Page 132 of Near Pemberley

She looked at him.

“I have since had considerably more opportunity to observe you.”

Elizabeth smiled faintly.

“And I have come to a very different conclusion.”

She waited.

“I believe, Miss Bennet, that you are one of the most beautiful women of my acquaintance.”

Elizabeth’s steps faltered for the briefest moment.

When she found her voice, she commented, “That is rather different from tolerable.”

“Considerably.”

She looked away, unable to prevent the smile that appeared upon her face.

***

As they wandered on through the gardens, their conversation turned naturally to the future.

Darcy spoke of his conversation with Mr. Gardiner. He admitted that it had been Elizabeth herself who had first planted the thought in his mind when she observed that her family could never have a clean slate in Meryton. From that moment, he confessed, he had found himself considering possibilities. One possibility in particular had refused to leave him.

He still owned the property, a large house at Ramsgate. It had been standing empty ever since the previous year. And he had begun to wonder whether it might offer the Bennets something Hertfordshire no longer could – a fresh beginning.

Elizabeth stopped walking.

“You have been thinking about all this?”

Darcy looked almost uncomfortable beneath her gaze. “I could not help thinking about it.”

She continued to look at him. “For my family?”

“For your family,” he replied simply.

She was silent for several moments.

“Mr. Darcy…” She shook her head gently. “You never cease to astonish me.”

He attempted a smile. “I hope not always unpleasantly.”

Her own smile appeared almost despite herself. “No,” she said quietly. “Never unpleasantly.”

He seemed almost uncomfortable beneath such praise.

She looked away, picturing it. “Ramsgate… A thoughtful expression crossed her face. “At the sea.”

“Yes.”

“Good Gracious…” She laughed softly. “It could work.” The smile faded almost immediately. “But my father…”

Darcy nodded. He had expected that. “Yes. Mr. Bennet. What do you think?”

“To make him move?” she frowned. “To persuade him to leave Longbourn…” She gave a small shake of her head. “I cannot imagine it.”

“Nor can I,” Darcy admitted. “But I believe we must try.”