“By all means,” he sat back with a patient smile, preparing for her examination. Never before had he been nervous that he might be found wanting in another’s eyes. Surprisingly, he found that actually wanted her to identify his flaws. He was well aware that he had them, and if she were to agree to be his wife, she would live with them daily. More vital to the moment, however, was the swaying of her opinion. Elizabeth was intelligent enough to be suspicious of the appearance of perfection because she would know it to be artificial. He wanted to be real and authentic with her, of all people. He could only hope his flaws, when discovered, were not ones of such gravity as to make her turn from him.
“Very well,” Elizabeth began after a nail-biting moment of reflection. “You are a kind brother, you have a loyal cousin and friend, you are a man of duty, very concerned with your estate. You are well travelled, exceedingly well-read, and you care little for foolishness.” She lifted one eyebrow, waiting for his answering smile in confirmation before she went on.
“You take your coffee with cream and two lumps of sugar, your tea you take without cream. You have a very fine carriage which I think seldom sees mud on its polished spokes, and you must pay a great deal for your valet, as that is the most exquisitely knotted cravat it has been my pleasure to admire in some while.” She paused, enjoying his entertained expression. He dipped his head in acknowledgement and invitation for her to continue.
“You enjoy riding tremendously, which I find inconvenient, and the other day I noticed a small quantity of hair on your breeches, by which I assumed you must have tended your own animal. By all accounts, you are a splendid hunter and an avid outdoorsman. You do not enjoy balls, but I cannot fathom why, as you are always impeccably dressed—thanks, I think, to that wonderful valet—not to mention the fact that you are asuperiordancer.” She placed an unmistakable inflexion on her last phrase, reminiscent of Sir William Lucas.
Darcy could not help laughing out loud. Even at that awkward moment, she could look back and find a source of amusement. She tilted her head challengingly, daring him to answer her unspoken question.
“I cannot refute any of your findings. I am very blessed in my family, small as it is, and you are quite precise as to my tastes and experiences. I did, in fact, tend my own horse the day before yesterday, much to my valet’s chagrin. He has not yet forgiven me, but as you so astutely surmised, I make it well worth his trouble to tolerate my whims.
“I do not enjoy balls, I am sorry to say. I have not the talent for speaking easily to people I do not know. You, Miss Elizabeth, are rather skilled at catching the conversations of others and adding clever witticisms of your own. I have never yet learnt the knack.”
“It is a matter of practice, Mr Darcy. I imagine that had I practised my riding and my piano with as much enthusiasm as I honed my tongue, I might be accomplished at both and not nearly so liable to saying aloud the things which I will later come to regret.”
His mouth twitched merrily. “So, you are saying that to make myself invulnerable to your teasing, I ought to practice my conversation skills? I bow to your sage advice. I should enjoy such practice; however, I am not altogether certain I wish to be rendered impervious to such a charming wit as yours.” He paused, admiring the light filtering through the small window and bouncing off her luscious curls.
She smiled archly at him, waiting for him to continue. “I recall at the Meryton Assembly you stated your belief that dancing provides an agreeable situation for people to become acquainted. Perhaps if the opportunity presents itself, you could be persuaded to help me to practice those skills I seem to lack? As I recall, my performance of a few evenings ago was not one of which to boast.”
Elizabeth affected an air of resigned disappointment. “Oh dear, Mr Darcy, I should be happy to oblige, but alas, I fear it may be impossible to find a woman in these parts handsome enough to tempt you to the floor. Perhaps in London, you will have better luck.” She grinned challengingly, delighting in her ability to pull the rug from under his feet.
Darcy’s mouth fell open again. He was silent for a moment as Elizabeth began to laugh. “You heard that?”
“Iwasseated rather nearby, and as I had no dance partner at the moment, I had no other amusement but to divert myself by observing those around me.” She tilted her head and pursed her lips, pointedly smirking at his discomfiture.
“Oh.” His eyes wandered to the window, seeking some excuse, then returned to her face. Observing her playful expression still in place, he furrowed his brow thoughtfully. “You have been waiting some while to say that to me, have you not?”
Her eyes sparkled more brightly, and she laughed again. “I confess I have! What will you think then, sir, when I admit to sporting with your remarks in public and amusing myself at your expense?”
“Surely, I must have given offence! You are too generous. I was wrong to speak so and have no doubt wounded your sensibilities. It is little wonder you began our acquaintance prejudiced against me!”
Elizabeth sighed, her smile fading somewhat. “Mr Darcy, since we are confessing all, it must be apparent to you that I have more than my share of vanity. Rather than loudly taking offence, I gave vent to my feelings by jesting with my neighbours. I am afraid, sir, that you have me to blame in part for the generally poor opinion many here have of your character.”
“No,” he interjected firmly. “That blame is mine alone. I was brought up with proper manners, though I understand now I have not always employed them in company. I should have judged better to ask for an introduction, I know. I doubt you will believe me when I say my comments truly had nothing to do with your person. I primarily wished to avoid dancing with a stranger and to discourage Bingley from urging me to. You cannot know how I have regretted that decision!”
He reached cautiously for her hand, heat creeping into his voice. “I had scarcely even looked at you, locked as I was in my own selfish pride. It was within mere moments, I believe, that I began to wish for the opportunity again. I distinctly remember you passing by me with that bewitching twinkle in your lovely eyes, as though you were thoroughly amused with something. Now I know that to be my own folly, and I justly deserved your scorn! I believe I spent the rest of the evening, and nearly every meeting since, helplessly staring at you.”
Elizabeth released a tight little laugh and dropped her eyes to hide her swell of feelings. Darcy’s fingertips were tracing the top of her hand in a most distracting way. Her body filled with tension. He sensed it and stilled his fingers, contenting himself with simply clasping her small hand.
Elizabeth smiled faintly down at his fingers, curling round hers. He was not backward in expressing his wishes, but his concern for her comfort was touching. She found her opinions of this man improving remarkably every time they spoke. There was a simple sincerity to his manner, and hiding very deeply beneath it that spark of playfulness she had detected the evening before.
There was more, though… her eyes searched his carefully before dropping again, finally confessing to herself that what she saw was a consuming tenderness, the like of which she had never experienced. The imperturbable, consequential, perfectly poised Mr Darcy, ruled by a blindingly deep emotion… for her!Could Jane have been right all along?She had always enjoyed debating his keen mind, but always for her own momentary amusement, delighting in besting such a man. Never before had she considered there to be any true affinity.
His confession of such early feelings for her was quite surprising. Not even Elizabeth, spirited and independent as she was, could be immune to such a powerful, persistent admiration expressed by a handsome and honourable man. She swallowed.
Honourable he was, she could see that now. There was something delightfully pleasing in his openness with her. It was as if he dealt with her on an entirely different level than other men as if he respected her well enough to hand her the keys to his private thoughts.
Warmth spreading upon her cheeks, she raised her gaze shyly to his. Those intense dark eyes arrested and bound her speechless. Boldly she held his regard, studying his face freely. That tiny dimple, only in evidence when he smiled deeply, caught her eyes. From there, she traced a line to his mouth, shivering when she recalled his gentle kiss. She could not really befallingfor him… could she?
Well, what matter if I am?she asked herself impatiently. It seemed impossible now to avoid a marriage. Caution would do her little good in this case. She may as well let her fancy run freely! She found herself fully enjoying her new understanding of this man and regretting even more profoundly her previous errors. How could she have been so mistaken? Could he really be one and the same man with whom she had thought herself more than sufficiently acquainted? He had appeared so aloof before!
He seemed so warm and compassionate now, so unlike his previous chilly address.Janewasright,she affirmed. Georgiana was clearly suffering from painful shyness, and Jane was the first to recognize that the brother, too, was terribly uncomfortable. A man in his position would be forced to appear in public often, always at the head over his peers and a prime target for the offers of countless women, whether he liked it or not. Lacking the ease of his less affluent friend Mr Bingley, Darcy would naturally appear haughty and proud.
Darcy let his eyes rove over her lovely face as she contemplated him. Once before, he would have grown uncomfortable under such serious scrutiny, but the opportunity to openly drink in her graceful presence was too delicious. If she wished to study him, and if such familiarity would grant her ease, he was more than willing to bask in her company. He lightly stroked the back of her hand with his thumb again, daring to press her for greater allowances. Her blush deepened, but she did not shift away from him.
A step creaked outside the door, and both quickly drew back their hands. Mrs Cooper’s happy face appeared in the doorway, and she stopped. She was carrying a little tray for herself, but she had rather expected by now that this interview would have been brought to a close or removed downstairs. Her practised eye was quick to discern embarrassment on both faces, but she was too cagey to make her observation known. Rather, she settled for distraction. “Excuse me, Miss Elizabeth, Mr Darcy, sir. Mrs Hill asks if you would like some tea?”
Both quickly rose to their feet. “No—no, thank you,” stammered Elizabeth. “That will not be necessary, Mrs Cooper. We have business in Father’s study….” Her eyes shifted nervously to her companion, whose tender expression of a moment ago had been wiped clean by his usual composed manner.
