"I am told the view is quite remarkable," he said. "And as the morning is so very fine, I thought perhaps we might all walk there together. That is, if it suits everyone. I would not wish to impose—but I do think it would be an excellent plan. Darcy, you agreed yesterday."
Darcy inclined his head. "I did."
Elizabeth took a sip of tea and spluttered into her napkin, discovering, too late, that it was too hot.
Mrs Bennet, who had been watching the table with a degree of attention that Elizabeth found deeply suspicious, set down her cup.
"A walk would be very agreeable," she said. "Miss Darcy, you must bring your blue shawl. The air is sharper on the upper path than one expects, and blue is most becoming on you."
Georgiana coloured faintly. "Thank you, Mrs Bennet."
"It is only the truth, my dear."
Darcy glanced at Mrs Bennet and his gaze softened for a moment before he resumed his carefully blank expression.
???
They set out shortly after breakfast, the party arranging itself with an ease that felt suspiciously like design to Elizabeth.
Jane and Bingley went ahead, both smiling warmly at the world in general. Mrs Bennet took Georgiana’s arm gently. Elizabeth, without quite understanding how it had happened, found herself walking beside Mr Darcy.
They proceeded in silence for some time. After a turn in the path, Darcy said, very quietly, "Miss Elizabeth, I find myself in some difficulty."
"Only some?"
A flicker of amusement appeared and vanished. "Considerably more than some."
"Then I am afraid I cannot assist you. I am occupied with difficulties of my own."
"I suspected as much."
The path curved gently upwards. Ahead of them, Bingley's voice carried intermittently on the breeze while Mrs Bennet appeared deeply engaged in explaining something to Georgiana.
Then he said, "Miss Elizabeth—"
"No," she said at once.
He stopped. She stopped also, though she had not meant to.
"No?" he repeated.
"No," she said again, though with less certainty. "If you are going to apologise again, I must beg you not to. We have already completed that exercise. We were both extremely civil about it."
The others had gone a little ahead, the curve of the path placing them just out of easy hearing. Jane’s bonnet ribbon moved in the breeze. Bingley was saying something animated. Mrs Bennet and Georgiana had paused, their heads inclined toward one another.
Darcy lowered his voice. "But you know I speak of yet another aberration I have made no apology for."
"I know there are several things you might mean," Elizabeth said, "and I am not convinced any of them are improved by being discussed further."
"I cannot leave it unaddressed."
"Can you not? It would make things much easier."
"No."
"How unfortunate."
He did not retreat from that.
