“Oh?” asked she. “Is there some problem at Mr. Bingley’s home?”
“No problem,” said Mr. Darcy. “Some elements of the party, however, make it difficult to find a moment’s peace.”
“For shame, sir!” exclaimed Elizabeth, struggling to hold her wide grin. “You should not speak of a beloved aunt in such an irreverent way.”
“Yes, I will own that Lady Catherine’s company can be a little onerous. My comment did not concern my aunt.”
“Has Miss Bingley been difficult to endure?” asked Elizabeth.
Mr. Darcy shrugged, appearing uncomfortable. “A few days ago, she approached me, and I am afraid I engaged in the office of pointing out the fallacies of her ambitions. The conversationbecame so heated that I left her in no doubt about my opinion.”
“That is unfortunate, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth. “But it is not surprising. Despite all this, she persists?”
The gentleman shook his head with some annoyance. “She is not as overt as she once was. Yet she has no compunction at all about pointing out what she considers to be the errors in my thinking. I can withstand her, but sometimes I need a rest from her constant harping.”
“I can well understand it.”
“What of you, Miss Bennet, Miss Mary?” Mr. Darcy’s smile encompassed both women. “Do extraordinary events render Meryton preferable to your home?”
Elizabeth shared a look with Mary and laughed. The gentleman contented himself with an amused look while waiting for them to elaborate, no doubt understanding the reason for their mirth.
“Things are a little... unsettled at home for the moment. My father, you see, decided Kitty and Lydia need a companion; they do not agree, and they were not shy about informing him of their opinions.”
“Ah, then we convinced her.”
“Mr. Darcy!” exclaimed Mary, appearing scandalized. “Are you suggesting you manipulated my mother? And you, Lizzy? Did you participate?”
“More like she provoked it,” said Darcy, directing a smirk at Elizabeth. Then he turned to Mary. “Do not call it manipulation, Miss Mary. Instead, I suggest you look at it as making your mother aware of certain facts she had not previously considered.”
Mary regarded them both, reflecting on Mr. Darcy’s assertion before she allowed a nod. “Yes, I suppose you must be correct. You may have wished to provoke a particular response, but that does not mean it was unnecessary.”
Relieved, Elizabeth smiled at her sister. Mary could be judgmental and prickly, for all she was a good sort of girl. That she was so easily convinced was welcome, for when she thought she was in the right, she could be as immovable as a mountain. Elizabeth might have thought Mary might prefer to go her own way and leave Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy’s company. Her determination to stay and her position following them suggested the role of a chaperon. It was so like Mary to appoint herself to such a task that Elizabeth stifled a laugh when she considered it.
“Well, ladies,” said Mr. Darcy at length when they had traveled from one end of the town to the other. “It appears we have seen all that Meryton has to offer.”
“Which is not precisely a lot,” quipped Elizabeth.
“As I previously said,” agreed the gentleman. “Is there somewhere else you mean to go in Meryton?”
“No, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth. “At present, I believe it may be time for us to return to our home, lest our parents worry for us.”
“Then if you are willing, shall I escort you?”
Elizabeth regarded him curiously. “Do you mean to say that you walked from Netherfield today?”
“Not at all, Miss Bennet,” replied Mr. Darcy. “Should you wish my escort, I shall retrieve my mount and he shall walk behind us until we arrive at Longbourn. Then I can ride him to Netherfield from there.”
“We have walked the path many times and know our way, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth. “But we will not reject your company if you wish to walk with us.”
“I shall be happy to do so.”
The mount, a large stallion, was waiting for Mr. Darcy’s return at the north end of the town, near the road to Netherfield. Mr. Darcy soon had his steed’s reins in hand as he walked next to Elizabeth and Mary, the ladies bracketing him as theystrode down the path toward Longbourn in the distance. As they walked, Mr. Darcy asked questions of the land before him, and Elizabeth responded with what she knew, pointing out Lucas Lodge to the right and Longbourn to the left. Their conversation was a pleasant diversion as they crossed the mile to Longbourn’s gates, and when they arrived, Elizabeth invited him inside to take tea with them.
“I would not wish to impose,” said the gentleman.
“Not at all, Mr. Darcy,” said Mary. “Our mother would be quite put out with us if we sent you on your way without offering refreshment.”
“In that case, it would be churlish to refuse,” replied Mr. Darcy.
