As Elizabeth entered Pemberley’s dining room on Darcy’s arm, she caught her breath with delight upon seeing the room’s elegance and beauty. It was clearly the work of a tasteful and practiced eye, well versed in such matters, and the impression of grandeur one received upon first sight of it was much like the one Elizabeth had experienced when she first beheld Pemberley itself from the edge of the wood. Smiling warmly, she admitted as much to Darcy.

“I must confess myself thoroughly enchanted by Pemberley, sir. How happy you and your sister must be here!”

Darcy smiled in thoughtful amusement. “Enchanted, Miss Bennet? Your words would credit Pemberley for being the mere product of a child’s fancy!”

“And so it is indeed, sir! I feel quite as if I had found my way into my own girlish dreams, full of fairy stories and fantastical myths as they were.”

“If it be a dream, madam, tis you who has done the enchanting.”

Elizabeth laughed merrily. “Now you tease my vanity and my silliness, Mr. Darcy! For shame, sir, it is most ungenerous of you.”

But instead of the smile and the acknowledgment of guilt she expected, her remark was returned with a look of sincerity and the words, “To be sure, madam, I was in earnest.”

Elizabeth felt a blush rise to her cheek and looked away modestly, uncomfortable with the extent to which his compliments pleased her. But they soon joined Miss Darcy and the Gardiners at the dining table, as so she was spared the awkwardness of a reply. Seated next to Georgiana Darcy, who was eager to please and to be pleased, Elizabeth found quickly that she did not have much trouble in forgetting her momentary embarrassment, or in recovering her good spirits.

“How lovely you are this evening, Miss Darcy. Quite an angel. That is how your good brother first described you to me, you know, and now I can see that he by no means exaggerated. But I hope you shall linger with we mortals a while, and give us the pleasure of your good company.”

Miss Darcy colored a little at being so praised, but smiled broadly all the same. “I see I am the victim of your witticisms, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I see I must admit to a little teasing, but you must believe that my motives are pure. And it seems I cannot help myself.”

As she was being seated by her husband, Mrs. Gardiner caught the last portion of this comment and inquired of her niece, “Cannot help what, Lizzy?”

Elizabeth turned and smilingly addressed her aunt. “I was speaking to Miss Darcy of my bad habit of teasing whenever I get the chance of it. You yourself might attest to the truth of my observations, Aunt.”

“Indeed she may, Lizzy, and I as well!” exclaimed Mr. Gardiner in good humor. “I think you’ll find, sir,” he continued, addressing Mr. Darcy, “if you have not already, that this young lady has the quickest tongue and the sharpest wit you’ll find anywhere. But she has the good fortune to be wiser than most, and usually knows when to hold her peace.”

At this, Elizabeth laughed. “You must not listen to my uncle, Mr. Darcy, for he praises me too highly, and I am therefore called upon to defend myself. Though I’ll own a small share of wit, a gift from my good father, it is far overshadowed by my hasty judgement, quick temper, and determination to laugh at the inconsistencies of others. Being clever is no excuse for being conceited, and he who is both is generally more disposed toward the latter than he is the former.”

Darcy’s smile from his place at the head of the table was one of amusement when she had finished her comment, and throwing a conspiring glance at the lady’s uncle, he replied, “Miss Bennet, you astonish me. It seems that in declaring your own flaws, you can do not but unconsciously prove your own wisdom, and as you have now so keenly observed, genuine wisdom rarely compliments vanity. I think we must then conclude that you are either very conceited or very clever, and I could tell you now which view I am inclined to favor.”

Elizabeth hardly knew how to respond. Upon seeing this, Mr. Gardiner laughed heartily. “It seems that you have met your match, dearest Lizzy! How I should love to watch the two of you philosophize!”

Darcy smiled. “I see that I owe Miss Bennet an apology. I was, perhaps, too hard.”

“Hard, Mr. Darcy?” asked Elizabeth, whose playful smile had returned. “By dismissing my faults and elaborating on my merits you declare yourself too hard? Oh to be sure, sir, you are exceedingly cruel.”

The conversation continued in much the same light-hearted vein, and Elizabeth had the pleasure of seeing her aunt and uncle rise in Mr. Darcy’s esteem as he did in theirs. She could not help but think as she watched him converse with her relations how easy and natural they looked in conversation, and admired him even more now for having witnessed his open generosity and hospitality. But deciding it best to leave her aunt and uncle to form a better acquaintance with their host on their own, Elizabeth turned to Miss Darcy, who, though still a trifle shy, was willing to conquer the feeling, and Elizabeth was more than happy to assist her.

Darcy watched with pleasure as Miss Bennet and his sister conversed. Not since Ramsgate had Georgiana smiled so often or looked so genuinely happy, and the relief for her anxious brother was enough for him to consider sweeping Miss Bennet unceremoniously up into his arms and kissing her full on that lovely, laughing mouth of hers. Indeed, he might even be tempted to do so with no further motivation than that which her many merits already afforded. . .

She was divinely pretty this evening, far more so than he had guessed she might be. It seemed to him as if Miss Elizabeth Bennet was entirely composed of one surprise after another, and Darcy was certainly eager to discover the next. Her musical laughter rippled from the other side of the table, and Darcy smiled to himself. It had been too long since this hall had been a witness to laughter, and Darcy had the strangest feeling that Miss Bennet’s had almost claimed it for its own. He felt a sudden and surprisingly strong wish to hear her laughter grace this hall on many future occasions, and indeed to hear it anywhere else.

But Darcy’s thoughts were soon broken by Mrs. Gardiner’s amiable voice addressing him. “Your grounds here are surely the loveliest I have been privileged to view, Mr. Darcy. The wood, the stream, the gardens, and certainly the house are all exquisite delights. I’m sure you must be quite proud of them indeed.”

Darcy smiled affably, pleased to have Pemberley so complimented. “You are very kind, madam. I am excessively proud of the grounds here, and of Pemberley House.”

“Your family, I think, has held the estate for many years?”

“Yes, madam. The property has been in my family for generations. Derbyshire, it seems, has always suited the Darcys, and I do not think anyone might blame them for that. We may have defects, Mrs. Gardiner, but we flatter ourselves that taste in landscape is not one of them.”

Elizabeth’s aunt smiled. “I find I can not but heartily agree with you, sir, especially as I myself spent half my life blessed with residence in Lambton.”

Darcy smiled at this news. “Indeed, madam? Now that I think of it, your niece has mentioned as much to me. It is a delightful village. I remember running between it and Pemberley every day of the horse chestnut season as a boy.”

Mrs. Gardiner smiled in fond remembrance. “I too can recall similar outings in my girlhood. Yes, Lambton is certainly a very dear place. Are you at all familiar with the village now, Mr. Darcy?”

“I am often there to meet with tenants and to see to other matters of business.”

“Does Pemberley support may tenants, Mr. Darcy?” inquired Mr. Gardiner, pulled from the conversation he had been carrying on with Elizabeth at the mention of business.

“It does indeed, sir, and I am happy to say it does so quite well.”

“To be sure,” asserted Mrs. Gardiner, smiling brightly, “with such beautiful surroundings as these to live in, I doubt that anyone could be but perfectly happy. We must thank you again, sir, for your generous hospitality in welcoming us here. We did not expect such a compliment.”

“It is my pleasure to receive you, madam.” Then Darcy smiled and threw a sideways glance at Elizabeth. “I must confess, however, that my motives are not entirely selfless ones.”

Mr. Gardiner’s eye brows raised and a look of quizzical amusement lit his good natured face. “Indeed, sir? What other motivation could you have entertained, if I may be so bold to inquire?”

Darcy’s smile grew, and rather than answering at once he turned to Elizabeth, who had paused in her talk with Miss Darcy when she had caught the latter’s brother sending a look in her direction. “Miss Bennet, shall you tell the tale of my curiosity concerning this good lady and gentleman, or shall I?”

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were surprised to see their niece laugh merrily in response to the inquiry. “What?” she exclaimed presently. “You wish me to expose your ungraciousness, sir, and to tell my good aunt and uncle of your unchivalrous failure to place any faith in the honest word of a lady?”

Darcy smiled back archly. “I had thought, madam, that the theme of this evening was to expose one’s own faults to the company, as you yourself have set so admirable an example.”

Elizabeth’s laughter rang again. “In that case, Mr. Darcy, you had best confess your shortcomings yourself, instead of leaving the business to me!”

From her place next to Elizabeth, Miss Darcy worked up the courage to turn a teasing smile on her brother and to prompt, “Oh yes, Fitzwilliam, the duty clearly falls to you to confess!”

Mrs. Gardiner added her voice to the argument. “Please, Mr. Darcy, you have quite peaked our curiosity.”

Mr. Gardiner began to chuckle and turned a laughing glance at the other gentleman. “It seems the ladies are unanimous, sir, and I’m afraid there is no escaping them now! It is never wise to cross a woman, and pure foolishness to upset three!”

“I see I am beaten. Really, it is no great matter, only a small difference of opinion between Miss Bennet and myself, before the matter was settled this evening, that is. You see, and you must forgive me, sir, and madam, but I had rather come to doubt your existence, largely owing to the fact that Miss Bennet and I have had a curious habit these past few days of meeting when you are both absent from her company. It is the strangest phenomena, I assure you, and I know not how it came about, but after a third such meeting, Miss Bennet and I could not help but find it comic, and twas then I declared to her that I was beginning to wonder whether she had invented her mysterious relatives after all.”

Mr. Gardiner jovial chuckle stayed further comment. “That is admirable, sir, truly admirable. I think it quite a good joke at our Lizzy’s expense, don’t you agree, my dear?”

Mrs. Gardiner smiled at her niece with amused sympathy but sided with her husband. “Yes, indeed. Poor Elizabeth.”

“You see how wicked he is,” declared that lady, throwing a look of mock reproach at her adversary. “Perhaps I was too hasty, sir, when I acquitted you earlier of hardness.”

Darcy merely smiled at her. “It is for you to say, madam.”

“Is it indeed? But I simply cannot have it so, Mr. Darcy! First you refuse to credit my word as truth, and now you do not even have the goodness to argue with me on the matter! Fie, sir, your chivalry fails you again!”

Darcy laughed. “Miss Bennet, if arguing suited your fancy, I’m sure I could happily argue with you all day long, til we were both thoroughly irritated with one another and determined never to speak to each other again. There, have I proved myself noble and a gentleman in your eyes once more?”

Elizabeth seemed momentarily appeased. “Perhaps. But I shall expect a great many disagreements and clashes of wit between us before I am completely satisfied with your good character.”

A small smile crept at the corners of Darcy’s lips. “I’m afraid I can never agree to that, madam.”

Elizabeth was silent a moment, returning his teasing looks with stubborn amusement, but soon she could not help but way to her laughter, and its buoyant, merry tones echoed once more across the hall.

Later that evening, when the Gardiners and Elizabeth had returned to the inn after receiving the delightful hospitality of the Darcys at Pemberley, and after Elizabeth had bid her aunt and uncle a fond goodnight, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner sat up in their rooms, discussing the events of the day, as was their custom, before retiring to bed. Theirs had always been a quiet, happy marriage, and the great confidence between them was the work of several years’ time and devotion.

Mr. Gardiner, sliding his tired feet into a pair of bedroom slippers, smiled at his wife in the glass as she sat before the dressing table, and swallowed the last of the port he had permitted himself upon returning to the inn. The warmth of the liquid inclined him to good humor, and he remarked jestingly to his wife, “well, well, my love, I very much think that, should these romantic sighs and this love-struck gazing on the part of our Lizzy and the fine Mr. Darcy continue, before long I shall have to act in place of my dear brother-in-law and give them my consent! Yes, my dear, I am very glad that I am disposed to think so highly of him, else I should not quite know what to make of the matter!”

Mrs. Gardiner turned from the mirror to face her husband with a chiding smile. “My dear Edward, you know perfectly well that Lizzy would never grieve her family by attaching herself to a gentleman who was in anyway unsuitable or disagreeable. But we must be careful not to assume too much. Elizabeth has not said a word on the matter, and it would be unfair to make lofty predictions based on mere assumptions.”

Mr. Gardiner laughed. “Oh, she has not said anything, my dear, but her looks, and his too, I daresay, are more than enough to give the game away. Indeed, I will be exceedingly surprised if they do not beg to be married in Lambton Church before we return to Hertfordshire!”

At this, his wife could not help but laugh a little. “You are very teasing and ungracious, my dear.”

Mr. Gardiner feigned astonishment. “Am I teasing for wishing my own niece to have her heart’s most treasured hope? Ungracious to be desirous of encouraging that which is so obviously a love match as well as highly advantageous in terms of more practical, less exalted standards? For shame, madam! I suppose you think I am a true beast where you yourself are concerned.”

She laughed again at this and stood to meet him in the center of the room. “A beast indeed!” she declared, straightening the collar of his dressing gown. “But I flatter myself in the thought that I have tamed you.”

Her husband smiled and placed an affectionate kiss on her hand. “And I assure you, dear lady, there is no sweeter captivity.”

She smiled at him again, then returned to the dressing table to see to her hair. After a few moments of companionable silence in which the nightly ritual of preparing for bed was preformed, Mrs. Gardiner spoke again.

“Edward?”

“Yes, my dear?”

“Do you really think Elizabeth is in love with him?”

Mr. Gardiner smiled at having peaked her curiosity despite her protestations. “I think it quite possible, Madeline. You saw them together this evening– the banter across the dining room table and the looks that passed between them in the music room were rather explicit.”

“But after so short and informal an acquaintance, only four days. . .”

Mr. Gardiner laughed. “Do you remember, my love, how soon after we had met that I descended upon your father and begged him for your hand?”

Mrs. Gardiner smiled a little and colored ever so slightly. “That was some time ago, my dear. . .”

“Surely not! I flatter myself it was not so long ago. People do not have such different ideas now as we had then. If the young people are eager to have each other, then by all means let them have each other. We need not fear an impediment or bother with the lengthy, drawn out ordeals which typically pass for engagements now ‘a days.”

“But we know so little of him.”

“Yes, I suppose that’s true, but perhaps we know more than we think. He is of an esteemed and honorable family, clearly adored by his sister, with whose care he is charged, and as we have seen first hand this evening, is hospitable, genteel, and friendly with those his social station does not even require he so much as notice. And when you consider it, my love, the mere fact that he seems to fancy our Lizzy speaks for his good taste. A few more meetings and I will be completely satisfied with his good character. Besides, Lizzy, whether she is in love with the gentleman or not, is disposed to think very well of him indeed, and I trust her sound judgement. You see, dearest, we have nothing to be anxious for, except, perhaps, my good sister’s shrieks of delight when she hears her second daughter is to marry a man of easily ten thousand a year!”

Mrs. Gardiner smiled. “You make it sound very simple, Edward.”

“Isn’t it?”

“I cannot say. Still, I think it wisest to do our best not to interfere, either to aid or hinder. It is best to let things run their natural course, and develop a more informed opinion when we have seen more of the matter. Perhaps Elizabeth will even take us into her confidence.”

“In that case, I think you would prove the better confidante, my love. I do not pretend to understand the workings of a young girl’s heart, even one so logical as Lizzy’s, and I would be a fool to attempt offering it wise counsel!”

“Very well then, leave it to me. But now I am tired, and wish to retire. Turn out that lamp, Edward, will you?”

This done, the Gardiners slipped into bed, and after offering up a prayer for the health and happiness of their children as well as one of thanks, set their minds on the business of falling asleep.

But just as Mrs. Gardiner was feeling her eyelids become heavy, she was recalled to alertness by her husband’s voice breaking the silence which had settled over the room in the dark. “In any case, one thing, my dear Madeline, is certain.”

Her voice came drowsily and a little annoyed. “What is that, Edward?”

“Should Elizabeth marry this fellow, I shall have to procure a better tackle and line. It would be a shame to waste so good an opportunity for fishing as Pemberley affords, and I am determined that we visit Mr. and Mrs. Darcy in their wedded bliss as often as may be.”