The morning light shimmered over treetops, peeking ever-so-often through the scantier branches to dance on the grassy ground. Darcy wandered his way from clearing to clearing. Their latest call at the parsonage had informed him of Miss Elizabeth's early habits as a walker; and, after lengthy consideration, he considered joining her as the best way to acquaint himself further with the enigmatic woman.
Richard, for all his titles, was a town boy in his heart of hearts. Between them, it was always Darcy who rose first.
"Miss Elizabeth," Darcy called out, when he finally caught sight of her, a veritable wood nymph in her walking garb.
She turned before offering a ready smile and curtsy. "Mr. Darcy."
"I see you prefer the outdoors," he remarked, taking three long strides to join her. "May I have the honor of your company?"
"I - of course." She only hesitated slightly before smiling. It was, perhaps, the very first time Darcy had ever felt the possibility of a woman expressing anything short of grand enthusiasm for his solitary company - and the chastening pang of unease came entirely unexpected.
He extended his arm, and she took it at a polite distance. There was no clawing, no flattering, and no clamoring for his approval of any kind.
They traversed the length of the pond near Rosings, before turning to retrace their steps once more. He inquired, as cordially as he could, regarding her family, home, and circumstances. She replied, in good faith, with musings regarding her happy if unideal upbringing, her tendency to miss Hertfordshire, and her altogether objective assessment regarding the state of her own family's prospects.
"You did not wish for the chance to settle in security?" Darcy asked, in genuine surprise, when she revealed that she had declined Mr. Collins's proposal a mere matter of days before his engagement to the current Mrs. Collins.
"I had always hoped to marry for love," she spoke with a casual, if slightly embarrassed, tone. "I understand that such hopes may be a great luxury for a woman of my station, but the thought of possibly aligning myself with a person for whom I do not care appalls me greatly."
"Even if said person came with ranks, titles, or a handsome visage?"
She laughed, pleasantly. Darcy began to note just how pretty she looked beneath her bonnet.
"I shall never say no to a handsome visage - though a man's character says much more of his ability to be a good husband than any outward trappings."
Darcy nodded, agreeing yet surprised to find himself doing so.
They reached the edge of the clearing where they had first encountered each other. The sun had risen and warmed considerably. It would soon be time to make the usual morning calls.
"You speak wisely, Miss Elizabeth. I find your insights most worthy of consideration," Darcy remarked, before letting her go.
The smile she offered him shone far more brightly than any other he had seen on her before. "Thank you, sir. I - am honored."
He nodded. It was not an unproductive morning. He had learned much more about the lady indeed. Yet he felt as if he needed to know even more. One could hardly pass judgment after one morning's conversation, after all.
"May I see you again - tomorrow?" Darcy asked with little thought, before she could move to walk away.
She leaned her head slightly to the side. "Far be it from me to make an unchaperoned appointment with a man, Mr. Darcy. One might call that altogether unladylike."
For a moment, Darcy felt that sense of chastisement once more.
"But if I were to run into an acquaintance during my daily morning rambles - perhaps none would be the wiser?"
"Of course - Miss Elizabeth."
Darcy walked back to Rosings a happier man just then than he had been when he had first risen that day.
"And what of you, Mr. Darcy? Do you not feel wistful for family?" Miss Elizabeth inquired two mornings later, when they had exhausted every topic Darcy usually visited with his female acquaintances. How was this lady more interested in his view of society than in flaunting her fashion choices?
"I have very little by way of family," Darcy admitted. It was pleasant to converse with her. She listened, yet did not judge. She laughed, yet never mocked. At least, as far as he had noticed, she never did without being required to do so - such as when one engaged in conversation with Lady Catherine or the incorrigible Mr. Collins. "My sister is young, far younger than I - and I find myself fulfilling the role of a guardian and parent far more often than one of a brother."
How she managed to make him speak of personal things he never usually did - Darcy would never know.
"I have always wanted a brother," Miss Elizabeth acknowledged when they rounded the bend. "My parents - and our village at large - have never denied their desire for a son. I think that if my youngest sister had not looked so decidedly like my mother, she would never have earned a spot in her heart."
Darcy nodded, noting the information and tucking it away in his mind.
He seemed to do so rather often with regards to the remarkable Miss Elizabeth.
"I must admit I seldom know how best to aid my sister," he said a moment later. Words seemed to flow rather effortlessly from him whenever he shared her company. As she seemed thoroughly unfazed by his station and charm, he felt no need to hide his true self from her as well. "I acknowledge that she has grown and shall soon be a woman of the world. And yet, without the guidance of my father and mother, I know far too little of how exactly to assist her into becoming the person she ought to be."
He felt a sympathetic press of her hand on his arm.
"I feel compassion for you, Mr. Darcy, for your role cannot be easy."
He smiled slightly. "I thank you, Miss Elizabeth. A friend's empathy alleviates many grievances."
Her answering smile made her look very pretty indeed. "Do you not have any relations with which to share these myriad responsibilities?"
"Richard is Georgiana's guardian as well, though I rarely see them as much as speak with the other."
"Your cousin?"
"Yes, madam."
"I suppose that is fitting."
Darcy looked askance towards her, wondering what she might be thinking and not saying.
"Have you any reservations over such an arrangement, Miss Elizabeth?"
"Oh, I wouldn't dare." She appeared slightly flushed. "I suppose a steady and reliable man like your cousin should be perfectly suited for the role."
It was neither compliment nor insult.
"Right, of course."
And Darcy found himself wondering, the rest of the way, what the intriguing woman beside him truly thought of her unlikely admirer.
A/N: I'm getting nervous now because we're at that point of the story where readers get very invested and might build up expectations that are completely contrary to where I'd planned for the story to go. Eeck! So I'll just put it out there that I'm not one for dramatic set downs in general, and I do acknowledge that the colonel is more like Bingley than his canon self here. Maybe my do-not-read warning needs to include that!