The Last Waltz: . . . another pride and prejudice journey of love by Pat Santarsiero

course, had been his first choice, but he was immediately informed by Mrs. Bennet that it was very likely she would soon be engaged.
    He next gave a calculating eye towards Elizabeth. She certainly was pretty, but then again, she had that most unattractive limp.
    Kitty and Lydia were not unappealing, but much too silly and frivolous. No doubt Lady Catherine would never deem them suitable in any event.
    Mary was just the opposite, too somber, and he was loath to admit, not at all pleasing to the eye.
    As he looked over his four remaining choices, he was disheartened. Perhaps he could learn to accept Miss Elizabeth’s flaw. After all, he was a man of the cloth, a forgiving soul who did his best to empathize with human frailty.
    Yes . . . that sounded quite honourable, did it not?
    He mulled this over in his mind and was suddenly struck with the genius of it. Why, of course! His choice of Miss Elizabeth would demonstrate to Lady Catherine that he indeed practiced what he preached! She would proclaim him a most noble example of the clergy.
    Hampered with such a disability, Miss Elizabeth would certainly be grateful for his generous and most advantageous offer. He would observe her behaviour and establish her worthiness before bestowing the honour of his betrothal upon her.
    ********
    Fitzwilliam Darcy paced the library at Netherfield Park. He was undecided as to his plans for the day. When Bingley had requested that he accompany him on his previous visit to Longbourn, he could see the look of surprise on his friend’s face that he had so readily agreed, so unusual was his willingness to socialize. Indeed, his calling upon a house filled with unmarried females was unprecedented. And now Bingley was again inquiring if he wished to join him on another visit.
    Even though he had agreed to Mr. Bennet’s proposal to call at Longbourn, he was beginning to wonder if perhaps he had made an error in judgment, allowing himself such a close association with Miss Elizabeth.
    He was confident that it would take more than a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty young woman to alter his opinion of love, but when he thought back to their walk of two days ago, he could not believe he had acted so recklessly. She brought out an unreserved boldness in him that he had not known he possessed. From the moment he had witnessed her full, ripe mouth soothe her injured finger, he had thought of little else. The impulse to place his lips where she had so recently placed her own had overtaken his every thought of good sense. Such a desire was a new phenomenon and certainly out of character, as it seemed were most of his actions since arriving at Netherfield. Indeed, over the last two days, on more than one occasion, he had caught himself thinking about her and those tempting lips. It seemed everything about her had an unnerving effect upon him.
    He had not known what to expect with regard to her limp. Certainly, one could not ignore her prominent uneven gait. He imagined London society would be most unforgiving of her imperfection as the opinion of the ton was that any young lady worth consideration was expected to be without blemish.
    He hoped he was not as shallow as that . But he must admit he never before had reason to give such circumstances much contemplation. Certainly when his mind had given fleeting thoughts to the woman he would one day eventually wed, the young lady he imagined possessed no defects of any sort. Yet, when he thought of Elizabeth Bennet, imperfect was not the word that came to mind.
    When he had moved to her right side, her stride had improved, and she appeared more relaxed. As they continued on and she came to rely on the support of his arm, she actually seemed to be enjoying herself. Why he should feel such satisfaction in that, he was not exactly sure, but admittedly it pleased him beyond measure.
    Perhaps his efforts would prove to be successful. Indeed, he would like nothing better than to see her confident and happily