A/N: Thanks once again for the reviews and feedback. One person did suggest that the word "candour" would be a better choice than "candidness" (which I used in the previous chapter). I confess, I did pause in my writing when it appeared on the page to check it was legitimate - surprisingly, it was, so I left it. With this reviewer's query I searched a little further (in case it was a recent mutation) but apparently the word dates back to 1542. Another google search comparing the use of the two words had most sources listing them as synonymous but one mentioned that candidness is an expression of the degree of candour. As I was trying to express E's appreciation of D's honesty and degree of openness, I have left it as it is, though will refrain from using it regularly. But thank you for raising the issue as I learnt a lot from the process. For those who love exploring words, you may enjoy a book I recently finished listening to on audible called The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. It was recommended to me by a friend who knows how much I enjoy exploring a thesaurus. If you do try it, just don't make my mistake by listening to it without headphones (if there is risk that others might overhear). There are words that can make you blush even if the context is based in the character's innate love of etymology :)

Darcy and Elizabeth discussed their favourite pursuits as they strolled the avenue in the early morning air, her hand tucked as comfortably in his arm as if it were Georgiana's, while he surreptitiously tried to memorise the sight of Elizabeth beside him, outfitted in her pelisse, warm shawl, hat, and gloves. Never before had Darcy deemed her natural beauty so alluring: she chatting freely, her nose and cheeks turning pink with the cold, her honest smile and conversation devoid of all artifice. Darcy savoured the serene contentment slowly permeating every part of his being, temporarily silencing the voice that said it would not be his to keep.

Upon their return to the house, both welcomed the instant relief from the chilly morning as they stepped through the doors, just as Elizabeth had predicted. Once divested of their additional layers, Elizabeth checked on Jane, before reconvening in the breakfast room where she was neither the first nor last of the inhabitants of Netherfield to arrive. Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley conversed amiably while the elegant sisters, once seated, spoke of friends and events they were missing back in London. Both Elizabeth and Darcy were careful not to have direct conversation, but they did not shy away from any group discussions. Personally, Darcy could not remember when he had enjoyed a morning at Netherfield more. Elizabeth was the first to leave the room, eager to check on her sister, and as far as Darcy knew, was sitting with her still. Not even the incessant chatter of Bingley's sisters could diminish the pleasurable memories that lingered on the surface of his conscious thought. Darcy remained in such remarkably good spirits all day, Bingley made comment on it while they played a game of billiards.

'Darcy, it is great to witness your mood so much improved. I have not seen you in such excellent humour since we reunited with the old Cambridge crew this summer past. I am so glad I talked you into joining me here at Netherfield. Did I not tell you that a change of scene and society would help? Whatever concerns have been plaguing you these last few months, they will be better resolved now that you are more like your old self.'

Walking around the table as he decided his next move, Darcy gave his friend the confirmation he sought. 'Yes, Bingley, I believe I am finally ready to admit that I am pleased you convinced me to come into Hertfordshire.' Leaning forward he lined up his shot. The ball fell into the pocket with a satisfying clunk. 'Too often,' Darcy continued, as he scanned the table again, 'it seemed, the unforeseen in my life only brought me challenges, more work, or heartache.' He glanced at his friend and smiled. 'It is nice to have that growing theory proven wrong.'

Bingley looked at him puzzled. 'You enjoyed the company last June-July, did you not? Society can be very beneficial for the soul. Life is not only about projects, obligations and responsibility, you know.'

'I believe you missed my point,' Darcy replied. 'Our time together during the summer was planned, proceeded accordingly, involving people I know. There was an element of control in those six weeks. It is the unknown, the unexpected, that has always seemed to herald hardship for me; the loss of each of my parents, the sudden inheritance of an estate that I did not expect to be master of for decades, which came with responsibilities I was not fully prepared for. Not to mention being thrust into the role of parent to a much younger sister. What does a twenty-something male know about the needs of a young teenage girl?'

'Well, that is understandable,' Bingley replied thoughtfully. 'Is that why you like to analyse things so thoroughly and make meticulous plans? I had never considered that it was a reaction to life experiences. I just assumed it was an extension of your character and that meticulous hand writing my sister so admires.' Bingley laughed at Darcy's reaction before concluding, 'Well, I am glad to have debunked a growing pessimism, if that is what one might call it.'

Darcy made a non-committal noise and let that line of conversation drop. It was later that he found the question resurfacing in his mind. Was he really pessimistic, or just cautious? Elizabeth would probably know. Actually, she would probably not bother with a label, but just tease him into a better mood. She had a talent for it.

When everyone retired to dress for dinner, Darcy made quick work of changing before leaving his rooms and walking toward the chamber occupied by the convalescing Miss Bennet. He took a calming breath before knocking to enquire after the lady's health. As he had hoped, Elizabeth met him at the door and after a brief discussion about her sister, Darcy informed Elizabeth that he would be in the library before dinner, saying, 'if you have need of any books, you have but to ask and I will gladly assist.'

Bless her heart, she had taken the hint and not long afterwards stepped into the library where he had waited, filling in his time by creating some sort of logic to Bingley's bookshelves.

'Mr Darcy,' Elizabeth said quietly with a teasing lilt to her voice as she drew alongside, 'do you think these surreptitious messages for us to meet, might be interpreted somewhat like illicit assignations? Though I applaud your efforts for change, this could be… misconstrued by some.'

Darcy looked down at her with a smile. 'Are you, Miss Elizabeth, doubting the sincerity of my offer to help procure a book from Bingley's somewhat scant library? I assure you, I am in earnest. Finding something worthy amongst his collection is no small feat at times, and your company is simply a side benefit which I am happy to be subjected to. You wisely left the door open, there are footmen about somewhere, the other members of the household will be at least another half hour, and to be honest the ease of speaking with you is…' he paused, before concluding, 'almost addictive in its simple pleasure.'

Elizabeth, who had been watching his face as he spoke, felt everything within her still at his words. Perhaps this experiment was more precarious than she first thought. She had not expected he could affect her equanimity, but there was something about this man that stirred a consciousness deep inside her. She quickly dipped her head to cover her confusion, as she offered him a small curtsy. 'That was a lovely speech, Mr Darcy. A beautiful balance of gallantry, logical reasoning, and teasing. You are doing remarkably well for someone who professes shyness with strangers.'

'You, Miss Elizabeth, are no longer a stranger to me. Your company is, without doubt, more pleasurable than any other woman's in the vicinity.'

Elizabeth gasped in mock horror. 'Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst would not be pleased with such an assessment.' Seeing Mr Darcy's expression she then laughed. 'Ah, your face tells a different story. Perhaps I am divining another truth.' She leant closer and whispered, 'Are we hiding from Miss Bingley's and Mrs Hurst's attentions tonight? Are you, the great Mr Darcy, scared of them?'

Mirroring her movements, he too leant down and dropped his voice to one for shared confidences. 'Scared? No. But wary – yes. You saw how determined both of them were to claim my arm when we met in the shrubbery this afternoon.' Darcy glanced over at a smiling Elizabeth. 'And yet you abandoned me,' he continued, shaking his head slowly, 'even though I specifically suggested the avenue for our walk in an effort to mitigate their rudeness; gaily declining in the face of my attempted gallantry, and dancing your merry way in the opposite direction. I must say, I felt it was most ungenerous of you.'

'But I did it so politely, did I not?' Elizabeth teased.

'By claiming my situation as picturesque?'

'Why, yes,' she replied. 'The picturesque, Mr Darcy, is often denoted by odd numbers in a collective rather than even. Being with such well-educated, accomplished women, I am sure they would have concurred with my assessment that you were all charmingly grouped.'

'You are merciless, Miss Elizabeth,' Darcy said, shaking his head with a smile. 'You left me no choice but to concede to their machinations, which I am loath to do. I would have much preferred to be walking with you, and not Bingley's sisters.'

'And you would have been welcome, if it could have been achieved without offence.'

'That would have been impossible, and you know it. Especially as I now have conclusive evidence that I am inadvertently the cause of the less than sincere welcome you have received by them. My suspicions were confirmed this afternoon when any positive word I expressed of you resulted in an increase of Miss Bingley's incivilities. I therefore unashamedly claim these assignations, as you called them, are my attempt to experience the simple enjoyment of your company without burdening you with the repercussions of it.'

'Oh, I see,' said Elizabeth, abandoning all teasing with this newest revelation of his thoughtfulness. 'Well, if it is any comfort to you, I do not take any of Miss Bingley's or Mrs Hurst's comments about me to heart. However, it does suggest an issue that may arise in future for others. Perhaps it would be more judicious to practice your gallantry upon groups of women rather than individuals. It will confound or partially appease those more persistent in their pursuit, while keeping the gossips guessing.'

Darcy could do nought but smile down at her, however it seemed enough for Elizabeth, as she directed her attention to the books upon the shelves. Darcy focused on absorbing as much as possible, the wonderful emotions flowing through him. It was akin to the feeling of home, when his parents were still alive. He took a deep slow breath, trying to memorise it. Watching Elizabeth as she perused the book titles available, a thought occurred to him. 'Miss Elizabeth, would you be interested in borrowing one of my books? I took the foreknowledge of my friend's literary pursuits into consideration as I planned my visit, and have three volumes that might be of interest.'

She straightened up, meeting his gaze with another one of her beautiful smiles. 'That is most gracious of you, sir, but I could not deprive you of your own reading material.'

'It would hardly be a deprivation, Miss Elizabeth. One I have already read, another is poetry which is easy to dip in and out of at leisure, and the third I have yet to begin. I would be honoured if you found one of them to your liking. As you have told me on several occasions, this is what friends do.'

'Thank you,' she said meaningfully, their eyes meeting. In a bid to disrupt what was beginning to feel strangely intimate, Elizabeth said archly, 'How strategic of you, Mr Darcy, to quote back to me my own words as part of the rationale for my acceptance, for I could hardly argue against it. I must remember that stratagem for future verbal skirmishes.'

Darcy grinned, feeling an inordinate amount of pleasure at the prospect of future debates with Elizabeth. Taking advantage of her consent, he tore his eyes away and walked over to the chair where he had been reading. 'This is the book of poetry I mentioned. Do take it with you. I would be interested to hear your thoughts once you have read some with your sister.'

Elizabeth accepted it graciously, providing Darcy deep gratification. Why is it, he wondered, the knowledge Elizabeth has something of my own when we are not together, creates such self-satisfied pleasure? He also wondered if she was remembering her bold assertions about poetry. If her claims were true, his own brief perusal had provided confirmation that his present feelings were definitely not of the vague "inclination" variety that she had referenced in her earlier opinions on the topic.

'This is most kind of you, Mr Darcy,' Elizabeth said, pulling him from his reverie. 'And thank you also for your consideration in regard to Miss Bingley's less favourable attentions to myself. I should have acknowledged your kind motives before. Is that why you have often looked at me with an inscrutable stare? Were you trying to gauge my character without raising suspicions in others?'

'Inscrutable stare? What do you mean?' Darcy asked.

'Please forgive my bluntness,' Elizabeth replied, 'as I know that what I am about to say is not a true representation of your character, but you often look at people with an expression which seems devoid of pleasure.'

'I see.' Though in truth he did not.

'Let us do an experiment,' Elizabeth prompted with new energy. 'I want you to look at me as though Miss Bingley were sitting in the chair over there, scrutinising everything we say and do.' At the look of bewilderment on Darcy's face she nudged his arm to coax him from self-consciousness. 'Use your imagination. Come on. Or if you will, imagine my mother. That will be even more frightening, for if you display any particular attention toward me in her presence, she is sure to become even more unbearable in her match-making delusions.'

Darcy broke into a chuckle. 'Just remember, you said that Elizabeth, not me.' They both froze, before Darcy quickly corrected himself. 'Miss Elizabeth, I mean. I apologise.' Not wanting to let his blunder take precedence, he kept talking to draw her attention back to their experiment. 'Alright, this is me hiding what I am thinking or feeling from others in the room.' It was not hard to imagine, as he definitely did not want Elizabeth to know either at present. He was relieved to see her conform to his redirection.

She studied his demeaner for only a moment before laughing. 'Yes, that is it! The forbidding glare of Mr Darcy.'

'But you know I am not glaring, surely?'

'I do now, but your true character is not common knowledge in this neighbourhood. Eye contact can be a moment of respect, of undivided attention, given to another, but it can also be an insult if the expression held within is blank or closed off. Let us work on softening it a little.'

She chuckled as he tried to comply.

'That is not very kindly of you to laugh, Miss Elizabeth,' Darcy asserted, despite finding it hard not to smile in return.

'Oh, I am sincerely sorry,' she said, lifting the book of poetry to cover her mouth as she endeavoured to supress her amusement. She raised her hand behind the volume, as though to wipe the smile off her face before exclaiming, 'Ah, like that,' and she indicated briefly to his face. 'That is better. Even if you look like you are trying to refrain from rolling your eyes at my behaviour, I feel seen by you, and not unkindly.' Her words softened his discomfit. 'Did you know,' she continued, 'this is actually what young children sometimes crave when they misbehave? They are just wanting to be seen, to not be invisible.'

Darcy shook his head. 'I'm not sure I am going to understand, let alone achieve what you have in mind.'

'Oh, please do not be discouraged Mr Darcy,' Elizabeth replied. 'I know it was wrong of me to laugh. Please… please forgive me. You are doing extremely well. Truly. In such a short time, you have revealed to me an entirely different man to the one I had imagined, with so much more depth and kind consideration. This is the man it would indeed be a shame to hide.'

Her genuine plea melted away the last of Darcy's embarrassment.

Elizabeth saw him soften, and added, 'It is just that we are both in training here and I will sometimes fail you. I have never tried to teach anyone how to be comfortable with strangers and I will be awkward in doing so, just as you are feeling awkward trying to learn new ways. Please don't take my faux pas personally.

Her mention of a faux pas reminded Darcy of his own. She had let that slide so graciously, who was he to take umbrage at her laughter, even if he had felt like a fool.

'Of course Miss Elizabeth.' To show her that he held no ill will toward her he picked up her hand and covered it briefly with his own. 'I am grateful for your tutelage.'

She looked self-conscious but pleased as she withdrew her hand. 'I had best go back and check on my sister. Thank you again for the book. If the weather is fine for a walk tomorrow, perhaps we can talk again.'

'Will you be at dinner tonight, Miss Elizabeth?'

'Let me first check on Jane. I will come down at least for a time after dinner if nothing else.'

'I look forward to it, Miss Elizabeth.'