Page 11 of Mr. Darcy's Storm of Temptation

"Our acquaintance is of longer standing than you know," Mr. Darcy interjected quietly. "I have admired, loved, Miss Elizabeth since last autumn. And I proposed to her once before."

This produced another stunned silence. Georgiana, who had just entered the room, stopped dead in the doorway.

"Brother?" she said faintly. "You are engaged? To Miss Elizabeth?"

"Yes, dearest," Mr. Darcy said gently, though Elizabeth could see his jaw was tight with tension.

"But I did not even know you were acquainted beyond... When? How?" Georgiana looked between them with such confusion that Elizabeth's heart ached.

"Perhaps we should all sit," Mrs. Gardiner suggested faintly. "This appears to be a rather more complex situation than we realized."

Once seated, with tea poured, though Elizabeth noticed her aunt's hands shook as she poured, the interrogation began in earnest.

"You proposed before?" Mrs. Gardiner asked carefully. "When was this?"

"At Hunsford, in April," Elizabeth admitted, her cheeks burning. "When I was visiting Charlotte Collins."

"And you refused him," her aunt said. It was not a question. She knew Elizabeth too well.

"I misunderstood his character. I believed lies that had been told about him. And his manner of proposing was not ideal. We both made mistakes."

"Yet here we are," Mr. Darcy said, his voice rough. "By some miracle, she has forgiven my former pride and arrogance."

"And in three days, you have overcome whatever objections caused you to refuse him?" Mr. Gardiner's tone was skeptical. "Lizzy, this is not like you. You have always been so sensible, so careful in your judgments."

"I was not sensible in my judgment of Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said firmly. "I was prejudiced and blind. But after I refused him, I began to reconsider. I realized how much of my dislike stemmed from wounded pride and false information. These days at Pemberley have merely confirmed what my heart has been trying to tell me: I love him."

"You love him?" Georgiana asked in a small voice.

"Completely," Elizabeth said without hesitation, squeezing Mr. Darcy's hand. "I have been falling in love with him since April, perhaps even before. I was simply too stubborn to admit it."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the breakfast table. Finally, Mrs. Gardiner sighed.

"Well, my dear, this is certainly unexpected. You will need your father's consent, of course. Mr. Bennet must be informed immediately upon our return to Longbourn." She looked between them with concern. "I do hope you both understand the necessity of his approval before any formal announcement can be made."

"Of course," Mr. Darcy said immediately. "I intend to speak with Mr. Bennet the moment we arrive. I would never presume to proceed without his blessing."

"And if he refuses?" Mr. Gardiner asked carefully. "Forgive me, Mr. Darcy, but Mr. Bennet has rather particular opinions, and he may not be easily persuaded of such a sudden attachment."

Elizabeth felt Mr. Darcy tense beside her. "Then I shall endeavor to prove myself worthy of his trust," he said. "I hope that in time, both he and you will see that my feelings for Miss Elizabeth are sincere and unchanging."

"Papa will not refuse," Elizabeth said with more confidence than she felt. "When he sees how happy Mr. Darcy makes me, when he understands the truth of our feelings, he will give his consent."

Mrs. Gardiner studied them both carefully. "I certainly hope so, my dear. Mr. Darcy, I hope you understand our concern stems only from love for Elizabeth."

"I understand completely," he said. "I would think less of you if you did not question this. I only hope that in time, I can prove worthy of her and of your good opinion."

After breakfast, Mrs. Gardiner contrived to get Elizabeth alone in the morning room, closing the door firmly behind them.

"Now," she said without preamble, "tell me the truth. What has really happened here?"

Elizabeth sank into a chair, knowing she owed her aunt honesty. "Everything I said is true, Aunt. Mr. Darcy proposed at Hunsford very badly. He insulted my family, spoke of the degradation ofconnecting himself to us. I refused him angrily, accused him of ruining Mr. Wickham and separating Jane from Mr. Bingley."

"Mr. Wickham? That charming militia officer?"

"Who is actually a scoundrel and a liar," Elizabeth said firmly. "After I refused Mr. Darcy, I had time to reflect. I observed how Mr. Wickham's stories never quite aligned, how he spoke so freely of private matters to strangers. And I realized Mr. Darcy, whatever his faults in manner, had never shown himself to be dishonorable. I began to see how badly I had misjudged both men."

"And this reflection made you fall in love with him?"