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around her.
    He swallowed, unsure whether he should be so bold. “Because then you would forever be in my study with me rather than in here” — When you come to live here — “whenever you visit Darcy House.”
    Elizabeth stood stock-still. When shall I ever come back to Darcy House? she thought in bewilderment. She was taken aback by his forward pronouncement, and she could not make out his meaning — that he should presume she would return to this house! He does not like me. I do not like him. The proverbial sentiment began to sound stale in her mind, so she brushed it away, not wanting to think why.
    In an attempt to dispel the sudden awkwardness, she teased, “Ahh, but sir, I am afraid that would not do, especially if you are in the habit of dressing so casually in your study.”
    Mr. Darcy’s brows furrowed as he looked down at himself and realized for the first time since discovering Elizabeth in his study that he was in just his waistcoat and shirtsleeves. His head shot up, his eyes wide with shock to see her smirking face. “Forgive me, Miss Bennet. I had forgotten . . . what with the surprise of your presence in my study . . . Please excuse me.”
    He turned abruptly and returned to his study. She privately enjoyed witnessing the usually controlled and elegant Mr. Darcy in complete disarray when he recognized his blunder. She walked slowly into the center of the room and looked about again. She had truly never seen a more magnificent room in all her life. She thought, To be mistress of such a home, to have access to all these treasures! She stopped in her tracks. Where did that come from? Unfortunately for her composure, at that moment the master of the house returned, once again impeccably dressed with his tailcoat and cravat reassembled.
    ’Tis a pity; I think I preferred the other look . Elizabeth blushed scarlet and slapped her hand across her mouth as she realized too late from the surprised yet amused look on his face that she had voiced her thought aloud.
    Mr. Darcy bowed to her. “I shall endeavor to remember that, Miss Bennet.”
    Mortified for the second time in a half hour’s expanse, Elizabeth hastened towards the exit, wishing she did not have to walk past him to leave. “Excuse me, but I think I must be goin — Oomph!”
    Darcy grinned. Elizabeth was in his arms, having tripped on the rug. I shall never replace that rug , he vowed.
    Elizabeth’s eyes squeezed shut, praying for a moment that it was all a terrible dream. Sandalwood and lemon, she thought. He smells like sandalwood and lemon. Ohhh, it is not a dream. She cringed as she attempted to step out of his embrace.
    When she began to pull away from him, she found, much to her increasing embarrassment, that the chain of her garnet cross necklace was caught on one of the buttons of his tailcoat. With growing exasperation and need for escape, she tugged fiercely at the offending jewelry, the process made more graceless by the shortness of the chain.
    “Miss Bennet, if you please. I rather like this jacket. Allow me.” He chuckled when she obliged him, her hands clenched into fists at her side. He took his time as he unclasped the chain around her neck, relishing the feel of her soft skin. “There, you are free.”
    Elizabeth backed away immediately and sat heavily in the nearest chair, her mind reeling from the disastrous morning! First, I stumble upon Mr. Darcy’s study and then attach myself bodily to his person. A more horrifying morning she could not imagine.
    While Mr. Darcy worked to release her necklace chain from the button on his coat, he spied through his lashes a stunned Elizabeth. He worried suddenly for her mental strength after the past few days, combined with the extreme embarrassment he knew she must feel.
    Her shoulders began to shake, and he thought she was sobbing. Oh no! Anything but your tears, my love! When he kneeled beside her, he heard a noise from her mouth and then another. He watched in amazement as she