Good morning and happy Saturday! Thank you for taking the time to read this story, and thank you for the comments and feedback you leave so consistently. It means the world to me! I hope you enjoy this story.

The winter light in the room was fading. Darcy and Elizabeth had been on the settee for an hour or more, savoring their new understanding and talking over every feeling of the past few months. "I really must know, Fitzwilliam, when did you begin to fall in love with me? I know it was not when we first met. You withstood my beauty early on, and my impertinence could hardly have been appealing."

"My behavior that night was deplorable. Do not ask me to relive it. I would much rather hear when you started to fall in love with me."

"Not so quickly! I asked first, so I insist on receiving my answer before giving you yours."

"Very well, then. I cannot resist any command of yours." Darcy paused to think for a moment. "I noticed you first that night at the assembly, when I was short and ill-mannered with you. But you never lost your smile, and your pointed responses, instead of turning me away, made me realize how poorly I behaved. I wanted to know more about you."

"If you were intrigued you certainly concealed it well. I had not the slightest idea that I had made any impression on you!"

Darcy gave a short laugh. "I can well believe it. I was appallingly rude."

"Which I now know to be out of character for you. What made you so unsociable that evening?"

His mouth twisted wryly. "It was not entirely out of character. I am not at ease with strangers, and the room was full of people I did not know. If not for Bingley I would not have been there at all. But after meeting you I wanted to do better. My interest only grew after discovering you were Gardiner's niece."

Elizabeth considered this. She was surprised to hear that such a polished and educated gentleman could feel ill at ease among strangers, but it did explain why he had been so reluctant to speak with her that night. "I could not understand a man who came to an assembly with the evident intention of offending half the room. How unfortunate that you should have a reasonable explanation, and that I should be so reasonable as to accept it!"

"Then came the day when Bingley and I met you on the sidewalk outside the tea shop. When you threw your arms around Jules, a child you did not even know, to save him from being beaten, my heart was no longer my own. Your fearlessness took my breath away. I very nearly proposed right then."

She gave a light laugh. "I am glad you did not, as I would certainly have declined! When you came alongside me to save Jules I thought better of you but that was all. I was nowhere near loving you yet. I let you call on me in order to help Jane, nothing more."

"Which I knew, and was willing to take advantage of."

"But then I listened to Wickham's accusations about you, and threw them in your face! My wounded vanity led me sadly astray. How could you forgive me after that?"

"You must not blame yourself. My behavior had seemed to confirm some of what he said."

"Nevertheless, when you rescued Jules and me from the mob I knew you were kinder to me than I deserved. I thought then that I must have lost your regard forever."

"Do not even think such a thing! Nothing could ever make that happen."

"But you hardly spoke a word to me when you brought us back to my uncle's house."

"I did not wish to take advantage of your distress."

"You seemed so cool and detached."

"Rest assured, my feelings were quite the opposite." He took a moment to kiss her, a gesture she accepted gratefully. When they broke off, he added, "Since you mentioned Jules, how is he?"

"Beginning to speak English now and then, as you will undoubtedly hear for yourself."

"That will serve him well. I don't suppose your aunt and uncle have any notion of letting him return to live on the street, or sending him to an orphanage."

"None whatsoever. Dear little Jules! He has had a hard life up until now, but very nearly running into our arms that day was a stroke of luck."

"I would say we were the fortunate ones, since he was the means of bringing us together."

At that moment they were interrupted by a dark shape that leaped up onto the settee and leaned up against Darcy, purring loudly. Elizabeth smiled delightedly. "Cozette is jealous! She thinks it was all her idea."

"There may be some truth in that," Darcy allowed, stroking the animal's sleek fur. "I seem to remember that she gave me her seal of approval before you did. But now that I have answered your question, you must answer mine. When did you first fall in love with me?"

Elizabeth looked at him mischievously. "Shall I admit that it was when I first heard how rich you were?"

Darcy chuckled. "Not if you expect me to believe you. You would have behaved quite differently at the assembly if that had been the case."

"Then perhaps when you mentioned that you are the nephew of an earl."

"I cannot credit that either." He shook his head. "I know you too well to believe that you are impressed by either wealth or connections."

"If you must know. I think I began to fall in love with you on the day you rescued us from the mob. But I was not willing to admit it until you kissed me the first time. Then I could no longer deny my feelings for you."

"A bold move, but I have no regrets." Darcy leaned towards her as if to kiss her again, but Elizabeth pulled back, shaking her head.

"Now I am afraid we must speak of something very serious."

"Do you mean how soon we can be married?"

Elizabeth smiled at his single mindedness, but then she gave an involuntary shiver. "I encountered Wickham again this afternoon, at the recital. I am desperately afraid of him. He made a threat against you!"

Darcy frowned and sat up straight on the settee, accidentally dislodging Cozette from her place. She jumped off the settee with an indignant yowl and disappeared under the furniture. "Tell me what happened. Did Wickham find you on purpose? Did he know you would be there, or was your encounter a mere coincidence?"

"It was a coincidence. I think he was following Charlotte and happened to run into me."

"Miss Lucas!"

Elizabeth related the conversation. Her voice rose as she emphasized Wickham's obvious jealousy and his plain statement of ill intent against Darcy. She finished with, "He means to hurt you if he can. And perhaps Charlotte and her family as well!"

"Where did he go after you left him? Did he stay in the theater, or did he leave at once?"

"I do not know. I did not see him at all after that. He is an evil man, and I could not bear it if he harms you or anyone else I know because of something I said!"

"I will not allow that to happen," Darcy said firmly. Seeing her distress he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. "You, your family and your friends are under my protection, and nothing shall ever harm you. I swear it!"

Elizabeth leaned against him, trying to take comfort in his assurance. "But what can one man do against so many? What power do you have over Wickham?"

"I have resources at my disposal that you do not know about. Wickham is not the only person with friends in high places. However," he added, after a short pause, "I think the time has come for you and Jane to leave France. Do you want to be married in England? Or do you, like your sister, prefer to be married from here?"

"If you knew my mother you would not even ask such a question! I would prefer to be married in my own time and way, which means it absolutely cannot be from Longbourn."

"That simplifies matters. We can probably be married sooner rather than later in that case."

"How do you define soon? How late would be too late, in your estimation?"

"Soon would be tomorrow morning, and anytime after that is too late, in my opinion."

He gave her a roguish look, and she nearly laughed out loud. "I cannot agree to be married tomorrow, but perhaps a week or two after Jane and Bingley?"

"Why not be married at the same time? A double ceremony would be more efficient, and I could take you back to England that much sooner."

"You are too transparent. You mean that you wish to marry me as soon as possible!"

"There is no point in denial."

"I do not wish to steal any attention from Jane. She has already been planning for several weeks."

"Their wedding date is in a month, is that not so?"

"Yes, unless Bingley is as impatient as you."

Darcy's expression changed to half disbelief and half hope. "Would you really be willing to marry me that soon?"

Elizabeth placed both of her hands in his, her heart overflowing. "I may have taken longer to be sure of my feelings towards you, but they are just as sincere. I would be honored and delighted to become your wife in a month's time, assuming that my uncle gives his permission and Jane does not mind."

"I do not need to ask your uncle for your hand."

"Why ever not?"

"Because I already did, the same day I asked his permission to call on you." He smiled at her astonishment.

This has been a sweet little chapter, but hold on to your hats. The drama is going to ramp up again, very soon! See you in three weeks! -Elaine