There was a sense of relief across the house when the servants carried Miss Bingley's luggage out to her carriage. Mr. Bingley seemed to be the only one that regretted her leaving, but with the distraction of Jane there, his mood quickly swung back around.
After they had breakfast, Georgiana had the idea of them retiring to the drawing room for the day. She wanted to play on the pianoforte for the group. Jane agreed that it was a fine idea, so they all settled for the morning.
It was a disappointment that it did not take long for Mr. Bingley to plead a terrible headache and retired to his room. This put a quick end to Georgiana's idea of playing music and letting the others dances, as one of the women would be left out while Darcy would be forced to dance every song.
Jane was the one to come up with a solution. She begged Darcy and Elizabeth to sit for a portrait while Georgiana played.
"That is a wonderful idea," exclaimed Georgiana.
"I do not know if-" Elizabeth started the same same Darcy said, "Of course we will."
The couple looked at each other.
Darcy arched an eyebrow. "It would be nice to have a portrait of the two of us to hang."
A squeak erupted out of Jane. "My sketching is not good enough to be put on display!"
"Do not listen to her, Fitzwilliam. She is a wonderful artist and much too down on her own skill," Elizabeth declared. "We will sit for the portrait if only to prove how talented you are and we will hang it."
That decided, Jane positioned the two to sit close to each other in a spot where the sun best illuminated them.
Elizabeth and Darcy stared at each other from the places Jane sat them. Darcy's eyes were bore into Elizabeth's and she felt herself blush and instinctively looked down to hide the smile playing at her lips. She was unused to anyone giving her such full attention and Darcy had a way of looking at her that made her feel as though he was seeing into her soul.
"Lizzy, I need you to look back up," Jane gently admonished.
"Sorry." Elizabeth raised her face back up to see Darcy smirking at her. She made a face back at him only to have Jane scold her again.
The sound of Georgiana's playing and the scratching of Jane's graphite on the paper were the only noise in the room. Neither Darcy nor Elizabeth spoke. They just continued to stare at each other, deeper and deeper into each other's eyes until Jane proclaimed that they were allowed to move a little and talk.
"And what shall we talk about, Mr. Darcy?"
"Are we back to 'Mr. Darcy', Mrs. Darcy? I had enjoyed the sound of my Christian name from your mouth."
"Then what shall we talk about, Fitzwilliam?"
Darcy sighed. "That is much better. The sound of my name from your lips is like a song."
Elizabeth laughed. "I never took you for the poetic type. There is no need to needlessly flatter me, you already have me as a wife."
"But one should continue to flatter if one wishes to keep his wife."
"I do not believe a lack of flattery is something that can so easily separate us."
"It is better to be safe than sorry in the matters of the home. I have been neglecting my wife and that is unforgivable." Darcy reached across the space between them and grasped her hands in his. "Please forgive me for the abysmal way I have treated you thus far."
"There is nothing to forgive. I have not been open to you either." Elizabeth smiled shyly. "It can be something we can work on together. We will both learn what it is to be married."
"I would like that very much."
Darcy leaned forward and gave Elizabeth a small peck on the lips. This time, Jane did not scold them.
