Page 80 of See, Hear, Speak No Evil, Mr. Darcy
“Even though I am not of your social sphere?” she asked.
“You are compassionate, warm, and loving. Any man would be fortunate to claim your hand. I hope to be that man, Elizabeth. I want to be your husband.”
“You cannot know you want to marry me in but a month’s acquaintance.”
“I could ask the same of you.”
Elizabeth chortled. With such an argument, he silenced any further protest she might have made with a kiss.
“Your beauty is captivating when you debate with me and beguiling when you agree with me.”
“You are singular to find my disagreeable nature captivating, sir.”
“I am a man who is falling in love with a woman, one he knows intends to marry for love and respect. I want to be the man who earns you, the man fortunate enough to claim the affections you will gift your husband without reservation. I want you to be the mother of our children. And I must insist on all our daughters having your eyes.”
“If we have sons, I insist they all have your dimples, Mr. Darcy.”
“William. Call me William.”
“William.”
“Do you think you might one day love me?” Darcy asked. At the barest touch of her hand to his, he laced their fingers together.
“I already do, though I tried to tell my heart it was not prudent to do so.”
“I will ever be grateful for your stubborn heart.”
“Can this be true?” Elizabeth worried her bottom lip under the intensity of his stare.
“Ana will be happy to have a sister in you and be able to claim your sisters as hers. In fact, she charged me with falling in love with a woman so she might have a sister, and whose sisters she could claim as friends. I never thought it would happen this soon, but I assure you, she will rejoice in our union. So I ask now, with such hope I have never known before,willyou marry me?”
“Would you be disheartened if I request we continue our courtship so I might enjoy spending time with you and our families? That we declare our betrothal at the ball? You can give my mother allowance to speak of our courtship, and request that Father agree to our being betrothed that very day.”
“So long? I wish to shout it from this mountain to the whole world.”
“It’s only a se’nnight,” Elizabeth said. “But for seven days, we might savor the news quietly.”
“If you agree, I will request the banns be posted on the third Sunday from today.”
“Yes, William, I agree. The way you describe our future matches my hopes.”
“Yet, when I kissed you, you were disappointed.”
“As I thought I might ever have the one, I wished for…more.”
“I will make it my aim ever to fulfill your hopes, Elizabeth.”
This time, Elizabeth expected the heady dizziness that came with Darcy's kiss. She felt herself melt against him. When he tightened his arms about her, she pressed closer. The result was exulting, his kiss deepening all the more in its ardency.
Gripping the lapels of his jacket, Elizabeth reveled in his groan of approval, and she heard herself whimper a protest when he broke them apart. Though she had not felt out of her depth in their second kiss, she still struggled to regain command of her senses.
Resting his forehead against hers, he murmured, “I must return to Netherfield. I will come to Longbourn this afternoon with Bingley. His dislike of any separation from your sister rivals my own displeasure at being far from you. But there is some relief in knowing you are soon to be ever at my side.”
“I will inform my father of your intention to speak to him, or do you prefer I not?”
“It would be wise if you do not, so he does not taunt me about not kissing you until we are officially betrothed, Elizabeth.”
“What fun is there in that, William? Now, I must go, so when you arrive, you will not find me in a gown with a hem having been six inches deep in mud. And perhaps a touch of lip stain to remind my suitor I want his kisses even when they cannot be bestowed?”
