Outwardly calm, my mind is in turmoil while apologizing and expressing surprise over her aunt’s perfidy. Elizabeth explains it was, instead, Lydia’s betrayal that revealed my involvement. Of course, Lydia. She then thanks me profusely, on behalf of all her family, for my compassion and assistance.

It is all or nothing now; I might as well confess the lot and have done with this vexing irresolution. I take a deep breath before saying, “If you will thank me, let it be for yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your family owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe, I thought only of you.”

She is silent, and I am overwrought. My mind races and forms a desperate resolution. My reckless tongue moves apace and blurts the admission sooner than intended.

“You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.”

Fie upon another asininity! Such a blunt avowal, blurted in a room teaming with people, has to be the epitome of dunderheaded forethought. Why could I neither control my temerarious tongue nor deny my yearning heart? Now I shall probably have the honour of crumpling to the floor in an undignified, beslubbering heap when she rejects me yet again. Of course, my other option is to storm from the room in an ignominious snit as I previously chose at Hunsford. I carefully gauge the distance to the nearest exit.

“Well then, sir, I have but one word for you.”

Oh, God. This cannot be good. I steel myself for rejection and, perhaps, apoplexy. Where is that apothecary? I fear I shall very soon have need of his services.

Yet I see no trace of chagrin on her winsome face, only higher colour… and a distinctive, wondrous twinkle in her eye. My heart is in my throat, and my future is in her hands. But where is her answer? Gah! What does ‘I have one word for you‘ mean? I gulp and ask, “Yes?”