Page 19 of Undone

"So I see." He unfolded his newspaper once more. "Very well. I shall endeavour not to wonder why my Lizzy is defending Mr. Darcy."

"I am only being fair, Papa."

"No doubt."

"There is nothing more to it."

"Indeed?" His smile lingered as he lowered his eyes to the page. "Then I shall cultivate no curiosity whatsoever."

The conversation drifted into its usual course, the younger girls chattering animatedly while Mrs. Bennet returned to discussing Netherfield and Jane's prospects. Jane and Mary listened with varying degrees of attention, and Mr. Bennet, at least in appearance, returned to his newspaper.

Elizabeth turned once more to her breakfast with rather more diligence than appetite required. Her father's curiosity had not been entirely satisfied, she suspected, and she could only hope it would soon find another object. If she encountered Mr. Darcyagain, she must take particular care not to give him any further cause for speculation.

Eight

Oakham Mount

17th October, 1811

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Bennet could not have explained it, had anyone thought to ask, but she found that getting to know Mr. Darcy a little better had begun, somehow, to occupy rather more of her thoughts than a single morning's apology properly warranted.

It was nothing she could have named in particular. She simply found herself, in the two days since, returning once or twice to some remark of his, or to the unexpected ease that had settled between them once the awkwardness of the apology had passed, and wondering, with an interest she told herself was merely curiosity, whether the gentleman she had met that morning was nearer the truth of him than the one she had watched stand silent and proud throughout the assembly.

She had gone out walking, as she generally did, wanting nothing more from the morning than her usual exercise and the quiet of her favourite path before the household was properly awake. It was only as she came within sight of the hill that she saw him there again, and stopped, genuinely surprised, for she had not expected to see him again so soon.

He was standing in very nearly the same place she had left him, his hat in his hand rather than upon his head, and turned at the sound of her approach with an expression that suggested he had not entirely expected her either.

"Good morning, Mr. Darcy." She stopped a little distance off, unable to keep the amusement entirely from her voice. "It appears you have taken rather a fondness to this particular view."

"I might say the same of you, Miss Bennet." He inclined his head, and she thought she caught something almost sheepish in the gesture. "Though I confess I had told myself I came for the exercise, and had not considered how thin an excuse that might sound, finding myself here again so soon."

"I shall not accuse you of anything so improper as design, sir. Oakham Mount is generally considered public enough ground for two people to happen upon it by accident twice." Elizabeth came nearer, finding she had no wish to stand at a distance and shout their conversation across the grass. "Though I own I am a little disappointed. I had rather fancied myself the sole proprietor of this hill before Wednesday."

"I am sorry to have trespassed upon your claim."

"You may be forgiven this once. Repeated offences may oblige us to come to terms."

"Then I shall hope the terms are not too severe."

He considered her a moment, and something in his face eased, as though he had decided, in that small pause, to allow the conversation to be easy rather than guarded.

"I will admit," he said, "that the conversation has proved no small inducement."

Elizabeth laughed.

"I am delighted to hear it, for I had rather concluded conversation was an accomplishment you held in very little esteem."

"I fear I gave Meryton ample reason to form that opinion at the assembly."

"You did."

"I hope I have since improved upon it."

"You have improved it considerably with me. I cannot answer for the rest of Meryton."

The answer appeared to please him more than she had intended, though he merely inclined his head. A moment later, as naturally as though neither had thought to question it, they continued along the ridge together rather than descend by the paths from which they had come.