“You’ve,” he swallowed. “You’ve fallen in love with me? When?”

The urge to tease was nearly overpowering but she knew now was not the time. “I do not know exactly when, just that I know now. I believe it has been coming on so gradually I barely noticed.”

He crushed her to him and pressed a steady kiss to her hair.

“Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. You are my very heart.”

She squeezed him back as hard as she could. “My Fitzwilliam.”

He sighed. “You do realize what today is?” he asked after a long silence.

“What is it?”

“Your birthday.”

She gasped. “How could I have forgotten?”

“We have had no sense of time here. Anyhow, it seems I am the one who got the gift.” He tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear.

She leaned into his hand with a soft sigh and he couldn’t stop himself from sweeping her into his arms and taking her straight to his bedchamber.

~

Two hours later, they were sprawled in Darcy’s bed, speaking of inconsequential nothings.

“When would you like your birthday present?” he asked.

“I thought the concert and the fireworks tomorrow were my gift,” she replied.

Darcy was taking her to an event a few miles away and there were to be fireworks over the lake afterward. Elizabeth had never seen them before and he couldn’t wait to see her experience them for the first time.

“That is part of the celebration, but not the gift.”

She sat up, suddenly curious. “So what is the gift?”

“Wait here.”

He left the bed and went into his dressing room, returning a minute later. He handed her a folded piece of paper. She took it and looked at him quizzically.

“Go ahead, open it,” he encouraged.

She opened the paper and began to read the short letter, reading it twice through to make sure she understood.

“Fitzwilliam,” she said shakily, “is this real?” She held up the paper. He nodded. “You would go to so much trouble for me?”

Her eyes filled with tears and he pulled her into his arms. “Oh, darling, I didn’t mean to make you cry. Of course I would go to the trouble for you. I would do anything for you, surely you know that.”

“Fitzwilliam! This is the best gift anyone has ever given me. I cannot wait to see them completed.” She read the letter again in excitement, marveling over the idea that her husband would commission a Bennet family portrait and accompanying miniatures of the individual members. “Has he really already begun the sketches?”

“He has. He sent me a few suggestions for poses. I thought you might want to see them before he begins the final product.”