So this is kind of a romantic chapter for two of our favorite couples. I hope you enjoy!

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Chapter 13

Darcy pushed open the doors of his chambers at Netherfield Park, and walked onto the balcony, gasping for air. He was furious. Downstairs he had to hide his emotions, he knew. He did not want to upset Elizabeth any further.

How could a man do this to a rare diamond such as Elizabeth. He wanted to go and kill the man, and probably would have if the man had lived, but he did not, so he could not.

More so he was furious with himself. He had lost all control downstairs. All sense of propriety was gone to him when Elizabeth entered the room. She broke through his facade as not other could.

More often than not, he found himself thinking intimate thoughts of the woman, who had so unwittingly captured his heart. The thought of her in his bed, uninhibited by clothing. The thought of her underneath him, her eyes closed in raptures. Waking up to her in the morning, her breasts, heavy from having children, heaving as he pleasured her thoroughly.

NO! Darcy thought to himself, so aroused that he had to sit down. I cannot think of her like that! It is not proper.

Darcy was no innocent. He was a wealthy man in society, and had ways of venting his frustration, with no one to condemn him.

Now God was condemning him to hell for thinking the most improper thoughts of a widowed woman. Surely God was a man, surely he would understand. Darcy was only a mere man. A weak one in the presence of a strong woman.

So many nights he woke up in a cold sweat from an intense dream he had about Elizabeth, and never once had he felt like he did now. He loved the woman. Surely that must account for something. Surely she knew. Surely she could love him back. Surely she knew of his feelings.

He stood heavily and walked to the balcony. It was only the middle of the day. He leaned against the post and watched the fountain, and all its peacefulness, he cursed. He noticed a figure walking towards it and gasped when he realized it was Elizabeth. He watched her carefully as she sat on the fountains edge and tossed a coin into the water, then looked up to the sky. She brought her knees up against her and wrapped her arms around her legs as she stared straight ahead. When she was deep in thought she started to twirl a strand of her long hair, which now showcased some blonde highlights due to her tremendous love of walking.

How he loved this woman. He backed away from the balcony and walked back into his room, opening the door to see if anyone was watching, he snuck out the back hallway, and down the stairs the servants used. Thankfully no one saw him. He walked out the back door and towards the fountain where Elizabeth still sat. He walked up to her quietly.

"Elizabeth," His voice was soft with all the love he felt for her.

She smiled up at him and moved as if to make room for him on the side of the fountain. "Mr. Darcy. I feel as if I haven't been on my best behavior today, and I apologize." her eyes were light, teasing.

He chuckled as he closed the distance between them and sat down. "Elizabeth, you must let me tell you how much I admire and love you. Surely you must know."

Elizabeth was no fool, of course she knew. But her humor was so poor as of late, she felt she should make up for the awkwardness of the moment. She could not, however, tease this man for being so open and vulnerable to her. "Mr. Darcy, surely you must know that I am not myself yet. How can you make a declaration of your love for myself, when you have yet to see me at my best."

Darcy smiled, not at all discouraged. The fact that she did not turn him away spoke volumes. "Elizabeth, even at your worse, you could not change my heart. But I do know, that it is too soon for you, to have any such feelings for myself. And I do not condemn you for that. I just felt like I would burst, had I not told you of my love. The situation of this past day, had no control over my feelings, or me declaring them to you. In fact had you not come today, I still would have told you the next we had met. Elizabeth, my heart," he raised her gloved hand, and placed a gentle kiss on the top before rubbing the spot with his thumb, as if to imprint the kiss there permanently. "I give you my heart, my love, and my devotion. On this I will not waver. Even if your heart never reaches that point. I will always belong to you."

Elizabeth could not help but cry at this tender man. A man who was so cold in front of company, but around her had no barriers. She smiled. "I thank you for your kind words, sir. And can only say, that while my feelings may not be in the same depth of yours, I will not hamper them should they ever increase. I promise you." she leaned forward and kissed his cheek to seal her promise, then stood. I think we should return to company, Mr. Darcy.

Mr. Darcy still shocked by the kiss, stood. "Might I kiss you properly, Elizabeth?" she smiled shyly. "If a kiss can be called proper, Mr. Darcy." He chuckled then leaned down to lay a gentle kiss upon her waiting lips and caressed her cheek. "A kiss is proper, with the right person, Heart." And with that he gave her his arm, which she accepted gladly, and led her inside.

"Jane, might I have a word with you," Charles spoke his words softly so that the present company might not hear him. At her nod, he led her gently out of the room and to a secluded corner. "Jane, I have waited too long my love, and the strength of my love will not let me wait any longer," he got down on one knee, to which Jane gasped. "Jane, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He looked up at her hopeful.

"Yes! One thousand times! Yes.!"