Part 1
The heartfelt intimacy between our young lovers grew with every day of their engagement - in opposition to Lady Catherine's intimidations. One afternoon they strolled through the meadows near Longbourn when a thought struck Mr. Darcy.
"Pray, Elizabeth, enlighten me as to what ample sources of happiness my wife will have. Did not you freely mention their possibility to Lady Catherine?" he asked with a greedy curiosity in his eyes. Elizabeth blushed, and answered evasively,
"Only Mrs. Darcy will know that, if there is to be one.... You know, I am Miss Elizabeth Bennet and I am prone to voice opinions that are not my own..."
She cast him a sly look.
"Elizabeth, you will be Mrs. Darcy shortly!"
She shrugged. "Oh, you might have second thoughts, if I reveal the horrible truth."
"Elizabeth..."
Eagerly she cut him off by stepping in front of him.
"But maybe, I could pretend to be Mrs. Darcy..." Her insidiously glittering eyes belied the innocence in her face.
His heart turned over. "Yes, do!"
"But you must summon great fortitude, it will be awful."
"I am prepared."
He smiled as she eyed him thoughtfully. Was there a hint of scepticism in her eyes? Did she doubt his fearlessness?
"But be always aware, I will only just pretend!"
"Lizzy..."
"Now, lets face it...."
She began, in a leisurely fashion to examine his face, drinking in every line of his beloved features. Thus occupied, her face became diffused with affection, and her eyes betrayed feelings that had a very disturbing effect on his heartbeats. But he remained rooted to the spot, waiting and watching. At length, she lowered her eyes, and said to his cravat while gripping the lapels of his coat:
"First source: The wife of Mr. Darcy will have a handsome husband ... wonderful to look at..."
Although never having been a vain man, her words seeped like honey into his being, and he was hard pressed not to snatch her into his embrace. Her gaze reached as high as his chin, before darting warily into his eyes, and back to his cravat. She drew nearer.
"At breakfast, I presume," she added mischievously, and then seemed to ponder over her own words. "If it were her preference to rise so early..."
Her eyes remained downcast in blushing confusion. He stayed immovable, trying to hold his face devoid of expression in denial to his inner turmoil. Slowly she leant against him, hereby setting his sensations in even higher flutter, and continued to address his fortunate cravat,
"Second source: She will have a husband, beautiful to snuggle up to, if it were her preference to ... touch him."
Her hands began to stroke those enviable lapels, and then her look clashed with his. She held his gaze, bewitching his whole being. Even to him it's meaning was nearly incredible, and not fit to describe properly. She had never been so bold, and he found it thrilling! But there was not yet an end to his experience. A moment she seemed to hesitate, then took off his hat, gripped his curls, and, tugging his head near to her face, she ended her recital with the whisper,
"And thirdly, if that were her preference (of that I am absolutely sure!), she will have a husband even more desirable ... uh, ... I mean ... you know what I mean..."
Mr. Darcy was wholly aware that he should not kiss a young female in an open field for the entire world to see, but he couldn't help it. As is imaginable, the outcome of this pastime left long moments later both participants somewhat bemused. Should he ever have harboured any lack of certainty regards her feelings for him, this thought died like nothing. The first to come to her senses was Elizabeth. Although heavenly thrilled but suddenly shy of her boldness - and his reaction to it - she pulled herself free. Dancing a few steps ahead with a very becoming blush on her face and his hat in her hand, she merrily cried,
"Maybe there are some other sources of happiness for the future Mrs. Darcy, especially the ability of her husband to make long haughty speeches, and let heavenly words fall out of his mouth to enlighten her bewildered brain after she met with the first three sources of happiness - who knows?"
She laughed heartily at his flustered expression, elated by the feeling of her power over him. He was not yet able to keep pace with her in her fencing with him.
"But you know, these might be the preferences of Mrs. Darcy. I am but Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and I profess opinions, that are not my own!" Another saucy smile was going to upset him.
"I am but good at pretending, am I not?"
Yes, this was his adorable Lizzy, always capable of surprising him, and teasing him with his own silly statements. He felt utterly spirited. Gathering his wits, he imitated her teasing tone.
"And when we are married, will I hear those compliments again, and will you pretend?" he cried.
She seemed to give his words careful consideration, and then she shrugged, feigning indifference,
"That might be the outcome, yes, perhaps, if the final result is as worthwhile as it was ... uh ... recently. It needs thinking over. Though I might also have second thoughts."
This speech followed another hearty laugh, and she danced ahead, every time one step out of reach, waving with his hat.
"Elizabeth, that is blackmail!" cried he in delighted indignation.
This accusation, however, seemed to transfer Miss Bennet in a state of utter bliss. She jumped cheerfully, threw his hat into the air, grabbed it again, and her answer could not but delight him further,
"There, you have caught me at last! As you know me by the way of your aunt, I have an eye on your fortune, I adore pretty clothes, jewels and all your carriages, and even to be Mistress of Pemberley might be something to cheer me up in the years to come, in case I grow impatient with my closemouthed husband!" She left him no time for an answer, and added with great intrepidity, "I mean, if ever I come now into that fortunate state of affairs to be married by you. So be careful, I will be able to ruin you, which is - as I inform you herewith - my dearest wish!"
One look in his face set her feet running.
But, as it is, his legs being longer, and his desire to catch greater as her wish to escape, the matter was all of a sudden resolved in a fashion of mutual satisfaction, far off from being boring - but ruinous to his hat.