Chapter Ten

Undisclosed Location

November 1811

"Come here," snapped his benefactress. "I have been waiting."

"Madam," he said, bowing low over her extended hand. "You have new orders?"

"I have it from my sources that Darcy has finally given up seeking a bride amongst the first circles. I fear we have pushed him too far. He is at his friend's estate attempting to woo the man's sister. My informant discovered such from a maid employed by the estate. The chit is the daughter of a tradesman with twenty thousand pounds."

"I know of the man," he replied evenly. "What do you wish me to do?"

"Ruin the lowborn wench," she snarled. "Darcy must learn that no woman is safe from his ‘ curse .'"

He laughed. "That was a rather brilliant move on my part, was it not?" he asked.

"Yes, it was," she grudgingly admitted. "He is desperate, I think. The rumors have not followed him to that miserable and small country hamlet. See that they do. No one must accept his hand. We must force him to admit defeat and do his duty."

"As you wish," he replied. He bowed and left her there at their meeting place. The woman was beastly, but her patronage had aided him considerably in the last few years. Her demands had grown with each passing month, and he tired of playing her lapdog in exchange for ready funds. Though he had happily done the harpy's bidding for so long, now a new plan formed in his head. He would still follow her orders, but going forward, he would do so on his own terms.

~

Elizabeth

Elizabeth woke before the sun had risen above the horizon and hastily dressed in one of her simpler gowns. She arranged her hair in a chignon and quickly donned her sturdy walking boots and a warm cloak. Sally awaited her at the bottom of the stairs, carrying a small basket filled with warm scones. The faithful maid had dutifully accompanied her mistress for weeks. Elizabeth was very grateful to her and vowed to see that the girl received compensation for being made to leave the warmth of the manor so often.

She pushed open the door and stepped out into the morning light. A chill in the air bespoke the coming winter, and she scowled at the cloud her breath made. Elizabeth despised the cold; it seeped into one's bones, and in the winter, she often felt as if she would never be warm again. The weather had yet to turn from uncomfortably brisk to biting, so her cloak provided adequate protection against the morning chill. Sally, likewise, had donned a cloak, and Elizabeth noted it was too thin to be of actual use once the weather turned completely. I shall have to remedy that, she mused as they walked.

The path to Oakham Mount was winding, leading over a stream and through a stand of trees bordering Longbourn. It was well-traveled, and she made use of it often. The flat path soon began to steepen as the pair climbed the mount, and finally they crested the summit. The sun was just peeking over the horizon and Elizabeth watched as the sky changed from blue and red to pink and orange as the sun made its presence known. Its appearance warmed the air; she felt its heat on her cheeks.

"It is beautiful, is it not?" she said to Sally, who panted heavily after the climb.

"Aye, miss," the maid replied. "I think I shall take myself to that log over there for a rest."

Elizabeth nodded, dismissing the maid, and turned her gaze toward Netherfield Park. She noted the approaching rider, recognizing the great black steed as belonging to Mr. Darcy. He cut a fine figure astride his mount, and she did nothing to hide her admiration as he approached.

"Miss Elizabeth," he said in greeting, pulling up beside her and dismounting.

"I believe we settled on less formal address in cases such as these, Mr. Darcy, " Elizabeth teased.

"Indeed, we did," he confirmed, smirking. He took up her hand a planted a kiss on its back before looping it through his arm. "I am pleased, for I do like your name, Elizabeth. " He intoned it slowly, emphasizing each syllable, and it sent a thrill through her to hear it.

"Your name is a mouthful," she remarked. " Fitz-will-i-am. Four whole syllables!"

"Elizabeth has the same." He began to walk, Elizabeth's arm still in his, circling the top of the mount repeatedly as they spoke.

She nodded. "So, it does, but it is far more common than yours . Where does your name come from?"

He grimaced. "It is my mother's maiden name. Her family has a tradition that the first-born son be named for her family. My cousin's name is Morton. The fortunate sot escaped being saddled with an abnormal Christian name—small blessings."

"I take it your childhood peers often teased you," Elizabeth observed.

"Yes. While at Eton, the boys filled my ears with snide remarks until my cousin began referring to me as ‘Darcy.' Richard's surname is Fitzwilliam and when I joined him at school, he declared he had the name first and would not abide my using it. His ploy was readily accepted, and the teasing ceased."

Elizabeth's heart warmed at this story that gave Mr. Darcy more depth. "Your cousin sounds like a good man."

"Richard is the best of men," Darcy confirmed. He paused when the pair were as far from Sally's log as they could manage, turning to face her with an earnest look on his face. "I realized upon our parting yesterday that I have neglected something of the utmost importance."

He was so serious. Elizabeth thought to jest with him to lighten his mood but decided against it. "If you have something to tell me, I will hear it," she said instead.

He licked his lips and dropped his gaze for a moment before meeting hers again. "Yesterday, amidst all my confidences, I neglected to tell you the most important thing. I have not yet mentioned my feelings regarding our… acquaintance , and pridefully assumed you would wish a courtship without even thinking to ask you. I would amend that error now if you will allow it."

Elizabeth's mouth formed a little ‘o.' This was not what she had expected to hear. Instead, she had mentally prepared herself for more tales of machinations and rumors; this was far preferable!

"You may proceed, sir," she said, smiling in encouragement.

Darcy took both her hands in his and gripped them tightly. "I am poor at delivering eloquent, unrehearsed speeches," he began, "but I will do my best to adequately express the very great sentiment I have come to feel for you."

He cleared his throat. "You know from our discussions that I am wealthy and well-placed in society. There are few men in England blessed with more worldly wealth than I, and my parents raised me to reflect that. They gave me good principles but left me to follow them in pride and conceit. That would have been my future but, for the last year of my life. The actions of people I once considered friends have truly humbled me, reshaping me into a different man. I came to Hertfordshire hoping for a reprieve from my trials, for a time when I might reflect on the next steps I wished to take. I never thought to find the rest of my soul."

Darcy smiled at her and brought one of her hands to his lips. He kissed it reverently before lowering it again. "From the first moments of our acquaintance, I wished to know you. Your kindness… I-I barely know how to express my appreciation for the kindness you granted to a stranger after one overheard conversation. I wish to court you so that I might learn if the tender feelings stirring in my breast can grow into something more, something that will last for the rest of our lives. Will you do me the great honor of entering a courtship with me, Miss Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth slowly expelled the breath she had not realized she was holding. "Oh, that was lovely, Mr. Darcy," she said thickly, her voice tinged with emotion. "Whoever told you that you struggle with unrehearsed speeches was sadly mistaken." She squeezed one hand she held and smiled brilliantly. "I can do naught but accept after such a pretty recital of your sentiments. Yes, Mr. Darcy, I accept this courtship. I, too, wish to understand if we might find happiness together. I confess, I had a predisposition to dislike you the night we met. You walked away so suddenly after our introduction and then held your position against the wall; I thought you the haughtiest man I had ever seen. You appeared so above your company! And then I overheard your conversation with Mr. Bingley, and I knew I must help you. I cared not whether your words held truth; I saw a lonely man who was unwilling to risk others coming to harm because of his actions. You fascinate me, Mr. Darcy, and I long to know more of you."

"Fitzwilliam," he murmured. "I wish to hear you say my name."

"Fitzwilliam," she repeated. The name fell smoothly off her tongue as she spoke it experimentally. "It suits you. Your name carries a distinction that matches your character."

He smiled brilliantly and kissed the back of her hand once again. "Thank you," he said happily. Darcy glanced at the sun climbing in the sky. "You had best return home," he said regretfully. "I thank you for the lovely walk, Elizabeth."

"I fear it will grow more difficult for us to refrain from familiarity in company," Elizabeth mused. "I esteem you too much to prevaricate believably."

"We must try," Darcy insisted. "The consequences of failure do not bear thinking of."

"Yes." She pulled away, dipping into a curtsey. "Mr. Darcy," said she. "I bid you a good day."

Darcy moaned and backed away a step. "We cannot even correspond properly!" he protested.

She gestured to the maid. "Sally will carry any letters. She is discreet and very trustworthy. Our secret has been safe with her these last weeks, kept out of loyalty and friendship to me."

Darcy brightened considerably and agreed, moving to his horse, and mounting.

"Until tomorrow, Elizabeth," he said, waving as he rode away.

"Until tomorrow," she repeated.

"He is a handsome man," Sally said, appearing suddenly at Elizabeth's elbow.

She watched him gallop away, smiling broadly at her fortune in having secured his good opinion. "Indeed. Shall we return home?"

Sally nodded enthusiastically, and the pair began their descent.