Page 31 of You Willfully Misunderstand Me

She pretended to look disappointed, "How very disappointing. I had hoped for a thorough discourse on the intellectual merits of sheep."

"I fear I could not do the subject justice," he replied in turn.

"No?" she paused, narrowing her eyes at him, "So that is your game, is it?"

He pretended to look affronted, "I do not know what you mean."

"You do."

CHAPTER 16

"I assure you, Mrs. Darcy, I have no notion whatsoever." The repeated use of the name, delivered with flawless composure, only deepened her embarrassment.

"I am not sure I believe you, Mr. Darcy," she replied, giving emphasis to his name this time.

He closed the book upon his finger and, with the faintest hint of mischief that Elizabeth had ever seen upon his countenance, added, "It is true, as I should require an expert."

Elizabeth stared at him for a heartbeat, then said, “I think you are enjoying this entirely too much."

"For once," he replied, the corners of his mouth threatening to betray him, "I believe I am."

Then she laughed so unexpectedly at Mr. Darcy’s teasing that even Mrs. Kewley called from the kitchen, "What have you two found so amusing?"

Elizabeth looked helplessly toward Darcy, and he answered with his same easy composure, "A disagreement regarding livestock, madam."

Mrs. Kewley seemed entirely satisfied, "Very sensible. Thomas and I once argued about a goat for nearly six months." She returned to the kitchen and resumed her work as though nothing extraordinary had occurred.

Elizabeth looked back at Darcy, a degree of astonishment in her voice, "I had not imagined you capable of making a joke."

His eyebrows rose ever so slightly, and he replied in a tone touched with the faintest hint of dry sarcasm, "I was not aware I had."

Elizabeth regarded him with exaggerated seriousness, "My, Mr. Darcy," she returned, "I begin to suspect there is a gentleman of wit concealed beneath all that solemnity."

He smiled then, and she was surprised by it, "I trust the discovery does not disappoint you."

"On the contrary. I have spent a considerable portion of our acquaintance believing you incapable humor… or of smiling."

Mr. Darcy replied gravely, "Then I have clearly been very successful in preserving my reputation."

"A reputation," Elizabeth said with another laugh, "which I now see was greatly exaggerated."

***

After supper had been cleared away, Mr. Kewley and Mrs. Kewley retired for the night, both citing differing degrees of tiredness from their activities.

Elizabeth had decided to withdraw to her chamber with a volume of poetry she had every intention of reading. She had scarcely reached the second page when a quiet knock sounded upon the communicating door. She smiled despite herself, "Come in."

The door opened, and Mr. Darcy entered before closing the door behind him, “Miss Bennet.”

“Mr. Darcy,” she said with a gentle nod in greeting.

She noticed his expression was unusually grave, "I hope I do not intrude."

"You never do." The words escaped before she had considered them, and she colored immediately. "I mean, you always knock."

A faint warmth softened his features. "I am relieved of it. He hesitated. "There is... a matter I wished to discuss with you in privacy." The hesitation alone was enough to extinguish Elizabeth's smile.

Her mind betrayed her at once. For the briefest of moments, it flew back to Kent and the parsonage at Hunsford, along with his unexpected declaration that had altered both their lives, and the painful conversation that had followed. A most unreasonable thought seized her,had he come to renew his addresses?