Page 79 of To Love And To Cherish
Silence followed, until Elizabeth spoke.
“Mr. Darcy,” she said gently, “I am certain your father was proud of your service. Even if your friends and relations never learn the truth, you may still take comfort in it. At least he knew his son served his country.”
Darcy met her eyes.She thinks well of me, and I am glad. It is a good beginning.
“Thank you, Miss Bennet,” he said quietly. “That is a comfort to me.”
Later that night, in a chamber high within a stone tower, surrounded by the ancient hush of the Caledonian forest, Darcy lay awake.
He had come this far and had been welcomed.
Elizabeth had defended him.
Hope stirred in his chest, not certainty, but hope.
And for now, that was enough.
Chapter 40: A Proposal
Elizabeth rose early, as was her custom. The Highlands were still quiet, the mist just beginning to lift from the forest floor. Pulling her heavy cloak around her shoulders, she slipped from the house and followed the familiar trail to the ridge where she liked to watch the sunrise. The view was wild and unspoiled, and it always gave her a sense of peace.
But this morning her mind was far from settled.
She was deep in thought when she heard a soft rustle behind her. Turning, she saw Mr. Darcy approaching.
He stepped closer, halting just two feet from her. His gaze held hers, grave and intent, and when he spoke, it was with quiet earnestness.
"Elizabeth, in vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
Elizabeth’s astonishment defied words. She stared at him, flushed to the tips of her ears, hesitated, and said nothing.
He went on with calm assurance, speaking of the strength of an attachment he could no longer conquer, despite every reason that might argue against it. He acknowledged the inequality of their stations, her lack of dowry, her inferior connections, her family’s modest estate, and yet expressed the hope that the depth of his love would secure her acceptance.
As he finished, Elizabeth stood motionless. A curious sense of distance overcame her. She was in shock. The man before her,so passionate, so forthright, felt entirely unfamiliar. She realized with unsettling clarity that she did not know him at all.
Elizabeth had never imagined herself in such a position: proposed to by a man of great wealth, undeniable intellect, and striking presence. His demeanor was so earnest, she could not doubt his declaration of love. And it was not something she could reject lightly. But neither could she accept it, not yet.
She needed to understand him and his offer.
When at last he ceased speaking, Darcy fixed his eyes on Elizabeth’s face, hoping to see encouragement, happy surprise, anything but what met him there.
She looked unsettled. Her brow furrowed, her lips pressed together, not with indignation, but contemplation as if he were a riddle she was trying to solve.
He waited, heart pounding, until she met his gaze.
“Mr. Darcy, I am honored by your offer of marriage,” she said calmly, “but I cannot give you an answer at present. I must have time to consider.”
Darcy blinked, visibly startled. “I don’t understand. Time to consider my offer?”
“I had no expectation of receiving an offer of marriage from anyone, least of all from you,” she said, watching him steadily. “The possibility has never entered my mind.”
He turned away, discomfort flickering across his face. “I thought my interest in you was rather obvious.”
She looked surprised.
“You must forgive me, sir, but I had not realized you ever, throughout the entire course of our acquaintance, paid me any particular attention. We have known one another for six years, but you have rarely spoken to me. You have never sought me out or given me any reason to believe you were attracted to me.”
Darcy opened his mouth, closed it again, then said, “I have caught you by surprise, but are you also saying an offer from me is unwelcome?”
