If you are reading as I post, make sure you read the previous chapter, which is actually an interlude from Darcy's mom which I posted last night. In this chapter, we are now back to Darcy's POV.

The revision process is going gangbusters and I've got several chapters almost ready to go. When I get the whole thing finished, then I will start posting chapters more quickly than once a week.

Chapter 11: Adam and Eve

I was left in a grouping with Mrs. Gardiner and Edwin while the Bennet sisters, arm in arm, strode in front of us into the portrait gallery. Miss Elizabeth's timing in separating herself from me was brilliant though I doubt she knew it.

One of the first portraits for our perusal was an engraving by Durer of Adam and Eve, unclothed but for some strategically placed leaves attached to twigs concealing their nether regions, but not Eve's breasts. We caught up to the sisters as they gazed upon this depiction.

There Adam stood, all his muscles well defined, exposed in a way a maiden would never find a man until she became a missus and entered the marital state. Eve, whose face was not as lovely as Adam's, had gentle curves and a rather small bosom; her hand was stretched out to the serpent while also holding a fig, and animals surrounded them.

The engraving did not shock me as I had seen it before, though I had not particularly thought of it when I had suggested this outing. However, standing there with our whole group was a different matter entirely than when I had seen it with my father.

As we gazed, Georgiana and Miss Lucus joined our grouping. Mrs. Gardiner broke our silence, "Come along dears, this painting does not bear looking at overly long."

Suddenly all the women were hurrying forward together, all facing away from us, with Edwin and I in the rear. I wondered; did they blush? Did Miss Elizabeth now contemplate what I might look like unclothed?

While Edwin (who was a little back from me), took a couple of steps forward in the direction the ladies had gone, I stayed where I was, took that moment to let the gap between them and us widen and then stayed Edwin's forward motion with an outstretched arm and hand. "I would speak with you."

A family passed us where we stood, still standing before Durer's masterpiece depicting the fall. The matron took a single glance at the engraving and then at us before instructing, "Children, proceed into the gallery directly."

Edwin watched them go and then turned back in my direction and commented softly, "She must have thought us libertines." He shrugged.

I did not understand why Edwin thought that, and he must have understood that, too, for he explained, "She must have seen us standing for some minutes before this Eve and, curious about what had gained our attention, hurried over with her children in search of the fine art that could captivate two men for so long. And then when she espied it, she thought us most horrid beasts, dwelling on thoughts of despoiling mankind's mother rather than (of course as we were doing) meditating on the tragedy of the fall and man's fallen nature."

Edwin smirked. "Naturally, that mother has no way of knowing that my cousin has never, ever desired to see a woman unclothed." Then he rolled his eyes at me.

"I think I have all the proper desires for a man," I told him.

"So, what is it you wish to speak to me about? Do you wish to know more about the act? Have you committed the sin of onanism to thoughts of what you shall do with the lovely Miss Elizabeth when finally married?"

I felt my face flame. There were other museum goers about, although none were close to us just then.

"I shall not talk to you about any of that, and certainly not here. No, indeed! I wished to warn you that as Miss Bennet will be my sister, I will protect her from any that might harm her, including the son of an earl."

Edwin placed his hand upon his breast, "I would sooner hurt myself than Miss Bennet. All I wish is the opportunity to become better acquainted with her, to consider what may be possible, to see if her heart could be touched."

"Miss Bennet does not meet your criteria and her heart belongs to another. Her portion is small and the opposition I faced regarding Miss Elizabeth from you and Lady Catherine would be nothing compared to what your parents would bring to bear on you. Bingley is all that is on her mind, you are a mere distraction at best."

"Is your opposition to this all about the practicalities? Perhaps I do not wish to be wise."

I shrugged. "Are you in earnest?"

Edwin nodded. He did not seem to be joking now, but I was still uncertain as to whether he was serious or only pretending to be.

I resolved to speak to Miss Elizabeth about this matter, but said to Edwin only, "I believe it is time we rejoin the ladies."

We hurried past much fine art to regain our place with them, but ended up only joining my sister, Miss Lucas and Mrs. Gardiner as the Bennet sisters were elsewhere. They did not return to us until we were almost finished touring the museum.

At that time, Mrs. Gardiner began discussing what additional sights the ladies should see in London before their trip back to Hertfordshire. Miss Bennet said, directing her comments in the direction of her sister and friend, "Lizzy and Maria, it is unfortunate that you will have less time in London than anticipated, due to your late arrival from Kent. Perhaps we should delay our return." Then, I saw Miss Bennet turn her eyes in the direction of my cousin and add, "There is so much more to be seen, and in such pleasant company."

Edwin asked Miss Bennet when they were to leave. He looked quite horrified when she said "Saturday."

"But it is Thursday now!" Edwin exclaimed. Seeking some reprieve, he asked Mrs. Gardiner, "Can the ladies not extend their visit by a few days?"

Mrs. Gardiner replied, "Certainly my nieces and their friend are most welcome to abide with us longer. Mr. Gardiner and I always enjoy company, although with three guests the accommodations are somewhat snug. However, the decision does not rest with us alone; their fathers would have to approve any alterations of the plans."

Edwin noted, his comments generally directed toward all three ladies, although his eyes seemed to be focused on Miss Bennet, "You must certainly stay longer if you possibly can." Then glancing at me he suggested, "If you have not been, Darcy and I must take you all to see Artexerxes at the Theatre Royal with a comedy to follow."

After concluding our museum visit, we returned to the Gardiners for tea but did not immediately sit down to partake. I was frustrated that there was no opportunity to talk to Miss Elizabeth about what was currently on our minds, the burgeoning closeness between her sister and my cousin. I was also frustrated that while we should have been one another's focus that we were both distracted. I wanted time in which we could enjoy each other's company as we had in our walks in Kent.

We both watched Miss Bennet and Edwin as we chatted idly, our conversation lagging. I observed that while Miss Bennet was still as open and engaging as ever and seemed to accept Edwin's attentions with pleasure much she had with Bingley, her countenance was not as serene. She leaned in toward him and was increasingly animated when conversing with him, though occasionally she still seemed at times to remember her melancholy.

I remembered some signs my tutor had taught me to watch for, to determine whether a woman might wish to engage the interest of a man and tallied them up in my head. Beyond the signs I had already noticed, I observed that Miss Bennet looked intently into his eyes, twirled her finger through a strand of hair that had escaped her bonnet and touched his arm for a moment.

Although I had not been taught by my tutor whether men exhibited similar signs, I had noticed Bingley's signs that corresponded with him expressing great admiration of a lady. Edwin's behavior seemed very like. He seemed to prefer speaking to Miss Bennet above all the others. He, too, leaned in toward her and was mildly inattentive to the rest of us, though when roused tried to pay attention.

Mrs. Gardiner tried to involve herself in Edwin's conversation with Miss Bennet and endeavored to find out more about him. I thought Edwin's interest very marked and very different than what I had seen from him before.

At one point, I heard Edwin ask Mrs. Gardiner, "May I meet your children?" Mrs. Gardiner made a request of her servant and a few minutes later the two girls, who I had learned were older than their brothers, were brought out to join in the tea. They dutifully curtseyed and did their best to imitate their elders' manners as they ate their biscuits and sipped tea to which copious amounts of sugar and milk were added.

They seemed very reserved to me, but Edwin soon had them talking with him. The elder, a brunette girl who bore some resemblance to Miss Elizabeth and her dark-haired sisters, but whose eyes were not nearly as fine as Miss Elizabeth's, shyly asked him, "Mr. Colonel, perhaps you might wish to accompany us and Jane on the morrow to sip new milk in St. James Park."

"Miss Gardiner, I would be delighted," replied he. "Should I bring my own cup?"

Mrs. Gardiner quickly intervened and assured him, "You need not accompany us." She gave a quick glance at her daughter before adding, "Emma should not have asked."

Miss Gardiner's eyes widened at the rebuke.

Edwin gallantly declared, "I am glad that she did. Although it has been many years since I have quaffed new milk, I remember that nothing is better and with such fine company and good weather it will be a delightful outing." He looked right in Miss Bennet's eyes when he mentioned the "fine company" and said the word "delightful."

Miss Elizabeth was quick to ask, "Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy, should you like to join us also?"

Although I had no real interest in new milk, seeing this as an opportunity to spend more time in her presence, I, too, consented, while my sister made her excuses, explaining, "I have plans to call tomorrow on some of my dear friends."

By this time, I felt we had tarried overly long in their house and said, "We must be returning to our home but besides the morning outing, we should like for you all to visit again for dinner tomorrow." Mrs. Gardiner quickly accepted.

Just before we departed, Edwin asked Miss Bennet, "May I call on you on the morrow, before the outing for fresh milk?" She agreed.

During the carriage ride back to my residence, Edwin was very vocal once again about his admiration for Miss Bennet. It was rather sickening. Georgiana was mildly encouraging but soon grew silent. Edwin seemed content to hear his own voice without much contribution from Georgiana or me.

At the end of a long soliloquy, Edwin declared "I am in love."

"Enough!" I roared, surprised at how vehement my own voice was. "You may admire her, but no one falls in love in a day." I felt my fists clench; I was determined to protect my would-be sister.

This was enough to make him pause and look my way.

"I agree with Brother," Georgiana added more softly, squeezing my arm reassuringly (she sat on the seat beside me, while Edwin was in the backwards facing seat). "I like Miss Bennet, but neither of us know her. Tell me Edwin, what have you truly learned about her; besides that you admire her appearance and kindness to those around her?"

Georgiana dropped her voice and whispered, though we three were alone, but for the coachman and the other carriages on the street, "I was a fool when I thought myself in love with George. He did everything he could to please me, paid me some attention and spoke sweet words, but though I was familiar with him since perhaps my infancy, I knew him not at all."

I took a deep breath or two, recited in my mind the scientific names of my favorite butterfly specimens (discussing my collection with Miss Elizabeth made me think of this) and then made my fists unclench. I waited a few moments more before I trusted I might speak more calmly. I was half astonished that as of yet Edwin made no reply, so I determined to address him before he spoke again.

"Edwin, I have no objection to you trying to know her better if you obey all proprieties, but you were far, far too forward today. So much so that perhaps everyone but Miss Bennet herself was trying to determine your intentions. And as things stand now, I would feel honor bound to inform her father and uncle of your ongoing improper behavior should you ask to court her or ask for her hand."

Edwin sighed deeply and all the previous animation and good humor in his face vanished. "Let us not talk of such things in front of Georgiana."

Georgiana blushed and then before the color faded from her cheeks whispered, "You men may have your private talk, but I will have my say. I would not want to marry anyone who would violate his marriage vows."

I was astonished she would speak even obliquely of Edwin's mistress, but given our discussion that morning was far less astonished than Edwin. When I turned from her to him, I noted his mouth was still agape, his eyes wide. I took advantage of his distraction to speak once more and turn the conversation before my sister in a more appropriate direction.

"Time is needed for you to know what your heart truly feels. You may think my courtship of Miss Elizabeth to be quite rapid, but I have spent far more time with her than you with Miss Bennet and we both trusted each other with our deepest secrets, laid all the ugliness we possessed before the other and somehow, miraculously, she has accepted me as I am." I gave myself leave to feel the blessing that was Miss Elizabeth's acceptance of me.

I explained to Edwin, "You have only shown Miss Bennet your friendliest, most jovial self. I dare say that even if she might admire you, she does not know you. I doubt she is ready to trust you with her heart, nor should she so soon."

Edwin seemed deep in thought the rest of the carriage ride. When we arrived he made his excuses. Though I invited him to stay for dinner he shook his head "no" and departed on his horse.