“Do you provide tinctures and extracts to the apothecary or to the physician to assist with the needs of the indigent?”
His brows rose. “No, but we could begin.”
“Then I shall have no cause to repine,” she said lightly. “I believe I can keep myself quite busy.”
As they neared the house, she asked, “Do any women of my age and station reside in the neighborhood, sir? I shall be in need of friends when my sisters return to Longbourn.”
A smile played about his lips, and her gaze lingered there. His lower lip was full and shapely, with a small crease midway that drew her eye. A thrill of pleasure coursed down her spine. He looked, she thought, like one of the Greek gods she had so oftenread about. And he had kissed her; those lips had pressed upon her own. His voice drew her back to the present.
“I hope your sister will marry Bingley, and that they purchase an estate near us. You may write to my solicitor, on my behalf, and have him look for suitable estates within twenty miles of Pemberley.”
Elizabeth grinned. “I will, sir.”
He said, “I will bring my solicitor’s written direction when we sit down to read together. We should have a short list of estates by the time Charles advances in his courtship. I must caution you, my dear. At times, he is slow to act. When faced with important decisions, he struggles to resolve them, wavering back and forth until I am nearly driven to distraction and sorely tempted to decide the matter for him. He has been that way since I first met him at Cambridge. It is part of his nature, so we must be patient with him.”
“Or,” she said teasingly, “we might help him along.”
He gave her a sidelong look. “Perhaps.”
She asked again, “Are there any women of my age in the neighborhood?”
He considered. “Miss Isabella Lewis. Her father has passed, and her brother has inherited. Their estate is smaller than Pemberley, but respectable. She is a little older than you, but I believe you would like her.”
“Is her brother married? Is he amiable?”
Darcy grimaced. “Lewis is…” He cleared his throat. “A man of strong opinions. We were rivals at Cambridge, but he is respectable enough.”
“Could we invite them? If Jane and Mr. Bingley do marry and come north, she too would be glad of a friend. We could both get to know Miss Lewis if she visited.”
He hesitated, then said, “I do not much like Lewis, but perhaps he has improved. I have not seen him in years. I will provide you with his direction, and you may send the invitation. After all, there will be other gentlemen here, so I need not spend much time in his company.”
Elizabeth placed her hand on his wrist in gratitude. “Thank you, sir. I look forward to having a house full of guests.”
Darcy remained perfectly still, lest he startle her like the little birds in the field. He looked down at her hand resting lightly against his bare wrist. It was the first time she had touched him of her own accord. Little by little, he thought, he was winning her trust, and, he hoped, her regard.
That afternoon, Elizabeth tapped on her husband’s study door.
“Come in,” he called.
She entered, finding Richard there as well. He stood. “Colonel, you need not leave. I only need a moment of Mr. Darcy’s time.”
She turned to her husband. “Sir, you said you would give me my pin money when we arrived. I would like to order the carriage and travel to Kimpton. I have very few suitable gowns, and now that I will have a guest at Pemberley, I must prepare. The hems of Georgiana’s evening gowns have already been let down. She will soon be showing her ankles, so she will need new gowns as well.”
Darcy rose, unlocked a cabinet, and drew out a metal box. He counted out several pounds and handed them to her. “I have accounts at most of the shops, including the haberdasher’s andwith the modiste. Charge your purchases and those of my sister to my account, and my steward will settle them on accounting day.”
Elizabeth blushed faintly. “Sir, may I spend this money as I wish?”
“Yes,” he said, meeting her gaze. “It is yours, Elizabeth.”
“Then I shall buy some gowns for my sisters, sir, if you approve.”
“As I said,” he replied evenly, “your pin money is yours. Spend it as you like.”
“Thank you, sir.” She curtsied to the two men and departed in high spirits, eager to find her sisters and tell them of the shopping trip.
Darcy looked at his cousin. “She never fails to surprise me. Have you ever seen a woman offer to purchase new gowns for her beautiful, rival sister?”
Richard grinned. “Never. You have married one of a kind Darcy.”
