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Lady Catherine de Bourgh would likely have been sufficient to establish your credentials, but no doubt a dozen were even more effective.”
     
    He bowed slightly. “I shall keep that in mind if the occasion should ever arise again.”
     
    They entered into the Parade. Elizabeth, unlike most ladies of his acquaintance, seemed to take more interest in the elegant architecture than the shop windows filled with Tunbridgeware and other luxury goods. She seemed oblivious to the fashionably dressed ladies and gentlemen enjoying the promenade.
     
    She said, “One would not even know that people have lost their homes to the flood, yet we are only a few miles from Hunsford.”
     
    “The town caters to those who wish to take the waters and to partake of polite society. They would not wish any ugliness to enter here.”
     
    She gave him a surprised look, then seemed caught by something in a shop window. “Would you mind if I looked in this shop?”
     
    “Not at all,” he said automatically. It was a stationer’s shop, and he wondered what interested her there. He held the door open for her. Not wishing to hover, he pretended interest in a display of inlaid wooden boxes while Elizabeth spoke to a clerk and pointed to a section of toys. She rejoined him a few minutes later carrying a wrapped package.
     
    “For Jenny?” he asked.
     
    She nodded. “She was telling me about her doll that had to be left behind. She put it in the rafters of her house and hasn’t seen it since. I thought she would need something to hug.” Her voice caught slightly on the last word.
     
    Darcy was seized by a lunatic urge to grab her hands and beg her to marry him. He was saved by a clap of thunder that made them both turn immediately toward the window. A few raindrops splattered on the glass, and then started to beat a fierce tattoo against the paving stones.
     
    Elizabeth sighed deeply. “Our good travel weather appears to be at an end.”
     
    Darcy looked at the pelisse Elizabeth was wearing, then out at the downpour. “It would be best if you stayed here while I see if the horses are ready.”
     
    “It hardly matters. I will be soaked sooner or later in any case.”
     
    “Perhaps the rain will stop by then.” It was not a lie, at least not technically. Anything was possible in this weather.
     
    She gave him a limpid look of disbelief. “Perhaps so.”
     
    ***
     
    Elizabeth crossed her arms and glared at Mr. Darcy. “No. Absolutely not.”
     
    “This is a matter of simple practicality, not a gift. I do not wish you to become ill from exposure to the rain.” He held out the woolen cloak to her once more.
     
    “Indeed it is not a gift, for I will not accept it.”
     
    “Miss Bennet, it is as much for my sake as yours. If you refuse to take it, I will have to insist that you wear my greatcoat to stay dry, and then I will be soaked. Now, will you wear it, or shall we stand here and argue until it becomes too late to travel back to the parsonage? If you think accepting a cloak from me could be a problem, how will you explain spending a night here with me?”
     
    Had he truly said that? Of course, he wanted to marry her, so he would not care if they were forced to marry because they had been stranded for the night together. She snatched the heavy woolen cloak from him and wrapped it around her shoulders, tucking the package for Jenny underneath it.
     
    “Thank you,” said Darcy tiredly. He reached out and raised the hood, settling it over her bonneted head with more gentleness than she had expected, his hands lingering for a moment near her temples. “Shall we go?”
     
    Once out from under the protection of the colonnade, Elizabeth was grateful for the heavy cloak, although she would have preferred to suffer endless torments rather than to say so. She tried to be gracious about accepting Darcy’s help in mounting the mare, and was glad he was there to steady her when the wet leather of the sidesaddle proved to be