Page 44 of Twice Chosen

"Yes."

"Lydia."

Darcy hesitated.

Elizabeth stopped walking. "William."

"Preventing danger is not manipulation."

"No."

"Then Wickham remains an exception where necessary."

"Agreed."

She slipped her hand through his arm. Entirely improper, but the road was empty.

Darcy looked at her hand.

Elizabeth smiled. "Fourth rule. You stop pretending we have not been married longer than most people live when no one can see us."

"That is not a rule."

"It is now."

"Fifth: no references to events the other cannot explain without difficulty."

"You mean coffee?"

"Especially coffee."

Elizabeth laughed. "Sixth: you must not stare at me across rooms like a starving man. Charlotte noticed. Jane noticed."

Darcy groaned. "Bingley noticed you."

"Yes."

Elizabeth grinned. "This is going well."

Darcy sighed, then said more quietly, "Seventh. We do not postpone happiness merely because we had to wait once."

Elizabeth looked at him.

The teasing faded.

Darcy continued, "I will court you. Properly."

"Will you?"

"Yes."

"How novel."

"I will speak to your father when appropriate."

Elizabeth's smile widened. "Oh, I should like to hear that."

"Elizabeth."