Page 158 of Near Pemberley

Elizabeth could not help but smile. “Mr. Darcy, you are taking advantage of a wounded condition.”

“Perhaps.” He glanced down at their joined hands. “But I have been assured that wounded men require care.”

Elizabeth smiled despite herself.

Neither spoke for a few moments.

Darcy continued to look at her, and slowly the amusement in his expression softened into something warmer.

Then, almost hesitantly, he said, “It also hurts here.”

His free hand had moved lightly towards the bruise beneath his eye. Elizabeth followed his movement.

Her expression changed at once. “Mr. Darcy…”

“I believe,” he added quietly, “that this injury has been somewhat neglected.”

She gave him a look that suggested she was not entirely certain whether he was serious. Yet she reached for the ointment again.

Carefully, she shifted upon the small footstool until she was kneeling upon it, bringing herself closer to him. Darcy instinctively leant forward as well, lowering his head slightly so that she could reach the injured skin more easily.

The distance between them became almost nothing.

Elizabeth tried to concentrate on what she was doing. She applied the ointment gently beneath his eye, her expression one of complete seriousness.

Darcy remained perfectly still, though his attention was no longer upon the injury. It was impossible to think of pain when she was so near.

When she finished, she looked at him. And found him watching her. There was no teasing in his expression now, only quiet expectation.

Elizabeth understood.

She hesitated, then a small smile touched her lips. “You are quite determined to be a difficult patient.”

“Apparently.”

She shook her head, but she leant forward. As she had done before, she blew softly upon the injured place.

Darcy closed his eyes. And then he felt the gentlest touch of her lips against his skin.

Neither moved. Her face remained close to his – close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath, close enough that every sensible thought he possessed seemed to abandon him at once.

When he opened his eyes, Elizabeth was still there.

And neither of them looked away.

Then Darcy spoke quietly. “Elizabeth…”

The way he said her name made her heart beat faster.

“I have spent many months thinking about what I did wrong.” His thumb moved gently over her hand. “I did not love you properly.”

The words surprised her.

“I loved you deeply. But I loved you selfishly.”

Elizabeth remained silent.

“I thought only of what I felt. I never sufficiently considered what you must have felt.” His eyes lowered briefly. “I knew my own heart, but I did not ask enough about yours. I was so certain of the strength of my affection that I believed it must be enough.”