Page 93 of The Briar Bargain
"I beg your pardon?" she replied, a little incredulous. "I was merely attempting to join my sister and her betrothed for dinner and instead found myself locked in a room with a smoking chimney."
"Miss Bingley will pay for it,” he said sombrely. He would make certain of it.
Elizabeth's expression grew more serious. "As angry as I am with her, this was meant to be a temporary inconvenience rather than anything truly dangerous. Miss Bingley could hardly have anticipated the problem with the chimney. She said she intended to keep me away from dinner, that was all."
“She had no business locking you inanyroom,” Darcy grumbled.
“Oh, I quite agree with that,” Elizabeth replied. She drew her legs up to her chest and arranged her skirts so that her bare foot was covered. “But she was rightfully angry with me. Not long ago, I spoke to defend the maid who was found with her mother’s brooch tonight. The only argument I shall make on her behalf is that she did not intend tokill me.”
Darcy began to shrug off his coat. “Hold the collar if you would,” he said to her as he worked his arms out of the tight fighting garment.
Once he had managed to remove it, he tucked the coat around her shoulders and fastened it in the front. “This is lovely,” she said with a happy sigh, drawing it around her.
He began to roll up the sleeves to her wrists. “Elizabeth . . .” He hesitated until she arched a brow at him.
“What is it?”
He coughed, then smiled and shook his head. "I had intended to ask for your permission to court you tomorrow morning during our walk in the gardens."
She looked at him with surprise.
Something told him to keep talking. "However, I find that nearly losing youagain, has made me rather anxious."
He turned to face her fully, taking in her dishevelled appearance—the ruined skirts, her loose hair, the streaks of soot across her face, bundled in his coat.
She was quite possibly the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Elizabeth turned her face up to his. "Mr. Darcy, what are you saying?"
“I am saying ‘Yet seem’d it winter still, and, you away’ . . .”
“Is that Shakespeare?”
“Sonnet 98. Do not you recall?”
She smiled impishly at him. “I do now.”
He shook his head. “I would very much like to marry you, as soon as possible. You seem to possess a remarkable talent for finding yourself in situations that require rescue, and I should like to be in a position to provide that assistance whenever it might be needed."
Elizabeth stared at him for a moment, and then, to his surprise, began to laugh. "I rescuedmyselfthis time. You simply helped me off the ledge.”
“I believe you understand my meaning.”
“Well, I am not certain,” she replied, and then smiled. She tipped her head to one side. “Was that supposed to be a proposal?"
“I am making you an offer,” he said with growing confidence. “A bargain, if you will.”
“Athirdbargain?” she asked, eyes narrowing with amusement.
“Yes, though this one shall be for life. If you agree to marry me, I will stand at your side through a thousand Miss Bingleys and every adventure your spirited nature may contrive. More than that, I shall be unfailingly civil at every assembly.”
Her brows arched. “And you will dance?”
“It will be no hardship to dance with you, Elizabeth.”
“But you must promise more,” she countered, her expression turning shrewd. “To dance with at least one lady at every dance who has been slighted by other men.”
He considered this, then smiled. “Very well, I agree. But you must grant me one condition in return.”
