Chapter 5 #3
A thrill passed through Elizabeth, accompanied by a measure of uncertainty. She knew that Longbourn and its connexions could offer little to recommend her to the heir of Pemberley, yet there was no mistaking the sincerity in his expression.
“You have known me for only a few days,” she said.
“I am aware of it.”
“And yet you are already certain you wish to court me? You have not yet met my family, other than my relations in trade.”
“I am certain that I do not wish to lose the opportunity to learn more about you.” His voice softened.
“Nor would I ask to court you if my hopes were indifferent. It is far too soon to speak of promises, but I should not seek your father’s permission unless I believed our acquaintance might lead to something more lasting. ”
Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly, struggling to gather her thoughts while he looked at her with such unmistakable hope.
“Have I distressed you?” he asked.
“No.” She opened her eyes and met his. “You have surprised me.”
“Is it an unpleasant surprise?”
“No,” she repeated, and the tension in his countenance eased. “If my father gives his consent, I should be very pleased to continue our acquaintance.”
His smile was unlike any she had yet seen from him—unguarded, warm and so full of pleasure that her own answering smile came without conscious thought.
“Then I shall speak with your aunt and uncle before you leave today,” he said. “With their approval, I will write to your father at once.”
Elizabeth turned towards the others, intending to rejoin them, but before she could take more than a step, Mr Darcy’s fingers closed gently around hers.
She looked back at him. His eyes never left her face as he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a lingering kiss to her gloved fingers. Even through the fabric, the warmth of his lips sent a thrill along her arm.
When they returned to the picnic, Elizabeth was certain that every person present must perceive what had passed between them. Her aunt’s searching glance did little to reassure her, nor did the smile that appeared upon the elder Mr Darcy’s face when his son approached him.
Mr Darcy spoke quietly to his father before asking Mr Gardiner for a private word. The two men walked towards the prospect where Elizabeth and Mr Darcy had stood only minutes earlier.
Elizabeth returned to Georgiana, though she could scarcely attend to what the younger girl was saying. Georgiana’s smile widened when Elizabeth joined her, and the frequent glances she cast between Elizabeth and her brother suggested that she understood something of what had occurred.
At length, Mr Gardiner looked towards Elizabeth.
His expression appeared pleased, though he first exchanged a glance with his wife.
Mrs Gardiner gave the slightest nod, after which her husband smiled and offered Mr Darcy his hand.
The gentlemen exchanged a few more words before returning to the party.
Mr Darcy came directly to Elizabeth.
“Your uncle has no objection to my writing to your father,” he told her quietly.
“I shall request his permission to correspond with you and enclose a letter for him to give you if he consents. Your uncle suspects that, at least initially, your father may wish to see whatever passes between us. He may consider an acquaintance of only a few days too brief to promise anything lasting.”
Elizabeth could not suppress her smile. “My father is likely to find considerable amusement in the entire matter.”
“Do you believe he will refuse?”
“I do not. Particularly once I assure him that you possess an excellent library.” Her smile turned mischievous.
“However, he is not an especially diligent correspondent. I suspect I shall spend the next month persuading him that passing every letter through his hands is far more trouble than it is worth.”
His answering smile appeared slowly. “Then I am fortunate indeed.”
The remainder of the afternoon passed far too quickly.
Upon returning to Pemberley, Elizabeth fulfilled her promise to play for the family, though she was acutely conscious of the younger Mr Darcy standing near the pianoforte throughout her performance.
Georgiana then persuaded her to sing, and when Elizabeth glanced towards him at the conclusion of the song, the admiration in his expression threatened her composure all over again.
At last, the Gardiners’ carriage was brought round. Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy escorted Elizabeth to it and retained her hand for one brief moment after assisting her inside.
“I shall write to your father today and send the letter by express,” he promised. “I cannot presume that he will answer before you leave Lambton, but I hope his reply will not be far behind you.”
“Then I shall hope my father answers with equal haste.”
“And until he does?”
Elizabeth met his eyes. “I shall look forward to tomorrow.”
The carriage moved before he could reply. When Elizabeth looked back, he remained where she had left him, watching until a bend in the drive hid him from her sight.