“Pray do not,” Elizabeth returned, laughing. “I would not have my name stand in the Gazette for hopping across a lawn.”
“On the contrary,” he replied, eyes dancing. “It would be the first time the Gazette published unalloyed good news.”
Miss Bingley, having found no improvement in the sport by witnessing it, turned away with a sniff. “A child’s game,” she declared to Mrs. Hurst.
Darcy said, in his quiet way, “Well run, Miss Bennet.” And Jane, who had heard Miss Bingley’s insults, squeezed her sister’s hand and whispered, “You bore it beautifully.”
Mr. Bingley produced a thick blanket and begged Jane and Elizabeth to share it. Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy joined them; Colonel Fitzwilliam flung himself down with cheerful disregard for ceremony. Miss Bingley elected a chair at the edge with Mr. and Mrs. Hurst and held herself a little aloof.
Georgiana sat beside Elizabeth, offering a plate. “Crab cakes.”
“For the Colonel,” Elizabeth said, laughing, as Richard reached for two at once.
“They are the size of a thumbnail,” he protested, good humored. “They barely fill a tooth. You must forgive me.”
“Your appetite needs no forgiveness,” Darcy observed dryly.
“Only reinforcement,” Elizabeth added, and Georgiana’s soft laugh joined hers.
Jane and Mr. Bingley, at the far corner of the blanket, had fallen into that low-voiced conversation which perfect contentment alone can inspire. Miss Bingley’s mouth grew a shade more sour. Elizabeth, glancing up, observed Alexander standing beside Miss King as he served her plate.And what of it?she told herself firmly.There is no understanding between us.She turned away, took up a delicate crab cake, and resolved to relish its flavor and the company that surrounded her.
At that moment, Mrs. Bennet walked past the small group speaking with Mrs. Goulding in tones that carried only too well. “It is a fine thing for Jane that Mr. Bingley has eyes only for her. He has five thousand a year, only think, Agnes, five thousand! My Jane will never go without. Mr. Bingley cannot take his eyes off my dear girl. We shall have wedding clothes to consider very soon. And the crab! Dear me, you must have paid a smart price for it in the market. So good of you. I always tell Mr. Bennet we must economize.”
The two ladies moved on, but the whole of the Netherfield party had heard. Jane and Elizabeth flushed, with heads bowed and eyes cast down, and an awkward pause followed.
Georgiana rose at once. “Miss Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth, if you are finished, will you walk to the bluebells with me?”
“I should like that,” Elizabeth said gratefully.
“I, too,” cried Miss King, approaching with a smile. “I have never seen them so thick.”
Alexander Lucas, who had been watching from a short distance, made a bow. “If I may attend you, ladies, I mean to ensure your safety.”
Mary King preened as he joined them, taking his marked attentions to have been meant for her. The dirt path led through the woods, and within minutes, they stepped into a purple-tinted dream. The bluebells stood almost to the knee and stretched in a drift of color as far as the eye could see. Elizabeth and Georgiana followed the narrow footpath as it curved through the fields, and they began to skip.
At last, Georgiana ran ahead laughing, and Elizabeth followed, singing, “Oh, where, tell me where, is your Highland laddie gone?”
Georgiana caught the tune, and the two young women sangThe Bluebells of Scotlandas they danced along the track. Miss King declared she did not like to run and hung back to stroll with Alexander; he glanced toward Elizabeth, then resigned himself with a rueful smile to Miss King’s pace.
A fine rain began. Elizabeth and Georgiana clasped hands and danced along the path, laughing. Miss King shrieked and fled back toward the carriages.
“Come, Elizabeth, let’s get out of the rain!” Alexander called, laughing.
However, the two young women did not hear and continued to sing and hold hands. They danced together like nymphs under the leaves. “I’m going with Miss King to the carriage,” Alexander called at last, and strode off.
A baritone voice called to them a few minutes later through the patter of rain. “Miss Bennet, Georgiana!” Mr. Darcy emerged upon the path, laughing despite himself. “Come, look at the clouds. It will pour down in sheets in a few minutes.”
They ran to him at once. When they reached the lawn, they saw the guests gathering blankets and shawls. People were scrambling into their carriages as the first heavy raindrops began to fall.
Darcy held out a hand for Elizabeth and said, “You are coming with us.” He helped his sister into the carriage next. “I told your family they were free to leave, and I would deliver you to Longbourn.”
The two young women tumbled into the Darcy carriage. They were wet through, their damp curls plastered to their skin. Miss Bingley was already seated within, an angry frown of disapproval fixed upon her face.
Darcy started with surprise when he saw her. “Mr. Darcy,” she said, “I wished to ride back with you. I had no idea Miss Eliza would be among the party as well. Pray do not sit near me if you are wet; my pelisse must not be spoiled.”
Caroline’s gaze travelled over Elizabeth from bonnet to slippers. “Miss Bennet, I fancy this must be the last hurrah for that gown. It is sadly stained with mud and crushed leaves.” She pursed her lips. “Still, as it is at least three seasons old, it can hardly signify.”
She paused, looked more closely, and allowed herself a little laugh. “My, my, Miss Eliza, one might almost see straight through your muslin.”
