Page 116 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

“Yes,” her friend said, beaming. “What a lovely day for a walk.”

They commenced their stroll toward the gates. Elliot fell in behind them, keeping a separation of three or so paces. Georgiana began to whisper into Mary’s willing ear, telling her about the events of the prior evening.

*

Darcy rounded the house, following the path he had used before. His anticipation built with every step. He longed to see Miss Elizabeth. He yearned to see her. Every turn of her head and quirk of her lips came to mind, making him smile. The memory of her sparkling eyes drew him onward with an eagerness he could not recall ever feeling before.

I did not expect to discover a lady for whom I could experience such a depth of emotions. Good, positive emotions, too. I become excited simply anticipating the sight of her! Am I mad to feel such things when I have only known her for a short time?

Once in the stables, he asked one of the lads where Miss Elizabeth could be found. The boy waved toward the paddocks beyond the barn.

“Miss went to see Clover,” the freckled boy said. “Clover’s scary, ‘e is, but she don’t mind ‘im.”

“What is Clover?” Darcy asked, pulling a penny from his pocket and offering it to the boy.

“Coo, thankee, sir,” he said, swiftly putting it away before anyone could covet his largesse. “Clover’s our short’orn bull, ‘e is.”

Darcy thought his heart would beat out of his chest. Surely, Miss Elizabeth will not go into the paddock with the bull?

“Is the farm manager with her?” He must be.

The boy shrugged. A groom called for him and the boy scampered away.

Darcy strode in the direction of the boy’s vague wave. He passed the barn and the goat paddock, avoiding sodden clumps of mud and grass when he could. As he approached another stone-walled paddock, he watched Miss Elizabeth climb onto the wall, sit for a moment, and then swing her legs over it. Next, she jumped down and was lost from view.

In his shock, Darcy paused. He shook himself and raced to the wall, coming to a stop beside a small, wizened man who stood at the gate, leaning on the top bar, his arms folded.

“What is she doing?” Darcy demanded.

“Miss Elizabeth, sir?” the man asked, sounding amused. “She’s always liked t’climb, sir. Won’t use a gate if she don’t need to.”

“I am not asking what Miss Elizabeth is doing climbing the wall,” Darcy said impatiently. His gaze was glued to her lithe figure as she quietly walked toward the enormous reddish-brown and white bull whose short horns curved down and toward his face. “What is she doing inside the paddock?”

“Clover’s off his feed, sir,” the man explained. “Miss Elizabeth’s goin’ t’talk to ‘im and see what’s up.”

“Talk to him?” Darcy demanded, thinking the man sounded mad. Darcy did not, however, take his eyes off of Miss Elizabeth. What he wanted to do was run into the paddock and drag her out of there before she could be killed. But any action on his part might anger the bull. “Are you the farm manager?”

“Turney’s me name, sir.”

“Then, why the hell are you standing here and Miss Elizabeth is in there?” Darcy asked, pointing at the paddock.

She might be killed!

She might be killed!

Oh, Lord, what would I do then?

“I’m not surprise y’ve asked that, sir. Miss Elizabeth’s known Clover ‘is whole life, she has. He’s always loved her. ‘E ‘as a temper, right enough, but ‘e won’t ‘arm ‘er.”

Darcy was so disgusted with that answer that he merely scowled. Clover lifted his head and stared at Miss Elizabeth as she walked toward him. He snorted and shook his head. She stopped. Clover pawed the ground once. She folded her arms.

“It looks as though she is scolding him,” Darcy muttered. “She should be slowly backing away.”

“Yer right o’course, sir, but she don’t take no guff, our miss,” Turney said, sounding proud of her.

To Darcy’s surprise, the bull’s posture changed. He hung his head and began to lumber toward her. He permitted Miss Elizabeth to stroke him and nuzzle his huge neck. Soon, she led him toward the stone-built cattle shed, placed beneath the shade of an ancient oak tree. They disappeared inside. Darcy moved to open the gate, but Miss Elizabeth came outside. Clover did not. She carried a large tin bucket and held it up high.

“That’s it, sir. Excuse me.”