“Yes, I know what I said that evening,” he added quickly, colour rising. “But you intrigued me even then. I have already confessed I was a fool, and I assure you I was not in my right mind. Since that night, every meeting with you has only confirmed my first impression—that you are the most delightful lady of my acquaintance and the one woman in the world most suited tome. These last weeks at Millwood Cottage have done nothing but strengthen that conviction, and although I meant to honour your grandfather’s wishes and leave the field open to my cousin, I found the attempt a great struggle.”
He gave a short, breathless laugh that did nothing to steady her own. “Is it very dreadful of me to admit I was relieved when he contrived to make such an unfortunate beginning with you? I knew I had done the same, and had only just begun, in some small measure, to redeem myself. There remained every possibility you might prefer him.”
He hesitated.
“I confess,” he finished more quietly, “I hoped you would not. I knew even then that I wished for you as my wife, but I could not get in the colonel’s way if that was what you wished.”
“You love me,” Elizabeth said, but this time it was not a question.
“I do,” Darcy said again, stepping closer to Elizabeth. “I love you, Elizabeth, most ardently.” He was not quite close enough to touch, and Elizabeth, suddenly aware of the space between them, stepped forward.
She moved forwards until just a few inches separated them. But still, she did not speak.
“Do you—” Darcy began, but then paused. He took her hands in his and brought them to his lips for a light caress. “Elizabeth, could you ever love me in return? I pray that I have shown you I am not that horrible, haughty man from the assembly, but a man who loves deeply and who wishes to spend the rest of his life with you. Would you?—”
He stopped as she shifted yet closer.
“Yes,” Elizabeth whispered.
“Yes,”Elizabeth whispered, and the touch of her breath against his jaw very nearly unmanned him.
“Yes to which of my many questions, Elizabeth?” he murmured, scarcely trusting himself to breathe.
They stood so close their breath mingled, yet he did not dare move or lift a hand to her face, no matter how ardently he wished it, for fear the smallest motion might shatter the miracle before him.
Her lips curved in the smile he had come to love.
“To all of them,” she said. “Yes, I could love you; indeed, I am nearly certain I already do. Yes, I can imagine loving you in return, and one day—before long—I should like very much to be your wife. Yes, we may have to persuade my grandfather that you are, in truth, my choice, but he has told me I may marry whom I wish, and he will not stand in my way.”
Hope rose so swiftly in his chest he feared it might undo him altogether. Instead, a short, incredulous laugh escaped him.
“Elizabeth,” he whispered, leaning nearer, his lips brushing her brow in the lightest of kisses. He did not dare attempt more, unwilling to risk her ire in case it was unwelcome.
“Elizabeth,” he murmured again, his mouth drifting from her forehead towards her temple, as if she were something sacred in his keeping.
“Yes, Fitzwilliam,” she breathed.
He closed his eyes. The sound of his name upon her lips struck deeper than any oath. His heart thundered within his chest, and for a moment, he was forced to gather every fragment of his self-command, lest joy carry him beyond all prudence.
When he trusted himself again, he lifted his arms about her.
She came willingly into his embrace, her own arms slipping around his waist, and in that simple exchange the last of his doubt dissolved. In his arms she was warm and real, and the certainty of her nearly brought him to his knees.
Darcy drew her closer, bowing his head towards hers, holding her as though he feared the world might yet attempt to steal her away.
“You have made me happier than I believed possible, Elizabeth,” he said unsteadily.
Her laughter thrilled him, but then he stopped to consider her. He pulled back, just a little, allowing him to look at her in the eyes. “What is so funny, my dearest?”
“I am happy,” she answered. “You have made me very happy. I cannot even remember why I came to the billiard room now, but I feel certain that someone will come and look for us soon. After all, your cousin knows we are here, and I am still not certain that man is to be trusted. So, to seal our agreement, we must kiss, must we not?”
She looked up at him with such a pert expression that Darcy was tempted to kiss it off her lips. Still, he attempted to show some restraint.
“What agreement is that?” he asked, desiring to be perfectly clear about what had transpired here today.
“You did ask me to be your wife, did you not?” she said, looking up at him with something like alarm on her face.
“I did, or rather, I was going to, but I am uncertain whether you allowed me to ask the question,” he said, trying his hand at teasing, something he had only begun to do with anyone other than his cousin since meeting Elizabeth.
