28th November

The next day dawned dry and bright and Elizabeth rushed through breakfast with her sister, desperate to be outside for a time. She had not slept well and needed some air.

Lydia was upset. 'But Lizzy, you left me alone all day yesterday, please stay with me!'

'Please, Lydie. You have no idea how much I really need to be outside in the fresh air after being so cooped up so long in a hot, stuffy room with mamma yesterday. I will not be more than an hour, I promise.' She cast through her mind, looking for something with which to placate her sister. 'Would you like me to read to you? I spent some time looking through Papa's library and found several books you might like. We can take a look through them when I get back.'

Lydia nodded, sullenly, and Elizabeth continued, 'Oh, and I know what you can do to fill the time I am away. You've not written to Kitty in a while, have you? I'll bring my writing desk in and you can write Kitty and mamma letters, and I'll be back before you have finished. Mamma will be so pleased to hear from you.'

Her sister agreed to this compromise and with a sigh of relief, Elizabeth went to her room to bring through the books she had brought for Lydia to look through, and then donned her outerwear and went out into the gardens. The air was fresh, with a hint of ice on the light breeze, and she walked quickly toward the path through the woods.

Just before she reached the arch through the outer hedge, her heart gave a lurch when she came upon Mr Darcy, standing with his back to her, hands clasped behind him and gazing into the distance.

'Mr Darcy? Are you well?'

He started, then turned. A slow smile spread across his face and he made a small bow. 'Miss Bennet, good morning. I was just enjoying the air, much as I suspect you are.'

She could not help herself and smiled back. 'After spending so much of yesterday in a sickroom, I was eager for some fresh air and exercise this morning. Lydia took a little convincing to let me go, but I have an hour's respite and intend to make the most of it.'

'In that case, I will not hinder you. I was contemplating a walk along this path. If you are also heading this way, maybe we could walk together?'

She considered him for a moment, then inclined her head. 'I would like that, sir.'

He held out his arm. 'Shall we, then?'

They walked in silence for a short distance, before Elizabeth summoned up the courage to speak. 'I wish to thank you for spending so much time with my father yesterday and also for sending the carriage for my use yesterday. It was most thoughtful.'

'It was my pleasure. Your father is a most interesting man and as for the carriage, well, the horses needed the exercise. They have been cooped up for too long.'

'Ah! Now we come to it. It was all done for your horses' benefit.'

He gave a short laugh and she turned her head to grin up at him.

'You should laugh more often, sir. It suits you.'

He stopped walking, drawing her to a halt and turned to face her. 'I have had little enough to amuse me since my father's death, until I met you. You are a breath of fresh air, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.'

Their eyes locked and she felt herself sway toward him, drawn toward their dark depths. He leaned in and she inhaled deeply, sandalwood filling her nostrils. Her lips parted slightly - she could almost taste his scent… Her eyes fluttered closed. She felt his breath on her lips. Was he going to kiss her? Then… nothing.

Her eyes flew open, just as he whirled away from her with his fist raised to his lips, and her breath came in short bursts as she tried to understand what had just happened.

He turned back to her, breathing deeply. 'I must apologise, Miss Bennet. Please forgive me.'

'There is nothing to forgive, sir. We were both party to… whatever… happened. Although…' Heat rose in her cheeks and she dropped her gaze to her feet.

She sensed, rather than saw, him move toward her, and a finger lifted her chin to meet his gaze.

'Miss Bennet… Elizabeth…' He hesitated, and his thumb stroked her cheek. 'I soon realised I was too precipitate, but I was overwhelmed by your presence and could not think straight. You looked like you belonged amongst the trees, a true wood nymph, and I knew instantly where you truly belonged.' He paused, looking down intently at her. 'You would love the Pemberley woods, they stretch for miles.'

Elizabeth leaned her head into his hand, and he was encouraged to continue. 'My thoughts and wishes remain the same. However, if you still feel the same way, I will not importune you again on this subject.' He hesitated again, still caressing her cheek. 'Do you?'

'My thoughts… Oh, my thoughts are so different.' She stumbled over her words, finding it difficult to concentrate as his hand touched her skin so intimately, so distractingly. 'I find my feelings have changed completely without my being aware of them doing so.' She reached up to her cheek, placed her hand over his, and a slight movement from him intertwined their fingers.

He moved their entwined hands to his lips and heat rose through her body as he kissed each knuckle, then he stepped forward, and a small gasp left her lips as he slipped his other arm around her waist, his hand splayed on her lower back.

'Elizabeth…' he murmured as she melted into his embrace.

They remained there, entwined but motionless, until he broke the embrace with a kiss to the top of her head. 'Dearest, we must not… Not yet. Your father…'

They reluctantly stepped away from each other, Elizabeth unable to meet his eyes.

'My father?' she finally managed to say.

'You and I are under the same roof for the next week, as you must be here for Miss Lydia's sake. Any understanding we may come to – and understand this much, I would really like to kiss you right now - should await your return to your father's roof.'

'Yes… yes, of course.' She pouted and reached up to touch her hair, checking it was still in place.

'You look as lovely as ever,' he assured her. 'But then, you always do to me.'

'How I have grown on you,' she said, as her cheeks heated.

'I could say the same of you,' he said, offering his arm.

'Indeed, you could,' she replied with a smile. She placed her hand on the crook of his arm and they continued their walk.

They made slow progress, there was much to discuss, but by the end of their walk they had agreed on two things. She would accept his offer of courtship - albeit an informal one while she remained at Netherfield - and if, by the time she returned home, she was still of the same mind, he would then ask for her father's permission to make it formal.