Unaware that they were so closely watched from the dining room, Darcy and Elizabeth had wandered off to stroll along the banks of the trout stream. Darcy was determined to keep Elizabeth at arm's length until she agreed to accept his hand, although events of the day had him tested to his very limit. He knew that with one more kiss, he would be in danger of forcing her to accept him by compromising her most thoroughly. Darcy kept the conversation light as they strolled along the path, and was sure to keep his sister and Charles in their line of sight at all times. Elizabeth, walking alongside him was amused at how Darcy had suddenly reverted back to the prim and proper Mr. Darcy that had first made her acquaintance. She wondered just how many facets there were to Fitzwilliam Darcy and that it would take a lifetime to discover them all. You silly goose! Don't you realise that is exactly what the man is offering you? A whole lifetime, to discover each other's most inner soul… It was at that moment that Elizabeth realised that being Mrs. Darcy was all she ever wanted to be…
"William?" At her soft whisper of his name, Darcy turned to face her in the twilight, keeping a respectful distance between them.
"Yes, Elizabeth?"
"I'm ready for that question now." Darcy was rocked to his very core, shocked delight sweeping through his veins. He shook his head in almost disbelief and took a half step towards her before pulling himself back.
"No, you only think you are ready… Elizabeth, I need you to be absolutely certain that this is really what you want." He held out his hand to stay her protests. "I want…no need you to be completely clear headed when I ask you again, so I know that you aren't just caught up in the moment. I'm not certain I could take it if you changed your mind."
"William, I am completely certain. Right here, right now. Please, just ask me." Elizabeth couldn't believe what she was hearing, she thought that Darcy would have leapt at the chance to press his suit. Especially after the way he had kissed her earlier outside her bedchamber. It was then that she finally realised the meaning behind his words. Darcy didn't want her to feel that he had pressured her into marriage by compromising her senses with passion. In that moment, she realised that he desperately loved her and that she truly loved him in return.
"Very well, William. Ask me again tomorrow, and I swear to you now my answer will certainly be…"
"No, my love. Don't say it now. Let me hear it tomorrow." Darcy pressed a finger against her lips and smiled a little as she pressed a fleeting kiss against it. She removed his finger so that she could speak again.
"Yes, tomorrow." Elizabeth reached out her hand and Darcy pressed a kiss to her palm and covered her fingers over it. He placed hand in the crook of his arm and drew her a little closer. Elizabeth laid her head against his shoulder, and he sighed in contentment as they walked back in silence to the house.
Just behind them, Charles and Georgiana were strolling along arm in arm smiling at the picture the other couple made. Georgiana sighed a little and Charles looked over at his young friend.
"What troubles you, Georgie?" He found himself slipping into the familiarity of using the pet name that Elizabeth had used earlier that day.
"Oh, I don't know Charles. I am happy for my brother, I really am. But somehow I feel as if…" Georgiana sighed again, not really knowing how to put into words the emptiness she felt inside at the sight of her brother nestled so closely against the woman he loved. She wasn't jealous or resentful just slightly wistful at the thought of finding someone to share her very private moments with. Just last summer she had thought she had found that special person, only to find her heart shattered when she discovered his true intentions.
"Ah, Georgiana. Not every man is like Wickham! You just need to open your heart to the possibilities and try not to be afraid." Charles patted her arm consolingly, he knew that she had been cruelly disappointed but the fact that she was still so young surely was in her favour.
"Is that advice that you are taking yourself, then Charles? I know that you must be feeling anxious about seeing Miss Bennet again."
"Nervous, excited, anxious and everything in between if you want to know the truth. But I am determined that I discover whether Jane has any feelings left for me or whether my desertion has destroyed any chance that we may have had together. And don't think I didn't notice your changing the subject, Miss Darcy!" Charles wagged a finger in warning towards Georgiana and then noticed her small shiver. "Come along, let's go inside. The evening has started to cool and you are out here without even your wrap." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder to warm her and felt, rather than heard her chuckle. He bent down to enquire what she found amusing.
"I was just thinking that a gentleman would offer a lady his jacket, and then I remembered that you aren't even wearing yours!" Charles straightened his spine in remembrance and then realised that it really didn't bother him in the slightest that he was not properly dressed in the eyes of society.
"Do you know that apart from that few moments in the parlour earlier, I hadn't even noticed that I was without my proper attire? It is quite a remarkable feeling, I may even stop wearing one at home…"
"Mmmm, I wonder what your sister would make of that." Georgiana mused and they shared an amusing thought of how disdainful Caroline's reaction would be when presented with a coat less Charles on a nightly basis. "Oh, Charles if only I found conversing with other men as easy as I do with Darcy and yourself. I swear, if you weren't so devoted to Miss Bennet, I might have considered marrying you myself!"
"You haven't lost your chance yet, Georgie dear. My darling Jane might refuse me and I might steal you off in the dead of night and carry you off to Greta Green. We might have to live abroad though, once your brother finds out…" Charles pretended to think about it for a moment and then dismissed the idea. "No, it would never work between us, Georgie. I fear it would be like…"
"Marrying a brother. Yes, I feel the same. It's a shame though, otherwise we would be quite perfect for one another." They stopped walking and looked at each other quite seriously for a moment, and then dissolved into laughter. Georgiana was still mopping up her tears as they re-entered the house and made their goodnights.
"Goodnight Darcy, Elizabeth, Caroline. Good night never to be husband." Georgiana called cheekily to Charles as she started towards the staircase.
"Goodnight never to be wife, pleasant dreams!" Charles waved goodnight as Georgiana stepped out of sight and turned to the amused faces of Darcy and Elizabeth, who had crooked one eyebrow up questioningly.
"Oh, we were just discussing how much we are alike and how it was a pity we could never marry." Caroline stepped forward, happy intent on her face. It had always been a wish that the two families be joined in marriage; herself to Darcy and Charles to Georgiana.
"Charles, surely you don't mean that?" Caroline felt certain that he had proposed whilst out walking and simply could not fathom a reason as to why Georgiana was demurring.
"Settle down, Caroline. It's nothing like that! No, what I meant was it would be like marrying my own sister! Anyway my affections lie in another direction entirely, you know that." Charles wanted to bring a halt to Caroline's line of questioning before it got too out of hand. Elizabeth could see that Caroline was not to be placated and decided to turn in herself.
"Well, I think that I will head upstairs myself. It's been rather a tiring day. I wish you a good evening Miss Bingley, you too Charlie." Elizabeth heard Caroline's indrawn breath at the familiarity of how she addressed her brother but shrugged it off. If Charles were to join the Bennet family he must learn to relax and by accepting a more familiar form of address was a start.
"Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth dipped into a low curtsey in front of Darcy only to find her hand captured and held firmly within his grasp as he raised her to her feet.
"So, I'm Mr. Darcy again am I?" He whispered so that only she could hear. Aloud he raised his voice to the rest of the room. "Miss Bennet, allow me to escort you to your rooms. Pemberley can be a bit of a maze at times, and I wouldn't want you to lose your way. Charles, Caroline I wish you good evening, I'm sure that you can find your own way upstairs." Darcy ignored Caroline's stuttered protests as he led Elizabeth towards the hallway, he wished to make his good nights in private and hoped that Elizabeth felt the same way…
"Charles, surely one of the servants could show Miss Bennet to her room? How uncivilised of Darcy to abandon us like this. It's unheard of for a host to leave his guests alone downstairs whilst he goes off to bed!" Caroline put her hands on her hips in the familiar expression of mild fury. She crossed to the doorway and watched as Darcy led Elizabeth up towards the upper floor. Her fury increased as she realised that he was leading her towards the family wing and not the guest quarters! Charles drew alongside her and reached over to close her drooping jaw where her mouth had fallen open in shock.
"You had better get used to that sight Caro. Darcy is determined to marry her and I don't believe that he is willing to accept anything other than a 'yes' this time around." With a swift peck on her cheek, Charles bounded up the stairs and was quickly out of sight.
"Will there be anything else, Miss?" Henry looked over towards Caroline who was amazed to find herself alone on the ground floor except for the fleeting presence of the servants. She looked over at the clock and saw that it was barely even ten o'clock. Caroline fluttered her hand in dismissal and realising that there was nothing left to do; flounced her way upstairs to bed.
Darcy left a breathless Elizabeth at the door to her bedchamber after a very private goodnight. He whistled as he wandered off down the hallway towards his own room. He looked back just as he turned the corner and saw that Elizabeth had sagged against the wall, fanning her face to cool it down. He smiled wryly and forced himself to continue on his way, fighting the urge to return and make their brief goodnight into a very long goodnight.