“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 Blacky and Whitey 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 licked them, and we picked them up, and Mr. Darcy put them in his hat, and we took them home and warmed them and gave themwarm milk, and they are all well now!” Betsy said all in one long breath as if she were 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 Betsy because I am older,” Peter said with much formality, breaking Elizabeth’s heart even more.
A little while later, Mr. Darcy indicated to the children they should return home as the sky had become clouded. He watched them leave and stood there until he saw them enter the house; only then did he turn to Elizabeth.
“Miss Bennet, we should walk back to the Parsonage. It looks like it might rain soon. But please do not hesitate to ask me any questions you want.”
“I…yesterday, there was another question I would have liked to ask. Now, I confess I am quite touched seeing you with the children again. May I ask why?”
“It is a delicate story and…” He paused for a moment, then looked ahead as he spoke.
“I cannot provide you with all the details as it is a private matter that involves someone else. I can only say I have been well acquainted with the children’s father, Horace Gilroy, since I was a child and I visited Rosings with my parents. He was almost ten years my senior.”
“Oh…so you were friends?”
“Not exactly…Gilroy was Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s tenant — a hardworking and loyal man. Sir Lewis gave him the best piece of land, which he made very productive. They had a good house and a comfortable life. When Sir Lewis died seven years ago, he even left him the sum of five hundred pounds in his will.”
“How generous and kind of Sir Lewis.”
“Indeed. Unfortunately, Lady Catherine had quite a different opinion of Gilroy, and she was always displeased with him and his work.”
He paused, so Elizabeth said, “So I assume her husband’s bequest displeased Lady Catherine exceedingly.”
“Indeed.”
Elizabeth breathed deeply and said, “It is quite unfortunate when someone’s dying wishes upset those that remain. I hope Lady Catherine granted Mr. Gilroy the due amount after all.”
