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When the party set out for their walk, Elizabeth could not account for the swell of emotions spiralling inside her. She and Mr. Darcy strolled side-by-side, but they may as well have been miles apart. There was so much she wanted to say to him. She knew enough about her walking companion to surmise she had better take the initiative.

“How does Georgiana get along? She must think very poorly of me for not having replied to her last missive.”

“Georgiana is exceedingly well. She sends her regards.”

Elizabeth released a sigh of relief. Mr. Darcy had not allowed this incident with her sister or her own harsh rejection of his marriage proposal to impede Elizabeth’s friendship with his sister. Perhaps there was some hope after all. “I will attend to my lapse by writing to her as soon as I return to the house.”

“I know Georgiana will enjoy nothing more than a letter from you, Miss Elizabeth.”

Glancing over her shoulder, Elizabeth noticed Mr. Bingley and Jane had allowed Mr. Darcy and her to outstrip them. Elizabeth had resolved she would speak with Mr. Darcy on the matter weighing heaviest on her mind. Now was the moment for her to carry out her resolution. Her courage high, she immediately said, “Mr. Darcy, how shall I thank you for your extraordinary kindness to my poor sister, Lydia? Ever since I learnt of all you did on her behalf, I have been most anxious to acknowledge to you how grateful I am. Were the rest of my family aware of your benevolence, I am certain they would be equally appreciative.”

Darcy clasped his hands behind his back. “I am sorry if the discovery of my involvement was disquieting. That was never my intention. I did not think Mrs. Gardiner was so little to be trusted.”

“You must not blame my aunt. Lydia’s thoughtlessness first betrayed that you had been concerned in the matter. I simply could not rest until I knew the particulars.”

“The Gardiners are fine, upstanding people. Based upon all that I have come to know about them, I suspect your uncle would never have yielded to my assistance if he had not given me credit for another interest in the affair.”

“Yes. My aunt told me as much in her letter. Let me thank you again and again, in the name of all my family, for the generous compassion which induced you to take so much trouble, and bear so many mortifications for the sake of discovering my sister.”

“When I learned of Wickham’s misdeeds, how could I do otherwise?”

“But the degradation you suffered, the expense you incurred, and to say nothing of having to associate with the man who would be your worst enemy.”

“Surely you must know I did it all for you. The truth is I believe I would do anything for you. I have long supposed that to be the case. If I may, I believe I must date the forming of that resolve to the night I first beheld you on the dance floor at the Thurston’s ball, but it would be a long time before I confessed it to anyone—including myself.”

“If I am to be completely honest, then I would have to confess to a long-standing and an undeclared fascination for you as well, but if I told you how it came about you might think ill of me.”

“Me think ill of you? I believe that is impossible, Miss Elizabeth.”

“Now surely you were unimpressed that I was so readily persuaded of Mr. Wickham’s goodness?”

“You were not the first. Even my own father held Wickham in high esteem. I do not fault you in that regard. I am afraid that even in his recently acquired state of matrimony, young unsuspecting women will find him equally appealing.”

“I do not envy the prospect my sister faces.”

“To be George Wickham’s wife is indeed an unfortunate fate. But as you and I both know, your sister does not share our opinion.”

“No—she proclaims she is the happiest and the luckiest woman in all of England. And my sisters and I must forever call that scoundrel our brother.”

Darcy’s muscles tensed. “Were there any other way to resolve this situation, surely I would have elected it.”

“My sister and my mother are delighted by the outcome. Having a daughter married at sixteen is apparently something which occasions a prodigious amount of pride.”

Darcy crumpled his brow and gazed at Elizabeth intently. “Please, let us speak no more of George Wickham. I would much rather we talk about more satisfying topics. You were about to confess a closely guarded account of when you first admired me.”

“Do I have your promise to think no more of it than what it truly was?”

“This sounds more and more intriguing.”

“Do I have your promise, sir?”

“Of course, you have my promise. Now, end my suspense at once.”

“I have to say it was when I first visited your magnificent home. After studying your likeness for what seemed an hour, I supposed you were the handsomest man alive, but it was not until I walked about your magnificent grounds of Pemberley that I was convinced you must truly be something.”

Darcy said nothing, giving Elizabeth pause. Does he suppose I am mercenary—that I indeed had manipulated circumstances to my favour in setting about a confluence of events leading to this moment?

Elizabeth forged ahead in spite of his silence. “Convinced as I was of your goodness, I truly looked forward to the possibility of meeting you.”