I'm glad you are all sticking with me. And now some romance!

As I walked to the parsonage I began to worry about my appearance. I had become quite hot under the collar from running and worry. Likely my face was red and my hair affright. I felt trickles of wet down my back and under my arms and worried that I had an odor. I was completely unpresentable.

By this time I was almost there. I stopped and pondered a minute but then decided to turn back rather than have Miss Elizabeth see me this way.

I was too late. She must have spotted me from a window because as I started to walk away she came running out the door, calling, "Mr. Darcy! Are not you going to call on me?"

I paused, worried about my appearance but no longer that young man who would have run away in shame.

"I need to be called on twice a day, I think. We have but a few moments. Lady Catherine is out back, advising Mrs. Collins on her chickens." She smiled at me.

I felt the need to say something clever in return, yet I could think of nothing. "I did not think I should call when I look as if I have been working in the fields all day."

"That does not matter," said she. "I suppose I can wait until tomorrow. Lady Catherine has invited us all for dinner and has made it clear that any time we spend together should be properly supervised under her auspices or that of Mrs. Collins."

"My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, will be leaving on the morrow, but I fear now that my aunt shall be chaperoning that shall still mean no more early morning walks."

"It is a pity," said she, "but I am glad to have a moment with you. I think, I know . . ." she paused and lightly bit her bottom lip. I was fascinated, so much so that I almost missed her next words. "It is . . . that is . . ."

She looked down, avoiding my eyes and blushed. I wondered what was amiss and almost asked when she whispered quitely, "Do you still want my token?"

"Oh yes," I cried out loudly before realising I ought to keep my voice low as she had done and then did my best to whisper, "there is nothing I have desired more."

"Nothing, Mr. Darcy?" She gave a little smirk and at that moment I knew not what to answer.

In my dreams and secret thoughts there was much more that I desired. I longed to run my bare hands along the sides of her face and gently hold her near as my lips touched hers, to run my fingers down the side of neck and trace the skin that disappeared beneath the edges of her gown, to perhaps feel her hands, gloveless against the top edges of my cravet. However, as I was not Edwin nor George, from me such things would never be spoken of in front of a maiden.

I was silent for several moments collecting my thoughts before I knew how I ought to answer, "Yes, some day if you are amenable, to formally court you, seek and receive your hand and then marry you."

She beamed and her eyes sparkled. "Hold out your hand," she instructed softly, blushing yet again.

I extended my hand, palm facing up, and watched as she dropped her yellow ribbon from her bare fingers into my hand. I closed my hand around it and felt its silky smoothness as I lightly stroked the ribbon against my palm with my fingertips. As I carefully put it in my pocket and nestled it beside my simple twine I had a sudden inspiration.

I decided not to care if such a thing was done or not. I did not need to please society, only she and me, and I thought she would be pleased.

"Fair Miss Elizabeth, while I have nothing as fine as your ribbon, would you accept a humble token from me?"

She nodded, her lips closed in a slight smile, twisting a curl beside her left ear that had escaped from where its fellows were carefully tucked away. Did she have any idea how every little movement she made charmed me so?

"Hold out your hand," I whispered, imitating her words. She did so and for a moment I studied her delicate palm and slender fingers. I had seen her hands before moving over the piano forte, but it was different seeing the underside of one as she held it still. I noticed it was smaller than Georgiana's were. Then I recollected myself and gently placed my twine down into her cupped hand, daring to gently touch her hand for a moment as I released it. As she had with her ribbon before, she tucked my twine into her sleeve.

We stood silent for a minute, each watching the other. Then I bowed to her, she curtseyed, I said, "Until tomorrow," and I went on my way.