A Most Civil Proposal by C.P. Odom Page A

breakfast, she told Charlotte of her intent to indulge herself in air and exercise, and though Charlotte raised her eyebrows, she said nothing. As soon as Elizabeth exited the Parsonage, she could not help being cheered by the fresh air and sunshine, but all too soon, she caught a glimpse of a gentleman standing in the distance. Mr. Darcy stepped forward with eagerness as soon as he saw her, and shortly they met.
    “Good morning, Miss Bennet,” he said with a bow as she curtseyed in response. “It was good of you to come.” Darcy could easily discern her agitation, but agitated or not, his heart swelled at the sight of her. He was distressed by the dark circles under her eyes though he knew his own eyes were red from lack of sleep.
    “Good morning, Mr. Darcy.” Her voice was so soft as to be almost inaudible. “I have come as I agreed last night, sir, though little do I know what you wish to gain by it.”
    “Perhaps you would care to simply walk for the moment? It is a lovely morning.”
    “As you please, sir.”
    Darcy did not offer his arm since he was uncertain whether it would be accepted, and they began to walk at a steady pace that gradually had an effect. Soon, despite her worry, Elizabeth’s spirits began to rise. Part of it was the joy of walking one of her favourite paths in the Park, but another part was due to the completely different light in which she viewed her companion. On their previous walks when he had intercepted her, their time together had been marked by uncertainty and tenseness where each had been unaware of the true nature of the other’s feelings. On this morning, at least, that was no longer the case. The intensity of the previous evening had dispelled those misconceptions.
    They proceeded in cordial silence for upwards of fifteen minutes, and it was Darcy who first spoke.
    “Miss Bennet, I informed Colonel Fitzwilliam that you might make enquiries of him regarding my association with George Wickham. He will accompany me when we call to take our leave later this afternoon and will make himself available to you if you have any questions yet to ask.”
    Elizabeth flushed slightly. “Truly, sir, I have no questions for the colonel. Once you forced me to open my eyes, I soon remembered any number of ways in which Mr. Wickham rather effortlessly convinced me to deceive myself.” She looked down at the ground, suddenly angry that tears were again threatening to flow, and she needed several moments before she could again speak. Her voice was low, and Darcy was unable to see her eyes behind her bonnet. “I must apologize, sir, for the harshness of my accusations last evening regarding Mr. Wickham and for my own prejudice which previously prevented me from seeing what was most clearly apparent to me last night.”
    “Do not distress yourself on that account,” Darcy said. “George Wickham has a talent for deception that is most dangerous to those who, like yourself and my sister, do not tend to the kind of suspicion that is likely to perceive his true nature. He has deceived, I am sure, countless others as a matter of course. I would wager that he has amassed a sizable string of creditors in Meryton already. It has been so everywhere he goes.”
    Elizabeth did not say anything to this, and they walked on for several minutes more before Darcy spoke again. “I had much to think on last night as well, and there is one topic especially on which I dwelt with considerable discomfort. That is the affair of your sister and my friend.”
    Darcy looked over at her, but he still could not see her face or judge the impact of his words on her. “I do not seek your sympathy, Miss Bennet, when I tell you that I felt extremely disheartened last evening. It is only the simple truth and is, I hope, easily understandable. But in the midst of my own disappointments, I also came to realize that your sister and very possibly my friend might, at that same instant, be feeling similar emotions. It was a thought