself falling a little more into his power.
Then, one bright morning, she went with Jane by the shortcut between Longbourn and the church to place flowers on their mother’s grave. They came round the hedge to find Mr Darcy standing before the shining new marble stone, his back to them.
“…that Bingley—and I, if I am so fortunate to win Miss Elizabeth—will always see to the care of your daughters,” he was saying. “They shall want for nothing in our power to provide. Rest well, Mrs Bennet.” He laid a single late daffodil at the base of the stone, and after a moment standing with bowed head over the grave, strode off in the direction of Meryton.
The sisters stood frozen by the hedge until he was lost to sight, then Jane turned to her and whispered, eyes glistening, “Oh, Lizzy…” Elizabeth, hand over her mouth and tears spilling from her eyes, at last acknowledged to herself that her heart was no longer her own.
“He really does love me,” she whispered.
“Of course he does!” Jane’s expression was a study in amazement. “Did you doubt it? Charles and I have been wondering when you would put him out of his misery and accept him, you know. It is apparent to us how perfectly suited you are.”
“I did not doubt his affections,” she replied hesitantly, “only whether they were enough to overcome the difference in our stations. I have feared his regard would die at the first obstacle, at my first mistake.”
“Lizzy, do you really think him so mean as to withhold his forgiveness for any mistake of yours? I think you could spill a pot of tea on a royal duchess and he would simply offer his cravat and handkerchief to her to mop it up!”
Elizabeth laughed through tears at that ridiculous picture. “I should hope I would never failthatspectacularly. I was thinking more along the lines of failing to curtsey deeply enough to that duchess you mention.”
“Honestly,” Jane said with some impatience. “You are too clever for your own good, at times. Stop thinking so much and accept the man you love! What could be simpler?”
“What indeed?” Elizabeth wondered, her smile becoming luminous. “I have been silly, have I not?”
“Verysilly!”
* * *
When Darcy entered the parlour at Longbourn later that day, Elizabeth greeted him with such a smile as he had not the power to describe. It stopped him in his tracks for a stunned moment, after which he could not possibly do aught but what he did: he moved directly to her and, holding out his hand, asked, “Miss Elizabeth, will you come walking with me?” He had not greeted his host, nor any of the others present. Miss Lydia, Miss Kitty, and Georgiana giggled behind their hands at this lapse in civility, as a certain sign of love. Captain Carter, who had arrived only a few minutes previously, exchanged a discreet, amused look with Miss Mary.
Smile never wavering, Elizabeth placed her hand into his and stood. “I should be delighted.” He placed her hand on his arm and escorted her from the room with fond solicitude, sparing not a glance for anyone else and leaving behind him a room filled with whispers and laughter and one rather misty-eyed father.
“Miss Elizabeth,” he ventured under the brilliant spring sunshine, “has something changed?”
“Something very substantial,” she agreed cheerfully. “At last, I understand my own wishes.”
“And…do those wishes include me?”
“I should rather say they are built upon you.”
With a great indrawn breath, he released her from his arm, only to swing about and stand before her, claiming both of her hands within his own. “Then—dearest, loveliest Elizabeth—say you will marry me, and I will gladly be the foundation for all your wishes ever after.”
“Oh! I want nothing more. I am only sorry that it has taken me so long to come to this point. Yes, I will marry you,” she answered in a rush.
“Never apologise, my love,” he insisted. “You deserved every proof of my affections, and every moment required to know your own.” Having declared as much, he could wait no longer to seal their agreement.
He lowered his head towards hers, hesitating only a heartbeat to assure himself that she welcomed this liberty. He had schooled himself to bank his passions for her sake, and he was right to do so—the moment he set his lips upon hers his desire for her surged, eager to ignite into a conflagration to scorch them both. What he had not been at all prepared for was the even more overwhelming sensation that his questing soul had at last found its resting-place in her arms.
As her lips began to move sweetly, shyly beneath his own, he knew he must not linger there, however much he wished it. He pulled back and contented himself with avidly examining her beloved features and the expression of wonder stamped thereupon.
“Elizabeth,” he breathed, “you can have no idea how I long to be married to you.”
She dropped her gaze to one side, colour rising in her cheeks as a delicious, secretive smile played about her lips.
“I think, sir, I may understand a little better now.”
Prudence be damned; he could do nothing in response tothatbut kiss her again. A cough from the direction of the house ended their embrace before it became too fervent, and they turned, blushing, to see Mr Bennet framed in the doorway. “I believe you have some business with me, Mr Darcy,” he said mildly. With a look of regret, Darcy kissed his beloved’s hand and led her to her father, whereupon they parted, he to the study and she to the parlour.
