Page 15 of Undone

"I ought to return home. If I delay much longer, my mother will conclude I have been carried off."

The hint of amusement returned to his face.

"Then I should not wish to be held responsible for the alarm."

She laughed softly. "Good morning, Mr. Darcy."

"Good morning, Miss Bennet."

Elizabeth had gone only a few paces before she paused and looked back.

"I generally favour this walk of a morning," she said with studied carelessness. "Perhaps we shall not be obliged to begin with apologies should we meet again."

For the first time since she had known him, his reserve gave way to an unmistakable smile.

"I sincerely hope not."

She returned the smile with one of her own before inclining her head and continuing down the path.

As she walked towards Longbourn, she found herself wondering not whether she had misjudged Mr. Darcy, but by how much.

Seven

Netherfield

16th October, 1811

Darcy

Bingley was in his study when Darcy returned from his ride, several papers spread before him with considerably more enthusiasm than order. Judging by the accounts and correspondence visible amongst them, they concerned either Netherfield or one of Bingley's trading interests.

He looked up at the sound of the door, his face brightening with the unmistakable relief of a man grateful for an excuse to abandon them.

"There you are. Your valet said you rode out before breakfast. Where have you been this half of the morning?"

"Riding... and walking." Darcy removed his gloves and laid them carefully upon the table before crossing to the window. "Farther than I intended, as it happens."

Bingley laughed. "Walking? You? In all the years I have known you, I have never known you to walk farther than you intended. You decide where you mean to go, then arrive there."

"I had a good deal to occupy my thoughts," Darcy replied, his eyes resting upon the park beyond the glass, though he scarcely saw it. "At some point I thought I might order them better on foot. I left my horse to graze when I came upon a hill some miles from here and climbed the remainder of the way."

"And did the climb answer its purpose?" Bingley's amusement faded almost at once, replaced by the attentive expression Darcy knew so well. "Or have you returned with rather more upon your mind than when you left?"

Darcy was silent for a moment before turning from the window. "I encountered Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

Bingley's eyebrows rose. "Miss Bennet? Good heavens." He sat back in his chair, studying Darcy with open curiosity. "After last evening, I had hoped, for your sake as much as hers, that you might not meet again until the memory of that unfortunate remark had somewhat faded."

"So had I," Darcy admitted. "Instead, we met upon a path she told me she generally favoured."

"And?"

"I apologised." The words came simply enough, though the memory of the conversation still weighed upon him. "I could not leave the matter as it stood. She had done nothing to deserve my rudeness."

Bingley's features softened immediately. "That is very well done of you." He regarded Darcy another moment before adding, "Though I confess it does not entirely account for the look you are presently wearing."

"What look?"

"The one which tells me the apology was not the whole of what passed."