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“Yes—yes, you have made your point. Now, I beg of you to return to your feet at once.”

Standing, he slowly let go of her hand. He tucked his own hands behind his back. Elizabeth did likewise, and the two of them resumed their walk.

Darcy said, “What I said just now is true. You are the handsomest woman of my acquaintance. I have a great deal of admiration for you. You must know what I am saying to be true.”

Upon hearing Mr. Darcy’s pronouncement, Elizabeth felt her heartbeat pick up its pace. She did not know how to think or feel. Was the gentleman about to say what she thought? She did not dare to chance it. “Meeting your sister was a welcome surprise,” she said, endeavoring to change the subject.

“I am very pleased to hear you say that, Miss Elizabeth. I had high hopes that the two of you would get along.”

“Oh?”

“Indeed. Georgiana, you see, is very shy, and she does not often have a chance to be with young ladies who are close to her in age.”

Upon first meeting the young woman, Elizabeth would never have accused her of being shy. However, once her brother quit the room, her spirits were rather less animated. Elizabeth attributed it to her dedication when playing the pianoforte.

“Your sister is one of the most gifted young women I have ever met. Her performance on the pianoforte is nothing short of masterful. I am given to wonder if you brought her here solely to demonstrate to me how a truly accomplished young lady ought to play.”

“No—not at all. In case you are unaware, I rather enjoy listening to you exhibit. I could spend hours watching you—listening to you—and I would not complain.”

“Mr. Darcy, to what do I owe all this approbation?”

“Do I have to say it aloud, Miss Bennet? I came back to Kent solely for the purpose of seeing you. I dare not say more now, but when the moment is right, I shall. I promise,” he added. “For now, I want to thank you for your kindness to my sister. I can see that she likes you very much, which is of vital importance to me.”

Indeed, Darcy had given the matter a great deal of thought while he was away. He could no longer deny that he had fallen in love with Elizabeth. Certainly there would be strong objections to such an unequal alliance. Such a union would do nothing to elevate his standing among Society. However, if his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam and his sister, Georgiana, approved of a possible alliance between him and Elizabeth, what did it matter what others thought? The colonel and his sister were the most important people in the world to him. Soon, if things progressed as he hoped they would, Elizabeth would earn such a distinction in his life too.

In truth, his purposes in bringing his sister back with him were twofold: to introduce Elizabeth to Georgiana—thinking both women could benefit from each other’s company very much—and to regulate his own behavior around Elizabeth, a gentleman’s daughter, and to court her properly, again, if matters progressed as he hoped they would.

Once inside the house, Elizabeth exhaled deeply. At length, her heartbeat slowed and her quivering stomach settled. The things Mr. Darcy’s nearness did to her left her utterly bewildered. To add to all his other admirable qualities, he smelled better than any gentleman of her acquaintance. He had a way of confounding Elizabeth’s sensibilities like no other gentleman before—invoking inexplicable urges with the sound of his voice and the look in his eyes. Elizabeth shook her head.

I must teach myself not to think of Mr. Darcy in this way, else I shall go entirely distracted.

“Eliza?” Charlotte said, looking at her friend still standing there in the hallway with her head pressed against the door, long after she had walked into the house.

Elizabeth jumped. “Charlotte!”

“Pardon me for startling you, but do my eyes deceive me or was that Mr. Darcy whom I saw escorting you to the parsonage gate?”

She shook her head. “Indeed. He arrived at Rosings late yesterday. He brought his sister, Miss Darcy, with him,” Elizabeth quickly added.

“Did he?” Charlotte inquired with a suggestive smile.

Elizabeth held up her hand. “Whatever you are thinking, Charlotte, I am certain you are mistaken.”

“Be that as it may, dear Eliza,” Charlotte said knowingly, “for I am not one to say I told you so.”

CHAPTER 10

FIRST AND FOREMOST

Lady Catherine ambled into the east library in time to enjoy hearing Elizabeth and Georgiana performing a lovely duet. Darcy was standing in an advantageous spot that afforded him a good view of both young ladies.

“I confess you have made significant strides in your ability to play since my niece has been accompanying you, Miss Bennet,” said her ladyship. She looked at Darcy. “It was very clever of you to bring your sister here, Nephew.”

Darcy did not know where to look or how to look in response to his aunt’s tactlessness. Georgiana, on the other hand, was clearly made uncomfortable, and she threw an apologetic glance at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth bestowed a hint of a smile for the younger woman’s benefit intending to assure her that no such remorse was required. “Perhaps I shall one day become as proficient as those twice my rank,” she then remarked.

This being exactly the sort of response he had taught himself to expect on Elizabeth’s part, Darcy smiled in spite of himself.