Closed RP: Taking the Air

[fw_darcy]

Mr. Darcy departed the Ravenclaw common room to give Dom de Winter some space, and opted to head outward to the castle proper rather than inward to his room.

He left the castle, book in hand, to explore the grounds in search of a quiet spot to read.

Comments

[fine_eyes_lizzy]

The day was fine, and Lizzy had decided upon a walk. What she had seen of the Hogwarts grounds had pleased her enormously, and she always delighted in exploring nature.

Her pleasant musings on the flora of Hogwarts were interrupted, however, as Elizabeth spotted Mr. Darcy.

She blanched slightly, as the last time she'd seen Mr. Darcy, she had slapped him, and turned quickly to leave before he could spot her.

[fw_darcy]

"Miss Bennet!" Darcy called in the same moment he caught sight of her, then cringed at the impulse. Given how they had left things when last they spoke, what could he possibly find to say to her?

[fine_eyes_lizzy]

She had been hoping to avoid this.

Lizzy turned and curtsied. "Mr. Darcy." After an awkward pause, she added, "I trust you are well?"

[fw_darcy]

Darcy bowed stiffly.

"I am, madam. Quite. Quite well. And - and yourself?"

[fine_eyes_lizzy]

((Re-thread to avoid small boxes))

Elizabeth could not adequately express her complete astonishment. She tried to laugh off her feelings, but could not even manage a smile.

In spite of her deeply-rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a man's affection, and though her intentions did not vary for an instant, she was very sorry for the pain he was about to receive. She knew of no other way to react to such a startling admission to a man she struggled to be civil to than her chosen course of action.

However, Lizzy found it hard to speak. "Mr. Darcy, I... I had.. you must forgive me. This comes as a complete surprise...." She regained some measure of composure, however, and managed, "I could not be more astonished, sir. I am... I am sorry to have caused such agony on your part. It was most unconsciously done."

[fw_darcy]

Darcy nodded gravely in acknowledgment.

"I accuse you of nothing, madam. You employed no strategy to win my heart - you had only to be as you are, and at that you are without peer. As for the surprise - well. It seems I have managed my unrulier passions, then. I had feared them only too offensively obvious."

[fine_eyes_lizzy]

"They were not," Elizabeth replied, completely bewildered. "I... I must confess, sir, that I scarcely know what to say."

A little helplessly, she looked at her gloved hands and then back up at Darcy. "I had... you are certain of your regard for me? I sensed no tenderness in your manners towards me." Utterly bewildered, Elizabeth murmured, "You insulted me, and my family, more frequently than speaking of any other topic in our conversations. Too offensively obvious? I found your manners offensive, but...." She shook her head, to try and clear it. "I never found your regard for me obvious. I have never desired your good opinion, and I did not think it should ever be bestowed upon myself. You seemed to disdain me, sir."

((Aak! No LJ notification! Sorry it's late!))

[fw_darcy]

((Quite all right. We've got capital-C Company staying here a few days. Routines? What routines?))

"I have been certain of my feelings for some considerable time. It remained only to master them," he replied. "My ...disdain... if such you care to call it, is for the coarseness of the country setting in which I met you. That first night I dismissed you as flippant - unserious, as your younger sisters are. I could not be long in your company before discerning far more depth and character."

He looked down, seemingly fascinated by a tree root. "It was not long after that I found you had assumed a place in my thoughts and feelings second only to Georgianna."