"Elizabeth, I feel I have offended you by my taking lodgings here… may we temporarily suspend the embargo on apologies."

"Did I give that impression?"

"Emma did."

"Emma does not know everything."

"How so?"

"Keep in mind Darcy, that Emma is uncommonly intelligent, but she is still but fifteen. She has her own quirks and foibles. She thinks she knows everything there is to know about me… well, like most girls her age she thinks she knows everything about everything. However, she occasionally makes mistakes about me the same as I make mistakes about her and you and everybody else."

"So, you were not vexed?"

"Perhaps I was for just a moment… but I was not angry. It would be uncharitable after my surprise last week. I was startled more than anything. However, I cannot spend the rest of our acquaintance picking over every action. Should I complain just because you took lodging coincidentally close to my shop."

"It was not…"

"Of course not, but truly, Darcy. I am not distressed."

"I am glad… but Elizabeth?"

"Yes."

"When you are vexed at me, I would beg you to just say it."

"May I explain something that will be… useful for our… may I call it a friendship?"

"I would hope so."

"In… back… well… years ago…in Hertfordshire, I was nice to you because I was young and easygoing and I wanted to protect Jane's chances with Mr. Bingley. That is why I was mostly nice and polite to you. I argued with you because it was insanely dull at Netherfield, and you were was just about my only entertainment. It seemed…"

"Yes"

"It seemed harmless at the time."

"Elizabeth, I am so…"

"Not now, Darcy. Just know this. I am not that girl anymore. I am a woman. When I am unhappy, you will know. I do not do ambiguity and deceit well anymore."

"I understand."

"And you sir… will you tell me when you are vexed at me?"

"I will if you ever vex me. So far, I have no examples to work from, so it is all hypothetical."

"You may have learned too much teasing from Emma."

"As Emma says, 'guilty as charged, ma'am'"

"All right… you can be amusing when you want to be."

"I very much want to be."

"What else did you talk about with Emma?"

"She says rather emphatically that I should marry."

"You should."

"So should you!"

… …

"Perhaps I will someday. I believe we have both been… I do not know the right words…. maybe… waiting to breathe all these years. I imagine Emma was very persuasive?"

"Very!"

"You realize she does not let an idea go easily?"

"Yes, I can see that."

"Someday Darcy… perhaps in a year… perhaps two… we will no longer be afraid of each other. Then… well, then I imagine we will be able to move on with our lives. I have had the pleasure of motherhood, and you should as well."

"Do you think… that… that… we…?"

"I… … … cannot imagine so. Sometimes, you have gone down a road too far to come back. You must take another fork. I… well… believe we are like that. It has been just too… too… well, just too… I am struggling with friendship now, and cannot even conceive of… more."

"It is… unfortunate, but I believe you may be right."

"I am glad to have that resolved."

"Elizabeth, you do know that Emma's paternity is likely to be public and heavily gossiped about sooner or later… probably sooner."

"Yes, that has been inevitable since the day you walked into my shop. Emma and I discussed it at great length, many times in these months. We have decided our choices were to cut you off entirely, allow it to become public, eventually, or leave the country."

"And…"

"As you can see, we are here. It will be difficult… perhaps more so for you than for us, but it will not be all bad."

"In what way can it be good… the gossip I mean. You and Emma are everything good, but many… hurtful things will be said about you."

"Yes, I have understood that right from the beginning. Remember I have had many years to think on these things."

"I wish I could fix that."

"You cannot, so do not fret. It will not be all bad."

"How can it be good?"

"It will increase my custom at my shop dramatically, and my profits accordingly. I told you I have a perfectly suitable dowry for Emma, but I have only been Mrs. Rush for a decade. I am not wealthy… at least not by your standards."

"You know…"

"Do not say it. Do not even think it. You are barely out of the doghouse."

"Am I?"

"Are you what?"

"Out of the doghouse?"

… …

"You seem to be."

"I am happy. Now, about your custom. How will rumors help?"

"Oh that. It is so obvious. The chatter will bring in all the nosiest gossips. I will try to encourage them with implacable silence, while simultaneously dissuading them with high prices. In the end, they will pay nearly anything to be part of the story."

"Are you certain?"

"No… but I believe so."

"What will you do with the wealth?"

"The same as I have been doing… just more of it."

"Admirable."

"Perhaps… Emma will have to fight off fortune hunters once it is known, but you know all about that. I may… ask you to… assist."

"I will do anything you ask of me."

"I still wish to know more of you. You owe me more of a story, but I am fatigued. Perhaps we may defer it."

"By your wish."

"Darcy, I would ask a… favor…"

"Name it."

"I cannot walk with you the next fortnight. I must go to Portsmouth. I buy certain fabrics in bulk directly from the ship, which assists the business."

"A fascinating endeavor. What will you purchase?"

"I buy certain materials directly from the ship. The second Mrs. Rush was daughter of a ship's captain, importuned by the first mate. She taught her successors how to take advantage. We either buy things that are so common we need them all the time and save by buying in bulk instead of from the warehouses; or we by rarely purchased but expensive materials we can charge a premium for."

"Fascinating… I would enjoy knowing more."

"Well… um… This is your chance. I would ask you to… well… to escort me there."

"Truly! I will be more than happy to do so. It will be my privilege."

"I will be meeting Mrs. Rush there, and assisting her as well. If you do not object… you could also arrange wagons to deliver the material as well. Two to my shop and two to Derbyshire."

"It would be my supreme pleasure."

"Do not overdo it."

"I am not."

"Well… Emma will be with Mrs. Smithson, so it shall be just… you and I… if you are agreeable."

"It is but a hundred miles of good road? I call it a very easy distance, and I would happily take you just about anywhere you ask. That should take us two days. Will you allow me to provide accommodations?"

"I thank you… that would be appreciated. I used to take Tom because I had two men in Hertfordshire, but I only have Tom now and he needs to stay put for obvious reasons."

"Would you object to riding in a curricle, or would you prefer my coach… although, the coach might be too noticeable… I could borrow Bingley's coach or hire one?"

"If the weather is fine, I would not object to curricle. I have never been in one. I have only ridden farm wagons and post. If the weather is bad, I will hire a coach. I… am not ready to ride in the Darcy or Bingley coaches."

"Might you ever be?"

"I have no idea. In this case, you need to not look too prosperous. Doing so would be counterproductive to my negotiations."

"I will dress as a street urchin if it will help."

"You really do have a sense of humor hidden down there somewhere."

"I try."

"Emma, it is time to go home."

"All right, Mama."

"Darcy, shall we meet Tuesday at 9 at my shop."

"It shall be my pleasure, Elizabeth. Good day, Elizabeth… Emma."

"Good day, Mr. Donkey."

"Good day, Darcy."