“He seems exactly as you say.”
She made an indifferent sound. “When we do not know a person well, or when they behave in unexpected, uncomfortable, or unusual ways, we tend to make assumptions to complete our sketches of them using our past experiences.”
“As I did with your sister, you mean.”
Elizabeth glanced at him, and thought she saw a hint of a smile play at his lips. “We all do it,” she hastened to assure him. “When my father met my mother, he was entranced by her looks, her laughter, and her liveliness. In the brief time he took to court her, he created his own judgment of her nature. Whatever he did not know of her, he unconsciously invented—based upon nothing but who he wished her to be. I think he might not have been so disappointed had not his expectations been so dreadfully inaccurate.”
Mr Darcy nodded. Was she too frank regarding her family’s foibles? She quickly decided that it mattered not at all, deliberately turning her thoughts and observations in a different direction. Unbidden, they went to him—the strength and breadth of his arms and shoulders, the unconscious grace in his bearing, the way he instinctively reached for her elbow to steady her on the uneven path. They were nearly to Longbourn’s borders before he spoke again.
“I did it, as well,” he said, and it took her several seconds to remember what they had been discussing. She looked at him questioningly.
“When I arrived at Netherfield, I, too, unconsciously invented a character for the neighbourhood. I met Sir William Lucas and his sons, and found them lacking in reason. There were two or three other people I found equally insensible. I easily applied the same judgment—expectation, if you will—to all the rest. I am ashamed to admit it included you, at least at the assembly. I apologise.”
She found a hint of amusement in the recollection. “You must not do so—after all, I have already admitted to taking my revenge in ensuring your misjudgement was repeated. I am generally well-liked, you see.”
“You are harsh but fair,” he nodded.
Did she, again, detect humour in his expression?Didhe find her amusing?
She abruptly grew impatient with herself; she must not yearn for his approval. “Although, whether or not the lot of us hated you could mean nothing to a personage such as yourself.”
They had come to a fence stile at the edge of Netherfield’s boundary; on the other side was the path leading to Longbourn. Mr Darcy stopped before it, turning to look at her, just look, his expression grave.
“It is your turn to be the guilty party.”
“Me? How haveImisjudgedyou?” she asked with some surprise.
Instead of answering, he leant against the stile. “Did you have any success during our ramble? Have you found your one good thing for the day?”
She considered. “I believe I have.”
“What is it, if I might enquire?”
Was there a hint of anticipation in his look? Unlikely, unless he was anticipating a return to the warm fires of Netherfield.
“Trees,” she said.
“Trees?”
“Yes,” she replied, rather enjoying his look of confusion. “I have wandered through half the forest blanketing the property between Netherfield and Longbourn. Many of these trees have stood for decades, even centuries. My little problems would mean nothing to an ancient oak, my brief life a mere collection of rings lost within so many others. I find something comforting in that.”
He held her gaze for a long moment before counting off on his fingers, “Your sister. Trees. You have but nine-hundred-ninety-eight to go.”
She breathed a short huff of what once might have been laughter. “You have changed the subject. I must know—how have I misjudged you?”
With a sudden movement, he lifted her in his arms and over the stile, setting her securely upon the ground on the other side.
“Oh!” she cried out.
She caught it again, a smile so brief it was gone nearly before it registered. The lift had taken him almost no effort whatsoever.
Heavens but he was strong!
“Good day, Miss Elizabeth,” he said softly, bowing.
“Good day, Mr Darcy,” she replied, still flustered, returning his gesture with a curtsey.
He turned on his heel and strode back in the direction of Netherfield. She watched him go, puzzled, perplexed, and perturbed by both the question he had left unanswered, and his means of avoiding it.
