Page 44 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

“When?”

“When the man who has it remembers where he put it.”

Darcy looked at the post, then at the field. “Until then, the flock may find the road again.”

“Then Sarah and I shall bring them back again.”

His gaze settled on her. “This is not work you should have to undertake.”

There it was.

Though he spoke without contempt, his words were no less certain. He had helped because the situation demanded it, and with the sheep contained and his horse safe beyond the bend, Elizabeth heard rank in his words.

She rested a hand on the gate. “Sarah knows this work, Mr. Darcy, and loves it. I would not keep her from what she understands best because it is inconvenient.”

Darcy looked at Sarah, stretched out in the grass with her head between her paws, though her eyes were on the sheep.

“And,” Elizabeth continued, “this is part of Longbourn. My finding it agreeable or not has little to do with seeing it done.”

His brow drew together. “I did not mean that the work was beneath you.”

“No?”

“I meant that the estate should provide enough men to spare you the necessity.”

The explanation did not improve matters as much as he appeared to expect.

“Longbourn provides what it can.”

“I intended no criticism of your father.”

“Then your criticism has wandered into unfortunate ground.”

Darcy’s hand fell from the gate.

Elizabeth regretted the sharpness as soon as she heard it. He had not mocked her or stood aside while she struggled. The dirt on his coat and gloves proved that, yet he looked at a task she had performed since childhood and saw only Longbourn’s failure to spare her from it.

He glanced across the field. “At Pemberley, the steward would answer for a gate left in this condition.”

“At Longbourn, the steward answers for a dozen things before breakfast and another dozen before dinner. He will mend the gate.”

“That does not make the delay wise.”

“No. It makes it a delay.”

Silence settled between them.

Sarah rose, circled once, and lay down against Elizabeth’s skirt.

Darcy looked at her again. “You think I speak only of rank.”

“Do you not?”

His answer did not come at once.

“I think responsibility increases with possession.”

Elizabeth had expected a defense of privilege. The reply was harder to dismiss.