At any rate, we will soon find out the extent of the details of the inheritance and who is the closest relative. I can only hope that it is Papa, and that we will soon have a fine house to come to, if the need arises. You would love it here just as much as I do, although our mother and younger sisters might have a hard time adjusting to how spread out all the neighbours are here. (Who knows, it might do Lydia and Kitty good to be cloistered for a while, before being released into society!)
Give our best to the family. We love and miss you all.
Elizabeth
∞∞∞
Elizabeth blotted and sealed the letter. She took it to the box out in the hall, where the footmen were sure to collect it at the end of the day. She spent the remainder of the morning and afternoon in her room, as she was never called down to the drawing room for tea. Instead, Mrs Graham came to her room with a small tray and informed her that Mr Campbell was dealing with a mild crisis concerning one of the tenant farmers. He would not return until supper that evening.
She was just as happy not to have another run-in with Mr Darcy, safely tucked away in her room with an ample supply of tea and delicacies such as she had tasted the day before. It was lovely to have some time to read. Though, Elizabeth thought with a private smile, she spent nearly as much time looking out the window at the beautiful view as she did turning pages.
The gong sounded at half-past six. With a good will, Elizabeth set down her book and began preparing for supper. When she entered the drawing room, there was already a cheery fire burning, and the gentlemen were standing around its glowing light. Her father waved to her, but did not leave his conversation with Mr Campbell. Much to Elizabeth’s chagrin, Mr Darcy did turn away to come to her.
He bowed in front of her, and she bowed in return. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet?” he said in a low, strained voice.
“Yes, Mr Darcy?” she asked sweetly, wondering what might come next.
“I am thoroughly mortified at how I acted this morning, and I beg you to accept my apology.”
Elizabeth smiled at him more genuinely. She had not expected so ready an apology. “I accept your apology, Mr Darcy, and I thank you for making it.”
“It was a foolish error,” Mr Darcy continued earnestly. “You see, the simplicity of your dress caused me to believe you were the servant whose arrival I had been expecting for the last three quarters of an hour.”
The remark was so insulting that it almost surprised Elizabeth into a laugh. Catching herself at the last moment, she resolved that Mr Darcy should have a little of his own back. “Ah, I see,” she said sweetly. “Perhaps I ought to offer you an apology, Mr Darcy. For dressing so poorly that I misled you into mistaking a gentlewoman for a servant.”
Mr Darcy had at least the grace to look dismayed. “No! That is, I did not mean —” he let his words trail off before taking a deep breath and trying to start again. “I wanted to apologise for the way I spoke to you, that is all.”
“I suppose you have done so, Mr Darcy. Please excuse me,” Elizabeth said, too angry to speak to him another moment. She strode away to join her father at the hearth. “Mr Campbell, how pleasant to see you again. How was your tour of the estate this afternoon?”
“We could not go. Besides, now that Mr Darcy has arrived, we shall all go on a walkabout and discuss what is to be done next in the proceedings.” Her father gave a nod of acknowledgement to both gentlemen. It seemed to Elizabeththat Mr Darcy slinked as he rejoined them, as well he should. It was no wonder that Miss Darcy did not know how to behave in polite company. Her shy, awkward manners were entirely unsurprising, considering that the only example she had been given since she was a girl of eight was the most pompous, insulting man Elizabeth had ever met.
“Yes, it is just as well that we cannot go until the morrow. One of the tenants had an accident and broke his leg this morning when his horse went lame and threw him.”
“Oh, how awful. I hope the break was not too severe. And the poor animal?” Elizabeth asked.
Mr Campbell gave a deft shake of his head. “We could not save the horse. It also broke its leg. But we were able to get the doctor to Mr McGuire quickly, and he reset his leg. I’ve promised to go and help his wife and children with anything they might require while he is laid up. They will need a little help with the farm work, of course.”
His dedication and kindness were impressive. Few estate managers would have given up their time to work the farms of one of their tenants simply because he had had the misfortune to fall off his horse. “How very generous of you, Mr Campbell.”
“It is only what anyone else would do for me if I found myself in the same situation. I think you will find the Scottish people very giving. We are always taking care of each other.”
“It is what I’ve found in only a short time here.” Elizabeth said.
“Yes, we found that out as well when one of our carriage wheels broke on the way up here. We thought we were destined to spend the night on the side of the road, in the rain, until someone happened along and helped us with the spare wheel,”Mr Darcy chimed in. Elizabeth was shocked that he had strung along so many words, and not one of them said in spite.
At that moment, Miss Darcy entered the drawing room, and Mr Campbell suggested that they all go through to the dining room.
Elizabeth and Miss Darcy were seated kitty-corner at supper, with Mr Campbell at her right and Mr Darcy at her left. Her father was seated at the other side of the table, next to Miss Darcy. To Elizabeth’s relief, her father took pity on the poor girl, and spoke to her if anything more gently than he would have to his own daughters. But though Mr Bennet kindly overcame his own disinclination for conversation and did his best to draw her out, he had little luck. Miss Darcy said nothing more than ‘yes, sir’ and ‘no, sir’ in response to his queries, and when Mr Bennet ventured a mild witticism, she became so frightened that she withdrew still farther, answering only in nods and shakes of her head.
Mr Darcy must not be entirely heartless, for Elizabeth could see him looking at his sister with concern. Still more evidence, had any been needed, that her quietness was not the result of arrogance or the belief that she was above her company, but simply an inability to converse with ease. Miss Darcy was painfully shy. It was truly a pity, for even in their brief acquaintance, she had already shown herself to be perceptive and intelligent. Better still, Elizabeth suspected she had a good heart. She only needed to be shown the way to engage in conversation.
Supper was simpler than she was used to, for Mrs Bennet prided herself on setting an elegant table, but by no means unpleasant. Mr Campbell explained the meal as the dishes were brought out. “This is called cullen skink,” he offered as bowlsof a thick, creamy soup were set in front of each of them. “It is made with smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions. I suggest you dip these oatcakes in the broth. Though perhaps a little rustic for English tastes, you will find it uncommonly delicious.” Mr Campbell took up an oatcake, smothered it in butter, and dipped it in the soup. Everyone followed his lead, even though it would have been frowned upon in London’s high society, no doubt.
It was delicious. Elizabeth could not have been more pleased with the simple but delicious fare. Indeed, she could not have thought of any place she would rather have been at that moment. She looked across the table at Miss Darcy when there was a lull in conversation and tried to draw her out. “Have you ever been to Scotland, Miss Darcy?” she asked.
“No, I have not,” Miss Darcy replied, her voice scarcely above a whisper. She cast a wary glance at her brother, as if he might save her from having to speak. Or was it that Mr Darcy disliked allowing his sister to speak in company? Elizabeth did not like to think of Miss Darcy having such a controlling caretaker, but it would not be entirely inconsistent with the disregard for others that Mr Darcy had shown her that day.
“My sister has preferred to stay at our estate in Pemberley until recently.” Mr Darcy answered for her. “When she comes out in a year or two, I am sure I will not be able to stay at home for any length of time.” He smiled at his sister, then looked at Elizabeth, his deep brown eyes piercing and yet strangely gentle. “Is this your first visit to Scotland?”
