Page 27 of Elizabeth Bennet Says Yes to Mr. Darcy

“He’s right.”

“You still don’t ask what that decision will be.”

“You asked for time.”

“And what if that time cost you all hope?”

He raised his head.

“Hope I don’t deserve isn’t mine to claim.”

This answer irritated me as much as it moved me.

“You’ve become very humble since Hunsford.”

“No. Only less certain that what I want is enough to decide what’s good for you.”

The wind lifted a lock of my hair. He started to reach for it, then held back his hand. I noticed. My body noticed even more.

“Jane and Mr. Bingley are engaged,” I said.

“I know. Bingley sent me a note so enthusiastic it could have lit Netherfield without candles.”

I laughed.

Darcy looked at me, and the warmth in his expression erased, for a moment, everything that separated us.

“I’m glad you came back,” I murmured.

He went still.

“For Bingley?”

Prudence would have told me to say yes. I thought of his honesty, the help he’d offered without conditions, the letter in which he’d placed his sister’s wounds in my hands.

“Not only.”

His breath caught.

He took a step toward me, then stopped at the precise distance propriety demanded.

“Elizabeth…”

The door of Longbourn opened behind us.

“Lizzy!” Lydia shouted. “Mama wants to know if Mr. Darcy is coming to dinner, and if he really has ten thousand a year!”

Darcy closed his eyes for a second.

I covered my mouth to hold back my laughter.

“You see,” I said, “the danger was real.”

Chapter 9

Elizabeth

Mr. Darcy entered despite Lydia.