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For an instant Darcy remained quite still. He had imagined kissing her with a confidence which vanished when the imagined pleasure became the warmth of her lips against his own. She drew back scarcely an inch, looking up at him, and he lifted his left hand to her cheek.
“Again?” he asked.
Elizabeth answered by coming closer.
He bent to meet her. This kiss lasted longer. Her fingers caught the edge of his lapel, and the slight pressure brought him nearer without hurting his hand. He felt her breathe, then smile against his mouth as he hesitated over how much he might ask of so new a permission.
“You need not be quite so cautious,” she whispered.
“I am endeavouring to behave well.”
“You are succeeding almost to excess.”
He laughed softly and kissed her again.
There was no room in his thoughts for a dead man or an old house. Elizabeth’s hand lay warm against his neck. He knew the little movement she made when she laughed, knew the sound of his own name when she said it close to his mouth, and wanted to learn a great deal more than he could honourably discover in a sitting room with an open door.
He drew back before he forgot the door altogether.
Elizabeth remained close, her hand still upon his coat. She looked pleased, embarrassed, and very much herself.
“Well,” she said.
Darcy waited for the rest.
“I do not think I can blame Elspeth for that.”
“I should be very sorry if you did.”
“So should I.”
He touched her cheek once more before lowering his hand. “Are you sorry?”
“No.” Her answer came without hesitation. “Are you?”
“Not in the least.”
Elizabeth looked toward the passage, then down at the place where her fingers had disturbed his cravat. She began to put it right and stopped, laughing under her breath.
“I am making it worse.”
“It has survived worse treatment.”
“From Anna.”
“Yes.”
“Then I shall leave you to your own experience.”
She stepped back. He missed the nearness immediately, but found pleasure in watching her take up the novel she had almost returned unread.
“I had better finish this.”
“Will you tell me what you think of the ending?”
“Of course. You must not suppose one agreeable afternoon has made your recommendations safe from criticism.”
“I had no such expectation.”
