“Lizzy! Are you well?” Cathy came running up to her, and the others trailed behind her.
Elizabeth brought her hands to her cheeks, certain they could see she had been crying. “I am well. I have only been telling Mr. Darcy that I mean to speak privately with Sir Edward for a little while. I begin to think I am ready to have it done with it, and be on better terms with him.”
“We are not far from the rooms my father and brother used when they arrived yesterday. We can retrieve the dossiers and return to the family apartments,” Mr. Tilney suggested.
“No, I can take her back directly,” Mr. Darcy countered. “If that is what you prefer, Miss Bennet. I believe I recall the way back, and when the others return, I shall put myself at their disposal while you speak with your uncle. And, Tilney, we had better convene with the others and speak together, lest they think you secretive.”
Mr. Tilney stroked his chin. “I would rather not tip my hand as far as Miss Morland’s investigation, but there is muchelse to be discussed, and your reasoning is sound. But first, the dossiers.”
“I think I prefer to go to my uncle at once,” Elizabeth said, filled with a fresh hope that it might go well after all.
Mr. Darcy smiled at her as he offered her his arm once more and began to lead her back the way they had come. “I hope I have been of assistance, Miss Bennet.”
“Vastly,” she said warmly. “I find I am quite capable of speaking to my uncle with equanimity, and something like hope.”
“You are to be commended for your circumspection.”
“And you are to be commended for your good sense in praising me so well; if you are not careful, I shall come to expect it, instead of your brooding stares.” Elizabeth did a fair impression of the glare she had often received from him, though she could not entirely keep from laughing.
“Is that how I looked in Hertfordshire?"
“Uniformly. But now I suppose that it must have been at a time of great concern for your sister.”
“The night I left is when I reviewed word of her… condition.”
“Oh. How awful. And I was terribly saucy to you when we danced that night. I had made a habit of refusing you – at Lucas Lodge, and when Jane was ill at Netherfield.”
“I felt myself quite tragic for asking you a third time, but I was glad you accepted. There was some disappointment in the turn of our conversation that night; chiefly I regret not speaking candidly with you, for it feels quite easy to do with such a bright creature. It might have gone better, but ever so I am glad that in the end, I couldtemptyou.”
If his words were not shocking enough, Elizabeth was fairly agape as he raised her gloved hand to his lips.
They had nearly reached her suite, and she remained in a state of flustered silence as they entered the parlor, where Lady Allen and Sir Edward were taking tea. The pair quickly withdrew their hands, which had been entwined atop the table between them, but Elizabeth only smiled at the couple. She knew not whether Mr. Darcy had intended to flirt with her so that she could speak cheerfully with her uncle, but this was the effect of his manners.
Elizabeth withdrew to one side of the parlor, while Mr. Darcy led Lady Allen to the other side and began to ask if she had any recommendations for novels that would suit his sister, who was Miss Morland’s age. He had granted Elizabeth a modicum of privacy, and she was ready to face Sir Edward.
He sat beside her on the sofa, though not too near; he was apprehensive, and Elizabeth was heartily ashamed of herself. “I spoke harshly to you; I am sorry for it, and I will not do it again. But I have many questions for you.”
He nodded. “I apologize for not telling you the truth when we had the chance of privacy and comfort. Your reaction was justified, my dear. But let us put that aside.”
“This is a fine beginning," Elizabeth grinned.
“And what would you wish to ask me?”
“Why did you never tell me before?”
Sir Edward’s face was pensive. “I suppose I did not wish to harm Tom and Fanny. They loved you as their own, and did me a great favor in taking you in, even when Fanny delivered a stillborn. I thought not to repay them with some unpleasant alteration to how well things were. You were happy, were you not?”
“I was, but I would have loved them the same if you had trusted me with the truth. And my cousins, I am sure I should have loved more. I had not thought of it, but they are my brothers and sisters, too.”
“They can be, if you wish it, if you do not want to keep it from them.”
Elizabeth considered this. “I hardly know. Perhaps. But what is to happen now? You and Lady Allen are both unwed.”
“I have asked her to marry me.”
“Oh!”
He looked warily at her. “I have loved her for so long.”
