Posted on Wednesday, 25 February 2004, at 2:09 a.m.

Elizabeth was very irritated. She stood in a reflective poise, gazing outside at the high woody hills and beautiful oaks from the saloon's large, floor length window. She sighed, and then laughed; her husband could be very persistent.

She had really hoped to see Kitty and her beau together and really observe them, but Darcy would not hear of their going. No indeed, he was sure someone somewhere said that they would visit today. Elizabeth and he must stay.

She heard footsteps presently, and thinking it was her husband, she turned slightly from the window with an arched look, ready to say-but no. It was the footman. Looking decomposed for only a moment, he informed the mistress that the steward had come and the master was at present in his study with him and would be engaged thus for half an hour. "Engaged in urgent business no doubt, all the more urgent for my sake," was the muttered response from the lady.

"He said he hoped you were not in any way inconvenienced." Elizabeth thought she could imagine the teasing voice in which her husband said the last. Looking up with a smile, she dismissed the man with a wave of her arm and a thank you. The footman, now thoroughly discomposed, quickly left. Outside, he let go a breath. Elizabeth looked so disarmingly pretty: her exposed arms, the delicate embroidery and fine fabric of her clothes, her pleasing figure, and the unconsciousness of her own stature and beauty made her uniformly lovely.

The lady withdrew to the library, where she buried herself in reading. It was in this studious state that her husband found her a little after half an hour. The lady chose not to acknowledge his presence. Darcy, realizing that she was truly annoyed with him, did not immediately address her. He purposely strode towards a shelf, and after a brief search found his query. "May I read to you madam?" Darcy inquired as he approached her with the book.

"I am already engaged in reading sir, as you see."

"Serious reading too," he noted, "Perhaps a little diversion?"

"It is not so difficult a read."

"But you will enjoy a story perhaps more?"

"I am content with what I have."

"Elizabeth," he sighed exasperated, "Will you read with me?"

"No sir, I am already reading."

"Come, do not be too upset with me," he said softly as he carefully removed the offending book from her grip, "I meant no harm." He settled himself comfortably by her side and whispered pleadingly into her ear, "Let me read to you, dearest." The mistress, freed from much of her annoyance towards him, leaned into his overstretched arm and listened quietly as he read a fantastical Arabian Nights tale. The jinn and sorceress, the prince and the fisherman, the sea and the mountains occupied her mind thus for some time.

"Thank you," she said a little shyly as Darcy closed the book. "You're very welcome," he replied with a kiss. "But tell me now, were you truly mad that I sent Kitty to Lady Abigail?"

"She will not like it there." Elizabeth averted.

"Not so," Darcy said smilingly, "Our good pastor Mr. Edwards will be there."

"Yes, but be honest now: it was not out of your care or generosity for the two lovebirds that you insisted we stay home and Kitty go in our place."

"It was-oh very well! I'm quite sick of the good widow, and tired of her company for this week. Are you glad now?

"I am content," She gave him a full smile, "But I hope Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberly has not become so uncharitable of recent months because of his wife."

"No indeed. But with a sister in law so obliging, a pastor so in love, a widow so good and happy with all her visitors, and with an Elizabeth as lovely as mine, who can resist the temptation to be a little ungenerous?"

Needless to say, the couple spent some happy, solitary moments together. And Darcy found that he was not too irritated when Kitty arrived with glowing features and stole his wife's attention away with details only fascinating to sisters.

~End~