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"Shall we reach the house before dark, do you think?"
"Doubtful. There is, however, a particularly fine hedgerow up ahead. Shall I have the coachman pull off so we might overnight there?"
"I am sure that my mother would be particularly pleased with such an account added to my letter of our journey. She is inordinately fond of hedgerows, as you know."
"I am aware. I believe them to be second only to her nerves in order of her favour."
Elizabeth could not help but chuckle at her husband's repartee. His lips barely twitched, yet she was now familiar enough with his often dry delivery that she easily recognized his amusement. "Seriously, Fitzwilliam, the sun will set before too lon--g," she ended in a gasp as their carriage crested the hill.
"Look, Lizzy," Darcy said softly. Intimately.
"Oh. Oh, my," she whispered, enthralled with the view. "Will. Oh, Will." His name upon her lips was as soft and intimate as his own had been. It was exceedingly rare for either of them to refer to the other in such terms outside of their most private -- most loving -- moments.
Elizabeth was so moved that tears started to form in her eyes at the sight of the setting sun over the expanse of sea. The entire sky and sea was ablaze in oranges and reds. She caught his hand, his precious hand, and squeezed.
"I know that I promised you the lakes -- and I promise you again that you will see them -- but might you be inclined to spend a day or two here before resuming our trip?" Darcy hoped he had not misjudged his wife's appreciation for all things beautiful and natural by taking her so far west first instead of going directly north to the lakes.
"You dear man," she turned her full attention from the sunset to her husband and brought his hand to her lips. "There is nothing I love so well as you, though your delightful grounds at Pemberley come close," she teased, "yet this... Oh, this... Yes! Yes, Fitzwilliam. I would very much be inclined to spend a day or two here." She turned back to the lovely view for a moment before giving him an impish grin. "Although, I really would prefer a house over settling in the hedgerows for the night,"
"Your wish is my command," he told her, gesturing ahead to the cottage he had arranged for their stay here by the Irish Sea. It was not as grand as the house he had let by Lake Windermere for later in their travels, however the view here was magnificent. And he had so hoped to please his wife, a woman well worth pleasing.