“The colonel said he would call again tomorrow.”
“I hope I shall be home. I shall take another walk tomorrow, at this time. I have suffered from some terrible headaches lately, and I find walking helps me.”
As much as she enjoyed the colonel’s company, Elizabeth had more important things to preoccupy her. She was well aware that the colonel had no serious designs on her — he simply prefer the company of those at the Parsonage to those at Rosings. Even if he had, her own feelings towards him were nothing more than those of a pleasant acquaintance she had known for a little while.
During the evening and through the night, Elizabeth pondered whether she should try to meet Mr Darcy again or not. He had offered her the opportunity to ask questions — something she might not have again in the future. She was curious in regard to Mr Wickham, of course, but most of all she was curious about Mr Bingley and his plans for the future.
Mr Darcy had claimed that he did not consider her an enemy, but surely they were not friends either, so it was unlikely he would answer such a delicate question. However, if she did not try, she would regret losing such an opportunity.
All sorts of small and silly things crossed her mind, such as the realisation that she did not know the name of Mr Darcy’s dog. She had never heard him say it, either when they were at Netherfield or during their encounter in the park. Of course, it was a meaningless detail, just like the leaves in his hair, and she was annoyed such things bothered her.
The next morning, after breakfast, she announced her intention to walk and refused Charlotte’s invitation to join her in calling on parishioners in Hunsford.
Elizabeth took a book for company in case there was no other, and she walked towards the meeting place. She had slept poorly,and the morning found her as nervous as the previous evening. As she walked, she saw a small cart laden with food, and she wondered whether it might be for Mrs Gilroy.
The children’s voices announced to her that she had reached her destination before she realised it.
The Great Dane recognised her first and ran to her. “Angus, down,” Mr Darcy ordered, and the dog stopped.
“Angus,” she repeated.
Peter and Betsy came to her, and Mr Darcy bowed. He seemed genuinely pleased to see her.
“Good day, Miss Bennet. I am glad to see you.”
“Miss Bennet, you have come again? Do you like us too?” Betsy asked.
“Of course I do!” She smiled.
“Mama and Tom are working in the field. Mama said we should stay at home, but she said we could come here if we want. We have played here every day since we moved.”
“The old house was bigger, but Mama said it took more wood to warm it and that wood is expensive,” Peter explained.
Although the children were joyful, Elizabeth’s heart ached.
“Miss Bennet, would you like to sit?” Mr Darcy asked, indicating the blanket. She hesitated, but the children insisted.
The grove was small enough, the blanket even more so, and sitting so close to Mr Darcy made her uncomfortable.
“What are the names of your puppies?” she asked. “They must be over two months old because they are already playing cheerfully.”
“Just puppy black and puppy white because one is black and one is white,” the girl explained with perfect seriousness.
“I see…yes, it makes perfect sense.”
“Mr Darcy said we must find other names, but we don’t know any,” Peter added.
“I am sure you will find some good names eventually,” Elizabeth replied with another glance at Mr Darcy.
“We found them last week just over there. Somebody threw them away,” Peter said. “Mama said you can’t throw away God’s creatures like they have no soul.”
“Your mother is perfectly right,” Elizabeth answered with much emotion.
“We were playing here, and then it began to rain, and we heard them crying, and then Mr Darcy came, and Angus barked at us, and we thought he would kill them, but he only liked them, and we took them, and Mr Darcy put them in his hat, and we took them home and warmed them and gave them warm milk, and they are all well now!” Betsy said all in one long breath as if she was afraid somebody would interrupt her. She looked at Elizabeth with large blue eyes to see whether she was impressed.
“What a wonderful story! You are such brave and kind children. Your mother must be very proud of you.”
“My mother said we must be brave and behave. I take care of Betsie, I am older,” Peter said with much formality, breaking Elizabeth’s heart even more.
