Gardiner grinned and said, “I see what you mean about understanding the name of the cave.”
Georgiana blushed and said in a low voice, “I understand the name, but I do not care for it, myself.” She looked nervously at the guide, but it seemed as if he had not heard her.
Darcy’s favourite part of the tour was Roger Rain’s House; the “rain” was a constant cascade of water falling down the walls. He watched Elizabeth’s eyes widen with astonished pleasure, and he murmured, “The only thing better than a waterfall is a waterfall in a chamber with naturally amazing acoustics.”
She nodded but could not tear her eyes away from the way the falling water reflected their candles’ flames.
The “devil” theme carried throughout names for various features, such as Pluto’s Dining Room, the Devil’s Cellar, and the River Styx.
The most amazing thing, perhaps, in a tour full of amazing sights and sounds, was the fact that musical concerts were held in a chamber dubbed the Orchestra Gallery. As the guide described the most recent concert, children entered the chamber, holding their own candles aloft. They began to sing, and the Gardiners and Elizabeth looked astonished at the quality of the sound.
“Speaking of excellent acoustics!” Elizabeth said.
After the tour was completed and the group blinked their way back to vision in the daylight, Georgiana asked, “This was my second time in the caverns, and I found them much more interesting because I was so frightened, the first time, I could hardly listen to the stories about the history.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “It is astonishing to me that people have been living and working there for more than three hundred years—although the blackened rock above their fires certainly backs the tale.”
Mrs Gardiner said, “I did not suppose that any cave could be more interesting than Poole’s, but this one was!”
“It was the children singing for me!” Georgiana said.
“Yes! But also, the waterfall chamber!” Elizabeth chimed in.
Gardiner and Darcy pulled out the large hampers of food and drink while the women piled on praises for the tour. As they ate another delicious outdoor meal, Darcy felt that he had never been happier.
“Is Eldon Hole next? And Lymeston last?” Elizabeth asked. Darcy knew she had been keeping track of the various wonders of the Peaks they had spoken of when first planning the outings, but he was surprised that she could keep track of all of the names for places she had never been. He had to admit that he had learnt little about Hertfordshire. Oakham Mount, Longbourn, Netherfield Park, Meryton, um…Haye something?
“In case some of you do not know,” Darcy explained, “Eldon Hole is not a wonderful cave system we can wander through. If it were not just a few miles away, I would not suggest going—although Miss Elizabeth clearly would urge us on!—but it is interesting to see the chasm. One drops a stone into it and listens for the sound as it hits the bottom.Ifit hits the bottom; it is rumoured to be bottomless.”
“Which, I believe, is completely impossible!” Elizabeth interjected.
Darcy gave her a nod of agreement. Half an hour later, everyone stood around the hole. When Gardiner dropped his rock in, Darcy could see that they were shocked to hear many and varied sounds. He remembered his first experience at the hole; he had had the expectation that there would be a soundless number of seconds and then a distinct clink as the rock hit the bottom, but instead there were immediate echoing rumbles as the stone hit the narrow walls repeatedly as it fell and fell and fell. Eventually the sounds stopped, and Georgiana said, “My turn!” She picked up a smaller stone, and the rumbling sounds were lower in volume but sharper, with less echoing distorting the sound.
Elizabeth chose a much larger stone, even, than Gardiner had dropped and was ecstatic to hear groans as well as rumbles as the sound echoed for quite a long time. Mrs Gardiner chose to drop three small stones at the same time, and the resulting layers of sounds and echoes were interesting but at least as rumbly as the others’. Finally, it was Darcy’s turn, and he chose quite a large rock. This time the sound of the stone falling through the narrow chasm was very loud, booming, and then echoing with the same sorts of groans and rumbles as Elizabeth’s offering.
Elizabeth said, “I want to thank you dearly, Mr Darcy, for bringing us to all of these amazing places. One can read aboutthem, but it is hard to capture the magic of a place with mere words or even illustrations. I am ever so grateful to have seen these sights and heard these sounds!”
Her eyes met his, and he just stood there for who-knew-how-long, drinking in the feeling of her approval, her gratitude, her…affection?
Finally he responded to someone’s quiet cough, and he bowed slightly to Elizabeth, saying, “I am so grateful for the excellent company that has made our outings so enjoyable. Do you not agree, Georgiana?”
“Oh! Yes. I have had such a wonderful time, as well.”
Darcy said, “Our last stop is Lymeston Hall. When we arrive, should we apply to the housekeeper for a tour inside the great house, or merely view the gardens?”
Gardiner said, “Madeleine and I have seen Lymeston, inside and out, and honestly, I feel that Pemberley is even more beautiful. However, gardens are always a favourite of mine for a walk, and we have not yet been put to shame, today, by the greater walkers in our midst. So I would like to tour the gardens and then return to Pemberley. What say the rest of you?”
Georgiana shrugged and said, “I have seen Lymeston, too. I agree that the outside is far more spectacular than the inside.”
Elizabeth said, “I always prefer walking in nature.”
Mrs Gardiner agreed with the others, and before long the group was comfortably seated in Darcy’s well-sprung carriage, trundling towards the renowned Lymeston Hall. Darcy was very amused to see Georgiana and Mrs Gardiner, who flanked Elizabeth, both fell asleep on her shoulders. In the middle, Elizabeth’s eyes danced as she became the pillow between two ladies.
Darcy could not rip his eyes from hers, but he saw little reason to do so. He had, after all, proposed marriage to her more than a month ago and had just a few days beforestated his continuing desire to win her hand. Why should he not demonstrate his interest in and approval of her at every opportunity?
During his Hunsford proposal, Darcy had been shocked that Elizabeth had not even realised that helikedher; after that seemingly endless post-Hunsford time of witnessing how meaningless his life was without Elizabeth by his side, he had every reason to show his regard.
However, Darcy was surprised and pleased that Elizabeth continued to gaze back at him. At first, she was just silently acknowledging how she must look with her aunt and new friend leaning on her in slumber; he grinned, but eventually his wide smile succumbed to his usual small, private smile, and then to a serious expression. His intention to smile more did not even occur to him after a while, and Elizabeth, too, looked quite intent, as if she were plumbing the depths of his character.
