The sun was rising over the farms and fields of Hertfordshire just as Mr. Darcy mounted his horse and set off towards the countryside. He rode at a relaxed yet steady pace, feeling not the need for the breakneck speeds of his two previous trips. Approaching the same gentle stream that only the day before masked the expressions of affection shared between himself and Elizabeth, he came to stop, dismounted, and tied his horse to a nearby tree. With a mixture of anticipation and nervousness, he set out on foot in the direction of Longbourn.

Elizabeth stepped out into the sunshine and filled her lungs with the crisp, cool morning air, hoping to also release the anxieties and emotions from the previous day. Strolling along the familiar paths of her youth, she longed for the serenity they might gradually introduce. Memories of roaming the surrounding woods and fields with her sisters brought her a measure of comfort and there - with spirits freshened and her thoughts lifted - she saw Mr. Darcy approaching from a shaded path and coming towards her.

They walked together in silence. She thought he was often looking at her, and trying for a fuller view of her face than it suited her to give. She did not, could not, feel equal to lead the way to any such subject. Yet she could not bear the quiet. She considered - resolved - and, trying to smile, began - "You have some news to hear, now you are come back, though it may not surprise you."

"Have I? Of what nature?"

"Oh! The best nature in the world - a wedding. Mr. Bingley has proposed to my sister and she has accepted."

For a moment or two nothing was said, and she was unsuspicious of having excited any particular interest, till she found her arm drawn within his and heard him saying with great emotion, "The very best kind of news then. Though I confess, I envy my friend." Her arm was pressed again, as he added, in a more broken and subdued accent, "to have secured the heart and hand of his beloved."

Elizabeth understood him, but before she could recover from the rush of elation excited by such tender consideration, Mr. Darcy continued, "Miss Elizabeth Bennett. I wish that I may no longer call you by that precious name and replace it with another."

A smile spread across her face as her clear, ringing laughter filled the air. "It has not escaped my notice that for some time now, Mr. Darcy, you have been quite comfortable addressing me by my given name. While I admit I am guilty of liking it - perhaps too much - it is shocking that you would not have behaved in a more gentleman-like manner. I thank you for correcting such a lapse in judgement and gladly grant you permission to address me so informally."

Darcy smiled at her teasing nature, but could not yet bring himself to relax from his serious temper and continued with much discomfort. "You misunderstand me. I do not ask to call you Elizabeth. I should very much like to call you my wife, and for you to become Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy."

Elizabeth searched for a response and in her hesitation, Darcy continued.

"In vain I have struggled. I have been searching for the expression, the tone, the look to reveal to you how deeply I love and admire you. I may share your love of verse, but I am no poet. I want to tell you how - even when we are apart - all I hear is your name, but it would be a lie. I hear your laughter; I hear your soft breath and the beating of your heart." Tracing the lines of her delicate brow and brushing a tear from her cheek he continued. "I might try to describe how your eyes haunt me, but I look into their depths and they steal my breath. You leave me speechless, Elizabeth."

Darcy stepped closer and leaned into Elizabeth, gently pressing his lips against hers, and for some time the two enjoyed the delicious silence.

"I confess, Mr. Darcy, that I take great delight in rendering you speechless." The pink flush of her cheeks and the mischievous lift of her eyebrow left Darcy weak in the knees. "Do not be surprised if I make a habit of it - when we are married."

When his strength returned, he pulled Elizabeth into a firm embrace and lifted her until her eyes met his directly and the gentle kisses were replaced with the deeper effect of the passions coursing through the pair. At length, Darcy returned Elizabeth to the ground and took a few steps back as he struggled to regain composure. "Perhaps you were right in condemning my ungentlemanlike behaviour. I promise you I will keep myself in check, but I do hope that you do not wish for a long engagement."

"No, not at all! I do not think it would suit either of us, but surely those details must be addressed between you and my father first. There are other matters we can attend to today if you are anxious to begin."

"Such as?"

"To start, what should I call you? Would you believe that I have not yet been made privy to your given name? I have struggled to decide if your first name is 'Brother' or 'Friend'."

Relaxed and laughing, Elizabeth thought that the man before her had never looked so handsome. "Neither; most of my friends call me Darcy but my given name is Fitzwilliam."

Elizabeth frowned at this discovery, "Fitzwilliam? Oh - no! That will never do."

Darcy held back a grimace with patience, though not without some disappointment.

"Fitzwilliam is your brave cousin. I am not so fickle that I can one day use the name for that gentleman and the very next transfer it to another - even if he would be my husband. No, you should never have introduced me to the man if you wanted his name for yourself."

Darcy agreed to play along, "if Fitzwilliam is not to be, what of Fitz - or William? Georgiana called me Will-Will as a young girl, perhaps that is more to your liking?"

Elizabeth vigorously shook her head at each suggestion. "No. No. Certainly not!" However, she did smile most becomingly at the last.

"I would hope that you will not always choose to call me Mr. Darcy, especially amongst our family and friends. Or in our home." A smile betrayed the direction that his thoughts were wandering.

"I suppose that in company I can call you 'my Mr. Darcy' or even 'my Fitzwilliam' if you prefer." Despite her feigned displeasure, Elizabeth was quite delighted to hear the endearments rolling off her tongue. She brought the gentleman's hand to her lips and gently pressed a kiss upon his knuckles before placing it against her chest. "In my heart - and in our home - you must simply be 'my love'."

Darcy reached out with his free hand and gently pushed an errant curl behind Elizabeth's ear. Softly cupping her chin, he turned her face towards his so that he could breathe in her beauty at that moment. He then took her arm in his, and they walked in silence for some minutes.

Elizabeth's spirits soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. "How could you begin?'' said she. "I can comprehend your going on charmingly when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?"

"It was not long after our introduction that I was convinced I had never met anyone more beautiful or more captivating. And soon afterwards, I eavesdropped on a conversation between you and your friend, Miss Lucas, which revealed your disdain for me. At the time, I thought I was only determined to prove you wrong, but I'm sure now that I have loved you from that very evening. But what of you? Your reluctance to see a change in me was justified, surely. But how, when, did you begin to forgive the first impression I made?"

"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun. But I believe I must date it my first seeing your change towards me at Netherfield Park. I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me when I came to see Jane. You judged me for coming?"

"No indeed; I felt nothing but surprise. Surprise and hope that I might have an opportunity to make amends.''

"Your surprise could not be greater than mine in being noticed by you. My conscience told me that I should expect no extraordinary politeness, and I confess that I did believe you to find me quite beyond reproach. I could not understand what had changed.'

"If I had not already had a change of opinion, your affection and care for your sister would certainly have moved me. But before you arrived at Netherfield, that same evening at Lucas Lodge - in fact - Miss Lucas alluded to an incident..." Darcy shifted uncomfortably and looked towards the ground.

"What did Charlotte say to you?"

"She hinted that you had knowledge of a conversation between Bingley and myself. One that I am not proud of."

Elizabeth blushed, and in a deep voice repeated the infamous words, "She is tolerable, I suppose..."

Pulling her in closer, Darcy pleaded, "I beg you to stop. The recollection of what I said at the assembly, of my conduct, my manners, my expressions during the whole of it, is now, and has been for many months, inexpressibly painful to me."

"Then these recollections will not do at all. I assure you that you were heartily forgiven long ago. For some time now I have thought of you only as the most amiable, the most noble and just gentleman of my acquaintance. I believe we shall make the happiest couple that ever there was or ever will be."

Continuing to walk in a leisurely manner for some time, they found at last, on examining their watches, that it was time to be at home. The two returned to the gate and engaged in a pleasantly extended goodbye until finally Darcy returned to his horse, and Elizabeth entered the gardens of Longbourn with a spring in her step and a twinkle in her dark eyes.