He suddenly gripped her arm and turned her to him a little too strongly. “Are you sure, Elizabeth? You are not teasing or making one of your jokes?”

She shook her head while smiling coyly.

“It is cruel to toy with a man in such a way. Now tell me clearly. Are you saying you will go The Lakes with me alone? No companions, no sisters, just the two of us?”

“And a small army of servants, yes,” she replied.

He pulled her to him and planted a swift kiss to her lips, then just as quickly pulled back and placed her hand on his arm and continued walking as if nothing had happened. She smiled and saw his mouth tick out of the corner of her eye.

“You have made me very happy, Elizabeth,” he said quietly, squeezing her hand on his arm.

She placed her other hand on his arm in response, bringing her closer to him. “I would like to make a request.”

“Anything, my love.”

“I would like for Jane and possibly Mary to come to Pemberley when we return. My family will just be returning from the seaside and father must stay at Longbourn through the harvest and mother with him, but he said they might come in the autumn. I propose that my sisters come in August, then return with my family.”

He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed it gently, holding it to his lips for several moments. “Consider it done.”

~

Though Elizabeth felt apprehensive about having agreed to the unaccompanied wedding tour, she felt a sweet, warm sensation at Fitzwilliam’s happiness in the scheme. She was not blind to the affection of such a man. His was not the calculated flattery or imagined attachment of Mr. Collins. He was a man of sense and education, who had lived in the world. He was intelligent and, as far as she could see, a decent man. She was beginning to think she had a chance at happiness, and she sat at the pianoforte the next morning feeling more hopeful than ever.

“Lizzy! I’ve a letter from Maria! Would you like to read it?” Lydia bounded into the room, waving the paper in the air.

“Read it to me, dear. I must continue my practice.”

Lydia settled herself on the chair next to her sister and read over Elizabeth’s playing as her fingers moved up and down the scales. There was news of Meryton and all its goings-on. Who had hosted a dinner party, who had worn an ugly dress to the party, who had flirted with whom at the party. The milliner had gotten in some particularly ugly bonnets and the pig had escaped into the rose garden again.