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“No, Miss Bennet,” he said. “You must not blame yourself, for the fault was mine. I have been such a blundering fool.” He hesitated and did not go on until she had looked up at him.

There was still such kindness — even longing — in his eyes.

“I let go of any anger I felt long since. And if you have come to change your opinion of me, if you would offer me your respect and even your friendship, I would be very glad indeed.”

Elizabeth hardly knew what to say. He seemed to mean so much. She might even dare to hope he could come to care for her again. Did she go too far to imagine it?

But it was necessary to answer him, and she could think of only one response that might convey some of what was in her heart. “Shall we dance again, Mr Darcy?” Elizabeth asked softly.

“I would like nothing more,” he said. He took her hand, warmth spreading through her fingers and down into her soul.

Though the second dance was nearly over, the third was soon to begin. This time, there was no awkwardness between them. They moved as one, with an openness between them she could have only dreamed of.

“You are a vision, Miss Bennet. Indeed, you always have been, in my eyes,” Mr Darcy said.

She laughed. “Even when I walk alone through the countryside, as a young lady ought not to do?”

He chuckled softly, never taking his eyes off her. “Yes, especially then. You have bewitched me from the time we first met, Miss Bennet.” He wrapped his arm tenderly around her waist as they made a turn, looking at her with such longing and affection Elizabeth half-feared she would faint dead away.

The dance was over far too soon, and as he walked her back to her aunt, he lowered his voice. “May I call on you in Gracechurch Street, Miss Bennet?” he asked. Hope filled his eyes, and her heart fluttered.

“I should like nothing more, Mr Darcy,” she responded.

When he had delivered her back to the care of her aunt, Elizabeth was too undone to speak for a moment.

“My dear, are you alright? You are terribly flushed,” her aunt said.

“I thought you were to dance with the colonel? Why were you dancing a second set with Mr Darcy?” Mrs Gardiner asked with concern.

“I am well, Aunt. More than well — I am incandescent!” she exclaimed. Though Elizabeth could see that other guests were turning to look at her, she hardly cared. Finally, she could see her future clearly. A future with Mr Darcy.

Her aunt let out a surprised laugh. “Whatever has happened between you and Mr Darcy, Lizzy?” she whispered.

“I cannot tell all of it here, but suffice to say, we have come to an understanding,” Elizabeth said. “Or at least, I believe we soon will.”

“Oh, my dear! Well, you must tell me all the details. And quickly!”

Elizabeth was too undone to speak of such things with the crowd pressing in around them. “Will you take me home, aunt? There is so much to tell, but it is not fit for anyone but ourselves. At least, not yet.”

“Of course, my dear. Let us find your uncle, and we shall leave forthwith,” her aunt said. She took Elizabeth’s hand, and they wove their way through the crowd.

They soon found Mr Gardiner near the punch table, talking with several gentlemen.

Mrs Gardiner made quick work of convincing him they wished to depart, and they were soon standing outside the warm assembly rooms waiting for the carriage.

Thankfully, it was a clear night, cool as it was, and free from the threat of rain.

“What is this all about?” her uncle asked after they had climbed into the carriage. “I thought you two would want to stay until the musicians left at four o’clock tomorrow morning!”

“No, uncle,” Elizabeth said smilingly. “I believe I received all I needed from the evening — and more than I could have ever expected.” She winked at her aunt, with a silent promise to tell all when they arrived home.

Her uncle mumbled something about tomfoolery and leaned his head against the back of his seat, closing his eyes. Her aunt switched seats and sat down beside Elizabeth, gripping her hand. “Tell me what happened at once. I cannot stand it!” her aunt whispered.

Elizabeth regaled her with all the details of Mr Wickham’s would-be abduction, and how Mr Darcy had so valiantly come to her defence and protection.

Her aunt’s face grew white as she went on, uttering small gasps as she told of the perfidious Mr Wickham.

When she had finished, Mrs Gardiner uttered a loud cry, waking her uncle for a second.

“Go back to sleep, dear,” she said, and her uncle mumbled something before dozing once more.

Her aunt turned to Elizabeth. “This is all more than I can comprehend. You say that Mr Darcy proposed to you in our parlour, and you did not think to tell us? What has got into your head, Lizzy?”

Elizabeth laughed. “I do not know, but I cannot contain my joy or my surprise, really, that Mr Darcy would still care for me after the way I treated him.”

“And he says he wants to call on you tomorrow?” her aunt asked.

“Yes. Well, he did not say tomorrow. He only asked if he could call on me at Gracechurch Street.” Elizabeth hoped it would be on the morrow. And the day after that, and the day after that. She never wished to be parted from Mr Darcy for a day more than was necessary until she could be called his.

“Well, I think it is all very exciting. Surprising, but exciting.” Her aunt patted her hand, and they rode in companionable silence until they reached the house.

Mrs Gardiner gently shook her husband into wakefulness, and Elizabeth headed into the house to change into her nightdress.

She had much to reflect on, for the evening had been all too eventful.

“My dear, there is one more thing —” Mrs Gardiner said when she joined her in the foyer.

Her uncle passed them, saying goodnight as he made his way to his study.

Her aunt pulled her along up the stairs and went into the bedroom with her.

“Are you certain that Mr Darcy has chased Mr Wickham away? We cannot risk allowing him to attack you again. When I think of how narrowly you escaped being compromised, I should like to fall on my knees in thankfulness to Mr Darcy.”

“I am quite sure, aunt. You know Wickham to be a degenerate, but what I have told you tonight is far from his only sin. Suffice to say that I am not the only one to wish Mr Wickham punished for his misdeeds. I am confident that he will be.”

Her aunt’s face blanched. “What has he done?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “There is much that I am not at liberty to discuss. I shall only say that we are well rid of him. After Mr Darcy’s threats, he will not dare to act against me. He will be too busy trying to escape punishment for worse wrongs.”

“I cannot imagine what would be worse than dragging you out to the balcony and trying to force you to elope with him.” Her aunt searched Elizabeth’s face.

“But I shall take your word for it.” She leaned in and hugged her, kissing her on the cheek.

“Get some rest, Lizzy, if you can. I know it has been an exciting night. But I daresay all your troubles are over, now that you have the affection of Mr Darcy.” She turned and went to the door, opening it and stepping halfway into the hall before she turned around. “I always did like him.”

Elizabeth laughed, shaking her head. Her aunt had been more astute in deciphering the true nature of a person than she had. She had been unfair to Mr Darcy from the beginning, and all because he had deigned to be honest. She would never take that sort of honesty or kindness for granted again.

She made quick work of changing for the night and crawling into bed. Yet despite the comfort of her warm bed, Elizabeth lay awake and stared at the ceiling, too overcome with gratitude and hope for the future to fall asleep.