There was a pause, and Mr Bennet heard Darcy answer with something very near amusement.
"I shall endeavour to be more disagreeable, if it would restore your comfort."
"You need not exert yourself. I have never found you deficient in the talent."
This was Lizzy. There could be no mistaking her there. Yet the lightness of the exchange did not reassure him, for beneath it sat something he could not quite place.
Their steps had slowed beyond the turn of the path. He could see them now: Elizabeth's bonnet, the dark line of Darcy's coat, the space between them narrower than he liked, and he wondered whether his fatherly duty was to cough very loudly and make himself known.
"I believe," she was saying, "that you have survived my father's scrutiny rather better than most."
"I am not entirely certain of that. He looks at me a great deal and it does not seem he is over pleased with what he observes."
"You have had nearly a week."
"Exactly. And I don’t think his opinion is a warm one. "
Elizabeth laughed.
Mr Bennet's hand tightened slightly upon his cane. This did not sound like the conversation of a woman who had thoroughly dismissed a suitor.
"I am sorry I do not have the talent some possess of conversing easily with others they do not know well. And I have no idea where to begin with your father."
They walked a little further.
"If this is another apology," Elizabeth said, "I ought to warn you that I have become quite over-supplied."
"It is more explanation than apology."
"That is a relief."
"I only wished to ask one thing of you."
Elizabeth glanced at him. "Which is?"
"Do not decide against me yet."
For once she did not answer immediately. "Mr Darcy—"
"I know I have made a poor case for myself."
"A remarkably poor one at times. And I have been very definitive in my response."
"Yes."
The agreement seemed to catch her off guard.
"I know I have given you reasons to think ill of me. I am merely asking that you allow me the opportunity to give you better ones."
Elizabeth looked away towards the sea. "You make that sound very reasonable."
"I am attempting to be reasonable."
"That alone is unusual enough to deserve encouragement, I suppose."
He smiled down at her like she was personally responsible for hanging the moon.
Mr Bennet found himself increasingly dissatisfied with the entire exchange.
