Memory: Volume 3, How Far We Have Come, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) by Linda Wells Page A

very handsome face.”  Mary smiled and looked down again only to have his thumb raise her chin back up.  “You will not let me look away.” 
    De Bourgh’s head wagged slowly.  “No, you will have to bear with my lopsided, handsome face.”  He continued to caress her cheek with one hand and reached to grasp her fingers with the other.  “I want a lock of your hair so that I will have a part of you always by my side.”  His gaze travelled over her.  “Mary, do you like Rosings?  Does it please you?”
    “Very much.”  She said softly and swallowed.  “It is a beautiful home.”
    “It does not frighten you?”
    “Why would a house frighten me?”
    “You looked unsure when we arrived.”
    “That was before I saw you inside of it.”  She saw the question in his eyes.  “It is the people within who make the difference.  Lizzy and Darcy fill Pemberley with their love.  You and your mother do the same for Rosings.”  She saw his smile.  “If the people inside are full of warmth than the walls will exude it as well.”
    “You find me warm?” 
    “I do.”
    “Mary . . . I . . .” He closed his eyes and felt her free hand caressing his face.  “Oh Mary, I want so much to speak my heart and mind, I want to move on from this state of waiting and seeing.  I know, I know what I want but I fear that you are not yet prepared to hear what I so deeply wish to say.”  His eyes opened and he read her eyes.  “But you know that I will say it.  One day.  I promise you, I will.”  Tenderly he traced his thumb over her lips.  “I have moved far beyond feeling like for you, my dear, lovely Mary.”  He let go of her hand then taking a deep breath, placed it back on his arm.  “Your brother and sister have likely reached the end of their tolerance.  Come, we shall return to them.” 
    He began to move and she stopped him.  De Bourgh looked at her and closed his eyes and sighed when she tentatively touched her fingertips to his lips.  “I . . . I look forward to the day when you speak your mind.”
    “There you are.”  Darcy’s clear voice startled them.  Mary’s hand dropped and they both coloured violently.  Darcy looked at de Bourgh pointedly and turned to Mary.  “Shall we?”  He held out his arm to her.  Elizabeth smiled and walked back to stand by de Bourgh.  They watched Darcy leading Mary away and she slipped one hand onto the crook of his arm.
    “Captain?”  He looked down to her.  “Patience.”
     
    EASTER MORNING dawned bright and pleasant.  The occupants of Rosings chose to walk to the church for services, and upon their conclusion and the inevitable conversation and introductions with the neighbours, they began the return journey with the added company of the Reverend and Mrs. de Bourgh.
    “I rather like this arrangement.”  Elizabeth observed as she strolled along with Darcy, her hands securely over his forearm.  He smiled and waited for more.  “The church being so near to the house.  Kympton is simply too far for us to walk.”
    “I thought that no distance was too far for you, love.”  He smiled and laughed softly at her frown.  “Did you not propose a walk to Lambton?  You declared it a good stretch of the legs?”
    “You know that I said that only to provoke you.”  She smiled and leaned on his shoulder, and looked around the town.  “This is such a pretty village.  It makes me homesick.”
    “Me as well, but we are doomed to remain in London for a while.”  He nodded his chin to where de Bourgh and Mary walked arm in arm.  “That private conversation we allowed seems to have nudged them along.  We did let it go on a bit too long.”  He smiled to see her mixed feelings displayed so clearly.  “We were not the same as they.”
    “I know, I had more experience.”  Seeing his frown, she caressed his hand.  “I was out when I was fifteen dear,  remember?”  He nodded but did not say more.  Elizabeth smiled at him and