a/n I hope you guys appreciate this chapter. Thats all I will say. I just realized that I am FINALLY almost done here. Sniff. I am sad that this journey will be closed after another chapter and an epilogue but I will be proud of the little description of my story that includes the word "complete". As always I hope you will like this chapter. Now sit back and relax and enjoy the show.
mgrm
Chapter 28
Elizabeth wandered around Rosings. Unlike the day previous, she kept her mind firmly planted in observing what surrounded her. After walking for about an hour, she slowly became more and more discouraged. 'What if he went to the Parsonage instead?' 'What if I missed him?' 'What if he could not walk out this morning?' The questions raced through her head. As she turned to go back to her sister's home, Elizabeth was struck with an idea. She knew exactly where to go.
Mr. Darcy had been out walking since he had broken his fast. After a short detour to the bench that they had sat on the day before, he went to the clearing where Elizabeth had gotten lost. After walking around that general area for about an hour, Darcy slowly lost hope that they would meet that morning. Doubts ran through his mind, 'What if she was out walking somewhere else and did not think to look here?' 'What if she was detained?' 'What if she was waiting at the bench or the Parsonage?' He decided to check at the bench once more before returning to Rosings for the morning. He headed back.
Not long after Darcy had left the clearing, Elizabeth started to make her way to that exact spot. Both had become absorbed in the same sort of thoughts and questions, along the lines of, "What if I missed him?" Naturally, the 'him' would be replaced with a 'her' in Mr. Darcy's mind as Elizabeth was definitely female. Not far from the spot Darcy had so recently vacated, Elizabeth mindlessly stumbled into something. She realized a moment too late that Darcy was walking her way. As they both had been fixed on their respective destinations and thoughts, neither paid attention to where they were going.
To keep from falling, Elizabeth reached out and grabbed the first thing that she could, Darcy's arms. This shook her companion out of this thoughts and he automatically reached for her to balance her. Darcy righted Elizabeth, his hands firmly gripping her waist which he had taken hold of a moment before.
"I...I am sorry! Please forgive me for not watching where I walked," Elizabeth said, still lightly grasping onto Darcy's arms. She could feel the warmth of his hands through her dress where they still lightly lay.
"It was my fault. I should have paid more attention." Neither of the two noticed that each other's excuse sounded remarkably similar.
Elizabeth tried to reply, but was too captured up in her companion's gaze that any protest she might have said died on her lips. She found herself thankful a moment later that she had not tried to speak as her lips became more agreeably engaged.
While Elizabeth and Darcy both wished for this… pursuit… to continue, they quickly drew apart, knowing that they were behaving scandalously. However, their need for air was the main reason that they eventually separated, even if the first was what they convinced themselves was true.
"I…I am sorry!" Darcy said, repeating Elizabeth's words from earlier.
"This was not your fault!" The two faintly realized in the back of their minds that they were starting to sound like Jane and Bingley, always trying to relieve others of blame.
"I initiated it." Speaking this short sentence was all he could do, standing so close to Elizabeth after such a momentous occasion. It had not occurred to either that Darcy still had yet to let go of Elizabeth's waist nor had she let go of his arms. Instead, he clung to her a bit tighter and she slid her own hands higher up his arms. Neither wished to let go as they found this position quite pleasant, to say the least.
Elizabeth was the first of the two to regain her wits. After a slightly stammering start, she said, "I do believe you just compromised me."
This statement hit Darcy like a bucket of ice water. This allowed him to recover his own wits, shaken out of his puppy-like state. He had been staring into his companion's eyes again and found himself as lost as ever. "What will you have me do about that?" he replied teasingly.
"If my cousin is to be believed, nothing, as you have a fiancée."
"Did we not clear that subject up yesterday?"
"I do believe you are correct."
"Then you still have not answered my question."
"What one is that again?"
Darcy let a small smile surface; Elizabeth truly lost her train of thought when she saw this smirk play at his lips. She had the urge to take the smile off his lips in the most agreeable way possible then became shocked at the turn that her thoughts had taken. Instead of following through on her idea, she just slightly smiled in response. She quickly found out that she was not the only one with the scandalous thoughts, but found that unlike herself, Darcy actually followed through on the idea.
When they pulled apart the second time, Elizabeth gasped, "I do believe that you compromised me a second time!"
Darcy kept himself from letting another smile peep through. "I do believe that you are correct," he mimicked Elizabeth's words from before.
Elizabeth had to keep her own smile in check while replying, "Is there not something you should do about it?"
"I know not what you mean."
"Perhaps it relates to what you were telling me on the bench before we were interrupted."
"Perhaps it does not."
"Well…?"
"Well what?" Darcy felt content letting this conversation go its course. He knew what she meant, obviously, and knew that he would get around to it, but at the moment, he was comfortable. His arms were still around his love and he was in a teasing mood. They were on the subject, they would get to the question soon enough. Darcy was surprised at how calm he felt; perhaps it was how Elizabeth was encouraging him.
Elizabeth gave in, "Would it not be the custom, then, for you to propose to me? I believe it is the natural thing to do after compromising a lady. If that is accurate, which I am sure it is, you now owe me two offers of marriage."
Darcy let a lazy grin appear before answering, "And you think that this relates to our conversation from the day before?" Elizabeth did not answer this. Instead, she let out a sigh and shook her head in exasperation. They stared at each other for a moment before Darcy added, "How am I to know that you did not compromise yourself just so you can gain Pemberley and ten thousand a year?" He raised an eyebrow, challenging Elizabeth to come up with a reply to that.
"If I were that sort of person, I would have put this plan into action a while ago and in a place that would ensure that we were found-for example, when we all went to Pemberley after being rained out of the picnic."
"Very true." Darcy made no move to kneel or propose in any sort of way. Instead, he waited, wanting the perfect opening.
Elizabeth decided to wait no longer. She could not claim to be insolent, but she was definitely closer to impertinent than closed-mouthed and respectful. She decided to act. First, she assumed an air of exasperation before starting her short and somewhat false mock rant, "Look, sir, I have known you for a half a year. I have four sisters and two are already spoken for. One of my younger sisters has gotten married and we all know that the eldest are supposed to marry first. I have become a friend of yours, your sister, and, at least acquaintance of more than one cousin. I do believe that it is your turn to bring something to this." Here, Elizabeth visually calmed herself. She sniffed, "And I believe that that something is Pemberley and ten thousand a year. With our marriage tossed in there somewhere." She had to keep from laughing. Elizabeth knew how ridiculous she sounded and was rather proud of her performance.
While he was entertained, Darcy was shocked. More so, as to say that he was shocked would be an understatement. Things like this were simply not done, even if teasingly. He, once again, gathered his wits together before replying. First, he looked her up and down once and acted as if he was going through a great deal of thought before he replied, "Are you proposing to me, then?"
"So it would seem." By this point Elizabeth was getting nervous. She knew what she did was incredibly brash and hoped that her companion would not think of her any less for what she said. Normally, she was impertinent, not brash, but she could not take their banter any more.
"Well, then. I accept. But only on one condition."
"Which is….?"
"That you will in turn consent to make me the happiest of men by accepting my hand in marriage. Miss Bennet, Elizabeth, will you marry me?"
Elizabeth definitely felt relief at this point and did not hesitate to exclaim, "Yes!"
It was a very good thing that they had just become engaged. If they had not, then Darcy would have succeeded in compromising Elizabeth for the third time that morning.
