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suddenly felt hot. Had she understood him correctly? Was this his idea of a marriage proposal?
    “You must forgive me for being a little slow, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps it is because I am tired, but I am not quite certain I understand what you are saying.”
    “I thought I was quite clear. I am asking you to marry me.”
    If he was asking for her hand, why had he said nothing of love or attachment? In fact, his words held no more warmth than if he had been making a business arrangement. Just as she opened her mouth to respond, Darcy put his finger lightly over her lips to prevent her from speaking. The intimacy of his action stunned her.
    “Please do me the honor of hearing me out.”
    She nodded slightly. In spite of her irritation over what he had said—or failed to say—she was completely distracted by his close proximity and the tingling feeling that lingered on her lips where he had touched them. Dropping back into the chair behind her, Elizabeth’s mind raced. She wondered what possible response she could give that would not bring offense. In spite of her low opinion of him, he had been most kind to her over the past few days, and she owed him something for that. She would be sorry to hurt his feelings by refusing him, but it was simply impossible to imagine being married to a man she hardly knew, let alone one who had insulted her before they were even introduced.
    Darcy surprised her by sitting down on the footstool beside her chair. Because of his height, this brought them nearly eye-to-eye. Elizabeth thought he looked vulnerable, almost like a little boy sitting there with his knees nearly up to his chin. When he spoke, his voice was soft and gentle.
    “I believe it would most certainly relieve your father’s mind to know that you and your family will be financially secure.”
    “Mr. Darcy, I am more amazed than anything else. I simply cannot comprehend why you would wish to marry me.” At this, she risked a glance in his direction.
    Darcy wrinkled his brow in confusion. “As I have said, I am concerned about your family’s financial situation, and I also believe you would be a very good influence on my sister. She is of an age where she needs the influence of a woman in her life.”
    “You have given me all the practical reasons why this marriage would be advantageous, but I am still unsure of why you have chosen me? Is this to be just a business arrangement?”
    “No, that…that is not my intention,” he stammered.
    “Because if you are looking for a new companion for your sister, I am sure you could find someone suitable at considerably less expense to yourself than taking a wife.”
    He cleared his throat and took her hand in his. “I am sorry I was not more clear. Miss Elizabeth, I have admired you from the first time we met. You are not like other women of my acquaintance who are only concerned with my fortune and position in society. As we have spent more time together, my admiration has continued to grow. I hold you in the highest regard.”
    Elizabeth blinked slowly. This was certainly news to her. “You must forgive my shock at your proposal, Mr. Darcy. We hardly know each other, and until very recently, I had been under the impression you did not like me.”
    “Not like you?” he responded wrinkling his brow.
    “In all of our acquaintance, we have only spoken a few times and when we have, we have always disagreed. You have also made yourself quite clear as to what you think of my family.”
    “Yes, well, your family is…interesting to say the least.”
    At this, she reclaimed her hand and folded it with her other so he could not pick it up again.
    “You say you have admired me from the time we first met, but that is not entirely true. At the assembly in Meryton last fall, I overheard what you said about me—that I was ‘tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt you’. I believe those were your words. What do you have to say about that?”
    Darcy blushed again all the way to the tips