“I, I,” he breathed, unable to settle on any one emotion from the several roiling within him. “My God, Elizabeth!” He pulled her to him and crushed his lips against hers, holding her so tightly his arms ached from the effort.

At first she was stiff against him, her small fists at his chest, but when he didn’t let her go after a minute, she pounded her hands against his shoulders. Finally, he released her mouth and looked at her with wild eyes. Her angry retort stopped on her lips as she saw the fire in his gaze. He was breathing hard, as was she, and his desperation was palpable. Had he always loved her so fiercely?

After a few moments she relented and wrapped her arms about his waist, holding him just as tightly as he held her. She laid her head on his chest, and he kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back slowly.

“I cannot give up my family, Fitzwilliam. I cannot,” she whispered. “I love them too much.”

In the end, it was the soft sound of her voice gently entreating him that pierced his heart. “Of course not, my love. I will never ask it of you. You have my word.”

She nodded silently, trying to keep the tears at bay. Tentatively, she put her hands on his shoulders and stood on her toes, pressing a gentle kiss on his lips.

“We should return and say goodnight. We’ve likely already been missed,” she said.

“You go ahead. I will call for your carriage.”

“Thank you.”

Before she knew it, Elizabeth was being handed into the carriage by Darcy who gave her hand a quick squeeze before waving them off.

~

Though she was no longer seething with anger, Elizabeth was far from calm as she prepared for bed that night. She paced back and forth, her nightgown twisting around her ankles, muttering to herself and gesticulating wildly.

“What has you so distraught, Lizzy?” asked Jane from her seat at the dressing table.

“My betrothed and his ridiculous pride, that’s what!” she exclaimed.

“But you’ve been getting along so well!” cried Jane.

“Yes, until I saw his true feelings. I cannot believe his opinion of my family! I’m surprised he lowered himself to offer for me, with my degrading connections! Is he not afraid the smell of Cheapside will rub off when we kiss, or is the Darcy name enough to cleanse me for his exalted society?” She took a shuddering breath, surprised at her own vehemence.

“Elizabeth,” said Jane gravely, “surely he did not call your family a degradation.”

“He didn’t have to say it, Jane. It was written all over his face.”

“Are you sure that’s what he meant? You couldn’t have misunderstood him?”

“Jane! You weren’t there. You didn’t see the look in his eyes or how he spoke so dismissively of the Gardiners.”