Darcy stepped out ofthe carriage at Longbourn, the familiar house bathed in the golden light of a winter afternoon. The snow had stopped, leaving the world hushed and pristine, and the faint scent of woodsmoke hung in the air. His heart quickened at the thought of seeing Elizabeth again, though he did his best to temper his eagerness.
The door opened before he reached it, and there she was, standing on the threshold with her cheeks flushed and her eyesbright. Elizabeth smiled, that particular smile of hers that sent a jolt straight through him.
“You are becoming rather predictable, Mr. Darcy,” she teased lightly as he approached. “Arriving here with alarming frequency.”
“And yet, you keep letting me in,” he replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“I suppose we shall have to reconsider our hospitality,” she quipped, stepping aside to allow him entry. “Though I suspect you would not take offense.”
“Not in the slightest,” Darcy said, his tone warm as he shrugged off his coat. “I am quite determined to be undeterred.”
As they moved toward the sitting room, laughter spilled out from within, and Darcy caught the distinct sound of Elizabeth’s younger sisters’ voices. When they stepped inside, Kitty and Lydia were perched together on the settee, clearly in the midst of a spirited discussion. Mary sat nearby with a book in hand, though she appeared more interested in the conversation than the pages.
“He’s here!” Kitty exclaimed, nudging Lydia and giggling.
Lydia leaned forward, her eyes alight with mischief. “That took longer than I thought. I win.”
“You do not,” Kitty protested. “The wager was five minutes, and it’s barely been four!”
Elizabeth arched a brow, her arms crossing as she regarded her sisters. “What are you two conspiring about now?”
“Nothing,” Kitty said quickly, though the smirk she shared with Lydia gave her away.
Lydia, less inclined to subtlety, grinned wickedly. “We were just discussing how long Mr. Darcy’s next kiss will last.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink, and Darcy coughed, his composure slipping for a moment. “A wager,is it?” he asked, his voice calm but edged with amusement. “And what were the terms?”
“Oh, nothing too scandalous,” Lydia said, waving a hand. “Just a bit of fun.”
“More like a test of endurance,” Kitty added with a giggle, earning a sharp look from Elizabeth.
“You two have far too much time on your hands,” Elizabeth said, though her tone was more exasperated than stern. She turned back to Darcy, her expression softening. “I apologize for my sisters. They seem to have no concept of propriety.”
Darcy stepped closer, his voice low enough that only she could hear. “I find myself rather curious about their wager.”
Elizabeth’s lips twitched, and she tilted her head, her eyes sparkling. “And what would you say if I told you they were wagering on your fortitude?”
His gaze held hers, his voice dropping to a murmur. “I would say I intend to exceed expectations.”
Elizabeth laughed, the sound warm and unguarded, and it took every ounce of Darcy’s restraint not to pull her into his arms right then and there. Instead, he offered his arm, his tone playful but his eyes full of meaning. “Shall we?”
She placed her hand on his arm, her touch light but steady. “If we must.”
As they exited the room, Lydia called after them, “We’ll be counting!”
Elizabeth shook her head, muttering something under her breath that made Darcy chuckle. They stopped in the quieter corridor, and Darcy turned to face her fully, his expression softening.
“Elizabeth,” he said quietly, brushing a strand of hair from her face, “if I may be so bold…”
“You are always bold, Mr. Darcy,” she replied, her voice teasing but her eyes warm.
“Then I shall live up to the reputation,” he murmured, leaning down to capture her lips in a kiss—gentle at first, then deepening as she responded with equal fervor.
When they finally parted, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling with laughter. “I think you’ve just ruined their wager,” she said breathlessly.
“Good,” he replied, a rare grin curving his lips. “They should never doubt my resolve.”
Epilogue
