When tea was concluded and the rest of the company went to settle in, Miss Darcy pulled Elizabeth aside for a private walk. “Mr Bingley looks well, does he not? And Mr and Mrs Hurst are just as cold toward each other as ever,” she said, shaking her head. “I hope I do not end up with a marriage such as theirs,” she sighed.
“I doubt your brother would allow that to happen,” Elizabeth said. “He takes such great care of you. I am sure you may trust his advice in your choice of a partner in life.”
“Yes, but everyone makes mistakes, do they not?” Something in Miss Darcy’s tone made Elizabeth think there was something more to her story. But if that were so, Miss Darcy would share it in her own time, and likely sooner if she were not pressed.
“Yes, we all make mistakes,” Elizabeth agreed.
They came out into the garden and smiled to hear the birds chirping happily in the trees. Late afternoon sunshine flooded the garden. Elizabeth took a deep breath of the fresh air. It was a relief to be away from Miss Bingley’s sniping. But she would have to get used to it, since the Bingleys were due for an extended visit. She would have to be on her guard if she were to keep her secret safe.
“I am sorry that Miss Bingley was so rude about the ink stains on your hands. I do not think they are a blight,” Miss Darcy said. “It shows how studious you are. But I will say, you do write more letters than anyone else I have ever known, even more than my brother. I think he must always be scribbling away in his study.” Miss Darcy smiled and linked arms with her. “I cannot imagine being able to string more than a few sentences together, let alone the quantity you must write to your sisters.”
“Yes, I confess I write a great deal.” Elizabeth admitted. She hated lying to her friend. Would Miss Darcy and her brother ever forgive her if they knew how she had deceived them?
She knew she could not tell them the truth now. If it were known that the notorious Mrs Laurence had stayed at Pemberley, the scandal might even extend to her hosts.
“I believe I shall arrange a picnic,” Miss Darcy said after a brief pause. “It may help everyone to settle in and get along.” She winked. They both knew who needed to get along. If they were to have any semblance of peace, Miss Bingley and Elizabeth would have to come to terms with one another.
“I think that is a splendid idea. Fresh air can do wonders to refresh the spirit,” Elizabeth agreed. Privately, she doubted a picnic would make Miss Bingley like her any better. It was painfully obvious that Miss Bingley had her eye on Mr Darcy. She undoubtedly saw Elizabeth as a threat, absurd as that was. If Miss Bingley were not too intent on her schemes to pay attention to their object, she would have seen that Mr Darcy himself was the greatest obstacle to her matrimonial plans. If he had the slightest interest in her, Elizabeth was much mistaken.
“I will take a few days to prepare, and then we will go out on the estate grounds and have a jolly time. I believe the children will be glad of a little excursion, too, do not you think?” Miss Darcy asked.
Though she nodded, not wanting to dampen her friend’s excitement, Elizabeth was privately far from convinced. Nothing Miss Darcy could do would make Caroline Bingley like her.
And in fairness to the woman, Elizabeth had to admit that the feeling was entirely mutual.
Chapter 18
If Georgiana wanted a picnic, then a picnic she would have. All the same, Darcy was less than sanguine that it would have the effect she desired. Her stated intent was to allow their guests to enjoy Pemberley at its finest, and that, surely, could be accomplished. But knowing his sister as he did, Darcy was certain that her real goal was to ease the tension between their guests, particularly between Miss Bingley and Elizabeth. That was surely too lofty a goal. Miss Bingley seemed to think Elizabeth a rival for his attentions, and as she was wrong only in thinking that she herself had any claim to them, the relationship between the two women was not likely to improve.
But Georgiana, new to being a hostess and wishing everyone to be happy together, must try.
The morning arranged for their picnic was as lovely as anyone could have wished, with the sun shining down warm and golden, the scent of flowers blowing on the soft wind, and birds singing from the trees. As they walked out from the garden and into the wood beyond the house, the children ran ahead of the party, laughing and playing as they went.
The married ladies were the first among the others to follow them, with Mrs Annesley and Mrs Gardiner keeping up a lively conversation. To his surprise, Mrs Hurst walked withthem, even joining in their discussion of children and how one ought to raise them. Mr Hurst ambled after them, complaining now and then about the length of the walk. Darcy indulged himself in walking with Georgiana and Elizabeth, leaving poor Bingley to escort his sister.
That must have been an unpleasant task. The daft woman had chosen a highly impractical dress for a picnic — all silk and lace, with a great flowing skirt that would have been more appropriate to meet the queen than for a simple day affair in the country. It was in marked contrast to the sensible attire of the other women. All had opted for simple cotton day dresses, which would keep them cool and fresh as the sun rose higher in the sky.
When they reached the appointed picnic spot, a small meadow of wildflowers in a sheltered grove with a little pond, the children had already torn off their shoes and stockings and were wading into the gently lapping waves. Mrs Gardiner called to them. “Girls, do watch out for your brothers! You know they cannot swim yet.”
Her daughters promised they would be watchful, and they all went back to observing the creatures that lived along the shoreline.
“What a beautiful day for a picnic!” Georgiana sighed as they came upon the older ladies. A footman, who had gone out ahead of them, had just finished spreading out blankets on the ground for them, and a table was laid with a monumental spread of cold meats, fruits, cheeses, and sweets. In a testament to Georgiana’s planning, Mrs Reynolds’s ingenuity, and the underservants’ hard work, steam curled invitingly from the spout of a teapot. Darcy spared a moment’s thought for how it might have been accomplished before deciding simply to enjoy it.
He turned to his sister with a smile. “You have outdone yourself, Georgiana. I believe this is the finest event you have arranged yet.”
Georgiana smiled, modestly looking down. “Oh, I cannot take the credit. Mrs Reynolds is the real miracle worker. Not to mention Williams and Tennent, who worked so hard to carry everything here!”
“Quite right,” Darcy agreed, prouder of her than ever. The ability to plan a party was useful to a great lady, but not half so useful as the wisdom and generosity to give credit where credit was due. Georgiana seemed to be growing up into a young lady of sense and judgement, one whom he was proud to call his sister.
“Shall we all sit down?” Georgiana asked. Everyone readily agreed, and the footman stood aside to bring plates filled with the delicious cold cuts and other delicacies to them. All but Miss Bingley looked comfortable. She sat at a strange angle, leaning to the side as though she struggled to catch her breath. Her elaborate dress looked so stiff and uncomfortable that Darcy found himself feeling rather sorry for her. Had she not known what the picnic would be like? If that was the explanation, she had not listened to Georgiana at all, for she had told all the guests what to expect.
More likely, Miss Bingley had considered offering an impressive display to be more important than comfort or practicality. And she was certainly offering a display of something, but he would hesitate to call it impressive.
“Pemberley is so lovely, Mr Darcy,” Mrs Hurst said as they were all settled. “Indeed, I know of no other estate to compare with it.”
“Thank you, Mrs Hurst. You are too kind.”
“It must take up much of your time in managing it all. I dare say you need a wife to help you with the house,” she said, her voice smooth as glass. Mrs Hurst glanced at her sister, who was carefully posing with her neck arched at the most flattering angle.
