It was, unfortunately, impossible for Elizabeth to feel wholly satisfied by this speech.
For a brief moment her resentment at the metaphor “like a pearl from the muck” left Elizabeth’s spirit reconciled even with her mother. She nearly yelled angrily back at Mr. Darcy — how dare he compare her family, her loving, annoying, loud, affectionate family to pig’smuck.
Longbourn had an attached farm, and Elizabeth knew what the muck pigs bathed in was like, thank you very much. She did not appreciate that comparison.
“Elizabeth…” Darcy’s voice and face had grown anxious as she sat there, frowning. “Please, answer me — say something.”
“I do not like to hear you speak of my family with such disdain. To speak so much about your reasonsnotto marry me.”
“I only tell you the strength of my feelings — surely you cannot expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections.”
“Rejoice, no, but—” Elizabeth looked again at Darcy’s face, his eyes, his expression, his pallor and the way his hand had bunched up a fistful of his coat — as though his nerves were on the verge of overcoming him.
The crutches leaning on the side of the couch, the sun he sat in lighting up his face.
And she liked him very much.
Further, she had determined for Jane’s sake that she would accept any gentleman who offered for her who she could at least respect and like. And despite his disdain for her family and the society she was from, Elizabeth not only liked Mr. Darcy very much… she loved him.
She took his hands again. “Mr. Darcy…” Her voice cracked and she took a deep breath. “Mr. Darcy, I will marry you. I… I do not think I could want a better man for the companion of my future life — I admire your determination, your capabilities, and the way you act to protect and help those who you care about. So much. I… I will very, very happily—”
“You will?” His voice was awed, as though some part of him had never believed that she truly would accept him. “And you do not mind…” For a moment Elizabeth thought he would ask about what shedidmind, his disdain for her family and connections. But instead Darcy gestured at his legs, “…my infirmity.”
“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth replied, smiling. “My dear Mr. Darcy, I have heard from the best possible source that it would be ridiculous for you to consider yourself a cripple.”
He smiled boyishly back at her. “It seems that there is some shard of my mind that does not fully believe that.”
Elizabeth leaned closer to him. “Well, I think that—”
He stretched his hand forward and pulled her head closer to his and he kissed her softly.
She felt as though she was sparkling and glowing when she looked at his eyes from just a few inches away when he let go. His eyes were deep, full of passion, intelligence and happiness.
This time she kissed him, softly, experimenting and exploring.
His hands brushed her cheek, caressed her ear, brushed through the bits of her hair that were not tied up in a bun and cupped the back of her neck.
A fire began in Elizabeth’s stomach as they kissed. Her breasts became tighter, and she simply wanted more of him. She pressed herself against his side, her chest against his chest, and he wrapped an arm around her to hold her tight against him.
For the first time in her life Elizabeth understood how a perfectly sensible and reasonable woman could throw her whole life aside out of a passionate attachment to a rake.
But Mr. Darcy was going to marry her.
She glowed delightedly, and he glowed back at her. “I must speak to your father now.”
Elizabeth giggled. “I do not think he was over happy to see you arrive — and he had no notion we’d formed an attachment.” Elizabeth blushed. “I thought of you a great deal, but I believed I would never see you again. I have missed you.”
“In just a week?” Darcy replied smugly.
“Very possible, with such a man as you.”
That led to another round of kissing, and Elizabeth’s feelings were even more heightened, aroused, and disordered.
But Darcy regretfully pressed her a little away, with a final kiss. “I hope you do not wish for a long engagement.”
“Only enough time for the banns to be read.” Elizabeth smiled wickedly at him. “It seems as though we have begun exploring matters that ought to befullyexplored.”
Darcy flushed, coughed and half choked. He then grinned at her. “My only objection to waiting for the banns is that it may betoolong.”
