He stepped toward her and bowed. “Good morning, Miss Elizabeth. I trust you are recovered?”
“From everything but the shame of my folly,” she said softly.
His lips twitched into a smile, and he spoke to her in the same low voice as she had done. “Then I suppose you would not wish me to tell you that I found your obstinate refusal to rest yourself bewilderingly beguiling?”
“And here I had thought you the rare gentleman who doesnotprefer a foolish woman to a sensible one.”
“I prefer the rare lady who chooses sensiblywhento indulge in folly.”
Elizabeth grinned. “Your teasing is much improved, sir.”
He smiled again, this time in earnest. “And has your opinion of me improved?”
“Yes. Several times, in fact.” Elizabeth bit her lip, gazing nervously about the crowded room. She wished to say a great deal more to him, but the merriment around them had reached an overpowering level.
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat and looked to his relations as if in want of rescue. Naturally, he was met with cheerful defiance. But Mr. Willoughby rose and called them all to order, declaring it a fine day for everyone to walk out of doors. To Elizabeth’s immense relief, this scheme was met with unanimous approval.
Mr. Willoughby offered Jane his arm, and as the pair passed by Elizabeth, Mr. Bennet observed, “Mind how you go, eh, son? It would not do for you to land in the snow on your backside again.” He gave a great guffaw and winked at Elizabeth before following the others out of the room.
Mr. Darcy was laughing huskily at this, and Elizabeth’s eyes went wide with mortification that he should understand the jest. Indeed, that he should be so well amused by her father’s acerbic antics was equally alarming and enchanting.
When they were at last alone together, Elizabeth grew anxious. “I must apologize for my behavior yesterday. The way that I spoke to you was utterly unpardonable. I was exhausted and quite overcome with panic for my sisters, but that is no proper excuse for my churlishness. Indeed, I have been entirelyboorish since I have come to London, quarreling with every man I meet. I am heartily sorry for it.”
“Elizabeth, I do not care who you quarrel with, so long as we are in accord.”
She sucked in a sharp breath as he spoke her name. “And are you not cross with me?”
“Is that what you wish?”
Tears pricked at Elizabeth’s eyes. “No! But you have been too generous, and I fear I have not deserved it. What you did for Lydia, after I… well, I confess I scarcely remember, but I am sure it was unpleasant. I did not mean a word of it.”
Mr. Darcy moved closer to her. “Did you mean it when you said you love me?”
A breathy laugh escaped her lips as she peered up at him. “I said that?”
“You did. You also accused me of thinking you fickle in your affections. But the day before that, you called me handsome, which I should like to hear oft repeated if you mean to amend your cruelty.”
Her heart beat faster in her chest, and she dared a step toward him. “And what did you say?”
“I can tell you only what I might have said, had you been of sound mind.” Mr. Darcy reached for her hand, and slowly brought it to his lips, which brushed against her bare fingers. His dark eyes remained fixed on her as he kissed her hand a second time and then released it to brush a stray wisp of hair from her face.
Elizabeth unconsciously licked her lips as she stared up at him. “It is only fair, since I have told you the deepest secrets of my heart.”
He cupped her face in his hands and softly kissed her forehead, making a trail of gentle kisses until his mouth wasinches from her ear. And then he whispered, “I think you handsome, too, my darling. And I love you, Elizabeth, most ardently.”
Another fleeting memory of the previous day drifted through her mind. “You have loved me since Hertfordshire.”
“I haveworshippedyou since Hertfordshire,” he growled. “Not a single day has passed that I have not thought of you, wanted you.”
“Then we must marry,” she said, and then swiftly brought a hand to her mouth. “Oh dear – you were meant to say that, and I have spoiled it a second time.”
He gaped at her for a moment and then smiled broadly. “I accept your proposal, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth, though it was rather a command. Oh, but I am entirely at your command, and ever shall be.”
“I hardly know if I am to be trusted with such power,” she laughed. She reached for his hand, but he moved faster.
“I am hardly to be trusted,” he murmured before taking her in his arms and kissing her deeply.
Relief and elation coursed through her, and then, passion. She stood up on her toes and arched herself against him, clinging to his shoulders, and he drew her closer still, his kiss growing bolder and wilder. They began to stagger about the room in an amorous tangle as he ran one hand up her shoulders and into her hair, while the other held firmly to the small of her back.
