Posted on: 2009-04-01

Elizabeth was glad to leave her host and his family and friend behind in the parlour, and stepping out into the garden with her cousin. She was almost certain that Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst would make use of the opportunity and abuse her family to the best of their ability in her absence, but she preferred giving them that opportunity to remaining in the parlour and being aware of their arch looks and supercilious smiles. There was always hope that they would be done by the time she returned to the house.

"Did you come to inquire after Jane?" she wanted to know of her cousin.

"Among others," Harry replied. "I also came to inquire after you – you did not look too happy yesterday evening, so I felt you might appreciate the company of someone familiar."

"I do," Elizabeth confessed. "I know I can talk to Jane about everything I like, only I do not wish to upset her, and if I told her about my suspicions regarding Miss Bingley – whom she believes to be her friend – that Miss Bingley does not care any more for her than she cares for me; and we all know she doesn't care for me at all…" She broke off, uncertain whether it would be wise to continue in this vein.

"You're right; it would be unwise to upset Jane while she is feeling so poorly."

"Do you agree with me then?"

"Regarding Jane? Absolutely!"

"I meant, do you agree with me regarding Miss Bingley?"

"That she does not care for Jane as much as she wishes her to believe? I am afraid I am not in her confidence."

"This is a lawyer's reply," Elizabeth said laughingly. "Sticking to facts rather than stating an opinion."

"Speaking of facts, Elizabeth, I do not know Miss Bingley well enough to have an opinion. Do you?"

"I believe I know her sufficiently well," Elizabeth sniffed.

"I take it the dislike is mutual," Harry laughed.

"I do wonder why she dislikes me," Elizabeth said. "Is it really only because I don't like her overly much either? Or do you think there are other reasons? – No; you need not reply; you don't know enough about her to have an opinion. Lawyer's talk again."

"I'm afraid it is a habit with me," Harry said ruefully. "Do you dislike lawyers' talk very much?"

"I don't," Elizabeth said and, when she noticed Harry's grin, "Not very much, anyway. It is just that I am not used to having people around me resort to good sense." Realising what she'd said, she hastily added, "Though my father, of course, is a very clever man, and Jane…"

"Is a very clever girl, though in the habit of believing only the best of people; an endearing character trait. There is also your sister Mary, who is capable of learned discourse, though I am afraid she is lacking a great deal of common sense, which somewhat makes up for her worrying tendency towards scholarship."

"So true," Elizabeth sighed. "And then there is Kitty, and Lydia. Do you know, I often worry that they will get themselves into trouble one day?"

"Don't worry. They'll grow out of it, I am sure."

"Are you saying this because you don't wish to offend me by mentioning their remarkable silliness?"

"No; I am saying this because this is what I think. Not too long ago you wanted me to state my opinions rather than facts. Having second thoughts about it? I can revert to having no opinion of my own in a moment."

"Don't you dare." Elizabeth smiled, and Harry once more felt drawn to her. His cousin was a remarkably attractive girl. Worryingly attractive. He hadn't come to England to saddle himself with a wife; therefore he did his best to turn his attention to matters other than Elizabeth's … figure. He was well aware that his Aunt Bennet would be quick to pick up any signs of admiration in him; with horrifying consequences. Consequences he'd really deserve if he started acting on his impulse, which told him to kiss her.

"Errr … Bingley's garden is rather nice, don't you think?" he asked hoarsely. Lizzy looked up at him, a questioning expression in her large brown eyes.

"Is anything wrong?" she asked.

"No. Nothing." Everything was wrong. They were alone in a lovely garden on a sunny morning, standing right next to a summer house which in spite of it being autumn still looked inviting, even more so because it was rather far from the house and no one would find them if they chose to … er … go inside.

And Lizzy was just the type of woman with whom he'd choose to do so, if it weren't for the fact that he was a gentleman. Right. A gentleman. That was it. Hold on to that thought Harry. A gentleman does not give in to ungentlemanlike urges. Such as kissing Elizabeth Bennet.

"Harry? You don't expect me to believe that, do you?" Elizabeth asked indignantly. "Something is wrong – do not try to deny it!"

"Nothing is wrong, Elizabeth," Harry said, getting a grip on himself.

"Have I said something wrong? Did … did my frankness shock you? Have I been too … pert?"

"Elizabeth, you can always be entirely honest with me, and express yourself in whatever terms you choose," Harry said.

"Then why are you not honest with me, Harry? Why do you keep things from me? For this is what you are doing!"

"I am not…"

"I am not stupid, Harry. I thought we'd established as much between us."

Her crossness made her all the more appealing, Harry thought.

"You want honesty?" he asked her.

"Yes, I do!"

"No matter what the consequences are?"

Elizabeth nodded. "I want to know what bothers you, Harry. I thought we were friends!"

He kissed her then. Her reaction was not what he'd expected; in fact he became aware that he'd been afraid of rejection all the while, but none came. On the contrary. As he put his arms around Elizabeth, she came closer to him, and even put her arms around him. Her kisses, though shy and inexperienced at first, became more eager the longer their embrace lasted.

"It looks as if we're rather more than just friends," Harry whispered to her once he could stop himself from kissing her for long enough to say something. "Now what, Lizzy? Can you handle the consequences?"

It was at that moment that Darcy, who'd gone out in search of Elizabeth to inform her that her sister had asked for her, discovered them. His embarrassment at finding them in each other's arms was evident. His habitual calm was certainly gone.

"I am sorry," he stammered. "Miss Bennet, your sister wishes to see you."

"Oh!" Flushing scarlet, Elizabeth let go of Harry. "I… I had better go to her room at once."

"Yes, you had better," Harry agreed. "We can talk later."

Elizabeth nodded, and then hurried towards the house.

"I know what you are thinking, Darcy," Harry said as he and his friend walked back towards the house.

"I do not think you do," Darcy replied.

"You are thinking that I have behaved in a despicable manner. I quite agree – I don't know what came over me! I'll do the honourable thing, naturally. I'll make her an offer of marriage."

"And then?"

"I'll marry her, of course. If she'll have me."

"It didn't look as if she wouldn't." Darcy remarked dryly. "And even if she had no inclination towards marrying you, her mother would still make sure she does."

Harry had to admit that this was so. "Her mother need never know, however," he said. "I'll ask Elizabeth while she is here, and will only ask her father's consent if she agrees to marry me. Otherwise no one will ever know what happened between us – in fact, no one need ever know no matter how this turns out. I know I can trust you to keep your mouth shut about the affair, Darcy."

"Certainly. I have never been one to gossip," Darcy said. "Miss Elizabeth Bennet's reputation must be kept intact, no matter how ill-judged her conduct was."

"I won't have you say a word against her, Darcy. What happened was my fault, not hers. I kissed her."

"There must have been something in her behaviour that encouraged you to do so," Darcy insisted. "I do not blame her; after having spent a half-hour in her mother's company I can imagine what her upbringing must have been."

"One more word, Darcy, and I'll make you rue the day you were born," Harry threatened. "You are talking about my future wife!"

"Very well," Darcy said. "If you mean to marry Miss Bennet I will not stop you – I have no right to interfere. But I hope you will reconsider. One kiss does not mean you have to marry her. No one will ever know."

"Do you mean to tell me that I had better pretend that nothing has happened, and take myself off, never to see her again after having roused certain expectations in her? For if you do, Darcy, you are not the man I thought you were. It's the kind of callous advice I'd have expected to come from someone like Wickham, but not you! You, to whom honour means everything!"

Darcy winced when the name Wickham was mentioned.

"I am sorry," he said. "If you truly care for Miss Bennet, do go ahead. She does have her virtues; and once you've put a decent distance between you and her family…"

"Thank you, Darcy. I am sure to come to you whenever I need advice on marital matters," Harry said dryly.

Much though Elizabeth tried to hide her excitement, Jane immediately noticed that something must have happened to upset her. She attributed it to her mother's visit at first, for like Elizabeth she knew how aggravating her mother in one of her moods could be.

"Was it very bad?" she asked.

"No worse than I'd expected," Lizzy replied, forcing a smile.

"Oh."

Jane did not try to force Elizabeth's confidence, but changed the topic.

"It looks like a fine day," she said. "Too bad I could not walk with you; I'd have loved that. The maid said you'd gone for a stroll in the garden with Harry."

"So I did," Lizzy said, reddening. "We had a good talk, and … he was really kind to me."

"Harry is a very nice man," Jane remarked.

"He is," Lizzy said dreamily. "I like him very much indeed!"

"It shows," Jane said with a gentle smile. "He appears to like you very much too."

"I'm afraid there is more to that," Lizzy said. "Jane – he kissed me!"

Sometimes, Jane really surprised her sister. Far from being shocked, she merely said, "And?"

"And what?"

"What happened then?"

"Mr Darcy caught us," Lizzy said darkly, feeling that Mr Darcy had had no right to catch them. What business of his was it anyway? Why had he gone into the garden snooping after them? The way he'd looked at her, too – as if she was a … a woman of easy virtue! "He told me you'd asked after me, and so I went back to the house."

"I am sorry, Lizzy. If I'd known you were so pleasantly employed I'd have waited until you were at leisure to attend to me."

"I am glad you did ask for me. I … oh Jane! What am I to do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know! The kiss was … it was nice. More than nice in fact. I … I enjoyed it. But what will happen next?"

"I think we can safely leave this to Harry," Jane said soothingly. "He will do the right thing."

"What is the right thing to do?" Elizabeth asked.

"Do you love Harry, Lizzy?"

"I…" Elizabeth stopped to think for a moment. "I don't know," she finally said. "Oh Jane, what have I done?"