released her.
He bent his head to her. “Request? Forgive me, but I heard no request. I confess I was woolgathering a moment ago . . . ” Darcy could see the skepticism in her face, and so he continued in a lower voice, “Please, Miss Elizabeth, will you not ask again? I assure you I have never been able to deny you anything you ventured to ask if it was in my power to grant it.”
Despite her frustration with him, or perhaps adding to it, she blushed. She absently rubbed the spot on her arm where he had touched her to dispel the heat still there. After a moment, she braved a look at him and nodded. “Sir, I wished to speak to you about a matter that cannot be discussed amongst so many people. I had asked if you might be willing to meet me in the garden for a moment.”
Breathe, man. Do not read too much into it. He was desperate to appear unaffected even as his heart raced. The garden. Alone with Elizabeth. Darcy took a deep breath as he returned her look. It was but a moment before he replied, “It will be as you wish, Miss Elizabeth. I will leave first if you like.”
With much relief, she said, “There is a set of stone benches behind the arbor on the north side of the house. I will meet you.”
He discretely nodded his head. Modulating her voice to a conversational level she said, “Mr. Darcy, sir, if you are finished with your tea, I will take that from you now.”
Mr. Darcy gave her a half smile. “I thank you, Miss Elizabeth.” He handed her his saucer, careful not to brush his fingers with hers in the process.
She curtsied before she left him to deposit his cup. He spent a few minutes walking nonchalantly around the room, stopping briefly even to speak with Sir William Lucas. When he decided that enough time had elapsed, he excused himself from his present company and casually made his way towards the parlor door and out to the gardens.
* * *
He had very little trouble finding the benches she had indicated, and he was pleased to note that, although it was a small distance from the house, a large hedge obstructed its view of any windows. It was only after he had arrived at the bench and assessed its relative privacy that he allowed himself to imagine all kinds of contexts under which Elizabeth might plan this assignation. He knew from the tone of her voice during their exchange that she was not altogether pleased with him. Despite this knowledge, he could not help himself from dreaming more than believing that she wanted to acknowledge her awareness of his feelings and declare hers for him.
That happy fantasy was interrupted by the lady’s arrival a moment later.
Elizabeth was beginning to doubt the wisdom of such a venture. She knew it was one thing to encounter a gentleman by accident somewhere as happened in his study or the many walks at Rosings Park. It was quite another thing to seek out a private meeting. It was not like her to dispense with propriety, and if it were not for the importance of the topic she wished to discuss, she never would have considered it. Out of nervousness and habit, Elizabeth offered a curtsy, after which Darcy bowed.
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat when she began pacing. W ell, this breech of propriety can only be added to the many things of which he disapproves about me. She sighed. The previous kindness he showed her at his home and his polite behavior throughout the week had made her want to esteem him. It bothered her that he might think ill of her, especially if caused by her own actions. And it bothered her that she was bothered by it! Add this to my book of sins, Mr. Darcy , she thought sadly.
“Miss Elizabeth, you wished to speak to me?”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy. Please, do be seated.”
He nodded and sat on one of the benches when she sat on the other. “Mr. Darcy, I recognize the impropriety of asking you to meet me here. No, please, do not argue. It is not proper for us to be here, and we both know it.”
Darcy wished to object again but instead nodded his
He bent his head to her. “Request? Forgive me, but I heard no request. I confess I was woolgathering a moment ago . . . ” Darcy could see the skepticism in her face, and so he continued in a lower voice, “Please, Miss Elizabeth, will you not ask again? I assure you I have never been able to deny you anything you ventured to ask if it was in my power to grant it.”
Despite her frustration with him, or perhaps adding to it, she blushed. She absently rubbed the spot on her arm where he had touched her to dispel the heat still there. After a moment, she braved a look at him and nodded. “Sir, I wished to speak to you about a matter that cannot be discussed amongst so many people. I had asked if you might be willing to meet me in the garden for a moment.”
Breathe, man. Do not read too much into it. He was desperate to appear unaffected even as his heart raced. The garden. Alone with Elizabeth. Darcy took a deep breath as he returned her look. It was but a moment before he replied, “It will be as you wish, Miss Elizabeth. I will leave first if you like.”
With much relief, she said, “There is a set of stone benches behind the arbor on the north side of the house. I will meet you.”
He discretely nodded his head. Modulating her voice to a conversational level she said, “Mr. Darcy, sir, if you are finished with your tea, I will take that from you now.”
Mr. Darcy gave her a half smile. “I thank you, Miss Elizabeth.” He handed her his saucer, careful not to brush his fingers with hers in the process.
She curtsied before she left him to deposit his cup. He spent a few minutes walking nonchalantly around the room, stopping briefly even to speak with Sir William Lucas. When he decided that enough time had elapsed, he excused himself from his present company and casually made his way towards the parlor door and out to the gardens.
* * *
He had very little trouble finding the benches she had indicated, and he was pleased to note that, although it was a small distance from the house, a large hedge obstructed its view of any windows. It was only after he had arrived at the bench and assessed its relative privacy that he allowed himself to imagine all kinds of contexts under which Elizabeth might plan this assignation. He knew from the tone of her voice during their exchange that she was not altogether pleased with him. Despite this knowledge, he could not help himself from dreaming more than believing that she wanted to acknowledge her awareness of his feelings and declare hers for him.
That happy fantasy was interrupted by the lady’s arrival a moment later.
Elizabeth was beginning to doubt the wisdom of such a venture. She knew it was one thing to encounter a gentleman by accident somewhere as happened in his study or the many walks at Rosings Park. It was quite another thing to seek out a private meeting. It was not like her to dispense with propriety, and if it were not for the importance of the topic she wished to discuss, she never would have considered it. Out of nervousness and habit, Elizabeth offered a curtsy, after which Darcy bowed.
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat when she began pacing. W ell, this breech of propriety can only be added to the many things of which he disapproves about me. She sighed. The previous kindness he showed her at his home and his polite behavior throughout the week had made her want to esteem him. It bothered her that he might think ill of her, especially if caused by her own actions. And it bothered her that she was bothered by it! Add this to my book of sins, Mr. Darcy , she thought sadly.
“Miss Elizabeth, you wished to speak to me?”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy. Please, do be seated.”
He nodded and sat on one of the benches when she sat on the other. “Mr. Darcy, I recognize the impropriety of asking you to meet me here. No, please, do not argue. It is not proper for us to be here, and we both know it.”
Darcy wished to object again but instead nodded his
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