Page 100 of The Engagement at Longbourn

"That is a dangerous comparison."

Jane's smile remained serene. Darcy turned and saw Elizabeth. The laughter left his face but not his eyes.

He came toward her.

"Good morning."

"Mr. Darcy."

"Miss Elizabeth."

"We are very formal today."

"It is Sunday."

"Naturally."

He offered his arm.

She took it. Inside the church, the Bennet pew was crowded enough that Darcy and Elizabeth sat closer than custom ordinarily permitted. Their sleeves touched.

The sermon concerned duty. Elizabeth listened more carefully than she usually did. Duty had once been the only reason she intended to honour their engagement publicly. She had thought herself generous for offering Darcy time to recover before refusing him. Now she understood duty differently. Duty without affection could sustain behaviour. It could not create happiness. Affection without duty could be equally unreliable. Bingley had loved Jane and still left. Darcy had loved Elizabeth and still judged her family. Lydia had fancied Wickham and nearly aided him because she mistook intensity for trust. Perhaps marriage required both: feeling strong enough to make duty willing, and duty steady enough to carry feeling through ordinary days.

Darcy glanced at her.

"You are thinking," he whispered.

Elizabeth looked at the clergyman.

"In church. Shocking."

His mouth twitched. After the service, they did not return immediately to Longbourn. Darcy asked if she would walk a little way. They took the path behind the churchyard, with Georgiana and Kitty a discreet distance behind. The air smelled of damp leaves and early growth. Darcy used the cane only on uneven ground now.

"One week," he said.

"Less."

"Six days."

"You have been counting?"

"Have you not?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Perhaps."

They walked.

"Are you afraid?" Darcy asked.

She looked at him. He did not appear embarrassed by the question.

That, too, was change.

"Yes."

He nodded.

"You?"