Page 11 of Before She Knew Him

“And I am very glad of it.”

“Perhaps we might occasionally exchange a line or two through her letters,” Elizabeth offered.

Mr Darcy continued to hold her gaze. “I would not ask you to conceal a correspondence within my sister’s. Without your father’s knowledge, it would place you in an improper position—and Georgiana will soon be away at school. I should prefer that any correspondence between us be entirely open.”

Elizabeth found herself unable to look away. “Then perhaps, Mr Darcy, we must discover another means of continuing our acquaintance.”

He stepped a little nearer. They remained in full view of the picnic party, yet his nearness caused her breath to quicken.

“There is one proper means,” he said. “With your father’s permission, I might write to you as a suitor.”

For a moment, Elizabeth could only stare at him. “You would wish to court me?”

“I would.” His answer came without hesitation. “I am obliged to remain at Pemberley with my father at least until Michaelmas,but afterwards I would be free to travel to Hertfordshire. Until then, with your father’s consent, we might continue to learn more of one another through our letters.”

A thrill passed through Elizabeth, accompanied by a measure of uncertainty. She knew that Longbourn and its connexions could offer little to recommend her to the heir of Pemberley, yet there was no mistaking the sincerity in his expression.

“You have known me for only a few days,” she said.

“I am aware of it.”

“And yet you are already certain you wish to court me? You have not yet met my family, other than my relations in trade.”

“I am certain that I do not wish to lose the opportunity to learn more about you.” His voice softened. “Nor would I ask to court you if my hopes were indifferent. It is far too soon to speak of promises, but I should not seek your father’s permission unless I believed our acquaintance might lead to something more lasting.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly, struggling to gather her thoughts while he looked at her with such unmistakable hope.

“Have I distressed you?” he asked.

“No.” She opened her eyes and met his. “You have surprised me.”

“Is it an unpleasant surprise?”

“No,” she repeated, and the tension in his countenance eased. “If my father gives his consent, I should be very pleased to continue our acquaintance.”

His smile was unlike any she had yet seen from him—unguarded, warm and so full of pleasure that her own answering smile came without conscious thought.

“Then I shall speak with your aunt and uncle before you leave today,” he said. “With their approval, I will write to your father at once.”

Elizabeth turned towards the others, intending to rejoin them, but before she could take more than a step, Mr Darcy’s fingers closed gently around hers.

She looked back at him. His eyes never left her face as he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a lingering kiss to her gloved fingers. Even through the fabric, the warmth of his lips sent a thrill along her arm.

When they returned to the picnic, Elizabeth was certain that every person present must perceive what had passed between them. Her aunt’s searching glance did little to reassure her, nor did the smile that appeared upon the elder Mr Darcy’s face when his son approached him.

Mr Darcy spoke quietly to his father before asking Mr Gardiner for a private word. The two men walked towards the prospect where Elizabeth and Mr Darcy had stood only minutes earlier.

Elizabeth returned to Georgiana, though she could scarcely attend to what the younger girl was saying. Georgiana’s smile widened when Elizabeth joined her, and the frequent glances she cast between Elizabeth and her brother suggested that she understood something of what had occurred.

At length, Mr Gardiner looked towards Elizabeth. His expression appeared pleased, though he first exchanged a glance with his wife. Mrs Gardiner gave the slightest nod, after whichher husband smiled and offered Mr Darcy his hand. The gentlemen exchanged a few more words before returning to the party.

Mr Darcy came directly to Elizabeth.

“Your uncle has no objection to my writing to your father,” he told her quietly. “I shall request his permission to correspond with you and enclose a letter for him to give you if he consents. Your uncle suspects that, at least initially, your father may wish to see whatever passes between us. He may consider an acquaintance of only a few days too brief to promise anything lasting.”

Elizabeth could not suppress her smile. “My father is likely to find considerable amusement in the entire matter.”

“Do you believe he will refuse?”