Elizabeth, as they drove along, watched for the first appearance of Pemberley Woods with some perturbation; and when at length they turned in at the lodge, her spirits were in a high flutter.

The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground. They entered it in one of its lowest points, and drove for some time through a beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent.

P&P Chapter 43

"MISS BENNET!"

"MR. DARCY!"

. . . . . .

"Ahhh… Ahhh… Ahhh… Your family is in good health?"

"Yes, sir, they are all in good health, and to the best of my knowledge, all human."

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

"I apologize, sir. That was a low blow."

"But what did you say that I did not deserve?"

. . . . . .

"You deserve better than that, Mr. Darcy. I… I… I… ummm… wellll… I… researched what you said about the incursion. It took a great deal of help from my uncle Gardiner, but I eventually found the truth. It was as you described. The newspapers are clearly wrong, but I suppose that is by design?"

"Yes. It takes a great deal of money and effort to keep our activities reasonably secret."

"Why bother, if I may be so bold as to ask? Why not be feted as the heroes you are?"

"Because it makes us too vulnerable. Bladerunners have been at this game a very long time – centuries. Secrecy is the only thing that allows us to hunt safely. Imagine if all a bot had to do is meet me in the garden of my own home after a swim when I am unarmed… … err… that is…"

"No need to apologize, Mr. Darcy. By your own analysis, if I was an Elizabot, you would most likely be dead already."

"Either dead or being toyed with, but… once again, I apologize."

"No need, sir."

"May I ask what you are doing here? Not that I mind… in fact, you are always welcome… you are always more than welcome… in fact, I had hoped… … I had wished… I had… I still… … sorry… babbling."

"That's all right, Mr. Darcy. I understand your babbling. I'm not offended. I might even be slightly flattered."

"Thank you, Miss Bennet. It means a lot to me!"

"To answer your question, I am taking a tour of Derbyshire with my favorite relatives… the very ones in trade in Cheapside that will make us unlikely to marry men of any consequence in the world."

. . . . . .

"Come, come, Mr. Darcy. I don't have supernatural hearing… just a number of gossipy friends in the servant class. If we are to be friends, you will have to learn to take a little bit of teasing."

"Are we to be friends then, Miss Bennet?"

"Of course! We already are."

"I do not believe there is any 'of course' about it, but I am quite happy to be your friend – and by the way, speaking of hopeful friends, Bingley will be here tomorrow. I don't suppose you have your sister with you?"

"No, she remains at Longbourn taking care of my aunt's children. Should I send for her?"

"Not necessary… wild horses couldn't keep Bingley here. He just came by to… ahhh… strategize."

"He is going to ask YOU for advice on COURTING? This I must see!"

"Not at all! He has better sense than that… at least, he does now. He just wants to see how badly I have stuffed things up, so he knows how big of a hole he has to dig his way out of."

. . . . . .

"You have not completely stuffed things up, Mr. Darcy."

"Have I any slight hope, Miss Bennet? Any hope at all?"

. . . . . .

"Somewhat more than any slight hope, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps, you might wish to get out of those wet clothes, and then meet my relatives… although, not necessarily in that order."

"I think I should probably get cleaned up?"

"Not entirely necessary, sir. My aunt was Madeline Lewis. I believe she has seen you in considerably less glamorous –in fact, nonexistent– attire, although you were apparently considerably smaller at the time."

. . . . . .

"Teasing, Mr. Darcy… we really must work on that."

"I will accept any directive from you that includes the word 'we', Miss Bennet."

"Are you FLIRTING with me, Mr. Darcy?"

"That depends. Is it working?"

"I think it just might be?"

"Mr. Bingley, how was the Atlantic?"

"You told her Darcy?"

"I did, Bingley. Cards are on the table with this Miss Bennet. I do not know about the elder. And by the way, I have definitively cleared both of any suspicion."

"I told Jane everything, Mr. Bingley. I cannot say she was any happier about the experience than I was, but… well… she is expecting you. She may even forgive you, since Mr. Darcy was mostly at fault. Sidekicks get a certain amount of leniency."

. . . . . .

"That was fast."

"Good thing she's at Longbourn, since he didn't ask. How far do you think he'll make it before dark?"

"Probably not past Lambton, but no matter. Do you think your mother will welcome him back?"

"I assume you are teasing now, Mr. Darcy?"

"That I am, Miss Bennet… that I am."

"Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, welcome to my home. Would I be too presumptuous to suggest I would prefer you stay at Pemberley instead of Lambton?"

"Lizzy, you seem to have left out a few details about your association with Mr. Darcy."

"Come, come, Aunt. You have seen him naked – can you really object to staying at his house."

"I'm right here, Miss Bennet."

. . . . . .

"Mr. Darcy, I suppose I should speak with my aunt and uncle…"

"As if your poor old uncle has any say, Lizzy."

"… about whether they are willing to stay at Pemberley. As to myself… … … I have no objection."

"Mr. Gardiner, do you enjoy fishing, hunting, riding… name your sport, sir, and I shall oblige."

"This seems rather… err… important to you, Mr. Darcy?"

"It is sir."

"Are you anticipating any other sport, sir?"

"Nothing dishonorable, sir."

"Lizzy, what say you?"

"I should very much like to stay here, Uncle."

"Madeline?"

"Are you now to pretend you will disoblige Lizzy in any way?"

"Well, when you put it that way – we will gladly accept your hospitality Mr. Darcy. Things that should go without saying will go without saying – but you get my meaning?"

"I understand completely, sir. To be honest, I am on very thin ice with Miss Bennet as it is. I am in no mood to be stomping about like a lumberjack. I will act with the utmost decorum, sir."

"We understand each other then."

"The phaeton and ponies are quite an underhanded trick, Mr. Darcy. No fair getting my relatives to gang up on me."

"All's fair in love and war, Miss Bennet."

"And which is this, sir?"

"I hope very much for the former."

"Very well – love it is?"

"Excuse me?"

"Love it is! I realize it is an unconventional way to tell you; it is done, however, and it was done for the best. Ask your question."

"How was my last proposal, aside from the references to murder and mayhem?"

"You could omit the whiney excuses you started with –nobody wants to know about your 'struggles'– but the early middle part was quite lovely. Perhaps, just extract the essence?"

"I ardently admire and love you."

"There! Brevity is the soul of wit indeed."

"You have no objections?"

"In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, but I do not think I will go that route. It is not gratitude or obligation I feel. I simply feel… well… how can I put this? I ardently admire and love you, even if you are a lunkhead! How's that?"

"Copycat!"

"Why mess with perfection?"

"I do truly love you, Elizabeth."

"Pardon me, Fitzwilliam, but was there a question buried in there somewhere that I missed?"

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet, love of my life, would you do me the great honor of consenting to becoming my wife?"

"Fitzwilliam Darcy, love of my life, I would be most honored to be your wife."

"You don't suppose we could do a twofer with Bingley and Jane, just to cut down on the drama?"

"You fight REPLICANTS, and you are afraid of my MOTHER?"

"Of course – aren't you?"

"Well… … … … Good point. Twofer it is."