Summary: Darcy has apologized to Charles.


Miss Elizabeth Bennet was surprised when the maid, Sarah, knocked on the door to admit a visitor to the apartments she shared with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner at the Rose and Crown. It was an early hour yet, only half past eight, for anyone to come calling at the Inn. Elizabeth was ready for she often woke up early. After dressing, she had been about to sit down to write a letter to Jane. She longed to describe to her elder sister the events of the previous day at Pemberley. The post had already come for the day but had brought no letter from her elder sister. Elizabeth had thought this strange, but instead of worrying she attributed the lack of correspondence to the lack of news in Hertfordshire rather than anything more serious.

Elizabeth stood and straightened her gown; her heart was racing, fully realizing that the visitor was likely either Mr. Bingley or Mr. Darcy, the appearance of either was of great import to her. The second eldest Bennet sister was not sure which of the men she was more anxious to see. She dearly wanted to speak to Mr. Bingley for Jane's sake, and was very apprehensive about seeing Mr. Darcy in general, not knowing her own feelings towards him.

Sarah's small voice called out "Mr. Darcy to see you Miss," and Elizabeth's fears were quickly realized. Alongside the alarm there was also a part of her that was excited to see him, remembering their interactions from the previous two days. Though it had certainly not always been the case, she no longer doubted their ability to hold a pleasant conversation. She could not fully comprehend his reasons for coming to see her at such an hour.

A moment later, there he was. He stepped inside the door and took off his hat, bowing to her as she curtsied. "Good morning, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth greeted, a small unconscious smile gracing her face as she looked at him.

"Miss Elizabeth," he commented, his eyes meeting hers. "I trust you are well this morning?" He approached the table where she had set out her pen and paper when she gestured for him to come in. He was wearing the dark blue jacket that she thought brought out the blue in his eyes. She also noticed his hands were clutching the brim of his hat and crop very tightly but she said nothing about it.

Elizabeth replied that she was indeed well, thanked him, and to abate the ensuing silence commented that she was about to write a letter to Jane. Mr. Darcy moved back towards the door, offering to leave again if the letter was too dear. Elizabeth hardly held back a laugh at seeing him so clearly nervous; she was well aware he did not like to be laughed at. She glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. "No, Mr. Darcy, it is nothing so important I cannot write at another time. Would you care for some refreshment or to stay for breakfast? I'm afraid my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner are out walking, but they should be back in a few minutes." She added how this walking was a normal practice for them as they liked to spend early mornings together out of doors in the summer and generally took their morning meal around half past nine.

With a similar glance at the clock, Mr. Darcy looked conflicted for a moment before deciding to indeed stay to breakfast… well, a second breakfast for him, he thought, as it was in his habit to rise with the sun. Anything that would allow him to spend more time with her was worth it.

Silence fell between them as Elizabeth maneuvered towards the three small chairs and tea table near the fireplace. She sat in one of the end chairs, and after a moment's indecision between the nearer and further chair from her, the man sank into the closer chair.

"I wanted to thank you, Miss Elizabeth, for your levelheadedness towards Caroline Bingley yesterday," Mr. Darcy ventured, perceiving it was his turn to start the conversation. His nerves would not let him broach the subject that was most on his mind, and so he had started with the next most. "Georgiana was also very appreciative of it." Elizabeth smiled at this mention of his sister, though her thoughts also lay upon how openly rude Caroline had been.

"Miss Bingley I believe speaks in a very studied manner," Elizabeth replied, trying to maintain verbal composure despite her own avid dislike of the woman. "Though I do not think she would ever intentionally harm Miss Darcy or yourself, I was very happy indeed to be of service." Mr. Darcy seemed duly satisfied with this answer and continued.

"I spoke with her last night after you took your leave, Miss Elizabeth. I do not think she will make such comments about or to you again." Mr. Darcy moved forward in his seat and leaned on his leg nearer to Elizabeth.

The lady was truthfully a little shocked by his words. He had defended her to Miss Bingley? That seemed quite outside his character. "I suppose then, sir, I am to thank you."

He smiled to her and after a moment she looked at his hands. He still seemed nervous, but his manner was more relaxed than it had been a few moments earlier. He saw her eyes on his hands and quickly placed them evenly on his legs, the chair creaking slightly under his weight.

Elizabeth asked after the rest of the party at Pemberley and whether any of them had arisen as early as he had that morning. Mr. Darcy saw the small jesting twinkle present in her eye and his features tinged slightly pink as he answered. Louisa Hurst rose early and had been walking in one of the gardens as he left, he replied, though her husband and siblings were both still indoors, and likely still asleep. Miss Georgiana was also like her brother in that she rose early. She had been downstairs already when Mr. Darcy left to come to Lambton. She wished to pass on her compliments and excitement to see Miss Elizabeth and the Gardiners that afternoon and evening in Pemberley House. Speaking of his sister, Mr. Darcy's countenance shifted from slightly nervous to confident and proud, but not in the way that Elizabeth had before been used to see coupled with disdain. This pride and confidence came from the knowledge that his sister had grown to be an accomplished and graceful, if somewhat shy, beautiful young woman. This was the pride more belonging to a parent than an older sibling, but that, Elizabeth supposed, came from the difference in the siblings' ages and their situation.

Elizabeth responded in kind to Miss Georgiana's well-wishes and renewed her own excitement to be invited to Pemberley again that day. She, in turn, commented how much her Uncle had enjoyed the sport of fishing the day before. Indeed, in his enthusiasm, Mr. Gardiner had spoken of little else the evening previous and that morning.

Elizabeth was happy when Mr. Darcy agreed to stay, but truth be told, she was unsure of his motive for coming to see her. As their speech continued, Elizabeth could tell that these topics of conversation were not why he had come there that early in the morning. Having spent part of the previous two nights in contemplation of her feelings for him, she did not yet know whether this prospect excited or frightened her, though she supposed that this was a change most welcome in Mr. Darcy's eyes nonetheless. Uncertainty must be better than abject and open dislike.

Surely he would not try to propose that morning? She was becoming very sure that, if she wished it, she could get him to ask her hand again. Her only problem was she did not know exactly what she would say. She was certainly not as against it as she had been more than a year before, and both of them certainly seemed to have changed since being in Kent. He still loved her; that much was clear, but she was not yet sure if she loved him in the same way. She therefore tried her best to stay away from all matters that might lead to such questions.

Mr. Darcy was also aware of the undercurrents in their conversation but was cautious not to impose too much feeling into any of what he said. The whole time what Mr. Darcy most wished to do was take her hands in his own - aye, he could almost feel their warmth in his - and ask her… no, beg her even, to marry him. He had long since counted that day he proposed at Hunsford a very shameful situation and after having learned from it, tried to bar it from his thoughts. No matter how he tried, however, memories of himself and his actions that day floated in front of his face to haunt him. The bitter, angry person he had been then and the person he had turned into were very different. He hoped that Elizabeth could see the change in him as well, and he did indeed notice that she made an effort to keep him from entering into such topics. Judging by her amiable countenance this only served to express her confusion but not her disapprobation about the idea. That gave him some hope.

Just as Elizabeth was running out of convenient things to say, her growing worry was eased when her Aunt and Uncle returned from their walk. Upon hearing them talking in the stairwell that led to their rooms, Mr. Darcy's face paled and he stood with Elizabeth to greet them. Unsure of why he would become so nervous all of a sudden, for there had been nothing improprietous about their behavior, Elizabeth smiled over at him and he seemed to relax. As much comfort as she gave to him she also received in this case, for she only then realized how odd it must seem to her Aunt and Uncle to find a gentleman alone in the room with their niece.

The Gardiners were in fact pleasantly not-quite-surprised to find Mr. Darcy in the room with Elizabeth, and both greeted him warmly. Indeed, they had had a bit of previous knowledge of his presence. Upon returning to the inn when they asked their morning meal to be served, the cook had in turn asked whether Sarah should bring three servings or four as a courtesy to gentleman that had arrived. Mr. Gardiner noted he was surprised at their niece having a gentleman alone in their rooms, but Mrs. Gardiner put her hand on his arm and reminded him of their thoughts of the previous evening. Not wanting to seem impolite or unwelcoming they ordered the fourth helping and started up the stairs.

Before Mr. Darcy left that morning, the invitation and acceptance to come to his home that day was reaffirmed to the happiness of all.