“Hmm…I know. There is a statue of Diana the Huntress in the largest fountain north of the main house. Diana is reaching behind her shoulder for an arrow from her quiver. She has a stag in her left hand. I guess that the antler will break whereupon the deer will fall into the fountain. She will be left standing without prey. Forevermore, visitors will be left to guess whether she hunted a rabbit, a fox, or something else.”
“You have given an excellent guess. My question is, where does the water currently spout from? Diana? The quiver? Or the deer?”
“The deer’s mouth.” He joined her laughter. “The water would shoot up and hit her outstretched hand, spraying everyone within reach.”
“How displeasing for your aunt. Well done, Mr. Darcy. It is my turn. I suggest that the next sign that Lady Catherine does not maintain her home to the standard she claims is that thebottom of the walking stick falls off when she bangs it sharply on the floor.”
“Never! I have seen her collection. She would claim it is a flaw in the stick rather than the unladylike demands she makes.”
“She makes demands of you? Oh, do not answer. That was too impertinent for me to ask. I beg your pardon,”she said.
Elizabeth’s face was as red as a ripe tomato.
“Do not be embarrassed, please. The simple answer to your question is ‘yes.’ For as long as I have known my aunt, she insists that everything she says, thinks, or does is the only correct way. For example, after my father died, my aunt insisted that it was my mother’s greatest desire to unite Pemberley and Rosings. I would need to marry my cousin, Anne, which I willneverdo. Although I have told my aunt and cousin repeatedly that I have no intention of offering for Anne, the first thing out of Lady Catherine’s mouth, when Richard and I arrived, was the date she could have her parson begin reading the banns.” He shook his head, the fabric of her skirt rustling underneath his head. It was such a pleasurable feeling, and he wanted to do it again.
“Then my question to you, Mr. Darcy, is if we were to play the same game about Pemberley, what would need to be repaired that you refuse to see?”
“Why, nothing.” He grinned. “I am teasing, of course. When a grand house is built from stone that is centuries old, there are constant repairs. The difference between me and my aunt is that I do not ignore them. If a structure like the bridge is in ill-repair, there are signs posted, and it is roped off.”
“That is good of you, sir.”
“Elizabeth…Miss Bennet, Pemberley is more than a house to me. The land and the buildings reflect my past, my ancestry. The picture gallery is filled with men and women who lived there and loved there. Children were born, and older ones died. In myalmost eight and twenty years, I have a wealth of memories in almost every room.”
Elizabeth asked, “Which is your favorite room?”
Without hesitation, he replied, “You might think it would be my father’s study or Pemberley’s library, which houses an outstanding collection, but it is the nursery. You see, I clearly recall the many times my mother would pop in, irritating my tutors when she interrupted my lessons. She would hurry me to gather my walking boots and coat then we would run through the fields to the Greek folly at the top of the hill overlooking the property. My father would be there. Like me, he was a tall man with long arms. I would sit between them. He would wrap his arms around us and then tell us about our history. After a long while, I would return to the nursery like nothing happened. Yet, somewhere in the room was hidden an object from the day, possibly a bird’s feather, a smooth rock, or a pretty leaf mother found. How she arranged for it to arrive ahead of me, I still do not know. But I will never forget those years, nor will I forget that room.”
“How wonderful to have those memories to comfort you, especially after losing your parents so young. Does your sister have memories like that?”
He exhaled. “I do not know. I left for Eton soon after she was born. During the summer months when I was not at school, Father trained me to manage Pemberley. Georgiana was brought from the nursery for only a few minutes each day. Only after our father died did I start to learn her preferences. Her shyness, added to my being consumed trying to handle the responsibilities that came with my new position as master, means that I do not, in actuality, know her at all. Therefore, I am certain I did not take care of matters with Wickham in the best way for her. I did not know what to do.”
“Where is she now?”
“She has lived with Richard’s parents since Ramsgate. Since Wickham.”
“Is that by her choice or yours?”
Closing his eyes, he shook his head. “Mine. Was I wrong?” Twisting his head, he looked directly at her.
“In truth, I do not know since we have never met. Nonetheless, hearing you speak about her, her character is much the same as Jane’s. My sister would have felt punished if she had been sent away to live away from her family. Even now, as much as she enjoys our aunt and uncle in London, she is aware this is temporary. As soon as I depart here, we will travel together to Hertfordshire. I must admit that wherever she is, she would be miserable because she feels she did something wrong to chase Mr. Bingley off, which affects her future and that of Longbourn.”
“What do you mean? How would that affect Longbourn?”
She squeezed his hand, reminding him that her fingers were still entwined with his. “Four daughters who are all out are easier to support than five. When each of us marries or finds a position, the burden on Longbourn is substantially less. Jane feels deeply that she is unwed at three and twenty. She fears being like Charlotte, who did not marry until she was your age. Not only does it take money to feed and clothe a child, but anything also spent on the eldest cannot be used by the youngest. Lydia complains most vocally at being misused.”
“I see.” Disregarding the pain, he sat up, turning to face her. “I hear my cousin giving orders so they will be upon us shortly. Before they arrive, I need to ask if you would be willing to start fresh.”
“To become friends? Certainly, Mr. Darcy.” She squeezed his fingers again, then let go, withdrawing her hand. He desperately wanted to take it back. “You have promised to act to protect Miss King and all Meryton by informing my father about Mr. Wickham’s propensity for treachery. Also, should you tell Mr.Bingley that Jane is miserable without him, then you will be responsible for the happiness of two kind and gentle people. These are acts of amity, sir. I would be happy to consider you a friend.”
He dipped his head before gazing upon her lovely countenance. They were so close. If he leaned in slightly, and she did as well, their lips… He cleared his throat.
“What I meant was, I wish…”
“Darcy!” Richard yelled, warning them of his approach.
Before Darcy could continue, Elizabeth stood, stepping back from him. The moment was lost when four men approached with a hastily arranged stretcher. He was soon being carried between the men, and Elizabeth trailed behind.
She finally approached him after he was loaded into the back of a pony cart. Handing the empty flask to Richard, she said, “He did as you commanded, Colonel. The flask is empty, and I did not touch a drop.”
