In addition, his mother would not have thought to ask as she was too busy preparing for the Portnoys and Barringtons, who would arrive on Wednesday.
From the fence it was a little less than two miles to the eastern bank of the lake, and a place to fish, which hadalways been generous in surrendering the residents of the lake to be caught on previous fishing expeditions. The cousins looked forward to providing the fish course for dinner that evening.
With a little more than a mile to go, they slowed their horses down to a canter, then a trot, and eventually a walk. They all loved their stallions too much to gallop for the miles they had without allowing them to cool down correctly.
The cousins dismounted close to the shore of the lake. All three horses were trained to the extent they did not need to be secured to something to stop them wandering away.
Leaving their horses munching the long grasses growing around the lake and with an unlimited supply of water when they wanted it, the two Fitzwilliams and a Darcy removed their fishing rods which had been secured to the one side of their saddles. Next they removed the rest of what they needed from their saddlebags. Each man also had a canvass bag with him to hold the bounty he expected to catch.
Being rather competitive, they had elected separate bags to be able to tell who caught the most.
While his cousins were attaching their reels to their rods, William walked along the bank to the south for a little distance. He was trying to remember the spot which had yielded many fish when he had fished here on his last visit almost a year past. As he wanted to win, he had said nothing to his cousins.
He walked a little towards the south and then William froze. Then he listened again. He could have sworn he heard someone crying. Just when he convinced himself it was his imagination, he heard someone blow their nose.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Elizabeth had begged John and Brian’s indulgence to allow her a big distance ahead of them. She knew she needed torelease her pent up emotions and did not want to explain why she was crying to her guards, or anyone who worked forhim.
They crossed the stone and two wooden bridges over the river and streams which ran out of the lake at its narrow, southern end. The two huge men agreed to remain there as long as they could see her.
She walked on the path which ran next to the shore of the lake until she was a few hundred yards distant from her guards. Elizabeth found a relatively flat boulder and sat on it with her back to the two men.
Once she was assured of her relative privacy, she allowed the floodgates to open. She regulated the shaking of her shoulders not wanting John and Brian to guess what she was doing.
Once she had cried all she needed, Elizabeth blew her nose, rather noisily. When in company she would give a dainty wipe of that organ, never emulate a trumpet as she had now. Before she could react, the most handsome man she had ever beheld entered her field of vision walking along the bank of the lake from the north.
“Who gives you the right to be on the Duke’s land?” William demanded. It was a young lady, not much more than a girl, sitting alone unescorted so he was sure she did not belong here. He did not pay attention to the quality of her dress.
The two guards started to run towards Her Grace as soon as they saw the man approach her.
“Just who do you think you are? I am a resident of this estate while you are trespassing!” Elizabeth spat back with anger. She was standing now, her fists balled up at her sides while figuratively fire was shooting from her eyes.
It was at that moment he saw the beauty before him, the finest eyes of any colour he had ever beheld. Before he could respond, Andrew and Richard arrived at his side, and it was then he saw the giant men bearing down on them.
“Excuse me madam, has myyoungercousin inserted his hessian into his mouth again?” Andrew enquired.
“If you call asking me what I am doing at an estate where I am legally a resident, then yes, I suppose he has,” Elizabeth replied with only slightly less asperity.
Just then the guards reach Her Grace. “Your Grace,” Biggs called out as he looked at the three men malevolently. “Are you well?”
When he heard the manner in which she was addressed, William felt so small he would have crawled under the nearest pebble had he been able to. The shame burnt deeply.
“Well done William, I think you just insulted the mistress of this estate, the Duchess of Hertfordshire,” Richard interjected.
“I am well John. If you and Brian remain close by, I am certain we can determine who is, and is not, authorised to be here.” Elizabeth turned to the slightly taller of the two sandy blond men. “As you have ascertained who I am, will you share who you are, including your rude cousin and what your purpose is here.”
William was about to defend himself but he decided discretion was the better part of valour, and there was no defence for his behaviour, which had been rude in the extreme. If the young duchess unleashed her men, he would be pummelled to a pulp.
Elizabeth arched her eyebrow as she waited for a response.
“Your Grace, please allow me to apologise for my cousin, at times he speaks before he engages his vast intellect.” Elizabeth inclined her head. “I am Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hilldale. Next to me is my brother, the Honourable Captain Richard Fitzwilliam, and our cousin who misspoke is Master Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, the estate which borders yours to the east.”
“If that is the case, my housekeeper has informed me my late father-in-law authorised members of your family to fish here, which I assume was your purpose today.” All three men nodded. “Permission which the current duke has never rescinded. As long as no one insults me or anyone who is employed here.” Elizabeth looked at the dark haired one pointedly, “then I will not change the permission you have to visit the lake.”
“You are most magnanimous, Your Grace,” William bowed to the emerald green-eyed beauty before him. “Please accept my abject apologies for my ungentlemanlike conduct. As a visitor here myself, I had no justification to question your presence.”
It was easy to see the handsome man was entirely sincere. As such, there was only one thing Elizabeth could do. “I pardon you unreservedly, Master Darcy.” She turned to her two guards who had visibly relaxed seeing their mistress was not in any sort of danger. “You may give us a little space, but not as far away as I had requested you wait before.”
