After all, the idea of taking a small nap was quite pleasant to Elizabeth; she had been tired by the journey from Hertfordshire, and she hadn’t slept very well the night before. So, after having been dropped off at Mr. Darcy’s town-house, she went to her room and lay down on her bed. Sleep eluded her but not as much as the previous evening as she had not been at leisure to really observe Mr. Darcy’s attitude in Grosvenor Street. True, she had caught him looking at her several times, and he had not been more than just civil to Miss Bingley; but this was hardly enough to draw encouraging conclusions. After all, whatever his feelings for her, her presence was certainly at least a little unsettling, and he had never been more than civil towards his friend’s sister…

White’s was quite empty that afternoon when the gentlemen arrived. They shared a post-luncheon port, a serious conversation about the situation in Spain, a light one about the last running wager, and then, it was time to go to meet the ladies. Mr. Hurst tried to change his companions’ minds: "Gentlemen, do we really have to go there?"

It had been more than two hours since Charles had seen his wife and he missed her. "I am still a newly-wed man, I’m glad to go there!"

"Why don’t you two go alone while I finish my newspaper?" suggested Mr. Hurst.

Mr. Darcy finally spoke up. "Actually I won’t be going to Molland’s either. I have some business to attend to and I doubt you will miss me. I would rather go back home and deal with it before dinner." After all this was not strictly untrue; even if his worry about Elizabeth’s health and the fact that she was in his house were foremost in his thoughts. These were much better reasons to go back home, but, obviously, he didn’t want to mention them. And he was determined to let her get some rest; he would just be there in case of…In case of what? he asked himself derisively.

Mr. Bingley compared the disagreements caused by the absence of the other gentlemen with the pleasure to see his wife and answered to his friends, "I’ll try to deal with my sisters alone if that is your wish. Darcy, I think your sister will not be a burden and, since Miss Bennet is not with them, I’m sure my wife’s attention will be all mine."

When she woke up from her nap, Elizabeth felt pretty well. She decided to work a little on her novel, which had been seriously neglected since her arrival in town. She took her notebook and read the last paragraph she had written. Oh yes, there was supposed to be the first fencing fight! And she still had not a clue of what she was to describe! Then, she remembered touring the library the day before and, as it was well appointed, she thought she might find a treatise on fencing in it. She would have preferred to ask Mr. Darcy’s permission but they were all in Bond Street, so she would just have to explain it to him afterwards. She exited her room and went down to the library.

On entering the room, she immediately felt that she was not alone. Indeed, Mr. Darcy was there, writing at his desk, a pile of letters on his right, a big notebook on his left. She froze near the door, he absolutely startled, his pen two inches above the sheet of paper. The cheeks of each were overspread with the deepest blush. Quickly recovering himself, he lay down his pen, stood up and said uneasily with discomposure: "Miss Bennet… I hope you’re feeling better."

"Yes, I thank you... But I’d like to apologise… I didn’t mean to intrude, I didn’t know you were there or I wouldn’t have dreamt…"

"Do not make yourself uneasy, I decided to come back before the rest of the party to attend to some business…" then he stopped abruptly and started to smile.

Elizabeth couldn’t see the humour of the situation and her face was reflecting her surprise.

"Excuse me, Miss Bennet, but didn’t we already play this scene? When I came upon you, on the lawn, at Pemberley".

She started smiling also. "I think you’re perfectly right." Then she seemed to get lost in her memories. In fact, she was thinking of how he had been there – barely down from his horse – and how he was now – clearly more formally attired but just as handsome. She was wearing a dreamy look and the blush came back on her cheeks. For Mr. Darcy, she was a very beautiful image to behold. Finally, she regained her composure. "I won’t bother you any longer," She said, taking hold of the doorknob.

"But you’re not bothering me at all! I had almost finished, "He replied eagerly. "Please, make yourself at home; I guess you came here to find a book, just help yourself," He ended with a shy smile.

Elizabeth’s heart jumped at the sight of his beloved face lightened by his tentative grin She sensed a more hidden, personal message in his words and she wondered if he was doing it on purpose or if it were merely her wishes clouding her judgment. Trying her luck, she entered his game. "I shall if you go back to your business. I really don’t want to be a cause of distraction."

Mr. Darcy’s smile broadened slightly, "I will do as pleases you." He sat down and started writing again. Fortunately, his steward would never receive this letter. How would he understand some "Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet Darcy, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, …"? She was definitely the unique and very cherished cause of his distraction! When he dared look up, he saw her gazing at the shelves; he could not know that she found herself unable to understand one single title her eyes were looking at.

Elizabeth’s thoughts were focused on the fact that she was alone in a room with him, with nobody in the house but the staff and that, if the tickling she felt on her spine was right, he was staring at her at that precise moment. It was highly improper, but somehow, she didn’t care. She heard him say, "And that will be all for today!" Then she heard him get up and walk towards her. He was now somewhere behind her and she was sure he could hear her heartbeat; why, it was so loud that she barely heard his next words.

"May I help you? I’m afraid I still don’t know all the books which are here but I know some of them."

She gathered her courage and turned to face him. In fact, he was not so close, he was standing in front of his desk; he probably hadn’t heard her heart, after all!

"Do you remember what I’ve told you about my novel?"

He perfectly knew he remembered everything she had said to him for the past eighteen months. "Oh, yes, the fencing advice…"

"Yes. Well, I came to see if you had any treatise on fencing in your library."

Mr. Darcy was highly disappointed. This was what she wanted from him… He had put so much hope in the lessons… Then he thought that he had a last card to play. "I’m afraid there is no such book on these shelves. I’m quite sure of it because I’ve searched for it myself and it is not here" Of course, it is not; it is on my bed table! I took it last night in order to be able to be the best teacher you could have. But he had not lied to her, he would never do that! "But you may ask your questions, I will try to answer them to the best to my knowledge."

She was a little bit disappointed as theoretical knowledge was not the only thing she was searching for. "In fact, the only question I have is: how does someone fence? I guess seeing a fight would answer all my questions, but it would be highly improper for me to witness such a thing. And, as a lady, I cannot go to a fencing school, although I’m sure I would have loved it!" There, she had said it; now, he could laugh at her if he wanted.

But Mr. Darcy didn’t laugh. She had said it, at least some of his dreams would come true! He tried not to show too much delight in her last words. He forced himself to breathe deeply, tried to look the surprise he should feel in lieu of glee and answered: "Really? Well… I might suggest something… but… I would not like to shock you… Would you please forget the words I am going to say if they are not to your liking?"

Surely he cannot misunderstand me, how could I have been more explicit? And yet he cannot be teasing me… Incredulous, Elizabeth answered: "I shall. Pray, Mr. Darcy, what would you suggest?"

He took another deep breath then blurted out, "I could be your teacher. We could practice in this house and choose times when the others are not here. That way, nobody would know, your reputation would be unsoiled and you would be able to get some of the knowledge you’re searching for."

His voice was warmer than he intended but she didn’t seem to notice. He had said exactly what she wanted to hear. She didn’t want to seem too eager to agree, so she said: "Mr. Darcy, that’s very kind of you. But what about you? Surely, you have things more important to do."

He looked straight in her eyes and answered: "You are my guest and, as such, there is nothing more important than making you happy. I have already told you, I am delighted to be able to help you. So, I take it we have an agreement?"

She answered softly, holding his gaze: "Yes, I thank you."

Mr. Darcy, relishing in his victory, was feeling pretty daring. After all, the others were not there. He decided to try his luck further: "Miss Bennet, as you know my sister and Mr. and Mrs. Bingley are not here this afternoon. May I boldly suggest that the first lesson happen now in the ballroom?" As the words came out of his mouth, awareness that he had probably gone too far washed over him; why did he have to say this now? Couldn’t he be more patient? As to confirm those dreadful thoughts, her eyes had left his to stare at the floor and he discerned a blush creeping on her face.

Eventually her head rose up, she wet her upper lip and simply answered: "You may."

He released the breath he didn’t know he was holding. The bells of St Paul’s cathedral began to ring in his chest. O Lord, if that was what he felt at her agreement for some fencing practice, what would he feel if she agreed to marry him? What will I feel when she agrees to marry me? his mind surprised him with the thought. To regain his composure, he held on to the practical aspects of the coming lesson: "I will go directly to the ballroom, it is the most convenient room for our purpose. You may wish to put on a more comfortable outfit and join me there. Do you remember where to find the ballroom?"

On her way back to the door of the library, Elizabeth replied, "I do. I won’t be long." And then, she was gone.

Although brandy would have been more efficient, Mr. Darcy took a glass of water to quieten his nerves; he wanted to be master of himself for the events to come. As he had some small preparations to do, he left soon after and headed to the designated room.

In her room, Elizabeth quickly put on an old muslin gown. The reality that she was to going to take, in a few minutes, her first fencing lesson with Fitzwilliam Darcy was very hard to grasp. Everything had gone so fast. She had been in his house for less than a day, and she was already going to fulfil one of her dreams. Indeed, she couldn’t deny that, since Jane had suggested that Mr. Darcy could be her teacher, it had been a real source of fancy. But the time to turn fanciful dreams into reality had come, she checked herself in the mirror and hurriedly went back downstairs to the ballroom.

The Fencing Lessons, Chapter 6