Chapter 24

Having finally fully crested the nearby hills the next morning, the sun shone brightly down on Rosings Park as a bluebird alighted on a budding tree branch. Hopping further up the branch, the bird's head twitched all around to gain a better view of the surrounding area. Seeing a slight movement in the grass, Darcy had to struggle to repress the bird's natural instincts to fly down and snatch whatever insect had caught his gaze. Nourishment of the body was not his purpose that morning; nourishment for a lovesick soul was. Not seeing the object of his desires, Darcy quickly took flight towards another path in the park.

As he had lain in bed the night before, he pondered over Fitzwilliam's words. How he had failed to come up with a similar solution himself escaped him. He had found himself thanking his cousin multiple times in his mind as he thought of the joy he would experience sharing in his love of nature with her. For the first time he felt truly grateful that he had shared part of his desires with Fitzwilliam. That gratefulness, though, had quickly turned to frustration with himself for not bothering to ask if his cousin knew more details of her daily habit. Therefore, unsure when Miss Elizabeth might begin her daily sojourn, Darcy had awoken before the sun had risen so that he would not miss the opportunity of seeing her. Hopeful that she would not venture out before dawn, he had no issue remaining outside for several hours awaiting her pleasure. The next task was to find her.

Desiring to appear as though coming upon her in the park was pure coincidence, he decided it would be best if he was not lying in wait near the parsonage as though a predator tracking its prey. So upon exiting Rosings, he made for the stables where he ordered his horse ready. In his impatience, he regretted not accomplishing the task himself, but knew that unlike at Pemberley, to do anything remotely related to a servants duties would bring his aunt's full ire raining down upon him, an outcome that could severely curtail any further chances at meeting with Miss Elizabeth. Once saddled and brought to him, Darcy decided to forgo his customary inspection and quickly mounted his horse. Sensing his own impatience, it did not take much convincing for the stallion to heed Darcy's commands and soon horse and rider were flying through the park.

After wandering the fields bordering the parsonage for three quarters of an hour without any luck, Darcy turned his mount back towards Rosings so that he might explore the many wooded paths nearby. It did not take long, however, for him to realize that to wander the paths on horseback would not be the most efficient way of searching for Miss Elizabeth. He quickly guided his horse to a secluded glen with a small spring and, whispering words of command in the ancient language, left his steed to graze quietly. As he left the glen, Darcy spotted a bluebird perched high in a nearby tree and, with a smile on his lips at his good fortune, quickly commandeered the bird's body and flew off in search of Miss Elizabeth. Within moments, he marveled at the thought that he had not waited at the parsonage after all! For he had no doubt she would not have noticed a small bird following her for a short time. But then he was grateful for the chance to exercise his horse as it had helped to relieve some of his nerves.

After a quarter of an hour, and several more attempts to quell the instinctive nature of the bird, Darcy finally caught a glimpse of color moving through the trees. As he flew closer, he was pleased to find Miss Elizabeth, bonnet in one hand, quietly humming to herself as she bent to smell a patch of wildflowers. Joy, hope and love all swelled in his breast as he realized the tune she hummed was the song of the wildflowers, their long stalks swaying in rhythm to her voice. Yet another reminder that although she had not been awakened, his Iliana was alive and well. Eager to join her, he quickly flew off down the path, just around a bend, where he released the bird letting his body reform. Suddenly full again of anxious nerves, he took a deep calming breath before striding back down the path to meet her.

The moment she was once again within his sights, he saw her straighten suddenly as she sensed his presence, her humming stopped, and she quickly replaced her bonnet. Disappointed that she felt the need to be so formal in his presence, Darcy quickly conjured up the mental image of her smelling the flowers so that he could face her with a pleasant visage of his own. He watched as she turned towards him, resolve written all over her face, only to have it replaced by astonishment at seeing his smile.

"Good morning, Miss Bennet!" he called with a slight wave of his hand. "What an unexpected pleasure to meet you here. I hope I find you well?"

"I thank you, yes, Mr. Darcy," she replied obviously flustered. "And what of yourself, sir? I hope your morning has been an agreeable one thus far?"

"Indeed it has, Miss Bennet. How could it not be among such beauty?"

He watched, pleased, as her astonishment grew and she unconsciously let her jaw drop open. He had worried at first uttering those words that he was perhaps overdoing it, but it had been such a natural reaction to her inquiry that he found himself quite pleased with her discomposure. He suddenly realized he must present Fitzwilliam with a bottle of his finest brandy, a mere token of his gratitude for suggesting he approach Miss Elizabeth outdoors amongst the nature he so loved. It had been many years, a first in this lifetime, since he had felt so at ease with her company to speak such flattery unrehearsed.

Lost as he was in his ruminations, Darcy failed to see her astonishment turn to mischief. "May I then assume that you have not yet met with your aunt or cousins this morning, sir? For surely, if you had, you would not be of a mind to so admire your surroundings." She quipped with a raised brow at his look of dismay.

Seeing as she wished to retaliate by discomposing himself, he decided it would be in his best interest to play along and not give in. "You are correct. I awoke before the rest of the household and made my grand escape to freedom!" Reveling in her laughter he continued. "Although, just because I do not always state my appreciation for my surroundings, it does not make the statement any less true amongst present company."

Whatever he had expected her reaction to his statement to be, it was not a frown as she looked away from him. "I would beg of you, Mr. Darcy, to not feel as though I was grasping for compliments. I am fully aware that I do not fit the ideals of the ton or that of an accomplished woman and must therefore be seen as wanting in your eyes."

Concern flooded him at her attitude. Worry that she might be hurt by his words almost overshadowed the comprehension that she instead felt anger. The resentment she must feel for his actions in the past, as well as the lies told her by both Wickham and the watcher, had so colored her opinion of him that she doubted his honest admiration. In an attempt to ease her mind, he placed a hand over his heart as he bowed to her while saying, "Miss Bennet, I spoke not in jest. I was sincere last November when I expressed deep regret for my unfortunate slight at the Meryton Assembly." Rising he looked into her eyes, and willed her to see past Fitzwilliam Darcy to glimpse the heart of Eavan instead. "Although our acquaintance has not always been on the best of terms – due to my own failings, not yours – I have always found great pleasure in your company. Your intelligence, quick wit, kindness, and beauty recommend you far above that of most ladies of my acquaintance. Although I know that we are no longer strangers, I still find myself ill qualified to recommend myself to you. Even so, I do not find you wanting."

As he continued to hold her gaze, he saw apprehension, distrust, and perhaps a glimmer of hope. Not wishing to let the moment go, yet also knowing that he should not continue in this vein if he wished to avoid magical interference, he hesitantly continued. "Come now, Miss Bennet. It is too fine a morning to dwell on the negative. I am a shy creature of habit and as such I know I have not given you cause to trust me in the past, but I pray you understand my words to be genuine. Now then, I know you find great delight in 'follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies', and I do believe I have just admitted my own guilt in these to you! Therefore I must give you leave to laugh at me as you see fit."

With a nervous chuckle she tore her eyes away. "Mr. Darcy, you astound me. I understood you to avoid those type of weaknesses. Indeed at Netherfield you had stressed quite vociferously your desire to do so. However, I thank you for your consideration, but must inform you that you have continued to choose your faults well; I still cannot laugh them. You remain safe from me."

"I find myself quite disappointed, Miss Bennet. Your joy brings me great pleasure!"

"Even if it is at the cost of your own vanity, sir?"

"Even then, madam! For what have I done to prove I do not deserve your poor opinion? No, Miss Bennet, I have much to atone for." Although the last was said partially in jest, Darcy was surprised to see her expression cloud over and the downturn of her lips. Probing the nearby woods with his magic, he could barely feel the power of the watcher; there was no interference happening at this time. Something about his last words had upset her, yet he could not determine what. Surely she had nothing to blame him for other than poorly conducted conversations. Unsure how to ease the tension between them without accidentally making things worse, he bowed and said, "Forgive me for having disturbed your morning. Perhaps I shall leave you to enjoy the path in solitude. Good morning, Miss Bennet."

As he turned to walk away, grateful for the brief moments they had been at ease with one another, he startled to hear her call out to him to wait. Glancing over his shoulder he saw her chewing on her lower lip and shifting uncomfortably upon her feet. With concern and contrition displayed on his face, he dared a look into her eyes. Her hazel eyes appeared misted over, as though with fog, with glimpses of emerald green underneath. It was a look he knew well as it was one he had seen in the past when sleeping memories barely pricked the surface of her conscious, a look of war between the heartfelt desires of Miss Elizabeth and Iliana. Tempering his hope so that it did not show, he felt the presence of the watcher increase. This time, however, instead of mischief, warning, or fear, the impression he gained was that of caution. Filing his curiosity at such a feeling away for later examination, he waited for her to continue.

"I believe, Mr. Darcy, that I must be the one to beg for your forgiveness. You sought absolution, and I provoked you further. I should not have rejected the offered olive branch." As she had spoken hesitatingly, Darcy watched as her eyes cleared showing no signs of green. The nervousness she felt was evident in the way she held herself despite the strength she strove to display by refusing to be the first to break their met gaze.

Taking a quick moment to consider the possibilities, he decided the best way to improve himself in her eyes would be to admit defeat in this unspoken contest of wills and attempt a return at their earlier ease. Bowing his head, he tore his eyes away from hers and spoke conspiratorially, "There is nothing to forgive unless you insist on continuing to emulate Mr. Collins in your speech."

Seeing the look of affront on her face, Darcy was unable to contain his amusement. His laughter, however, only served to increase her anger and he watched as her eyes sparked gold with indignation. Before she had a chance to respond, he held up a hand and forced a deep breath to calm himself. "I seem destined to be forever apologizing to you, Miss Bennet. However, as you seemed inclined to provoke me earlier, I found I could only repay the favor when I heard you utter the same phrase I have heard your cousin say multiple times in my short acquaintance with him."

About to retort, Miss Elizabeth suddenly clamped her mouth shut as her eyes lost their angry gold glint and opened wide in surprise. At a single glance into his own, he suddenly lost his composure again, and was pleased to hear her light laughter join in with his deep chuckle. Once they had finally calmed themselves again, she turned a raised eyebrow towards him. "I believe I have spent more time in my cousins' presence than I had thought. I had not realized I was using words that were not my own. I suppose I should be thanking you as you have shown me that I need to be more on guard around him to prevent his mannerisms from affecting my own. Perhaps ignoring the silliness of others is not always the wisest course of action as my father believes."

"Ah, but I believe it must at times be done to preserve one's sanity. Is that not true?"

"Mr. Darcy, I never knew you to possess such humor! Indeed you would shock all who know you if you continue in this vein."

"Do I shock you, Miss Bennet?" Darcy was pleased to see a touch of pink overcome her features. "I hope that this discovery does not make my company intolerable. I am a shy man, but those closest to me are aware that I have many sides I choose to hide from others. But I hope this is one aspect of my character that you approve of. I find I am in great need of practice if I do not wish to shock all of my acquaintance."

"I believe you shall do very well, sir."

A comfortable silence fell between the two as they both thought over that morning's interaction. The thought that perhaps his cousin deserved four bottles of brandy instead of just the one crossed his mind causing a smile to spread across his face. He saw out of the corner of his eye Miss Elizabeth studying his expression, but she quickly looked away with a blush when she noticed him watching her. Not wishing to discompose her further, and also realizing that the silence had continued on long enough, he once again addressed her.

"I believe I interrupted your morning walk Miss Bennet. Would you allow me the pleasure of accompanying you for the remainder of your stroll?"

"I…umm…I would be pleased to welcome your company, sir; that is if it does not hinder your own morning ramble."

"Indeed not! I discovered last night that I have not had enough enjoyment of the park as I normally do on my visits, and I would be delighted to share in it with you. Shall we?" Holding out his hand, he indicated that she should lead the way. He had wanted to offer her his arm, yet knew that she was still not comfortable enough in his presence to allow such closeness. Their meeting thus far had been touch and go, and he was hesitant to jeopardize any progress he had made.

Nodding her head, Miss Elizabeth turned to head in the same direction he had come from and he quickly fell in step with her. As they walked, neither made any attempt at conversation, and Darcy felt the tension start to rise again. Not desiring to lose what little comfort they had gained in each other's presence he decided to be the first to speak, and the safer the topic the better.

"Are you enjoying your visit at Hunsford?"

"I am, yes. It has been wonderful seeing Charlotte again. She and Mr. Collins have been most kind in their hospitality. As has Lady Catherine."

"Yes, Her Ladyship finds great pleasure in showing how magnanimous she can be."

"If I did not know better, Mr. Darcy, I would say that you were criticizing your aunt."

"Who is to say I was not?" he replied with an arched eyebrow to match her own. "Lady Catherine is strong-willed, yet does not always possess the needed finesse to put those around her at ease. I was greatly disturbed by her offering the pianoforte in Mrs. Jenkinson's rooms for your use. It was done in poor taste. Unlike your friend, you were born a gentlewoman and as such are deserving of more consideration than was shown you by my aunt."

"Are you suggesting that Charlotte is less worthy of respect than myself?" she seethed, eyes narrowed as she steadfastly gazed up the path.

"I would never dare imply such a thing. Mrs. Collins is a woman to be greatly admired. I found delight in her company when we first met in Meryton, and was happy to renew the acquaintance. Although I cannot respect her choice of husbands – as we discussed yesterday – I do respect her for her calmness of mind and temper as she strives to make a comfortable home for herself under the demanding thumb of my aunt. I merely wished to point out how unfortunate it is that my aunt should see you as nothing more than a poor relation of her parson rather than the gentlewoman you are. Mrs. Collins, unfortunately, will never be seen as anything more than a servant to Her Ladyship, a position I very much regret for her sake."

Darcy heard a soft oh beside him, and watched as she sorted through the emotions she felt at his impassioned speech. When it was obvious she had regained her equilibrium, she began to formulate a reply. "Although I too regret my friend's new position in life, I know her to be quite happy. She has forbidden me to feel sorry for her, and I feel I must extend the command to you, sir. She has a home of her own and shall not be a burden to her family; she wants for nothing more in life."

"And you, Miss Bennet? Would you be comfortable with such a life?"

As she pondered his question, Miss Elizabeth stopped and turned to consider him. He felt the watcher's presence increase and sent a magical tendril of thought out hoping to reassure both her and the watcher that he was simply trying to follow the natural course of the conversation. Although he desired to draw Iliana out of her sleep, he knew he could not do so purposefully and tried to impress the watcher with those thoughts. Almost as soon as the presence increased, it diminished into virtual nothingness, and he was able to turn his full attention back towards Miss Elizabeth as she began to reply.

"I could claim your question to be quite impertinent and refuse you an answer; however, I cannot deceive on this score. I could never be content with such a life. To have to answer to another who was not my husband would be insupportable if true affection did not exist."

Chuckling at her choice of words, he indicated that they once again continue walking. "Are you suggesting, madam, that if you had a marriage of love you could tolerate the interference of a person like my aunt?"

"You, sir, are twisting my words to suit your own purpose, whatever that may be."

"No, I am merely seeking clarification."

"Yes, I can see how you would interpret my answer in such a manner," she sighed. Reaching out, she brushed her hand across a patch of lavender along the path, her head tilted in thought. "I suppose I would be happy with any station in life, as long as I had more than just a comfortable home to call my own. Not all of us women are happy to settle down simply for convenience."

"I am pleased to hear that," he replied with a soft smile. "If the many set downs you have given me are any indication, I would greatly pity the man to whom you would be saddled to without affection. Such a lively nature as you possess deserves to be appreciated in all its glory."

Watching her blush as she glanced away from him, Darcy again decided to increase the bottles of brandy, this time by two. When Fitzwilliam had suggested this excursion, Darcy had had no idea how simple it would be to converse with Miss Elizabeth. He could not ever remember a time when he had been so forward with her, and it felt freeing. Deciding to carry on, he cleared his throat to draw her attention back towards him.

"Now that we have discussed affection and station in life, as well as my own impertinence, might I ask what you require to claim a home to be comfortable? Surely a house the size of the parsonage would be too small for your tastes. Perhaps Rosings would be the perfect house for you!"

Darcy delighted in her joyful laughter. He was grateful that she chose not to take offense at his personal questions and instead chose to answer in kind. "I actually find the parsonage to be quite quaint. But you are right, in a house so small, I should have no escape inside from bothersome family members when the weather is sour. As for Rosings, I would not dare imagine my humble self in a house so…imposing. My constantly dirty petticoats would ruin the very floors as my dear mother reminds me frequently."

"While that may be true, there is nothing quite as invigorating as a walk through nature. Would you not agree Miss Bennet?" not waiting for an answer he continued. "The delights of outdoor exercise far outweigh any consequences to be found in dirty linens and carpets. Plus there is the added benefit that with a house as grand as Rosings there would be plenty of servants to clean up a little dirt, and a closet full of petticoats if one should be ruined beyond repair."

With a bemused look, Miss Elizabeth looked up at him her eyes full of questions. "Having witnessed your interactions with the staff at Netherfield during my stay there, I am shocked to hear you refer to servants in such a manner. I had understood you to spare them more respect."

"Have you had a chance to view the gallery room here at Rosings? No? Perhaps Sir Lewis' old trophy room?"

"I have not had that pleasure," she responded, confused by the sudden change in topic. "Besides the entrance hall, dining room, and formal parlor, I have not been afforded a tour of the other rooms Rosings has to offer."

"I see," Darcy said as he contemplated his next words. "It is a shame that my aunt keeps such an impressive house yet refuses to share it with others. While the house is decorated far more ostentatiously than is tasteful, it would be a disappointment to never allow you the pleasure to view it. Although I dare say all your future visits to Kent will see you as a guest at the fine house rather than at the Parsonage. My aunt cannot keep the house from her own guests."

Confusion was etched all over her face as she stared at him her mouth agape. Her eyes showed the turmoil of emotions she wished to express as she instead firmly closed her mouth shut and looked away. Although it was brash, he had been unable to keep from expressing a hint of his desires to her. By implying that he believed her to be welcome to Rosings as though family in the future, he hoped that she would begin to sense his admiration for her. Sadly, her next words proved his hope to be disappointed.

"While I do appreciate the compliment, I fear I must correct you, Mr. Darcy. You yourself stated that Her Ladyship will never see me as anything more than a poor relation of her parson. Under such a circumstance I find it highly unlikely I shall ever be welcome to Rosings as nothing more than a guest for tea or dinner. Let me assure you though that such a thought does not give me much concern. I hope you will forgive me when I say that I am unsure I could stand being in constant company with Lady Catherine. My love of the ridiculous can only sustain me for so long before I break."

"And let me assure you that I take no offense, Miss Bennet. Her ladyship's company is very tiring even for those members of her family."

Nodding her head, Miss Elizabeth continued on walking, her head cocked slightly to the side as though deep in thought. "I am sorry to hear that, sir, for her own sake," she offered. "Although, I fail to see what my having seen of the great house has to do with our previous topic."

Chuckling, Darcy was pleased to see that although she failed to understand his implications, her wits had not failed her. "My aunt, as I am sure you have determined for yourself, is not a woman to be gainsaid. She keeps a harsh rule on all those in her employ. Although she does not allow the house to be on display for most of her guests, she insists on a level of cleanliness and decoration far beyond what is necessary. One would be hard pressed to find a speck of dust anywhere, yet it is never clean enough for her unattainable standards. Just the other day I came upon a young maid whose hands were raw from scrubbing a spotless floor in the ballroom which has not been used in at least fifteen years. After years of cleaning imagined dirt, I can most assuredly say that any number of my aunt's servants would be pleased for an excuse to clean up some visible dirt on occasion."

"Would you then have me purposefully create work for them, sir? That also seems a bit harsh and disrespectful if you ask me."

Unsure if she was serious in her statement or spoke in jest, Darcy turned his head to closely examine her expression. When she refused to glance his way, he decided the safest course would be to assume she was indeed serious. "I must agree with your sentiments. To do as you say would make us no better than Lady Catherine. However, in a house where there is respect between both servants and masters, to partake of such pursuits that brings one true pleasure could never be seen as disrespectful to the servants no matter the mess that is made."

Once again Miss Elizabeth paused and turned to face him, confusion evident on her face. "You continue to astound me, Mr. Darcy. You speak as though you have knowledge far beyond that as simply master of a large estate. I find it inconceivable that any servant would express such thoughts to their master, so I find myself at a loss as to how you could have developed such a conviction."

Holding his breath, Darcy pondered how he could truthfully address her statement without drawing interference from the watcher. He could easily tell her that he himself has experienced the life of a servant, that he knew what it is to be low-born, but to do so would bring unwanted attention and cause her to believe him to be mocking her. Choosing his words carefully, he spoke, "There is much one can gain from simple observation. As a master with many in my employ, I have found that taking the time to get to know those under me and observing them when they think they are unnoticed has led to many important insights. Why should I condemn and treat those in my employ without respect simply because of a chance of birth?"

Darcy watched as her eyebrows furrowed in confused thought before she turned and began walking once more without saying a word. Unsure as to her feelings after such an intimate discussion, he was content to simply walk by her side in silence. They continued in this way for some time until the parsonage became visible through a break in the trees. It was then that she paused once more to address him.

"I thank you, Mr. Darcy, for your company and conversation this morning. You have given me much to ponder."

Hearing her words as the dismissal she surely intended, Darcy touched his hat as he bowed low, trying to hide his disappointment that their time together was at an end. "It was my pleasure, Miss Bennet. I must express my own gratitude for your company as well. It was a most pleasant surprise to meet you in the park. I can only hope I have similar luck in the future."

Pleased he saw a light blush touch her already brightened cheeks. Although he expected her to walk away from him then, she spoke once more. "I am not sure I could call it luck, sir. That path is my particular favorite. If you have been exploring the many paths of the park, you were bound to cross paths with me eventually. But I thank you anyway for the compliment. Good day, Mr. Darcy." With a slight curtsey, she quickly turned her back on him and rushed towards the parsonage. Unable to tear his eyes away from her retreating figure, he continued to watch her until she entered the garden gate before turning to retrieve his horse.

As he walked, he was unable to keep a smile from his face. He was determined to dispatch a message to his townhouse with instructions to send eight bottles of his finest brandy to Fitzwilliam the moment he reached his room. The time he had spent with Miss Elizabeth could not have gone better. As he replayed their conversation in his mind, he prided himself on managing to woo her without drawing the interference of the watcher. He felt her pleasure in the morning was evidenced by her inviting him to join her again. Why else would she have told him that the path was her favorite? Yes, Darcy thought, the morning spent with his Ellette had been an enormous success.

.

.

.

Unable to keep her mind on the letter in her hand, Elizabeth sighed as she continued along the path. Jane's missive was full of time enjoyed with their aunt and uncle and stories of the many antics of their young cousins. She also asked many questions about her visit with Charlotte and most especially about her meetings with Mr. Darcy. It was the last that gave Elizabeth the greatest pause for the mere thought of the man left her feeling at odds with herself.

It had been several days since that first encounter in the park, and she had been in his company often since then. He and the Colonel called upon the ladies of the parsonage every day. At times they came together, others separate. Then there was the previous day's visit where they were accompanied by Lady Catherine herself. With each visit, she had felt uncomfortable in his presence; much like his previous visits to the parsonage, Mr. Darcy spoke little. It had been so different from their walks in the park together.

Yes, walks, she reminded herself. After that first day, she had unexpectedly met him twice more in the following days. Unlike when he called upon the Parsonage, she felt a nervous excitement instead of discomfort. He spoke more than she had ever previously recalled and their conversations always bordered on too personal. The questions he asked and topics he introduced could easily be deemed as improper, yet she found herself unable to keep from answering and speaking in kind. Then there was his teasing.

During their three morning walks together, she sensed that he was a completely different man, and she feared her warming regards towards him. Both Jane and Charlotte referred to him with the highest of praise, yet, against the wishes of her heart, Elizabeth found she could not quite let go of her initial dislike of the man. There was a mystery about him that she could not figure out, one she both yearned and feared to solve.

Sighing once more, Elizabeth stopped at the patch of wildflowers she had been admiring that first morning he encountered her. As she bent to enjoy their intoxicating scent, her mind wandered to their last private conversation.

"Tell me, Mr. Darcy," she had said, "do you believe in magic?"

She had watched as shock briefly registered on his face before he quickly rearranged his features to appear as though disinterested in the proposed subject. "Magic, Miss Bennet? I am afraid I have not the pleasure of understanding you."

"Come now, sir. Surely you read stories as a young boy of fairies, elves, and wizards? I believe I once heard you quote Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Do you believe such creatures to exist or are they purely the product of man's imagination?"

Hoping that he could give her further cause to believe she had dreamed those moments when time seemed to stand still, she was both pleased and disturbed to see him shift uncomfortably as he formulated an answer. "I will admit that when younger I found much delight in those stories, yet I have rarely indulged in such fancy in recent years."

Something about the way his eyes darted around as he had spoken gave her some cause for concern, as though he was trying to skirt around the truth. Determined to get a straight answer out of him, she pressed on. "I am sad to hear that, as those are often the best stories. To imagine such worlds of wonder, it would truly be remarkable would it not?" She glanced up at him and saw that his posture was quite rigid and he refused to look at her. Despite her growing nervousness, she pressed on. "But you have yet to answer my question, Mr. Darcy. Do you believe that magic exists in our world?"

"Pray, what propels you to inquire such a thing, madam?" he had said with a slight bit of edge to his voice.

Pushing aside her distress at his tone, she had anxiously sought an answer. Remembering the last dream she had, she gratefully expressed what she had hoped was sound reasoning. "I cannot help but notice your preoccupation with Lady Catherine's chair every time we visit Rosings. While I must admit that it is quite an impressive chair, I also find several of the carvings to be quite scandalous that lead me to be quite disgusted and disturbed by it. Yet I constantly find your attention drawn to it. I was simply curious if it is due to an admiration for the unparalleled craftsmanship of it or something else entirely."

As she had spoken, she watched as his shoulders relaxed in relief, the action causing her even more confusion. He calmly replied that whether or not magic did indeed exist in their world, he was certain that all tales told began with some sort of truth. Whether or not that truth involved magic, he had refused to speculate on. He had also reassured her that he greatly disliked his aunt's chair and would be more than happy to see it burned.

It was shortly after this conversation that he had excused himself and left her to return to the house. On both their previous walks, he had refused to part with her until they were within view of the Parsonage leading her to wonder if her questions had touched too closely on the truth. The idea had left her feeling quite disturbed ever since.

Straightening up, she shoved the memories aside as she repeated once more to herself that she was simply looking farther into the matter than it deserved. Surely she had imagined his own discomfort and had misunderstood his reactions. There was no reason the staid Mr. Darcy could truly believe in magic; was there? No matter how many times she replayed the conversation in her head, Elizabeth found she could not find the answers she sought.

Determined to put Mr. Darcy from her mind once more, Elizabeth reopened the letter from Jane. Rereading it for the umpteenth time, she sought for any hidden message or meaning that would allow her to believe her elder sister was not still suffering the loss of Mr. Bingley. Yet just as had happened with each previous reading, she found herself distracted by Jane's mention of Mr. Darcy. Would she never rid herself of the man? Her head whispered yes, but her heart screamed no.

At that moment, she was halted by the sound of a man calling her name. Quickly refolding her letter and stashing it in her pocket, she turned and was relieved – or was that disappointment? – to see Colonel Fitzwilliam walking her way instead of Mr. Darcy. Although she had found his company enjoyable in the past, she knew she was in no mood to be as jolly as he always was. To top it off, he had recently taken it upon himself to champion his cousin whenever he had been in company with her of late, much to her confusion, and she was in no mood to further reflect upon Mr. Darcy and her confusing emotions towards him. Nevertheless, there was no avoiding the Colonel now.

Forcing a smile upon her face, she greeted him. "I did not know that you ever walked this way."

Unlike her smile, his was genuine as he reached her and replied in a warm manner. "I have been making the tour of the park as I generally do every year, and intend to close it with a call at the Parsonage. Are you going much farther?"

"No," she replied, "I should have turned in a moment."

And accordingly she did turn, and they walked towards the Parsonage together.

AN: Hello again everyone! First off, I want to thank all of you for your kind messages and congratulations! It's been a thrill finally having the time, drive, and desire (not to mention mental capacity) to write again and work on finishing this story that I love! Although this chapter had been fully written before posting the last one, I found myself needing to rewrite pretty much the entire thing. I wasn't happy with the way I originally had ODC's conversation go; this one is much better and flows more naturally, at least it does in my opinion! haha!

Now I know I have been horrible about personally responding to reviews, something I really need to work on, but I wish to address a common request/suggestion/complaint I saw many of you express, and I hope it doesn't SPOIL anything for you.

Possible Spoilers Ahead! Continue at your own risk but I state nothing obvious! If you choose to stop reading here, Happy Reading! :)

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From the moment I conceived this story, I knew I wanted it to be closer to a retelling of the original with the fantasy mixed in rather than a true variation. I understand many of you feel I am moving the story along too slowly, however, the manner and means I wish to tell Eavan and Iliana's original story needs to coincide with certain aspects of the original and I had no desire to clump it all close together which is why there are usually two or three chapters in between. I also wished to delve deeper into Darcy's feelings and understandings, and show more of his personal struggles to win Elizabeth's love. Lastly as I have previously stated, before I had even begun writing, when I was still in the early process of organizing my plot, I knew exactly when I wanted Elizabeth to regain her memories. Although so many other plot points have changed while writing from what I had originally envisioned, this plot point remains unchanged. The chapter is mostly written, and will happen when it happens and nothing will make it happen sooner. No one, and I mean no one (believe me my mom has bugged and pressured me about it often enough) knows when it will happen as I have not told a single soul. When it does happen, I hope you all feel that it was worth the wait.

Now I hope that addresses and answers some of the questions that have been asked. And although I cannot make any promises (life in our part of the world has been completely thrown into the crazy unknown this past month and a half thanks to dear Mother Nature. No worries though, my family and I are all safe and doing well!) I am hoping to post the next chapter or two within a month. I will not post though until both chapters are completely written to my satisfaction. So with that,

Until next time
Happy Reading!
Allahteeah