There was a Farnese fountain outside the restaurant and that's where I paused only because I knew it was pointless to run. I worked for the man…well, at least for now. I didn't turn around as he approached, just stared down into the water until I noted the appearance of his face through the shimmering surface. It seemed better somehow to watch his expression that way rather than to actually face him when my wrath was still so fresh. I shook my head at his reflection.

"You might as well fire me now, Mr. Darcy. My behavior may have been deplorable, but I will not apologize." I stated with steadfast conviction as I watched him shake his head at me in the water. I was gearing up for another argument. Why not, right? I had come to expect that sort of thing from him. Instead he sighed and held up his hands a moment as if deciding whether or not it was a smart idea to touch me. And then he just dropped his hands to his sides.

"There is no reason for you to apologize, Ms. Bennet, when the episode was entirely my own fault. I have only myself to blame." He commented with certainty as I tried my best to keep from gaping. And then I lost the battle because the next thing I knew my mouth was hanging open. I couldn't help it. I goaded him.

"Did you just apologize to me, Mr. Darcy? I mean, was that some sort of reconciliation?" I asked him in surprise as he tried his best not to roll his eyes at me in the water where I still watched him.

"In a sense, Ms. Bennet. I promised to teach you the foundation of propriety and then I renege on that agreement by goading you into mundane arguments. How can I blame you when you aren't acquainted with the rules of society?" He said before pausing a moment.

"Can you face me please?" He asked me in a surly tone as I let my eyes widen considerably. It was then that I realized how young my reflection made me appear. I spun to face him both angrily and cautiously.

"How do you manage to make an apology sound the same as an insult?" I asked him incredulously as I looked back at the water. He seemed surprised by my vehemence as if his apology was supposed to mean something more to me. I looked up and swallowed hard around the lump that had formed in my throat. I was battling a wonderful case of anger and depression and they were both eating me alive. Darcy coughed.

"This won't change the fact that I still intend to show you the meaning of propriety and how to utilize it." He said quietly as I allowed myself a small glance in his general direction.

"I'm still waiting for you to fire me." I remarked plainly as he actually laughed before pointing back at the restaurant.

"And leave myself open to the bitter disdain left in that establishment? I don't think so. I have already been banned from eating." He uttered as I shrugged.

"Welcome to my world." I said sourly as he moved a little closer to me. I wanted to back away but somehow managed to hold my ground.

"I'm trying not to be incensed by both of our actions, Elizabeth." He remarked softy as the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I hadn't missed the fact that he had just used my name and in a voice that made me envision nefarious things despite the fact that I had no experience in that department. I backed away slightly.

"You seem out of sorts, Ms Bennet." He mentioned in an even lower tone and at a distance close enough now that I could feel the faint stirring of his breath as it fanned the back of my neck. I turned to face him too quickly and realized our faces were only inches apart. My pulse sped up. He was such a tall man, and I had to strain to look up at him.

"You keep asking me why I seem so prejudice, Mr. Darcy. I wonder if you realize that you keep pushing me towards those feelings." I murmured resolutely as I fought to keep my gaze from lingering on the sight of his lips. His chest heaved each time he took in a breath.

"Have you ever wondered, Ms. Bennet, if the reason why I keep pushing you towards those general ideas is, in a way, a form of protection for myself?" He asked me curiously as I finally let my eyes meet his. I think he would have actually kissed me then if someone had not cleared their throat from behind me. I cringed mostly because I had silently hoped he would have followed through with the action. Silly me.

"That was an interesting show in the restaurant back there." Lady Stephanie's voice proclaimed breathlessly and I pulled away from Darcy as if I had been burned. Darcy looked as shocked as I did. I think his potential significant other had just saved us both from ourselves. Darcy coughed. You'd think the man was getting a cold if you hadn't figured out that he tended to do that when he was trying to collect his thoughts. Strange how I realized that about him.

"I suppose Ms. Bennet and I did lose our sensibilities." Darcy commented as I raised my brows up at him sardonically. Let him speak for himself.

"I have all my senses about me, sir." I reiterated as he threw me a look that said, 'just play along.' I grinned at him wickedly. I had never been good at games. He narrowed his eyes.

"It's those awful table manners sported by Ms. Bennet. I have promised to work with her on that." He said lightly as I scoffed. Well, I never! The slight smile he was trying to keep off his face revealed to me that he knew he had gotten under my skin. I looked over my shoulder and grinned.

"Yes, when did you expect to work with me on that, Mr. Darcy?" I asked him politely as he shrugged before lowering his voice.

"Whenever it's convenient for you." He replied as I cocked my head to the side.

"I suppose it's a good thing that I haven't learned a thing about propriety yet." I remarked off-handedly as Darcy allowed himself the curiosity I had come to expect from him.

"And why's that, Ms. Bennet?" He asked me in a serious tone as I looked at him a moment before leaning over and shoving him into the water fountain. Lady Stephanie gasped as he came sputtering up to the top of the surface, an angry scowl highlighting his damp features.

"Because that way, I can blame those actions on my current lack of decorum." I answered quickly before rubbing my hands together and walking away. I didn't even look back, although I did hear Lady Stephanie ask Darcy what had gotten into him. Seems that she considered our little tête-à-tête a flirting session. Imagine that.