He chuckled.
Elizabeth frowned at him, and he enjoyed her confusion.
“Your behavior is less abhorrent than my own,” he told her sincerely. “I cannot blame you for your reaction.” He looked at her earnestly, but with good humor. “I expect you made a grand tale of it? The princess and the ogre?”
The corners of her mouth turned up ever so slightly. “I may have embellished a little.”
“I do not doubt it,” he assured her.
“I dearly love a laugh,” she said, tipping her head to one side mischievously.
He drank in the sight of her. “So you have said, Miss Elizabeth.” He reached out to touch her hand. “I am only too happy to forgive you if you would be kind enough to offer me the same respite.”
He wanted to kiss her when she smiled, but of course he did not.
“I accept your apology,” she said, a touch of triumph in her words.
“And I accept yours,” he said, “though it is entirely unnecessary.”
“No, no,” she said with a little laugh. “That will never do. You must accept without the codicil.”
“Must I?” he inquired curiously. Gads, but she was lovely. And witty.
“Indeed you must,” she assured him.
And kind.
Darcy could have continued their banter for some time, but he thought again that Elizabeth ought to rest. “Then I must surrender, madam.” He stood. “I shall leave you to your repose.”
“And to your books, Mr. Darcy.” She stood as though to walk him to the door.
He gave her a quick bow. “And to my books.”
“Do not be too hard on the maids,” Elizabeth said as he turned to go. “Emily only wished for something to read. I do not think that a bad thing, all in all, though it is true she should not have come to borrow a book without permission.”
Elizabeth was kind to everyone, he thought. He was not special in that. Darcy nodded once without turning back to look at her and stepped out into the hall.