Darcy twisted his wedding ring round his finger. He said in a low voice, “I was eager to see you. I missed you.”
It was all Elizabeth could do to keep from squeaking like a small mouse.
His eyes now met hers.
She moistened her lips, wanting to kiss him.
Darcy then looked down at himself. “Jove, I ought to change. I did not mean to run into you in this state of undress.”
“I do not mind.” Elizabeth blushed again, but she boldly looked him up and down.
Darcy’s expression was caught between embarrassment and wonder. His smile made him look beautiful.
“We must talk,” he said again. “At length. I — I do not find it so easy to talk as I ought. But I must explain myself. Better than I could in that letter. And I must apologize—”
“I loved the letter!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
Darcy suddenly refused to meet her eyes. “I was still in the grip of anger and disappointment when I sat down to write it. I believe there are passages in it that would be best forgottenand erased.”
“No, no. Not at all. The letter began in anger, but by the end you were the soul of grace. You need not be ashamed of the letter, not in any part. Besides,” Elizabeth felt very shy, and yet very safe. She had never felt this way before. “Thank you. Thank you for speaking with Mr. Bingley, and for—”
“I beg you, Elizabeth, do not thank me for that. I corrected a mistake I had made. I do not want — I wish you had not heard of it.”
“Why?”
“I — I do not wish you to think better of me for that cause.”
“No?” Elizabeth could not help smiling.
“I did not speak to my friend in hope of gaining your approval. My character demanded it.” Darcy then glanced down, and noted once more his shirtsleeves, dirty pants, and disordered appearance. He bowed. “I should finish my ablutions, and greet my sister, and then we shall talk.”
“I look forward to yourconversation,” Elizabeth replied instantly.
Darcy looked at her with an intense, searching gaze.
She looked down, blushing.
Elizabeth couldn't keep a smile from playing around her lips as she watched Mr. Darcy hurry out of the stable, and into the sunny cold of an early February day. He shivered and jogged over to a servant’s entrance and let himself into the great house.
Well, so much for her plans to call on the neighbors.
This was better by far, and she had no doubt that none of them would hold a delay, which they could know nothing about, in giving them the courtesy against her.
Deciding that it was best to give him time enough to dress to his own satisfaction before returning, Elizabeth found the kittens that lived in the hayloft, and spent five minutes pettingthem, letting them crawl over her, and offering her hand as practice for the future murder of mice.
Mostly she tried to calm her fluttered nerves.
As soon as Elizabeth returned to the house, a maid excitedly informed her that the master had returned, and that he would be in the drawing room in a few minutes.
Elizabeth saw the back of her husband stepping through the door as she went to the entrance.
She had the chance to see Georgiana hurl herself at Darcy with a glee filled shriek. “I missed you! I missed you!”
Then seeing Elizabeth in the door, Georgiana pulled her brother towards her, and said, “Lizzy, Lizzy — see he is back. I told you that it would not be very long.”
That statement gave Darcy a visible start of discomfort.
“I am very glad to be back,” he said.
