Page 30 of You Willfully Misunderstand Me

The corners of his mouth threatened to betray him, "Then perhaps I continue asking in hope."

Elizabeth laughed, "I was not aware you possessed so optimistic a disposition."

He turned now, looking at her with slightly raised eyebrows, in response, "I would have you know that I reserve that optimism only for matters of consequence."

She shook her head, still smiling, before setting aside her sewing and crossing to the bookshelf that occupied one wall of the little parlor. Her fingers wandered over the familiar spines until she selected the volume she had been reading.

Then she paused. Looking over her shoulder, she asked, "Mr. Darcy, shall I bring yours as well?"

The question escaped so naturally that neither of them appreciated its significance until after it had been spoken. Darcy looked up, "My book?"

"Yes, you generally read after supper," she hesitated.

"I do," he replied matter of factly.

"I thought..." She glanced toward the shelves. "I thought you might wish for it."

Darcy found that knowledge strangely pleasing, "If it is not too much trouble."

Elizabeth regarded him with mock severity, "You have been hauling timber all day, Mr. Darcy. I believe I can manage a single volume."

She had emphasized the words ‘single volume’. And, Darcy let out a laugh at her, sensing the pertness in her tone, and replied, “Very well, I should like to read.”

Elizabeth examined the shelves before returning with two books, handing his to him, and Darcy accepted it, "Thank you."

"You are very welcome," she said with a teasing look, and they resumed their places by the fire.

Several quiet moments passed as each attempted to read. Though, after scarcely five minutes, Elizabeth lowered her book, exhaling. "You have not turned a page."

Darcy looked up, "Excuse me?"

“You are either distracted or excessively bored, for you have not turned a page, Mr. Darcy.”

He glanced down at the open volume resting upon his knee. She was right, he was distracted, but he could not admit that it was she that distracted him so utterly that evening. Finally, he said, “It is a very reflective chapter."

She leaned forward slightly, "What is the subject?"

He studied the page as though seeing it for the first time, "A history of... sheep."

Elizabeth scrunched her nose, "Sheep?"

"It would appear so," he said in an ever serious tone.

She felt the urge to punish him a bit for his gravity and said, "And the sheep inspire deep contemplation?"

"More than one might expect," he said, folding his hands together.

She laughed outright at this, "I believe, Mr. Darcy, that if sheep have occupied your thoughts for the last five minutes, they deserve every compliment their historian has paid them."

He ought not to, but felt the need to tease Elizabeth, as he knew she was teasing him, And, so, he took a chance and looked at her with perfect seriousness, saying, "I confess they have received rather less of my attention than they deserve."

"Oh?" She looked surprised, and he noticed a slight blush blooming in a way that became her.

He nodded, "My thoughts were elsewhere."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, "And where, may I ask, have they wandered?"

Darcy met her eyes, still seeing the blush hinting her soft cheeks, "For once, Mrs. Darcy, I believe I shall keep that information to myself." He gave just enough emphasis to the borrowed title that Elizabeth immediately recognized his intention. It was a gentle retaliation for the many occasions on which she had teased him, offered with such perfect gravity that anyone overhearing would have mistaken it for an ordinary address.