“No, not quite yet. I go to her father tomorrow to request a courtship.”
“A courtship. If you have known her for so long, why waste your time with a courtship and not just marry the girl? Hamilton, if I had a woman as lovely as Miss Elizabeth, I would secure her so that no man would come lay claim. Of that, I assure you!”
“Yes, but I want to have Ashby Park completely ready for its new mistress and will need several months more. Besides my mother always said, ‘Long courtship, short engagement.’”
“Your mother was a wise woman.” Darcy looked up and caught Miss Elizabeth studying him. She quickly dropped her gaze and blushed as Georgiana began playing a Scottish folk song.Very wise, indeed.
* * *
“It was a lovely tea. Thank you once again for encouraging your sister to invite us.”
Lizzy leisurely walked one of the meandering paths of Netherfield Park alongside the prominent figure of Fitzwilliam Darcy. The early autumn weather was quite fine and the group of young people decided to take full opportunity of it. Jane and Bingley, as well as Kitty and Georgiana, walked ahead of them, which left her alone to talk with Mr. Darcy. Lizzy delighted in pointing out some of the prospects she remembered from her youth with the Carlton girls, and he seemed interested in her recollections.
“I am grateful Miss Bingley allowed Georgiana to play hostess while she is in London.”
“Yes, as am I.” With his eyes forward, he cleared his throat and turned his attention to the foliage around them. “This tree we are coming upon is the one a ten-year old Miss Elizabeth Bennet fell out of attempting to win a dare, you say?”
“Yes, this is the one.” She laughed. “I realize now it was very unladylike, but I had to prove to young Henry Carlton and James Hamilton that just because I was a girl did not mean I was incapable!”
“No one having the privilege of knowing you could find anything wanting. You seem to be a force, Miss Elizabeth. One of which the likes of many, including myself, have never seen.” He tipped his hat to her and allowed a deep chuckle to roll from his throat as Lizzy knew she must be pink at his praise.
They continued on in silence for a few minutes before she attempted more conversation. “And your home? I understand from Miss Bingley your Pemberley is far superior to any in comparison.”
He clasped his hands behind his back and cleared his throat. “Miss Elizabeth, if I may be so bold as to caution you against believing everything Miss Bingley offers up as fact. She often elaborates to…to…to give an air of superiority…to me...where none is needed. She means well” —he rushed on, obviously not wanting to insult a lady— “however, the life I live is much simpler than she would have it portrayed.”
Lizzy sighed with mock solemnity. “Sir, I am now at a loss. I have heard such different accounts of your character as to puzzle me exceedingly. If you say I am not to believe Miss Bingley, then I confess, I know nothing about you, other than what I have observed on my own and what Mr. Bingley has implied.”
“Oh-ho. What have you observed of me? I am curious about your perceptions.”
She pursed her lips together in concentration and stole a glance at his fine physique beside her before beginning. “I have noticed, Mr. Darcy, that you are a very good sort of brother. It is obvious you love your sister dearly, and she returns that affection whole heartedly. You are a good friend. Mr. Bingley thinks very highly of you and seems to value your opinion above all others, seemingly even his own. You are a reserved man,” she said thoughtfully. “You have very decided ideas about propriety and responsibility which could be called admirable…”
“And anything else?” He stopped to look at her. The corners of his mouth twitched as he waited for her next pronouncement.
“You have a very relaxed countenance when you are left to your own thoughts.”
“Indeed! And Bingley? What have you learned from him?”
She took a deep breath and slightly raised her chin, attempting to stop the color which was threatening to creep up her neck. “It has been said that you have a good seat when riding.”
He let out a rich laugh. “Interesting, Miss Elizabeth, but might I suggest—” a dimple appeared in the corner of his mouth “—in the future, take the words straight from the source? Other than testimony regarding my excellent seat, of course.”
Lizzy’s blush deepened as she attempted to force the vision of Bingley’s contribution from her mind. Clearing her throat, she finally responded. “I do believe that is sage advice, sir. Advice which I will heed. And so, from your own lips, please enlighten me on Pemberley.”
They walked along companionably as Mr. Darcy imparted much about the home he loved, its surrounding woods, and a few improvements he was implementing to increase crop production.
“I am sure you are unaware, sir, Longbourn is entailed away from the female line.”
“That is most unfortunate for a family with only daughters.”
“Yes,” she replied with a laugh in her voice. “We are to starve in the hedgerows if you ask my mother. However, the young man who will inherit the estate is coming at the end of the next week to stay with us, and dear Mama plans on showing our home to its maximum advantage.”
“I am certain that will not be an impossible task. Longbourn has some very charming attributes.”
“Very pretty, Mr. Darcy. Thank you,” she said taking his hand as he helped her over a fallen log. “But, I am afraid we often romanticize our own homes and are disappointed when we see them through other’s eyes. As you have seen, Longbourn is not as grand as Netherfield but there are characteristics which I love with all my heart.”
“Such as?” He clasped his hands behind his back and continued to walk beside her.
“In the springtime, our orchard produces the most fragrant blossoms promising delicious plums and peaches in a few, short months. Many a day little Lizzy Bennet had a stomach ache from over indulging.” He laughed at the picture she presented. “It has a floorboard which creaks outside of the sitting room that when my sisters or I were younger and reading novels, we had time to hide them before Mama came in.” She ran her hand through fragrant daphne, letting the scent drift on the air. “But my favorite are the grounds. I have spent hours walking the well-known paths of my home, recognizing the new buds in springtime and knowing where the first frost will hit in winter. Could another person truly love my home as I do?”
