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L izzy, my dear, could you come into my library—I mean, into the parlor for a moment?”

Elizabeth took a deep breath and steeled her resolve. She knew what was coming, and she was going to have to reassure her father that she knew what she was doing.

“Yes, Papa?”

“I had a most interesting visit this morning.”

“Oh?”

“From Mr. Darcy.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t be coy, Elizabeth,” he said, irritated. “You know why he was here. I was in shock for a full minute when he told me that he had asked you to marry him, and that you had said yes.”

“Is it so difficult to believe someone might want to marry me?” She turned Jane’s words back on her father.

His expression grew tender and kind. “Of course not, daughter.”A heavy sigh escaped him.

“But do you know what you’re doing…accepting this man?

” He stood up and went to the window to stare out into the bare, frozen garden.

“He’s rich, to be sure, but”—he turned back around, his expression serious—“will he make you happy?I had the impression that you didn’t care for him or even thought much about him at all. ”

“Do you have any objection other than your belief in my indifference?”

“No, I mean, he is a stern, unpleasant sort of fellow, but this would be nothing if you really liked him.”

“I do like him, Papa.He is a good man—you can ask Uncle Ed if you don’t trust my judgment on the matter.”

“I already have.Ed told me Mr. Darcy has been stopping by the vet office and escorting you around town for the last several weeks. He didn’t seem very shocked that the man had asked to marry you.”

Had everyone seen Mr. Darcy’s intentions except her?

Her father went on in a reproachful tone.

“I’m a little disturbed that he has been covertly pursuing my daughter right under my nose.

” He studied Elizabeth’s face, trying to read her expression.

Finally, when she remained quiet, he continued.

“Well, he is his own man, used to having his way, but that doesn’t mean I approve of his behavior. ”

He considered a minute more before sighing in resignation.“Well, if you’re sure, Lizzy, I’ll give my blessing. I hope you and your uncle are right about him. It would grieve me to part with you to anyone unworthy.”

Elizabeth looked her father straight in the eye, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. “I’m sure, Papa. This is what’s right for me.”

He leaned over to kiss her forehead. “I will miss you terribly, my dear.

She almost felt her resolve give way when she thought about leaving her sisters and her parents’ home. “I’ll be close by,” she said in a choked voice. “It isn’t far away. I’ll get to see you very often.”

“Yes, but your life will be there. You’ll have responsibilities—running your own house, being a wife and a mother.”

“I will never be too busy for you,” she insisted, covering the wrinkled, work-worn hand on her shoulder with her own and pressing it gently.

He responded only with a wistful smile.

Elizabeth was cleaning shelves late one afternoon when she heard the vet office waiting room door open. Cold air rushed in, and the bell chimed as the door closed. She turned around and tried unsuccessfully to suppress a smile.

“Darcy!” Dr. Gardiner said in a hearty greeting. “How are you? Cold enough for ya?”

“Hello, Dr. Gardiner,” he replied, formal and polite as usual. “Yes, it’s chilly enough, although I would expect it would be cold at the beginning of February.” He searched the room and found his bride-to-be on a step stool, feather duster in hand.

“Good afternoon,” she said in a cheerful voice. “I wonder what brings you here.”

“Umm—Elizabeth, may I talk to you for a few minutes?”

“That sounds ominous.” She winked at her uncle and turned a teasing smile on her fiancé.

“No.” Mr. Darcy looked at her, momentarily shocked, but he smiled when he saw her expression. “Would you like to take a little walk?”

“Oh, Lizzy, he tempts you with a walk!”Dr. Gardiner said. “He knows you well already, my dear.”

“Yes, he has learned I will never turn down the offer of a walk.” Back on terra firma, her hand in his, Elizabeth reached for her coat. Mr. Darcy stepped in to hold it for her.

“Thank you.”

A curt nod, and he opened the door. They stepped out into the cold, dry winter air and began to stroll up the street.

“Your father came to see me today.”

“He said he would.”

“He said we’ll need to talk to Reverend Adams to discuss the ceremony, but most of the arrangements for the reception have been made.”

“Yes, my mother has been busy,” she said.

“I thought we might travel to Nashville for a few days after the wedding. There are several nice hotels there, and good restaurants and jazz clubs. I didn’t think to ask before—do you like jazz music?” he asked, looking a little anxious.

She smiled at his attempt to please her. It eased her mind that he was trying to treat her well. “Yes, I do. It all sounds very fine.”

“Good.”

“Have you told many people about the wedding?”

“No, actually. Have you?”

“No, but I’ve discovered that people seem to know anyway. I received some pretty interesting looks at church last Sunday.”

“And many kind congratulations, I assume?”

“Mostly, yes. I think people are wondering why you decided to marry all of a sudden.”

“It wasn’t an impulsive decision, as I think you are well aware.”

“You are quite the mystery of the county, Mr. Darcy.” She decided he needed some good-natured ribbing.

“Hmph.”

“According to Charlotte Lucas, everyone has always wondered, ‘Why isn’t Mr. Darcy married?’Have you never considered it before?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Do tell.” Elizabeth was intrigued, despite her light-hearted teasing.

He looked away, uncomfortable. “I was engaged once.”

She stopped in her tracks. “Really?”

“Do you doubt the possibility?”

“No, of course not.” Although it was hard to believe that he would be moved enough to ever ask someone. He looked stern, but she was determined not to let him intimidate her. “When was this?”

“Several years ago—I was in my last year of college at Vanderbilt.”

“Should I be worried about an unrequited love interrupting the wedding?” she teased, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

He paused. “No.”

“Married someone else, did she?”

“No.”

Elizabeth looked at him, waiting for the story.

He returned her gaze before glancing ahead of them.“She died, actually—of pneumonia—the winter before we were to get married.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes, mortified. Would she never stop saying the wrong thing at the worst time? She reached out and touched his arm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—I shouldn’t have—”

He stared at her glove, laying on his arm.“Don’t worry about it.”

She put her other hand over her eyes. “I feel so awful.”

He took that hand from her face, turning her toward him.

“There was no way for you to know. It was long ago—even Georgiana doesn’t know very much about it.

She was away at school at the time.” He looked down at their intertwined fingers and squeezed them in reassurance. “Honestly, Elizabeth, it’s all right.”

She still felt sheepish.“You’re very gracious with my faux-pas. Unfortunately, I’m sure it won’t be the last one I make.”

To her surprise, he gave her one of his heart-stopping, dimpled smiles, then faced them both toward her uncle’s office, keeping hold of her hand.

“Tell me about her—your fiancée, I mean.”

“Why do you want to know about this?Won’t it upset you?”

“No, I just want to learn some more about you.”

He hesitated, his thumb rubbing distracting circles across her knuckles.Suddenly, he pulled her hand into the crook of his arm and resumed a leisurely pace down the sidewalk.

“Her name was Anne, Anne de Bourgh. We met at Vandy in a history class. She was from an old Tennessee family—my mother would have approved of her,” he said with a knowing grin.

Apparently, our mothers had some things in common.

“We both liked the same authors, the same music. She was willing to come back with me to Pemberley. Her parents weren’t pleased about that—she was frail, and they wanted her close by.”

He gazed, unseeing, into the distance, his thoughts far away. Elizabeth waited for him to continue, eventually squeezing his arm.

He startled and looked down at her with a smile.“You’re very different from her. She was shy and quiet.”

“Whereas I am certainly not,” she said with a wry smile. Her expression turned serious. “What happened?”

“There was an outbreak of influenza that winter. She was never very strong, and she contracted the flu.It developed into pneumonia, and within two weeks, she was gone.”

Compassion and empathy diffused over Elizabeth’s face at this revelation.“I’m so sorry. How sad that must have been for you.”

“Yes, it was sad. She was a kind person, an interesting person. I felt especially grieved for her parents—she was their only child.”

They walked on in silence.

After a minute, Mr. Darcy spoke again. “You shouldn’t be concerned that I’ve pined for her all these years—or that I never married because of some romantic notion that there would never be another woman for me.

I mean, I did care for her, but it was so long ago, and I was quite young.

I’m—I’m a different person now. The harsh experiences of life have a way of altering a man. ”

“Or a woman,” Elizabeth agreed. “I may not have your years, but I feel that in the last six months I’ve had enough harsh experiences to last a lifetime.”

He nodded.“I’ve said it before—I think we will do well together.” He smiled down at her again, releasing her hand from the crook of his arm.

They had reached Dr. Gardiner’s office, and the setting sun cast a cold, pink light on the snow around them. In the gathering dusk, Mr. Darcy faced the woman who was to be his wife.

“You are cold.”

“I am?”

“Your nose is pink, and your cheeks are rosy.”

“Oh.”

“And your eyes sparkle like stars.”He removed a glove and lifted his bare hand to caress her face.

“You really are lovely,” he said, as if talking to himself. Leaning down, he cautiously touched his cold lips to hers. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she was disappointed when he pulled away, almost as quickly as he had approached her.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said softly. “Goodnight, Elizabeth.” He opened the office door for her and held it until she was inside.

She stood, watching him as he walked toward the truck and, when he reached it, he turned to look back at her. Holding up his hand in farewell, he climbed in and drove away. Elizabeth’s eyes followed him as he drove off, the brilliant winter sunset blazing all around him.

“You’re full of surprises, William Darcy,” she said to herself, “but I think I’ll like you just fine.”