Much as I have enjoyed the story, I am starting to feel that the relationship between Darcy and Lizzy is becoming less and less realistic, given the historical period, and this is bothering my fun and my appreciation of the plot. For example, hand kissing was in fact quite intimate during that period, especially in the way it has been described in some of the chapters. A formal kissing of the hand was actually of a gloved hand. And in many cases did not even entail the actual touching of lips to the hand but rather a very low stiff bow bringing the face over the back of the gloved hand. Kissing hands (most especially ungloved, and on the palm, as has been done in the story)was only accepted in a publicly aknowledged relationship. The touching involved in the latest chapters, during the lessons themselves and the picnicing is anachronistic. Such behaviour - and so much of it - could only mean an understanding of engagement, one that the plot has not yet given us.
Though I am willing to suspend my disbelief regarding Lizzie's allowing the impropriety of being alone with Darcy for hours at a time, given the more relaxed Scottish setting and her aunt's liberal attitudes, Darcy would be more careful to not compromise her reputation, were they do be found out. In fact, I think she also would be concerned to not trap him into marriage, as he would be forced by honour to do, by Society's rules, if they were discovered to be engaged in such behaviour. Because her honour would be sullied.
How about reintroducing a bit of that propriety in the story? It would even add spice to it all, since he'd be desiring to be closer, spending the time alone together, but feeling that he couldn't because to compromise her could ruin her chances for future happiness, could creat another scandal for her family, that he'd likely already gone too far, that she might think he was trapping her into marriage... Yet he would be loathe to give up their relaxed relationship, would try to be content to steal the few and far-between touches.
What do you think ?