The next day was Saturday and Mr Darcy sent a note to the Gardiners requesting an early audience so that he may bring his sister to visit. Their reply was most expeditiously sent and the house was ready to have visitors rather earlier than the usual sociable calling hours.

Elizabeth was wearing her new day dress which, despite being pre-cut, was remarkably well fitted and a lovely pale muslin that was very becoming for her complexion. She was somewhat nervous to be meeting the formidable Miss Darcy, having heard so much of her accomplishments from Miss Bingley and Lady Catherine.

When the knock sounded on the door she almost jumped with anticipation. When the gentleman and his sister were admitted, she roused her courage and greeted them with tolerable composure. Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable introduction took place. With astonishment did Elizabeth see that her new acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as herself. The observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was exceedingly shy. She found it difficult to obtain even a word from her beyond a monosyllable.

She greeted Mr Darcy with a curtsy and a shy smile. He found it difficult not to sweep her up in to a warm embrace. He settled for bowing over her hand and bestowing a warm kiss to her knuckles.

"Miss Elizabeth. I trust you have been well these last few days?"

"Tolerably so, I thank you. Has your business been completed to your satisfaction?"

"Most assuredly so." He said with a warm smile that made her knees go weak.

"I am very pleased to hear it!" She was in danger of falling in to his eyes but forced herself to turn to Miss Darcy.

"I am so pleased to meet you at last Miss Darcy."

"And I you" came the soft reply

Elizabeth drew her to the sofa and Mr Darcy moved to greet Mr and Mrs Gardiner indicating he would like to speak to Mr Gardiner in private. They withdrew to his study to discuss the conversation with Mr Bennet and his instructions to Mr Gardiner in regards to Lydia.

Darcy was happy to hear that her behaviour seemed to be repentant and that she was considering if she wished to return to Hertfordshire or to have some time away. Darcy was surprised but pleased to hear there was some intelligence to the youngest Bennet daughter.

Meanwhile Elizabeth had drawn some conversation out of Georgiana with a discussion on music and her cousin Richard. They moved over to the piano and sat down next to each other whilst perusing some sheet music and talking about merits of Bach versus Handel, playing a few notes here and there to emphasize their points, when Darcy came back in to the room. He was warmed and relieved to see his two ladies in close conference and to see Georgiana at ease with Elizabeth on so short a time. He moved to sit with Mrs Gardiner so as not to disturb them and was pleased to find in her a good conversationalist. Lydia sat close by and occasionally ventured an opinion but mostly sat in contemplative silence.

Not long after refreshments were served and Elizabeth and Georgiana returned to the group, both happy with the budding relationship between them. Elizabeth moved to sit near Mr Darcy and served his tea, Mrs Gardiner noted that she didn't have to ask him how he took it and smiled to herself. She then turned to Georgiana and talked to her gently of Lambton and Derbyshire and the young lady couldn't help but be drawn in to conversation.

Mr Darcy was pleased at his chance to converse with Elizabeth finally but found that being sat next to her on the sofa proved too much of a distraction to actually start talking. Although they were not touching he could feel the warmth from her body radiating across the space and found it difficult not to shift his weight in an effort to be closer to her. Luckily she started the conversation

"I trust my father was not too hard on you sir?"

"No more than I would be to someone taking away one of my daughters!"

"Oh no, that bad? I do apologise!" They both laughed softly

"No indeed Madame, he was remarkably gracious. I had the good fortune of running in to your sister Jane, so I am afraid I have conveyed our good news. I hope that is acceptable to yourself?"

"Of course, dear Jane. I must write to her soon, she will be most anxious for us to congratulate each other on our mutual good fortune."

"I have a short letter for you from her"

He put down his cup and reached in to his pocket to pass her the letter. As she took it their fingers touched. They both froze at the shock of electricity from the contact. Elizabeth looked down at their hands both holding the letter, her fingers partially covering Mr Darcy's. He turned in his seat slightly, not moving his hand away he looked up at her and when she met his eyes he deliberately curled his fingers around hers, putting the letter down, he lifted her hand to his lips, then placed it gently back in her lap again. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, her pulse was racing but she could hear sensible conversation not far away and knew she had to say something. Mr Darcy had his half smile on his face again, one she knew meant he understood something she did not. He spoke after what seemed like hours of just staring

"They are both well and look forward to our return to Hertfordshire."

She finally found the ability to speak

"Our return sir?"

"Why yes, you do not think I would not follow you wherever you were to go? I assumed you would be returning to Hertfordshire soon, I shall not be far behind!"

She smiled and blushed.

"That puts me in mind," he said "I would like talk to you about our wedding?" He phrased it like a question, not wanting to scare her. Their engagement was very new after all.

"Our wedding" Elizabeth mentally berated herself for sounding so dull. Why could she not think straight when he was looking at her like that?

"Yes" he said with a smile, he was sat casually on the sofa with his arm stretched along the back of it, if he moved his hand slightly off the sofa back it would brush her shoulder. He chanced a look at the other ladies of the room but they were in deep conversation and no one was looking, he chanced running a finger along the curve of her shoulder very briefly. He saw her stiffen and blush as he moved his finger away. He smiled again, her maidenly reactions were most becoming.

"Our wedding day, Elizabeth. The usual conclusion to an engagement."

She swallowed, looked down and took a deep breath. When she looked up she had more control of her breathing. She made a valiant effort at talking sense.

"What about our wedding day would you care to discuss sir" she said with tolerable composure.

"I was hoping you might be persuaded to set one sooner than later"

"Were you now? And what may be prompting you to make such a request?"

He smiled wickedly, she had fallen in to his little trap. He leaned in slightly closer and whispered

"Now that I have everyone's approval I am impatient to make you mine!" As he did so his hand moved even further off the sofa and he used the back of his hand to stroke up from her shoulder to the nape of her neck where he tugged on one of the curls in her coiffure before returning the offending hand to the back of the sofa and returning to a more proper distance away.

Elizabeth blushed scarlet at both the words and actions and threw a startled glance at her aunt, who was either unaware or was pointedly not looking. She found herself taking more fortifying breaths before speaking

"I would need to discuss with my family, but have you ever considered a double wedding?" She raised an eyebrow at him. It was Mr Darcy's turn to be surprised. Bingley and Jane were getting married in just over a month. His quick mind worked through the possibilities and his face broke out in a wide grin,

"why Miss Elizabeth, what an idea that could be. I will leave the details to yourself and your, hopefully obliging, sister!"

With that Mrs Gardiner turned and asked a question, probably not so oblivious as they had hoped.

"Mr Darcy" she began "Georgiana was just telling me about your love of the theatre. We had thought to take Elizabeth to see the new production of 'Much ado about nothing' at the end of this week, would you and Georgiana care to join us?"

"I can do one better Mrs Gardiner, your whole party could join us in our box if would would care to? Shall we say Thursday?" Finding no objections from the group and a warm smile of acceptance from Elizabeth "I'll send a message to the theatre to let them know. And that puts me in mind, my aunt Matlock has expressed a wish of having you to tea miss Elizabeth, she extended the invitation to you Mrs Gardiner." He thought for a moment, not really sure about introducing miss Lydia to his aunt "I confess I hadn't mentioned one of your sisters being in town but I am sure she would not be upset about miss Lydia accompanying her sister."

Mrs Gardiner had noted the hesitation and was quick to put in.

"Why that is very kind Mr Darcy, but I am sure lady Matlock wishes to meet with her future niece and therefore might be best for it to be just Elizabeth and myself on this occasion, would you not agree Lydia?"

Lydia expressed her agreement with the arrangements and it was swiftly done to the satisfaction of all. Elizabeth had no time to think on the concept of meeting such an exalted lady as he conversation moved on. The Darcy's invited the Gardiners and Bennets to attend services with them but they declined not wanting to draw any undue attention at this stage. Georgiana had been listening with attention but was wanting to further her budding relationship with the lady to be her sister and so began.

"Brother will you be attending business on Monday morning?"

Darcy paused. He had an appointment with his solicitor to discuss the marriage settlements.

"That is correct Georgie, I anticipate being out for the morning, why do you ask"

She turned to Elizabeth "might I invite you miss Bennet to come for tea in the morning. I would very much like the chance to get to know you better."

Elizabeth smiled warmly at the shy girl. "I would be delighted Miss Darcy, I am afraid I have an appointment with the modiste in the afternoon but I could come early and perhaps even my aunt could pick me up on the way to Madame Follets?"

The latter question was addressed to Mrs Gardiner who readily agreed with the plan, happy that the gentleman would be out and therefore not in need of further chaperoning. She was a little worried about the intimate glances she had noted already.

In that one short visit Elizabeth's social calendar was more full than she had ever known it to be. The pair soon after took their leave and Elizabeth accompanied them to the door. The adieu between Elizabeth and Georgiana was all that could be expected of such a meeting and both were anticipating increasing their intimacy on their next visit. When Elizabeth turned to Mr Darcy she found herself holding her breath in anticipation of what he would do on this occasion that might unsettle her. She curtsied and he bowed over her hand kissing it lightly.

"Until we meet again miss Elizabeth"

The butler held open the door and Georgiana preceded him through it and started down the steps. Elizabeth let out her breath with a little disappointment, but in the presence of his sister what more could he do?

She was then surprised as he turned back to her, leaned in and bestowed the softest of kisses on the angle of her jaw before inhaling deeply and giving her a meaningful look before turning and catching up with his sister. She raised her hand to the place on her jaw that was still tingling and watched him walk away. Stunned at the feeling racing through her from such a brief encounter.

She stood watching them pull away until the footman cleared his throat reminding her that he was still stood to attention. She was reminded where she was, gave the footman a smile who returned the gesture before she turned and walked back to the parlour.

"Well Lizzie, that seemed to go well. I must say I was expecting something different in miss Darcy, she is mighty shy is she not? But seemed sweet, much like Jane at that age I think. I am mightly glad I will not be meeting Lady Matlock, from what you have told me about Lady Catherine I should be terrified!"

Elizabeth and Madeleine Gardiner exchanged glances at Lydia's ramble. She had been all that was proper during the visit but her spirits were still there. Lizzie was pleased, she would not like Lydia to be something other than herself, even after this ordeal. But she did not lament the improved manners in company.

The rest of the afternoon was spent discussing wardrobe options for the upcoming events. Elizabeth was exhausted with all the talk of appearance, she was far more interested in comfort than fashion, but she was aware that her new position would come with expectations and she did not lament them. She was pleased to have Lydia there as she had a natural eye for fashion and for colours and styles that would most compliment her