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“You sound like a poet, my friend … a lovesick poet.”

“Would that I could write down my feelings as easily as I profess them to you. I fear I get tongue-tied whenever I try to confess them to Elizabeth.”

“Miss Elizabeth does not need you to write down your feelings, she can see them easily enough whenever she looks into your eyes.”

“I am glad to hear it, for I never want her to doubt my feelings for her.”

Chapter 29

Elizabeth’s bedroom

Since she had begun eating solid food, Elizabeth was healing as quickly as someone who had been near death could be expected to … at least according to Mr. Graham, who was very pleased with her progress. She was also sleeping less during the day and longer at night, which made it easier to schedule the maids who sat with her at night. Though William had acquiesced to Mr. Graham’s demand that he sleep in his own bed, he still made it a priority to be sitting at Elizabeth’s bedside in the early mornings because he wanted to be the first person she saw when she awakened.

Elizabeth usually woke when the sun began to spill through the gaps in the curtains, brightening the room and announcing that a new day had begun. Today, however, a sound awakened her and her eyes fluttered open to find the room still swathed in shades of grey—the furnishings only visible as dark shapes even after her eyes adjusted to so little light. She held her breath, hoping to hear the sound repeated, and it was not long before she did.

Clearly it was emanating from the upholstered chair that sat beside the bed, and it took a moment for her to make out the form of the one occupying it. Once she had, Elizabeth smiled, for she knew full well who was in it this morning. Still, in all the nights she had shared with Mr. Darcy, she had never once heard him snore. As she studied him, it became clear that the noise stemmed from the fact that his chin had dropped to his chest, making it harder to breathe in and out silently.

Reaching for his hand that still lay on the bed from last night, she entwined her fingers with his, causing him to wake. “Eliz … Elizabeth,” he murmured. “Why are you awake so early?”

“With your head in that position, you were having trouble breathing, so you were making little sounds.”

“I was snoring? I do not recall ever being accused of snoring, and I know Richard would tell me if I had in his presence. I hate that I woke you. You need all the rest you can get.”

Smiling, Elizabeth brought his hand to her mouth to place a kiss on the back of it. “I was near to waking in any case; however, I hope you know that you do not have to be sitting here each time I open my eyes. I heard Mr. Graham say you need your sleep as well.”

“I am not here for your sake as much as I am for mine. I … well, to be truthful, I cannot focus on anything each day until I am certain you are well.”

She smiled lovingly. “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

Quickly William moved from the chair to sit beside her on the bed. Leaning forward, he cupped her face with both hands and kissed her gently. “I am so pleased that you do, for I intend to spend the rest of my life loving you, and it will be so much better if you return my love.”

“I do. I always will.”

Another kiss ensued at that pronouncement before he pulled back to say, “Which brings me to a subject I wish to discuss with you.”

“And what might that be?”

“I would like to preserve your reputation, and my sanity, by making you my wife as soon as possible. My godfather is a bishop, and not only can he provide a special license, but it should prove of little to no inconvenience to him to conduct the ceremony whenever we decide on a date. My aunt took one of your gowns to her modiste to take your measurements for a wedding gown, and all that is lacking is for you to name the day.”

Elizabeth smiled lovingly. “It seems as though you have everything settled already.”

William’s demeanour changed instantly. Sombrely he said, “Please believe me when I say I would never force anything upon you, but I am resolved to stay as close to you as possible during your recuperation. If we were married, we could sleep in the same bed, and I could hold you in my arms every night.”

Elizabeth caught one of his hands and brought it up to her cheek. Closing her eyes, she leaned into it before kissing the palm. “Please know that I wish more than anything to be your wife.”

“But?”

“But when we marry, I wish to be on my feet and totally aware of what is happening. I do not know how much longer that may be, but I wish to have wonderful memories of my wedding day.”

“I knew you would feel that way,” William murmured. “And I will gladly wait until that is possible, only …”

“Only?”

“I am like a child anxious for his dream to become reality. I want it as soon as humanly possible. Consequently, I am asking your permission to begin discussing our wedding with Mr. Graham. He will need to give his opinion on how soon you may be able to bear being on your feet again.”

“At this moment I should be pleased to sit in a chair, much less stand.”

“I know I am getting too far ahead, but I cannot bear not to speak of it.”