Page 19 of Stranded at Michaelmas

“No,” Elizabeth said, a little breathlessly. “You have not.”

Again, he revealed the barest hint of a smile.

“Then allow me to correct the deficiency. I am asking if you will permit me to court you, Miss Elizabeth. I would first speak to your father, of course, but I would do so with the intention of determining whether what has begun between us might become something more.”

Elizabeth’s heart began to beat rather too quickly again. It took a moment, but she finally gathered enough of her wits to answer him.

“I did not think you could seriously consider me,” she admitted.

For a moment, he was silent.

“I mistook what I had been taught to value for what truly mattered.,” he finally said.

The admission stung.

“I was wrong.”

His voice was grave, but Elizabeth searched his expression and found nothing there but sincerity.

“Then yes,” she said, unable to keep the happiness from her voice. “Although I hope you understand that allowing you to court me does not oblige me to agree with you in all instances—especially when you argue against yourself as you are prone to do.”

His dimples appeared again, and Elizabeth was delighted to have provoked them.

“I should be exceedingly disappointed if it did, Miss Elizabeth,” he answered.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Elizabeth was suddenly so happy she could scarcely contain it.

“As tomorrow is the Sabbath, we will not call at Longbourn, but we shall on Monday,” Mr Darcy said at last. “I hope to speak with your father then. You did say that he knows of our prior meeting.”

“He does.” Elizabeth hesitated before lowering her gaze once more. “I confess I have no idea how Mama will receive your request. My aunt spoke to her about you, though I cannot be certain precisely what was said. Whatever it was, Lydia was returned to the schoolroom, while Kitty went back to London with my aunt so that she might learn a little more about how a young lady ought to behave in society.”

Her lips twitched despite herself as she looked up at him.

“I fear Mama’s reaction when she learns of your intentions may be… exuberant.”

Something in Mr Darcy’s expression eased, and she thought it was perhaps meant to reassure her.

“I believe your father already attempted to warn me when we first met.”

He paused, and Elizabeth wondered what he might say next.

“Regardless, I will not allow your mother’s reaction to discourage me, Miss Elizabeth. I am quite determined in this. Unless you tell me that you do not wish it, I mean to see where this may lead us.”

“Very well, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth answered, her smile still firmly fixed. “However—” She paused and glanced towards the gathering. “I believe it is time we returned, or we shall soon be missed. It is nearly time for the landholders to depart and leave the tenants to enjoy the remainder of their celebration.”

“Of course,” he said in that same low tone that always seemed to affect her in the most peculiar way. It delighted her, and for the first time, she allowed herself to wonder what it might be like to hear that voice for the rest of her life.

He offered her his arm, and Elizabeth placed her hand upon it with considerably less hesitation than she might have done only an hour before.

They made their way back towards the others at an unhurried pace. Although Elizabeth remained acutely aware of the gentleman at her side, much of the uncertainty she had felt in his presence was now gone. Before tonight, she had not been entirely certain what she felt for him—or whether it would be wiser to guard against allowing those feelings to deepen. Above all, she had been convinced that he could never seriously consider courting her.

But he did.

He had asked to call upon her and intended to speak to her father about his intentions. The thought was still so extraordinary that Elizabeth suspected it might be some time before she became accustomed to it.

They found Mary and Georgiana precisely where they had left them. Neither girl appeared particularly concerned by their absence, although something in the look Georgiana gave Elizabeth made her wonder whether she knew—or at least suspected—something.

Still, Georgiana said nothing, and Elizabeth merely joined the two girls in conversation.