His heart noticed Elizabeth before his eyes did, and it began to race. He dismounted and stepped towards her until he was close enough to her sparkling eyes, brightened by the exercise, and her warm smile.
“Mr. Darcy!”
“Miss Bennet…”
Neither seemed to know what to do or what to say, so they resumed walking towards Oakham Mount.
Suddenly, Elizabeth chuckled and covered her mouth with her hand. He watched her, surprised, and she lifted her eyes to him.
“I remember our encounter at Pemberley. I have never been so shocked, nor so mortified, in my life!” she explained.
“Then the feeling was mutual,” he responded.
With every step, the tension dissipated between them.
“I thought you would never want to see me again and that you would have me thrown from your estate. If I had known — if I had the smallest suspicion — that you were at home, I would never have dared to set foot at Pemberley. I still feel the need to apologise for my presumption.”
“If we begin to apologise again, we might need more time than this walk. Just please know that nobody’s presence at Pemberley has ever been more welcome than yours.”
“Thank you,” she replied, their eyes locking briefly. They walked on a few steps before she spoke again. “Would you not tell me about Lady Catherine? I admit to being quite intrigued as your tone seemed rather grave yesterday.”
“I shall, but I must warn you it is not a pleasant story. Would you not tell me first what she said to you? It would put me at ease to know the extent of the damage she has caused.”
She looked positively uneasy as she appeared to search for the right words.
“Lady Catherine came to…”
“To express her opposition to what she believed to be our engagement,” he finished for her, and she sighed in apparent relief.
“Yes… It was a rather awkward moment as I could not imagine where she might have heard such a report.”
“Apparently from Mr. Collins, with whom I shall have a private conversation at the first opportunity,” he answered.
“We quarrelled, and I admit I might have answered her more harshly and less politely than I should have.”
“I hope you did,” he answered and noticed a smile on her face.
“Then she said she would travel to London directly. Miss de Bourgh was with her. I wonder how she endured that long journey.”
“Not too well, I am afraid. But it proved to be for the best, in the end.”
“Truly?”
“Yes…Miss Bennet, before going any further, I would like to ask…I apologise if you find my question presumptuous and improper, but I must address it. Lady Catherine said she demanded you promise her that you would never become engaged to me…and you refused.”
He heard his voice trembling slightly, and he could see she was surprised by the enquiry.
“I did… She said you were engaged to Miss de Bourgh.”
“Surely you knew that was not true?”
“I did…but it was still somehow painful.”
“I am sorry to hear that. My aunt’s claims are often painful for everyone…” He paused again before gathering the courage to enquire further.
“So, your promise was not given… May I dare assume…? Hope…? I do not expect an answer now, so abruptly. I just wish to know if your feelings are the same as they were in April. If they are, I shall never bother you again on this subject. I value your friendship, and I wish to avoid upsetting you with insistence that is not welcome…”
His voice was now trembling so badly that he wondered whether she could understand him properly. He had his answer when she stopped in front of him.
