Chapter Thirteen #2
That was serious enough to still the teasing reply on her tongue. Darcy slowed beneath a grove of beech trees and turned towards her, taking her hand between both of his.
"My intentions are not uncertain, Elizabeth.
I wish to court you, and when you return home I mean to ask your father's permission to do so.
I do not expect any promise from you beyond the chance to prove myself, but I cannot pretend that a few proper calls or friendship is all I want.
I want you, dearest, and if you allow me to try, I will do my best to prove my worth to you. "
For a moment she could only look at him. The fading sunlight caught upon his face, softening its strong planes, though there was nothing uncertain in the way he held her gaze.
"You have come a considerable distance from refusing to dance with me," she said with a laugh.
A rueful smile appeared. "I have spent every day since attempting to recover from that mistake. I am prepared to devote a great deal longer to the effort, if you will permit me."
The warmth in her chest made it difficult to answer lightly. "You may speak to my father."
Something in his face eased, though he did not release her hand. His thumb moved once over her fingers, sending sparks dancing along her skin. When he lifted his other hand to her cheek, Elizabeth felt the memory of that morning flare between them.
He bent towards her slowly, giving her every opportunity to move away. Elizabeth remained where she was, scarcely daring to breathe as his lips met hers with a tenderness that left her light-headed.
The kiss was brief at first, almost reverent, but when he began to draw back, she followed him before she could think better of it.
The change in him was immediate. A low sound escaped him, his hand slid to the back of her neck and he kissed her again with a hunger that made her knees weaken.
The restraint she had always thought inseparable from him gave way as he drew her against his chest, holding her there as he murmured her name against her lips. "Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth."
When he finally lifted his head, his forehead rested against hers. "I should not have done that."
"No," she murmured, and felt him go still. She opened her eyes and found him watching her. "But I am not sorry that you did."
His relief was immediate. Darcy pressed a kiss to her forehead, then drew back only far enough to look at her properly. "Then I may court you?"
Elizabeth let him wait a moment and pressed her lips close to his ear. "I had thought you had already made a promising beginning."
His laugh was low and warm. They resumed their walk as the sun sank lower behind the trees, and he kept her hand tucked closely against his side.
???
By the time Elizabeth and Darcy returned to the house, the sun had slipped behind the trees and the warmth was beginning to leave the air.
They crossed the terrace slowly, heads bent together, still held within the happiness of the past half-hour.
As they reached the door, he looked as if he may kiss her again, but he simply reached forwards and slowly smoothed a curl away from her face.
She was disappointed but also relieved. Elizabeth was not sure she could have held her composure amongst company if he had kissed her breathless again.
The drawing room brought them sharply back to the rest of the world.
Mr Goulding had inexplicably appeared in the drawing room.
He stood near the fireplace, watching her with admiration.
Elizabeth had known him since she was a child.
He was pleasant enough, though she could not claim a close acquaintance.
He had apparently become acquainted with Caroline at the assembly and from the way he beamed at her, it seemed the encounter had impressed him far more than it had impressed her.
Caroline received his attention with the full splendour of her haughtiest manner.
Her shoulders were drawn back, her fan moved with slow precision and every word she offered was polished to a dangerous brightness.
There was no trace of the woman who had been upstairs with Elizabeth less than an hour before.
Charles stood beside Jane's chair looking thoroughly pleased with himself, apparently unaware that anything was amiss. Louisa sat nearby watching him with mounting irritation, while Jane glanced between Caroline and Mr Goulding, plainly uncomfortable and trying to defuse the tension in the room with light conversation. As far as Elizabeth could see, it wasn’t working.
Darcy slowed beside Elizabeth and murmured, "What have I missed?"
She glanced towards Mr Bingley, who was still looking on with immense satisfaction. "It appears the Bingley family's fondness for matchmaking has struck your friend. I am not sure Caroline is grateful for his efforts."
Mr Bingley noticed them then and smiled broadly.
"A sunset walk, eh, Darcy? How romantic.
" Darcy gave him a look, but Mr Bingley was far too pleased with himself to be discouraged.
"You have returned just in time to greet our guest," he continued.
"Mr Goulding called this afternoon, and as he had no other engagement, I persuaded him to return for dinner. What a jolly party we shall make."
Every eye in the room turned towards him in disbelief, but neither he nor Mr Goulding seemed to notice.
Mr Goulding bowed. "Miss Elizabeth. Mr Darcy."
Darcy and Elizabeth returned the greeting, and Mr Goulding turned back towards Caroline almost at once. "I was telling Miss Bingley that I have long regretted how seldom we meet, considering the small distance between Netherfield and Ashdown."
"Mr Goulding has been very generous in calculating it for me," Caroline said. "Five miles, apparently, though I confess I had thought it farther."
He smiled, taking the remark for teasing. "Then I must give you some reason to think the journey worth making." His attention was unmistakable, and Caroline’s fan paused for the smallest fraction of a second before continuing more violently.
Charles brightened. "That is precisely what I said. Ashdown is a fine place, Caro. You would like it. The gardens are well laid out, and I understand Goulding has made a great many improvements since inheriting."
Louisa and Jane both looked at him and said in unison, "Charles." Jane reddened as she realised the familiar use of his name.
He glanced towards Jane, looking for the first time uncertain of his plan. "I only meant that you might find Ashdown agreeable," Charles went on, a little too fast. "Mr Goulding too, of course."
Mr Goulding had the grace to look faintly uncomfortable, though his interest did not diminish. "I should be honoured if Miss Bingley thought either worth knowing better."
Caroline inclined her head, but the movement was stilted. "You are very kind," she said.
The words were civil enough, but Charles frowned as though she had deliberately failed to receive Mr Goulding’s attentions in the spirit he intended.
Jane touched Charles sleeve and spoke too softly for the rest of them to hear. The satisfaction faded from his face as he listened, and when he looked towards Caroline again, some of his confidence had gone.
His reply was not nearly so discreet as Jane's and carried clearly across the room.
"I only want Caroline to meet a good man.
It was my father's dearest wish, and I would never knowingly cause her distress.
" His expression changed as he looked down at Jane.
"Nor you. Dear Jane, you must believe that. "
Jane had turned scarlet, and Caroline gave her brother a small shake of the head. "There is no need to make a scene, Charles. I understand perfectly."
Charles head snapped up, as though it had only just occurred to him that anyone else might have heard.
"Oh, Charlie, what are you about meddling in other people’s affairs?" Louisa said, and Mr Hurst gave a sudden snort of laughter.
Mr Goulding stepped in as Louisa opened her mouth to give her brother a further piece of her mind. He had paled slightly but said in a clear, determined voice, "I hope my visit has not made anyone uncomfortable. That was never my intention."
Caroline turned towards him, and some of the sharpness left her expression. "You have done nothing wrong, Mr Goulding. Charles has merely allowed his enthusiasm to run away with him."
Her brother opened his mouth to protest, but the dinner gong sounded through the hall before he could begin.
"Saved by the gong," Darcy murmured, low enough for Elizabeth alone to hear.