A/N- Thank you to all reviewers. I know the last chapter was not quite like the Darcy and Lizzy we know, especially on the part of Lizzy. I hope this chapter will be sufficiently explanatory.

Elizabeth Bennet was talking excitedly, and her sister Jane listened with a fond smile.

'Jane!', cried Elizabeth.

'Yes, dearest?'

'Are you even listening to me?'

'Of course I am.'

'You're not. You're just staring into distance with that happy smile and thinking of Mr Bingley.'

Jane blushed.

'Lizzy!', she protested.

'Well, its true! What was I talking of?', demanded her sister.

'Of the delightful meeting you had with Mr Darcy in the woods.'

'Jane!', cried Lizzy angrily.

'That is what you were speaking of, Lizzy.'

'He nearly declared himself Jane!'

'What? You never said a word about that.'

'I did, and you would have heard if only you were listening.', said Lizzy, looking furious.

Jane looked suitably apologetic, but Lizzy was not mollified.

'Tell me, dearest sister, whatever transpired between you and Mr Darcy in the woods? I assure you, I am all ears.'

'Not so easily. I don't think I want to repeat myself after all.', teased Lizzy.

'Very well then, I shall have to ask Mr Darcy himself.', replied Jane.

'You won't.', said Elizabeth comfortably.

Jane sighed. Elizabeth knew her too well.

'Would I also not say a word to Lydia?', asked Jane sweetly. It was only to Lizzy that she bared this side of her character that was capable of teasing.

Lizzy could not help laughing at this unusual display from Jane.

'Very well, Jane dear. Pay attention this time though, for no threats will make me repeat myself a third time merely because my sister was lost in dreams of her Mr Bingley.', saying so Lizzy quickly repeated the conversation between Mr Darcy and herself.

Jane squealed now and then with excitement, and when the account was done, she could only ask of her sister why she had not responded to Mr Darcy's near declaration.

'Jane, dearest, I think I was too surprised, and just a bit bashful to speak out.'

'You, bashful? That would have been a sight to behold. I do hope you did not let Mr Darcy believe that you were indifferent... I can see that you are not.'

'You are right, Jane. I do not believe I have ever been indifferent as far as Mr Darcy is concerned. The idea of being the object of Mr Darcy's affections does thrill me so. If it was any other man's attentions I dare say I should find them undesirable... but I do believe I might be falling in love. And with Mr Darcy it feels not like a leap into the unknown but merely things being as they were meant to be all along. As though all my life I loved him without being aware of it.'

Jane hugged her sister, quite delighted with the speech she had just witnessed.

'Lizzy, we must let him know how you feel. It will not do for him to be ignorant of your regard.'

Lizzy sighed.

'I'll do what I can, of course, Jane. But by now, goodness knows what he thinks of me for behaving as I did.'

If Elizabeth had known how flustered Mr Darcy had been then, and how he was at present searching his memory for any mention of her feeling as he did, wondering if it was wrong of him to be so forward so early in their acquaintance, then she would have felt much better. It was simply that he could not help throwing caution to the winds and loving her completely and unreservedly.

'Will you stay there mooning for long, Darce, or are you going to come riding with us?', asked Colonel Fitzwilliam who had arrived that morning with Georgiana and had now taken up Bingley on his offer to go riding along the countryside.

'I'm coming!', said Darcy, exasperated. Fond as he was of his cousin, he suspected that his partiality towards Miss Elizabeth Bennet would not remain a secret for long with Edward Fitzwilliam lurking around. Deceiving Bingley was easy enough, besotted as he was with Miss Bennet the man could think of little else. But Edward, he would guess Darcy's feelings very soon, and the fact was not in the least pleasing to the lovelorn man.

Edward seemed to have detected something off in his cousin's countenance, for he quietly asked him,

'Are you still worrying about Georgie, cousin? She seems much happier to me since Mrs Annesley has been appointed, and she claims that she is looking forward to the delightful Hertfordshire society you mentioned when you requested her presence here.'

'I am glad to know that her spirits are improved.', said Mr Darcy, genuinely delighted with the news.

'So you do admire the society to be found here?', pried Edward.

'It is delightful indeed.', replied Darcy, thinking of Miss Elizabeth's pretty blush when he had told her that there was nothing as lovely as her to be found in all of Derbyshire, or anywhere else for that matter.

'Aha! Who is the young lady, and have you proposed yet?', asked Colonel Fitzwilliam smugly.

Darcy groaned to himself and entreated his cousin, in no polite terms, to leave his imagination for a sensible task.

'Very well, cousin. I shall find out soon enough, in any case.'

With a smirk, Colonel Fitzwilliam asked aloud,

'Of all the pretty girls to be found here, hasn't one caught Darcy's attentions yet?'

'It is Miss Jane Bennet, isn't it brother? You did say she is the most beautiful lady you ever beheld.', said Georgiana brightly, glad for an excuse to avoid Caroline's fawning.

'Oy, Darcy, I am courting Miss Bennet now. You can't contest me for her affections. I absolutely forbid it.' said Bingley with a very becoming dignity.

'I do not intend to! I do not care for her!', declared Darcy hotly, privately envisioning ways to kill his cousin.

A/N- Keep reviewing, it makes me so happy and helps me write better.